A/N: Part two is here. I hope you like it.
Pitus of Time
Part Two
"It's so dark out here. I can barely see anything…" Samus complained, swerving the Arwing about blindly in subspace.
"You're not the only one," Pit said huffily, wrapping his wings around his body and looking about in the darkness. The only light was the faint glowing from various objects in the vicinity, and that was nowhere near enough to light the entirety of subspace. The Arwing was no easy flying vehicle, and Samus was practically tearing her hair out in frustration trying to control it in the dark. Link began to scan the dash board with Navi spreading her light across it.
"I can't see a light button anywhere," he stated, knowing absolutely nothing about the technology at hand.
"I don't think they exist in a ship Link," Pit growled, "especially a Falcon's, aren't they supposed to have good vision?"
"Geeze, what's your problem?" Link mumbled, "and you know no more than I do about this, so don't try acting smart."
"It's so cramped in here, that's what," the angel snapped, "you're alright; you don't have wings that seize up in claustrophobic conditions. And you aren't injured."
"Oh stop moaning, you didn't have to come!" Link raised his voice slightly, "no-one forced you, and really this is about me and Pitus. I'm trying to save my Princess. No-one of any importance to you."
"Marth is my friend and Marth was kidnapped too. Zelda isn't the only one in dire need Link. Stop being so big headed!"
"Shut it Pit, I'm tired of outmatching you."
Pit growled loudly at Link and made a rude gesture towards him.
"Why you little…"
"SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!" Samus erupted so suddenly that both of them froze in terror, panting heavily, "this is hard enough as it is without you two bickering like old ladies. What's got into you?"
Link and Pit just gazed at the floor. Samus was right. What had got into them?
"You've failed me…" a low, deep voice hissed. An olive hand coiled around the hilt of a magnificent, white blade and swung it dangerously through the air. Pitus hopped out of the way, scowling at the weapon.
"I apologise Lord Ganondorf. I underestimated their survival capabilities. But they are growing irritable due to the curse I cast upon them. They may turn on each other."
"Not good enough!" Ganon boomed, his voice echoing throughout the interior of the Halberd, "how dare you allow Pit and Samus to survive. With Link by their sides, they'll destroy us! It is your duty, Pitus, to kill them." Pitus nodded and turned away, heading to the deck of the ship. The hellish, red clouds billowed out before her as she stood on the deck and pulled out a small, blue Ocarina. She played an ominous, unnamed tune, her eyes twinkling deviously. As the tune ended, she called out into the sky, "go forth my dastardly beast! Destroy the Hero of Time's allies! Victory will be ours!"
"Hey! Wake up! You can't fall asleep now!" Navi nudged Samus' face in a desperate attempt to wake the Arwing's substitute pilot before she crashed the ship.
"Nngh…" Samus moaned sleepily, half conscious.
"Hey! Listen!" the small, blue ball of light snapped, nudging with slightly more force. Samus opened her eyes slightly and could just make out Navi darting about under her nose, shouting her trademark commands.
"I'm awake now…" she mumbled. She'd been enduring a slightly unnerving dream featuring Pitus slaughtering Link and Pit atop the Halberd, something she knew Link had been witnessing too only he saw a slightly different scenario. It was clear the monster was trying to drive them insane with some dark forces.
"You're lucky I was strong enough to use the control stick sleepy head," Navi scolded.
"I won't snooze again, I swear," the woman mumbled scornfully, 'yeah, especially as I don't want to see that thing kill the boys.'
The ship jerked suddenly, the noise of breaking metal shattering the eerie silence. Link and Pit were roused from their slumber groggily.
"Watch where you're flying Samus," Link bemoaned. Samus scowled,
"It's not my fault!" she hissed. The ship jerked again and the three of them rolled about in the ship. Samus outstretched her arm to pull herself back up and drive the ship, for it was spinning about in the air in a downward spiral from the damage it maintained. Something huge flew past the window, gazing at them with its huge, orange eye.
"Holy Palutena, what is that!" Pit squeaked. There was a flapping sound as the wind was pushed under a huge pair of wings and the thing out there screeched, swiping the Arwing sideways with a large, clawed hand. It was out of control, hurtling towards the ground at immense speed. The monster came into view, hurtling a series of attacks at the fallen Arwing. It was a prehistoric looking thing, coloured dark blue and massive in size.
"Rid…ley…" Samus whispered. Ridley let out another ear splitting screech and delivered the final blow to the Arwing, turning out the lights on the three heroes within.
"Don't give in now, you're so close. You're all dying, but you'll wake up and defeat Pitus. I promise," somebody whispered in a chime voice softly, seeming a million miles away. A divine, green light flashed through Link's closed eye-lids as he came to. Groaning, he opened his eyes to see nothing in front of him aside from the burning remains of Falco's Arwing. He was going to slaughter them all.
"Pit…" he whispered, feeling for his friend. The bare skin of the angel's arm he touched was clammy, but he was still breathing. Link was amazed he and his two allies, Samus in the same state as Pit, were still human. Surely a fall like that would have been fatal, and in the world of trophies would have turned them all into life-size plastic models? Surely they were not in another world, the terrain seemed so much like their current home, surrounded by somewhat beautiful, purple subspace clouds. It reminded Link immensely of the Palace of Twilight, which was far prettier than the ugly scar of Twilit monstrosity that had purged his Hyrule. They were surely still in the world of trophies; there was no other reason for the strangely familiar area they had landed upon.
"Link?" somebody rasped from besides him. Samus leaned over and clasped his hand, "your hand is bleeding. Quite badly," she stated, pulling away and wiping Link's blood onto the scorched grass besides them.
"Not surprised," Link mumbled, dribbling a blue fluid onto his sliced palm, "broken glass from the Arwing," he felt about on the ground with his good hand, moving the sticky liquid about his palm with his fingers, the gash slowly mending as the blue mingled with the blood. He retrieved a bloody shard of glass from the floor and held it up for Samus, who was frowning at his cool-headedness towards the situation, to see and then flung it backwards.
"Is Pit…?" Samus jerked her head towards the unconscious, winged child.
"He's fine," Link stated, looking to the floor, "as fine as we are anyway. By the way are you okay?"
"Yeah…" Samus whispered, her voice barely audible, "Falco will be so mad."
"Hopefully after we save his life he'll become grateful for what we've done, regardless of how many of his Arwings we destroy. You sure you're okay?" Samus was doubled over, but her face showed no pain. Her hand grasped her left side, and there was something leaking through her blue clothed fingers. She nodded in regards to Link's question and tried to stand up, but winced and fell back down to her knees. Frowning, Link prised her arm away to reveal a deep cut in her side, oozing blood.
"Link, it's nothing," she assured, watching the hero dash down to his bag and dig around. He brought out a bottle full of a yellowish liquid, which glittered slightly in the moon light.
"You can't go about injured like that Samus, it's practically a suicide. This is Rare Chu jelly, one of the strongest healing potions in Hyrule. Lie down; this will only take a few seconds."
"Link, you don't have to…" Link scowled, "okay, fine, fine, I'll lie down." Samus nestled into the grass grumpily and Link dunked his finger into the jelly. Samus stifled a gasp as he placed the cold goo on her cut, which stung like a thousand wasps, and smeared it about. The wound seemed to close over, new skin forming over the gash that was heaving with blood seconds before.
"Thanks…" Samus whispered, poking the red mark where they cut had once been. The blood had disappeared, something the Blue Chu Jelly Link had used on his hand couldn't do. She picked at the loose fabric on her Zero Suit where she'd been sliced, possibly by Ridley's claw by the look of the faded wound, "too bad my Zero Suit is broken too. I'll have to mend them both. My poor clothes…"
"You care about your clothing when you nearly died? You're a strong woman, Samus, I respect you for that. You could teach Zelda a few things," Link appraised.
"Nngh, what about Peach?" someone asked groggily. Pit was sitting up and looking at them with a sleepy look about him. Both Link and Samus sighed in relief and embraced him warmly.
"You two are pretty blooded up. Samus, you've ruined that suit," the angel affirmed.
"It's just a suit," Link sighed, "I'd rather have her life."
"Just saying," Pit shrugged. The Hero of Time nodded and looked out.
"Say, did you two hear that voice?"
"Voice?" Samus queried, "what voice."
"It's…"
"Link," someone serenaded.
"That," Link stated. The area filled with a divine, emerald light and the rays gave birth to a spherical ball of purity. The ball morphed into a golden triangle and the figure of a woman, garbed in a leafy dress with light green hair tied up in two tight buns appeared as the emblem faded away. Around her neck was a necklace that bore the golden pyramid of Hyrule, the Triforce. The segment that represented courage began to glimmer, and the Triforce on the back of Link's left hand copied in canon. His eyes were wide, but his two allies were shunned away by the light. The divine goddess of Hyrule was too much for the outsiders.
"Link," she sang, "Ganondorf has taken a segment of your souls and moulded them into a beast that only you can kill. You alone have braved tasks that other heroes could never dream of; they do not bestow your chivalry which makes you an individual. For you, accompanied by Master Pit and Miss Samus, this should be a walk in the park, should you still be protected by the charm that hangs over the world of trophies. This is the Isle of the Ancients, the only place in this world that isn't protected. This is the only place in the world, and the others, that even someone with immense magic like Princess Zelda or physical strength like Ike can be killed, never to even so much as pass on. Some call it doomed, but it is really just made so that brave warriors can be tested on strength. Many have died here, from Hylians to Pokémon. The same principles apply to where Ganon has taken the Halberd. There is only one way to access that current point, and it must be you three to take it," the Goddess, which was she who represented courage Farore, waved a hand and from the ground emerged train tracks, interweaving through the air and leading to the faint under belly of the Halberd. Next to the three individuals and astonishing goddess appeared a simple wooden steam train with only a front and a carriage. The symbol on the front seemed familiar to Link, something belonging to Hyrule. Hyrule had trains?
"A-a locomotive?" Samus queried. Farore nodded,
"The Lokomo's Spirit Train. Perhaps Toon Link has told you that story?" the three shook their heads.
"I've heard of Lokomos, but I'm not too sure on their purpose," Link affirmed.
"It's a tale for another time. You must drive the train to the Halberd, it couldn't be simpler."
"I've never seen a train," Link and Pit said in unison.
"They're something quite common on Planet Earth, but their supposed to be powered by electricity, like a car or a space ship. This is a steam train," Samus scoffed, "Link, you drive it."
"The Spirit Train only works for one with the blessing of the goddesses, like you Link. You just get behind the controls, it'll come to you. Somewhere along the line, your young counterpart Toon Link used this train, and now you must follow in his footsteps. May your journey be safe, for it must end in death. This has to be it Link; you must kill Ganondorf for good, until the world of Hyrule will end its time. The fate of everyone depends on you three. Ganon will end it, but Pitus is there too. To defeat Pitus is to full fill your destinies. It is up to you three to defeat her. Link, Pit, Samus, the fate of our world's lies in your hands. Carry it to safety with honour in your hearts, and I know you can surely save us all from death's arms." Farore faded away, leaving the crest of Hyrule upon the floor before that too vanished into nothingness. Link, Pit and Samus exchanged glances and then gazed at the ancient train. Link climbed aboard carefully and looked to the simple control mechanism on the front. Why he knew he could do it, he'd never know. Samus and Pit squeezed into the compartment too and the train jerked into action. With a loud toot, the Locomotive began to take them to their destiny. His face in a cool breeze he desperately needed. The train was so easy to drive, but Farore had said he'd find it easy because of who owned the train.
"I had a feeling Ganondorf was behind all of this," Pit affirmed, changing the subject, "and now we have to claim his life."
"Yeah. It'll end evil being in Hyrule at the least, but it'll be hard. I hate killing people, even if they deserve it."
"It must be hard for you. Scaling dungeons and defeating Ganondorf multiple times, only to have to retrace your steps because he cannot be killed." Link turned the train round a corner, the glimmering tracks interweaving through Subspace. The Halberd was in full view, its ominous presence sending a shiver down the Hylian's spine. He sighed.
"I was chosen, it has to be me. But really, with the people I meet and the experience I gain, it's worth the ReDeads and the screaming fan girls. Luckily for me, the girls here are pretty much either all taken or too mature to possibly go mad for me."
"I fit into the maturity category, right?"
"For the meanwhile. You know both Ike and Solid Snake have their eyes on you, right?"
Samus laughed and looked to the side of the carriage.
"I'm a little nervous. I'd hate to lose a friend, and it's not like you can get revived or turned into a trophy here," Pit quivered, wrapping his wings around himself so they weren't crushed in the small seating area by either himself or Samus.
"Fear can only make you more vulnerable, and you two will be pitted against the monster. Only the Blade of Evil's Bane can defeat him, but any one of us three can tear down Pitus. I think it better be you two."
"We'll also have to battle any Subspace nasties, and other monsters Ganon has broken in. We know he has Ridley, and there must be others if he survived…"
Link pulled on the brakes and the train stopped by a midair station, leading to the deck of the Halberd. The two heroes and the heroine stepped out of the locomotive and onto the wooden planks that were between their destiny and the way back. The train suddenly faded away and the tracks vanished, abolishing any thoughts of turning back. Samus clasped both of the boy's hands to reassure them and the three exchanged determined nods. They began to prepare, Pit putting his bow together, Link pulling out his sword and shield and Samus loading her plasma whip, and they all stood their grounds ready to advance upon their fates.
People couldn't be a trophy in the area the Halberd had floated into, but they couldn't die from the wounds they gained due to trophication. When the brawlers that were held captive in the hull were turned into trophies, Ganondorf failed to realise that the minute he left the world they'd return back to their former selves. Thankfully, none of them aside from Ike had their weaponry that didn't stay on their person permanently.
"FALCON… PAWNCH!" the ringing sound of metal being struck echoed throughout the spacey cell. Captain Falcon was peeved that he couldn't break his way out, and Meta Knight was extremely agitated that the other, more impatient brawlers were trying to wreck his ship.
"Sheik, how can you be so calm?" Ness sighed, "we're imprisoned, Zelda is kidnapped and Link may be dead."
Sheik opened one crimson eye, still in a meditation position and lightly playing a tune on her harp.
"I am fully aware of the crisis at hand, but I do not wish to get deeply involved. It may result in distress for all, and I hate distress. And anyway, Link is not dead. The creature never harmed him. If the bearer of the Triforce of Courage's blood had been spilled, we would surely know."
"You're so philosophical Sheik," Ike appraised, "but come on. If not Link, what of Pit and Samus? They haven't been seen."
"Last I saw of Samus," the quiet Nana began, "was her about to be crushed by the smash board. Then Popo and I got hit."
"There, she's dead," Luigi affirmed morbidly, "and as for-a Pit, he was-a shot down but didn't turn into a trophy."
"So, Link might be dead and the other two undoubtedly are, according to you," Sheik scorned, "tsch, you're all pretty crazy. They're our only hope, and you're all guaranteed they're dead," she stood up and walked over to the dent in the wall. Toon Link trekked over to join her and patted her arm.
"I believe you," he whispered, "Link is like another part of me, and I know he is coming. Just you wait and see."
The deck of the Halberd was desolate and the wind whistled past, mingling with the dark aura the subspace clouds emitted.
"It's so lonely, it's sad," Samus sighed, "you don't think we're too late, do you?"
"No!" Link snapped back brutally. Samus looked shocked and Link shot her an apologetic glance. Pit looked about curiously, ignoring Link's hot headedness and Samus' unsettling whims.
"Is it vain to have your head on your ship?" he queried.
"Meta Knight does think highly of himself," Link affirmed, "how do we get in the ship?"
"Hey," Navi called, making herself noticed again for the first time in a while, "why don't you look about the wings?"
"Wings? What…" Pit looked confused; Navi's riddled advice was difficult for him to decipher. Link, however, was looking to the side of the ship, towards several platforms that seemed to keep the air craft aloft.
"Is there a secret entrance over there Na- Samus, what are you doing?"
Samus was hanging over the front, suspended by her plasma whip and seemingly looking through the yellow tinted window of the Halberd. Link and Pit went to join her, but she sent them back. They'd be too noisy, eavesdropping wasn't their thing.
"Ridley failed? They're here? Dispose of them," a deep, heavily disgruntled voice barked. Lord Ganondorf strode about the room, not noticing the head of Samus peering into the room.
"Ganon, no!" an equally disgruntled, shrill voice chimed, distraught and terrified. Zelda's face was bruised; he'd been beating her, and a thin trickle of blood oozed down over her left eye. She'd been crying, for her face was blotchy and damp. There was no sign of Princess Peach or Marth. Samus felt her heart sink.
"My child, it is your duty to capture Link and kill his scummy friends that angel and the scabby little dog Samus," he instructed someone. Pitus emerged from behind Zelda, who was tied up in the corner, sporting the remains of Samus' power suit on her arms and legs. Immensely agitated, Samus made a rude hand gesture to them and zipped back up, mumbling cuss words under her breath.
"Little parasite…stealing MY power suit… stupid old man, calling me a dog… grrr… hate him, hate him, hate him…."
"What's up, break a nail?" Link joked. That was many of the phrases he and his village friends had conjured up to annoy girls. Samus growled.
"That charming Gerudo and his little experiment are thieving, beating murderers."
"Zelda, Marth and Peach are okay, aren't they!" Pit asked, alarmed.
"Oh, well I don't know where the other two are, but they have Zelda hostage and she's pretty much a bloody pulp, poor thing. And Pitus has parts of the power suit as well as a dark cannon. Oh, and they're not going to kill you Link. Not yet."
"Oh that's a relief," Link mumbled sarcastically, "and you were uttering every swear word under the sun, why?"
"He called me a dog," Samus stated plainly.
"Yes, Ganon does think very highly of women," Link joked, "though he's offending himself, all the Gerudo but him are women. It's a 'one man per hundred years' thing."
"That little…" Samus cursed Ganon loudly and stormed off to investigate Navi's previous suggestion.
"What's her problem? Wrong time of the month?" Pit queried. Link smiled.
"Pit, allow me to teach you the functions of the most complex thing in the galaxy. Women."
Link's informative lecture regarding females was consistently interrupted by either Samus or Navi ordering the boys to hurry up; the crisis at hand was far more important than Pit's education. He didn't seem to mind however, he was more preoccupied with rescuing Marth. The trio had followed Link's faerie's advice and were using the wings to access a visible door on the side of the ship. Frankly, the pounding wind and the fact that somebody had begun to fly it made the task evermore harder. Link didn't have Samus' agility or Pit's aerial advantage, so he had immense trouble in keeping balance and not falling to his death.
"Nearly there," he strained, taking a leap of faith over to the door. His companions caught him, ensuring he did not fall. Pit used his sharp-edged weapon to wrench the door open, thankfully inward. Subtly, they sidled in.
"It's pretty dark in here," Link affirmed. His echoed voiced rebounded off the metal walls several times, fading slowly.
"That's Link," a voice called back, an optimistic, feminine voice. A slightly deeper voice of a young male replied,
"Shuush, it might not be. Damn it Peach, you probably just got us caught. We'll wind up like Zelda!"
"Samus, where are you going?" Link hissed as the woman began to sneak down the corridor, her plasma whip loaded with her paralysing ammo. The voices she recognised were Peach and Marth's, but she felt distrusting for some reason. Still agitated by the whole event and on the verge of snapping, she was determined to show potential enemies not to mess with her, Link or Pit. As so to ensure she didn't fire at two likely young monarchs, Pit and Link followed, also armed with their long distance weapons.
"Hey, Link, stop Samus before she kills them," Navi whispered, "there are no imposters, no monsters here." Link nodded and picked up speed, grabbing Samus by the shoulder, whispering Marth and Peach's names. There was a rustle of clothing, and two figures came out from an alcove in the wall. Both had seen better days, but luckily neither Marth nor Peach looked like Zelda had.
"You're not dead yet, I take it," Marth stated, looking to Pit and Samus, "you're the ones they want to kill. Not so much Link."
"Nice to know… Marth, you look terrible," Pit stated, running a finger over a cut on her forehead.
"Better than Zelda," Peach inputted, "you guys smell funny. Like smoke and blood. Did you get mugged by hoodlums?"
"We crashed an Arwing…" Link muttered.
"Samus crashed an Arwing," Pit butt in.
"Ridley crashed an Arwing with us in it," Samus stated, "it has nothing to do with me driving it. Even if I fell asleep at the driver's seat."
"You crashed… An Arwing? And Samus fell asleep driving it? I love you guys, you're so random," Marth laughed, "Peach and I thought you were goners. Zelda too, she was so messed up. Ganondorf has been torturing her to hand over the Triforce of Wisdom. Is that possible?"
Link sighed and furrowed his brow, "yes, but the Triforce of Wisdom is split into four different fragments. He only has one or two, depending on Sheik's whereabouts. Ganon has always been dim; there is only one Triforce but two Hyrules. Well, I know why he won't kill me if he's after the Triforce, but why kill Pit and Samus? What have they done to him?"
"I don't know, but he's protective of that monster girl, even though she has to do his dirty work," Marth recited, "like if she dies, he does or something."
"Only we can kill her, so if we die then she'll be his best weapon," Pit said in a factual tone, "that must be why. With an indestructible weapon at hand, and the full Triforce, he will be unstoppable!"
"We have to stop the old warthog then! Come on; let's go get my revenge for the name calling!" Samus called triumphantly. Her comrade's faces caused her to add hastily, "and save the world for you all."
"Pit," Link began, "fly Marth and Peach back to camp; they're too injured to carry on. Samus and I will investigate, and see if we can find anybody. Meet us at the deck, okay."
"Wait, why are you abandoning me!" Pit snapped.
"Because you can fly, that's the only reason," Link argued, "and because…"
"Because?"
"Like I said… Samus wants revenge on Ganon for some reason and I want to save Zelda. You want to protect your friends, so do so and take them home."
"Link, we're fine…" Marth stated.
"Listen to Link guys, he's speaking sense for once," Samus ordered in a shockingly stern voice.
"Yes ma'am," Pit gulped, grabbing Peach and Marth and leaping into the air outside.
"Will he carry them alright?" Link queried.
"Don't underestimate him. But teach him to listen to those older than him. Respect your elders, Link, respect your elders."
"You're hardly an elder," the Hylian commented, "nor am I, I'm only eighteen."
"Serious?" the woman seemed surprised, "you act mature well beyond your years."
"I had to teach myself to be… I grew up alone, my parents died when I was a baby. I was the oldest kid in Ordon, and I had to learn to be mature because my friend Ilia and I were the only ones for a few years, among a bunch of hard working adults. We had no time for child play with a ranch to help run… I can't remember being a kid."
"It's hard losing people you love… How did your parents die, may I ask?" something in Samus' eyes told Link that she hadn't had an easy life either.
"I think they were killed in a far off place…" he mumbled, "I never knew them, but I saw pictographs… My mother was beautiful, and my father appeared to be a knight of some sort. I always imagined him being killed in a battle, dying a noble death unlike my mother who died of an illness due to childbirth. That, I was told, because she passed away after I was born in my village, a few hours after my father had told her to flee wherever I came from… It makes it easier if I believe that tale, you know… But I've never taken death too easily. It makes you really angry, like you want revenge so much you cannot control the blood lust."
"You get hungry to give them what they deserve," Samus whispered, "I lost my parents too, you know? You and I… We're alike I guess. But you have something I don't."
"What?"
"It's nothing…" she sighed. In truth, she felt a little jealous of part of Link's life she lacked, though they had similar pasts. Link had Zelda, but she had no-one. The World of Trophies had made her realise how much she wanted someone in her life, because most of them had someone, even if, like Luigi and Toon Link, they did not brawl.
"You can't keep secrets from me. I'll weed them out some day, but for now we have to focus on rescuing Zelda and perhaps killing somebody evil."
"Yes, Zelda… Let's go then…"
"We didn't upset Pit, I hope," Link sighed, wrenching open the door at the end of the corridor with the blade of his sword.
"Pit looks up to you Link, I doubt he can stay mad for long when he thinks so highly of you," Samus reassured.
"That's nice, but I'm nothing special," he sighed, falling back as the door swung.
"Shuush, if we're heard we're dead," she whispered, crouching down low, "we'll have to sneak about as so not to be caught." Link copied her and they began to crawl through the door and stuck up against the wall, tiptoeing quietly along it. Samus peeped 'round the corner and jerked her heads back immediately.
"R.O.B army," she mouthed.
"Damn it…" Link cussed, pulling his sword from the royal blue scabbard, "guess we have to get our hands dirty." Samus nodded, loaded her plasma gun, and leapt out followed by the green-clad young man. The R.O.B army spotted them and instantly began to advance. An alarm went off and the area flashed red, triggering more robots to file in. The two began to fight them off, one by one, making their way slowly to the exit, battling off baddies in waves. Link delivered the final blow to one remaining robot and swung his sword in victory.
"Whoo, high five," he cheered. Samus obliged, but their celebrating was cut short by a low voice hissing at them.
"Think you can survive anything, little miss?"
Link and Samus turned on their heels to be face to face with Pitus, who's perfectly pale face was stretched into a menacing grin.
"You!" Link shrieked, but Samus just stared.
"What do you mean?" she queried.
"You see, Ganondorf wants to kill Link personally, do I have to do away with you and your angel friend. You escaped my attack, and you escaped Ridley, but now I have you! There is no escape!" she locked her bow, heaving with dark energy, onto Samus' front, just below her neck, "you won't get away!" Two R.O.B sentries seized the blonde's arms and held her, though struggling, in place.
"Samus! No!" Link cried in horror, trying to break the R.O.B sentries away. Samus closed her eyes tight and tensed, knowing she was finished. She waited for the pain to come, but it never did. Instead, Pitus was clutching her arm, which had been pierced by a standard, wooden arrow.
"What are you doing, getting yourself slaughtered, oh fabulous-Arwing Pilot-who-hates-being-called-names?" a familiar, male voice called from behind. Pit grinned and Toon Link lowered his bow, pulling his sword from his scabbard. The other brawlers, whom had clearly been freed by Pit and came in through a large, beaten looking hole in the ceiling, all readied their weapons and aimed for Pitus (aside from Marth and Peach; they were safe at camp). The robots holding Samus hostage were preoccupied with the events, letting her break free and destroy them. Pitus didn't seem fazed by the large amounts of weaponry aimed at her, for she knew that only three of them could actually kill her.
"Well done my child," a chilling, rusty voice cooed. The King of Evil, Ganondorf, walked into the vicinity, dragging an injured Zelda behind him. He threw her down, grinning broadly, "you've performed your role Princess, and I have no more need of you." Zelda scurried over to the others and hid behind Link.
"Link, I'm so sorry…" she rasped.
"It's okay…" he reassured her.
"Hello, Hero of Time. Welcome to my battleship."
"Your Battleship!" Meta Knight yelled, "you thieving Gerudo scum! Give back what is mine!"
"Calm down Meta Knight, you'll only make this worse…" Wolf whispered.
"I was hoping you'd join me Meta Knight…" Ganondorf sighed, "you, and your other dark friends would make splendid minions to help build up the Subspace Army again." All of the villains just scoffed.
"You betrayed us Ganondorf; you think we'll join you? Hah!" Wario stated gleefully. It was a reassurance that everybody was going to fight together, instead of losing so many strong warriors. They'd already lost Peach and Marth, and could not afford another loss.
"Ganon! What is this!" Link queried, his voice drowned in his rage.
"I've moved on from just Hyrule. Why not have all of the worlds as well? Maybe even the Galaxy," Mario winced at that, "but with you alive, my plan will fail, I know you too well. So I created a demon, by taking a fragment of your soul, and your other two little friends, and morphing the bits into a killing machine. She will do away with everyone else, while I kill you. This is the only place that the Triforce doesn't protect you Link. This is where your time ends. So, my sweet. Start with the angel."
"NO!" Ike shrieked, lunging forwards to stop her. She punched him swiftly, causing him to crumple in pain. "And now, you're going to die. Hero of Time," the creature yanked the blade from Ike's scabbard, the man too weak to stop her, and poised it to Link's neck. Muffled gasps could be heard from the crowd and Zelda's voice screeched her hero's name in shock horror, held back only by R.O.B.'s cold, monochrome build up. Link just stared into his rival's icy eyes, not even a sweat breaking out on his perfectly still face.
"Not him, Pit!" Ganon roared. She didn't listen, but merely drew it back, ready for the kill.
"Link!" Zelda cried.
"Not… with… my sword…" Ike rasped.
Something blue darted in front of Link's vision suddenly, and the whole room was filled with a cry of immense agony. Samus' body collapsed, clutching the hilt of Ike' massive blade was plunged deep into her side. Ganondorf and Pitus began to laugh, and pretty much everybody else was too shocked at her sacrifice to cry.
"Link…" the dying Samus whispered softly, her breathing impaired, "full fill… our destiny… I believe in you…"
"No…" was the only word anyone managed to say, "NOOO!" Pit raced forwards in anguish and held the lifeless body in his arms, "she's gone…" Link didn't care; he was too worked up to care. He could feel a great power building up inside him, and slowly he began to fill with energy. The mixed emotions that he felt towards Samus' death had brought a final smash upon him. Glowing the colours of fire, his eyes an inhumane orange, Link poised his weapon for the kill. The emblem of the Triforce encased Pitus, and he attacked, slicing her to pieces. There was no charm protecting her in that world.
"This is for destroying our stadium!" he slashed off her hand, "this is for kidnapping Zelda!" her leg hit the floor, "this is for setting Ridley on us and breaking Falco's Arwing!" Falco scowled as her other arm fell, "and this," he drew his blade to her neck for the killing blow, "is in honour of Samus!" as the glow faded from Link, the remains of the monster began to vanish. Three, white glowing balls of light emitted from the area where the corpse had been, and they entered three people's bodies: Link, Pit and Samus' body which began to glow an astonishing white. Everybody crowded around the light that engulfed Samus, wondering just what phenomenon was about to occur. It struck Pit first that the unthinkable had happened, for he was the one that held the body, feeling uneasy at what had entered him. Samus was breathing, and Ike's blade had fallen to the floor as the wound in her side healed itself. Additionally, something bulky and metallic encased her body, which could only be her Power Suit. Not only was Samus reanimated, but she'd been resurrected.
"No! This cannot be!" Ganondorf cried, "my creature! You're alive… H-how is this happening!"
"Well, Ganon, I believe it is because you stole their souls and killing Pitus freed the souls. And completing Samus' soul obviously brought her back to life," Zelda explained, "too bad your soul can't be saved, because we are about to kill you."
Zelda readied her bow of light, something she didn't require a final smash to use outside of the world of trophies. Ganondorf pulled out his sage sword, something he never used in a brawl.
"To the death. Princess Zelda."
"Zelda! Run!" Link called. Pit let go of Samus, who was still a little dazed, and picked up his bow.
"You will not hurt my kingdom anymore Ganondorf. I'm stupid, but it's either me or Link. He's been through so much, and I love him. I'm going to give him a break, because for years he's been saving me, and saving my people!" Zelda drew back her bow string. Pit pulled back his arrow. Ganon held out his blade.
"Dear Farore…" Link gulped. He could tell Ganon was afraid, faced by two very skilled archers, armed with fatal shots, poised for the kill.
"This isn't the end…" he snarled. But before he could continue, Zelda had shot him in the heart.
All Link could do was stare at Ganondorf's dead body, unable to do anything else for pure shock. Was his ordeal really over? Had his Princess killed the King of Evil, who had purged Hyrule on countless occasions?
"Link," Sheik called, walking over and taking his hand, "thanks for saving us all."
"Can we leave now?" Pit whined, "Marth and Peach will be worried."
"They're okay, right?" Ike asked. Pit nodded.
"Yes, they're fine and back at camp… The stadium is a mess though; it'll take ages to return it to its former glory."
"I gathered that," the man sighed, picking up his sword from besides Pit and Samus, "by the way, are you alright? Considering you were dead…"
"It was so noble of you to sacrifice yourself for me," Link praised. Samus rose to her feet and bowed.
"My pleasure. You and Pit saved my life, so I returned the favour." Link smiled, and looked to his two companions, then to Navi and he grinned.
"We just saved the world, didn't we?"
"Oh yeah! Victory is our!" Pit cheered. Then the Halberd jerked suddenly and seemed to be falling at immense speed. There was a deafening scraping noise, and a large yellow eye appeared at one of the windows.
"RIDLEY!"
Ridley had made his final attempt to down one of the air ships, and had been successful.
"Not another one! What does he like about tearing down our aircraft?" Link called, holding on to the sides of the interior for support.
"Not my Halberd!" Meta Knight hissed, "Samus, why don't you kill that thing and stop it from chasing you, so it will leave our damned stuff alone!"
"It's not Samus' fault, leave her alone!" Pit defended.
"Did Ridley attack my Arwing too?" Falco asked, holding on to King Dedede.
"Can we talk about this lateeer!" Samus screamed. That was the last thing the brawlers heard before the ship hit the ground…
Lost in eternal slumber, strange thoughts began to rush to Link's head regarding the events prior. He had no clue where he was; the area was a blank piece of paper. A dream, though considering that an alien dinosaur had just sent the Halberd, which was much bigger than an Arwing, falling towards the ground, it was more likely to be the afterlife than a dream.
"If I'm dead..." he mumbled to himself, "why do I feel so alive?"
Questions rebounded in the crevaces of his mind, questions that he could not answer no matter how hard he thought.
Was he dead? He hoped that would be answered fairly quickly. It was one of the more simpler questions he asked himself.
Was Ganondorf dead? It had been a light arrow, not the Master Sword that had downed him, and if it was as simple as that then Zelda could have killed him years before. If the King of Evil was dead, was it because the Isle of the Ancients made him just as human as, say, Princess Peach? Perhaps it was the Triforce, giving Zelda the ability to down him like Link could. Would anyone tell Link the answer to these questions, that would prove to be more haunting than Pitus had been in life? Did anyone even know the answers? If Link was dead, he'd never find out. If he was dreaming, he'd do whatever he could to find the answer.
"Can somebody help me!" he called out. The world began to blur, though the pure whiteness of it all had a less dramatic effect than the real world would have done. Various objects were appearing before his eyes, and colour returned. His pleas were becoming barely audible and were soon just a memory, imprinted on his mind.
"Oh, guys, look. Link's waking up!"
Everything was rather fuzzy in the hero's eyes, but as he came to the world became clearer. The first thing he realised was that he was in bed, sweating and dressed only in his trousers. For a second, he thought he'd dreamt the whole thing, even the strange subconciousness he'd woken from, due to his state, but the numerous cuts on his body proved his thoughts wrong.
"It's weird that the Halberd crashes and it's the heroes that stay out longest," the person who had spoken before affirmed. The tousled, blonde hair and stubby figure indicated that it was Toon Link.
"Huh…" Link bemoaned, his head aching, "What's… where am I?"
"We're in camp sweetie," Zelda whispered soothingly, "you hit your head. Well we all did, but Marth and Peach saw the Halberd fall, it's so big, and came to revive us. Ridley had knocked us back into the protective barrier of the world of trophies, so it was easy to get us back up. The Halberd will probably never fly again, sadly. We had to carry you back here, because you didn't actually turn into a trophy for some reason. Nor did Pit or Samus." That was another question without an answer.
"Where are Pit and Samus?" he demanded. He needed to thank them so much.
"They're off somewhere. Apparently they needed some alone time. Link, Hyrule is saved! Ganon is dead forever! And you'll never have those nightmares again."
"Are Falco and Meta Knight mad about their ships?" he asked, ignoring all of Zelda's comments. She shook her head.
"All is forgiven… Link, are you alright?"
"I'm fine…" he strained… "I just… Really need to talk to Pit or Samus."
"Impatient, aren't we?" Sheik sighed, sitting next to him. Link rolled his eyes, "Link, they were unconscious too but they woke up about half an hour ago..."
"Fine…" he sighed, "if you see them, tell them I'm sorry for dragging them into my mess and I'm so grateful they helped. Considering I'm confined to my bed, aren't I?" Zelda nodded.
"I'll drop by the message," Sheik winked. She threw down her vanishing powder and was gone within seconds.
Deep within the forest, brimming with life and filtering the sun's fading rays, sat two human figures upon a fallen log. One was a young, brunette boy with angelic wings and garbed in a white cloth. The other was a tall, blonde woman, garbed in a slightly bloody Zero Suit, so she called her clothing. Both Pit and Samus had exhausted themselves, but had decided to go out into the forest together to relax rather than remain in the crowded camp.
"Aren't forest sunsets beautiful?" Pit sighed, gazing up through the leaves of the forest canopy at the brilliant, orange sun set. Samus nodded and yawned.
"Yes, Pit, yes indeed…"
Pit went quiet, wondering what to say. He could see his companion probably needed sleep, as far as he was aware she didn't get much at all.
"Are we ever going to kill Ridley?"
"I'm sure Meta Knight, Captain Falcon and Falco will do it for us…" she sighed, "though I'll be there, by their sides. He's my prey."
"Heh, I'm sure you will… But let's not try to think about fighting for now… Lets just…"
"Enjoy life. Because you never know when it'll bite you in the butt."
"Yeah," Pit nodded to himself, "yeah, let's do that. You're tired. Sleep for a while, it's not good to abandon it." Samus grinned, but Pit was undoubtedly right. Her eyelids were heavy, and all she did want was to sleep. Pitus wouldn't kill Pit and Link in her dreams again. She wondered if Pit had ever had those dreams. The boy felt fatigued too, and settled down close to Samus, who rested her head on his shoulder. Using his wings as a blanket, Pit allowed himself to drift off into the world of dreams. Dreams, not nightmares, because life had to be enjoyed. It was too short to be bad. As the night drew in, peace reigned over the world of trophies and all of the brawlers felt a sort of… serenity as they slept. It was the first time in forever that all of the life in the world were at peace. That was the way it was supposed to be.
END
A/N: That's it, the end of my mini-fic. Please share your views on it, I'd be most grateful. I may write a sequel.