As Wolf's men slowly closed in on them, Ike could only protectively clutch Marth and Roy and carefully watch his enemies. He was about to shout to his friends to quickly board his pegasus. Yet, as soon as she noticed the surrounding enemies, the pegasus quickly flew away, up to the sky with a frightened, panicking neigh.
"Crud!" Ike thought to himself.
"What do you want from us?!" Roy asked out loud, trying to sound brave.
"Is it Link?" Marth added, glaring at the men. "He's not with us!"
"It would be nice if this 'Link' was here." Wolf answered, drawing his gun and pointed it directly at Marth. "But, since there is only three of you here... I want Marth."
Marth's face turned white. "M-Me? Why?"
"Let's say we made a deal with someone known as Ghirahim." Wolf explained. "He promised that if we captured Marth, he would give us our precious energy source, which was wrongly stolen by your friends."
"Wh-Wha?!" Roy exclaimed.
"Ghirahim's one of the remaining demons Tiki told us about!" Marth explained. He began to shake in anxiety. "I knew that there's something suspicious abut him!"
"You'll never get Marth and Link!" Ike shouted bravely in determination.
"Really?" Wolf replied mockingly. "What are you doing to do now?"
Roy looked behind him and noticed a large gap in the wall of Wolf's men. "Guys! We can run!"
Ike and Marth looked behind themselves and gasped. There was a chance to run! They must act fast, or the window of freedom is closed!
"We... We're going to RUN!" Ike abruptly shouted.
With that, Ike, Marth, and Roy sped through the gap like a certain blue hedgehog, accidentally knocking over some men in the progress. As they ran deeper into the forest, Ike looked back and watched Wolf's mean shout and glance around in confusion.
"What are you waiting for?!" Wolf yelled furiously. "Get them!"
The game of wolf and sheep began. No matter how hard and quick they ran, Wolf's men were always behind Ike and his friends. Blurs of shadows whizzed pass them as they panted hurriedly for cool air. Their mouth quickly dried up while their legs were pulsing in exhaustion.
"They're still behind us!" Marth gasped out, panting.
Sweat rolling down his face, Ike looked behind him. "Yes, they are!"
"What do we do?" Roy asked.
Ike quickly tried to think of something. Hmmm... Should they fight? No, they were outnumbered! Hide? No, they was not a place for them to hide! Try to reason with them? No, that definitely would not work! Wolf and his men are willing to do anything to get their hands on Marth!
"Guys...?" Marth suddenly spoke up.
"Yes?" Ike replied quickly. "Do you have an idea?"
"Yeah!" Marth answered. "Just... Just let them have me."
Ike's and Roy's eyes widened in shock and disgust.
"No, we aren't!" Roy protested.
"Please, I don't want both of you to get hurt!" Marth quietly fought back.
"Still, we aren't going to let them get you!" Ike replied, trying to encourage Marth. "Don't you remember? We are your knights! We are supposed to protect you!"
That statement struck Marth like a bolt of lightning. "Ok!" he bravely said.
Meanwhile, Link and Pit were flying over the forest, looking for any signs of Marth. The trees were represented as patches of gray leaves. The large, looming moon and the tiny, innocent stars were the only things lighting the way.
"Do you see anything?" Pit asked.
"No!" Link answered, before sighing. He gave Epona a gentle pat on the mane. "I'm worried! What if Marth already got captured?"
"Look at the bright side!" Pit encouraged. "Marth might be still out there!"
"I hope so." Link smiled hopefully at the angel.
The sound of flapping wings made Link and Pit turn around. They spotted Ike'a pegasus panicky hurry to them, neighing wildly in alarm. Epona, the only member who understood Pegasus loudly neighed back in worry.
"A pegasus!" Pit gasped, flying towards her. "It's not injured..."
"Not just any pegasus!" Link said as he took a closer look. "It's Ike's!"
"Ike's?!" Pit exclaimed. "Oh no, what if he got attacked?!"
"Stay calm." Link quickly ordered before turning his attention to Ike's pegasus. "Do you know where Ike is?"
The pegasus instantly flew to the opposite direction, neighing. She hoped that Link could understand her. Luckily, Link got the message.
"Ike is over there! Let's hurry!" Link commanded to Pit before flying after Ike's pegasus.
Samus, Fox, and Falco carefully hiked through the forest, looking for any signs of Marth. As Fox and Falco called the bluenette's name, Samus warily watched for danger. The forest was a treacherous wildness during the night. Anything could hide in the shady bushes and wait for the perfect moment to attack.
"Marth? Marth!" Fox called, his voice echoing into the forest's shadow. "Do you guys see him?"
"No, I don't." Falco sighed.
A sudden chill shot up Samus's back. Shaking slightly, she quickly looked around, her blonde hair waving in the air. "Something or someone is watching us..." she said quietly, taking a gun out of her pouch, which hung over her shoulders.
"Where?" Fox asked, peering around for danger.
Before Samus could answer, she was interrupted by a livid hiss, which came from the bushes. "Over there!" she shouted. "Get ready!"
With their weapons drawn and prepared for battle, the trio carefully watched the Risen leap out of the the bushes with a livid hiss and violent snarl. Dark purple smog that smelled like rotten eggs gushed out of their mouth. A ghostly, dark, spine-tingling filled the area as the Risen circled their preys.
"That's strange..." Samus cautious spoke, keeping an eye on the undead.
"What is it?" Falco asked.
"Is it just me, or do these Risen seem to be much stronger?" Samus asked.
"You're not the only one." Fox answered, preparing to pull the trigger. "They seem to have a more powerful energy around them."
As Falco gazed sharply at several growling Risen, he noticed a mysterious figure snickering at him and his friends while standing behind the wall of death with another group of the undead warriors.
"Who's that?!" Falco asked in shock, pointing at the figure.
Samus and Fox quickly looked at the direction Falco was pointing to. "T-That's—!" Samus started, unable to finish her sentence due to her disbelief.
Ghirahim chuckled softly before turning to the Risen standing by him. "Now, I want you all to find the little hero Link, or better, Marth." he ordered.
With a hasty grunt, the Risen hurried away from the scene and dashed into the forest. They were eager to please their master.
"As for you guys, please dispose those little flies." Ghirahim calmly ordered. "We can't have them buzzing around Marth, warning him of the danger."
A few Risen nodded before turning their attention to Samus, Fox, and Falco.
"He's Princess Zelda's advisor, isn't he?!" Fox whispered quickly to the others.
"Yeah, he is!" Falco hissed back.
"I knew there was something suspicious about him!" Samus huffed.
Ghirahim turned away, and listened to the Risen's lifeless groans and low hisses. "It's a shame that I can't watch my beloved pets tear apart these wastes of flesh..." he said quickly to himself before teleporting away in a flash of diamonds, just as the Risen lunged at Samus, Fox, and Falco.
Marth panted loudly as he dashed through the forest with Ike and Roy. Wolf and his men were still hot on their trail, much to their angst.
"I... I can't run any more..." Marth wheezed, his face pale with exhaustion and fright.
"We have to keep running!" Ike quickly replied. "I sense that Link and the others are nearby! Hold on!"
"There's too many!" Roy panted quickly, looking back at Wolf's men, who were gaining on them. "They are catching up with us!"
"I have an idea!" Marth suddenly said.
"What is it?" Ike asked as the wind whizzed in his ears.
"Why don't we split up?" Marth suggested. "We can confuse them!"
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Roy carefully asked. "They can just gang up in you, Marth!"
"I think it's worth a try!" Marth replied with a hopeful smile.
"Ok, if you say so." Roy replied.
"What do you want us to do?" Ike asked.
"We'll run in different directions." Marth explained as quickly as he can. "Once when we lose Wolf and his men, we'll meet at the front of the forest, got it?"
"Got it!" Ike answered.
"I understand!" Roy replied with a small wink.
Wolf and his men's eyes widened in confusion and bewilderment as their three targets suddenly split up, running in separate directions. As Marth turned to the west towards the swampy part of the forest, Roy made a sharp right turn and continued to run deeper into the murky forest. Ike continued to run north.
"What the— They are splitting up!" one of the men shouted in alarm.
"Where did Marth go?!" another man exclaimed.
"I think he went to the left!"
"No! The little redhead ran to the left! Marth went to the north!"
"Hold on, stop!" Wolf boldly shouted, stopping his men in his tracks. "A third of you go to the east and north! The rest of you follow me to the west!" he ordered.
"Yes sir!" some of the men said, before parting in separate directions.
His footsteps squishing on the moist, muddy ground, Marth inhaled and exhaled softly as his gradually slowed down. Licking his parched lips, he turned around. Did he lose Wolf and his men? He spotted beams of glowing lights jolting around the area, patrolling for their prey.
"Do you see him?!" a voice shouted.
"No, I don't think he's here!" another voice answered.
Marth breathed a sigh of relief, however his confidence did not last long.
"Check over there!" the glowing lights flashed at Marth, causing him to gasp loudly. Panicking, Marth began to run deeper into the forest.
Marth did not worry where he was going. Al he cared was getting away from his enemies! His friends, or knights, were not there to protect him! Oh, he should've stayed at Hyrule, instead of trying to leave on his own!
As the incarnation of the Prince's Spirit dashed the swamp, the Woopers and Mudkips hiding in the little ponds watched him, wondering what was happening. A few Roselias sleeping in the bushes were awoken by Marth's squishy, loud footsteps. A Weepinbell that moved in his sleep accidentally slipped from its branch and fell on the ground with a sudden thud, startling Marth. Marth began to panic. Was that Wolf's men?! Marth looked behind him as he ran deeper and deeper into the soggy, mild swamp.
Not paying attention to what was in front of him, Marth accidentally stepped on something. It let out a high-pitched squeal and a growl. Wondering what he stomped on, Marth looked down and spotted a Bulbasaur.
In self-defense, the Bulbasaur suddenly puffed toxic, cloudy, thick powder at Marth. As Marth began to cough hysterically, trying to expel the poison out of his system, the Seed Pokemon hurried away.
"I hear something over there!" Marth softly gasped at the yelling voice.
"He must be over there! Hurry!" a second voice shouted.
Marth tried to flee from the incoming men however, he began to strangely feel light-headed and exhausted. His legs felt as heavy as fifty pounds of lead. His chest felt tight, making it hard for him to breathe. Marth's azure eyes began to water due to the powder stinging his eyes.
With a frail groan, Marth collapsed onto the ground, just as when one of Wolf's men shone his flashlight on him.
Author's Notes: I'm back, everyone!
Sorry for the late update. I had an important test in school, so I took the time to study. And yes, I just have to torture you guys with another cliffhanger, lol. /gets hit by pie
I don't really have much to say about this chapter. I want to say that the story is about 75% completed, but it seems too soon... Also, I'm coming down with a case of writer's block, so I'm having a little bit of trouble writing the chapters. So don't be too surprised if there's a slow update.
Story Questions:
What do you think is going to happen in the next chapter?
Should Ike and others should return to Hollow and reunite with their friends in a future chapter?