"He's down!" Wolf's men shouted as they hurried towards Marth. Each of them was holding thick ropes, ready to capture the bluenette. Marth could only helplessly watch his enemies inch closer to him. His survival instants shrieked at him to quick get up and flee. Much to his aghast, his entire body felt as weak as a newborn kitten. It could not carry its own heavy weight, with shared the weight of a large slab of iron.
As Wolf and his men surrounded him and grabbed him by the arms and legs, Marth weakly struggled in resistance, trying to make it difficult for them to bind him. Yet, his efforts were futile, as the toxic powder greatly weakened his system.
Ropes tightly coiled around Marth's wrists and ankles, restraining him from any movement. He let out a small, pained cry as the knots were tightly tied.
"L...Let me g-go!" Marth shouted as his captors, trying to stay brave as he struggled against his bindings. Yet, if Wolf listened and looked closely enough, he could fear shaking in Marth's voice and defeat glittering in Marth's frightened, cerulean eyes, which lost their bright, hopeful sparkle.
"Why should we let you go?" Wolf asked with a dark tone. He cupped Marth's chin and lifted it up, so he could look at him directly in the frightened eyes. "We wolves always chase after the sickly, weak lamb. We never show mercy."
Wolf's men snickered at their leader's sentence, causing a shiver to judder down Marth's spine. Unable to fight back and defend himself, Marth could only gaze soullessly into Wolf's cold eyes.
He realized that he just failed his duty as being a prince. Now that he was in his enemies' hands, his own soul would be devoured to revive Medeus, thus ending the peace in Hyrule and beginning a reign of darkness and terror.
Marth quietly sighed and shut his eyes in defeat. A tiny tear rolled down his pale cheek. He failed to protect his people from his enemies, as they would use his own precious soul to their advantage and success. If he was not bounded with coiling ropes, he would fight his way out, like any true prince.
Unbeknownst to him, his piece of the Triforce of Power began to shimmering dimly on the back of his bounded, left hand.
"What's that?" one of Wolf's men pointed at the source of the glowingly gold light.
In response, Wolf took a closer look at Marth's hand.
All of a sudden, a blast of gold light erupted from Marth's hand. It shot towards the sky and sliced through the darkness like a knife. Not expecting the beam of light, Wolf and his men shouted in surprise and hurried back into the shady bushes in panic. What was that?! Was that an intentional magic attack?!
The ropes binding Marth slowly charred away as the light continued to jolt up the sky like a lightning bolt. Marth gritted his teeth in pain and exhaustion. He breathed in and out so quickly, he feared that he may faint.
"Somebody... Please help..." Marth managed to say weakly.
Ike, who managed to slyly outrun and flee his enemies, was wandering aimlessly around the forest, when a sudden shower of light grabbed his attention. Gasping softly, he immediately looked at the source of the abrupt light and watched the gold flare erupt through the black sky.
"Marth!" That was the first thing Ike thought of. Picking up speed, he began to hurry towards the explosion of light. Something must've happened! Was Marth injured? Captured? Trapped somewhere? Whatever happened, Ike dreadfully needed to get to his friend quickly! This was serious!
"Hold on Marth, I'm coming!" Ike thought to himself.
"Ahh!" Pit exclaimed as he shield his eyes from the blast of light with his eyes. Link squinted his azure eyes and quickly looked away from the blinding explosion. The two pegasi neighed loudly in surprise, thinking that it was a strange magical attack aimed at them.
"What was that?!" Pit asked, looking at Link with an amazed look.
"It's some kind of light magic!" Link answered. Nervousness settled in his stomach, causing it to turn and twist. "I sense the aura of the Triforce surrounding it..."
"It might be Ike or Marth!" Pit piped up. "They might be in trouble!"
"Let's hurry!" Link quickly said. Pulling on Epona's reins, he hurried towards the distant flare of gold, with Pit and Ike's pegasi trailing him.
The Risen hissed in painas the gold light shined in their sensitive, glowing, red eyes. Purple smoke began to form out of their mouths like saliva as they quickly looked away. With a confused "Hmmm?" Ghirahim rose an eyebrow as he turned and spotted the bolt of light in the distance. His lips eventually curved into an evil smile.
"That light in the distance... Can it be Link... Or Marth?" Ghirahim asked out loud.
His question was answered when the sound of a pegasus's wings flapping hurriedly reached his ears. Ghirahim looked up and spotted Link mounted on Epona shoot through the trees like an arrow. Being the tired, lazy bees, Pit and another pegasus trailed them, though they were still going quite fast.
"It is Marth. Link is coming to his rescue, like the little hero he is." Ghirahim said as he motioned to the Risen to follow him. "His heroic rescue will shatter, however."
Surrounded in gold light, Marth felt his stamina slowly drain out of his body. Sweat rolled down his forehead as he tried his hardest to repel his enemy away and endure his exhaustion so his friends could rescue him. He was carrying a heavy, powerful bomb over his shoulders. He needed to stand in order to live. If he were to collapse, everything would go off for him. His future, life, and loved ones, everything would be destroyed with a bang!
Much to Marth's anguish, the light began to dimmer along with his strength to go on.
"N-No..." Marth managed to huff. "Please... I need to..."
The light slowly died down. Its only remain was the Triforce of Power shimmering weakly and dully on Marth's left hand. His gray, tired, cerulean eyes looking at the glowing triangle, Marth inhaled and exhaled loudly before fainting in exhaustion.
Wolf and his men blinked and rubbed their sore eyes. Before Wolf could order his men to grab Marth, he was cut off by a sudden voice.
"Marth!" Link shouted as he landed on the ground. He rushed towards the unconscious male and kneeled down next to him.
Pit and Ike's pegasus landed next to him. "Is he ok?" Pit asked worriedly.
"He is unconscious." Link answered, about to pick Marth up. "Help me carry him onto Ike's pegasus. Let's go back to Hyrule as soon as possible!"
Just as when Link began to carefully pick up Marth, the sound of a gun loading stopped him in his tracks. Pit jumped and looked at the source of the sudden noise.
"Stay still, and no one will get hurt." Wolf cooly warned, pointing his gun at the three teens.
"Oh, it's you." Link said, as he, Pit, and the two pegasi slowly backed away from Wolf's men. Wolf and his men were slowly closing in on them.
"Didn't you hear me?" Wolf sharply asked, his eyes narrowing into a glare.
Wolf fired his gun, which went off with a load bang. Although it intentionally missed them, Link and Pit jumped. Epona neighed loudly, while Ike's pegasus flinched.
"I said stay still!" Wolf finished harshly.
"My, Wolf, don't do that!" Ghirahim said as he suddenly appeared at the scene with his growling Risen. Pit quickly drew out his bow, while Link protectively clutched Marth in his arms. "You don't want hurt Link and Marth, am I correct. However, I suppose the angel and the pegasi don't matter."
"Do you want us to dispose them?" Wolf asked.
Link cringed at the question and felt Marth twitch in his arms. He gently set Marth down and took a quick look at him as Pit carefully watched his surroundings. The Triforce of Power dimly flickered before it vanished completely.
"Yes, we can't allow Link and Marth to alert their allies or escape." Ghirahim answered cooly.
"Is you say so." Wolf pointed his gun at Pit and gently set his finger on the trigger.
All of a sudden, Marth's eyes snapped open. "W-Wait!" he weakly said, as he shakily stood up. "Don't hurt them!"
"Marth, no!" Link whispered. "Get down! You're too weak!"
Marth ignored Link's warnings and unsteadily walked towards Wolf. "Don't... hurt them... Just take me... and leave them alone..." he feebly said.
Link looked closely at Marth and noticed that his legs, which were holding his heavy body, were shaking in exhaustion.
"Men, hold him back." Wolf ordered. A few men hurried to Marth, grabbed him, and held him down to the soggy, moist, swampy ground.
"No, leave them alone!" Marth shouted desperately. Tears of fright filled his wide cerulean eyes. He began to struggle against his restrictions. Link quickly looked at Wolf and unsheathed his sword.
One of the men grabbed a handful of Marth's azure hair, pulled it up, and violently slapped Marth's face. "Shut up!"
Letting a small yet high-pitched cry of pain, Marth glared at the men with widening angry eyes. A sudden burst of energy erupted through his frail body as he shoved the men away. As his blood began to boil, the Triforce of Power shone brightly on his left hand and enveloped him with light.
"What's happening?!" some of the men shouted in panic as they fled in shock.
Wolf's and his remaining men's attention turned to the abrupt flash of light. Standing in Marth place was a ferocious lion. He had a flowing azure mane, bangs that covered its glaring cerulean eyes, and a light-blue coat. He emitted a low growl as he slowly went towards Wolf's men, making them draw back in fear.
The Triforce of Power...!" Link thought to himself in astonishment.
"I said LEAVE THEM ALONE!" Marth, now empowered in his lion form, roared at his enemies in rage. He suddenly lunged at a group of cowering men and swiped them with his monstrous claws. Screaming and yelling in confusion, they flew off into the distance. Where they landed was not part of Marth's worry. He only cared about protecting his friends.
"Stop him!" Ghirahim and Wolf commanded their men and Risen.
Yet, despite their efforts, the followers and Risen were no match for Marth. Whenever they got too close to the enraged lion, Marth would simply swat them away with his razor-sharp claws. If they were lucky, they were simply land head-first in the mud or water. If not, they were shred into bloody pieces like paper.
Marth did not fight alone. Link and Pit were his eyes behind his head. Whenever a Risen or follower got too close to Marth's turned back, they were quickly take them down with a simple, glowing, magic arrow, or a slash from a sword. Even the pegasi joined the battle. Their loud, bellowing neighs struck terror in their enemies' hears as they kicked them in the stomach with their powerful hind-legs.
"Marth!" Ike shouted as he arrived in the battlefield. The scene that greeted him greatly shocked him. It was not the Risen and Wolf's followers attacking Link and Pit, it was the magnificent, grand, blue lion that dominated the battle field. Yet, it seemed familiar...
"What's going on?" Ike asked himself as he unsheathed his sword and hurried into the battlefield. He grunted as he shielded himself from a Risen's attack.
Pit noticed Ike entering the battle. "Link! It's Ike!" he exclaimed, pointing at Ike, who was fending off the Risen.
Link quickly looked at where Pit was pointing and nodded.
"Wolf, Ike has entered the battlefield." Wolf's men warned.
"I'll take care of him." Wolf said as he hid behind a tree and aimed at Ike, who was completely unaware.
With his sensitive ears, Marth picked up Wolf's words. He noticed him hiding in the shadows, taking aim at Ike and waiting for the perfect moment to pull the trigger.
After taking down several Risen, Ike recognized Marth's lion form. "Marth, is that you?" he asked, hurrying towards the blue lion.
"Gotcha." Wolf thought to himself as Ike quickly stabbed two Risen that got in his way. Ike was completely in the open.
Wolf gently set his finger on the trigger and aimed the deadly weapon at Ike's head. If Marth was a human, his face would've been as white as snow.
"No, Ike can't—!" Marth thought to himself as he quickly hurried towards Wolf.
Just as Wolf was about to pull the trigger, Marth roared in fury as he lunged at his archenemy. Wolf quickly turned, and before he could even counter-attack, Marth slashed him with his razor-sharp claws. The cinnamon liquid that spewed onto the ground marked the violent end of a life.
"Boss!" Wolf's men shouted in panic. Without a leader, they did not know what to do next.
Marth turned to the remaining men and let out a warning, furious growl, which sent a freezing chill down their backs and echoed into the darkness. Knowing that they were not match for the powerful lion, the surviving men fled into the dark forest, screaming and yelling for their lives.
Ike stabbed a Risen before hurrying towards Marth. "M-Marth! Is that you? If so, are you alright?"
"Ike..." Marth said as light began to cover him. Ike quickly looked away from the blinding light. When the light died down, he looked and spotted Marth, who reverted back to a human. "I'm glad that you and the others are safe..." he finished weakly.
Marth tried to walk towards Ike. However, he clumsily stumbled due to his exhaustion from fleeing, the poisonous gas, and using the Triforce of Power's magic twice. Luckily, Ike managed to catch him and break his fall. With a tired, frail sigh, Marth slumped limply in his arms.
Pit finished the last Risen via shooting it in the head. "Where's Ghirahim?" he asked, looking around.
Link heard a click behind him and turned around, just to see the silver-haired demon vanishing into diamonds. "He must've fled. Be careful, he might be waiting for the perfect time to attack!" he warned.
"Marth, I'm sorry." Ike apologized. "If I came here sooner and protected you, you wouldn't be in this state!"
Marth laughed softly, trying to brighten the mood. "It's not your fault. I was the one who suggested that we should split up. Besides, we are still alive, right?" After finishing that sentence, Marth began to cough hysterically. Ike cringed; he thought that Marth was going to cough his lungs out.
"Ike! Marth! Pit! Link!" Roy cried out as he, Fox, Falco, and Samus rushed to the scene.
"You guys are alright!" Link spoke with a relieved smile.
"We could've gotten here sooner if it weren't for Ghirahim ordering his Risen to attack us." Fox growled. "Luckily, they were really easy to take down."
"How's everyone?" Samus asked.
"I assume all of us are fine." Ike answered. His voice dropped into nervousness. "Except for Marth."
"Did he get injured?" Roy asked in concern.
"No, I didn't." Marth quietly answered. He let out a load cough. "I inhaled some... poisonous gas... emitted by a Pokemon..."
"This is serious!" Falco spoke. "We need to get him back to Hyrule as soon as possible!"
"Ike, put Marth on your pegasus." Link ordered. "He's too weak to walk. Everyone else, follow me! I know a way out!"
As Ike carefully set Marth on his pegasus, Marth groaned softly in pain and dizziness.
"Marth, what's wrong?" Ike asked worriedly.
"I... feel so dizzy... tired... Everything... is getting... so blurry and cold..." Marth shivered as he groggily answered Ike's question.
Ike took off his warm, red scarf and gently wrapped it around Marth's neck. As heat embraced his body, the blurs of colors and shadows Marth saw gradually turned into darkness.
"...Marth?! Marth! Wake up!"
Author's Notes: Yess! Writer's block didn't get me this time!
Well, after two chapters of Marth fleeing and whatnot, he's finally found by his friends and not in the hands of the Risen. Also, someone asked me if Marth could transform into a wolf like Link. This gave me an idea. The reason why Marth can transform into a lion and not a wolf is, I feel that the lion best represents him (His past life anyway.); royalty, power, etc...
Also, something tells me that the story might be completed in at least 5 more chapters.
Story Questions:
What do you think is going to happen in the next chapter?
Should Ike have the ability to transform into an animal? If yes, what animal should it be?
I want to have characters from Hollow ( Like Eliwood) enter the Surface. The problem is, I can't think of a good reason why they arrive at the Surface. Any suggestions?