Weee! Update!
Roy: Isn't this the one you've been planning over the past few weeks?
Ardath: Yeah, it is. She wasn't orginally going to stop where she did, but it makes a good stopping place.
Fox: Didn't you surprise yourself with this one?
Oh yes, I didn't know I had five pages only twenty minutes into starting it. I guess I'm finally getting out of my writers' block (Celebrates)
Marth: Finally!
Link: What?
Marth: You'll see. Someone disclaim.
Roy: Aru doesn't own squat. Ardath will protect her from lawyers, so don't even try it.
All: Onward to chapter 5!
"No lost words, whisper slowly, to me.
Still can't find what keeps me here.
And all this time I've been so hollow, inside,
I know your still there." Evanescence, Haunted
Chapter 5:Reunion: Crash landing
Hyrule fell away from beneath the transporters. The sky darkened, little twinkling lights appearing across the sky, spreading like wild fire. Fox worked hard, pressing buttons, hitting a switch, toggling the radar, and adjusting different fields of sight. Zelda poked her head between the two seats. "What's going on?" she asked, feeling Fox's seriousness.
"We've got company, and it's not just Falco's transporter." Fox replied between gritted teeth.
Sure enough, on the radar, a large group of hostile ships had appeared. Roy looked through the window and watched as the ships came closer. A laser beam flew under them and rocked the ship.
"Ah crap." Fox hit the gas, causing the transporter to lurch forward and Zelda to fall backwards into Link. "Our main gun is out."
"What?" Roy felt panic begin to chew on his leg. "Let's get out of here!"
:Fox! We're in trouble! They've hit our wing and main gun! We need to get out of here, and fast!: Falco's face appeared.
"I read you Falco. Keep flying, there's a desert planet somewhere around here. We can hide out there." Fox brought up a virtual map. A green arrow pointed to their current location. He touched a yellow blip in the map. The transporter lurched again and began to speed off.
"Where are we going?" Link asked.
"We need to hide somewhere. It's too dangerous out here." Fox hit another button. "This is Fox to the Star Fox! We request help!" he called, his voice faltering slightly.
:Fox, is that you? This is a bad time, you know. We're being pursued by some hostile ships, and we have our hands full at the moment. Sorry about that pal.: Slippy replied.
"Great. Just great." Fox rubbed a paw across his forehead. He then sat forward. "There, that planet will make a nice hiding spot."
The planet was plain, and didn't look like a good place to hide. There weren't giant caves, only a sand covered expanse. Roy imagined seeing a couple small spots where a civilization could be. But that wasn't the most important thing at the moment.
:Fox! We're hit, we're hit: Falco yelled. His transporter flew by them, straight at the planet. Fox flew after them, avoiding the lasers that flew by them.
"Just keep flying, Falco! Land on that planet, and we can hold them off from the ground!" Fox shouted. He was sounding desperate.
"Fox, I don't think this planet is a good idea. We're already… Arg!" Falco's screen blinked out.
"Oh crap." Fox's eyes widened. Falco's transporter was pulled towards the planet so fast, Fox thought Falco might have hit the gas. But soon, their transporter was racing down as well.
"This planet's gravity pull is too great!" Fox shouted as warning screens popped up, blinking red. "We're going to have a rough landing, folks. Link, Zelda, buckle up fast!" Fox gripped his own safety belt.
Link and Zelda rushed as they scrambled to sit down in the seats. The transporter began to shake violently as the riders held on for the life. The ground rose to meet them at a sickening speed. The last thing any of them remembered was a jolting pain through out their bodies, sand everywhere, then, blackness.
Flashback…Roy blinked against the sun. He turned as a girl called him. "Roy!"
"Hey Lilina!" Roy smiled at his friend. "What's up?"
"Papa is meeting a king from a far away land today. He wants us there so we can meet him!" Lilina took Roy's hand and pulled him back towards Ostia, its walls glinting in the sun. Several cracks were visible where years ago the wall had been breached by his father and mother's enemies. The gates stood open, the townsfolk busy with their everyday jobs. Several stopped and bowed to Lilina and Roy. Lilina would giggle while Roy would tell them they didn't have to be so humble to him. They hurried on through the gates, where they saw that the soldiers were getting ready for the arrival of the unknown king. Hector, Lilina's father, was among them.
"Make sure those barracks are as clean as the kitchens, or I'll have you scrubbing the floor with a paintbrush! Ah, Lilina, Roy, come this way." Hector led the two children along as the soldiers laughed at Hector. He wouldn't make them scrub the barracks with a paintbrush unless their lives counted on it.
"Hurry, the king will be here soon. Roy, you're a mess! Where have you been? At the creek, I presume. No matter, we'll have you spic and span in no-"
"Hector!" A female voice rose above the laughter of the soldiers. A slim lady, dressed like the nomads of Sacae with emerald hair and eyes to match tackled the marquess.
"Lyndis! Well met, my friend. And Rath and Sue too! What a surprise. How have you all been?"
"…" Rath, who was leading a horse with a small fragile girl on its back just looked at Hector. Lyn laughed.
"Oh Rath, can't you just say hello to an old friend?" Lyn wrapped her arms around her spouse.
"Well met, Hector of Ostia." Rath nodded. He turned to the girl. "Say hello."
"Hello Mr. Hector sir." The girl bowed her head.
"Little miss, no bowing to me. Do you mind?" he looked to Lyn and Rath. They shook their heads, and Hector grabbed the girl. The horse remained still, just like its master had taught it to. The girl giggled as Hector set her down and patted her on the head.
"Well," Hector turned to Lyn and Rath. "You're just in time. A foreign king has come from Altea across the sea to visit."
"Why splendid!" Lyn smiled. "Shall we, Rath dear?"
"Mm." Rath replied. The small group went into the keep, Roy and Lilina surrounding the girl.
"Hi, I'm Roy." Roy introduced himself.
"And I'm Lilina, daughter of the Marquess of Ostia." Lilina smiled. "And who are you?"
"I'm Sue." The girl grinned tomboy-ishly.
"Nice to meet you, Sue." Roy and Lilina chorused.
Later…
Hector, Eliwood, Lyndis, Florina, Rath, Roy, Lilina, and Sue stood in front of the throne in the throne room of Ostia. Soldiers lined the way to the throne, several holding flags on the ends of their lances displaying the emblem of each territory. Ostia's was held by Hector's own friend, Oswin, while Pherae's was held by the old paladin, Marcus. Lyn, Rath, and Sue wore their finest sacaen clothing. A hub rose outside the room the soldiers straightened themselves as a man and a boy entered, followed by several knights bearing different colors. The man walked up to the group, leading the procession half way, where his own soldiers stopped. Only he and the boy continued until they stood in front of the group.
The king bowed his head. "Lord Hector, I presume?" the king spoke with a strong voice that reminded one of a deep flute. "I am King Cornelius of Altea. This is my son and heir, Marth."
"Well met, King Cornelius, Prince Marth." Hector bowed respectfully. "I am Hector, Marquess of Ostia and leader of the Lycian League. These are my friends, Lord Eliwood and Roy, his son, of Pherae, and Lady Lyndis and her husband Rath and their daughter Sue, formerly of Caelin, now of Sacae. And finally, my beloved wife and daughter, Florina and Lilina."
"Well met, to you all." The king smiled gently.
"Come my friend, you must be weary. Is it okay if Marth goes with the kids?" Hector asked.
"Oh, of course. You play nice now Marth." Cornelius smiled at his son as the adults made their way out of the room.
"Soldiers dismissed!" Hector called. The solders bowed, then made their way out to the barracks. Soon, the four kids were alone in the throne room. Silence ensued as Marth stared at Roy, Lilina, and Sue.
"Hi." Roy started. "I'm Roy."
"Marth." Marth replied. He stepped forward and dropped to a knee in front of Lilina, kissing her hand gently. He did the same for Sue. The girls giggled. "I'm glad to meet you all."
"But we haven't told you our names!" Sue swatted the air. "I'm Sue."
"And I'm Lady Lilina." Lilina batted her eyes at Marth, earning a laugh from Roy and Marth.
"Let's be friends!" Roy smiled, saying the line that always began a life long friendship…
End FlashbackRoy woke slowly to a head splitting headache. His head swam as if it had turned to a liquid. He opened his eyes to a furry face.
"Ahh!" Roy sat up. Wrong move. His head seemed to blow up with pain. Fox pushed him back.
"Don't scare me like that! Now stay down, you have a concussion." Fox told him. Roy gingerly lifted a hand and touched his head. When he looked at his glove, he saw that it had blood on it.
"It's not serious, is it?" Roy asked, worried. He didn't want to be a burden to his fellow smashers.
"Not as serious as Zelda's arm. The bone was sticking right through her elbow. Pretty nasty."
"How is everyone else?" Roy asked. His head was already beginning to feel better.
"They're all fine. Falco and Link are a bit roughed up, and Young Link passed out from shock. Marth is Marth." Fox looked to the door of the transporter. Roy noticed that the floor was covered with sand and the door was broken open.
"What happened?" Roy asked.
"We crashed. We're on the desert. Been for less than an hour. It's still morning here, but its warmer than heck."
"I noticed." Roy could feel perspiration on the back of his neck.
"Ah, Roy." Zelda poked her head in, her arm supported by what looked like Marth's cloak. "Ready for me to heal that head of yours?"
"You can heal?" Roy blinked. "Why didn't you heal yourself?"
"I can't heal myself, only others." Zelda told him. She entered and rested her good hand on his forehead. Her hand felt cool amid the hot stuffy air of the transporter's remains. His head suddenly felt clear and pain free. He sat up.
"Thank you, Zel. I only wish I could do the same for you." Roy touched his head to reassure that his head was in one piece.
"That's okay. Let's go see to Young Link." Zelda stood and disappeared out into the blistering heat of the desert. Roy and Fox followed.
There wasn't much of a scenery. There was sand, sand, and look! More sand! The dunes rolled away, some looking like they could be mountains. A stiff breeze blew up little sand devils that swirled a ways before collapsing. Nearby was the second transporter, with one wing blown off, leaving a black mark where the wing should have been. The door was open, and just inside was a green lump on the ground. Link and Marth were sitting in what shade there was from the transporter.
"Hey Roy, feeling better?" Link asked. He looked a bit worn out.
"Yeah, thanks to Zelda." Roy sat down beside them as Zelda disappeared into the transporter. "Are you guys alright?"
"Yeah, just a bit sore." Link stretched his hands above his head. "And it feels warmer than heck. Very unlike Hyrule."
"I know what you mean." Fox sat down as well.
"This place… It's so plain… but there's something about this place that makes me want to run and shout with joy." Marth suddenly said. He was staring at the horizon. The other three blinked at him.
"Marth…?" Roy blinked. "Is the heat getting to your head or what?"
Marth looked at him. "I think so."
Young Link suddenly came out, followed by Falco and Zelda. "Wow, this place is hot!" Young Link rubbed his brow. He then looked up. "Uh guys… I think we have trouble."
On the horizon, where Marth had been staring moments earlier, a large band of humans had appeared. And they didn't look friendly. The smashers stood and drew their weapons wearily as the humans surrounded them.
The humans were a huge group of bandits. They were at least one hundred strong, and the heat didn't seem to bother them at all. Their leader stepped forward, his status shone by his nicer armor and silver axe.
"Argh, look at the likkle newsies to Desert. A pretty one too!" the bandits chuckled. "Arg, just hand over the girl and all your riches and weapons, and we just might leave you alive."
"No way." Fox growled, his blaster trained on the bandit. Two arrows and another blaster were trained on him as well.
"Argh, then we'll just have to kill them. Atta-" the bandit didn't get to finish his sentence as Young Link let loose his arrow, slaying the bandit. This angered the rest of the bandits, so they came on. The smashers then noticed a lone figure on a dune to the east. It sat on a motorbike and wore all brown clothing except a single snow white scarf. It also wore a leather helmet and goggles. The bike rolled silently down the dune as the rider pulled something out of a bag at its side. It chucked the item.
A huge explosion sounded. As soon as the bomb finished blowing, lightning ran through the bandits, killing them. To the west, two smaller figures were controlling the lightning. They were dressed exactly the same as the first, only without a bike.
Finally, from the south came a company, about three-fourths the size of the bandits, but certainly more battle ready. They fell on the bandits ferociously. The smashers didn't even have to lift a finger.
The three original figures paused, then met at the north before disappearing on the bike around a dune. The smaller company surrounded the smashers, weapons at the ready.
A man stepped forward. "Are you with the Empire?" the man asked. Two bows and blasters were trained on this man.
"Empire?" Roy looked confused. "Well, actually, we're from space. We kind of were ambushed and crashed here on this desert."
"That's like what the last spy said. Do you have proof?" the man growled. He raised his sword threateningly. But it dropped as a voice was raised.
"Marth!" a blur; one of the soldiers had tackled Marth. The smashers turned in alarm, only to be dumbfound.
"Samus?" Roy squeaked. The blonde haired, green eyed bounty hunter had Marth locked in a kiss.
"Sammy!" Zelda shouted with joy. Marth was crying with joy. Fox and Falco were grinning, though some confusion showed through on their faces. Young Link was the only one who was genuinely confused.
"Samus! But how-" Marth helped Samus up.
"I'll explain later." Samus told him before turning to the leader, who had his arms crossed. "Sir, these are my old friends."
"Well then. I guess it's safe to say you aren't with the empire." The man nodded. He turned to the soldiers. "Set up camp!"
The sound of a motorbike was heard. The three figures were coming towards them. Samus turned in alarm.
"Oh no… I forgot…" Samus mumbled. Roy turned to her. "Roy, I'm sorry…" Roy blinked in confusion.
The bike stopped, the figures jumping off. Their clothing hid most physical features, except that one had a tail and the tallest was female.
"Did we do good?" the medium one asked. The smashers started at the voice. The helmet was removed. It was Ness, yet it wasn't. Where as the Ness they knew had black hair and eyes, this Ness had snow white hair and silver eyes.
"Yes, you did great." Samus winced. The smallest's helmet was off. It was Pichu. But this Pichu had white fur and milky blue eyes. Roy looked to the last. Was it…?
The final helmet was off.
Katan. Yet it wasn't.
Cliffy! Oh no! And look, they're back!
Marth: No more sad me!
Roy: Oh boy!
Link: (dances)
Fox: Why is everyone so happy? (Sits back, watches TV)
Pichu: Read and Review! Dutch Apple Pie for reviewers!