REVIEW RESPONSES:

NOTES: Glad that you all are anticipating the fight scene between Roy and Link as much as I enjoyed writing it. The whole Jedi-like thing last chapter was a motion of respect between the two, and I'm sorry if some people didn't like it. If any of you people want to see something happen in the next couple of chapters, tell me! I'm open to suggestions, just leave it in a review, and I'll consider using it. For the reviewers I already have, once again I thank you all! Now, enough jibber-jabber out of me, there's a fight scene to read. On with Chapter 7!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Super Smash Brothers Melee or the Legend of Zelda, or even the game Metroid Fusion. These franchises belong to Nintendo, and SSBM also belongs to HAL Laboratories. BUT, this story and all the ideas I have in it belong to me! In your face, you copycats!

Chapter 7: A Hero's Weakness

(Key Fire Emblem theme music)

Roy broke out of the lock first, catching Link by surprise by a broad stroke across the chest. Link leaped up and soared across the stage, landing and rolling forward quickly as Roy did a downward stroke to where his stomach should have been a moment ago. Link took that opportunity to get a running slash to Roy's exposed backside, which sent Roy upward. Link took no hesitation to do an upward spin attack, scoring a KO for him.

'That felt weird, for a moment I could hardly lift the Master Sword. Am I out of shape or something?'

He didn't have much time to think about this, as he was suddenly hit from behind from Roy's fully-charged flaming shield breaker attack, sending him falling off the stage, with no way to get back on.

'Damn it! I should have seen that coming!' thought the Hylian as he respawned back on the seemingly centuries-old structure. He couldn't see Roy, but found his position rather quickly as he was hit behind by a Super-Scope blast. Apparently, Roy found this little toy in a capsule after he scored his last KO.

Luckily, his damage indicator read only at 5 percent as he leaped in the air, doing a backflip behind Roy. Before he could move, he was sent down the winding path leading towards the bottom (A/N: The grassy path in the middle of the stage), hitting the ceiling and the floor about four times on his way down. The Super-Scope fell out of his hand and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Link followed, and an intense swordfight began. Link opened with a downward sword-plant, which Roy counteracted with his Counter move. Link rebounded with a few quick non-charged Smash attacks, but his opponent hardly even flinched. Roy did his full sword's dance, and Link landed on the ground, watching his damage indicator on his wrist climb up to 85 percent. Thinking quickly, Link hit Roy with a low kick and then tried to follow up with a sword flurry. Right before he started the move, the Master Sword seemed to increase in weight for some reason, as he felt as if it weighed over 300 pounds. His hesitation cost him a stock life as he was thrown off the stage. The sword still held Link down, which rendered his upwards spin attack ability next to impossible and he fell, giving Roy another KO. He did a quick fighter's stance, and then ran up to the top, waiting for his foe to return.

When Link respawned, he glanced at Roy climbing up the ledge, heading towards him. Thinking quickly, he sent an arrow to where Roy was going to be, and it hit its target with perfect accuracy. Roy flew up in the air, noticing his damage indicator was now up to 120 percent, and landed near the far right of the stage. This gave Link enough time, or so he thought, to think about his next move.

'Okay, he has two lives left, I have one. That was a stupid mistake, hesitating to attack, but why can I hardly wield my sword? What's different about the Master Sword since I fought with it? I mean, it's becoming incredibly difficult to perform any forms, let alone a spin attack. When I fought with it seven years ago, I had perfect control…This doesn't make sense. GODDESSES, WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?'

Before Link knew what was happening, he found himself flying upward towards the sky from a fully-charged upward Smash attack that came from behind. The last thing he heard was the distant word "Game!"

Link found himself sitting once again in the transporter room, his equipment by his side.

Roy then suddenly materialized next to him, having a triumphant look on his face. He then saw Link's expression and his own suddenly changed to one of worry.

"You did well; Hell, I though I was going to lose like last time after I lost my first life. But, you seemed to be holding back a bit."

When Link didn't respond, his eyes still fixated on the wall, Roy sat next to him and turned to face the depressed Hylian.

"Bad day?"

"Yeah, very."

"You wanna talk?"

Link hesitated, but nodded his head eventually.

"Sure. I could use the company. You and Zelda are the best people at giving advice anyway. Zelda…….."

Link paused at her name, remembering how stupid he had acted earlier.

"It's Zelda, isn't it?"

"Well, that's part of it, but it's also how I fought with you just now."

Roy took a moment to scan the hilt of the Master Sword stored inside its sheath

"I recognize that blade. Isn't that your homeland's most sacred sword? The one that you wielded over seven years ago? I thought that it was left in Hyrule to seal away some evil or something…how did you get it then?"

Link explained everything that had happened that day starting with the King's ghost. He told Roy about Master Hand's tale, how Ganondorf was going to become a Smasher, how he had been knocked out, how he had failed once again to admit his feelings to Zelda, and how hard it was to wield the Master Sword in the last battle. Roy didn't interrupt at all, but just listened to his friend talk. After Link had finished, Roy took a moment to absorb what he had just told him, and proceeded to offer his best advice.

"Wow, guess you did have a bad day. Okay, first off, you should expect some problems wielding a sword you haven't held in seven years. I suggest practicing with it awhile, and your former strength with it shall return in time. I'll train with you if you want."

"Thanks, but no thanks Roy. Training by myself is just the way I work. Even Zelda doesn't help me with that."

"Speaking of Zelda, here's my other piece of advice. You have to admit your feelings for her eventually if you want any shot with her. I should know; getting together with Peach was no easy task at all. I only worked up the courage to ask her out last month, and look where it landed me? I'm as happy as can be."

"Still, I'm not really good with this sort of thing, I never can muster up the courage to say it…"

Roy looked at him as if he had ten heads.

"Bullshit! You're the most courageous person I know! You were the only one who would fight Bowser one-on-one when no one else would after he won against all the other Smashers. And look at what happened: You won, and Bowser became a lowlife who hasn't won a single match since then……"

"That was different. When it comes to fighting enemies or protecting someone or somewhere I care about, I have an unlimited supply of courage. But when it comes to asking girls out…….well, you've never heard of me getting involved in a relationship, have you?"

"Hey, there's a first time for everything. You have to start sometime in life. And if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen: no matter what way you look at it."

Link nodded, glad to have a friend like Roy. For some reason, swordsmen have a special bond with each other, one that allows them to understand how one another is feeling and fighting.

"Thanks, Roy. Who knows, Zelda might feel the same about me."

"That's a start I suppose. Okay, now about this Ganondorf thing. I can't really help you with fighting or anything, since I haven't even met the guy, but I would be on my guard. We shouldn't have any problems if Master Hand trusts him, but I would be cautious anyway. From what you've told me in the past and now, this guy's even worse than Bowser. If Ganondorf is rooming with Bowser, chances are he'll join forces with him and his band of assholes. You and Zelda should stay close, obviously. Samus, Marth, Peach, Fox, Falco, Mario, and I will keep an eye on Ganondorf when we get the chance, so don't feel you're alone in this. I'll ask the Pokemon and some of the other Smashers to also keep an eye on him for us too. Mewtwo will keep his ears open for any plans Bowser and Ganondorf might have. Thank God Bowser's such a dumbass that he doesn't even suspect Mewtwo's helping us. And he shouldn't be discovered by Ganondorf if Bowser trusts him like we all believe him to."

"Thanks, I appreciate the help Roy."

"Don't mention it. What are friends for, right?"

Link and Roy rose slowly from their chairs and gathered up their equipment, heading for the locker rooms. Before he took it off, Link looked at the damage counter/watch on his wrist, which read 9:30 AM.

'Wow, guess we've been down here a while. We'd better get back upstairs before the others send out a search party or something.'

After putting away their equipment, they started heading for the dining hall for breakfast, all the while exchanging stories of their past battles and wars, until they saw Fox running down the hall, a relieved expression on his furred face.

"Roy, Link! Thank God I found you two! Hurry! Marth, Peach, and Zelda are already up in the Hospital Wing!" Fox said between gasping for air.

"Fox, wait slow down, what's wrong?" Roy asked.

"It's Samus…"

Okay, that wraps up chapter seven. As you probably guessed, I will now tie in the Metroid Fusion aspect of the story, which will be explained more next chapter. It should be up in the next week or so, but it might possibly be later because of certain events that are going on in my life. I do have a question for my reviewers: Do you think that I should include an Italian accent for our favorite two plumbers (you're completely and utterly stupid if you don't know who I'm talking about) in later chapters? If I don't do them, will you guys care? I probably will, but I still don't know how I'm going to do them so if you people don't care, I might save myself lots of grief and take the easy way out (but I don't want to be considered lazy...). Thanks a lot, and please review!