REVIEW RESPONSES:

Numdenu: Again, thanks a lot! Hope you enjoy this chapter.

WildGamer: I'm not going to say much about the final chapter, because I want you guys to keep reading, but thanks for the suggestions. I mean, if I spoiled the ending, people would not have to read the rest of the story, because they already know how it's going to end. But I will tell you this: one of your suggestions you told me I've already had in mind from the beginning, and I just might use it…

OperationJonny: Glad it wasn't that bad. Again, hope you enjoy this chapter!

Yami no Megumi: I'll respond to both of your reviews at once, okay? You were partially right about the guess, but not entirely. But, since I'm so forgiving, I'll give you a cookie anyways! gives cookie. You are now officially a "loyal reviewer", just like all my other loyal reviewers! Sorry you didn't like last chapter, I really tried! I suppose you won't like this one much either, but don't worry! If you're wondering what I'm talking about, see the very bottom.

I love that my reviewers are so loyal! I also appreciate the suggestions. Thanks a lot guys! As I said before, reviews help keep me going!

NOTES: I'm glad last chapter was interesting to almost everyone, even though I was half-asleep. If you did find last chapter boring, I apologize and I needed one chapter to get most of the background stuff out of the way. I'm also feeling that the story is deviating from the main plot, so I'm changing the plot for future chapters a tad. Well, I'm fully awake now, and I'm kind of sorry to say that I will be going back to school this coming Wednesday, so I won't be able to update as much as I would like. Nether the less, I will promise you guys unless otherwise noted that I will get a chapter up at least once a week (well, except midterms and finals, I probably won't be able to update during those weeks). I can't promise they will be very long, but it will probably be at least average length. But don't think for one minute that I will give up on this story, because I won't! Also, I would like to take this moment to express my sympathy for the victims, evacuees, and their families of the Gulf States that were hit by Hurricane Katrina. I watched it all day yesterday, and it truly moved me to see how they made it through. Okay, here's chapter nine!

DISCLAIMER: (sigh) I have to once again remind you for the eight or ninth time that I don't own anything that has to do with, or pertains to The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox, Metroid, or Super Smash Bros. Melee. These games belong to Nintendo, HAL Laboratories owns half of SSBM, and Namco gets half-credit for producing Star Fox: Assault. I'm trying to avoid a lawsuit, so please don't sue me if you find this disclaimer offensive. But, how could you? You'd probably have to be a "goddamn idiot", as Church from Red vs. Blue would say. Okay, I've done enough talking, let's get busy!

Chapter 9: Pilot's Test Part I

Marth/Samus

Even though Marth had been at the Smash Mansion for about the same time as Link and Zelda, he had never been down in the Docking Bays. Now that he thought about it, he never had any previous reason to go down since he usually rode on horseback. But now as he and Samus stepped out of the elevator in to the vast hanger and the many docking pads it enclosed, even he marveled at how big the whole hanger was.

'Holy crap! We have all of this under the mansion? I mean, this is twice the size of the mansion itself! Oh, so that's why we live on a hill above town; that makes sense now.'

He didn't have much time to gape, as Samus went running towards the biggest ship in the hanger: Great Fox II. Marth could hardly keep up with her because of his sword. As soon as he did catch up with her, he had to cover his ears so his hearing wouldn't go.

"HEY FOXY! I WOULD REALLY LIKE IT IF YOU COULD GIVE ME MY SHIP BACK!"

Fox looked up from the cockpit of his Arwing in the hanger next to the Great Fox II, nearly banging his head on the slightly inclined canopy window as he heard this. Grumbling to himself about never getting anything done, he slowly dropped the wrench he was holding and climbed out of the cockpit, making his way towards the two visitors.

"I was beginning to wonder when you would finally get here, Aran. I need the hanger space inside the Great Fox for my Arwing anyways. Come on inside." he said, leading the way up the stairs towards the main door of the Great Fox II.

"Sure, whatever. I just hate leaving my ship lying around." she said as they went in.

Marth was astounded by the size of the interior of the ship as all three of them stepped inside. Samus was amused with the look on his face, forgetting that he hadn't been here before.

"Impressive, huh? Sure beats riding horses everywhere. You wanna go with me on a mission sometime?"

"Sure, if you finally decide to go horseback riding with me. What is it with you and animals, anyway?" Marth asked.

"Well, let's just say almost every animal that I seem to meet that doesn't speak or seems intelligent, wants to either eat me, shoot me, slice me, decapitate me, and about anything else you can think of."

Marth sniggered silently as all three arrived in the kitchen.

"Hey, do you guys want some coffee? It just went off, and I can't drink all of this."

"Sure," they both said as the vulpine handed a cup of coffee to each of them.

"Now," Fox said as he took a seat in his regular chair while Samus and Marth sat on one of the couches, "About your ship, Sam. It was in pretty rough shape when we found it. When we dragged it on here, we found out your navigation computer was damaged, and some other things were as well. Don't worry; I had ROB patch up everything, but that A.I. you called Adam did most of the work. Hell, he even fixed some things on our ship!"

Samus flashed a quick smile as she heard this, remembering how he had guided her through the B.S.L. station. As she was about to respond though, a certain blue vixen suddenly entered the room, apparently half-asleep. She grabbed some coffee, but didn't even notice that there was anyone in the room until she had her first sip.

"Oh, hey Sam, Marth. How are you guys doing?"

"Oh, hi Krystal. We're both doing fine, thanks. Marth and I just dropped by to pick up my ship." said Samus.

"Hey, I didn't know you were back." Fox said as he gave her a quick peck on the lips as she made her way around his chair. She then proceeded to grab the chair next to Fox's.

"Yeah, I got back when you were up in the Hospital Wing. Boy, dealing with Star Wolf's remaining ruffians takes a lot out of you. Glad to see you're on your feet again, Sam."

"Thanks, I know how you feel. I'll tell you about my weekend when I get a chance. But first, I'm gonna get my ship out of your hanger now, and set her down in one of the free landing pads."

"Okay Sam, I'll come with you. Marth, Krystal, why don't you head outside to guide us down so we don't hit any of the other craft." Fox said as he and Sam disappeared down the hallway.

Krystal and Marth headed the opposite way, walking down the steps to reach the cold Docking Bay floor. No sooner had they stood there for five seconds, Zelda and Link came up right behind them. Krystal seemed to instantly wake up as one of her best friends came towards her, both of them hugging each other and getting in to a heated conversation.

"Hey, did we miss something?" Link said to Marth as Krystal and Zelda exchanged fast paced words behind them.

"Nah, not really. Sam's just getting her ship off the Great Fox, that's all. Fox went along with her to help her out of his hanger, and we're just out here to watch."

"Oh. Zel and I just didn't know really what to do, so we came down here. What do you think of the Docking Bays?"

"I never knew we had this big of a basement, that's all. You sure you just came down here to check up on us?"

"Well…to tell you the truth, I couldn't think of any other place to spend time with her."

"How about the lounge? You probably could have gotten some, ahem, 'action' there."

"Roy and Peach beat us to it. And I certainly don't want to watch them."

The two swordsmen laughed, but it was soon drowned out by the sound of an engine coming from inside the Great Fox II. A certain purple ship flew quite fast out of the Great Fox's hanger, and steadily landed in an empty landing pad. It wasn't long after the transporter beam started operating that two certain pilots beamed down. As they slowly made their way towards the four waiting onlookers, loud bickering and violent hand gestures could be heard from the two of them.

"You know, I didn't need YOUR help navigating my way out of the hanger! I'm a perfectly certified pilot that is capable of landing my own ship!"

"If it wasn't for me, we'd be DEAD! You came out of that hanger WAY too fast!"

"You're just paranoid! If you can't even handle flying out of a hanger, you don't deserve to be called a pilot!"

This just got Fox even more pissed. Then he thought an idea.

"Hey, if you're so brilliant, I guess you can beat me in a dogfight in the Meteos Asteroid Belt!"

"You bet I could anytime, Foxy!"

"Okay then, let's settle this…in the Arwing training rooms inside my ship!"

"You're on!" Samus exclaimed as they both raced up the steps of the Great Fox II.

Zelda, Link, Krystal, and Marth just looked at each other, odd looks on each of their faces.

"Um, what just happened here?" Link randomly asked.

"Well, Fox and Samus got off her ship, and then they started arguing, then…" Marth started to respond sarcastically.

"That was rhetorical," Link said, rolling his eyes, as the four of them slowly made their way up the steps to watch the seemingly pointless dogfight.

Yes, I know, the chapter was kind of boring. I will make it up to you guys next chapter, when part two is up. I rushed this chapter, if you noticed. If you love space combat, you'll love next chapter. Expect it up this coming weekend. Until next time, please review!