Chapter 5: Starting Over
"About time you visited." Marth smiled regardless, Ike sat beside Marth, and began to say, "I just needed time to think."
"Think? About what?" Marth asked. Ike sighed, "About what you said before." Marth gave a small 'oh'. "Well, I'm just glad you finally paid a visit." Ike scoffed, "I thought you would be a bit angry with me. Considering the situation." Marth chuckled, "Not really, I know you didn't mean it. Right?" Ike smirk, "Well what do you think? I wouldn't break your whole leg on purpose." Marth smiled and laughed a bit as he slowly shook his head, "You better keep your strength at bay. Because that was some attack you pulled there."
"I'm really sorry..." Ike started. Marth placed a hand on Ike's shoulder, "It's alright, I forgive you. But answer me just one thing Ike." Ike looked at Marth waiting for his question, "Did the match count as a win for you or for me?" Ike chuckled, "I won. Well, damage wise." Marth sighed, "Oh well, when I finally leave this room in a month, I guess I won't be choosing what I'm wearing for another month." Ike replied, "You don't have to follow the bet if you don't want." Marth shook his head, "I made a bet and I lost. Beside, how bad can it be?" Marth said, as he tried to adjust his tiara.
The two haven't spoke then, silence continued on for few minutes until Ike spoke up, "I'm really sorry Marth..." Marth replied, "I know, I said I forgive you for-" Before he was given a chance to finish Ike interrupted, "No. Not for that, I meant for not...treating you like a friend. I was acting like a jerk. But, when you said that you were going to change rooms, I didn't realized at first, but I didn't want to lose you as a friend." Ike explained, Marth stayed silent. Shocked, Marth looked at the door, then at Ike. After several seconds of awkward silence, Marth said with sincerity, "I forgive you Ike." Ike smiled, "Thanks Marth, and well, I think we should start over. We had plenty of disagreements, but lets put that behind us and start over as friends." Marth smiled, and shook Ike's hand, which was a bit difficult considering Ike was sitting and Marth was lying on the bed.
"So you told Mario you were here? It's strange, he doesn't allow visitors during the night," Marth asked, Ike cleared his throat, "I, uh, well, Mario didn't actually let me in here...I sort of sneaked my way here." Marth sighed, then started to whisper, "Why didn't you tell?! I bet Mario is getting suspicious of me talking like I'm talking to someone!" Ike placed his hand on the back of his neck, "Yea I know. I just sort of needed to get here, but I was sort of nervous on how you'll react, so I lost track of time and ended up going at 8:35." Marth asked what time it was, "About 9:00 now." Ike answered. Marth looked at the door and saw it was closed.
"Ike, I have to tell you something." Marth placed his hand over the key necklace that was hiding under his clothes. "What is it, Marth?" Marth was about to say he went to the third ward, found a needle, and the letter, but remembered, Don't tell a single soul about this. Marth took his hand away from the location of the key necklace and placed it on his side, "Let's hang out tomorrow! Just you and me!" Marth said, saying whatever he can think of. Ike looked confused, "Uh sure? Can you even get out of here tomorrow?" Marth thought. "I can ask Mario, if not then we can sneak out tomorrow night." Marth planned on the top of his head, Ike thought about it a bit, "Uh sure." Ike and Marth smiled at each other for a while, "It's been a while since we agreed on something." Ike commented, Marth nodded. But their agreement fell short as they heard footsteps coming towards Marth's room.
"Oh god, Ike hide!" Marth whispered, Ike was about to exit the room in a hurry but the door knob was already turning, he stood against the wall next to the door. Mario came in, "Marth! I see you're awake. I was just checking something." Mario walked towards Marth, as Ike walked out the door quickly waving goodbye. Marth smiled, and when Mario wasn't looking, gave a timid wave.
"It must-a been boring for you to be in a room like this for a month. So I personally asked Master Hand if we could install your own tv here, like the one in the living room so you could at least watch brawls as you rest your leg." Marth's mood brighten, "You mean I can watch brawls whenever I please?" Mario nodded trying to measure the wall with some measuring tape he brought with him. "Which wall do you want it at?" Mario asked, Marth looked around. "In that wall." He pointed at the wall on top of the door. Mario measured the wall and gave a thumbs up, "Alright, I'll try to install it now since your up." Mario left the room, as Marth whispered a silent, 'Yes!'. Mario came back with a book in hand, "Oh I forgot, someone dropped this off for you. There was a note saying it was your book." Marth thanked Mario who left he room again, as he looked at the cover of the book, "Wreath."
He opened and flipped through the pages, as he smiled, he missed reading this classic. But he saw another note in the page he left off, I know you like this book. Keep it safe alright? It didn't have a name, but Marth assumed it was one of his friends who brought to Mario's desk. Mario came in with two R. as they started to assemble the television. Marth watched as it was a quick installment. After 5 minutes they were finished, and Mario handed Marth the controller. He left waving goodbye, leaving Marth alone. He turned on the television and went to the previous match gallery where every match ever fought were recorded. He noticed that the fight between him and Ike was there and some newer ones.
He selected the first brawl he and Ike ever had. And watched the determination of Ike as he attacked Marth. The battle was short but, they were equally good, with Marth at 3 and Ike at 2 . Marth took out the key from underneath his attire, and stared at it. "It really does have a beautiful design. What does it open?" Marth sighed and held the key close to his chest with a strong grip. He looked around to see Link placed his walking stick next to the door. Marth placed his broken leg down on the floor and tried to stand up. He held at the end of the bed as his support and grabbed the stick. He opened the door, to find the second ward in complete darkness. Marth left his door open to let the light from his room light some of the second ward. He managed to get the second ward door, to see that it was also empty. He opened it and reached the other side of the first ward, ending up in the hall. He looked around to see it was also empty. He walked slowly, passing through the living room, the training room, and the cafeteria. He ended up being in the dorms, and stood quietly for a second.
Step step step Someone was coming. "Hello?" it was a small whisper but it back Marth chills. If someone where to find him, he would be placed back in the room! He tried harder to walk faster, but the footsteps always walked toward him. Marth started turning to corners he never went to, and ended up in a unusually dark hall. "This is the forbidden hallway!" He tried to turn back but he dumped into someone that was not as tall as he.
They both fell back, as Marth tried his hardest not to shout in pain from his broken leg. A certain light caught his attention as he noticed that the key he was wearing was glowing slightly. He held the key tightly, looking at the person he bumped into. His chest had a small glowing light just like Marth's key. The light made it known that the person was Ness.
"Ness? What are you doing up this late?" Marth tried to combine angry scolding with whispering. Ness whispered back, "I can ask you the same thing." Marth looked sheepish, "It's something I can't tell you okay? Why is your chest glowing?" Marth asked, Ness looked scared as he tried to block the light, "why is your hand glowing?" Ness asked back. They two tried to hide their keys, but Ness gave up, "Fine, Mario gave this to me, he said he found it in a note that said 'give this to the person that's most likely to remember.'" Marth stayed silent, "I...found this key in the third ward, I also found a letter," He took the letter from his pocket and gave to Ness to read. After a few minutes, "You're the one that most likely to remember?!" Ness whispered, he took off the key necklace and gave it Marth, "Here then, you better keep it safe," Marth gave it back to Ness, "No, you better keep a hold on it. It's better that we both carry a key. If I lose mine then we still have your key." Ness tilted his head slightly, "Does that mean, that we're going to find the keys together and unlock whatever it is together?" Marth nodded, "Yes, but you can't tell anyone! Not a single soul must know. Alright?" Ness nodded and placed the key necklace around his neck again.
Ness helped Marth up, and was asked, "Why were you hanging around here at this time anyway?" Ness answered, "I had a dream." Marth looked at Ness, holding the stick to keep his balance. "What was the dream about?" Ness thought a bit, "Well, I was in a room. My arm was held by someone, and I felt something really painful. Then I saw someone run across the hall, and I manage to escape to follow that person but ended up being you. And when I tried to ask you why you were running, you just looked so sad. Then, I felt really sad. And I heard someone say, I think it was you, 'lets go to the room before it's time.' I woke up before I learned where the 'room' was. So I tried to find the room." Marth looked surprised but thought about what Ness explained.
"Ness, do you think that the dream wasn't a dream at all, but a memory?" Marth asked, Ness shrugged, "I don't know. I never been in the room from the dream I had." Marth nodded and started to hold the glowing key slightly up. "Marth what are you doing?" Ness asked, Marth replied, "It's the only light we have Ness." Ness nodded and did what Marth did. They looked around the forbidden hall careful not to make any noise. "Marth...You better look at this..."
Marth look toward Ness' direction and saw a large door. He inspected the door and saw it was locked, but he saw that the key were brighter then before. "Marth what is this room?" Marth looked around to see if there was a panel that said what the room was, but was unable to too. Marth tried to feel the wall for anything strange, as Ness continued to look around the spot for anyone passing by. Sure enough, Marth felt something, and saw it was covered in dust. He blew it away, and saw that the sign was golden and read,
"Picture Room"
"Ness, come here! I found something!" Marth whispered, Ness came jogging by, and tripped on something in front of the door. Marth held a hand out for Ness, and helped him out, "You okay?" Ness nodded and dust himself off. "Geez, it's like a library with all this dust." Marth laughed quietly, but noticed that there was a mat where Ness tripped. "Picture room? Hm, uh Marth what are you looking at?" Marth pointed at the mat, "The floor? Marth shook his head, "No, there's a mat under here." Ness noticed it when Marth lowered the key for him to see the floor." Ness nodded, and quickly checked the time, "Marth it's 5:00! People are going to wake up soon!" Ness whispered, Marth muttered a small 'oh no' and the two tried their best to jog to their respective place. "Marth! Hurry up! Breakfast starts in like an hour!" Ness whispered. "Well I'm sorry for having a broken LEG Ness," Marth whispered angrily. They managed to get to Ness' dorm, they two shared a quick wave goodbye. Marth tried his best to hurry to his room in the Hospital second ward before Peach gets there.
"Marth?! What are you doing up?" Marth stopped dead in his tracks, oh god. He turned to see Link and Ike. "Guys help me! I need to get to my room before I get caught!" Link and Ike looked at each other and nodded, "Fine, but this the last time! You have to stay in your room." Link scolded, they each lowered a bit so Marth can place his arms around them. They started to walk quickly to the hospital ward.
When they arrived, Link and Ike only had 5 minutes to get out of their before Mario or Peach scolds them for interrupting the patient's sleep hours. They waved goodbye and ran out the hospital ward. Marth was both disappointed yet excited. Disappointed with the fact Ness and him couldn't inspect the mat further, yet excited they found a new room. "I'll get the chance tomorrow." Marth muttered as Peach entered the room with his breakfast. "Breakfast time Marth!"
Right, he shouldn't worry now, he still has that plan with Ike today.
Author's note: Hello! This is Nai Honda speaking, I apologize for the inconvenience yesterday for the yet to be published "Life as he sees it" story, It will but uploaded today. I really am sorry if my writing skills aren't the best and is sort of ruining the story for you, I'm trying my very best to create a fascinating story for you to read.
I would actually love if you review, but please be honest yet retain some kindness like what I've done right so I know what to focus on. Breaking Marth's leg was not a fun idea to write, poor Marth, but I had to find a way to make his journey difficult. In the next chapter Pit is going to be an important character, so look for him! So, do you enjoy the story so far? Do you wish for me to not write any author's note in the future? Okay story questions! Where do you think the next key is going to be? How do you think the planned meet up of Ike and Marth going to turn out? Do you think Ness is going back to the mysterious Picture room? Do you think that Ike's plan of starting over is going to really make their friendship better? Well, let's see as the story continues!