CHAPTER THREE

Ike was sitting in his room. It was a really nice room, too, better than he had ever had. It had three beds (pillows and mattresses stuffed with down), bookcases filled with books and notebooks in every language you could imagine, (including Elfish and even Twi'leki, whatever the heck that was) a small telescope, paintings, and tall windows overlooking the frozen lake. Ike shivered and got up to close the window. He looked around the room again. Warm, homey, and luxurious, with an amazing master bath! He sat down in the window seat, and took out the folded piece of paper out of his pocket. He frowned, annoyed that his roommates, Marth and Meta Knight, had not come yet. April, the bubbly caretaker, had sent back word from the station that the other shuttle carrying the other 'Smashers', (as she called them,) had been extremely late because it had to go through Sarasaland to get to the station and had been blocked because the whole country was in mourning… Ike's shuttle had been right on time, and had arrived here, at the Smash Mansion, thirty minutes ago. True, he didn't know what the shuttle was and had been very suspicious of it, until Diddy Kong had butted him on. Ike rubbed his sore back. At least it hadn't been the bigger of the two monkeys, Donkey Kong.

As soon as he had thrown his luggage on the holder and sat down on the leather seats, Ike had fallen asleep and the seven hours had flown by. Ike had to take three two-hour wagon rides from drunk gypsies to get to the station. He had been shaken awake by April, who looked rather annoyed, her smile strained. The shuttles were supposed to arrive within minutes of each other, but now the second one carrying both of Ike's roommates was going to be at least an hour late. And they had all that press to get through when they arrived at the station, so that's another thirty minutes to wait. Ike grumbled. He hated waiting.

His stomach growled. Ike glanced at the beautifully constructed oak grandfather clock. It was ten o'clock, which was apparently time for a snack here. He scrambled off the window seat and out of the door. He looked left and right, confused. "Erm…. Crap…."

"Need help finding the kitchens, Master Ike?" Ike started and turned. A little man was standing right there dressed in all white with a polite smile on his round face. Ike put his hand behind his head. "Um, yeah, if you don't mind." The little man bowed and said, "Very well. Right this way, Master Ike."

Master. Ike smiled. He had always been the one to say Master. It was a nice change, for once. The little man started walking away very fast to the direction of the dining hall. They passed other dormitories, the Weaponry, the Training Area, the Grand Hall, a ballroom, several staircases, the library, a games room, a movie theater, a bowling alley, a pool, a greenhouse, and the Garage in complete and total silence before walking into a large, warm, and brightly lit kitchen.

The little man turned, said, "Wait for Kirly," and left. Before Ike could say another word, a large woman appeared in front of him. She had a round, chubby face that was bright red and covered in a light smattering of flour. Her hair was tied back underneath a brightly colored bandana. Ike could only assume that this woman was Kirly.

Kirly's smile was huge. She beamed at Ike as she set the heavy copper kettle she was carrying on the fire. "Well, lad, what do you want? We serve anythin' and everythin', as long as we have the ingredients!" He looked surprised, and then asked, "What can I have? I'm not that hungry," he added quickly, to cover up a gigantic growl from his stomach. Kirly's laugh matched her exterior: loud and cheery. She poked in the stomach with the wooden spoon she picked up.

"Och, now lad, I am not going to let you get away with tha' lie! Just a little snack, then, to quiet tha' stomach before bed?" Ike paused, and than smiled. "Ah, now, there it is!" Kirly boomed, making the boy grin and say, "Yeah, that sounds good." Kirly turned and clapped. Two apprentices, a boy and a girl, popped up from where they had been dozing. "Michael, get Master Ike a drink." The boy bowed and hurried to a refrigerator and started pulling out a selection of drinks. "Lyssa, help me prepare a small Shepard's pie. Cut the vegetables, and the meat, make the potatoes. Got it?" Lyssa gave her master a shy nod of her head. "Well, then, get to it!" Kirly boomed. The girl looked taken aback, then she bowed and scampered off to gather the utensils and ingredients.

Kirly set to making the crust, while Michael balanced a tray on his arm and walked to Ike, setting it down on the counter. "We have milk; water; orange, grape, apple, grapefruit, pomegranate, and pineapple juices; tea, and coffee," he said in one breath, gasping at the end. He gave Ike a curious glance over. Unnerved by the stare, Ike asked for milk and quietly sipped it, watching the cooks work. Rolling, kneading, chopping, and simmering soon released all sorts of smells into the air.

"So, Master Ike, where ya from?" Kirly asked, pouring the meat into a pan to simmer.

"From Elibe. I served under Princess Elincia, as her General, for a while."

"Any brothers or sisters?"

"Yes. One sister, Mist.'

Kirly continued to quiz him until the pie was ready. With a flourish, she took it from the oven and set it down in front of Ike. Michael refilled his glass as Lyssa cut the pie into four equal pieces and served Ike first, then Kirly, followed by Michael and then at last, herself. They all dug in, talking and enjoying themselves.

After his delicious pie was nothing more than a few crumbs on his plate, Ike glanced at the clock. It was 10:45. Kirly checked a monitor on the wall, which showed all of the Smashers. The majority of the pictures were dark. Kirly sighed. "Ay, still not here." She yawned. "Master Ike, you'd best be getting' to bed. You'll have a long day tomorrow even if you do get some rest." For some reason, her face darkened slightly, then brightened again. "Lyssa will escort you back to your room. Michael, put that soup on the fire, then set out bowls, cups, spoons, and put water in every cup. When they get here, they might be hungry. G'night, Master Ike."

He nodded, suddenly sleepy. "Good night. And thank you all for the meal." He was full and content.

"This way, sir." He turned and saw Lyssa bowing to him. Ike noticed her features for the first time. She had curly, glossy brunette hair tied back into a braid that swung below her waist. A soft face was intensified by her sharp cheekbones. Big eyes the color of sapphires, irises ringed in black. She was wearing the traditional apprentice's garb, a simple blue dress with a white apron thrown over it. She blushed underneath his gaze.

Lyssa turned and started to walk. When Ike didn't follow, she touched him lightly on the shoulder. "Uh, sir?" He started to walk behind her, into the darkened hall. They heard Kirly chuckle as they left.

The elaborate furnishings and designs of the mansion held no interest for Ike when Lyssa was guiding him back to his empty room. Her hair, her eyes, all looked so familiar… maybe he was imagining things, but he could have sworn that he'd seen her before… Somewhere. He just couldn't remember.

Lyssa, on the other hand, knew exactly who he was and where he was from. She would have to be more careful, or she might be discovered. She shivered, and it wasn't from the drafty hall, either. Being discovered so early was the last thing she wanted right now.

"Lyssa!" her pager yelled, making them both jump. She scrambled to grab it. "Yes, Michael?"

"April just called in. They are on their way right now. So Kirly wants you to be in the grand hall when they come. She said to apologize to Master Ike, he'll have to find his way back to his room on his own. Just point him in the direction." There was a brief static noise as Michael hung up. Lyssa frowned, sucking on her lower lip. "Okay, then. I guess we are changing directions a little," she explained as she led Ike down a stone spiral staircase. "Watch your step, now. I have fallen who knows how many times on this stupid thing." Lyssa gave a nervous giggle.

"Where have I seen you before?" Ike burst out, not bothering to keep his voice down, even though it echoed throughout the hall.

"Master Ike, please! Keep quiet, we should not wake the other Smashers!" She looked extremely worried, glancing around as though she was being watched.

"Oh well! I have to know! The hair, the eyes-"

"Master Ike, I implore you! Keep quiet!"

"NO!"

She flew back and gasped. Her face hardened. "Your room is number eight, on the right, down this hall. Goodnight, sir." She turned and started to walk briskly away.

"But-"

"Goodnight, sir."

He stared, aghast, at her retreating figure. He had definitely never spoken to anyone higher ranked than him like that when he had been in service. He would have gotten his head sliced off for sure! With that tone, she sounded like someone who had always given orders, never taken.

He remembered.

Many years ago, when he was a very young boy, at about seven or so, he saw a prisoner of war being led to the General's tent on foot. He was a handsome man, dressed in the full royal battle regalia of Elibe's most feared enemy, Powdra. He was the Prince of the Powdra provinces, and he had his wife by his side.

Who was holding a child in her lap. A child with brown hair and emerald eyes, ringed with black.

The wife had stared at Ike and his father, sensing mercy, seeing forgiveness, silently begging them for help. But they didn't.

Ike stood outside of his room, a hundred different feelings washing through him, until he finally turned into his room with a heavy heart and his feet dragging. He fell upon his soft bed, still fully dressed, and let the pent-up exhaustion sweep through him. He was asleep in seconds, and would remain so until the first rays of sunrise peeked through the frosted windows at him.