Marth couldn't believe his eyes. Only a week ago there had been that man in black armour, (who was just an intruder), but here was his knight, at last! He must be a true professional, Marth thought, knowing to cut down the Jurjian plants when they were writhing. Because if he had waited the plants would have spewed out that horrible green gas that killed anyone nearby as soon as they drew breath. With his silver armour shining in the sunlight he rode forwards through the gap created by the guards' rampage the previous week, straight towards the fortress. And he even rode a white unicorn, Marth thought, amazed, as he looked at the horse through his telescope. It had the horn on its forehead and everything. At last! He must change into his best dress immediately!

He ran to the nearest wardrobe and fished around until he found the floating blue dress that was exactly the same light blue as his hair. In haste he pulled it on, tightening the corset and admiring the soft layered fabric that flowed all the way to the floor, and the translucent sleeves that softly brushed against his arms when he moved them. The neckline was a wide u-shape, with sapphires stitched into the thin section of lace that lined it. He went to the drawers next and drew out a matching sapphire tiara before looking at himself in the mirror. Perfect. But then he saw the edge of the mirror, the beautiful golden gilt covering the handcrafted wood beneath. Looking around he saw the soft pink walls, the large elegant wardrobes, and he thought of his luxurious bath. Did he really want to leave after all?

o

Roy watched the other man ride past on his deformed horse and cursed himself for being so pathetic about his injuries. They hurt, but they were not unbearable, and now that man was going to get his princess! No, it would not do! His honour demanded that the man who wanted his princess be slain, and the princess rescued from her horrible fate! He stood but just then the remains of his undergarments slipped away, leaving him bare to the elements. Maybe he would save the princess later. He needed to get some clothes on first, so that he would look decent and attractive again. Shivering a little in the breeze, he turned and limped in the other direction.

o

The bridge over the Lake of Darkness was fast approaching and Ike slowed his horse to survey the danger. It seemed alright, and he was about to urge his horse over it when he realised that there was a stone in his boot. He dismounted and pulled off his boot to get the stone out, vaguely aware that a shadow was falling over him – probably another cloud passing over the sun, bloody Eloausian weather. The stone came out and he looked up, about to put his boot back on… and promptly yelled as a gigantic creature rose from the Lake of Darkness, looking something akin to a gigantic centipede, and moaned in a deep, unearthly voice, "I am-"

But Ike wasn't intending to hang around to hear the 'going to eat you'. Terrified, he fumbled with his boot and accidentally dropped it in the lake. Panicking, he then clambered back on his horse and kicked it forwards, not stopping to think why the doors to the fortress were opening up in front of him as he rode towards them, nor, once he was inside, why they closed behind him of their own accord.

o

How did he know? Marth gaped as his knight in shining armour flung his boot into the lake, answering the Giant Centipede's riddle even before it had finished speaking. He was such an expert. Had he saved other damsels in distress too? For a while he was enchanted by the idea, and then he realised if it was true the knight must have several wives. He didn't like the idea of sharing his knight in shining armour with anybody. His smile turned into a frown as he watched the knight face the courtyard.

o

Having checked that he was still alive, Ike now turned his attention to the courtyard in front of him. Sensing danger, he dismounted. The tower was in his sights; just an easy walk across the courtyard and he would be fine.

The courtyard, too, was badly gardened, Ike thought as he began to walk across it, leaving his horse behind. There were bits of grass pushing their way through the stones and large cows were grazing on it, mooing contentedly. Bulls crossed with men? No, just bulls and men, not crossed at all. Off to one side he could hear the men as they chatted around a table, boasting about some red-headed guy they had left in little more than his underpants. Ike thought briefly of the gardener. No, it couldn't be. Why would they beat up their own gardener?

Suddenly the paving stone beneath his right foot jerked to one side, causing him to fall over. But the stone seemed to have jammed in the process, and nothing happened. Nervous, he ran the rest of the way to the tower. Then once there he looked up and saw a face, far away, looking down at him. 3052 steps, so he'd heard. He would die of exhaustion to attempt that in a hurry, he was sure. There had to be another way. And then something occurred to him. The princess has long hair, so long that it is the height of the tower she is trapped in! The drunken man at the bar had said that. What if it was true?

o

Marth looked down. The tower was tall, so very tall…but there was his knight, looking up at him. The courtyard was riddled with booby-traps, yet it seemed that by stepping on a faulty stone he had jammed the badly maintained mechanics behind the whole system. Such a genius! As for the guards, they were preoccupied at the moment, not noticing the handsome knight who now looked up at him. Once again he felt apprehensive about leaving the tower. Everything was so familiar and comforting – did he really want to leave to join this man and his many other wives?