Super Smash Brothers: Reckoning

Chapter five: Visions of tormented hearts

Previously, on Reckoning:

"The good news is...She'll live. The antidote was administered in time." He said.

Nero let out a cry of relief and sank onto his chair.

"And the bad news...?" Dante asked slowly.

"I'm sorry Nero..." Altair said softly "She's in a coma. She might never wake up."

THE PRESENT:

"You're lying." Nero said flatly "She can't be."

"I'm sorry." Altair said, putting his hand on the young man's shoulder "We did all we could. It's an unavoidable side effect of the poison..."

"Well you should have found a way to avoid it!" Nero yelled. How could Altair be so calm?

"Would you rather she die? Because that could still be arranged." Altair told the boy coldly.

"No...of course not...but..."

"Then get to your senses, kid!" Altair snapped "I only said she MIGHT never wake up. She could get up in a minute, a week, a month..."

"I get the picture" Nero said stiffly "Can I see her?"

Altair nodded.

"Don't be shocked by what you see..."

***************

KYRIE'S MEMORIES

Six months earlier...

Kyrie walked down the street towards the church. She never missed the sermons – even after all she went through at the hands of the order, she never missed one. She heard a whispering from the small shack next to it. Thinking that maybe someone had gotten locked inside, she opened the door and entered. Somehow, it was larger inside. A large, demonic centaur stood in the center of the room, gazing at a crystal ball.

I am coming, Nero.

You cannot stop me.

If you're father, the previous wielder of yamato, couldn't then you can't.

If you're friends get in my way, they shall die.

For my name....

Is Beltazar.

For my master....

Is Sanctus.

Kyrie heard the whispers coming from its mouth. Her first thought was that this thing wanted Nero – she couldn't let that happen. She had to warn him. Then, she heard the last two words. She couldn't stop a strangled gasp of horror. The demon turned around, and gazed at her.

"Nero's angel?" It growled "Such a coincidence, I need you to help me."

"If you want me to hurt Nero, then forget it." Kyrie said coldly, backing towards the door. It swung shut, revealing Sanctus, alive and well, behind it. He wasn't all that impressive – an old man with a beard in bishop's clothing.

"My dear, why do you stand with such an abomination?"Sanctus said sadly. "Surely you know that ours was – is – the right path."

"You're wrong..." Kyrie moaned "I won't let you hurt him..."

"You have no choice." Sanctus said softly. He moved like a blur, stabbing Kyrie in the stomach with a dagger. The girl fell over. As she lost consciousness, she heard Sanctus tell the demon to "Get ready."

Nero...please, be safe... she thought sadly, before slipping into peaceful sleep.

****************************

During all the commotion, Red and Ruby had been taking their Pokemon for a walk along the side of a lake at the other side of the mansion, to far away to hear Nero's tormented cries.

"Red...this is beautiful..." Ruby said in awe. The stars were bright and the reflections in the water looked like dancing lights. She glanced at him.

"Why didn't you bring me here sooner?"

"Because...well, I don't know. I forgot about it?" Red said sheepishly. Ruby gave him an exasperated look.

"I swear, you'd forget where you're pokeballs are if I didn't help you..." She moaned.

"No I wouldn't!"

"Oh, really? Where are they now then?"

"On my belt..." Red felt the area in question, to see all three gone. He looked up , and saw Ruby dangling them in his face.

"Looking for these?" She said teasingly.

"Hey, give 'em back!" He yelled, diving at her. She sidestepped, leaving Red sprawled across the ground.

"You'll have to catch me first." She laughed. Man, he loved that laugh... STOP THINKING LIKE THAT! Red told himself angrily. Muttering to himself, he ran after her. Eventually, he caught her, and the two rolled down the side of the hill until they were lying down with Ruby on top of Red.

"Do I get my Pokeballs back now?" Red asked.

"If you let me tell you something first..." Ruby said.

"Okay, shoot." Red said confidently, folding his arms.

"Red...I think I'm in love with you..." Ruby said softly.

Red blinked. That wasn't what he was expecting to hear. What Ruby did next really shocked him.

She kissed him.

It felt as though the gods themselves had blessed his lips – but Ruby felt his shock, and thinking it wasn't what he wanted to hear, pulled off.

"I'm sorry" She whispered "I shouldn't have said or done that", before climbing off him and running away. His pokeballs thudded to the ground next to him, not that he noticed.

Red just stared after her, and touched his lips. Still warm.

"Aw, how sweet." A mocking voice came from behind him. Great, just what he needed, Pit.

"Oh, shut it." Red said glumly, pulling himself off the ground "I think I blew my only chance. She'll never forget this..."

"Oh, calm down!" The angel said cheerfully "I got B's in my Cupid lessons. I can give you a hand."

Red looked at him skeptically, before sighing and nodding.

"So, what's you're advice?" Red said "Although I think I'll regret asking for it..."

"Go get 'er." Pit told him seriously. Red gave him a startled look, before running in the same direction Ruby went.

***********

"Kyrie..." Nero said heartbroken. The woman he wanted to marry was hooked up to so many machines she looked like she was one. Blood stained her clothes and the bandages Dr. Mario had put on her.

"She-a can still-a hear you, you know..." Dr. Mario told the boy "Maybe it'll help-a her wake-a up."

Nero nodded and sat down, holding Kyrie's hand.

"Kyrie, it's Nero...I don't know where you've been or what you've been doing, but I'm here for you. No matter what. Once you're back, we can do whatever you want to. I'll even take you to the Vatican if you really want to. Just...Just come back, please." He said sadly.

KYRIE'S MIND

Nero? You're okay?

I don't want to go anywhere....I just want to see you again. Please, I need to...And I need to warn you.

You have no Idea what you're up against...

REAL WORLD

Half an hour later...

"Nero, MH says you need to sleep." Link said, shaking his roomate's arm "It's 2:30, for Farore's sake."

"I'm not leaving her, Link." Nero said sadly "I'm not going anywhere."

"Well-a, in that case, you-a can sleep-a on this-a spare bed." Dr. Mario suggested.

"No...I need to be with her..."
"Oh, for-a gods...Now, Altair."
The assassin appeared out of nowhere and covered Nero's mouth with a chlorophyll-soaked cloth, knocking him out.

"Sorry pal, you need to sleep." Altair told the body. "Link, help me get him on that spare medical cot."

The two swordsmen, after making sure that Nero was safe, left the room. Link turned around.

"Where's Dante?" He asked

"Oh? He-a needed to talk too-a Mewtwo. He looked-a....very annoyed." Dr. Mario said "And mad. At something called-a Beltazar."

"Never heard of it."

*******************

"RUBY!" Red called through the woods "WHERE ARE YOU?"

No reply. Red moaned and shook his head.

"I just want to talk to you..." He said sadly. He walked forwards, thinking he heard something a short while away. He saw Ruby, her head in her hands, sobbing softly.

"Rube?" He said quietly "Are you okay?"

"What does it look like?" Ruby snapped at him "It's not like you'd care."

"Ruby..." Red kneeled down next to her, and reached out to wipe her tears away. Ruby turned her head away.

"Don't touch me" She said softly.

"Ruby, what you did back there was..."

"Stupid? Irresponsible?" Ruby snapped.

"What I'd wanted to do for a long time." Red finished. Ruby snapped her head around, mouth wide.

"What?" She whispered in disbelief.

"You think you're in love with me?" Red said, taking her head in his hands "Because I know I'm in love with you."

Before Ruby could reply, Red kissed her. After a few seconds, she kissed him back, putting her hand on his cheek. When she pulled away, she slapped him.

"What the heck was that for?" Red asked, confused.

"Do you have any IDEA how much easier it would have been if you'd said that earlier?" Ruby asked him irritatedly "Instead, you made me run off like an idiot!"

"I will never understand women..." Red muttered to himself before replying "Well, what would you do in my situation, if the person you love just kissed you unexpectedly?"

"You have a point..." Ruby said "God, I hate it when you're right."

Red laughed.

"Come on, it's getting late, we should head back." He said.

The two teens walked back to the mansion, Reds arm draped around Ruby's shoulders, her head resting on his own shoulders.

*********

Authors notes: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! THE FLUFF! IT BURNS! IT BURNS!

Not really, but still. That is the fluffiest I have EVER written.

Quick recap:

One of the big bads has been revealed, but only one person knows – and she's in a coma. And she's not waking up anytime soon, by the way.

Marth and Shiida are getting married some point in the future

Altair is proving extremely helpful to have around.

Nero's gone Emo.

And Dante's pissed off.

Here's a preview of the next chapter, WHICH WILL BE UP TOMMORROW! I SWEAR THIS ON THE LIFE OF MY CAT!

"The first match of the tournament shall be...Altair vs. Roy!"

The crowd burst into excited chatter. News of Altair's easy defeat of both Snake and Captain Falcon had spread quickly, and no-one could wait to see his skills in person.

"So, how'd it go?" Pit asked Red cheerfully

"Surprisingly, rather well." Red admitted. Pit raised an eyebrow

"Really?" Pit said slyly

"Red, c'mon, the fight starts in ten minutes!" Ruby yelled, dragging her new boyfriend by the collar.

Pit stared after them, slack jawed. Then he burst into laughter.

"Yep, defiantly an item..."