(A/N) Attempted to crank out another chapter within a day. I had to write a poem for my creative writing class and it is one hot mess, let me tell yah.
Regardless, here we go. This is a pretty Legend of Zelda heavy chapter, those characters being the main ones to be interacting and focused on. It was kinda tough since I've never played a LOZ game before, so I was relying a lot on Wikipedia and my own judgment on how the characters would act and whatnot. Please let me know how I did!
Happy reading!
"King Dedede, Toon Link, Mr. Game & Watch, Duck Hunt… and now the Ice Climbers and Robin are missing too?" Zelda threw her arms down at her side in an irritated manner and pressed the list to her mouth to muffle her scream. "What has Master Hand been doing the past three days? Taking a vacation?"
Link sent a sorry look to the Hyrulian princess, who returned it with a defeated one and slumped back down into the chair across from him. "Sooner or later, we might be able to publish a book with a list of everyone who has mysteriously disappeared within the past week…" she muttered, running her hands through her hair.
Ike walked up to the table the two were occupying, and threw down an exposed sword. It landed with a clang and the metal reflected the light, showing it had recently been cleaned. "Might as well add Marth to the list. No one had seen him since late afternoon yesterday."
Link raised an eyebrow. "We're just going to start assuming that if people haven't been seen for a couple of hours that they've vanished into thin air?"
"You have a better explanation?" Ike snapped, his eyes then softening realizing his harsh tone. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried."
Zelda snagged the list off the table and stood up, pushing her chair in. "Don't feel the need to apologize. We are all concerned." Zelda shot a look at Link, his ears turning a light pink. "It's, while unfortunate, better to assume those who are not present have in fact joined those gone. And we will add them to the list." She waved the paper for emphasis and pivoted, striding off towards the exit out of the room.
"Where are you going?" Link called after her.
Zelda didn't bother turning back towards the two swordsmen. "I'm going to have another discussion with Master Hand."
A gloved hand slammed down onto Master Hand's desk, a sheet of paper lying below it. If he had eyebrows, Master Hand would most definitely have them propped up in the raised position right now.
"What is it now Zelda?" He sighed, the fatigue dripping heavily from his voice like a leak in the ceiling.
Zelda scowled at him, and looked down at the paper before looking back up at him. He made no move to pick up the sheet, causing her frown to deepen.
"Are you just planning to hide away in your office every day and sit there, denying the fact that we have a major issue on our hands, something that is most definitely going to develop into a tragedy unless you do something about it?"
The floating hand let out another sigh, and reached down to flip the sheet over. The room grew silent, and Zelda, annoyed with the stillness, began to tap her foot on the floor at a rapid pace. Master Hand floated slightly upwards, a gesture she had acknowledged as the equivalent of someone with a head looking up.
"It's an updated list of-"
"I figured that much out, thank you Princess Zelda," he sneered. "I already told you that I'm working on it."
"Master Hand!" Zelda threw her arms above her head, eyes widened to the point that it seemed they would pop out of her skull. "If you were doing much of anything, people wouldn't be stressed out to the point of questioning whether or not they are going to be the next to go!"
The hand said nothing back, grabbing the list and crumpling it between his large fingers. Zelda took that as her cue to leave, stomping out of the open doorway for the second time that week.
Link walked into the dining hall the next morning and stood for a moment, surveying the scene in front of him. His gaze jumped from table to table, taking note of the amount of bodies present, how many seats were vacant, and who exactly was vacant from those very seats. His eyes traveled from left to right before snapping back to the left like a typewriter, prepared to scan once more. Everything around him faded into the background, the noise and sights blurring so much that he didn't notice the shorter man next to him, poking him in the abdomen with a boxing glove.
"You alright man?" Little Mac questioned, brow furrowed. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Link said nothing as his eyes settled on one particular spot.
"What time is it?"
"What?"
"The time," Link repeated. "What time is it?"
The boxer glanced down at his watch before looking back up at the green-clad swordsman. "9:22."
"Everyone should be here," Link breathed out. "Breakfast is served at 9. Someone's missing."
Little Mac blinked in surprise before peering around at the room himself. "Where?"
Link lifted his arm, pointing at a table occupied by the Pokémon Trainer, his two smaller Pokémon, Charizard, and Lucario.
"Greninja isn't there."
The shorter man looked at the spot and hummed in agreement. "You're right. You think he's gone too?"
"I don't know." Link continued to inspect the room, halting when he noticed a large man hunched over the table, shoveling food into his mouth. Link bit down on his tongue to prevent himself from yelling across the room and causing a scene immediately, and began to walk in the direction his eyes were focused on. "I'm going to take a guess on someone who I think might."
Ganondorf dropped the fork onto his plate and lifted his coffee, taking a long sip from the mug, and sighed in content. His expression fell when he noticed the warrior walking up to his table, blue eyes frozen over.
"Link. And to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"People have been going missing Ganondorf. And I want to know every single detail of what you know about this," Link pointed a finger accusingly at the Gerudo. Ganondorf gasped at Link, raising a hand to his chest in mock-offense.
"Well Link, I am a changed man, haven't you noticed?" The Dark Lord's voice was laced with sarcasm, and Link noticed. He clenched his fists at the tall man who stood, picking up his dishes. "I know nothing you scoundrel. If I wanted to eliminate anyone here, don't you think I would have already?"
Link crossed his arms over his chest, refusing to step aside. "I don't know Ganondorf. Several of our fighters are gone. Don't you think that might possibly match the description of a plan for eliminating everyone else?"
Ganondorf let out a low laugh, throwing his head back. He reached up rubbed his eyes pretending to wipe away a tear. "That's a hysterical accusation. Link, I promise you I will get rid of you one day. But not while enjoying our stay here at the famous Smash Mansion. I may be a ruthless crime lord, but I am still respectful. Besides, I still enjoy the expressions I manage to sculpt onto your pathetic face after defeating you in combat." He laughed one more as he strode away, leaving Link in a stunned silence. Little Mac jogged up to Link's side, his head facing the direction the Gerudo had exited in.
"Surprise, surprise. He's innocent."
Link grunted pushed his blonde locks out of his eyes.
"Something isn't adding up."
(A/N) Ewwww. Not the best thing I've ever written. My fault for choosing to write when I didn't have much motivation and info to do so. Whatever man- just wanna get this plot moving along.