A.N I'd like to thank the lovely people who reviewed the last two chapters. You guys are awesome and make me all the more determined to work on this story with that enjoy the next chapter^^
Chapter 3 A Bad Feeling
"I'm going to slice that robot in half!" Zelda rubbed her temples at Link's shout. Her body ached from her fight with Samus earlier, and the weary Princess was in no mood for the Hero's rantings.
"For the third time Link we were practicing. If we are going to be teammates we needed to see how the other fights." The brunette calmly stated despite her annoyance.
"Practicing doesn't involve spine breaking!" Link accused eyes burning at this attack on the Princess. Zelda sighed, while she did try to return to the small home Link and Zelda were provided to live at. A certain green visor had glared at her till the Princess relented, and visited an infirmary.
Despite Link's claim Zelda only received some rather painful bruising from Samus slamming her to the ground. Which now the Princess nursed with ice packs while laying on the couch in the living area of their small home trying to relax.
"Link, you will leave Samus be." Zelda commanded tiredly not having the energy to argue further. Link collapsed onto the far end of the couch leaning back with a huff.
"Crazy robot nearly breaks your back, and you won't let me retaliate. I'm glad I'm not a member of the royal guard back home. You must be a pain in the ass to protect." Zelda chuckled closing her eyes happy Link has relented. The Hero sighed glancing at the royal before looking out the window distantly.
"You had me worried, you disappeared after the teammate announcements. Then turn up all beat up. I'm sorry, I guess I'm just being overprotective huh?" Link scratched the back of his head. Zelda sat up placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"No more so than usual. I can handle myself, but it never hurts to have my friend backing me up. You have nothing to worry from Samus though. I genuinely believe they mean no harm to anyone. If Samus wanted to kill me I'm certain they could have done it." Link groaned covering his face with his hands, collapsing back into the couch.
"There you go again sounding all wisdomy!" Zelda huffed giving Link a mock scowl.
"Well, I do have the Triforce of Wisdom…"
"Nah, you'd sound like that even if you didn't have the Triforce." Link shrugged cutting off Zelda. The Princess merely sighed shaking her head, before Link became serious.
"I'll trust that you trust Samus, but promise if you have any issues you'll ask me." A fair compromise since it was unlikely Link was going to believe Samus was okay. Zelda nodded answering before laying back down.
"I promise." This seemed to satisfy the blonde, which Zelda was grateful for. She was too exhausted to argue. Zelda let her head fall back into the couch, closing her eyes.
The next day Zelda's muscles ached horribly. Her fight with Samus was twice the effort of the sparing Link and her did. Though Zelda cared for Link deeply the blonde irritated her to no end with his protectiveness sometimes. Zelda may be the Princess, but she was far from helpless. Link seems to forget Zelda was there with him during the fight with Ganondorf, and she survived years on her own as Sheik. During the time Link slumbered in the Temple of Time.
Zelda understood Link just wanted to watch her back, as any friend would. That didn't mean it didn't get annoying at times. So, today even at Link's protests that she should rest Zelda strolled through the city. Figuring staying active would help her body become accustomed to the strain of fighting.
While casually walking down the neatly paved street Zelda's heart went cold. Rushing out of sight before he saw her Zelda moved quickly, hiding in the small crowd of pedestrians passing by. Ganondorf the dark hearted Gerudo King and wielder of the triforce of power was across the street. Zelda and Link heard rumors around the city that the Gerudo King would be joining the tournament, but Zelda would have hoped he wouldn't be allowed due to being sealed away by the sages.
Ganondorf was just as the Princess remembered him. A giant intimidating man with a dark aurora constantly following him, as if warning the world of his horrid goals of destruction and death. Zelda didn't want to take a chance with Ganondorf alone. She knew it was possible now she may have to face him in the tournament, but at least in the tournament if Ganondorf tried anything there were dozens of heroes around that could step up to stop him.
Zelda slowly started to creep away keeping her eyes on Ganondorf. Before Zelda could make an escape her back bumped into someone, making the Princess spin around to see who she ran into.
The brunette let out a soft sigh of relief, and smiled at the figure before her. Green visor looking down at her Samus appeared just as they've for the last few days. Metal armor, arm cannon at the ready, and expressionless helmet looking blankly at Zelda.
"Sorry Samus," snapping back to focus Zelda remembered the reason she bumped into Samus in the first place. The Princess spun back around to see if Ganondorf was still there. He was he didn't seem to notice Zelda yet though. Across the street he was looking into one of the windows of the various shops.
Jumping when she felt a cold hand tap her shoulder Zelda looked to the metal warrior. Samus was looking at her, helmet slightly tilted as if saying 'What's wrong?'. Zelda looked at Ganondorf again taking Samus' hand the warrior willingly followed Zelda into a nearby book shop. Once she was safely away from the villain's sight Zelda let out a sigh of relief.
"Sorry about that Samus I didn't want that man across the street seeing me." Samus took a glance out the window spying Ganondorf easily.
"He tried to take over my world. I hope Master Hand keeps him in check. Ganondorf will stop at nothing to destroy Link and I." The arm cannon seemed to twitch when Zelda mentioned Ganon wanting to destroy her and Link. There was no other response to what Zelda had said though. Red helmet tilted again prompting Zelda to explain further. At least that's what Zelda believed Samus meant. It was hard to tell when Samus stayed so silent, and the helmet obscured any emotion that might be under it.
"Ganondorf in my world wants to take the pieces of the Triforce Link and I have. He already has one and if he gained all three he would become all powerful." The Princess explained giving the most streamlined version she could. Samus nodded in understanding leaning to take another glance out the window. Ganondorf was gone. The warrior pointed outside signaling Zelda that Ganondorf had moved elsewhere out of sight.
"Thank the goddesses." Zelda's relief was short lived though as the bell to the book store's door chimed. Entering was the King of Gerudos himself dark eyes scanning the room stopping upon seeing Zelda and Samus.
Zelda tensed, willing her magic to the surface ready for a fight. Ganondorf approached them a disturbing air of confidence about him. He walked over with a dark smirk on his face.
"Princess Zelda, don't you have a kingdom to rule. It would be horrible if something were to happen while you were off playing warrior." Zelda quirked an eyebrow still ready in case things turned violent. The Triforce of Wisdom's power resonating within her sensing the other piece within Ganondorf.
"Couldn't the same be said for you King Ganondorf of Gerudo Valley." The barb back didn't seem to phase the King. Instead he just continued to smirk at Zelda.
"Heh, my people don't need a babysitter to tell them what to do. As much as I love talking with you 'your majesty'. You're not the reason I'm here." Zelda was about to say something when Ganondorf turned to the armored warrior. Samus up until now had stood silently observing the events before them. Ganondorf stared at the warrior sizing them up. Ganondorf's dark gaze didn't phase the robot like warrior in the least however.
"Samus Aran the greatest bounty hunter in your dimension I presume?" Zelda didn't have the time to ponder the new information Ganondorf has relieved about Samus, as the King continued a devious smile on his face.
"I wish to speak with you privately if I may?" The false politeness Ganondorf spoke with caused a shiver to go down Zelda's spine. It was the same tone Ganondorf had used with the previous King of Hyrule, before he showed his true colors. Memories of the flames of Hyrule burning flashed through Zelda's mind. The day Ganondorf took over the land was forever imprinted in Zelda's mind.
Samus merely gazed at the King for moment, visor giving off nothing on how the hunter felt towards Ganondorf. Eventually though Samus nodded. Zelda was about to protest, warn Samus that Ganondorf could not be trusted, but the metal warrior turned their gaze on Zelda. The Princess quieted she didn't know how, but Samus seemed to have a talent for saying much with just a glance. Though Zelda knew all too well how powerful Ganondorf was Samus' bright visor told her the hunter would be fine. Zelda nodded leaving Samus with the King of Gerudo, no matter the horrid feeling left within her.
The glare Ganondorf received was oh so satisfying to the Gerudo King. After all that royal brat and kokiri runt put him through. Ganondorf was glad to make the Princess sweat thinking about what he was planning.
The metal clad bounty hunter Samus Aran had followed him without a word. Whether it was because they were confident enough in their skills to protect themself, or pure foolishness Ganondorf didn't know nor care. The hunter should count themself lucky he was in need of their skills, or else he could very well be leading them to their death.
As soon as Ganondorf had arrived to this Subspace he found out as much as he could about the competition. To the Gerudo King's delight he had found exactly who he could use to further his goals in Samus Aran. He had watched the archived videos of their match against Link.
The hunter had defeated the would be hero to the great pleasure of Ganondorf. Watching the runt fall Ganon began to plan. It was when Ganondorf had come across some drunk soldiers at a bar that he knew he could use Samus to finally get what was his. The soldiers of some Galactic Federation that Ganondorf care little about told of Samus in great detail. They spoke of a hardened bounty hunter that killed as easily as they breathed. An undefeated warrior of unimaginable skills known throughout their realm.
Bounty hunters weren't that common in Hyrule. There were a few mercenaries here and there, but Ganondorf never had use of them with his legion of minions at his command. Ganondorf did know though that bounty hunters would do just about anything for cash.
Looking to the hunter, strength radiated from them, so much so that even Ganondorf knew Samus was not one to be trifled with. This caused the Gerudo King to smirk. Perhaps in his current state Samus might be a threat, but once Link and Zelda were dealt with. The bounty hunter would cease to be useful, and if they became a problem they would be taken care of. Ganondorf grinned soon the triforce would be his as it was always meant to be.
Ganondorf brought Samus to an alley a little cliche, but Ganon didn't want to tip off any of the other heroes fighting in the tournament. He was confidant he could handle Link and Zelda, but the King wasn't ready to deal with any wild cards at this point. The hunter was silent stopping once Ganon did, that green visor staring at him. The King of Gerudo wondered briefly what the warrior was thinking. He stopped though as it didn't matter all that mattered was that they would do Ganondorf's bidding.
"I have a job that needs done, and being a bounty hunter I would imagine you'd be interested in making some easy profit." Seamus said nothing continuing to watch the King, so Ganon continued.
"Very simply, you know Link of course, and I see you've met Princess Zelda as well. I need both of them dead." There was no reaction from Samus, and Ganondorf smirked. Clearly death was not something that affected the hunter.
"You'll be paid well of course I believe translated into you're currency the amount would be two hundred thousand credits." Ganon had done his homework snooping around to find as much about this hunter as he could. All of the original fighters seemed to fear Samus, and the people he'd managed to find from Samus' dimension spoke of their skill in great detail. They told of how Samus destroyed an entire planet killing thousands if not more on the surface before blowing it up. If Samus proved useful perhaps Ganon would offer them a place within the ranks of his minions.
Ganon was confident he offered enough money to sate the hunter's payment. Though they came from different worlds Subspace had many places where money could be converted to any kind of currency from any dimension. Ganondorf's face changed from false politeness to anger when the hunter shook their head, seemingly not interested in the job. They began to turn to leave, but Ganondorf grabbed their arm.
Before Ganondorf could make any threat or demand though a metal foot slammed into his jaw. The King staggered surprised at the strength behind the hunter's kick. They began to turn again to leave which made Ganondorf furious. It was like the hunter believe Ganondorf wasn't a threat. The King of Gerudo felt his magic bubbling to the surface from his rage. If he had to force the hunter to obey him then so be it.
The rest of Zelda's day after the encounter with Ganondorf was rather uneventful. She meet up with Princess Peach, and was cajoled into having tea with her. Peach seemed like a kind and caring person. Zelda was almost surprised she was here for a fighting tournament.
"Mario and Luigi aren't really ones for fighting either, but we all got invited so why not." Peach laughed at her own reasoning for coming to the tournament. The two royals were sitting at a small cafe at a circular table in front of the cafe outside.
"True this world is amazing even if there wasn't a tournament. This place would be worth the trip." The ruler of Hyrule noted, taking a sip of her tea. Peach smiled sweetly agreeing with the statement. Zelda looked off distantly thoughts of Ganondorf coming back to the Princess. It was obvious he was planning something to gain the triforce.
Samus was a bounty hunter, and Zelda knew now it was very possible she should be wary around the warrior now. As far as Zelda could surmise Ganondorf wished to hire Samus. Whether or not the bounty hunter accepted Zelda did not know, or if they did accept. Should Zelda expect to be shot down by the metal warrior? A troubling thought.
"You look troubled Zelda is something wrong?" Peach asked looking concerned at the ruler of Hyrule. Zelda snapped from her thoughts she had been completely lost in her musings.
"I'm sorry Peach I tend to get lost in my own thoughts." Zelda apologized, smiling sheepishly. The Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom waved her off still looking concerned.
"It's no problem what's wrong, if you don't mind me asking?" The brunette frowned not wanting to trouble someone with her problems.
"I wouldn't want to bother you we only just met…"
"Nope! You're not pulling the we just met card on me missy! On the field things can be as vicious as you'd like, but off it we're friends. Now what's wrong?" Zelda was surprised how Peach shot down Zelda attempt to not share her problem. The ruler of Hyrule sighed.
"Do you know of Ganondorf?" Zelda asked.
"Not really he is from your world right?" The brunette nodded taking a sip of her tea before continuing.
"To put it simply in my world there is something call the Triforce. Three pieces left by our goddesses that united can grant someone's wish. Ganondorf wishes to gained all three to decimate the world. He has one, Link and I have the other two." The ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom looked troubled by this. It was obvious not just anyone should have that kind of power.
"I take it he can't just take them from you two." Peach grimaced as Zelda frowned.
"It's possible he could, but Ganon would kill us just for existing anyway. Us having the Triforce is just one more reason to destroy us." Memories of the final battle against Ganon flashed through the Princess' mind. The monstrous beast he transformed into in a last ditch attempt to kill Link.
"Is that what you're worried about? Him being in the tournament? You think he'll try something?" Peach seemed horrified that such an act as cruel as murder would occur here.
"Not out right but I know he's up to something. Ganondorf is smart enough to know the heros here would stop him. He's trying something else I'm sure. You know of Samus too correct?" The blonde nodded looking worried.
"The scary robot they're kinda hard to miss. Mario told me Samus won the tournament last time."
"Samus is apparently a bounty hunter in their world, and Ganondorf wanted to talk 'privately' with them." Ganondorf no doubt was mocking Zelda by displaying his plan so openingly. It made the Princess all the more worried. If Ganon was this confidant in his plan, then there was definitely cause for concern.
"You think Ganondorf is hiring Samus to attack you?" Peach confirmed a thoughtful look on her face.
"I'm certain Ganon has asked something of them. If Samus has agreed is what I'm worried for." Zelda grimaced her muscles throbbed as if reminding her of the risk of crossing Samus.
"I wouldn't be worried." The princess of Hyrule did a double take, completely shocked at Peach's dismal of Zelda's concerns.
"What? Why? One doesn't employ a bounty hunter, unless they want someone dead." Peach smiled sipping her own tea.
"I haven't really talked to Samus much, but clearly they're a more action over words kind of person." Zelda withheld a chuckle, saying Samus valued words little was an understatement. The Princess has still yet to hear even the slightest grunt from the hunter.
"If Samus wanted you gone you'd probably know it." The blonde princess shrugged. "I might be wrong though. I tend to see the best in everyone even those of less moral standing. Look at Bowser he may seem rather mean, but he's actually rather sweet. Some people are just a little rough on the outside, but they're the ones that always have the biggest hearts." Peach laughed at her belief, assuming Zelda must find it very naive of the blonde princess. Zelda smiled instead feeling a little better with Peach's kind words.
"Very insightful Peach maybe you should hold the Triforce of Wisdom. Perhaps I am worrying over nothing." Peach giggled girlishly taking another drink of her tea.
"Just think Zelda if Samus truly insteads you harm on Ganondorf's behalf. The most he can offer is money. Just be Samus' friend, and give them a reason to not hurt you. After all friends are worth far more than gold." Zelda couldn't help but laugh at Peach's simple solution to her problem.
"Now I'm convinced, you should have the Triforce of Wisdom."
A.N. I must say Peach is fun to write. I'd imagine she has a positive outlook on everything, and sees the best in everyone.
On a side note though, its debatable whether Zelda would remember the fight with Ganondorf during the final battle of OOT. Since Link was sent back in time and re-met her at the end of Ocarina of Time. I'm just going to assume she can since there would be no reason for Zelda to go to the Smash tournament then. Since she'd probably not be much of a fighter without the threat of Ganondorf.
With that final note see you guys next chapter, reviews are loved.^^