A.N. You guys are all so sweet in your reviews. Thanks to all who were giving advice to fix my errors. I'll be the first to admit I'm terrible with grammar each chapter I try to be a little better for you guys. I still suck though so sorry about that, but with that enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 6 Quite a Team
The Princess was nervous from what Samus could tell. She would fidget where she stood, and would wring her hands in an anxious manner. They were waiting in the warp zone, the area that would transport them. Once Mario and Bowser arrived they would be warped to the place of their fight. Samus was calm of course. Bowser might be somewhat of a challenge, but the bounty hunter was confident in their skills. Mario might have improved since the last tournament, though Samus deemed it unlikely he changed his overall style of combat.
Zelda's eyebrow furrowed her anxiety over her first real match clear. The hunter wondered what had the Princess so on edge. There was no way to die in the tournament. One would be transported out before they were killed, so while things could get painful in the ring. It was nothing that couldn't be fix with a few days in the infirmary, and it wasn't imperative that they won. This was just the first of many matches to come. There was still plenty of time to make a comeback if they lost.
Samus wasn't really sure how to ease the Princess' worries, or if she should even attempt. After all she wasn't that good with people. Perhaps she was just misreading the Princess, and she was actually mentally preparing for the fight.
Again Samus found that unlikely she may not be able to tell a lot from what someone was saying, but years of being a silent observer. Samus had become quite efficient at reading body language, and it was clear from the Princess' subtlest gestures she was on edge about the coming fight.
Not being able to say anything reassuring, not that Samus would know what she could say that would reassure the Princess anyway. The huntress placed her hand on the Princess' shoulder. Zelda jumped slightly clearly so lost in her musings that she forgot Samus was even there. Samus removed her hand looking down at the royal. She relaxed as soon as she realized it was just Samus. It was odd no one ever calmed down at the sight of her, normally the reaction was the exact opposite.
"Sorry, guess I'm a little on edge." The Princess stated sheepishly smiling at the huntress. Samus nodded though, the feeling of nervousness about a fight was foreign to her. The Chozo had trained her for years instilling Samus' calm demeanor within her. Staying calm and collected could be the difference between life and death in a combat situation. She supposed she could understand that fighting was something Zelda rarely did, so she would be on edge over it.
When Samus thought on it, Zelda never mentioned fighting before the tournament. It made it all the more impressive at the progress she made when training with Samus.
Samus believed Zelda would be fine. She may still have a few weakness that could be worked on, but overall Samus was impressed how much the Princess learned in such a short time. Zelda was a quick study, and Samus was sure that after a few real matches. The Princess would improve even more.
Though Zelda seemed to relax a little after Samus' intervention she still appeared quite on edge.
It wasn't long before Bowser and Mario showed up. The large koopa could be heard stomping his way down the hall. A rather exasperated sounding Mario trailing after him.
"Maybe if you weren't so short you'd keep up!" The King of Koopas taunted the red clad plumber, who just sighed following the lumbering Bowser into the warp room.
"Samus," Mario gave a polite nod to the huntress, though Samus could tell he was tense. Samus gave him credit for at least attempting to be civil with her. Her feared reputation was not lost to Samus, Zelda seemed to be the only one lost to it.
Mario and Zelda introduced themselves to each other. Bowser butting in to greet the beautiful Princess. Samus zoned out not really paying attention to the words they were exchanging. She did however keep a close eye on Bowser. He was a little too close to Zelda for the huntress' comfort. From what Samus heard he had a reputation for kidnaping Princesses. Samus made note to keep him away from Zelda during the fight.
Once introductions were done, with all fighters present the warp pad beneath their feet began to glow a bright blinding white. Warping was a quick and painless a way of travel only the Master Hand had perfected to this level. The sensation of floating would occur, and a blinding white light would glow from the warp pad. Then next thing one knew they were in a completely different place. Samus preferred traveling in her ship, but she did admire the advance technology as the pad spirited them away to the area they would fight in.
As soon as the world came back into focus Samus quickly took in the environment looking for danger. The clouds were racing by at a fast pace, and skyscrapers were zipping by below. The Great Fox, Fox McCloud's flagship, this would certainly make things interesting.
Samus looked over to Zelda to find her teammate eyes wide, face pale, trying to steady herself on the fast moving ship. Acting quickly the huntress helped the Princess gently grabbing her arm to steady her. Zelda appeared grateful, and Samus nodded letting go now that the Princess had her bearings. Her face still looked uneasy glancing at the moving ground below, before snapping back to focus on their opponents.
"Three!" Master Hand's booming voice shouted from nowhere in particular. While Samus and Zelda were position at the front of the ship. Bowser and Mario stood at the other end. Mario stood poised on left wing of the ship, and Samus could spy Bowser balancing on the engines, trying not to get burned by the heat coming off them.
"Two!" Samus gave one more glance to Zelda. The Princess gave the huntress a determined look, her hands dazzled with magic power ready for the fight.
"One!" The HUD inside Samus' helmet sprung to life, giving the huntress all necessary battle info. Full energy and full missiles, Samus was ready.
"Fight!" Mario struck first jumping from his spot on the wing, a fireball was flung from his palm. A blast of magic fire flew by Samus and met the plumber's attack in a small inferno of an explosion.
With a quick movements Samus sprinted forward. Mario thinking Samus was about to tackle him jumped out of the way. Only to be met by another blast of magic from Zelda. The red clad plumber cried out in pain, but he quickly adjusted himself and landed on the ship's wing.
Just as Samus reached the end of the ship's main body. Bowser jumped from his position on the engines to met her. The huntress sprung up the two clashing in the air. Bowser's huge fist met Samus', and the two landed with a thud that shook the whole ship. Samus acted first firing a missile sending it hurling Bowser's way. Being too large and slow Bowser took the hit. When the smoke clear the Koopa smirked only minor damage apparent on the King of Koopas.
"Is that all you got!" Bowser charged intending to smash Samus into the ground. Both of Bowser's fists came down smashing hard into the hull of the ship. Samus just barely dodging out of the way. When the large koopa moved there was a sizable dent of twisted metal where he had smashed into the ship.
"Come on! Mario said you were the best fighter here! Just hold still and let me smash you!" The koopa yelled his eyebrow twitching in annoyance. Though he couldn't see it Samus smirked under her helmet, an impatient angry opponent was easy to defeat.
Bowser came charging again this time Samus ran at him, almost like a twisted game of chicken to see who would change course first. Samus did change course but not in the way Bowser expected. Where once a human figure charged at him now a small ball rolled under him. Before Bowser could even process what just happened, or turn around to find Samus. An explosion came from underneath him, and he tripped falling flat on his face.
Before he could recover Samus jumped and slammed down in front of Bowser. Her arm cannon was aimed point blank at the koopa's head. Just as Bowser tried to stand a missile was driven right into his head. To Samus' surprise, through the smoke of the missile Bowser recovered.
A large hand took hold of the huntress' arm cannon pointing it away. Opening his large maw fire spilled out the koopa's mouth. Samus' HUD rang out telling the huntress of the danger the suit was under going. Using her free hand Samus punched Bowser through the flames squarely in the jaw, but Bowser did not release her.
Out of no where a red blur flew by, nailing Bowser in the face forcing him to close his jaw and flinch away. Samus used the opportunity kicking Bowser then firing a missile blindly to get him to release his grip on the huntress' arm.
Once free Samus saw what hit Bowser. Mario was pulling himself up having to grab hold of the side of the ship to keep from flying off, clearly winded from being sent flying. Then Zelda appeared at Samus' side looking better off than Mario, but still worn and tired. Despite this she gave Samus an almost cocky smile.
"I thought you could use some help." Samus found herself smirking under her helmet. Bowser loudly groaned spotting Mario he used his large hand to pull the plumber back onto the ship.
"What the shell Mario! Watch it!" Before Mario could respond their opponents acted. Samus came at the Koopa King spin jumping before energy surrounded her body. Pulling him in with the screw attack Bowser yelled out in pain as the move brought them high into the air. Mario was left to face Zelda the Princess moving quickly gathering her magic before unleashing it on the plumber.
While Princess and plumber duked it out. Samus and Bowser landed in a heated struggle on top of the engines of the ship. Bowser hit the ground his shell taking most of the force for him. Samus landing ontop him roughly firing a missile point blank at his head again. Bowser withdrew into his shell spinning forcing Samus to jump off.
"Argh! Stop doing that!" Bowser yelled upon coming out of his shell. This time the damage was becoming more clear. Blood flecks covered the Koopa's face, and several scorch marks were apparent on his body.
"I've had about enough of you metalhead!" Bowser went back inside his shell, and went spinning towards the huntress like a whirling fortress of spikes. Samus couldn't move out of the way in time, and the shell slammed into her. Screaming metal rang out as Bowser shell grinded into Samus' suit. Wasting no time Samus swung her arm cannon hitting the shell pushing it back using its own momentum. Bowser sprung out of his protective armor taking hold of the ship before he flew of.
Aiming her arm cannon Samus readied another missile, but before it could leave the weapon. A heavy boot slammed down on her head. Mario jump off before Samus could take a swing at him. Landing next to Bowser fists raised Mario rolled his eyes at the damaged koopa.
"I told you to be-a careful Bowser!" The King of Koopas huffed looking annoyed.
"Ya, Ya, plumber boy was right as always. Let's just finish this." Samus' eyes narrowed, Mario defeated Zelda. The huntress cursed herself she should have paid more attention and aided the Princess more. It was her first fight after all. Now she would have to take on both Mario and Bowser.
The two came fast both attacking at the same time. Samus sent a missile flying before dodging out of the way. Bowser's fist crashed into the ship, the koopa hissing in pain at the missed attack. Mario recovered quickly sending a fireball hurling at Samus. She prepared herself for the hit, but then Samus felt something wrap around her leg. The next thing the huntress knew she was hanging upside down off the ship. A chain wrapped around her leg the only thing keeping her from falling. Looking up Samus' eyes widened, hidden from sight on the lower wing was Zelda or Sheik Samus believed her alter ego was called.
The clever Princess must have made Mario believe her knocked off the ship. When really she managed to recover and position herself on the wing. Quickly the sheikah pulled the huntress up onto the wing. The two getting out of sight before their opponents looked over the edge and spot them.
"Hey Mario you actually did something useful good job!" Samus heard the koopa laughing no doubt believing they won. It must have appeared that Mario's fireball had blew her off the ship.
"Bowser! Master Hand hasn't called it! The match isn't over!" The veteran fighter scolded his teammate. The two were looking over the edge of the ship not noticing their opponents hiding from them.
Beside Samus the Sheikah changed back into Zelda. Samus frowned under her helmet, a large burn marred the Princess' side. No doubt a blast of fire from Mario had knocked her off in the first place. It looked painful the Princess' dress not made for protection, a sizable burnt hole in the dress revealed the damage. For whatever reason Samus felt the urge to jump back onto the engine, and slam Mario's face into the ground.
"I'll distract them, sneak around and get them from behind." Zelda whispered sounding like a Queen giving commands to her subjects. Samus didn't protest, though normally she hated following someone else's command. It was a sound plan, so there was no reason not to comply. Zelda moved from the far side of the wing sending a blast of magic at the hero and villain of the Mushroom Kingdom.
"Gah! There!" Bowser shouted before a blast of fire nailed him in the face. Quickly while their focus was on Zelda Samus jumped back onto the main hull of the ship. Moving down to the engine Samus jumped down upon the two neither noticing until it was too late. Landing with all the force she could Samus landed right on Bowser's back. The spikes dug into Samus' feet, but using the force she landed with. The huntress sent Bowser reeling forward falling off the ship. Unable to recover, Samus watched as Bowser's form disappeared. Master Hand teleporting him out before he fell to his death.
Mario though delayed by the shock of Bowser being dispatched punched Samus, who blocked with her arm cannon. Several more punches came that Samus blocked. Mario stopped upon sparing a glance to see Zelda coming from behind him. Just in time he was able to block the kick coming from the royal. Acting fast Samus backhanded the plumber with her arm cannon. Mario went flying off the ship following his ally and being teleported out before his death could occur.
"Game!" Not even giving the fighters a chance to breath the victors were teleported away. The clear skies of Corneia were soon replaced by the plain metal walls of the warp room.
Samus felt Zelda's light touch on her arm. The Princess was using the bounty hunter to steady herself. Using her other hand the injured royal was wincing at the rather painful looking burn on her side. Samus activated her scan visor, within seconds her suit gave her a summary of Zelda's wounds. Aside from the burn the Princess wasn't in too bad of shape. Once her wound was treated rest would be all she needed. Despite clearly being in pain the Princess' smile was dazzling.
"That went well, we make quite a team don't we? Though I do hope not all the matches will be on giant flying ships." Samus smiled lightly under her helmet. That was probably the Princess' first experience with a space ship, or any kind of flying ship for that matter. Samus was pretty sure Zelda's world was behind on modern technology. For being her first time fighting in the air like that Samus was fairly impressed on how well the Princess adapted.
Zelda let go of Samus and shakily took a step towards the door. Without missing a beat Samus offered her arm to the Princess upon seeing her wince and stumble due to her wound. The Princess looked gratefully at the huntress, her lithe form taking support from Samus steady frame.
"Thank you Samus, one would think the Master Hand would teleport everyone to an infirmary after a match." Samus nodded idly, never really putting much thought into it herself. After all Samus' suit took most of the punishment, and the damage Samus herself did take she could fix herself back up in her ship in solitude instead of showing weakness to her opponents.
Zelda however needed to get some actual medical attention. Helping the Princess walk out of the warp zone. Samus wondered if she should just carry the Princess. It would certainly be less of a hassle, but the huntress thought better of it. She didn't know if Zelda would allow such an invasion of her space, and Samus wasn't too keen on upsetting her teammate.
Luckily the infirmary was in the same building as the warp zone, so it wasn't long before they had made it to the sterile white infirmary. Zelda was hurriedly whisked away to receive proper care, despite the Princess' protests that she was fine.
Samus was about to turn and leave when she found herself face to face with the green clad Hero of Hyrule, Link. He must have come looking for Zelda, but as he gazed at Samus his face was hard. Link did not bother to conceal his distrust of Samus. After a moment the hero sighed looking rather displeased. The two stared at each other, Link looking like he wanted to say something. Under her helmet Samus sighed she didn't have the patience for a staring contest with the Hero of Time, and frankly the distrustful look was annoying.
The huntress easily side stepped the hero she paused at the doorway before leaving. Link had stopped his glaring, and went to wait for Zelda to be finished with her treatment. In truth Samus had no issue with Link. His skill in battle was admirable, and Samus could respect that. He also seemed to be looked upon as a true hero. People on the street would look at him in awe, stopping whatever they were doing to stare at the green clad swordsman. People from his own dimension would bow in respect. Normally Samus would be wary of people like him. There was always two sides to every coin, but Link did seem to be a generally a good person.
Samus was getting annoyed at his increased distrusted of her however. She wasn't blind, she knew what Link and all the other fighters minus Zelda thought of her. A cold blooded machine and even if there was some truth to that idea. It was becoming a nuisance when the blonde was sending Samus seething looks whenever they crossed path. From what Samus could surmise Link and Zelda were from the same world, and the two were close friends. Zelda being teammates with the huntress upset the swordsman. Must be the Hero being over protective of Zelda.
The Princess could take care of herself, and Link glaring at Samus wasn't going to make her any safer anyway. If Link didn't like her that was fine, he would just be another on a long list of people that hated Samus with a passion. He should be at least smart enough to know. That it would be stupid for Samus to attack Zelda when they were in dimension that Samus could not escape until the end of the tournament.
Not that Samus would ever hurt Zelda. It was hard to admit or even understand, but she was enjoying the royal's presence. No one had ever wanted to speak with Samus so much that they would attempt to learn sign language. Even now when Zelda could only understand a few basic signs. The Princess was fine with sitting in silence with Samus, or attempting to guess what the huntress was trying to say.
Samus shook the thoughts away, it was no use wondering about it. Samus doubted she would understand Zelda's motives. Unless this was all a ploy to gain Samus' loyalty, and then get the hunter to follow the royal's commands. Samus didn't believe that was it however, Zelda seemed far too kind to do something like that.
Leaving the infirmary Samus headed back to the garage that her ship was docked at. Exiting to the lobby of the building several other fighters were leaving as well. There was a large flatscreen in the lobby that allowed those not fighting to watch the battles unfold. Most of the fighters had left since the match was over, but one had stayed.
Eyes narrowing under her helmet Samus stood poised ready for another fight. Ganondorf features were tense rage was in his eyes, but he kept his posture civil as he approached Samus.
"Aran, I see you came out victorious. I wonder how long you will heel to your new master?" Samus didn't respond in any form. What did the dark skinned man want? She wondered. She already proved that he was no match for the huntress. What game was he playing?
"What has the glorious Princess of Hyrule offered you that has you following her like a lost dog?" Sarcasm dripped from Ganon's voice, and Samus' fist clenched. It wasn't the first time someone called her a dog. It was a common insult among those who hated the Galactic Federation in her world. Ganon saw this smirking he continued.
"No need to get angry I don't wish to fight you this time. Just talk." Samus wanted to tell him he defiantly didn't want to fight her. The villain of Hyrule was testing her patience, and he was getting rather close to getting a super missile to the face.
"I lost my temper last time, but I will ask of your services again. That Hero brat holds no love for you it's clear as day. I don't know what her highness is offering you, but whatever it is I could give you it and more." The Gerudo King's expression became dark a sinister look on his face. Ganondorf didn't seem like one to swallow his pride like this and demand help again. Whatever Zelda and Link have that he wants must be very important indeed Samus thought.
"If you don't I will have no choice but to crush you along with them." Samus wanted to scoff was this supposed to intimidate her? Make her want to follow this evil man? The only thing that stopped Samus from smashing the Gerudo King was her word to Zelda she would not go picking a fight with the dark lord.
Samus strode confidently pass the gerudo ignoring him. There was no way Samus would ever take orders from anybody like that. She left heading to her ship, ignoring the deadly look Ganon gave her. He toyed with magic in his hand watching the huntress leave a smirk on his face.
A.N. I do love writing from Samus' point of view. I spent a lot of time constructing what I thought Samus would think and act like, though I do love her depicted as a sarcastic angry bounty hunter, kicking ass and taking names. I think that being raised by the Chozo, a race that is depicted in the games as being very spiritual and peaceful, I think that some of that would rub off on Samus. Anyway I'm sure you guys don't want to read me ramble about how I go about characterizing Samus, so I'll just leave it to the story to show how I write her. Reviews are loved as always see you next chapter!^^