A.N. Sorry for the wait on this one. I really need to make a consistent schedule for when I upload these chapters, but anyway enjoy the chapter lovely readers.^^
Chapter 7 Friendships and Nightmares
Zelda let out an exhausted breath collapsing back into her bed, after maybe the fifth time of trying to get comfortable enough to sleep. After the match the infirmary had kept the Princess for the rest of the day, patching up her wounds. They let her leave with the condition of no training or fighting for the next two days. Which was fine as Zelda knew her and Samus' next match wouldn't be for another few days.
Now attempting to sleep back at the flat they were provided to live at. Despite the pain that still gnawed at her side. The Princess couldn't stop grinning to herself as she lay in bed. They won! Which if Zelda thought on it, with the one of the most powerful fighters on her side. It wasn't that surprising, however Zelda was still amazed how well she did in the match. If the Princess was honest she didn't think she was going to do very well in the melee. Zelda excelled at many things she knew that. Fighting was not one of them, at least in Zelda's eyes. She did not hinder her teammate, and they won. That was all that mattered.
The brunette hissed in pain from the still tender wound. Carefully sitting up Zelda lifted up her thin sleeveless night shirt. Calling upon her magic Zelda placed a hand on the bandaged wound. Zelda liked to think she had a firm grasp on her magical abilities. She could heal others without much of an issue. Healing her own wounds though Zelda could never seem to get the spell to work correctly. Link once pointed out maybe it was because Zelda care more about others than herself, but she never put too much thought into it. After all since Hyrule was at peace. The worst injury Zelda ever got was a paper cut from paperwork concerning Hyrule.
Sighing in relief as the pain subsided a little, Zelda leaned back against her headboard. Taking a moment to enjoy the time without pain. Zelda turned her gaze out the window. It was strange in Hyrule once night fell things became peacefully silent. The only light would be the moon and stars shining down upon the world.
In Subspace though, the city didn't seem to rest with the sun. Zelda could see lights from buildings streaming through her window, and she could still hear people going about their business on the streets below.
Looking out the window Zelda wondered where her silent teammate went off to. After the match the Princess had to admit her mind was sort of blurry on what happened. Exhaustion and pain from the battle had taken a toll on her. She remembered Samus letting the Princess lean on them leading them to the infirmary, and she recalled Link rushing in congratulating her on the fight. Samus seemed to disappear at some point once Zelda got to the infirmary.
This caused the Princess to frown slightly. For someone wearing heavy bright orange armor, Samus had a knack for slipping away unnoticed. Zelda hoped before leaving Samus received any medical attention they needed. Though Samus never appeared to be hurt. From what Zelda was learning Samus was the kind of person that would sooner bleed out than admit they were injured.
A shot of pain flared up again, and Zelda hissed again before sighing. Carefully Zelda slide out of bed padding her way over to her closet. Changing into one of her less royal looking dresses. Zelda figured she wasn't going to fall asleep anytime soon, so she might as well go on a walk and enjoy the nighttime air. Her side was going to be bothering her anyway. She might as well do something that might distract her from the pain.
Zelda headed out careful not to wake the snoozing Link in the other bedroom, though that wasn't really hard Link slept like the dead. Her side protested to the movement, but after Zelda got outside it became a dull throb. The comfortable atmosphere of the city distracting Zelda from the pain.
It was nice, Zelda mused back in Hyrule Zelda would never be able to take a simple late night stroll. Well, she could but only with several guards at her side. Not a really relaxing environment when one had a dozen guards hovering around you.
The royal understood of course it was only for her own protection, but the limitations of ruling her kingdom sometimes felt suffocating. It was a gilded cage of course, but Zelda tired not to think that way. After all there were many out there that would trade places with her in a heartbeat.
Breaking from her thoughts Zelda realized she was several blocks away from her temporary home already. The Princess had just been walking with no real direction in mind. Looking around Zelda had never been to this part of the city before. Most of the stores and buildings' lights were out signaling they were closed for the night. The only one that brightened the street was a large building with a sign reading Diesel's Shipyard and Garage. Clearly it was not a shipyard for boats like Zelda was used to in Hyrule. Thinking back to the flying ship they fought on Zelda began to wonder.
Stepping inside the building looked even bigger from within, and Zelda found herself looking at a massive room filled with ships similar to the one her and Samus fought on.
"Good evening Miss!" A cheery voice snapped Zelda from her musings. Not far from the front entrance was a simple counter where a young man no older than sixteen was standing at attention waiting to assist his late night customer.
"Would you like to dock a ship, or request repairs?" Zelda approached the counter, the young employee awaited her answer.
"Actually no I'm afraid I don't understand these ships much. Let alone own one, but I was wondering if you could help me." The Princess smiled politely following a hunch. She assumed that Samus might own a vessel similar to the ship they fought on. The hunter clearly had advance technology if their suit was any indication.
"Sure thing Miss what can I help you with?" The boy asked happily, whether he was truly happy to be serving a customer this late Zelda didn't know.
"Do you know if Samus Aran owns a ship here?" Zelda didn't even get to get any other words out before the boy's eyes widened.
"Samus Aran! I got to see them earlier it was so cool!" He exclaimed looking like the children back at Hyrule who would stare at Zelda in awe.
"You know Samus?" Zelda managed to ask before the boy excitedly said anything else. It was then the boy blushed and looked embarrassed.
"I'm from the same dimension as Samus. I got a job here and in exchange I get to stay to watch the tournament. Aran saved my planet from space pirates, so I guess I just admire them a lot. Wait...you're Samus' teammate what's your name?" He trailed off unable to recall the Princess' name.
"Princess Zelda," Zelda introduced giving a polite smile. It was strange, being royalty normally she had the problem of people recognizing her. It was a pleasant feeling Zelda concluded, if only the same could happen back home in Hyrule.
"Right! I'm Joey, but you're looking for Samus. They're working on their ship just down there. Bright orange ship you'll probably hear them working, can't miss it!" Zelda thanked the employee before heading down in the direction he told her.
He had been right Zelda heard several clanging, and other noises before she caught sight of an orange vessel. It didn't look anything like the other ships. Samus' ship actually reminded the Princess of the hunter's helmet. A vibrant green window and an orange coloring to match Samus' armor. Zelda thought the ship suited the hunter perfectly.
The hunter in question Zelda saw was sitting on a large tool box next to a pile of sheet metal, seemingly taking a break from their work. Looking at the ship there were patches that were not orange and more like the metal that sat next to the hunter. They must have been replacing the outer hull of the ship.
Samus' form was hunched as if in thought. Like always their armor was on, and to Zelda's displeasure the metal armor still had some clear damage from the match earlier that day.
"Samus?" The Princess gently tried to get Samus' attention, not wanting to interrupt their thoughts. The helmet snapped up looking to the Princess. Samus tilted their head standing up to face the royal. Their arm cannon glowed then changed back to an armored hand.
"Did I disturb you?" Samus shook their head before giving a questioning tilt of their helmet, no doubt wondering what Zelda was doing out so late.
"I thought you would own a flying ship, so I figured I'd find out. That boy at the counter is quite enamored by you. He says you saved his planet from pirates." Samus merely shrugged in a not a big deal sort of fashion. Zelda smiled and shook her head. She wished she had the knowledge to understand Samus' sign language better. The Princess still only knew a few phrases and signs. Not enough to ask about the planet the hunter apparently saved. She could have asked Joey, but the Princess had been too focused on finding her teammate.
Samus' visor lite up the expressionless helmet looking at Zelda. The Hyrule royal gave the hunter a look knowing by now that if Samus' visor was glowing. It meant the hunter was making sure she was okay.
"I'm fine, I'll be as good as new in a few days." As if the universe wanted to prove the Princess wrong a sharp pain reminded Zelda the burn was still very raw. Samus crossed their arms helmet tilting as the Princess flinched heavily.
"If I admit it hurts a little will you stop looking at me like that?" The hunter shrugged as if saying "What look?". Zelda sighed but that only made her burn ache more. This time Samus moved to help the Princess. Zelda mentally cursed the doctors had given her medicine for the pain, but it must be wearing off. They probably intended Zelda to fall asleep before the medicine wore off. That why she would already be in blissful sleep before any serious pain took hold.
Samus offered their hand to the Princess. When Zelda took it they guided her over to sit on the tool box they once sat on. The hunter held up a finger signaling Zelda to wait a moment. Samus jumped onto their ship disappearing when the hatch on top allowed them entrance. A minute or two later the hunter reappeared jumping down from the ship. Samus handed Zelda a small mug containing a warm steaming liquid.
"What's this?" Zelda took the offered cup, the warm mug feeling nice in her hands. Looking in the cup, the steaming liquid was a dark blue almost like a some kind of juice or wine. Zelda looked to Samus and the hunter made a series of signs speaking to the Princess.
"It will help the pain." Samus signed pointing to the cup she gave Zelda. In the back of Zelda's head she could hear every lesson she ever had on politics telling her drinking an offered drink could be a ploy to poison her, but Zelda was beginning to see the aloof hunter as her friend. Experimentally Zelda took a sip then she took another when the drink proved safe. It tasted almost like tea except with a pleasant flavor Zelda never had before.
"Thank you, you didn't have to though. I should have stayed at home and rested." The hunter shrugged in no big deal fashion.
"You were in pain." Samus signed simply as if their reasoning was obvious. Zelda smiled taking another drink. She could feel the tea like drink warming up her entire body. The aches and pains from the battle earlier dulled. Zelda feeling her body relax from the drink she smiled at the hunter. Samus truly was nothing like what others thought them to be.
"Samus can I ask you something?" The hunter nodded awaiting what the Princess wanted to ask.
"May I see what you look like under that helmet?" The hunter looked at Zelda, perhaps surprised at her request. The Princess originally thought if she waited Samus would reveal their face in time, but she was curious and Samus didn't seem like someone to get mad over a simple request.
"You don't have to if you don't want to, but I'd like to see who has been so kind to me. I understand though if you wish to keep yourself hidden." Really Zelda couldn't pinpoint an exact reason Samus would wear their armor all the time just yet. It was clear to her though that Samus hid more than just their face under that armor. They were known as a killing machine with no remorse that fought without mercy. Zelda didn't see it though. Samus radiated strength and power, but the hunter only used it in the field. Outside of battle the hunter calmly lingered about their business. Zelda believe people were letting their fear of the hunter in battle blind them to the fact that there was someone inside that armor.
Zelda offered Samus a friendly smile, and the hunter seemed to sigh shaking their head. A click was heard and air hissed out around the helmet. Samus pulled the helmet off and Zelda's eyes widened. They or more importantly she was not the Princess expected to be under the armor.
Samus was a serious looking woman with sharp features and pale skin, no doubt from the amount of time they spent in the armor. She had long golden hair tied up into a ponytail with her bangs hanging messily around her face. Her expression was drawn clearly not used to someone seeing their actual face, not just the helmet. There were small scars that marred the huntress face. A thin line that started at her jaw line and disappeared under her armor, and another mark that ran horizontally against the huntress' cheek. Like a projectile of some kind that had grazed the side of her face but never healed. Zelda found herself drawn to the huntress' eyes though. A cool blue reminding Zelda of Lake Hylia, but there was something about them that made Zelda inwardly frown. They were hollow most people had a light in their eyes, but Samus had a haunted look. It was the look Zelda had seen in soldiers that had seen horrible things.
Placing her now finished drink on the tool box. Zelda stood up smiling happy the huntress trusted her enough to show her their true face.
"I'll admit you're not what I expected, but it's nice to actually see your face." Samus shrugged nonchalantly, and Zelda could see the huntress' face showed indifference. She may be used to hiding her face, but clearly Samus was just as good at hiding her emotions without the armor as she was with it.
"Plus, I don't have to guess what you're saying now." Zelda liked to think she was good at reading someone's face. It was actually surprising to her how well she was able to decipher what Samus attempted to tell her when the helmet was on.
Samus ran a metal clad hand through her hair looking away. It was almost humorous how the hunter stared down Ganondorf no problem, but couldn't look at Zelda without their helmet hiding her face. Seeing the huntress was on edge Zelda did the first thing that came to mind. She reached out and took Samus' hand. The huntress looked at her surprised, her eyebrows drew in confusion.
"You know I don't see you any differently right now. You're still the same with or without the armor. I just wanted to see what my friend looked like. If you're more comfortable leaving it on that's fine." Samus seemed to pause when Zelda called her friend. She mouthed the word and looked at Zelda her eyebrows furrowed.
"We may be here to fight each other, but I don't see why can't be friends. Well, I hope I can call you friend." Taking a note from Peach's philosophy Zelda said. Though there was an uncertainty to her voice, afraid the huntress would reject any form of friendship between them.
Samus didn't look like they were opposed to it. She actually looked rather confused, as if no one had ever tried to be friends with her. Removing her hand from Zelda the huntress made a quick sign.
"Why?" Zelda frowned without the helmet Samus was able to mouth the word as well making it a little more clear what she was attempting to say.
"Why would I want to be friends with you?" Samus nodded, looking completely serious.
"Is there a reason I shouldn't?" The huntress' eyebrow rose her expression saying that it should be obvious why she shouldn't. Zelda crossed her arms giving the huntress a stern look.
"If you say it's because you're a dangerous bounty hunter. I won't accept that." Zelda was now thoroughly convince any rumors claiming Samus was some heartless killer were completely untrue. Someone who looked confused at the idea that someone would want to interact with them was not heartless at all.
"We're already teammates, from my experience friends work better together in battle. It's only logical that we would want to work together in the best possible way. So Samus friends?" Zelda offered Samus her hand, inwardly thinking this must seem humorously childish. It felt right though neither of them knew much of true friendships. Samus being isolated for far too long, and Zelda living the sheltered life of royalty.
Samus must of felt the same as she took Zelda's hand, and for the first time her lips upturned into a small smile. Still it made the huntress looked as if years of hardship slipped away for a brief moment. Without the haunted gaze in her eyes Zelda couldn't help but admire how beautiful the huntress was.
The two spent the rest of the night talking, well Zelda talking Samus signing occasionally in order to speak. Samus kept her helmet off allowing Zelda to see her face. It was the most pleasant evening Zelda has had in a long time. Samus would let Zelda talk or ramble about anything, and she would still listen giving a nod or a shrug to prove it. She seemed quite content to listen to Zelda, and Zelda found herself more comfortable talking to the hunter than even Link. He was Zelda's closest and perhaps only real friend, but she could not expect him to spend every moment with her. That put somewhat of a distance between them. Link was free to do anything he wished, he could travel the world or spend his day at Lon Lon Ranch. Zelda would never hold this against him, but this left her alone under the constant scrutiny of others.
Zelda was supposed to be the wise benevolent Queen. There was always a certain expectation for how she was to act. One could see it in the eyes of all who looked upon the ruler. They would stare watching the Princess' every move judging for even the slightest misstep. It was exhausting sometimes, but Samus didn't have that look.
Zelda would imagine Samus didn't even care that Zelda was royalty. After all she was from a different world with no knowledge of Hyrule. For all Samus knew Zelda wasn't really a princess, and that was fine with her if Samus thought that. It was nice to just talk to someone as Zelda.
The night went on and it wasn't until Zelda was nearly asleep did they stop. Exhaustion from the battle finally taking hold her. Samus walked with Zelda back to her temporary home, the Princess leaning heavily on the hunter. Zelda sleepily told Samus good night, and the hunter signed the same. Before she turned heading back to what Zelda imagined was to go to bed herself.
Entering the house, Link was still snoring away, sleeping like the dead. Letting Zelda slip back into her room without disturbing him. Zelda's head hit her pillow, and the Princess was out like a light. The pain from her wound forgotten a peaceful smile on her face.
The peace didn't last though. Strange dreams were common to Zelda. Being the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom. Zelda often had dreams that were more prophesies than simple images to be forgotten upon the morning sun. Through these dreams Zelda had foresaw many events even if she didn't understand what her dreams were trying to warn her of.
Tonight Zelda's world was dark a suffocating blackness all around her. Zelda tried to weave her way through to find some source of light, but there was nothing. Out of the dark though Zelda saw a figure. At first she felt joy upon spotting familiar bright orange armor, as Zelda ran to her friend everything went wrong.
She heard a cold sinister laugh that sent chills down her spine, and when she reached Samus she gasped in horror. The hunter appeared to be in agony bent over gasping at unseen wounds. Zelda went to rush to her side, but another laugh stop Zelda in her tracks. Behind the hunter strings came from the darkness imbedding themselves in Samus' back. No sounds came from the silent metal warrior, but blood began seeping through the armor where the strings were attached. The laugh returned again, but this time the voice spoke.
"Rise," tension drew on the strings, and Samus rose to her full height. Zelda was frozen her heart beating faster than a humming bird.
"Kill her," before Zelda could even fathom what was happening. A cold metal hand was wrapped around her throat. She was lifted off the ground staring into Samus' emotionless visor.
"Samus stop." Zelda gasped as air was robbed from her lungs. She clutched onto the hand in a feeble attempt to remove it. The metal hand holding her trembled, and Zelda thought she was about to let go. When the voice yelled out.
"Kill her!" It demanded the strings were yanked painfully dark scarlet blood seeping from the armor. The trembling in the hand stopped, and Zelda felt the last of her life being squeezed away.
Zelda woke snapping up completely ignoring her burn protesting to the movement. She soon realized she was safe in her bed. Wiping the sweat from her forehead Zelda took several gulps of air trying to calm down. Sunlight was streaming through the window, and Zelda heard shuffling from downstairs. Link must be awake and making himself breakfast.
Collapsing back into bed Zelda covered her eyes with her arm. A cold sweat still covered her body, and the Princess trembled recalling every detail of the horrid dream. Zelda always believed her dreams were the goddesses' way of warning of certain events, but could they really be trying to warn her that Samus was going to hurt her. No, Zelda refused to believe it. Samus told her she would not hurt her, and Zelda believed the silent warrior. Zelda would not become one of the many who feared Samus blindly. The hunter was her friend, her teammate, Samus would never harm her Zelda thought stubbornly.
A.N. You all thought this was going to be a happy chapter didn't youXD. Don't worry there will be happy chapters to come with just fluffy bonding time with Samus and Zelda. I am trying to make a balance in this story with the action moments. Since the last chapter was just one long battle scene the next few will focus more on the characters.
With that note reviews are loved, and I will see you in the next chapter!^^