The characters and all their elements of video game references are properties of Nintendo.

Chapter 1.

Greetings, readers!

This is my first fanfic, so I welcome any suggestions and constructive criticism.

This story is primarily a mix of romance and humor, though it will also feature action scenes and some mature themes, hence the M rating.

For this fic, I'll be using Link from Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom since there are multiple incarnations of him across the Zelda series. As for Samus, there aren't as many variations of her character, so I don't anticipate any major inconsistencies.

I understand that writing a story with these two characters presents a unique challenge, as they rarely speak in their respective games. Because of this, I'll do my best to stay true to their established personalities while making some adjustments to enhance their interactions and chemistry throughout the story.

With that said, I hope you enjoy this fic!

The scene was pure chaos—a battlefield littered with arrows and craters, evidence of relentless explosions. The crowd roared in support of the fighters clashing in the arena. Some cheered for a savage warrior, armed with a sword and shield: Link, the honorable hero and champion of his world. A man of few words but a fierce warrior spirit, ready to lay down his life if necessary. Others rooted for a space bounty hunter, Samus Aran, known for her unbreakable resolve and steely demeanor. Though cold on the surface, she too was willing to sacrifice herself for others. The hero and the bounty hunter stood opposite each other, both battered and exhausted from a battle that seemed without end.

Samus, clad in her Zero Suit, aimed her paralyzer, while Link, in his familiar champion's tunic, drew his bow. They fired simultaneously, each swiftly dodging the other's projectile. Link quickly threw a bomb in Samus's direction and detonated it, then sprinted toward her to follow up with an attack. Before he could reach her, however, Samus delivered a swift kick, causing him to stumble. Link responded with a quick kick of his own, regaining the advantage. He managed to get back on his feet and struck Samus with his sword, sending her flying through the air. For a moment, it seemed like he had won, but Samus caught herself just in time to avoid defeat.

A Bob-omb suddenly appeared on the stage. Samus noticed it immediately and raced toward the item, while Link, unaware of its presence, pressed his attack. Samus skillfully dodged his strikes and grabbed the Bob-omb. As Link charged at her, she acted without hesitation, hurling the explosive. Link had no time to raise his shield, and the blast sent him flying out of the arena.

Samus Aran emerged victorious in this fight. But in the grand scheme of things, it was just another battle.

"You fought very well, Samus," Lucina remarked.

"That fight was really close," added Peach.

"Thanks," Samus responded, her voice flat and weary.

Despite the praise, Samus felt little satisfaction. Her mind lingered on Link. With this victory, they were now tied in their ongoing rivalry, each with one win against the other. It was unsettling—too strange to be mere coincidence. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, something she couldn't quite understand.

On the other side of the arena, Link was with the other swordsmen, equally exhausted.

"You put up a great fight," said Sora, the boy wielding the key-shaped sword.

"Even though you didn't win, you gave it your all, friend," Pit chimed in, trying to lift his spirits.

Link, however, wasn't surprised by the outcome. He always fought his hardest, hoping for a different result, but it was as if fate conspired against him. This same pattern played out time and time again, and it was too strange to dismiss as a fluke. He was lost in thought when he suddenly heard someone calling his name.

"Link!"

He snapped back to reality, realizing that Pit had been speaking to him. He turned to face him.

"Hey, everything okay?" Pit asked, his tone concerned.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking," Link replied, yawning.

"Alright. We're heading to the premiere with Sora and Ike. Ike's got a fight tomorrow against Cloud. What do you think?"

"You must be tired from today, but if you're up for it, you should come," Ike suggested.

Link stretched and shook his head. "Sorry, I'm too exhausted to join. I think I'll pass for tonight."

"No problem! Just make sure you come tomorrow to watch the fight," Sora said as he waved goodbye.

Link waved back, then headed straight to his room, still pondering the strange turn of events.

Link reached his room and was just about to enter when a familiar voice called out to him.

"You gave me a great fight," said a blonde woman approaching him.

Link turned to face her. "Samus. Thanks. You too. Congratulations on your victory," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry I didn't say that earlier."

"It's alright," Samus replied with a rare laugh. "I guess it was just my turn to win, right?"

"Yeah," Link agreed, smiling. "Though I do wonder why that battle dragged on so long if you were always going to win."

They both chuckled at the odd pattern their fights seemed to follow. The coincidence was strange, but somehow amusing.

"Well, I just wanted to say hello and congratulate you," Samus said with a smile, something almost out of character for her usual stoic demeanor.

"Thank you," Link replied, mirroring her smile.

For a moment, the two stood in silence, simply looking at each other, until Samus broke the stillness.

"Anyway, I should get going. I imagine you're as tired as I am. See you around," she said, turning to leave.

"Yeah, see you," Link replied as he watched her walk away before finally heading into his room.