The characters and all their elements of video game references are properties of Nintendo.
Chapter 11.
Samus and Link re-entered the chaotic party, hand in hand, both still basking in the glow of their special moment outside. The energy in the room had completely shifted since they left. What was once a calm gathering now felt like a whirlwind of noise and laughter.
"Guys, where did you go? You missed a lot!" Zelda called out, grinning widely as she noticed them returning.
"We just had to clear up some matters," Samus said nonchalantly, but then she kissed Link on the cheek, causing Zelda's eyes to widen in surprise.
Zelda burst out laughing. "Hahaha, I knew that was going to happen!"
Link raised an eyebrow. "Why do you react like that, Zelda? Aren't you supposed to say it was obvious?"
Zelda chuckled, clearly pleased with herself. "Well, yes. I made a bet with Lucina, and I just won."
"Lucina?" Samus looked around, scanning the room. The chaotic atmosphere made it hard to spot anyone, but she quickly noticed something else. Several tables were now littered with bottles—some empty, some half-full. Samus reached for a nearby glass and took a small sip of the liquid, her suspicions immediately confirmed.
"It's alcohol," Samus said, her face lighting up in realization. "That's what caused all of this chaos."
"Are you two going to stay long? The party's getting crazier by the minute," Zelda said, amused.
Samus exchanged a quick glance with Link, both of them knowing they'd rather slip away again. "Maybe just for a bit," Samus said, leaning closer to Link with a grin.
Zelda giggled as she poured herself another drink, her face already flushed with the effects of alcohol. "They're not going to drink anything? This is good stuff!" she teased, eyeing Link and Samus with a playful grin.
"I've never drunk," Link admitted, shifting awkwardly. "It was strictly forbidden at the knight's academy. They told us we always had to be sober on duty."
Zelda, now a little tipsy, waved her hand dismissively. "You're not on duty now, and if you are, as a princess and an authority, I demand that you relax," she said, her voice slightly slurred but full of conviction.
Samus couldn't help but smirk. It's already having an effect on Zelda, she thought to herself, amused by the princess's carefree behavior.
"Come on, Link, try something new," Samus urged, pouring him a small amount. She leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a soft whisper. "Let's enjoy this a little, then maybe we can slip away somewhere... just the two of us."
Link hesitated, staring at the cup in his hand. He had always been cautious, but Samus's words made him reconsider. Without thinking much more, he downed the liquid in one quick gulp.
His face immediately scrunched up as the bitter taste hit his tongue. "My throat burns! How bitter!" Link said, coughing and rubbing his throat.
Samus chuckled at his reaction. "That's your first time drinking, huh?" she said, taking a small sip from her own glass, more accustomed to the taste.
Mario and Luigi, both heavily drunk, were sitting together, laughing uproariously at each other's stories and poorly made jokes. Nearby, the princesses—Peach and Daisy—were engaged in a deep conversation, lamenting their various love failures. Their voices grew louder with every glass they drank, turning from soft complaints to outright frustrations.
On the other side of the room, Donkey Kong had stolen King Dedede's hammer and was using it like a baseball bat, attempting to swat away pieces of food that King Dedede hurled at him as if they were baseballs. Dedede's laughter filled the air as food splattered everywhere, adding to the chaos.
Meanwhile, in a shadowy corner, Bayonetta had cornered Pit, teasing him with her usual charm. "You look quite good tonight, little angel. Don't you want to give me a kiss?" she purred.
Pit, too drunk to care, leaned against the wall, half-smiling but not really understanding what was going on.
Across the room, Shulk and Sora had traded swords and were clumsily trying to imitate each other's fighting styles, much to the amusement of the other swordsmen. They, in turn, gathered around a table where Ike and Cloud were locked in an intense arm-wrestling match.
Cloud gritted his teeth, pushing with all his might. "I'll show you these muscles aren't just for show!" he said with a challenging smirk.
Ike, equally determined, grinned back. "You're gonna feel the heat of my strength," he replied, their arms shaking from the effort. The force of their match was so intense that, in a final push, they broke the table in half, sending the crowd of fighters around them into roars of laughter.
At a nearby table, Ganondorf and Palutena were deep in conversation, both drunk and unusually candid.
"You gods are selfish," Ganondorf slurred, his voice low and resentful. "You deny power to mortals like me, giving others fertile lands while my people get sand and endless heat. I just want to balance things."
Palutena, equally drunk, took a sip from her glass before responding. "You don't care about equality or your people. It's just an excuse to cover your thirst for power," she said, waving her hand dismissively.
Bowser, meanwhile, was surrounded by a group of fighters, passionately recounting one of his many grand ambitions, his voice booming above the crowd. "I want to become the supreme king and bring glory back to the Koopa race!" he shouted, thumping his fist on the table. "They laugh at us like we're inferior. We're not!"
Mario, overhearing Bowser, rolled his eyes, but before he could say anything, Fox piped up. "All you want is to kidnap Princess Peach," he said, his arms crossed.
"And you just use the Koopas as pawns," Snake added with a smirk.
Bowser waved them off dismissively. "Sometimes, sacrifices are necessary! Anyway, let me tell you about the time I humiliated Mario!" he bellowed, beginning a grandiose, completely fabricated story of his false triumph over his eternal nemesis.
Marth stood rigid, his hands clasped behind his back, clearly displeased with the raucous behavior of the other fighters. He was a prince, after all, and believed in upholding a certain level of dignity. But as he surveyed the room, it was clear that no one else seemed to share his sentiment.
"Unbelievable," he muttered under his breath. "Ike and Cloud have broken a table again with their arm wrestling. And look at Roy—just egging them on like a child!"
His gaze shifted to the corner where the princesses, usually so poised, were engaged in rowdy laughter, each one clearly affected by the drinks they had consumed. Corrin, normally reserved, was joining in their behavior, sipping the same alcoholic drink while laughing loudly.
"Vulgar, all of them," Marth huffed, his brow furrowing even deeper. "Even Robin is wasting his intellect listening to Bowser's absurd stories."
Marth's eyes finally landed on Chrom, who had passed out on a table, having overindulged earlier. Marth shook his head in disappointment. "And look at Chrom—he's supposed to be a leader, and yet here he lies, passed out and useless."
Taking a deep breath, he allowed himself a moment of relief. "At least Lucina and Byleth have some decorum." But when he turned to see them, his heart sank. Lucina and Byleth were at a nearby table, laughing and drinking just as much as the others, their normally composed appearances completely shattered by the chaos around them.
Marth's face tightened, his last hope for order dashed. "I've had enough of this madness," he muttered before shaking his head in exasperation. With a final glance of disappointment, he walked toward the exit, his footsteps heavy with the weight of his disapproval.
"I need to find somewhere quieter... where people still remember what it means to behave with honor and dignity," Marth said to himself, stepping outside to escape the revelry that had overrun the once elegant event.
As they made their way through the garden, Link's clumsy steps grew more erratic. Samus had to keep a firm grip on his arm to prevent him from tripping over his own feet again. His drunken state had made him more talkative, and he rambled on about past battles with enthusiasm, though his stories were starting to blur together.
"And then… boom!" Link exclaimed, waving his hands dramatically. "That Lynel didn't even see it coming! He thought he had me, but I was one step ahead!" His laughter echoed through the quiet night, loud and carefree.
Samus couldn't help but chuckle at his excitement, though she felt a bit embarrassed at the same time. She wasn't used to seeing Link like this, completely uninhibited. Normally, he was so composed and focused, but now, under the influence of alcohol, he seemed like a different person altogether. She gently pulled him along, steering him away from the chaos of the party and toward the peaceful gardens.
"You've really had enough, hero," Samus said softly, trying to guide him with more urgency.
"Where… are we going?" Link asked, his voice slurred as he struggled to keep up with her pace. "Are you… are you taking me home in Hyrule?"
"We're going somewhere better, a place where you can relax," Samus replied, keeping her tone calm.
As they passed a group of sleeping partygoers sprawled on the grass, Link nearly tripped over Joker, who was lying face down, snoring softly.
"Joker… Joker is dead! We… we killed him!" Link said, his eyes widening in panic.
Samus stifled a laugh. "No, Link. He's just sleeping," she reassured him, patting his shoulder. "You're fine. He's fine."
Link blinked, processing what she said, then broke into a relieved smile. "Oh… okay… good. Didn't want that on my conscience," he muttered.
As they walked farther from the party, the noise and laughter began to fade into the background, replaced by the sound of the wind rustling through the trees. Samus could feel Link leaning more heavily against her, his movements slowing down as exhaustion started to set in.
They arrived at Samus's room, where she carefully placed Link onto her bed. The night had been filled with a whirlwind of emotions and experiences, leaving both of them exhausted. As soon as his head hit the pillow, Link fell into a deep sleep.
"Poor thing," Samus said with a quiet laugh, noticing how quickly he had passed out. "He drank the same amount as me, but he's in much worse shape."
Feeling the heat from the drinks and the long evening, Samus decided to make things more comfortable for both of them. The first thing she did was take off Link's jacket, making sure he wouldn't get too hot in his sleep. Afterward, she slipped out of her own heavy clothing, opting for something more comfortable—her usual sleepwear, a lighter, shorter version of her Zero Suit.
As she was about to settle in, a voice startled her.
"Hello, beautiful," Link mumbled, his voice groggy but mischievous. Samus jumped slightly, surprised that he was awake.
"Link! You weren't asleep?" she said, half-annoyed but also amused.
"That doesn't matter. Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you look in that suit?" he asked, his eyes half-lidded from the alcohol, but his words still managing to fluster her.
Samus blushed, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. Link's unfiltered comments, brought on by his drunken state, caught her off guard.
"You wouldn't want to come and sleep next to me like that, would you?" Link added, a playful and almost inappropriate tone creeping into his voice.
Samus blinked, unsure of how to respond. Before she could even think of an answer, Link's head dropped back onto the pillow, and he was out cold again, as if nothing had happened.
She sighed and chuckled softly to herself. "Alcohol sure does make people say the most honest things," she thought, amused by his sudden boldness.
Turning off the light, Samus lay down beside him, careful not to wake him again. She was beyond tired, and after everything that had happened, the peaceful silence of her room was a welcome change. Despite the chaos of the night, Samus felt an odd sense of contentment as she closed her eyes.
Link, too, was too far gone in his sleep to stir anytime soon. Tonight, they could rest together, their first night as something more than friends.
A few hours had passed since they arrived from the party. Link woke up suddenly, opening his eyes with a slight confusion and a pounding headache. The room was dark, but the soft glow of the moon and stars provided just enough light for him to make out his surroundings.
"This isn't my room," Link thought, still groggy and unsure of where he was.
He tried to stretch his body, but quickly realized he couldn't move. His arms and legs felt pinned, and for a brief moment, he feared he might be experiencing sleep paralysis. But as he turned his head, that fear vanished.
Samus was clinging tightly to him, her arm draped across his chest, holding him close. She was wearing that sleek, comfortable outfit he always admired, and her embrace was firm, yet peaceful. Link thought about trying to slip out without waking her, but as he gently shifted, she instinctively pulled him closer, making escape impossible.
He didn't want to disturb her. Samus looked so calm and serene in her sleep, her usual fierce demeanor softened by rest. With a quiet sigh, Link managed to free one of his hands from her grasp. Instead of pulling away, he hugged her back with that arm, the warmth of her presence lulling him into relaxation.
As he lay there, he smiled softly to himself. He was still tired, and wrapped in Samus's arms, it wasn't long before he drifted back into a deep, peaceful sleep.
As Link sank back into slumber, a sense of warmth and safety enveloped him, the chaos of the previous night fading into a distant memory. The gentle rhythm of Samus's breathing was soothing, and in that quiet moment, he felt a deep connection, as if the world outside had vanished entirely. With her by his side, he knew he could face whatever came next, but for now, he allowed himself to simply enjoy the comfort of her presence and the tranquility of the night.
The sun's rays hit Link's face directly, pulling him from sleep. Blinking groggily, he surveyed the room now bathed in daylight, realizing where he was.
"You're finally awake," Samus said, stepping out of the bathroom, her hair disheveled but with a teasing smile.
"What happened? What happened last night?" Link asked, his voice still thick with sleep.
Samus sat beside him. "You don't remember anything?"
"Well, I remember the party... we left, we came back..." He trailed off, suddenly feeling flustered.
Samus grinned, "Don't you remember what happened when we left?"
Link's face flushed. "Of course I do. It was... very special." His nervous smile betrayed him, but Samus leaned in and kissed him before he could say more.
"Heh, I'm glad you remember," she murmured, kissing him again. Link's nervousness melted as he returned the kiss.
"Do you want us to get up now?" Link asked softly.
"No, it's still early. Believe me, no one's awake yet. Let's sleep a little longer," Samus whispered, snuggling closer.
Link said nothing, simply holding her close as they drifted back to sleep, wrapped in each other's warmth.
Pit woke up to the intrusive rays of sunlight hitting his face, his head pounding slightly, and his body feeling weak. Confused, he rubbed his eyes and muttered, "What happened? Where am I? Why do I feel so terrible?"
Looking around, he found himself in a strange, dimly lit room—definitely not a place he recognized. His heart skipped a beat when he noticed someone next to him in bed. With a small cry of fright, he jumped out.
Bayonetta stirred, slowly waking up. "What's all this fuss about?" she asked, her voice a little grumpy as she sat up, letting the blanket fall slightly to reveal her bare skin.
Pit blushed furiously, his eyes widening when he realized he, too, was unclothed. "W-what happened?! Why am I like this?" Pit stammered, his face glowing red with embarrassment and agitation.
Bayonetta sighed, her expression unamused. "Stop shouting, angel. You weren't nearly this frantic last night," she said dryly, brushing a lock of hair away from her face.
"Last night?" Pit's heart raced. "Did I… did I do something terrible? I swear, I didn't mean to!" He could barely get the words out, his voice shaky.
Bayonetta chuckled, clearly amused by his innocence. "Relax, darling. It was mutual. You didn't do anything I didn't want." She leaned in closer, her flirtatious smile returning. "In fact, I wouldn't mind if we did it again."
"I—I can't stay. I should go," Pit stammered, his eyes darting around the room, looking for his clothes. But no matter where he searched, they were nowhere to be found. It didn't take long for him to realize Bayonetta had probably hidden them.
She tilted her head playfully. "Leaving so soon? Not even going to apologize for abandoning a lady like this? Perhaps I'll have to tell Palutena how rude you've been… or maybe how much fun you had."
Pit gulped, torn between fleeing and the strange sensations stirring within him as he looked at her. Her confident smirk and the sight of her bare body had a confusing effect on him.
With a motion of her hand, Bayonetta beckoned him to lie back down with her. Despite his better judgment, Pit hesitated, then slowly moved towards the bed, wondering what else the seductive witch had in store for him.
Samus and Link strolled through the empty halls of the mansion, the cool air refreshing as they walked side by side. They had decided to take a walk, curious to see what remained of the party from the night before.
When they arrived at the event hall, it was eerily silent and in complete disarray. Bottles were scattered across tables, chairs overturned, and some fighters were still asleep in strange places. Mario lay sprawled on the floor, using Bowser's shell as a pillow, while Dark Pit clung to an empty bottle, snoozing peacefully.
"It's a disaster, isn't it?" Samus remarked with a soft chuckle.
Link shook his head with a grin. "If it weren't for you, I don't think I'd even remember how I got back here."
Samus laughed. "Well, you didn't stop talking about battles all night. If we hadn't left early, I bet you would've picked a fight with Ganondorf."
Link raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Ganondorf was here?"
"Of course," Samus replied, smirking. "And get this—he was completely drunk, getting therapy from Palutena."
Link burst into laughter, the image of the terrifying King of Demons pouring his heart out to the goddess of light too absurd to handle. "That's something I never thought I'd hear! Ganondorf, the fearsome dark lord, in need of counseling?"
They were so caught up laughing at the image of the dark lord Ganondorf pouring his heart out to Palutena that they didn't even notice the time passing—until Samus's stomach growled, breaking the moment.
Link smirked, teasing her. "Sounds like your body has its own conversation going on. We should go get something to eat."
Samus rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, yeah. Let's go before you end up passing out yourself."
Link laughed as they made their way toward the kitchen, both grateful for a little normalcy after the wild events of the night before.
The dining hall was nearly empty, save for a few figures scattered across the room: Sephiroth sat in silent contemplation, Falco devoured his meal with precision, and Wario, as usual, was hungrily scarfing down whatever was in front of him.
As Samus and Link started eating, Link casually mentioned, "I wonder where Zelda went off to."
Samus paused, thinking back. "Honestly, no idea. I wanted to say goodbye to her before we left, but by the time I looked for her, she was gone."
Their conversation was interrupted by a voice that caught them off guard. "Bon appétit, hero of Hyrule and galactic warrior," came the smooth voice of Prince Marth.
Link and Samus turned, smiling as they replied in unison, "Thanks, Marth."
Marth, who was usually accompanied by Chrom or Roy, stood alone today.
"Have you seen Ike?" Link asked, curious about his friend.
"Ike is still asleep," Marth said with a touch of exasperation. "He's nursing a sore arm from that arm-wrestling match with Cloud."
"Hope he recovers soon," Link replied.
Samus chimed in, "And Lucina?"
"She woke up early feeling nauseous," Marth said, shaking his head slightly. "I imagine she'll sleep in to recover."
Both Samus and Link shared a sympathetic look. "Poor them," they said, almost simultaneously.
Marth crossed his arms, his voice a little sharp. "Well, they're paying the price for their irresponsibility. Honestly, they should know better than to act so out of character. They didn't behave up to their standards."
Samus tilted her head. "You didn't stay long at the party, did you?"
Marth scoffed lightly. "I was there, of course, but when things started to get… vulgar, I decided it was best to remove them. It wasn't difficult, seeing as they were all drunk out of their minds. Honestly, someone had to prevent further embarrassment."
Link and Samus nodded, stifling their amusement at Marth's conservative stance. His frustration was understandable, though they found it a little endearing. He clearly cared deeply for his friends.
Marth sighed, his regal posture softening a little. "Anyway, I came to grab water and some nausea medicine. Roy's feeling sick, and I'd rather avoid a mess," he said as he turned to leave. "I'll leave you to your meal. See you both."
As Marth walked away, Link and Samus exchanged a glance before quietly chuckling at his overprotective nature. Despite his strict demeanor, they admired how much he looked after his comrades. It was just his way, being a prince raised with a sense of duty and honor. Even so, they found his care quite admirable.
Pit hurriedly put on his clothes, feeling disheveled and reeking of last night's drinks. His head was still buzzing, and the awkwardness of the situation wasn't helping.
"You had fun, didn't you, little angel?" Bayonetta teased, stretching luxuriously on the bed, her eyes following him with amusement.
Pit remained silent, focused on buttoning his shirt. He didn't know what to say, his mind still racing with a mix of embarrassment and confusion.
Bayonetta smirked. "Why is it that men always get so distant afterward? They can't even muster a hug? So proud." Her tone was teasing, but her gaze was sharp.
Pit glanced up, trying to sound casual. "Of course I had fun... it was, uh, entertaining." He couldn't meet her eyes, feeling the weight of the moment.
"I like hearing that," Bayonetta purred, her voice softening. "You were different from the rest, you know. Special."
Pit paused, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean by that?"
Bayonetta chuckled, brushing the question aside with a wave of her hand. "Oh, nothing, really. You should feel proud, though. Not many can claim they've made a woman like me happy. It's quite an accomplishment."
Pit wasn't sure how to respond, so he simply muttered, "See you, Bayonetta," and turned to leave the room.
As he exited, Bayonetta's laughter echoed behind him, light and almost mocking. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd been played, but at the same time, he found himself smiling slightly. Despite everything, he couldn't deny that he had enjoyed Bayonetta's company in his own way.
Pit hurried to the dining room, noticing that dusk was already settling in. As he entered, the room seemed quieter than usual, but it wasn't because of a lack of fighters—many were still recovering from the previous night's chaos. What unsettled Pit was the way everyone stared at him. The whispers, the smirks, and the not-so-subtle glances all made him feel uneasy.
Did I do something wrong? Pit thought, confusion gnawing at him.
He quickly spotted Link and Samus, who were about to leave, and rushed over to them, hoping for some normalcy amidst the odd behavior.
"Hey, guys," Pit greeted, trying to sound casual.
Link opened his mouth to respond, but his words were cut short by the sight of Pit's face. "Hello Pi—" he stopped mid-sentence, a smirk forming.
Samus, standing next to Link, couldn't help but chuckle quietly, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"What's wrong? Why is everyone acting so weird today? What's so funny?" Pit asked, his desperation growing as he glanced around, trying to make sense of the situation.
Link bit his lip, trying not to burst into laughter. "It's your face," he said, barely containing himself.
Confused, Pit backed away and quickly found a nearby mirror. As he leaned in, his face drained of color. His reflection revealed black kiss marks scattered all over his cheeks and forehead—Bayonetta's unmistakable handiwork. Pit frantically tried to rub them off with his hands, but the stubborn marks wouldn't budge.
His heart raced with embarrassment. Without a word, he bolted out of the dining room, the sound of laughter following him as he fled. The room erupted into louder chuckles as Pit disappeared from view, leaving him mortified by the unintended aftermath of his encounter with the mischievous witch.