Hi again everyone! This chapter got so long that we decided to split it in half! Thank you for all the reviews and we hope you enjoy this first part!

CHAPTER 5 Clementine PART 1

Link looked away as their lips parted, covering his mouth with one hand. In a way he was trying to contain his complete and utter bafflement.

Why had he kissed Ike? Of everyone in the world why Ike? If he loved Zelda why had he done it?

IF.

Those two letters brought his mind crashing down. He was, for the first time since having laid his eyes on Zelda for the first time, using the word if when thinking about his feelings towards her. It was something he couldn't, or rather, refused to comprehend. His love for Zelda was the only thing in his life he was absolutely certain of... if he didn't have that he had no one to protect. No one to adore. No reason to be a hero.

"I thought..." The rebel began but was unable to finish. He was equally baffled, having been punched the day before by the very same Link who had just pulled him into a kiss whispering promises not to be like Soren.

"I DO love Zelda." Link replied firmly, avoiding eye contact. "I... I don't... I can't..." He mumbled to himself.

"Link..." Ike said slowly as he caressed his bewildered friend's cheek with his index finger. He glanced behind the elf and noticed that Mist's hotel room's door was open and the key hanging in the lock. His brotherly instinct of protecting his sister awakened and he pushed the disoriented blonde aside, leaping into the vacant hotel room. The bed had not been slept in. Mist had not spent the night at the hotel.

"Where's Mist?" He asked worriedly as he returned to the corridor, alarmed.

Link looked at him, his mouth trying to form words and failing. How could Ike just cast him aside? He felt a sharp pain in his chest. His mind was a thousand lightyears away from Mist, all he could think about was the kiss they had just shared. It had confused him. His feelings for Zelda... he knew what they were but why was his heart suddenly unsure? The rebel had broken him. He had caused his heart to malfunction.

"Where is she?" Ike asked again as he took a step closer to his Hylian friend. He was growing impatient, unaware of his sister's whereabouts.

The elf looked at his feet, not willing to lie for her yet not eager to tell him the truth either. If he did that... would Ike leave? Maybe. The rebel was completely forgetting about him. Why did he care? He loved Zelda, not Ike. Then why was he so upset when he ignored their kiss? He rested his head against his palm, he couldn't think straight. Mist was Ike's sister, he had the right to be worried about her.

"Link, where is she?" The rebel had walked right in front of him and grabbed his shoulders, already knowing he had the answer. He had seen it from the way the Hylian had avoided his gaze.

"She left." Link said quietly, glancing at his friend. He was a terrible liar so all he could do was tell the truth.

Ike turned around, grabbing his head. "No, no, no, no..." He repeated to himself as he took a few steps away from his friend.

The Hylian glanced at his friend once again, the pain in his chest increasing. Had their kiss really meant nothing to him? It was driving him insane. Why had he even kissed him? He returned to he first question. Why had he willingly given in to someone he knew would only use him and abandon him? Link sighed.

Soren. Ike had whispered that name with such pain and misery that it had melted his heart. Yet it didn't explain why it had suddenly grown so soft for him.

ZELDA! His heart only had one soft spot and it was reserved for Zelda!

"Link? Are you listening?" Ike asked yet again. "When did Mist leave? I have to go after her."

The rebel watched his friend, the Hylian was clearly not himself. Was it because of their kiss? Ike couldn't tell. There were so many things he didn't understand recently. Link was flipping his world upside down, ever since the first denied kiss he had become inexplicably linked to him, wanting to make him his at any cost. Even so, he couldn't disregard the fact that Mist was traveling alone on dangerous terrain towards Crimea. Valkyrie or not, she was still his tiny little sister.

"She... left early this morning." Link said eventually, looking at his feet. "She told me not to let you go after her." He said, he suddenly felt guilty for having let her go.

"I have to." Ike stated stubbornly, starting towards the staircase but the Hylian grabbed his wrist as he passed him.

"Ike, trust her." He spoke as he held onto him. "She can take care of herself."

Ike tried to yank his hand free. "But I can't-"

"Trust her." Link cut him off.

"But-"

"Trust me." The Hylian cut him off again, looking pleadingly at him. Ike sighed as his heart skipped a beat when those gentle cerulean eyes urged him to stay. Even though he didn't want to admit it to himself he was slowly growing fonder and fonder of the Hylian.

With a newfound warmth in his chest he yanked his friend's wrist and the elf came to him, pressing against his chest as if it was where he was meant to be. Their lips found each other without a word. Ike pulled the elf closer from his waist as he kissed him, wanting to feel the other's heartbeat against his chest, how it beat eagerly and fast. He buried his fingers into Link's hair and he could feel the confused elf return his passion. There wasn't a hint of resistance, only sweet surrender. He never wanted that kiss to end. Link gave into him as he gave into him, for the first time since Soren had torn him apart he peeled off all his defenses and allowed someone into his heart. And for the first time in his life, Link forgot about Zelda, about destiny, about Malon and Ilia, about all the bad things he had heard about Ike because he could feel it, his true nature. Ike wasn't a lost cause, he just needed to be pulled back into the light.

Suddenly someone pulled the elf away from the rebel from his collar and cold air filled the gap between them. Reality returned. All the things they had forgotten for a brief moment came crashing back into their lives: Zelda, Soren, Malon, Ilia, Marth... The corridor was as grey as before, the faint scent of mold lingered in the air, uninteresting paintings lined the walls.

"Link! I told you to be wary of him!" Marth stated as he held the elf's collar. He had come fully dressed this time.

The Hylian saw the split second in which Ike's eyes turned dark and cold as he retreated into his shell. Link felt his heart twinge and hung his head. A heavy sigh escaped his lips.

"You can't give into him." The noble said to his elven friend as he let go of him.

"I don't think you have a say in that." Ike replied arrogantly, narrowing his eyes. They were persuasive and so dark, almost black.

Marth glared at him. "I'm proof of how cold you are." He spoke, his voice full of disdain. "We've met before and you don't even remember my name?"

"I can't remember everyone's names." Ike stated as he crossed his arms on his chest and rolled his eyes.

"That's why, Link, you have to stay away from him!" Marth exclaimed as he turned to look at the elf. "You can't change him! Falling in love with him will only end you up as I am!" He said almost desperately as he grabbed the elf by the shoulders and shook him. Link seemed confused. He was. He couldn't understand why it had felt so natural to kiss Ike and to forget about Zelda. Twice.

The rebel lifted an eyebrow. "What might that be? Hot and cold? Yes and no?" He asked arrogantly. He was annoyed that others were always intervening when he was trying to seduce someone lately. And trying to pull him away from Link was something that made his blood pressure rise rapidly.

Marth bit his lower lip. "No. I know how bad you are and yet I still repeat the same mistake as before hoping for a different outcome!" He exclaimed. He was a prisoner to the blue-haired man, lured in with his seductiveness each time no matter how much he fought against it but at least he could try and save Link from the quicksand.

"That's not my fault." Ike said with a shrug.

Marth gasped. "What?"

"Trying to blame me for falling for me time and again is just avoiding responsibility for your own actions." The rebel spoke. "It was you who came to me last night." He added arrogantly, a smug smile spreading on his lips.

Marth looked around in panic. "But... but I... I love you! Can't you see that?" He said desperately, holding his chest with both hands as if to keep his heart from leaping out of his chest.

Ike chuckled scornfully. "Love... that's the worst excuse of them all." He ascertained as he turned and began downstairs. "Link, I'm going after Mist if you're not coming." He said casually over his shoulder as he disappeared out of sight.

The Hylian looked at Marth who had once again been broken by the blue-haired swordsman. Had he been trying to focus his affections elsewhere the night before when they had spoken alone under the stars? Link wasn't sure. He wanted to comfort the noble and tell him everything would be all right, but couldn't. He was a very bad liar. In the end he only gave him an encouraging smile and followed his friend to the staircase.

"You didn't have to be so cold." The blonde said as he reached the rebel and they exited the hotel together.

"Then why are you only saying it now?" Ike asked arrogantly as he mounted Malon.

"Because... maybe..." Link began. "In a way you were trying to save him from even more heartbreak..." He said quietly.

The rebel turned to look at him, his voice implying he had actually heard him. "What?"

"Nothing." Link replied quickly and flashed him a smile. "How about we race?" He asked to change the subject. "I bet I'll beat you to the capital."

"I'd like to see you try." Ike said as he encouraged Malon to a gallop. Whatever he had heard the elf say he was willing to let it slide.

"Hey! That was a false start!" Link exclaimed jokingly as he encouraged Epona to give chase to the white horse and its rider.

Trees flashed past them as they rode onwards fiercely, a few small birds accompanied them for a while before averting into the forest. Tufts of grass flew in the air as hooves hit the ground. The closer they got to their destination the further away they both ran from the thoughts that drew them to one another, not even knowing why they avoided them so. Link insisted on thinking about Zelda, Ike denied the elf had gained any sort of access into his heart. It was frightening, their kisses had made them both lose sight of who they were. Without a word they had agreed to never speak about what had happened again.

The race between Epona and Malon wasn't much of a competition. Although Malon was agile and muscular, Epona was swift as the wind and her movement was fluent like an ocean current. Combined with her rider she was the fastest horse under the sun. Link revelled in being able to gallop so freely. It was one of his favorite things to do, riding through new terrain on his trusted steed with nothing on his mind but freedom. The elf encoraged his steed to fly and she did and they soared over the lush green fields towards their destination. He even laughed out loud, half because he was happy, half because he felt like he needed to lighten his heavy heart.

Suddenly Link realized he no longer heard hoofbeats. He halted Epona to see that the rebel wasn't following him. Ike had disappeared. He waited, looking into the horizon. Nothing. He kept looking. A flock of birds, frightened, took flight in the nearby bushes. Nobody came. He frowned, had something happened to Ike? He looked around, the capital's gates were just a few hundred feet away. At last he saw a horse gallop from the horizon, throwing its head restlessly, galloping unevenly and in fear. It was Malon, alone. Link gasped.

"Shh, calm down." He dismounted Epona and took her by the bridle. There was a note attached to the saddle: Don't worry, Ike's where he belongs now. He sighed. Apparently the blue-haired swordsman needed 24-hour watch. It was no use trying track Ike back to the border cross, he had disappeared somewhere in between the capital and the hotel. Link entered the large city, hoping to find some clues to his whereabouts there.

The capital of Mushroom Kingdom was inhabited by toads. They were tiny people with mushroom hats and vests, cute and very friendly. Everywhere they were all chattering excitedly. Apparently something big had happened. Link couldn't eavesdrop on their conversations but hoped that whatever it was that they were getting so enthusiastic about had something to do with Ike's disappearance. After all, the rebel had mentioned having visited the capital before. He made his way through the crowd towards the central plaza where a herald was announcing the day's news.

The plaza was a lot like Hyrule Castle Town's, only more organized, cleaner and smaller. Toad hats were everywhere, in all shapes and colors. The tiny people waited patiently in line to get to talk to merchants and traders instead of pushing each other, shouting offers and haggling prices down. Everyone was so well-mannered. They gave each other way and said please and thank you. Compliments flew in the air as friends met. The sight was quite peaceful compared to the chaos Hyrule's capital had to offer. Link stopped by the far end of the plaza, being the tallest person in the city he could see the herald in his booth clearly.

"Good day everyone!" The toad began vehemently. "It's a wonderful weather today, sunny and warm!" He exclaimed. The crowd murmured affirmatively. "As for today's top news: Princess Peach of Mushroom Kingdom has finally announced her engagement with the leader of the Crimean Liberation Army, Sir Ike!"

"Well, that was fast." Link said to himself, the mystery of the note had unraveled. Suddenly a small toad ran to the herald and gave him a note. The elf had been about to leave but decided to hear what the urgent message contained.

The herald read the note and exchanged a few words with the younger toad. He then scratched his toad hat and cleared his throat: "Uh, well it seems that also Princess Daisy has announced her engagement with the leader of the Crimean Liberation Army, Sir Ike!" He exclaimed.

Link frowned. Whatever Ike had done during his previous visit to the capital had obviously left the princesses both thinking he would marry them. Whatever it was at least he knew the rebel's whereabouts. He began through the slightly confused yet still cheering crowd towards the castle on the other side of the town. He'd ask Peach and Daisy about the news himself. The herald continued his announcements:

"The rumors of princess Clementine are true! A photograph of the three princesses has been found, proving that she has lived in the castle as a girl! A reward was issued by the king to the one who finds..." The herald's voice faded away as Link distanced from the plaza. He didn't pay much attention to what he had just heard. It was none of his concern, all he cared about was getting his friend back, meeting Midna and getting on their horses to get on with it. The tournament was only a week away and they had no time to spare.

He wanted to prepare his surprise for Zelda before she would arrive.

The castle was located at the end of the city, surrounded by thick stone walls. A large wooden gate was left open, no one really feared anyone would be stupid enough to attack the castle with the Mario brothers protecting it and the gate was only closed when they were gone. By the gate Mario was sleeping in a lawn chair, it seemed to be his favorite place. Toad guards walked in and out of the castle, marching rigidly as they changed shifts. Luigi was nowhere to be seen.

"Hi, Mario." Link greeted him as he walked closer. The plumber awoke from his slumber and wiped his eyes. His face lit up as he saw his old friend.

"Good-a day, Link!" Mario greeted him. "How are-a you?" He got up and hugged Link warmly. The elf had to bend his knees for the plumber to reach and he gladly did.

"Fine, fine. What's this about the princesses getting engaged?" The Hylian asked.

"Ah, you see, they are both in love with that scumbag-a Ike!" Mario exclaimed as he threw his hands in the air, snorting in frustration. "They-a fight!" He explained and pummeled the air with his big fists. "Both want-a him! It's-a mess! Mamma mia, they have gone-a crazy!"

"Oh, no." Link said with a frown and shook his head slowly. "I was actually wondering if you could let me see him? He was kind of traveling with me until he disappeared."

"Ah, no. No one can-a see him. He's in the dungeon until they get-a married." Mario explained with an apologetic look. "He's-a bad news."

"Why would he be locked in a dungeon?" The elf asked. Whatever Ike had done had apparently been severe enough to get him locked up.

"Last-a time, he escape!" Mario exclaimed as he bounced on his feet. "Very fast, like-a fox. The princesses were-a heart-a-broken. Now he cannot-a run away." The plumber explained.

"Look, I promised Midna I'd take Ike to see her. She counts as a princess right?" He asked his friend in red.

"No, only-a Mushroom Kingdom-a princesses. Very-a specific." The plumber denied his request, showing him his open palms as a sign of not being able to do anything about it.

"I really just want to get this over with." Link said frustratedly. "Can I talk to either one of the princesses?"

"I don't think-a they are willing to talk-a." His mustachioed friend said as he gestured him to follow him to the garden. They walked past large rose bushes, others heavy with roses of a peachy color, others white like daisies. Their scent was heavy in the air and it attracted bees and butterflies.

When Link saw the two princesses they were nothing like he had grown used to seeing. Their usual calm composition was gone as they rolled around in the ground, hissing and grunting. Once beautiful, hand-sown dresses were nothing but rags. Both had mascara smudged around their eyes and lipstick smeared across their faces as their make-up couldn't hold such a battle. They pulled each others' hair as they tried to best one another and ripped off each other's jewelry. Link watched the two in growing horror as he realized who they were fighting for.

"He looked at me first!" Peach yelled as she tore a bow off of Daisy's dress.

"I brought him here!" The other princess screamed as she did the same.

"Did not! I totally helped! Your parasol can't hold the two of you!" Peach retorted as she grabbed the other princess's necklace and pulled on it, hundreds of tiny pearls spread around them like luxury rain.

"It can! It's your big butt it can't hold!" Daisy shouted as she kicked the other and pounced on her, ripping her dress some more. Lace and more bows flew in the air.

"It's you who has a big butt!" Peach screamed, pushing the other off of her.

"Peach! Daisy!" Link called out to them. Mario shook his head slowly.

The two paused as if they were in a still image. They looked at the Hylian who had come to see them, both reminding him more of haggard old ladies than the beautiful princesses that they were. Was that also the impact of Ike? Had they become willing to toss away each other in their search for Ike's affection? Link wondered. He was lucky to have Zelda.

"Link! Link! Tell me I'm the one Ike will marry!" Peach ran to him as she recognized him. She looked like an afterparty barbie, her hair in knots and her mascara flowing down her cheeks in black lines.

"No, tell her I'm the one! I'm way prettier, right?" Daisy ran to him as well, grabbing him by the collar. She looked equally messed up as her cousin with her lipstick on her cheek and her ears missing an earring.

"No, you're not! Link thinks I'm prettier!" The blonde princess snapped at the other, pushing her away from Link.

"Nuh-uh! I am way prettier than you!" Daisy shouted back.

"Are not!" Peach retorted and the two continued their fight as if it had never been interrupted. Link took a step back as he glanced at his mustachioed friend, then at the princesses and sighed. He wasn't going to get any answers from them.

"Now-a you see?" Mario said as he began to walk away from the garden. "It's-a best if you come by another-a time. Maybe-a after the princesses have-a left for the tournament?" The plumber proposed.

Link looked at his feet. "No... I can't. I made a promise." He confessed.

"I'm-a sorry I can't-a help you." The other apologized.

They fell silent as they walked past the door to the dungeon. Link scrutinized it as casually as he could without arising suspicion. It was heavily guarded. Three toads guard stood by it, looking vigilant and gallant. Link looked around the wall, atop it guards marched back and forth. Had he decided on a forceful approach he would've been outnumbered from the start and although capable of defeating an army of toad guards he wasn't willing to take his chances against Mario and possibly Luigi. He needed a different kind of plan. The two exited the large gates and Mario got comfortable in his lawn chair again.

"It was-a nice seeing-a you, Link." The plumber said as he fixed his cap on his face. "See-a you in-a the tournament." He added and almost instantly started snoring.

"Yeah, you too." Link waved his hand although the other couldn't see his gesture. He walked to the nearest tavern to mull his thoughts over and come up with a new plan. He couldn't use his usual tactic of going sword first wherever he needed to go, beat the sh*t out of everything on his way and break all pots until he found what he was looking for. This time it couldn't be done. Of course, if he waited a few days the castle would be empty when the Mario Brothers, Peach and Daisy would leave for the tournament, but what if they took Ike with them? Link didn't want to risk it, he wanted to keep traveling with him.

The tavern was a delightful little place with blinking christmas lights and tiny umbrellas in every drink. The elf had to crouch slightly because the ceiling was so low. Toads sat in round tables drinking whatever as they listened to the cheerful music a few musicians played. There was cheerful chatter in the air as Link made his way to the bar, sat on the tiny chair with his knees to his mouth and ordered.

"One pint." He said. "Milk."

The bartender nodded. The Hylian leaned against his elbow, taking a coaster from the table and examining it. It had the royal insignia on it, they really seemed to love their royals, he thought to himself.

The entire place around him was filled with rumors about the rebel and the princesses: "Who would've thought, Ike the Rebel came back! Which one do you think he chooses? I can't believe he's settling down! I always knew the princesses were pretty but to tame the Wild Horse! They are true beauties! Ike is so lucky!"

"They're not taming him." Link said to nobody in particular, sounding slightly irritated.

"What? You think so?" The barkeep asked as he gave the elf a tiny glass of milk. He tilted his mushroom hat slightly to the side as he leaned against the bar and scrutinized the tall stranger in a green hat.

"I know him. He's not going to marry either one." Link said with his eyes closed, as if it made him seem any less annoyed.

"Ah, maybe he found the third princess! Is he going to marry her?" The toad behind the bar asked cheerfully.

"What?" Link asked, opening his eyes to look at him. Around them clamor rose as the customers bet on the princesses.

"Haven't you heard? There are rumors that there's a third princess!" The barkeep explained excitedly. "A reporter found an old photo in which there are three, from the time when the queen was still alive!" He took a magazine from behind the bar, browsed through it until he found what he was looking for and showed the elf a blurry picture of three princesses and the royal couple. Two of the princesses had blonde hair, one slightly darker.

"Oh. What happened to her?" Link asked, having drunk half of his milk in one sip.

"No one knows! Maybe she wandered off one day and got lost in the forest? Or maybe she's just in another castle?" The toad speculated as he put the magazine away. "She just vanished one day long ago."

Link looked at the milk in his pint. He had an idea. "...What if she were to return?" He asked slowly.

"Well, we would celebrate!" The barkeep said enthusiastically. "She would, of course, return to the royal family and there would be three princesses once again."

"So... she would have access to anywhere in the castle?" The elf asked, leaning closer to the other.

"Of course, she's a princess." The toad replied. "If she's nearly as feisty as the other two there's no telling her where she can and can't go."

"I see." Link said as he drank the rest of his pint, left money on the counter and stood up to leave. He wasn't sure whether or not his idea was brilliant or terrible but nevertheless it was his only idea. He heaved a heavy sigh as he exited the bar.

He wasn't really considering it?

No, he had already made his mind to do it.

Even at night the castle gates remained open whenever even one of the Mario Brothers was in the castle. Mario slept peacefully in his lawn chair by the gates, snoring loudly as he dreamt of saving princesses and kicking Bowser's ass. By the dungeon door was only one toad guard at night, just to the sure that Ike the Rebel wouldn't escape. He was relieved that he could hear Mario's snoring so clearly, it soothed his mind for he was terribly afraid of the dark.

Suddenly he noticed a figure enter through the gates quietly like a fox. At first he was frightened and rendered unable to move by fear, but as the silhouette came closer he calmed down. It looked like a princess. He heaved a relieved sigh, luckily it hadn't been a monster or anything.

The figure walked closer, upon shining a light to its direction the toad guard gasped. It truly was a princess, but neither of the ones he had already seen. She wore a dress similar to theirs, only green. It had a corsette top with lace details and bows lined the hem. Parts of the front were ornamented with gilded string that glistened in the moonlight. The toad guard held in his excitement. It just couldn't be!

It was the third princess, Clementine.

Those of you who have reviewed before might already know what's going on, the rest of you will just have to wait for the second part of chapter 5! Please review, we'd love to hear what you thought!