Author's Notes:

Yes, another update before I leave for Canada. I'm excited! I had enjoyed writing this chapter to almost 11:30 at night yesterday. I was really focused because this is a continuation from one of the cliffhangers.

Thanks for the reviews!

Enjoy!

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Power of the Elements: Final Stand

Chapter X: Stronger (Marth)

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His pacing was unbelievably quick. His feet shuffled back and fourth across the pavement lost within his thoughts as they blocked out everything surrounding him. He could feel his treacherous heartbeat pounding against the center of his chest searching for a way out of the misery, and terror he faced. Swallowing became a difficult task for the Elemental. He began to question what had gone wrong, and why events had to lead to this.

Marth carefully licked his dry lips. He forced himself to calm down steadily taking a deep breath. Various eyes in the waiting room averted to him, but he made no effort to acknowledge them. He blocked out the very few conversations in the room, and ignored the sounds emitting from the TV hanging in the corner. There were other important things he knew he had to focus on. His mind gave no other option, but to worry about his mother and fate she was enduring that moment.

"It's going to be to okay, Marth," a reassuring but dismay voice came from Roy who sat patiently in the chair nearby. The red-headed teen sat hunched over in the chair resting his elbows on his knees. His right leg consistently tapped revealing his side of anxiousness.

Marth merely nodded hoping to believe the words of his best friend, but a little bit of doubt still clung to him tightly not letting go until he saw for himself that the light was on their side. It was hard trying not to reminisce to the phone call he received. Thinking back, his body slowly became weak. Never in his life had he ever been so terrified to hear the news he was told. It left him in utter shock that all he could do was stand speechless as tears freely escaped his eyes.

"Marth!" A voice on the other end of the line cried. It was unexpected to hear one of his mother's co-workers, instead of her. Her urgent voice was heard from across the table causing Roy to react.

"Mrs. Landon? What's wrong?" Marth questioned, feeling his grip on the phone tighten.

"It's your mother. She's on her way to the hospital right now."

The discovery left Marth in an uproar. He immediately stood to his feet, startling his best friend, trying hard to ignore his expeditious heartbeat. The tears abruptly fell from in his eyes in a manner he couldn't control. Thousands of awful possibilities ran through his head in an instant leaving Marth to believe the worse.

"W-why? What happened?"

Mrs. Landon paused, before bring her attention back to the phone. "She suddenly collapsed. We don't really know why it happened."

"…I'm on my way!"

"Marth?" Roy lifted his head.

Marth swiftly wiped the single tear that managed to escape his eyes. He sighed deeply bringing himself back to the reality of them waiting. It has been almost two hours since his mother was transported to the hospital from work. He hasn't seen her yet, and so far there has been no news of her condition.

Marth felt completely vulnerable. Knowing that his mother is at the hospital brought him to a state of despair. He crossed his arms leaning his back against the wall holding himself tightly. His eyes remained locked to the windows overlooking one of the main halls. Besides his sister and Pit, his mother was the only family member he had left. He hated to see her in any kind of pain. She has always been the one who kept the family together. She was always there for him, and his sister and now things were steadily starting to fall apart. She is the one in need. She is the one who is weak, and Marth knew that it is his responsibility to remain strong even though it's a difficult task.

"Marth, you got me worrying about you now," Roy straightened up shifting in his seat.

"Why?" Marth made an attempt to speak after the long dreadful silence since their arrival in the waiting room.

"I can tell you're really anxious about Ferra, but you seem like you're losing yourself too."

"…I'm afraid," Marth admitted.

"So am I," Roy lowered his head. "But we both got to stay strong and positive."

"I know," Marth exclaimed. "But, I already lost my father…I don't want to lose my mother as well."

Roy grimaced realizing the situation Marth was placed in. "I understand, bro. I'm here for you," he encouraged. "Ferra is like a mother to me, I want things to turn out okay too."

Marth slightly felt a bit of confidence returning. "Thanks, Roy."

His mother collapsing. Marth sighed. He can't seem to the let the frightening thought escape his mind. How unexpected and shocking it would be for his mother to suddenly faint. She has never suffered from anything before, and fainting revealed that something was obviously wrong.

At first Marth suspected the Donavons, but felt they held no part in this. Mr. Game and Watch continues to hold a grudge against his family because of Pit. Though the Donavon probably wouldn't act now, Marth still held a sense that he could be responsible.

"Marth!"

Marth lifted his attention to the door ecstatic to see Pit and Link enter the room. "You both made it."

Link waved. "We got here as fast as we could."

Roy stood from the chair joining them in the corner. He looked at his watch. "Hm, wow how fast were you going? 20 over the limit?"

Link chuckled nervously. "Maybe." He turned to Marth. "Any news?"

Marth shook his head. "No," he answered.

Pit stepped forward placing his hand on Marth's shoulder. "Marth, I understand you're worried about your mother, but I'm sure she is okay. She is a fighter," Pit explained. "Just like you."

"I don't want to lose her," Marth whispered.

"You won't," Pit replied, he stepped forward placing his hand on Marth's chest. "You remember your mother's motto?"

Marth's eyes lifted to Pit. They both were silent waiting for a response. Marth could feel the determination, and strength running through his uncle's veins. Pit acted strong, but his eyes lingered with the same agony and distress as him. His uncle's light blue eyes softened slightly watering as they built up with tears, but as he blinked he was able to keep them hidden preventing them from escaping.

Marth thought back to when his mother first explained the bond their family shared. He was younger then just entering his teenage years. It was after their father walked out on them, and even though their mother was distraught and weak she remained upbeat and strong for her children. Marth didn't notice it much then, but now that he is older realized how strong she really was.

"Mom, is daddy ever going to come back?" Elice questioned breaking the silence that followed the start of their dinner.

Marth sat the table across from his sister silently listening to the question Elice had asked. He held the fork in his hands tossing his peas back and fourth across the plate as the empty chair next to them continued to haunt him. It was the seat assigned pacifically for his father. It remained empty for a week now, and each day Marth could still picture his figure sitting with them.

Ferra lifted her head from her plate with a reassuring smile. She reached across the table and gently grabbed Elice's hand. "I'm not quite sure, sweetie, but I promise you that nothing is going to change between us."

"But we're not a family anymore," Elice commented softly.

"Our family is like a piece of yarn. As time moves on we slowly thin out losing people along the way, but the yarn never ends. We remain strong, and we remain a family forever." Marth turned to his mother, smiling at both of them. "I love you both, and I will always be here for you."

Marth felt the grip on his shoulder tighten. He blinked lifting his eyes back to Pit, who patiently waited for him to reply. "Our family is like a piece of yarn," Marth explained.

Pit smiled. "It never ends."

It was the little bit of confidence he needed. It was the lift that helped him to realize nothing could go wrong. As Pit lowered his hand and stepped back Marth understood that with friends and family by his side he was able to think positive. All of them were here to visit his mother to make sure that she was okay, and with that he smiled.

And they smiled in return.

"Guys!" Elice called frantically hurrying into the room. "They are letting us see her now. Come on!" she waved.

Link and Roy didn't hesitate to follow Elice out of the room. Pit nodded to Marth as they descended down the halls toward Ferra's room. He felt himself falling behind from the group. His sister casually lead the way through the patients, guest, doctors and nurses who all filled the hallways. Marth felt queasy being at the hospital never enjoying any kind of visits, especially ones like these. Although for some specific reason he felt like he will be coming here a little more than he should.

The room they reached was '1021.' Elice knocked on the door once before carefully turning the doorknob and stepping inside. Marth braced himself being the last to enter following behind Pit. The moment he stepped into the room conversation lifted into the air. Marth gently closed the door behind him and hurried toward Pit and Link. He pushed himself through, and looked to the bed where his mother laid.

His heart dropped at the sight. She rested peacefully with the white blankets pulled up to her stomach. Her arms laid at each side and her brown hair was sprawled over the pillow behind her. An IV was hooked into her right hand as liquid was flowing from the bag into her body.

"I see you brought a gathering with you," Marth turned his attention to the dark haired doctor on her bedside directing his attention to Elice.

"Yes, this is my older brother, Marth, and my uncle Pit," Elice introduced. "And that's Link and Roy, they're close friends."

"It's nice to meet to you all," the doctor explained.

"Is she going to be alright?" Marth questioned stepping closer to the bed.

The doctor wiped his forehead with the back of her hand before grabbing the pad off the nightstand behind him. "She should be okay. As you may be aware she had collapsed at work. We are unsure of reasons at the moment, but she is suffering from dehydration, and has a slightly high fever. We may believe that the cause could be from emotional stress, lack of sleep and nutrition, or maybe even low blood pressure."

"So overtime she should recover well," Pit exclaimed with relief.

"Yes, as long as things are going smoothly Mrs. Lowell should have a full recovery. In the mean time, we advise it would be best for her to stay in the hospital for a couple of days to recover."

Elice walked to the other side of the bed gently grabbing her mother's hand. "I think that would be best," she whispered.

Marth agreed with a firm nod. "I agree. I'm just glad to know that it's not serious."

Roy smirked and patted Marth on the back. "I told ya'."

The doctor nodded before grabbing his things. "Now if you will excuse me, I have some things to attend to. The nurse will be here shortly for check ups."

"Thank you," Marth spoke gratefully as the doctor stepped by them leaving the room.

Pit walked to the bedside watching his sister carefully while Link took a seat on the empty chair across the room. Roy walked over to join Link leaving Marth alone to ponder over the discovery. He walked to end of the bed watching his sister and uncle comfort her while she slept. It was a powerful moment and with all of them together the yarn continued to grow.

Having her stay a couple of days in the hospital would be best for her recovery, but difficult for Marth to juggle watching Elice at home and fighting the Elemental war. It would be a challenge for him to complete, but a task he was willing to try. He was strong, and he knew he had to be there for his mother--all of them.

Besides, they were all in this together and not just in the Elemental world.

"She will be alright," Pit repeated softly.

Marth grew confident and smiled nodding his head. "I know. She will be."

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Author's Notes:

Well, some people were right on who was sent to the hospital. Let's hope things turn out well for Marth and his family.

I don't have much to say this time around only because I'm exhausted from work, and have other things to do. I'll be back in a week and a half with the next update and maybe even more.

Sorry about the mistakes, since I was tired while reading this through I have a feeling I didn't catch them all.

The next chapter: Zelda

Until Next Time!