Hey, there! Sue2, back once again. I decided to do one more edit - I wanted to change one little piece of Samus and Ike's story. Something I'd intended all along but just hadn't written.

Wow, I wasn't the greatest when I wrote this, was I? Ah well, I'm getting better and better, almost by the day.

It's odd - I suppose I'm less idealistic than I was then, but the song that seems right for this now is "Almost Paridise" from footloose. Look it up, it's beautiful.

Also, I frickin' hate this uploading system. Blasted formatting. So, you know what? I'm changing the format of this chapter.

Five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes,
Five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred moments so dear.

It was July sixteenth. Roy had thought about this for a long time, and after making a careful record of time, he had realized: They had started their journey on July sixteenth. That was the day that Link had looked at Zelda and decided he wasn't going to hurt her anymore. And now, on July sixteenth, one year later, Link and Zelda were getting married.

525,600 minutes - how do you measure... measure a year?

They had traveled halfway around the world. They had met a million people. They had helped. It was amazing that it had been a whole year since all of it started.

"It's been a whole year," he said out loud. "It's been a year since we started the rebellion."

Marth looked over at his best friend. The garb of one of Melodia's Bards suited Roy. His flaming red hair showed up well against the light and dark blue. Roy had decided to go back to Melodia's sanctuary and train as a bard, while Marth had decided to stay behind.

In daylights? In sunsets?

Since then, Marth had taken the Smash Stadium and made it new. He had made new rules, new ways of working. It was now a place where anyone in the world could come and test their skills in fair battles, work in an extensive laboratory collected by Samus and ROB, or find peace in a library filled with all the stories that Peach and Mario could find. And more stories filled the library every day, as Popo pulled the right words seemingly out of thin air.

In midnights? In cups of coffee?

Nana smiled at Popo. Together, they had become strong. They worked together so perfectly, it was as if they were one person. They had developed new strategies and new moves until even the strongest adult warriors found it hard to beat them. But they had their own hobbies and interests. Popo had started to write. His stories were beautifully three-dimensional, with characters that anyone could grow to love. Nana had become Samus' assistant in her research, and along with ROB, the three were hot on the trail of a way to travel anywhere in the wold in an instant without having to rely on the magic of Great Fairy Emmiline.

In inches? In miles?

ROB was glad that his voice had been fixed. It was good that the mistake had happened, allowing him, who's voice had been stolen, to activate voice-recognition on the main computer and assist Sael in saving Nana from the Wire Frames and destroying the woman who had been the source of his captivity for so long. And now, he had all of her technology at his fingertips. The research he could do! The things he could build! And he could finally make it up to Pikachu, his friend from so long ago. Even now, Pikachu lent ROB his power and intelligence to work on all of his and Samus' projects.

In laughter? In strife?

Pikachu was happy. He had walked a long way, and he had worked hard. Now, he could rest and play all day. He could visit other Pokemon at the cabin in the woods, and the Grandmother was always kind to him. And he had his friend back. He could have a home again, and a friend again. He could exercise his abilities in helping his friend do his research, and then he could relax and play with Mewtwo and Jigglypuff when they were back from the cabin in the woods. And there was Lucario to play with now, too, when he was around.

Pikachu didn't bother himself with memories that weren't his own. They belonged to that other Pikachu. In his opinion, that other Pikachu could keep his memories. They seemed to be full of unhappiness. Life was settled and happy. So what if he had no master? Maybe he didn't want one. Friends were enough.

In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Samus said to no one in particular.

"What's so amazing?" Ike asked.

"All the things we've all been through. We're all completely different people, and yet, basically, we're the same." she blinked, used to the philosophical thoughts but less used to sharing them.

Ike smiled. "That's true."

How about love?

"What I wanted to talk to you about..." Samus appeared to think for a moment. "Well, to be honest, this." She leaned over and kissed him.

Ike pulled Samus close, and they kissed for what seemed like forever. When they parted, Samus smiled, a bit awkwardly.

"Really?" Ike's face was just as awkward. "So, you forgive me for..."

"Yes," Samus said. "I would say I'm grateful for it. It saved our lives, and I felt that way then, too."

"Oh." Ike smiled.

How about love?

"Remember the spell?" Samus asked.

"Of course," Ike said. "That's where this whole mess started."

Ike floated through space, alone. Where was he? What was this?

Suddenly, a light began to glow. It had a pinkish cast, and a bluish one as well. He looked down, and it was coming from his chest, about the region of his heart. He felt something tugging slightly at him, and he floated forwards.

Far away, he saw someone floating too.

"Samus!" he called - he knew who it was. How, he wasn't so sure... A light began to glow from her, too, and she started to float towards him.

The closer they became to each other, the faster they flew. Soon, they reached each other.

"Hold on," Ike said, "If we lose each other I think we're dead." He wrapped an arm around her.

How about love?
Measure in love.

When Ike put an arm around Samus, to keep her from floating away, the lights grew brighter.

"What's making this light?" Samus asked.

"Uh... I think I might be able to figure that out." Ike pulled back Samus's visor, planting his lips on her forehead in a warm kiss. The light grew brighter again. "Uh huh. That's what I thought." Embarrassment coloured his voice, and he wasn't looking at her.

"Ike? Explain..." Samus trailed off, worried.

"We have to get out of here," Ike said. "It's our best chance. So... forgive me, please. I don't want to lose friendship with you."

"Hey, wait, explain to me what you're about to..." she was cut off by a kiss.

Seasons of love.

One way to get out of that abyss had been love, to light the darkness.

"This has been some ride, huh?" Ike asked.

"Yeah," said Samus, grinning. "Hey Ike?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for being there for it."

They kissed again.

525,600 minutes! 525,000 journeys to plan.

As Roy watched the bustle of last-minute preparations, a thought popped into his head. Sael would have loved this. She'd never seen a wedding before, but he knew she'd have reveled all the excitement and all the love.

525,600 minutes - how can you measure the life of a woman or man?

When Roy remembered Sael and Elyan, it was always with questions. Were they still alive? Were they together? Were they happy? He'd kept his promise, he hadn't forgotten about them. Had they forgotten about him?

In truths that she learned,
Or in times that he cried.

Roy smiled. He knew the answers to some of them. Were they still alive? Unless Sael had been lying, yes. Were they together? Either way, it would have the same answer as 'were they happy'.

Sael had grown too, in the short time he had known her. She had found herself, which was what everyone wanted. Elyan had grown as well, to learn to love. Roy knew that Elyan still hurt inside, but that was to be expected. Give him a while and he'd be fine.

In bridges he burned,
Or the way that she died...

As to whether they had forgotten him, he'd probably never know the answer, unless he somehow saw them again. Wherever they were, he hoped they were happy. He looked up as the wedding bells that Lady Melanie of Melodia's Sanctuary had brought rang out.

It's time now to sing out.
Though the story never ends.
Let's celebrate, remember a year in the life of friends!

Marth ran by, dressed in his best. Close on his heels was Lady Bethany of Melodia's Sanctuary, carrying a sheaf of papers. The two were going to provide the wedding music, due to an arrangement by a priestess of the Wedding March for duet pianos.

"Come on, Roy!" he called. "You're going to be late!"

Roy smiled, getting to his feet. Brushing the dirt off of his own clothing, he ran as well. Link had asked him to be best man. It would be letting Link down, being late.

How about love?
You've got to
you've got to remember the love...

Zelda beamed with happiness as she walked down the isle. Nana skipped before her, looking sweet in a lacy pink dress as she tossed rose petals onto the carpet in front of Zelda. Popo walked beside his sister, in a blue collared shirt with dark blue pants to go with it. He carried a pillow with two gold rings on it.

Zelda looked radiant. Her dress was pure white, smooth and bright as silk, with gold edging. It had tiny little sleeves, and a gauzy cape down the back of it. Her veil was sown with silver beads, and the bodice of the dress had gold.

She looked at Link, dashing in forest green, and felt her heart swell with love.

You know that love is a gift from up above...

Link was amazed, looking at his bride. His bride! He couldn't help grinning at the thought. She was the most wonderful thing he'd ever seen. The young priest standing beside him, Rhys, smiled. He'd never performed a wedding ceremony before, but he had been glad to.

"She's beautiful," Rhys said. "You are a very lucky man."

Link continued to grin. "I am very lucky," he said.

Zelda reached him, put her hands into his. Her eyes shone, and he didn't know if it was possible to be happier than he already was.

Share love! Give love! Spread love...
Measure...
Measure your life in love...

Link put the wedding ring on Zelda's finger, repeated the words that Rhys was speaking.

Seasons of love...

Zelda picked up Link's wedding band. She smiled and placed it on his finger. But instead of repeating what Rhys said, she closed her eyes.

Something beautiful and glowing appeared in his hands. It was Zelda's heart, beautiful and perfect, the black scar gone.

"For now, and always," Zelda said, "My heart is yours."

Rhys smiled. "I'd say that suffices," he said. "If there is anyone here who, for any reason, objects to this marriage, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

The silence was deafening.

"Then," Rhys said, "I now pronounce you man and wife."

Seasons of love...

"You may kiss the bride."

Measure your life
measure your life in love.

New World. Go read it! NOW. It's a whole lot better than this one, and likely to only get better.

But thank you for blessing my story with your attention.

Love ya!

Sue2