The Planets

A/N: This is a piece for LLB's and GSG's body switching contest. I based the concept of the story and the chapters on Gustav Holst's The Planets Suite. It is highly recommended that you listen to the corresponding song (each of them the title of the chapter) as you read.

WARNING: This story contains hints of an unusual pairing. Since it was not detailed in the contest rules about pairings, I see no wrong in including it. However, know that while I will not reveal it here, those who have read This Dance know what it is.

Let us begin.

I. Mercury, the Winged Messenger

Samus Aran, feared bounty huntress, woke up that morning thinking there was nothing wrong. In fact, the moment she pushed her feathery comforter off of her body and sat up, she felt that the day would be great. Whether it was the way the sun gently greeted her or the fact that little Nana, her roommate, had allowed her to sleep in for once, she wasn't sure. She just knew that she had had a very fitful rest and was more than pumped to participate in the day's fights.

The first thing the huntress always did as part of her morning routine was head over to the gym and hone her skills. Princesses Peach and Zelda always chided her for skipping breakfast, but as the young woman had learned over the years, when your ship was being attacked by the latest outbreak of Space Pirate technology, there was little time for something as small as eating. After removing her pajamas and putting on a fresh Zero Suit, Samus grabbed a nearby towel and proceeded to make her way out of the room and down the hall.

The first thing that caught her was the chord.

It was your average trip-wire, thin, black, and nearly invisible on the hard wood floor of the Smash Mansion. Under normal circumstances, Samus would spot the thing immediately and disarm it like any bounty huntress should. Nevertheless, Samus found herself pitching forward as the toe of her boot found itself caught in it. She threw out her lands just in time to catch her fall, her chest just barely brushing the floor. But before she could stand upright, the second part of the trap activated.

From out of nowhere came a downpour of a white, sticky liquid. Sputtering in surprise, Samus only had a few seconds to attempt to dodge as a rain of pure white feathers- no doubt plucked from the currently molting Pit- came down upon her. In spite of her dodge-roll, Samus was unable to escape this sudden shower of feathers. She stood there, breathing hard, as she disdainfully observed her Zero Suit, tainted with the glue and the feathers. It was quite obvious to her now that she would not be making her way to the gym this morning. Sighing in annoyance, she turned towards her room, knowing full well that nothing could get worse than this.

She spoke too soon.

Running feet sounded behind her, heavy plodding footsteps of those who either had large muscle mass or were simply larger than average. She whirled, ready to take on whoever it was running at her. But nothing in the world could prepare her for the sudden blinding shower of sparkling light as glitter guns discharged before her. She coughed, moving her arm to block her mouth and nose as her eyes watered in pain. Fighting desperately through the tiny specks of glitter obscuring her vision, the huntress threw up her powerful, flexible leg and aimed a kick in the direction of the glitter blast.

"ACK!"

She heard the sound of a pair of guns clattering to the ground, felt the rush of the glitter stop as this happened. Swiping one hand across her eyes, she removed just enough of the disgusting art project accessory to be able to see through the mane of feathers, glue, and glitter all over her forehead. The perpetrators of this little glittering chicken prank did not surprise her, but she was quite angry nonetheless.

King Dedede and Bowser stood before her, their faces contorted into a combination of a pair of smirks and "oh shit" faces. She glared at them, her hands curling into fists as the two exchanged looks. Then, adding insult to the injuries she received, they burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Oh man, oh man!" Bowser crowed, tears streaming down his large snout. "You should look at yourself, Samus! Hahaha! You look like you just walked out of a Twilight book!"

"Ganondorf!" King Dedede called. "G-Ganondorf! It worked! It actually worked!" the penguin then proceeded to clutch his bulbous stomach, large chest heaving has he regarded the huntress. "Oh, Samus! Oh, oh, Samus! You don't know how sorry we are! You see-" he cut himself off, too overcome by mirth to continue speaking. Samus felt herself twitching in anger as a tall, imposing man rounded the corner of the hall, black cape billowing with a large smirk plastered all over his dark face.

Ganondorf Dragmire, King of the Gerudos, regarded the huntress with a sinister, yet regal air. "Ah, Miss Aran, it is both a pleasure and a shame to see you in this state."

"Ganondorf," Samus hissed, ignoring Bowser and King Dedede as the two villains rolled on the ground in laughter. "You were responsible for this, weren't you?"

She saw a flash of malice in the Gerudo's golden eyes. "Why, of course, Miss Aran. However, the trap was actually meant for the accursed Hero…" he reached out and gently touched her feather, glitter, and glue covered cheek. Samus felt an ice cold shiver run down her spine as he did so. "Of course, I suppose that if I cannot get the Hero, I will have to settle for the Huntress."

Samus felt her blood boil at his comment. While she held much respect for Link, there was one thing about the pride that had been instilled in her since she was a child that kept her from seeing him as greater than her. She was a skilled woman, highly advanced in both combat and technological handling. In a one-on-one battle, relying only on hand-to-hand combat, she knew that she would easily crush Link. And she had no doubt that everyone else knew as well.

"You dare consider me second best?" she growled, taking a step closer to the Gerudo King. Next to them, Bowser and King Dedede stopped laughing to observe in fascinated silence.

Ganondorf's smirk widened. "But of course, Miss Aran. You are a woman, much as you attempt to hide it…" he took a step closer to her, so close that their faces were nearly touching. "And, much as you refuse to admit it, you are playing a dangerous game, Miss Aran. You are a woman in a man's world. No matter how hard you try, no matter how much you insist, you will always be second best." he straightened, taking in her seething form as he snapped his fingers. "Bowser, Dedede, come. We will leave Miss Second Best to her business." with that, he left, taking the other two with him.

Samus stood there, gnashing her teeth, her hands shaking ever so slightly as she angrily glared after the billowing cape of the Gerudo King. While she was not one for revenge, she could not simply let the insult he had given her today stand. Call her second best would he?

"A woman in a man's world, huh?" she spat. "I'll make you eat your words, Ganondorf!"

After she had showered and changed, Samus made her way down to the Great Hall to grab her usual breakfast- an energy bar and a glass of orange juice- and chat with her fellow Smashers. But the moment she walked into the Great Hall, she couldn't help but notice something odd about it. While the large room was usually alive with chatter and laughter, it was dead silent today. Wondering what in the world was going on, she pushed open the doors and entered.

The first thing she saw was a large pile of feathers on a raised platform being pushed to the side as Pit desperately attempted to halt his molting long enough for the rest of the Smashers to take him seriously. Samus walked up to the stage and assisted the young man with getting the feathers off, ignoring the chortling of the villains in the front row as she did so. With a small nod of thanks, the angel ushered his huntress friend back to her seat before standing up on the platform to speak.

"Uhh… hi, everyone!" Pit said cheerfully, a few feathers flying off him as he spoke. "I-It's really nice to see you all again, and wow, doesn't the weather look-"

"GET TO THE POINT, MOLTY!" Bowser shouted, much to the laughter of his fellow villains. However, a quick whack of a Cape from Mario silenced the large dragon.

"R-Right," Pit said, taking a deep breath. "Well, as you all know, I took a short vacation to Skyworld for the past week. In case any of you are wondering, no, I didn't eternally damn anyone to the darkest pits of the Underworld and no, ladies, you can't meet Pittooey. Anyways, so when I was packing up to leave, Lady Palutena came up to me and handed me these!" he reached into what seemed like a back pocket of his tunic and pulled out six medallions, each of them tied to a glowing ribbon and engraved with a strange symbol. For the first time, Samus noticed a similar medallion with a pair of winged shoes engraved upon it, tied around the angel's neck with a blue-grey ribbon.

"The Hell are those supposed to be?" Snake asked. "Looks like a load of cheap jewelry to me." a few of the Smashers mumbled their assent.

Pit's grin widened. "Glad you asked, Snake! You see, everyone, as you know, every ten thousand years, the planets are each seen during one of seven nights, unheeded by the moon and stars. Each of these nights representing the planets are said to amplify the powers of a person born under their Sign. And as you all should know, a festival known as the Caelestis Festum is held in celebration of this event. During the celebration, seven Chosen Ones are given a medallion that corresponds to their sign, giving them magical powers that allow them to put on a great show for the festival goers and protect them should anything go wrong. This year, the gods have chosen the Smash Mansion to hold the festival!"

There was an uproar at that. Even Samus could barely contain her excitement. It was a huge honor to be chosen to hold the Caelestis Festum, an honor given only to those who proved that they were both pure of heart and great of strength. The sacred medallions would only work on the corresponding Planet Day, and it was an honor in and of itself to be chosen to wield its power.

"The festivities will start tomorrow!" Pit shouted over the excited Smashers. They calmed down long enough to hear him speak. "Tomorrow, you will know who has been chosen to represent Venus, the Bringer of Peace. For those of you who do not know, I have already been chosen as Mercury, the Winged Messenger. My only job was to tell you all about this momentous event, so no huge party or performance from me. But the rules say you all have to wear something gold tomorrow, so get to it! DISMISSED!"

Samus saw her fellow Smashers stand up and exit the room, talking excitedly amongst themselves about the upcoming festival. She caught sight of Ganondorf, the two of them exchanging glares as he passed. She was still quite angry with him for his treatment of her that morning.

"Samus! Hey, Samus!"

Her anger temporarily evaporated as she turned and smiled down at Pit. "Hey Pit, what's up?"

Pit grinned. "I just came to tell you that… you have been chosen as the Bringer of Peace this festival." he pressed a medallion portraying a dove holding an olive branch and hung upon a string of gold into her palm. "Do me a favor and put on a great performance, okay? Lady Palutena is pressuring me so, so much, and I just want to give her a good show."

Samus smiled. "Don't worry, I will, Pit, thanks." she remained calm as the Winged Messenger happily flew off, but on the inside, she was jubilant. She now wielded the power to prove to the foolish Gerudo King once and for all that she wasn't second best to anyone.

"Look out, Ganondorf," she whispered. "Here I come."

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