Samus in Altea

Chapter 3

AN: So I was looking for a photo to put up with Marth, Samus and Ike and I found this and I almost cried of laughter oh man!

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"The three of us will go down to Samus' ship and then we'll bring back what we have discovered," Marth said to his sister and Malledus. They nodded in return and Marth left the room followed by Samus, then Ike.

Marth led them down to the stables and ordered for three horses to be brought out. Ike and Marth both mounted theirs and Samus just looked up at her horse, reins in hand.

"Are you alright?" Ike asked.

"I... I don't think I've ever ridden a horse before," She said quietly.

"Are you afraid?" Ike asked her, not at all tauntingly, but genuinely concerned.

"No. Not exactly." She glanced into the horse's eyes and stroked it's face. "I'm just not exactly sure how to mount." Marth sighed and got down from his horse.

"Put your right foot here," he said pointing to the stirrup. "Now swing your other leg over and place it in the other stirrup." She tried and after some difficulty, he offered her his hand.

"What about her dress?" Ike asked.

"Ah yes. You'll have to sit side-saddle," Marth said, thoughtfully looking her up and down.

"I'll have to ride what? Wait-! What're you-?! Marth!" Suddenly Marth scooped Samus up and tossed her into the saddle with her feet off to one side. She took the reins and avoided looking at her companions, trying to hide her slight embarrassment. "Now what?" She asked.

"What do you mean?" Marth replied curtly, almost sounding impatient as he mounted his own horse.

"She's never ridden a horse, Marth," Ike said, returning Marth's tone. "How is she supposed to know how to direct it?"

Marth heaved an abrupt sigh and trotted his horse closer to Samus'. "Get on."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"We don't have time for this. Get on," He replied, grabbing her arm and yanking her onto his horse. "Now hold on." She wrapped one arm around his waist and suppressed a yelp as he urged his horse into a gallop. She turned to see Ike not too far behind them. She sighed happily as she took in the cool air whipping past her face. The speed playfully tousled her long blonde hair and she leaned away from Marth a bit as she laughed. She was still sitting sideways on the horse and Ike brought his up next to them.

"Having fun?" He asked, grinning at her.

"Quite a bit, yes!" She chuckled in reply. "Horses are absolutely fantastic!"

"Maybe on the way back you can ride with me and I'll show you how to ride properly."

"In this dress?"

"We'll figure it out." Ike said, smiling.

Samus looked ahead and studied the area around them. Her eyes then wandered and she wound up studying Marth. She admired his strong back that held the perfect posture of a prince. She noticed that she could feel his heartbeat through her hand that she used to hold onto him and she smiled to herself. Her eyes followed his broad shoulders down to his hale arms that so easily lifted her. She watched as his hands gently moved the reins and she was amazed at how well the horse responded to such a subtle movement.

Soon they came to a stop in front of the cave and Marth turned to look at her, "Do you know how to get to your ship from here?"

She nodded. "It should be just through those trees there." She pointed slightly to their left and Marth led his horse over to the clearing that was past the trees.