The sound of clashing blades echoed through Spear Pillar stage, as Kamui tried to fend off his opponent's heavy blows with the Yato. A bead of sweat ran down his face as he realized that he kept being pushed to the edge of the stage, teeth ranging as he couldn't find an opening to turn the tides in his favor.

"Ugh, this isn't good..." he whispered to himself.

The crowd started chanting his opponent's name, his fans going wild over the battle ahead of them, which only made Kamui's morale drop. Once he got some distance between them, he looked around him in order to find an item that could help him out, only to have his hopes crushed once he saw a miserable fire flower spawning right behind the tall blue haired man in front of him. Today really wasn't his lucky day!

Ike, Ike, Ike, Ike!

The fans kept cheering as Ike raised his sword, Ragnell, above his head. Kamui gave a step back, his foot meeting the edge of the stage. If Ike landed that hit, the Hoshidan prince would be sent away flying, ready to meet the stars that shone in the artificial night sky of the stage. He couldn't let the fight end like this, not without taking at least one life of the man! Losing was already bad, but losing by 3-0 was way worse.

As Ike brought his sword down, Kamui jumped and did a precise air dodge, managing to dash behind him and get the upper hand. His hand suddenly changed form into a spear as he charged his attack, however, Ike saw through his plans before they could come to fruition. He turned around and braced himself with the Ragnell, ready for the full impact. Once Kamui unleashed his attack, the mercenary blocked the spear and threw Kamui off balance. He then took his momentary daze to counter attack. Ike swung the Ragnell with all his might, bring it down on Kamui's exposed chest and sending him flying away.

The fight was brought to an end, with the stage being engulfed in light and transforming into the victory podium and Ike being declared the winner of the match.

As for Kamui, once they were done with all the formalities post-battle, all he wanted to do was find a whole in the ground and bury himself there. But since that was not an option, he decided that he would drown his bitterness with some ice cream. There was a mall nearby the stadium with all kinds of food stalls, so he decided to head there and buy something for himself. As he walked through the white lit corridors that led to the back exit of the stadium, he heard Ike approaching him from behind.

"Corrin, wait up."

Kamui stopped as soon as he heard his other name being called and turned around. While normally he would correct anyone else on how he would like to be called, the owner of the voice who called him only made him stop any train of thought he had.

"Y-yes?"

His heart seemed to skip a beat at the sight of the tall, muscular young man in front of him. Ike was the sort of man that seemed to impose respect just by looks alone, with his firm, yet serene semblance and fighting prowess. Ever since Kamui came into the world of Smash, he had some odd fascination towards Ike, but never got to talk to him properly before exactly because of these same reasons.

"I just wanted to say good fight back there," Ike said. "It wasn't easy."

"You think so?" Kamui asked, scratching the back of his neck. "I mean, I wouldn't say that that was my best performance, so..."

"No, it wasn't," he agreed. "But even if you were not at your best, you still gave me a hard time trying to beat you, so I'd say that it was still impressive."

So Ike knew that he wasn't giving his all in this fight after all. Kamui didn't know wherever to feel embarrassed or take that as a compliment. Didn't help that Ike said that without a hint of irony or sarcasm in his voice.

"Well, thank you, it's nice to hear this from you."

"From me?"

"Uh, yeah..." the prince stuttered, "You know… y-you're a seasoned veteran and everything, so..."

"So are you."

"I'm less veteran-y than you."

Ike let out a chuckle, which made Kamui's ears grow red. First he couldn't function in battle, now he couldn't function in normal conversation. The idea of burying himself in the ground sounded more tempting at each second.

"Corrin, I'm not near the fighter you think I am," Ike said, his sincere smile captivating the prince. "I still have a lot to learn."

"Ah..."

"What is it?"

"It's Kamui."

"Kamui?"

"My name… My name is Kamui."

"But your fighter card says-"

"I know," Kamui interrupted, a bit awkwardly. "It's just that Kamui is my birth name and how my Hoshidan family called me, so I go by this name. Corrin is the name of my almost sister."

"I see..." Ike mused, now feeling awkward for calling him by the wrong name this whole time. "I'll keep that in mind."

There was a moment of silence between them, one way too uncomfortable for Kamui's liking. He wanted to tell him that he had to go, but something inside him made him stay. Maybe it had to do with the fact that that was the longest conversation that he had with Ike since he could remember, but regardless of the reason, he still wished he could break the silence. Thankfully, Ike seemed to feel the same, because he was the first one to speak.

"Kamui, do you have any plans for now?"

"I was going to grab something to eat," Kamui said, deciding to leave out the part of stuffing his face silly with ice cream out.

"Mind if I join you?"

Well then.

"S-sure!" the young prince nodded, a big, silly smile on his face. "Let's go!"

Despite the initial awkwardness between them, Kamui was surprised how their conversation kept getting a better flow as they approached the street mall that was two blocks away from the massive Brawl Stadium. The topic of past tournaments was the most prevalent one, but every now and then he would comment on how their past lives used to be, before waking up in the world of Smash. Kamui was especially interested in the stories of his past world, a world filled with fantastical beings that could transform into animals and where they worshiped only one goddess, instead of divine dragons like his used to worship.

They passed through the vibrant food court, the smell of fresh junk food mixed with the sweet aroma of sweet shops making his nostrils go wild. Even the shops from streets of Hoshido, his home, didn't have this variety. And the people! There were so many different kinds of people and creatures walking around, from the mushroom shaped Toads to the cute looking Waddle Dees, that it was hard to feel out of place. Kamui had to admit that even after two years since he came to exist this world, he still found things to get surprised at, no matter how many times he visited Gamyga Mall.

"So, Kamui, where would you like to eat?" Ike asked, a small smile appearing on his lips.

Now that was a good question. Kamui looked around, hoping to find a shop where both he and Ike could enjoy eating, since he had the feeling that the mercenary probably was not a fan of sweets, when he spotted a familiar face in the crowd.

"Corrin? Hey, Corrin, over here!" he shouted, as he waved his arm at the silver haired girl a few feet away from them.

Corrin turned around and let out a big smile as she saw Kamui waving at her, a wave of relief washing over her as she finally found a friend in the middle of the crowd. She hurried over to him and Ike, hands clasping tightly the hem of her navy blue purse and bright red eyes that showed she had something exciting to tell.

Ike couldn't help but be impressed at how similar those two looked, even after two years of knowing both prince and princess. From their wild silver hair, their sharp red eyes and delicate looking figures, it was no wonder that people often mistaken the two for twins. But maybe what was really similar between them was the goofy, innocent smile that they gave when they were excited over something. Ike couldn't help but to find that incredibly charming.

"Hey, Kamui!" she greeted and then turned to Ike. "Oh, hello Ike! Didn't expect to see you and Kamui together."

"We just came back from a battle," Ike explained.

"So what brings you here, Corrin?" Kamui asked, the fact that she was at the mall alone not going unnoticed.

"So I was hanging out with Peach and you know how she knows everything and everyone, right?" she said, earning a nod of head from both men. "Well, she mentioned that these days she had visited an amazing fortune-teller here at the mall and told me that first time clients get a discount!"

"A fortune-teller?" Kamui asked with skepticism.

"Yeah!"

"I never knew you like that kind of stuff."

"It's not like I completely believe in fortune-telling, but..."

She totally believed in stuff like fortune-telling. Kamui could see it right in her eyes.

"Well, I was originally going to check it out alone," Corrin said. "But wouldn't you two like to come with me?"

"Why didn't Peach come with you?" Ike asked.

"Ah, she was going to, but then she remembered that she had a free for all to attend at the last minute," she explained.

If he were to be honest with himself, Kamui would rather pass. Unlike Corrin, he was not very fond of the idea of fortune-telling, as he thought that most of its practitioners were huge scammers. He had Orochi, his late mother's retainer, to blame for his skepticism, as he constantly saw her playing tricks on people by using her so called fortune-telling to get them to do favors for her and very rarely actually told the truth about what her powers showed her.

However… Corrin looked so excited. In fact, it was the first time in days that he had seen her spirits high like this. Maybe it would do her some good if he went along, even if he didn't like it.

"I… guess we could go with you," Kamui said, his eyes glancing at Ike. "Are you okay with going, Ike?"

"Sure, let's go."

The two men followed Corrin to the underground floor, where she claimed the fortune-teller's esoteric shop to be located. According to Peach, the fortune-teller was called Madame Celeste, a renowned magician and a very sweet lady who brought nothing but good fortune for those who seek her. "Then what is the point in fortune telling?" Kamui thought to himself. Surely not everyone had good fortune! He wondered what Ike thought about this whole ordeal.

Unlike Kamui, Ike did believe in fortune-telling, all thanks to certain people that had met in the past, in his original world. However, he never got interested in the practice, since he would rather focus on the present and not worry about events that were still going to happen. Ike only accepted the invitation for the chance to spend more time with Kamui.

Once they arrived on the underground floor, things seemed eerily quiet compared to the bursting activity on the floor above them. There were fewer shops, fewer people and it was dimly lit, giving a more somber feeling to the overall atmosphere. No matter how much they tried to keep the mood light and inviting by placing those cute wood benches and artificially green plants on beige vases, Kamui didn't think that that floor was salvageable. They spotted Madame Celeste's shop (fittingly called Celeste's, written in glittery pink letters) and entered, a loud "DING" resonating through the small, claustrophobic place as they opened the smoky glass door and got inside.

The kind of items sold in the store shelve were... interesting, to put it lightly, ranging from growth mushroom that they were so used to seeing in the battlefield, to more exotic looking things, like this weird root plant, with a description that said "the cure for bean fever". However, despite all of that, the owner was nowhere in sight.

"Do you think that she went out for lunch?" Kamui asked.

"That can't be it," Corrin said, her fingers grazing over the thin veil of dust accumulated on the wooden shelves. "If she was, the shop would be closed."

"Maybe she had some errands to attend," Ike suggested. "It's not like anyone seems to come here, so there would be no need to-"

The mercenary was interrupted by the sound of the back door suddenly opening. The three fighters jumped by the sudden sound and turned around towards the source of it. They were greeted by a white veiled woman, her face covered, except for her intense red eyes.

"Welcome, welcome!" the woman greeted, making her way around the balcony. "I apologize for my tardiness, but things were very chaotic in the back room, and well..."

No one said a word as she approached them.

"That doesn't matter, now does it?" the woman said, now in a much cheerful voice. "Welcome to my humble shop!"

"You're Madame Celeste?" Corrin asked.

"Yes, I am," Madame Celeste nodded. "And who may you be, dear?"

"My name is Corrin," she said, one hand in her chest and the other pointing at her friends. "These are my friends, Kamui and Ike."

"My pleasure," the fortune teller said, her attention still turned to Corrin. "So, Corrin, what may I do for you today?"

"I've heard from my friend that you are an amazing fortune teller-"

"Oh, your friend is too kind!" Madame Celeste exclaimed, waving her skinny hand in a flattered way.

"She is, but anyway, I was wondering if you could read my fortune," Corrin said. "She also told me that you're offering a discount on your first reading as well."

"Absolutely, dear!" the woman said, gesturing at the door behind her. "I do all my fortune telling in the back room, where all my instruments are. We can discuss prices there as well."

"Thank you."

"And what about you boys?" Madame Celeste asked, finally paying attention to the two men awkwardly standing behind Corrin. "Would you like to have your fortune read for you as well?"

Kamui and Ike looked at each other, unsure of what to say to not hurt the woman's feelings.

"Actually… we were just accompanying Corrin," Kamui said in the end. "I don't think we-"

"Well, how about I read Corrin's fortune first and you two think it over?"

"I think that we will accept your offer," Ike said.

The fortune-teller motioned for them to follow her and they entered the back room, which managed to feel even more claustrophobic than the shop. There was a single light bulb turned on the ceiling, with the rest of the room being illuminated by thick red candles placed on two altars covered with a white cloth. At the center of the room stood a small, round table covered with a satin purple cloth and, at the far right, Kamui could also see a very antiquated looking mahogany cupboard. The smell of strong incense was overwhelming, making the atmosphere feel more oppressive than it should.

Madame Celeste politely asked Corrin to take one of the two chairs available, while she went to grab something from the cupboard. As he watched his friend take her seat, Kamui leaned over to Ike, who watched everything with crossed arms.

"Hey, do you also think this woman seems a bit strange?" Kamui whispered.

"I find it strange that she doesn't take off that veil, yes," Ike whispered back. "But her behavior isn't anything out of ordinary."

"Well, yeah, but..."

Madame Celeste came back with a deck of cards on one hand and a porcelain cup with golden lining on the other. She placed the deck on the table and gently offered the cup to Corrin, who took it with uncertainty.

"What is this?" Corrin asked.

"It's a special tea made with herbs from my homeland," Madame Celeste explained as she took the remaining seat at the opposite side. "It is said to clear the mind of those who drink, but, if you ask me, it's just a very relaxing drink."

"I don't know..."

Corrin examined the strange colored liquid. It had a red tinge that she didn't see on any other kind of tea and the smell, while not unpleasant, was nothing inviting either.

"Dear, you seem very tense," the woman insisted. "If I end up worried about your well being, then the reading might come out wrong."

Kamui rolled his eyes. This woman had the same way of sweet talking that Orochi used to have. The word "scammer" kept appearing on his mind every second that passed.

"Don't worry, this one is on the house."

"Well… okay."

Before Kamui could say anything, Corrin gulped down the strange tea. Her face immediately contorted in disgust as the overly bitter, mixed with a strange metallic feel, taste hit her and it took her every bit of strength to not spit it out. She quickly swallowed the tea before that could happen, the sensation of the hot liquid almost burning her throat.

"Ugh!"

The princess felt nauseated and feared that she might throw up. What kind of drink was that?

"He he, I know, I know, the taste is not the best," Madame Celeste giggled, amused at the girl's reaction. "The herbs are very bitter, but if I added any sweeteners, they would lose their property and we can't have that."

Corrin covered her mouth with her hand as she coughed involuntarily, gently pushing the cup away from her. Madame Celeste could have warned her of the awful taste, she would have held her breath before! Regardless, the woman seemed satisfied with that, so Corrin quickly recomposed herself, her eyes darting towards the card deck. As for Kamui, he just wanted to tell Corrin that maybe they should leave, that he didn't have a good feeling about this woman who couldn't even show her face, but he knew that Corrin would not listen to him.

Then again, it was Peach who recommended this woman. Kamui really wanted to trust the princess, as he was sure that she would never recommend people with ill intentions.

"Alright, alright," Madame Celeste sang, grabbing the deck and shuffling the cards. "This is a very simple reading. I will shuffle the cards..."

Once she was done shuffling, she started distributing them over the table in columns, placing them face down as she kept humming an unknown tune. Ike couldn't help but notice how sharp her polished black nails looked, a stark contrast with her delicate looking pale hand.

"Now, I'll will ask you to place your hands a few inches over the cards."

Corrin did as she was told, a sudden feeling of nervousness taking over her.

"Good, now take them off," the woman instructed, now being her turn to place her hands over the deck. "Now, I will draw three cards. The first card will tell you your past, the second card will tell you about the present and the third will predict your future. Are you ready?"

"Yes."

The three fighters leaned over a bit as Madame Celeste took out the first card without showing the drawing to them, letting out a hum as she examined it. Corrin really wish she could see her face, as she couldn't read her expression and had no idea what to expect just by that vague humming.

"Your first card is The Chariot," she announced, showing the card's drawing of a man conducting a red chariot being pulled by two horses, one white and one black. "This card usually means a great emotional divide and that you had to make an important decision! A decision that brought you great grief and shaped who you are today."

"That seems like my past, alright," Corrin agreed, a hint of bitterness in her voice.

Kamui had to give it to her, Madame Celeste was spot on on that reading. Either she was indeed a good fortune-teller... or she was secretly a Super Smash Bros fan and paid attention to Corrin's biography. He watched Madame Celeste place the card face up by her side and draw the second one, still unsure.

"Oh!"

"What is it?!"

"Your next card is The Tower," Madame Celeste announced, showing her the drawing of a crumbling tower. "It usually has very negative readings, as it means ruin and rupture. But it can also be positive sometimes, as it also means the start of something new. Either way, this card represents profound questioning."

Questioning was a good word for what Kamui was doing. He had to bite his lower lip to avoid blurting that to the woman in front of them. As for Corrin, she just nodded her head and waited for the next draw.

"Now, for the third and last one," the fortune-teller said, putting the second card away and drawing the one from the center.

There was a brief silence as Madame Celeste examined the card, as if time had stopped at that very moment. Ike couldn't help but wonder if he was just imagining things, but he could swear that he saw the shady fortune-teller's red eyes gleam with satisfaction. In an unconscious act, he grabbed the hilt of the sword he still carried on his hip.

"Corrin, your third card is The Hanged Man," Madame Celeste announced, a twisted glee in her voice as she showed Corrin the picture of a suffering man being dangled upside down by a rope on his ankle.

"What does that mean?" Corrin asked.

"Oh, it isn't a beneficial card, that's for sure," Madame Celeste explained, still showing the card. "It means that you will become submissive to a sentiment or situation that you are not aware of."

"But… my life has been pretty good so far," the princess said, furrowing her brow. "There's nothing-"

"Is it now?"

"Yes!"

Madame Celeste put the card down and looked at Corrin in the eye, causing the girl huge discomfort at first. She really didn't want to look her in the eyes. Those aggressive, almost predatory eyes. They looked so different now from the warm, welcoming ones that greeted her at the shop's entrance. Corrin wanted to look away, yet she kept looking the fortune-teller in the eye, almost as if there was something holding her still.

"We all have our inner demons, Corrin," the fortune-teller said, her voice somber, drawing Corrin's attention in. "Demons that manifest in various ways, be it sadness, anger, envy, regret... and they are all painful to face."

"I..."

"Because of this pain, most of us don't even want to face them," she continued. "So we hide from them, pretend that they don't exist. But they are still there and they keep eating you up until you have no choice but to find relief in surrendering."

"..."

"Do you feel like surrendering, Corrin?"

"Hey, what's gotten into you?!" Kamui exclaimed, his voice making Corrin break away from her semi-trance. "Is that how you treat your clients? Scaring them to death?"

"Oh, please, I was doing nothing of the sort," Madame Celeste denied, her voice going back to her cheerful tone. "I was just reading her fortune."

"Doesn't look like it," Ike said with crossed arms.

Corrin closed her eyes and shook her head, her mind still trying to clear itself. Kamui noticed that and put a hand on her shoulder, a gesture that asked if she was feeling alright.

"I, um..." she mumbled. "Wow, that was… something else. I don't know what to say."

"I understand, dear, this session was more intense than I thought it would be," Madame Celeste said, her voice still sounding cheerful. "So, that will be 70 Smash coins! Are you going to pay in cash or credit?"

All it takes is one new Smash to make me want to write back again. Anyway, guess who still isn't over the inclusion of Corrin in Smash?