The Festival of Naga, Part 1!

A/N: Welcome, one and all, to Lucina Reacts! Before we begin, I may have told a bit of a fib when I said 'music festival', as this is not strictly just a music festival. Doesn't mean there will be no music, but I will do my utmost to make certain gags come true.

Also, people who've read the Beacon Music Festival arc of Weiss Reacts, you know where this is going. Let the hype ensue.

DISCLAIMER: Fire Emblem belongs to Nintendo, otherwise there would be idol singer uniforms for Lucina, Tharja and Sumia (*drool*).

All mentioned franchises and characters belong to their respective owners.

"Owwwww!" Lissa pulled away her hand from an intricate glass ornament she'd lowered onto a table, having cut her finger. She sucked on it, wincing from the stinging pain.

"That smarts..."

Sully scoffed dismissively. "Wrap some cloth around your finger and quit crying about it. I've been carrying crap in here for the whole day."

"I'm not made for hard work!" The cleric cried in protest. "I'm made for lounging around and doing fun things!"

The dining hall of the royal palace was abuzz with life. Sumia, Libra and Cordelia had set about readying the kitchen for cookery, while Frederick, Stahl and Sully had been set about putting ornaments, plates and utensils upon the tables; Chrom had forced his sister to help when she tried to sneak out to avoid having to help out.

Everyone else, of course, was either helping out carrying things into the castle or doing other things that were far more important or related to the task at hand, save Miriel- and no soul was brave enough to venture to her home to disturb her from whatever experiment she was conducting.

Robin breathed heavily as he leaned against a wall, wiping his brow as he put down another crate of ornaments. "Lucina, do you have any idea what this is all for? The nearest birthday I'm aware of is Donnel's..."
Lucina stared at him curiously. "Robin, do you not know what the next several days are?"
"Not at all. The significance was never explained to me."
"This week is considered sacred to Naga." Libra interjected calmly. "Every five years, the presence of the goddess is said to be closer to the earth than any other time.

Her presence is said to manifest upon the earth as lights in the sky at night, lights that resemble the facade of the holy dragon, the shape of Lady Naga herself. They are iridescent and faintly green, and they dominate the sky itself. It was thought that they were the goddess herself at one point.

This festival dates from the early years of Ylisse's existence, and called aptly, the Festival of Naga, or the Iridescent Festival."

Robin nodded. "I...see. I don't know how I could've potentially missed that..."
"The wars made it much harder to celebrate it." Lucina admitted. "It's excusable that you don't know what it is.

Libra sighed, fondly remembering previous festivals. "The Dragon Lights- as they are referred to- are of a great beauty equal to the stars or the Lady Naga herself."

"In your case, you find Tharja equally attractive." Morgan remarked teasingly, attempting to bait the monk. She was helping carry crates into the hall with her father and Lucina.

He merely chuckled good-naturedly. "Think as you will, Morgan. Tharja only has eyes for another, after all."

"Oh, one of those types, Libra? I never thought you the type." The tactician winked as she walked off with the crate, giggling to herself.

"You're far more touchy about the subject of your relationship with Tharja normally." Robin noted, smiling. "You must be fond of this festival."

"Well, it is, after all, a festival devoted to the very goddess I revere." The monk responded. "I must continue helping, and you should too. Until later, Robin, your Highness."

He bowed briefly to Lucina before walking off. Lucina turned to Robin after he had walked off, nodding.

"He summed up the festival better than I could." The princess said with a smile, before turning away slightly. Robin looked worried.

"Lucina?"

"You know...the D-Dragon Lights really are b-beautiful..." Lucina commented shakily. "T-they hold a v-viewing of them a-at the end of the Festival, w-when they come on, outside in Ylisse's market...

R-Robin...I-I was...wondering if you could...j-join me to watch them? I-I mean...purely as a friend watching with a friend, and not as lovers..."

Robin blushed intensely, looking away himself in embarrassment.

"O-Of course, Lucina! I-I'd be honoured t-to join you t-to watch the Dragon Lights..." The grandmaster nodded quickly. "P-purely as friends, o-of course."
"W-we wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong idea!" The princess added, chuckling nervously.

Robin added to the nervous chuckling, twiddling his fingers. "O-Of course. M-Morgan and the Justice Cabal w-would jump o-on that opportunity..."

Sully, who watched the whole exchange, dropped her crate onto a table, wiping her brow.

"Man, those two are utterly hopeless." The cavalier mumbled. "Just kiss the girl already. Hell, hold hands."

Lissa smiled as she watched her niece and her totally platonic friend completely melt from their composed facades to ones of sheer awkwardness at the thought of spending time doing anything vaguely romantic.

"I don't think Lucina's ever had a crush on anyone before. Or ever." The cleric giggled. "She's so cute when she's awkward..."

"Gah, just fuck already!" Sully snapped. "It's not like you two could be any more obvious!"

"Don't be so crude..." Lissa reprimanded her.

"Don't lecture me. You sound like Maribelle."

Lissa chuckled at the thought, before sighing. "But...seriously. Those two have been going about it for four years. How much longer until they get together already?"
"Pigs'll fly and Hell will freeze over before then!" The cavalier remarked drily. "Naga help us all..."

"I wish Naga WOULD help us." Lissa quipped. "Seriously...I'm going to lose my bets because of this..."
"Bets?" Sully raised an eyebrow.

"I made a bunch of bets that Lucina and Robin would finally admit they loved each other within the next two or three months," the cleric explained, before sighing. "I think Anna might win this one. She bet they wouldn't do it before they were both a bunch of old prunes."

Sully laughed. "Sounds about right."

"O-Oh, Robin..." Lissa declared, lowering her voice to attempt to sound like Lucina. "I-I totally d-don't love you, b-but I make g-googly eyes at you and s-sound like N-Noire w-when I-I'm alone with you!"

The cavalier leaned against a table, crossing her arms. "Least she isn't as bad as Severa."

Justice Cabal Headquarters...

"Achoo!" Severa covered her nose as she sneezed, groaning. "I think I'm coming down with something from being out here.

Gods, did we have to meet in a run-down shack?"
"Severa!" Owain looked offended. "How could you call the mighty headquarters of the Justice Cabal a mere shack? To do so is an affront to our heroic actions!

My sword hand twitches at this remark!"

Severa had to hold back a chuckle, trying to keep her perennially irritated expression. "Y-Yeah, well, i-it's still made out of...spare barn wood.

Todd, can you just get on with the meeting already?"
Todd, who had been waiting for five minutes with crossed arms, stopped impatiently tapping his foot and sighed. "Alright, let's get on with it.

So, as I was saying, the Festival of Naga provides the perfect scenario for Lucina and Robin to finally admit they love each other."

Cynthia tilted her head. "Explain."
"You see, Lucina will likely be in a good mood. If we stick to my plan, she'll not be stressed from antics. We've asked Sumia to leave off the shipping. We've done all we possibly can to ensure that Lucina is in as good a mood as possible.

And if she's in a good mood, and the romantic atmosphere of the whole Dragon Lights gets to her and Robin...put two and two together, and we'll have the most twice shy couple since Kaoru and Kenshin making out in front of all of Ylisse.

All we need to top it off is a victory for her of some sort."

Noire raised her finger. "A-and...w-what w-will L-Lucina win t-to put her i-in a good mood?"
"Why, a music and dance competition, my dear Noire." Todd chuckled. "It's simple, not too tiring, and we'll be able to set it up easily."

Cynthia clapped. "Oooh! Song and dance! I like!"

"I don't buy it." Severa crossed her arms. "So you're going to try to hook them up through making them win something?"
"I read it in a fanfic." Todd remarked, holding up a tome labelled Weiss Reacts. "The main couple got together after a similar festival. The Antic Order makes this required reading now.

Trust me. Just lay off the antics for the whole week, unless absolutely necessary. Just one week, and all of our efforts will finally be fruitful."

Owain nodded, wiping a tear from his eye. "And a new heroic lineage will be born! My sword hand trembles with anticipation!"

"If that wasn't so much of an innuendo, I'd say the same thing." Todd remarked drily.

Severa rolled her eyes. "I don't think he gets the meaning of innuendo."

"You wound me!" The swordsman cried. Severa had to hold in the urge to stick her tongue out mischievously.

"As we speak, my mother is making the preparations for the festival." Todd explained, rubbing his hands in anticipation.

"Just one week. One more week, and the fans will finally have what they want."

...

Meanwhile, in Tharja's room...

"This is the perfect opportunity." Tharja explained to Libra as they sat together on their opposite beds. "The perfect opportunity."
Libra sighed. "Alright, Tharja, explain."
"You see, my sources tell me that the Justice Cabal is declaring an antic ceasefire." The dark mage giggled insanely. "Which means I will have an entire week undisturbed to take Robin all for myself.

All I have to do is wait. The night before the Dragon Lights, there will be a massive feast in the hall, where all the Shepherds and most of the population of Ylisstol will be gathered. Nobody will notice Robin disappear in the crowds.

And then...I will be able to finally make Robin-sempai all mine!" Tharja laughed evilly.

The monk pinched the bridge of his nose. "Tharja, you are utterly delusional."

"Robin-sempai belongs to nobody except me." The dark mage declared harshly. "I will be damned if Lucina tries for him."

"Well, unfortunately, I won't be able to help your schemes." Libra stated casually. "I will have to assist Lady Tiki for the opening ceremony of the Dragon Lights and as part of that I'll have to help her prepare."
Tharja crossed her arms. "I see. Fine. I will execute my plan alone.

Then...at long last, Robin-sempai and I...will be together." She giggled to herself at the thought.
"At long last..."

Libra frowned at the thought of Robin and Tharja together, but said nothing.

There were things best unsaid.

And so, the night's preparations continued. Tharja continued plotting for what she viewed to be the final attempt she'd have to execute to finally have Robin's love, the Justice Cabal prepared for their own scheme to get Lucina and Robin to admit their affection for each other, and the others prepared for the Festival, unaware entirely of the plotting and scheming happening far away from the castle.

The next day, in the dining hall...

Robin calmly took a seat next to Lucina, smiling at her. He had a plate of potatoes and a leg of turkey, bathed in gravy and coated with savoury herbs, which he calmly placed on the table in front of him.

"Good morning, Lucina." He greeted cheerily.
"Morning, Robin." She responded, carefully scooping a piece of turkey into her mouth.

"Supposedly, Reflet has an announcement today to give out to everyone." The grandmaster stated, forking a potato into his mouth after dipping it in the gravy. "It's about the Festival."
Lucina's expression suddenly changed to one of dread. "That can't be good. I already suspect shenanigans."

"She'll most likely throw us for a loop." The grandmaster remarked. "Reflet's harder to predict than Tharja."

"All Tharja ever does is try to kidnap you." The princess responded, her voice slightly hardening at the thought of Robin being kidnapped.

"Yes, but it's the how that differs." Robin explained. "She's adaptive. A useful trait in dealing with the undead monsters controlled by evil dragons, not so much when trying to kidnap me."

Lucina's expression darkened. "Unfortunately."
"Lucina, are you alright?"
"Positively."

Lissa giggled. "My, Lucina. Are we getting territorial over Robin?

Heh. Territorial. That's a funny word."

"N-no. He's my friend, a-and I would just prefer if Tharja did not kidnap him! T-that's all." The princess muttered quietly.

Reflet stepped to the front of the hall, a Tome of Speaking in her hands.

"Man, I wish I had a real speakerphone, not a book..." The grandmistress lamented. "Those feel far more natural to my hands...

...alright. How does this thing work?" She flicked the book briefly, the resulting noise catching everyone's attention.

"Alright! Got everyone's attention!" Reflet yelled cheerfully, pumping her fist a little. "Great! I know how this thing works!

Good morning, everyone! I have an announcement to make! Me and Tiki decided that we should shake up this year's festival."

"Where is Tiki, anyway?" Robin inquired. Lucina pointed to the sleepy manakete, who was currently face-down on a table nearby, with Libra gently trying to rouse her.

"Every year, we do the same boring things- hold feasts, say prayers, yadda yadda yadda. We figured Lady Naga might be just a little bored with all of that after several thousand years. So, we decided to hold a little competition, with a little song and dance."

"Song and dance?" Lucina's eyes widened in surprise. "I...hardly think that's a good idea-"
"The winner, of course, would get pride of place seats to watch the Dragon Lights. We've secured a nice part of the mountains just out of Ylisstol to watch it from, away from all the crowds and chaos. Free transport to and from, all food paid for and so on.

You'll be left alone for the whole night. You can sign up by yourself, or as a pair. Or as a group!"

Cordelia, who was sitting in the crowd, stared at her in amazement. "Left...alone?"

She stared over at Lon'qu, who was clearly pondering the same thing.

'Alone...with nobody to bother us...' The pegasus rider mulled it over. '...I have to win this. I must.

Then I can finally get some peace with him...'

Looks were thrown about the hall; Gregor was looking over at Priam and Walhart, his drinking partners, with a clear intent to spend the reward boozing around under the lights, while Maribelle had her eyes set on Lissa already- perfectly platonically, of course, for the alternative would be scandalous. Even Donnel had his heart set on it- he, too, wanted to watch the Dragon Lights for himself.

Lucina rubbed her chin. "Interesting...R-Robin...listen-"
"I-I think we should do that competition." The grandmaster finished for her. "T-then we would be able t-to watch the Dragon Lights without being...d-disturbed."
"O-of course!" The princess nodded hurriedly. "J-Just as friends. C-clearly f-friends would be able to spend time i-in a clearly romantic s-spot, a-alone, right?"
"Indeed!"

Tharja, meanwhile, rubbed her hands, giggling.

'This is better than I thought! All I have to do is win.' The dark mage mused. 'Win and then execute my scheme to take Robin there with me, so I'll have him ALL to myself!'

"You'll be able to sign up after breakfast." Reflet declared. "I'll be in the corridor if anyone wants me!

Good luck, all competitors!"

Morgan smiled at Robin and Lucina. "Oh, you two're going together, right?"
"T-to make sure w-we can watch it w-without being disturbed b-by the Justice Cabal!" Robin responded quickly. "N-not because i-it's romantic, or anything!"
"O-Of course not!" Lucina cried, blushing slightly. "T-that would be absurd!"

'Hopeless. So this is Todd's master plan.' Morgan giggled. 'How intriguing.'

Elsewhere in the hall...

Todd clapped. "Excellent job, Mother. The competition will draw competitors of all stripes, and Lucina will do her damndest to win.

All we have to do is subtly influence them into picking the crowd-pleasers. The ones which everyone will like!"
Cynthia gasped. "How devious..."
"Everyone votes them up, they win, Lucina's happy, Robin's happy...and they might just show that happiness in front of all of Ylisse..." The tactician rubbed his hands, giggling deviously. "Perfect.

All tasks at hand have been completed. And DAMN I've been waiting a long time to say that."

Back to Robin and Lucina...

Robin stood up after finishing his breakfast. "Lucina, I'm going to join that competition. I'm handy with most musical instruments."
"I...I could...sing?" Lucina tilted her head. "I-I'm not too good at it..."

The grandmaster shook her quickly. "Lucina, trust me. We'll do great."

The princess sighed. "I just hope we win it..."

They walked out to sign up with Reflet, who was waiting outside. She smiled when she saw them, clapping one hand on a pad of paper in her other hand.

"Ah! I knew you two might sign up." The grandmistress chuckled. "As a duo?"
"As a pair, yes." Robin nodded quickly. Reflet scribbled their names down in the pad. "You'll be up against pretty stiff competition.

Cordelia, of course, is a goddess of singing- as she is at everything- and supposedly, Anna's got a voice to die for..."

"Anna's in this?" Lucina tilted her head.

Reflet closed her eyes, chuckling. "She can sell that spot for good money. Of course she is."

"...well." Robin sighed, looking to Lucina. "I guess we're up against stiff competition."

"I suppose we are." The princess nodded, before cracking her knuckles.

"Reflet, we're sure we want to join.

We're ready for it. Robin and I...we're undefeatable together."

"Indeed." Robin smiled. "Do your worst."

'Excellent.' Reflet thought as she wrote their names down. 'Hook, line and sinker.'

To be continued...

A/N: Singing Lucina. Your life is now improved.

So, I hope you enjoyed that, leave your ideas, comments, suggestions, criticisms, reviews and thoughts, and I hope you have a GREAT day! Until next time!