Good day, one and all. I have come, once again, to deliver the next chapter of this illustrious story. Let us commence with the reading, shall we?

You want to know what I find kind of strange? No, you don't? Well, too bad. I'm going to tell you anyway. What I find strange is the timing of some of my chapter releases. For example, chapter 5, which was a chapter about big, scary, metal monster, was released on Halloween, which is a day celebrating monsters. And this chapter, which is about a birthday, was released on MY birthday. Quite a coincidence, wouldn't you agree? I wonder if any of my future chapters will be released on coincidental days. We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?

All that aside, I hope that all of you find this chapter enjoyable. Let's get started.

Edit: 9/11/18: As I said in chapter 12, this chapter is getting a bit of a rewrite. So, here it is. Enjoy.

Super Smash Bros. © Nintendo/Masahiro Sakurai

*5:00 PM*

*Transporter Room*

Four Smashers were coming out of the Transporter Room, having just finished a 2v2 team match. It was Robin and Shulk against Villager and Bowser. It had been a long and hard-fought battle, but ultimately, Shulk and Robin proved victorious. After a 'good game' from Villager and an angry growl from Bowser, the two sword wielders started walking side by side and engaged in conversation.

"Nice job out there, Robin." Shulk said.

"Thank you, Shulk. And I must also thank you again for intercepting that attack Bowser was about to land on me from behind. If it weren't for you, he most certainly would have crushed me." Robin replied.

"Not at all, man. Those visions of mine really come in handy."

"I'll say. I wish I had your foresight abilities sometimes, Shulk."

"Heh, I've heard that one before. Say, if you don't mind me asking, what do you plan to do with the Smash Coins you won?"

"I think I'll see if I finally have enough to buy one of those collectable trophies Master Hand sells."

"Really? Which one?"

"I think I saw one of Chrom earlier. He's my best friend and Lucina's father. I think I'll give it to her as a birthday present next week. I think she'd like to be reminded of her home and of her family."

"Wait, Lucina's birthday is next week? Why didn't I know about this?" Shulk asked.

"She never told you before? Well, I'm not surprised. She always has been somewhat reserved about such matters."

"Really? Why's that?"

"I'm not entirely certain. But if I had to guess, I would say it's probably because of her past. Probably not too many happy birthday memories there."

"Ah, I see."

"In any case, I suppose you know now. Now that you do, what do you plan to do for her? You two have been dating for a few months now, after all."

"I don't know. I can't just copy your idea of getting her something to remind her of home. I'll have to think of something else."

"Well, I wish you the best of luck with that, Shulk." Robin said before walking off elsewhere in the mansion.

Shulk spent the next few days thinking about what to get Lucina for her birthday. However, this proved to be an extremely difficult task. He knew a lot of things about Lucina, but what she might like to get as a gift was not one of those things. He decided against asking her because he wanted to surprise her once her birthday came. Shulk went through several options in his head, weighing the pros and cons of each.

He considered baking her a cake, but then he remembered that he is distinctly lacking in culinary skills. Last tried he tried to cook something on his own, it ended with the food being burnt completely black, and a group of angry friends who decided they'd rather starve than try to salvage anything out of what Shulk made.

Shulk also considered the option of going into Smashville to buy a gift for his girlfriend. However, he quickly decided against it. As impressive as the town was, it was severely lacking in stores that sold things that women might like. Things like clothes, beauty products, and similar objects were impossible to find there. This is because the town was run and populated entirely by Miis, who all had the same body shape and generic looking faces and hair. Finding something meaningful for Lucina there would be far too difficult.

He also thought about taking her to see another movie at the Smashville theater. A decent idea, Shulk admitted, but not without its flaws. Since the two began dating, Shulk had taken her to that theater several times. He wanted to do something special for Lucina, not just another movie date. Plus, there were no good movies playing there, anyway. Nothing that Shulk thought Lucina would like, at least.

The Monado wielder then thought about challenging her to a match on her birthday. He knew that one of the things Lucina enjoyed doing most in her free time was honing her skills for the tournament. Shulk thought it would be a nice gesture to give her a challenging fight and let her practice her skills against an opponent like him. Perhaps not the most romantic gesture, but still. Shulk decided to think a bit more about what to get Lucina as a present, and if he couldn't think of anything else, he would fall back on this idea.

Still, it wasn't exactly the most original of gifts. The both of them had to go through similar fights on a daily basis. So did everyone else who lived in the Smash Mansion. That was the whole point of the tournament.

'There has to be something else I can do for her. Something I'm not thinking of.' Shulk thought to himself.

Shulk was just about out of ideas on what to do. He was just about ready to just fall back on the 'challenge her to a fight' idea. Still, he wished there were something else he had thought of. These thoughts followed him around as he walked down the near endless halls of the Smash Mansion.

"Is something troubling you, Shulk?"

Shulk looked up and saw Princess Zelda in front of him. Surprisingly, she wasn't wearing her normal attire. Instead, she wore an elegant dress from her homeland, complete with long gloves, expensive looking heels, and an elegant looking hair ornament. Said accessory looked like three triangles joined to make one large equilateral triangle, all of them bedazzled with jewels.

"Not really. Don't worry about it, Zelda. Where are you going all dressed up?" Shulk asked.

"Oh, well, Link and I were just about to head into Smashville, and I wanted to look my best for him. What do you think?" Zelda asked.

"You look nice. I especially like the accessory in your hair. Where'd you get it?"

"I made it myself. I've always enjoyed making things like this, actually. It's a fun hobby. Anyway, I have to go now. I don't want to keep Link waiting. Farewell, Shulk."

As Zelda walked off, Shulk got to thinking. Why didn't he consider making something for Lucina? That would be a nice thing to do. The only issue was, he wasn't much of a craftsman. In the past, he had made and repaired weapons before, but that wasn't the same as making objects like jewelry like Zelda made. The two were quite different, and Shulk wasn't sure if he could pull it off. However, there was a perfectly good maker of such objects walking away from him right now. Shulk suddenly got an idea.

"Zelda, wait!"

"What is it, Shulk?"

"I was just wondering if I could interest you in a little offer."

The sun rose on a clear, sunny day in mid-April. Lucina woke from her slumber and got ready for another average day. However, as she was getting dressed, she remembered it wasn't exactly an average day, it was her birthday. However, to her, it likely would be just an average day. No one at the Smash Mansion, besides Robin, knew that it was her birthday, not even Shulk. She had never told him when her birthday was. As a child, she never had much time to celebrate her birthday since she was constantly running for her life. Even when she traveled back in time, there was little time to celebrate with a war going on. However, she was content with just a 'Happy birthday' from her friends and family. And that's all she expected today, only now, it would just be Robin.

The day passed by uneventfully, save for the moment Robin approached her and wished her a happy birthday. He even presented her with a collectable trophy that looked like her father. She was extremely appreciative of the gift, and placed it in her room, right next to her bed, so she could always be reminded of him. However, at around 4:30, she realized that she hadn't seen Shulk all day. She wondered where he was. It wasn't like him to avoid her. Usually by now, they would have run into each other and begun spending time together. But now, he was nowhere to be seen. Where could he be?

Her answer came when she saw him approaching her in a hallway not far from the Transporter Room.

"Hey Lucina. How are you?" Shulk greeted.

"I am fine. What have you been up to today?" Lucina replied.

"Well, I was just looking for you, actually. I heard that today was your birthday, so I decided to get you a little something."

"You knew? How?"

"Robin told me a few days back. I decided to do something nice for you."

"Thank you, Shulk. I appreciate the sentiment. If I may ask, what is you have planned."

"Well, unfortunately the gift I had planned for you isn't ready yet. So we'll just have to wait until…"

"There you are, Shulk!"

Shulk and Lucina turned to see Princess Zelda walk toward them. She had a small box in her hand. She then handed the box to Shulk.

"Here's what you asked for. Sorry I couldn't get it to you when I promised, but I forgot that I had a match against Greninja and Bayonetta earlier today. Still, I hope you're satisfied with it." Zelda said.

"I'm sure I will be. And, as promised, here's 500 Smash Coins." Shulk said as he pulled a sack of coins from his pocket and handed it to Zelda.

"Thank you, Shulk. Hello, Lucina." Zelda greeted.

"Good day, Zelda." Lucina replied.

With that, Zelda turned around and walked away, leaving Shulk and Lucina alone again. Shulk then turned to Lucina and handed the box to her.

"Well, to answer your question, this is what I had planned. I asked Zelda to make this for me so I could give it to you. She said it would be done by 4:00, but since it wasn't, I was about to challenge you to a quick match. Well, now it looks like you get my original gift, so open it up. I hope you like it."

Lucina slowly reached for the lid of the box and pulled it off. When she saw what was inside, her eyes widened like dinner plates and she gasped in shock and surprise while holding a hand to her mouth.

It was a beautiful hair ornament. It resembled a butterfly perched atop a delicate flower. The ornament was a shade of blue slightly lighter than Lucina's own hair, and it had small, sparkling jewels on the flower's pedals and the butterfly's wings. Lucina stared at it in awe, not sure of how to react.

"Wow. It turned out even better than I thought it would. It's very pretty. May I?" Shulk stated.

The Monado wielder then took the ornament from Lucina's hands and placed it in her hair, right behind her tiara.

"There. You look lovely, Lucina. Truly, you do. What do you think?" Shulk asked.

Lucina's response to this was to frantically look around the room they were in for a mirror. When she found one, she to the mirror as fast as she could and stood in front of it so she could observe her reflection. When Shulk finally caught up to his girlfriend, he saw her staring at her hair in shock.

"It… it… it's beautiful!" She said at long last.

"No, you're beautiful. Still, I'm really glad you like it. Happy birthday, Lucina." Shulk responded.

Lucina then turned to Shulk and embraced him in a tight hug, which Shulk happily returned.

Some months later, Lucina was walking down the halls of the Smash Mansion, heading toward her room. She was just about to get ready for another date with Shulk. She had been with him for quite some time now, and was hoping that she could do something nice for him to show how much he meant to her.

As she wondered what to do for him, she ran a hand through her hair. She felt the ornament Shulk had given her for her birthday. That's when it hit her. She would get him a gift. After all his birthday was only…

Lucina suddenly realized that she did not know when her boyfriend's birthday was. He had never talked about it before. Then again, neither did she. She wondered how Shulk had learned about her birthday. Then she remembered, Robin had told him. But this is where she was hit with a setback. Unlike herself, Shulk had come to Smash Bros. alone, with no one else from his world. There was no one she could ask about when his birthday was. She supposed she could wait until the next Family Day, ask his friends then. However, she did not want to do this. What if Shulk's birthday passed before then? She wanted to know as soon as possible.

She decided the best way would be to strike up a conversation with him, then try to steer the conversation toward the topic of birthdays or potential gift items and hope he reveal his. She only hoped that it would actually work out. Improvisation was never a strong suit of hers, so if the conversation steered elsewhere, she probably wouldn't know what to do.

After preparing herself for her date, she met up with Shulk near the Smash Mansion's main hall. The Monado wielder was standing there waiting for her.

"'ello there. Don't you look nice tonight?" Shulk complimented.

"Thank you, Shulk. Shall we be off?" Lucina said.

With that, the pair walked toward Smashville. Once they got there, the stopped and sat in the same park that they went to on their first date. They sat on a bench and enjoyed the scenery for some time before Shulk began speaking.

"There's something about these kind of peaceful surroundings that really puts you at ease."

Lucina decided it was time to start with her conversation plan. She prayed to the gods that she could get this to go the way she wanted it to.

"Indeed. I haven't felt a sense of peace like this since Grima was destroyed." She responded.

"I feel you. Time with my friends is the greatest gift I could ever receive."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I couldn't ask for anything greater than that."

"Truly? Nothing at all?"

"No, not really. Why do you ask?" Shulk said.

"…No reason." Lucina replied.

"Right. Anyway, what say we go grab a bite to eat?"

"Very well, Shulk."

As they walked toward the restaurant, Lucina knew she would have to try harder than that if she wanted the information she was after. She also knew she had to be more careful. Shulk was smart. One of the smartest people Lucina knew. If she wasn't careful, he would figure out what she was up to.

Eventually, they made their way to the restaurant. The pair decided to go somewhere different than the place they went on their first date, just to make things different. After they sat down and ordered, Lucina again struck up a conversation.

"Say, Shulk. If you do not mind, I wish to ask you something."

"Alright. What is it?" Shulk responded.

"Despite all I have learned from you since we met, especially over the times we have been together, I cannot help but feel there are things about you I have yet to learn."

"Oh really? Like what?"

"Well, things like personal pleasures, favorite items, important dates, things like that."

"Favourite items?" Shulk asked warily.

"Just a matter of interest." Lucina lied.

"Alright, what's going on here?"

"What do you mean, Shulk?"

"I know you're up to something. Your behaviour's been off since we left. No offense, but you're not as subtle as you think. Now, what are you planning? What are you after?"

Lucina sighed in defeat as she confessed.

"Earlier I was thinking about this ornament for my hair you got me for my birthday, and how much I wanted to do something for you. So I merely wished to find out when your birthday is and what I might get for you."

Shulk seemed to grow sullen at Lucina's statement, which seemed to worry her.

"Have I offended you? I am sorry." She quickly stated.

"No, it's not you, it's me. I've always enjoyed celebrating my friend's birthdays and seeing them happy, but never so much my own." Shulk explained.

"Why not?" Lucina asked.

"Because my birthday is also the day my parents died." Shulk answered.

"Oh gods! That's awful. I'm sorry, Shulk. Truly, I am."

"Thanks. And personally, I'd rather just let it pass by without notice. I don't need a gift."

"You know, I once thought like you. I never truly enjoyed my birthday after my parents died. In fact, my 13th birthday was spent attempting to defend a village in Ylisse from Risen. Everyone but me died. However, when I traveled to the past, my parents, my friends, and my allies attempted to change that. They tried to make me happy on that day, and you did the same once we met. And they succeeded, as have you. And I only wish to return the favor. It is my only wish that my friends experience happiness as well. Perhaps the day had negative meaning for you in the past, but it does not need to stay that way."

For a while, Shulk remained silent, as if contemplating her words. After a solid minute and a half, Shulk spoke.

"Well, if it could turn around for you, I suppose I could give it a shot. What do I have to lose?"

"Very well. Now when exactly is your birthday?"

"A week from tomorrow. I just hope it turns out to be a good day for once."

"Rest assured, I shall do all in my power to ensure you have a good day." Lucina boldly stated.

Over the course of the next week, Lucina racked her brain on what to get Shulk as a gift. Multiple options passed through her brain, such as a new book, a fun little sparring match, or an accessory similar to the one he gave her. However, none of these truly appealed to her. She kept thinking on what to get her boyfriend.

'What should I get him?' Lucina thought.'He always treats me so nicely, so it must be something that shows how much I appreciate him. He is very sweet, so it cannot be anything less than perfect. Wait a minute, Sweet.'

Lucina suddenly remembered that Shulk had once said something about really liking sweets. She instantly resolved to get Shulk something very sweet to eat. Perhaps the Mess Hall had some kind of desert from the home world of one of the Smashers. However, she still felt that that wasn't good enough. This had to be special.

Lucina then thought back to her childhood. As a very young child, her mother had made the most divine chocolate cake. A nice rich dark chocolate with a very rich fudgy taste. The icing was very thick with a slight cherry flavored tint to it. And she could not forget the decorative strawberries that were placed all over the cake. From what she had been told, it was a royal recipe that had been passed down for generations. She loved it as a child, but when her parents died and Grima took over, she was no longer able to get the cake. That is, until she and her friends traveled back in time. When she did, Sumia had somehow found the ingredients to make it for her daughter during their war campaign. As soon as she tasted it, it was almost like she was a child again, spending time with her family, like she always wanted.

Lucina immediately resolved to get this cake for her boyfriend. She retreated to her room and wrote a letter to her parents asking them to send her a copy of the recipe as well as the necessary ingredients as soon as possible. She went to the Mail Room and put her letter in the slot with her name on it. It was gone in an instant.

Lucina only hoped that she would get what she needed on time. While letters and packages were sent to and from the Smash Mansion instantaneously, that didn't mean they were found or read by their recipients as quickly. Not to mention that Shulk's birthday was tomorrow. Luckily for her, she checked the Mail Room an hour after dinner and found everything she needed. She instantly took it to the Miis who would be cooking in the Mess Hall the next day and paid them off to make what she needed. It cost her a fair amount of Smash Coins, but it was worth it. Now the only thing she had left to do is wait and see if Shulk liked her gift.

"I pray that tomorrow will be a good day for Shulk." Lucina said to herself before going to bed.

Shulk awoke at the start of the day with a sad sigh. Sure it was his birthday, but it was also the day he had lost his parents. This day had almost never been a positive one for him. He did not expect this one to be any better. All he really wanted was for this day to get over with as fast as possible. At least no one else here at the mansion knew what day it was. That is, except for Lucina. Even though he had told her about the day, Shulk had hoped that she would not try anything too big or spectacular for him.

The day seemed to pass by without much incident. Shulk fought in a couple battles and had a few conversations with the others at the mansion. Still, his mind never wandered far from what had happened on this day, all those years ago. He truly missed his mother and father and wished he could remember them more. These troubled thoughts continued to invade his mind up until it was time for dinner. It was at this time that he realized he had seen very little of Lucina today. He knew that he told her about his birthday, so why had she not done anything for him or even spoken to him yet? He got an answer to his question when she sat right across from him.

"Hello, Shulk." She greeted.

"Lucina. How are you?" He returned.

"I am well. How are you?"

"… Fine." He muttered.

"I see. In any case, there is something I wish to give you."

With that, she put a slice of chocolate cake on the table and slid it over to Shulk. He had to admit, it did look delicious.

"It is a recipe straight from Ylisse. It's always reminded me of home and of my family."

"Oh really?"

"Yes. As a girl, my mother used to make it whenever I was sad as a means to cheer me up. But, when she and father died, I no longer had that luxury. That is, until I went back in time, when mother managed to make it for me once again. It instantly brought back that childlike sense of happiness. And I hope that it will make you feel better just as it did me."

With that, Shulk grabbed his fork, took a chunk out of the cake, and put it in his mouth. As soon as he tasted it, his eyes widened.

"This… this is incredible!" He exclaimed.

"Well, I'm glad you like it. I wish you a happy birthday, Shulk. Also, if ever you find yourself distressing about your past again, I am more than willing to lend a sympathetic ear." Lucina said as she reached a hand across the table.

"Thank you, Lucina. For everything." He responded as he reached and grabbed Lucina's hand.

The two sat together for the remainder of dinner time as Shulk continued to eat his cake.

And with that, I bring yet another chapter to a close.

But not only that, I bring us to a checkmark I've been wanting to reach for quite a while now. If my calculations are correct, we have now arrived at the 1/3 mark! Hooray! I have some pretty interesting ideas going into my second third, so stay tuned!

Edit: 10/6/18: As promised, I finally did it. I finally gave this chapter a rewrite. I know I once said I would try to avoid having a chapter with two similar arcs, but better this than 2 separate chapters with pretty much the same arc. I already did that once with chapters 6 and 12. Never again. Also, the reason I decided to make Lucina's gift to Shulk what it was is because in one of the heart-to-heart conversations held in Xenoblade Chronicles, itopenly states that Shulk hates vegetables and has a very unhealthy diet. So I started thinking about cakes and the like since those are very unhealthy, but dammit they taste so good. So I decided to have Lucina make Shulk a nice tasty chocolate cake. It's like I've always said, if you don't like chocolate, you're not a human being.

Up next: We will be checking in on some friends on the home front.

That will be out as soon as I can get it out. So until then, leave a comment or a follow or a favorite. It really means a lot to me when you guys do this. But I also want you to not leave any negative or hurtful comments. Constructive criticism I will accept, but not outright hate. Anyways, I'll see you in the next chapter everyone. Remember, reality is an illusion. The universe is a hologram. Buy gold. BYEEEEEEE!