This is not an illusion. Do not attempt to adjust your monitor.
That's right my dudes...THIS FIC LIVES ONCE AGAIN! 2019, and Smash Ultimate, are instilling in me new inspiration to continue this baby!
A note to veteran readers who originally read this fic before now...I HIGHLY suggest you re-read from the beginning, there have been some more revisions and notes that will be important for now and future chapters, and the chapter before this has also been revised VERY heavily. Never thought I'd actually get to do it, but...I did it!
New readers...you don't need to do anything if this is your first time reading upon seeing this fic bumped up with this update. Just read on and enjoy. c:
Oh, and one last thing - On January 21, 2019, Smash had its 20th anniversary. Thank you, Masahiro Sakurai, for this groundbreaking series that grew into one of the most ambitious gaming crossovers ever and brought so many together, introducing others to different series and creating so many memories. Here's to more years of awesomeness, and hopefully a longer DLC campaign. c:
(Also can I get a motherfuggin' uhhhhhhhh new F-Zero game sometime in the next ten years? Thanks Nintendo, I really want people to appreciate the Captain more and see him as more than just meme material or a two dimensional stereotype like he is in some fanworks.)
Hiding in my Skin, Broken from Within
Chapter 6 - By Your Side
It had been several days since Captain Falcon and Lucina left Gaur Plain to train across other worlds, with the supply sack Lucina's friend Fiora gave them. The two had trained across various worlds, and to their surprise, the supplies lasted longer than they expected, a whole week to be precise. It was thanks to Lucina's survival skills that they were able to stretch their supply. Of course, by this moment in time, their supply had finally run out. As promised, they decided to head to the town of Termina to restock and see where to go from there.
"So...this is where you said we'd restock and say hello to that 'old friend' of yours, right?" Lucina asked her trainer.
"Yup," the Captain nodded. "Welcome to Clock Town, right in the heart of Termina."
"Wow..."
The town was much like the kind of town Lucina would expect to see in her world, but some details were also a bit different. The two stood just outside the doors that led to the underground waterways. Towering behind them was a giant wooden clock that did not have Roman numerals like a regular clock tower, but instead an outer rim that moved every second clockwise, causing the image in the center to shift every full cycle. Right before them was a marketplace area of sorts, sprawling with citizen activity.
"Where could he be...?" Falcon murmured, trying to scan the crowd for any trace of his old friend. Within a few seconds, he spotted them.
"Link! Over here!"
"L-Link?!" Lucina was confused at first as to why Link would be here of all places, and why the Captain referred to him as an "old friend". In a few moments, however, everything became clear to her.
"Hi Captain! Long time no see! Who's the lady with you?"
Noticing the childish boy's voice coming from below her line of sight, Lucina looked down and saw...Link. Except, he was a lot younger, close to Ness and Lucas's age, maybe even younger than that. He wore a child-sized green tunic and held a wooden carving for a shield, with a circular insignia on it, instead of the Master Shield.
"Lucina, meet Young Link," the Captain introduced her. "Although technically, he's just the Link from this timeline. He used to be a participant in the Smash tournaments, long before you joined."
"I see..." Lucina murmured. Squatting down to meet his gaze, she asked the younger Link, "I'm guessing you haven't been called back for any tournaments yet?"
"Seems that way, lady," Young Link answered her. "I miss everyone...Ness, Peach, the older me, Zelda, Pikachu...and even the Captain here. He's been like a father figure to me."
"Heh, it's true..." the Captain admitted, making a gesture that looked like he was scratching the back of his head somewhat bashfully. "I've...never had the chance to settle down and start a family, especially given my career outside of Smash. So, guiding him and hearing him out on things...I'm glad I can fill that role in his life. He's in many ways like a son to me."
"A son...?" Lucina pondered. "H-how old are you, Captain?"
Pausing for a moment, failing to see immediately how that question was relevant, he answered, "I'm 37...why do you ask?"
"T-thirty-seven?!" Lucina gasped. "How long have you even been...at your career, anyway?"
"I'll...tell you some other time," the Captain trailed off. "I don't wanna discuss it in front of the little one here. It might get too...dark for him."
"I understand..."
"Hey, lady," Young Link asked the Ylissean. "How old are you?"
"...I'm twenty-one," she answered him. "Why do you ask...Link?" Lucina couldn't shake the feeling of how weird it was to call Young Link as just "Link".
"I finally get to have a mommy!" Young Link cried, jumping in joy.
"M-m-m-m-m...MOMMY?!" Lucina shouted, covering her face with her hands in embarrassment. "L-listen, most women my age aren't even... 'mommies' yet...and I'm just the Captain's training partner. T-that's all."
"Oh...I see, lady...sorry to bother you." Young Link looked down, a bit dismayed.
"It's no worries. I can still be your friend," she consoled him, uncovering her face and patting him on the shoulder. "By the way, my name is Lucina."
"Looo-shee-na?" Young Link asked, tilting his head to the side.
Giggling, Lucina lifted the cap off of Young Link's head and playfully mussed up his hair. "You'll get it eventually, sweetie."
"Heh, you're sure good with kids..." The Captain complimented his protégé. "I was more his babysitter than anything to be honest, trying to make sure he didn't do anything stupid."
"Hey! I wasn't..." Young Link griped, glaring irritably at Falcon and puffing his cheeks.
"It was for your safety, young man," Falcon said in a slightly scolding tone.
"Heheheh..." Lucina couldn't help but giggle at the exchange. "But you're right, Captain. I guess I get it from caring for my little brother, Morgan. Can't believe he's sixteen already..."
"Yeah, you mentioned him not so long ago," the Captain recalled.
I also saw him that day when your family visited you when you were recovering...I didn't want to interrupt that. You deserved to have a peaceful reunion with your family...
"...Captain?" Lucina asked Captain Falcon, noticing him looking lost in thought again.
"...Nothing," he reassured her. "Anyway, little one, we came here to stock up and look for some more areas to train."
"Well, why didn't ya say so?" Young Link answered him, grinning confidently. "I'll show you where you can get some goods, and some great places to train too!"
"Lead the way," Lucina told the young boy.
As Young Link led the two around Clock Town, Lucina couldn't help but take her surroundings in, feeling a great sense of wonder. Her trainer and some of the more veteran Smashers may have visited Clock Town countless times, so to them it was probably no big deal. But to Lucina, any new world she discovered for the first time left her awestruck - she was much like her friend Fiora in that regard. The way the morning sun gave the clouds in the sky a rose hue and the adobe walls a similar glow; the poster on one of the walls that appeared to be advertising an up and coming Zora songstress's concert; a pair of twin girls practicing some lithe, graceful dance moves; and the exquisite stained glass patterns on the shop doors.
"Hey, don't get too distracted, now," the Captain advised her. "I think...one of the training exercises I have planned for you will involve you improving your focus."
"Okay..." she conceded. "You're right...I do need to focus better. But just now...I guess I can't help myself."
"Heh..."
After Young Link led them to the central marketplace, he gave them a supply of Rupees he had been saving up. "Don't spend it in one place, now!"
"Heh, smart kid," Lucina complimented him. "What'll you be doing?"
"Oh, you know...just taking a stroll," Young Link answered her. "I won't be far though. If you need any more Rupees, just let me know!"
"Will do," the Captain told the youth, who waved happily before walking off. Shifting his attention to his protégé, he instructed her, "Alright, to make things easier, we'll split up and get any supplies we may need. Just purchase anything you think may help us, and meet me back here within 45 minutes."
"Got it."
Forty-five minutes passed, and the two met up again at the promised location. The Captain already stashed away everything he purchased in the sack Fiora gave them, while Lucina showed him her haul. Of all the items in the haul, one item in particular caught his eye.
"A...hair clip?" He took the hair ornament and carefully examined it. "Isn't it a bit...gaudy, though?"
"Appearance wasn't really that important for me. It's the functionality, right? If there's ever a situation where I need to pin my hair up."
"I mean, I guess..." He put the hair clip and the rest of the items his training partner purchased in the bag. "Think you could wait here for a moment? I'll be right back. I just need to ask Young Link something."
"Something like...?" The Exalt asked, curiously.
"You'll see. I'll be back in a few." Within a few seconds, her trainer walked off.
"He's so secretive like this..." she mumbled. "Oh well..."
"Excuse me, miss...?" A voice from behind her called out to her. She turned around and saw a young woman who looked to be about her age, with short red hair and a rather simple dress.
"Yes? May I help you?" The Ylissean asked the young woman.
"I don't think I've ever seen you around these parts before. What brings you here?" The woman asked.
"Ah, well, it's my first time here, really," Lucina answered the woman, chuckling slightly. "My trainer brought me here to restock our supplies and continue our training."
"That explains you being with Mr. Falcon earlier," the woman concluded.
"You...know him?"
"Of course," the woman answered Lucina. "I know most of the people from Smash City. They come to visit every now and then."
"That explains it," the swordswoman said. "I'm new to Smash City, so...I'm afraid I'm a bit out of the loop when it comes to this sort of thing."
"It's no worries," the woman answered. "By the way, my name's Anju. What's yours?"
"You can call me Lucina," the future Exalt answered her. "Can you...tell me more about Termina as a whole...?"
"Oh, can I!" Anju beamed. "I'll tell you all I know..."
...
Within a few minutes, the Captain returned.
"I see...this world is very interesting," Lucina commented after Anju told her all she knew.
"Oh, I see you've met Anju," Falcon said.
"Ah—?" Startled, Lucina slowly turned around. "Oh...you're back already?"
"Yeah," the Captain confirmed. "Ready for our next training exercise?"
"Sure." Turning to Anju, the blue haired swordswoman said, "I guess I'll see you later then, Anju."
"You two have fun!" Anju called out, waving happily.
As the two walked off, the swordswoman asked her trainer, "So...where to?"
"Just follow me," the bounty hunter answered her. "We won't go far, but..."
"But...?" She didn't much enjoy it when her trainer would trail off like this.
"You...might want to hold my hand."
"Your...what?!" The Exalt was surprised to hear such a suggestion. "What will everyone think?!"
"Don't worry about it...don't you trust me?"
"I..." After a moment of hesitation, Lucina conceded. "F-fine." She held Captain Falcon's hand.
"And...you'll want to close your eyes. Wait until I tell you to open them again."
"Let me guess...it's a surprise?" Lucina asked, closing her eyes anyway.
"You...could say that."
The Captain led his protégé through town, her eyes closed all the while. Feeling a bit self conscious about what people might think when they saw the two of them together, she drew slightly closer to her trainer.
...
"Okay, you can open your eyes now."
Lucina opened her eyes and saw a staircase before her. "Stairs...I don't understand."
"It's just up these steps," the Captain clarified.
"Alright..." The two headed up the stairs. Right before them was a gap separating the platform they stood on from another platform, followed by two circular wall decorations just before the roof of another building. Bridging the first gap was a narrow wooden beam. The scene at the plaza below them was more bustling and noisy than usual, with two jugglers performing their routine, and a Zora band with the songstress from the posters practicing.
"Okay, so this first exercise is to help you with focusing." Turning to his training partner, he said, "See if you can follow my lead, to my destination and back."
"What are you..." But before Lucina could finish her sentence, Falcon put the bag with the supplies down and immediately took off running across the narrow wooden beam effortlessly without losing his balance or shifting the beam's position, then dashing and leaping at an angle to the first circular wall decoration, then to the second, and finally to the roof just after that, then making his way back almost the same way he came, again almost flawlessly.
"Wow..." the swordswoman murmured, amazed.
"Now you try," Falcon offered, stepping aside. Lucina slowly inched toward the wooden beam, but hesitated.
"You're not...afraid of heights, are you?" The Captain inquired.
"O-of course not..." Lucina stammered, briefly staring irritably at her trainer before looking down and taking a deep breath. "Just calm myself...I can do this."
"That's the spirit."
"Here goes..." The Exalt slowly stepped onto the wooden beam, holding both her arms out to her sides in an attempt to maintain balance, and slowly inched across the beam. The wind blowing in her hair and the sights and noises from below proved to be too overwhelming for her senses, however, and she started to tip to the right.
"Oh nooooo!" She frantically waved her arms to try to regain her balance, but started to fall off the edge. Thankfully, before she could fall, the Captain immediately reached out his arm and grabbed her hand.
"I've got you!"
Wincing, Lucina slowly opened her eyes and looked up at the Captain. She held on to his hand as well as he slowly lifted her back up to safety.
"Just don't look down, okay?" He urged her.
As she was lifted up to the platform, she said, "Don't worry, I already told you, I'm not-" At that moment, she found herself looking down anyway. She started to feel dizzy and wavered slightly as she grunted, "Ngh..."
"Heh...maybe I shouldn't have said anything..." He pulled her closer to him and to safety, letting her catch her bearings once she was once again on terra firma.
"Hah...hah..." The swordwoman panted, slowly shaking her head, and the dizziness off with it. "O...okay. I think I'm ready to try again."
After helping her stand again, Falcon told her, "Remember, this lesson is about focus. You have a lot of visual and auditory stimuli around you, as well as the fear of falling. Don't let it overwhelm you."
"But...how?" Lucina asked Captain Falcon. "It's not like I can just...shut them all out."
"You can," He encouraged her. "You'd be amazed what you can do when you put your mind to something. Try to reimagine what I did earlier."
Turning around, Lucina looked at the scene before her, focusing on what was directly ahead, instead of below. In her mind, she was able to retrace the Captain's movements, almost replaying them in her mind like a film.
"I...think I have an idea of how you pulled it off," the future Exalt said, still looking ahead. "But...is it really as simple as just dashing across...?"
"Not quite, but you're close," The Captain told her. "Just...for a moment, close your eyes."
"Okay..." She closed her eyes.
"Now, imagine the scene before you again, except there's nothing below, just a bottomless pit."
Feeling a sense of fear creep up her spine, Lucina apprehensively said, "I...fail to see how that will help."
"Trust me, it will," the Captain reassured her. "It's just the platforms, those circular extrusions on the wall, and nothing else. Now, envision what I was doing again, with all that in mind."
"Sure." With her eyes still closed, she was able to replay the memory of the Captain dashing across the wooden beam, but just as he was about to leap to the circular extrusions, the vision in Lucina's mind became like static.
"Ugh...I can't...keep my focus."
"Why?"
Even though she had created a mindscape free of all distracting visual stimuli, the auditory stimuli remained. "There's...too much noise. I'm losing my focus."
"Don't," he urged her. "Tune the noise out."
"How?!" The Ylissean pleaded. "I'm lost! I don't have that same finesse and level head in situations like this like you do!"
"Just breathe," the racer instructed her. "Focus on the sound of your breathing...and my voice."
After a few breaths, Lucina said, "I think the image is becoming clearer now..." before resuming her deep breathing.
"That's it...put aside all external distractions, focus on what you're going to do. Plan things out, take into mind all the other factors like the wind and keeping balance on the beam, as well as the trajectory of your jumps."
After a while, she was able to envision what she needed to do perfectly. "I've got it!" Her eyes flew open and she got into a dashing stance as she shouted, her eyes ablaze with the fire of determination, "Here I go!" She immediately dashed across the wooden beam, looking straight ahead the whole time while coordinating her steps to maintain her balance. She then made a running leap toward the first circular decoration, and after landing safely, leapt hands first onto the second one, pushing herself upright then toward the roof, landing feet first. She then without a moment's hesitation replicated her movements the way she came before landing safely on the starting platform.
"My God..." Falcon murmured, stunned.
Panting, Lucina wiped the sweat off her brow before making eye contact with the Captain. "Well? How'd I do?"
"I..." Snapping out of his trance, he answered her, "I never imagined you'd actually throw in that somersault. Very creative approach..."
"So...do I pass, or?"
"Yes," the Captain confirmed. "Of course. You pass with top marks. I think you've got focusing down pat now."
"That's great," Lucina said, leaning against a wall.
What's this feeling...? She thought, gazing at the clear blue sky. He...praised me...I don't know why but...it feels good. Is it so wrong of me to want to just...make him proud of me? I don't even know where this is coming from...
"Say, Captain," Lucina began, trying to take her mind off the strange psychological sensation she felt. "How is it that you maintain focus? When you did it, it seemed like second nature to you."
"That's easy," he answered her. "Whenever I'm participating in an F-Zero racing cup, there's no room in your mind for distractions. You have to act fast, read your opponents and anticipate anything that comes up. A split second can mean the difference between winning or losing...or in some cases, even life and death."
"D-Death?" Lucina gulped. "Doesn't that...scare you?"
His bravery knows no bounds... She mused.
"Like I said," Falcon reiterated, "I'm able to beat the odds and come out in one piece precisely because I maintain my focus."
It doesn't help I actually HAD a brush with death, though... The Captain thought to himself.
Noticing the Captain looking deep in thought again, she asked him, "Everything alright? You're doing that...thing again."
"Ah..." Snapping back to reality, the Captain shook his head. "It's fine. I was just...thinking of where to go next."
"I see..." Changing the subject, Lucina asked, "Say, that wooden beam, and that band playing down there...was that what you asked Young Link about?"
"Very perceptive, I see," Falcon complimented. "Yes, that was the reason I approached him. This training exercise wouldn't have been possible without all this."
"Ah."
"I think that perceptiveness will come in handy for our next exercise," the Captain said. "Ready?"
"Lead the way," Lucina replied.
"Heh, you're eager," Falcon teased her, patting her on the shoulder. "Just let me warn you...it's a bit of a walk."
...
"Huff...huff..." Lucina crouched down after the long walk, gripping her aching thighs. "I hope we're close...wait..." She noticed the ground ahead of her looked like sand. She looked up and saw the coastline, waves rolling into the shore, and Young Link close to the water with a rowboat. "The...ocean?"
"Yup," the Captain said.
"What...don't tell me you're going to teach me how to swim or something?" The future Exalt quipped.
"Hahaha...no," the Captain chortled. "You...do know how to swim though, right?"
"Of course I do..." Lucina stated.
"Then you'll be fine. You might have to do a lot of swimming, even if it isn't the main focus of this exercise." Walking off toward Young Link and the rowboat, he beckoned his training partner, "Follow me."
The two met up with Young Link at the edge of the shore. "Hey, little one. You remember where to take us, right?" The Captain asked Young Link.
"Mm-hmm!" Young Link nodded.
"Hold on," Lucina interjected. "You mean to tell me the conditions for the focus exercise weren't all you put Young Link up to?"
"Maybe..." Falcon hinted. "Come on, let's go."
...
"Alright, we're here!" Young Link announced. The three had arrived at a platform above water with a ladder leading up to an elevated platform. "Though I wonder why you guys wanted to go to the Marine Research Laboratory..."
"We're not gonna go in per se," the Captain clarified, leaving the supply bag with Young Link. "You just wait here with the rowboat. We'll let you know when we're done." He disembarked and headed up the ladder, then called to Lucina, "This way."
"Okay." Lucina climbed carefully out of the rowboat and headed up the ladder. Once they were both on the upper platform, she asked Falcon, "What's this exercise for?"
"Good question," he answered her. "This is for being able to read your opponent's moves. Though, since we're surrounded by water, you may want to keep in mind what you learned for focus too."
"Got it."
"Now, draw your sword," the Captain instructed her. She obeyed, and the Captain himself got into his fighting stance.
"So...you just want me to anticipate your moves. Is that-" She began, before seeing the Captain lunge at her. She blocked most of his blows with her sword, but eventually lost her balance and fell on her bottom.
"Ugh..."
"First lesson - you must always be prepared. If you're up against a powerful enemy, good luck getting them to listen to you before beating you to a pulp." The Captain reached out his hand to help Lucina back up. "Second lesson: don't rely on blocking. You can't block everything thrown at you forever. Either you'll give under the pressure, or the enemy will exhaust themselves, at which point it's best to find an opening and counterattack."
"I...think I got it."
"Ready for round two?" The Captain asked, once again getting into his stance.
"Ready."
This time, Lucina focused on the Captain's movements as he lunged at her, dodging as many as she could. She tried attacking him; however, he just as swiftly dodged out of her way.
How strange... Lucina thought. This is almost like...the first time we fought...
She tried to attack him again, but he blocked the blow with his wristcuffs, and kicked her Falchion out of the way, the arm holding the sword flying up in response.
No...how nostalgic. This is exactly how we fought before...
Struggling to regain her bearings, she noticed energy building in the Captain's fist. "Falcon..."
"Ah!" She quickly dodged out of the way, before realizing at the last second that she was at the edge of the platform.
"W-w-whoooaa!" Lucina cried, waving her arms frantically before unceremoniously falling into the ocean below with a splash.
"...Lucina?" He called out. Within seconds, his training partner surfaced, her Falchion still held in her other hand.
"Don't look at me like that. It's not easy swimming and wielding the Falchion at the same time." She swam to the lower platform, hoisted herself up, and climbed the ladder again after squeezing the excess water out of her hair.
When she got back on the upper platform, Falcon told her, "You're getting there. I noticed you were reading my movements after a while, and you seem to have dodging down. However, try to remember what I said about finding an opening. It's not exactly good to dodge forever, either."
"I see..."
"And also, keep in mind your surroundings. You're lucky we're out at sea for this."
"I guess..." Lucina agreed, not wanting to think about how the situation could have been different. "But...how can I distribute my focus?"
"Remember the training earlier?" Falcon reminded her. "Just like you can focus on one thing and filter everything else out, you can adjust your focus on the fly too, according to the situation. Divide your attention between my attacks and your surroundings as the situation demands it. Give it a try."
"Alright... I'm ready."
"Here I come...!"
This time, Lucina knew exactly what to do. When the Captain moved in, she swiftly dodged, immediately shifting her attention from him to her surroundings, making sure she didn't misstep and fall into the ocean again, then back to him when she determined she was in a safe position. When he attacked again, she blocked the blow with enough force to make him lose his balance, then elbowed him, causing him to fall on his bottom.
Pointing the tip of her sword at him, Lucina declared confidently, "I win."
"Heh...you sure do."
Lucina put away her Falchion, and this time extended her hand to help the Captain up.
"You passed...again," the Captain said with a smile. "Congratulations."
"Thank you..." Lucina replied.
He's praising me...again. There's that feeling again... she thought, feeling her heart skip a beat. She couldn't help but notice how genuine and comforting his smile was, and she felt a bit warm inside.
That...smile...what's coming over me? She held her hand to her chest, closing her eyes as a soft, dreamy smile graced her face. I don't know why, but hearing those compliments and kind words from him, and seeing him smile so genuinely...it makes me happy. No...this feels like...it's more than just happiness...
"Um...Earth to Lucina?" The Captain tried to get her attention. "You didn't accidentally drink some of the sea water, did you?"
"Wha-!?" Startled, Lucina broke out of her daydream. "Of course not...I was just...thinking. And yes, I know how ironic it is since I was asking if you were okay when you seemed lost in thought earlier..."
Hahaha...don't be silly, Lucina. We're just training partners...it's impractical to feel this way for him, she thought.
"Shall we head back, then?" She suggested.
"Yeah...I'm a bit tired, myself," Falcon agreed. "Is it...okay to head back when you're soaking wet, though?"
"Oh...right," Lucina said. "It'll be fine. I just wanna relax for a bit by the shore and let the sun dry me off."
...
After the three arrived at the shore, Young Link asked them, "Wanna head back to Clock Town now?"
"Not just yet," Falcon answered the youth, receiving the supply bag back from him. "Lucina fell into the ocean during our training, and she wants to dry off a little." Turning to his training partner, he asked her, "Are you sure about this, though? Won't the sea water, I don't know...damage your clothing?"
"It should be fine," Lucina reassured him. Turning to Young Link, she asked, "Is there at least some kind of laundry service in Clock Town?"
"There is, actually," Young Link replied. "When you check in at the inn, you can ask for some laundry services overnight."
"Okay." Glancing at a circle of rocks nearby and a pile of wood, she suggested, "Why don't we rest for a bit over there?"
"Sure," Young Link said. "Want me to light a fire for you?"
"You're too sweet, thanks," she complimented him with a smile.
...
After striking flint rocks together a couple of times, Young Link kindled a spark that set the small pile of sticks ablaze, creating a decently sized campfire. Lucina sat on the sandy ground and drew slightly closer to the fire, letting the heat dry off her body as much as possible. Captain Falcon and Young Link sat against a couple of rocks.
"You drying up there well enough, Lucina?" The Captain asked her.
"Yeah..." She answered him. "Don't worry. I'm used to this."
"I can tell..."
After she felt the sun and the fire's heat dried her off enough, Lucina leaned back against a nearby rock and lay her legs flat. "I've almost forgotten how nice it sounds..."
"How nice...what sounds?" The Captain questioned, perplexed.
"The sound of the tides rolling in to shore," she answered, calmly. "It's so relaxing...that, combined with the faint crackling sound of the campfire...I just find it really soothing, two contradicting things in perfect, serene harmony. Back in my world, I didn't get to know peace like this that often..."
"Ah..." The Captain said. "My world is mostly technological and cut off from the wild, so I guess I can see where you're coming from."
"Is that so?" Lucina asked, giggling slightly.
"It is."
"Well, I guess there's not much to do now except just...take it easy and enjoy this moment." She tilted her head up to the sky, the wind blowing gently in her hair, and closed her eyes. She did feel a lot calmer and relaxed, no doubt, but all of a sudden, she was reminded of what Fiora said about her and the Captain together.
Fire and water...the sun and the moon...light and dark...huh. Two opposite forces...in harmony? Is...this what you were trying to tell me, Fiora...?
"You're not gonna take a nap here, are ya?" Young Link asked Lucina.
Opening her eyes, Lucina answered him, "No, not really. I still have energy to spare. I just want to relax for a bit...it's been a lot of rigorous training."
"Ah, okay," Young Link said. "Well, I'm heading back to Clock Town. Meet me in front of the gate you guys departed from. I wanna show you something when you get back. And..."
"And...?" Falcon asked.
"And...I'd suggest you guys not stay out here too late. Maybe head back when the sun starts to set. It's not very safe here at night..."
"Wasn't planning on it anyway," Captain Falcon reassured the youth. "We'll see you soon."
"Okay!" Young Link ran off.
Looking up at the sky, the Captain said, "You're right, Lucina. This really is soothing..."
...
The sun eventually started to set, and like Young Link suggested, Lucina and Captain Falcon headed back to Clock Town. By the time they arrived, night had already fallen, and surely enough, Young Link was there, waiting for them.
"Oh, you guys are here," Young Link said. "Hope you guys aren't too tired!"
"We're fine," Lucina answered him. "Didn't you say you had something to show us?"
"Yup!" Young Link nodded, sounding chipper. "Follow me!"
...
Within less than a minute, Young Link led his two friends to the central square, where the twin dancers Lucina saw earlier stood with musicians behind them, and an audience before them, sitting on the ground. Within the audience, Lucina also spotted Anju from earlier, along with a tall, purple haired man she hadn't seen before. "You guys are just in time for the big show!" Young Link announced.
"Big...show?" Lucina asked curiously.
"I taught the Rosa Sisters this dance," Young Link bragged, giggling slightly. "Just wait and see!"
The audience clapped as the Rosa Sisters gave an introductory bow. Within seconds, the musicians started playing their song - a hypnotic, ethereal tune with exotic and orchestral instruments and a mesmerizing beat. When the beat began to drop, the sisters began to sway in an almost unreal harmony, their movements seeming to mirror each other.
"Wow..." Lucina murmured in wonder.
"They really are the picture of perfect harmony," the Captain commented.
The sisters' dance consisted of mostly lithe, graceful arm movements and the slow, somewhat sensual swaying of their bodies. Every once in a while they would twirl a short distance from each other, and strike graceful poses by holding their arms out to their sides.
"It's like their movements are...lighter than air itself," Lucina said, utterly mesmerized by the sight before her. "What do you think, Captain?...Captain?"
What she saw was slightly surprising to her, though not exactly unpleasant. The Captain appeared to be mimicking the sisters' dancing movements, his arms swaying slowly and hypnotically, his hips and torso occasionally swaying to the melody ever so gracefully. It was strangely captivating to see a man of his build moving in such a fluid manner.
"What...are you doing...?" Lucina inquired, still watching him move so fluidly.
"I have one last training assignment for you today," Falcon answered her, still moving his arms slowly and gracefully as if through water. "Read my movements, and try to mirror them while maintaining perfect sync with my own movements."
"How...?" She asked, finding herself unconsciously tapping her foot to the beat.
"Close your eyes...let the rhythm and melody dictate your movements."
When the melody picked up again, Lucina found herself moving in the same lithe, fluid manner, perfectly mirroring her trainer. The audience's attention was drawn to them as the duo's perfectly synchronized, graceful movements lined up with the beat and rhythm. Every swaying of their arms and bodies, every elegant pose they struck, every airy twirl, was like they were moving as one. As the song wound down, they moved their arms in a hypnotic manner once again, and performed a half-twirl before...seemingly embracing each other. At that moment, the audience, followed by the dancers and even the musicians themselves, burst into a core-shaking applause.
"Such movements...like the tides of the ocean or the gentle breeze...so soft!"
"It's like they were moving as one!"
"I've never been so mesmerized..."
The duo, meanwhile, was panting, holding their embracing pose, their faces drenched in sweat, completely stunned by the accolades.
Such thundering applause...I can feel it rocking my very core... The Captain thought, almost dazed. His partner couldn't tell, but his eyes were closed behind the visor. I must admit...I'm not used to attention being showered on me quite like this. It feels so...alien. But...I wouldn't call it unpleasant.
Her eyes also closed, Lucina's mind was swimming. This day...has been one surprise after another...the way we moved...it really did feel like we were on the same wavelength. I...still feel light as air...like I'm just drifting...
Eventually, the applause died down, replaced by the sound of chattering citizens as they went about the rest of their day. Catching her breath, Lucina was the first to open her eyes. "Captain...?"
"Y-yes?" Falcon asked, still a bit out of it.
"I can't believe what just happened...it's like..."
"We were moving as one, right?" He seemed to read her mind. "Yeah...this exercise was to help with your teamwork...to be in perfect sync with your partner."
"I...see..." Lucina panted. At that moment, she realized something. "Hold on a moment..."
"Hmm?" The Captain slowly opened his eyes, though again Lucina couldn't tell from behind his visor. She looked down, and he followed suit.
Their bodies appeared to be pressed together closely above the waist.
"Ah-" They both seemed to gasp at the sight, then slowly looked back up at each other's faces. There was a pause, and then...
"Ah?!" The Captain shouted. "Whaaaaaaaaaaaa-?" Lucina cried. They both immediately released each other from their embrace and backed away rapidly, shocked.
"I...uh..." The Captain's heart was racing faster than the Blue Falcon itself.
"Uuuuuuhhhh..." Lucina was trying not to panic. Then, they both seemed to blurt out the following at almost exactly the same time:
"It's not what you think-"
They paused, flabbergasted that they would say the same thing in unison. They opened their mouths again, but the words that spilled out were once again at the same time:
"It was just a reflex-"
And again...
"Don't look at me like that-"
They immediately tried to think of something the other probably wouldn't say at the same time, but they once again shouted in unison:
"SETTLE IT IN SMASH!"
And again.
"SERIOUSLY?!"
Their almost uncanny perfect sync was broken by the sound of a couple chuckling.
"Oh...hello Anju," Lucina said, recognizing the woman standing before her. "Who's he?" Meanwhile, the Captain murmured to himself, "Heh...I think that exercise worked a little too well..."
"Oh, you're...what was your name again? Sorry, I'm always like this when meeting someone new..." Anju apologized.
"No worries...I'm Lucina. Captain Falcon is training me."
"Ah, yes, Lucina," Anju recalled. "Anyway, this is my husband, Kafei," she said, introducing the tall, purple haired man standing next to her.
"Your...husband?"
"Yes, we got married at the Carnival of Time a few months ago," Anju clarified. "Before the official wedding ceremony, there was a little...ritual to officiate our vows. The night before our wedding, we officiated our vows by combining my Moon Mask with his Sun Mask."
"The result is as you see here," Kafei said, holding up a pearl-like mask. "This is the Couple's Mask."
"Wow..." Lucina murmured. "Is this...what couples usually do before a wedding, though?"
"Heh, probably not," the Captain interjected with a chuckle. "It's just how Termina works, apparently."
"Heh...I see." Turning to Anju, she said, "I guess I can see the romantic value of such a ceremony, though. The symbolism behind it...two opposites, who are also two halves of a whole."
Fiora's words once again echoed in Lucina's mind, particularly the comment about being each other's other half.
Why...am I thinking that...? Fiora...what have you done. I'm taking your words to heart now, it seems...
"When you put it that way, it does sound more romantic," Anju said. "I just never really thought about it that much."
"As for you two," Kafei began, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that with the way you two were moving, and the tender embrace at the end...I'd almost mistake you two for the perfect couple."
"C-couple?!" Lucina hid her face in her hands.
"Listen, Mr. Kafei," the Captain said, laughing nervously. "W-we're not a couple at all. This is just...part of our training. We got...a bit carried away. That's all."
"If you say so..." Kafei giggled.
"Hey, Kafei!" Young Link called out to the happily married man.
"Oh, hey Link," Kafei waved at the youth.
"You're big now?! I hadn't seen you since I stopped the moon from falling...you were my size then!"
"Silly Link," Kafei teased. "Have you forgotten? I was technically always 'big'...it was just that Skull Kid put me under a curse. When you saved Termina, the curse was lifted, and I returned to my older self."
"Ah, right..." Young Link scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed that he forgot.
"It's no big deal," Anju said. "Why don't you three stay at the Stock Pot Inn tonight? It'll be on the house just this once."
"Sounds great," Lucina said. "Say...think you could offer some laundry services for my outfit? I kinda fell into the ocean earlier today."
"Of course!" Anju replied. "I'll offer that at a discount today. When you arrive in your room, I'll leave a basket for you to leave your clothes in. They should be clean the next morning."
"I'll cover the bill," Young Link offered. "How much, Anju?"
"Just 30 Rupees," Anju clarified.
"I'll make it 60," Young Link offered again. "I'm sure the Captain could use it too."
"H-hey-" The Captain began, before realizing Young Link's generosity. "Now that you mention it, I guess I could benefit from this too..."
"Alright, then," Lucina said. "Lead the way, Anju."
"Okay." Waving to Kafei as she walked off with the others, she called out to her husband, "I'll see you at home, dear!"
...
After arriving at the Stock Pot Inn, Anju checked the three into separate rooms. As promised, the Captain and Lucina had laundry baskets waiting for them in their rooms. Young Link walked into his room right away, but before the two training partners entered their rooms, Lucina asked the Captain, "Hey...is it ok if I choose where to go tomorrow?"
"Of course," the Captain said. "Just let me know. I've already given you the essential lessons for today."
"Sounds good," Lucina nodded. "Good night, Captain."
"Good night, Lucina." A tender smile graced his face again before he opened the door to his room. Lucina did the same.
After closing the door behind her, she disrobed completely, putting her clothes in the basket. Noticing the robe laid out on the bed before her, she changed into it. After a few seconds, she heard a knock at the door.
"It's Anju. I'm here to collect your clothing for the laundry..."
"Okay." Opening the door, Lucina handed Anju the basket with the clothes she wanted washed. "It'll be ready by tomorrow morning," Anju said, taking the basket and walking off. After she left, Lucina closed the door and climbed into bed.
Such an eventful day... she thought. I wonder how the next few days will go...
She tried to close her eyes, and almost immediately saw his face flash into her mind.
Huh...? She briefly opened her eyes again.
Why did I...? Feeling drowsiness overtake her, she thought, I'm sure it's nothing... before drifting into a peaceful slumber.
wooooooooooOOOOOO IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK FAM
Ok so first off, those dances? It was inspired by an Overwatch SFM video I saw once called "The Architech's Aesthetic", especially the song. And I guess, Mandala Dances in general. Look up the former video when you can, it's really awesome. Coincidentally also, Princia Ramode's Master Class video in F-Zero GX is also called, "My Princia, Mandala Dance" and maybe a bit of inspiration was drawn from that too.
Also, next chapter...if you wanted some hot stuff, you're gonna get it ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) They're technically not gonna do the sex just yet, but...hohoho, you're just gonna love it. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Stay tuned!
also this is the longest chapter word wise to date holy crap