I hope y'all are ready...( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
For some much awaited lewdness~ and also fluff and a bit of feels.
Content warnings for this chapter: nudity, lots of suggestiveness, SOMEWHAT LEMONY-LIME AT THE START. Or as the Youths™ call it nowadays, smut. It's not too explicit though...I hope. This first sexy dream scene may well be THE hottest thing I've ever written, and even then I'm not that confident oof...if it does need to be toned down a bit tho, let me know. If that's the case I may upload this initial version on like AO3 or something.
Either way, I hope you guys enjoy... ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
also, for the areas the two are traversing later, as well as the Stock Pot Inn itself...I kinda took some liberties, it may not be accurate to the actual levels' layout in MM.
Title based on "Easier to Fade" by A Himitsu feat. Madi Larson
Hiding in my Skin, Broken from Within
Chapter 7 - Easier to Fade
That night, Lucina had an unusual dream, even for her.
It wasn't a nightmare, in fact it was quite the opposite. A rather…intimate dream.
Both she and the Captain were in some sort of forest at night, fireflies illuminating the surroundings around them, the trees themselves appearing to be bioluminescent. The tranquil surface of the lake just ahead shimmered with the reflection of the firefly lights. She wasn't sure of the circumstances that led to her situation in the dream, but her dream self appeared to be under a trance, drawing closer to him, reaching her hand out to touch his face, and simply murmuring, "Captain…I need you. I want you." She could even feel that desire in her own body, wanting to be held and touched by him.
"I know," he replied. Sweeping her into his embrace and caressing her face, he whispered, "There's more ways to express this than just words, you know…consider this...one last lesson."
Lucina's dream self nodded, and all of a sudden she felt his lips on hers, his tongue sensually probing the inside of her mouth. She closed her eyes, welcoming it all, sighing and feeling light headed at the pure longing and desire she felt in the kiss, savoring the fact that the texture of his lips was the perfect balance of rugged and soft. She had barely even realized when he had divested her of her outerwear until his lips started trailing down her body, from her neck right down to between her small bra-cupped breasts, his lips feeling ever so warm on her bare skin that was exposed to the chilly night air.
"Mmm…" she moaned. Her heart beat faster as she felt her whole body coming alive at his touch. This was so forbidden, and yet…it only felt right. In that moment, she only wanted nothing more than to be lost in him. It was only then she realized she was pinned against what she could only guess was a tree, so she freed her arms to try and strip him of his garments, his own pleasurable moans sounding like music to her ears, stroking his exquisite muscular body as more of his skin was exposed, feeling every sinew, as his right hand ran its fingers through her silky indigo hair, eventually shifting its attention to the curvature of her spine, its loving caresses setting her very being aflame with passion. One thing led to another and before they knew it, they were both lying on the dirt floor, baring all to each other.
Having never actually seen his face, the Captain's face was still concealed in this deliciously sinful dream of hers, even though the rest of his bared body looked absolutely stunning. She for some reason felt no shame being naked before him, either. She welcomed him as he leaned in for another kiss, and slowly, gently became one with her. There was a slight pain at first, but afterwards she only felt sheer bliss as he slowly filled her to the brim, that large, warm, pulsating feeling inside her where their bodies joined making her feel complete. She couldn't help but let out a deep, ecstatic sigh at this feeling, as she could feel his breath on the most sensitive spot on her neck all the while.
Gods... Her dream self thought, her mind clouded by the purest bliss. How is it...that you just feel so good inside me...?!
Everything else seemed to go by in a pleasant blur…their sensual, somewhat undulating movements…their rising body heat…the way his left hand caressed her shapely hips before gripping her left thigh, eventually wrapping his arm around her back…the way her lips would occasionally travel to the sensitive spot on his neck, eliciting a deep moan from him, before meeting his lips again, their sighs mingling between kisses...the way his right hand delicately slid up her right arm until their hands met and their fingers interlaced…how she could feel all of him pressed against all of her, feeling every divine inch...their vocalizations gradually increasing in frequency and pitch...and finally…
"Mmmmh…aaah…" She moaned, a bit loudly.
"H-how strange…it feels…like I'm floating…" he sighed softly, his voice sounding calm but blissful.
Lucina shut her eyes as a rapturous haze overcame her mind, a powerful but tender feeling pulsing throughout her whole being. She had never felt anything this good in her whole life. Shuddering and sighing, she reached her left arm to the sky as she felt the Captain holding her closer, shuddering as well and moaning softly. After a while, her arm collapsed and she wrapped it around his back.
Catching their breath, they gazed at each other again longingly after regaining their bearings, softly and affectionately touching each other's faces, and went in for one last kiss before…
...
"W-Whaaa-!" Lucina awoke with a shout, her heart racing, her cheeks a bright red. She felt utterly embarrassed, but also strangely turned on by her dream, surprised her subconscious would even have such thoughts.
"What is wrong with me? Why am I dreaming of such…indecencies?!" she exclaimed. "He is my personal trainer, not my…my…!" She buried her face into her hands, a great sense of embarrassment weighing on her. "It felt...real, too...it doesn't help that I'm practically naked under this robe."
But…you know, she thought, he is quite good looking, he does have a nice physique…and that voice of his…it wouldn't be too bad—
"No, no, no!" She cried, shaking her head rapidly. "Naga help me…" she muttered, not sure what to think about her sudden feelings. Seeing as how the sun hadn't rose yet, she lay back down and murmured, "From nightmares to lewd dreams…how ironic…"
Looking up at the ceiling, she said to herself, "I wish I understood why I'm developing these...feelings. I'm...sure he doesn't even feel even close to the same way about me..." Within a few minutes, she managed to drift back to sleep.
...
The sound of the Cuccoos crowing woke Lucina up as sunlight shone through the curtained windows. Slowly sitting up, she murmured, "I'm surprised I was able to get some sleep after...that." She yawned, stretched, and climbed out of bed. She was ready to freshen up when she heard a knock at the door.
Is that...? ...No. Can't be him this early... She called out, "Yes? Who is it?"
"It's me, Anju," Anju called from the other side of the door. "Your clothes are ready."
"Okay, good," the Exalt said, opening the door.
"Here you go," Anju said, handing Lucina a basket of clothing.
"Wait a minute..." Lucina murmured, apprehensively. Examining the basket's contents, she realized the clothing was much too large for her - it was more suited for a man. A more physically fit man.
"These...aren't mine," Lucina said, handing the basket back to Anju. "These must be the Captain's..."
"They are...?!" Anju gasped. "Oh nooooo! I probably gave him yours by accident!"
"You...what?" Lucina began to imagine the Captain's reaction when finding her laundry basket delivered to him, and began to feel embarrassed.
"I-I-I'm so sorry! I have this habit of mixing up what belongs to my customers!" Anju panicked. Looking down the hallway, she consoled Lucina, "Well, at least you don't have to worry about him having your clothing. He doesn't have a basket there yet."
"Phew..." Lucina breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'll be back in a bit with your clothes, then...Lucina, right?"
"You remembered," Lucina giggled. "I guess you're gonna give that basket of clothing to him then?"
"Yeah," Anju answered her. "Just sit tight, ok? I'm heading back to the Laundry Pool. I'll knock again when I have your clothes."
"Alright..." After Anju walked off again, Lucina closed the door and proceeded to freshen up in her suite's restroom. Within a few minutes, Anju returned with another knock.
"It's Anju...again," Anju called out. "I have them...for real this time."
"Okay, thanks."
...
After Lucina changed into her clothes, which were fully cleaned and dried and felt like new, she exited her room. Upon stepping out into the hallway, she saw Captain Falcon leaning against the wall.
"What took you so long...?" He asked her in a slightly teasing manner, a slightly smug grin on his face.
"I..." She felt her heart skip a beat upon seeing his face and hearing his voice again so soon, due to the dream she had earlier. Looking to the side, she answered him, "Anju...accidentally gave me your clothes."
"Ah...?!" The Captain let out a small surprised gasp, but quickly regained his composure. "Heh...that explains a lot. Young Link told me Anju is prone to mixing things up."
"Yeah..." Lucina chuckled nervously. I guess I'd better not mention how he almost got my clothes... She slowly looked at him, still feeling her heart subtly skip a beat upon seeing his face.
Why am I feeling this way...? It's only intensified since yesterday...is it because I'm getting used to traveling with him? That I've spent several days with him? That we've been talking more, getting to know each other more...?
"Is...something the matter, Lucina?" Captain Falcon asked the Ylissean, a trace of genuine concern in his voice.
"...N-nothing," Lucina stammered after a slight pause, looking down a bit and wiggling her left foot shyly. "I think I just have some...butterflies in my stomach. Maybe I'm just...nervous about training, still."
"Maybe," he said. "Or maybe you're just hungry. Young Link's treating us to breakfast downstairs."
"That'd be great, I'm in," Lucina chimed as she followed her trainer downstairs.
But...to be honest, I think this feeling is due to something...other than nervousness or even hunger...but what? What could it be...?
...
After eating breakfast, the two training partners and Young Link exited the inn. "So, where to now?"
"Hmm..." Falcon pondered. "I was thinking of the Ikana region, but that place honestly gives me the creeps..."
"Because of the graveyard...?" Young Link questioned, in a slightly teasing manner.
Catching on, Lucina decided to tease her trainer some more. "Don't tell me...the great Captain Falcon is afraid of ghosts...?" A smug grin crept up on her face as she continued, "Guess hanging around Luigi gave you the same phobia, huh..."
"K-knock it off, you two," the Captain stammered, somewhat irritated. "I just...feel really uneasy around graveyards for some reason..." His tone became more serious, somewhat pained, as he looked down, slightly grimacing.
I guess it's something that affects him deeply... Lucina thought. "Sorry..." She looked down, a bit regretful that her joke may have went too far. She was known for an off-beat sense of humor, but the last thing she wanted to do was offend someone.
"It's fine..." Falcon reassured her, his voice sounding compassionate but at the same time still a bit shaken up. "You...couldn't have known."
"If you say so," the Exalt replied, a bit relieved.
"But yeah, maybe it's best you guys not go there," Young Link said. "Especially at night..."
"What...happens at night?" Lucina asked, apprehensively.
"You definitely don't wanna be there at night," Young Link emphasized. "It's said that the spirits of the dead arise from their graves when night falls...sometimes you can hear the wails of the departed, too..." His voice became more ominous as he said those words.
Captain Falcon and Lucina gulped fearfully. "P-point taken..." Lucina stuttered. "A-anyway, I was thinking about heading to the mountains."
"The mountains?" Young Link inquired.
"It's...to test yourself against the elements, right?" Falcon asked his training partner, catching on to her plans. "Seems like a wise choice, and we're dressed warmly enough. I just hope it won't be too cold..."
"It shouldn't be," Young Link told him. "It's spring, so the snowfall is lighter. If it were winter, I'd advise against it. The blizzards in winter are brutal..."
"I can imagine," Lucina said, not wanting to actually imagine how harsh and biting the snowstorms would be in the winter months.
"You've got everything you need in that travel sack, right?" Young Link asked the Captain, glancing at the travel sack the man carried on his back.
"It should suffice," the Captain answered the youth. "Always come prepared, right?"
"Yup!" Young Link agreed with a grin.
As they walked off, Lucina briefly turned back to the youth. "And, um..." She began.
"Yeah, what's up?" Young Link questioned.
"Ah...sorry about...the Captain and I stealing the show from the Rosa Sisters last night..."
"Lucina, you don't have to..." Falcon tried to dissuade her.
"You kidding? They loved it!" Young Link cheered the Ylissean up. "They were moved to see their dance had inspired others!"
"Is that so?" The Captain questioned. "Although, if they're looking for a male dancer for future performances, I'm afraid I'll have to pass...heh."
"Hehehe..." Lucina giggled at the thought. Almost immediately, a somewhat alluring image of the Captain in slightly more revealing clothing, like the kind of clothing male dancers would wear in her world, and dancing in that same slow, fluid, somewhat seductive manner, crept into mind, and she hid her face in her hands as she blushed.
Why am I thinking of that now...!? Why is my mind even going there? She felt her heart beat faster.
"Something the matter?" Falcon asked his training partner.
"Nothing..." Lucina reassured him, lowering her hands and looking at him. "Just...a bit nervous."
"I'll do my best to keep you safe," he comforted her. "Like I've been doing...don't you worry."
"Okay," she said with a nod. I can't let these feelings for him show right now...whatever they are. "We'll see you later then...Link."
"Okay!" Young Link called out as he waved. "I'll meet you guys back at the Smithy's house in Mountain Village later!"
"Mountain...Village?" Lucina asked.
"It's a house surrounded by a river. Can't miss it!" Young Link began to walk off on his own way. "Good luck, you two!"
...
An hour and a half had passed. Lucina and Captain Falcon were once again continuing their training, this time against the wildlife as well as against the snowy, cold landscape. Their synchronization exercise from the other day proved to be the most useful, as they synchronized their attacks and moved as one whenever the situation called for it. The lessons for maintaining one's focus and mindfulness of their surroundings was more utilized when it came to them traversing the terrain.
"You're doing excellent, Lucina," Falcon complimented her. "You're really putting what you learned into practice. Keep it up."
"Thank you, Captain," Lucina replied with a smile. Those encouraging words made her feel warm inside in spite of the frozen air around her.
At least he's proud of me...he's noticing my improvements. It's a simple joy, but one I cherish, she thought. Just then, she hunched over. "Ugh..."
"What's the matter?" The Captain asked, running to his partner's side.
She clutched her right shoulder with her left hand as her right arm, which wielded the Falchion, hung limply to the side. "My back...around the right shoulder blade...it feels so numb. Like something's...melting...and it's really annoying."
"Can I see?" He asked her.
"Okay..." She lifted her hand off the spot on her back.
Noticing her hunched posture, he commented, "Well, found one of the reasons. You've been maintaining that same posture as we fought. You should always keep your neck and back straight whenever possible." He gently straightened her up, one hand pressed against her back and the other on her stomach.
He...touched me...? Lucina thought. She didn't seem to mind him touching her to get her posture right, in fact...she welcomed it. Her heart began to race again.
"Want me to rub that spot on your back?" The Captain offered.
"If...you think it will help," Lucina obliged. She felt his hand travel up to the spot she was gripping in pain earlier, and then...
"Ah-?!" She gasped the minute he started massaging that spot in slow, careful, circular motions, her breath condensing into a fine mist in the cold air. Luckily, the gasp was soft enough for him not to notice. Within seconds, she closed her eyes, the way he massaged her making the ache and numbness evaporate into a pleasant sensation that got her blood pumping. She began to feel even warmer inside.
"Mmmm..." she began to moan, her voice sounding breathy, the fingers on her left hand curling up before relaxing, as a reaction to this amazing sensation. "That feels...r-really nice..." she sighed, a content smile gracing her face.
...He didn't hear that moan, did he...?
"Feels great, doesn't it?" Falcon asked, his voice sounding strangely sensual, though Lucina probably only interpreted it that way due to the sheer pleasure coursing through her veins at his delicate ministrations. "This should fix those muscles and nerves up right as rain. Just relax..."
"Okay..." she breathed, leaning back against him a bit more as he continued to rub her sore muscles.
I could really...get used to this... she thought, her mind becoming foggier with the purest bliss as she relaxed even more at his touch, his other arm supporting her, her breathing settling into a steady, calm rhythm. Unfortunately for her, the exquisite feeling was cut short by a cold breeze blowing through, blowing her hair into her face.
"P-puh!" She spat, breaking free from the Captain's grip as she frantically tried to get the hair out of her face with her hands, the hand holding her Falchion dropping it in the snow. The Captain only chuckled and commented, "What happened to you feeling like you were on cloud nine a few seconds ago...?"
"Oh, stuff it!" Lucina retorted before bursting into giggles at how the chain of events all played out. The Captain couldn't help but do the same.
"Anyway, let's keep going," The Captain suggested. Lucina lifted the Falchion out of the snow, sheathed it, and followed him.
...
After walking a bit further, Lucina found that same spot on her back bothering her once again. Clutching it, she muttered, "Dammit...not again."
"Lucina?" Captain Falcon called out to her, a short distance behind her.
Slowly turning around, she told him, "I guess...the pain hasn't fully subsided yet."
"Understandable..." The Captain said. "Though, please do keep in mind what I said about-" His sentence was cut short by what felt like a tremor in the ground.
"An earthquake?!" He gasped, struggling to maintain his balance.
Wobbling slightly at the tremors, Lucina said, "No...this doesn't feel like a typical earthquake...I think this is..."
"This is...?" The Captain trailed off before focusing his senses. He could hear the what faintly sounded like ice cracking, slowly getting louder. It was only then he realized what was happening.
"Stay right where you are, Lucina!" He urged the blue-haired swordswoman. "Don't move a muscle, okay? I'm coming to get you!"
Lucina only looked on as time seemed to flow in slow motion, just like the incident back at Smash City. Captain Falcon backflipped away before dashing toward her, faintly leaping at the last second to scoop her up in his arms as she could feel the ground beneath her start to give way at that very moment. She could only hear her heart beating loudly in her ears as she looked down fearfully, snowflakes softly drifting by her field of vision. She was only a short distance above the ground when she saw it all crumbling away. She didn't have to look back to know they wouldn't make the jump. She only looked at her trainer once more with terror in her eyes before...
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
...
"Uhhh..." Lucina groaned, slowly coming to. She could feel herself laying in a large pile of snow, the chilling wind howling as it blew through the hollow hole in the mountain they fell through. It was then she realized that the snow was what saved her life.
"I'm...alive?" She murmured. Praise the gods... She slowly got up, a bit dizzy from the fall, the snow crunching beneath her feet as she stood. Once she gained her balance, she decided to look for her trainer. "Captain!...Captain?"
Within a few seconds, she heard terrified mumbling a short ways behind her. "Captain!?" She turned around and ran to him, hoping he was safe.
Lying there in the snow was Captain Falcon, seeming terrified about something. Thankfully, he didn't have any major wounds on his body, and the travel sack was intact. However, the same couldn't be said for his mental state.
"I...was this close to dying...I don't want to...not like this...not again..." he slurred, trembling and holding his arms close to his chest, his face contorted into a frightened grimace.
"Captain...?" She asked, anxiously. He didn't seem to snap out of his almost catatonic fearful trance, so she gently placed her hand on his left shoulder. "It's me, Lucina. I'm here...I'm okay. We're both safe."
"L-Lucina...?" He stammered, slowly coming back to his senses. "I...I'm alive?"
"Would I be talking to you otherwise?" She quipped, giggling softly.
"I...guess not..." He slowly stood up, brushing the snow off his clothing and looking behind him before shuddering in horror. Lucina directed her gaze to where he was looking, and immediately saw why he was so terrified as her smile sank. Just a short distance behind him were sharp, tall rock formations jutting upward.
"That...could have been the end of either of us..." Lucina murmured timidly, holding her left hand to her mouth.
"You see why I was in a bit of a panic earlier," the Captain clarified, turning back to her, his terrified shuddering breaths condensing in the icy air. "I...had a brush with death several years ago. It...really messed me up, and whenever I come this close to dying and I can't do anything to avoid it...I can't help it. Fear just...grips me."
"I see..." Lucina said solemnly. "I...guess that explains your uneasy feeling around graveyards as well..."
"Yeah," Falcon replied. "After my first incident, I could only think of one thing: that could be me lying in that grave."
"It must have been tough..." Lucina tried to console him. I guess I'd better not press further about that for now... Looking up at where they fell from, the cloudy wintry daytime sky faintly lighting where they were, she said, "Anyway, there's no way we can get back up there, even with rope."
"True," the Captain said, slowly calming down. "Although, the fact this part of the mountain gave way suggests there's a series of hollow passages beneath. We should try to navigate and see if we can find a way back to the surface."
"You're right," Lucina concurred. "I think I see some faintly lit passageways up ahead..."
"It'll help if I bring the lantern," Falcon said, setting down the travel sack and opening it up. He reached into it, retrieving a traditional oil lantern filled with oil, then tying up the sack again and setting it on his back again. "The oil should last us for two and a half hours. Within that time, we should hopefully find a way back."
"Alright," Lucina said. "Lead the way, Captain."
I wish you'd open up to me more, Captain. I want to be able to understand you more...connect with you more. It sounds strange, but...it pains me to see you in distress.
...
The two weren't even thirty minutes in to their exploration of the winding underground caverns when Lucina decided to start a conversation. "I am curious about something, though..."
"Yes?" Captain Falcon asked her.
"You said...when you race in an F-Zero cup, that your keen focus and intuition can mean the difference between winning and losing, or even life and death...right?"
"Heh, you remember," the Captain said as the two continued to walk the empty cavernous corridors. "Yeah, it is...but there's always a bit of fear involved..."
Ever since his accident, I'd imagine... Lucina concluded to herself. Even though I don't know if it was during a race or not...I shouldn't pry. "Fear can be a powerful motivator when applied in just the right amount, right?"
"You're so smart, Lucina," Falcon complimented her. "Yes...that's exactly correct. It's my focus, intuition, and that slight fear, that push me to win every race in one piece. It's why I also instructed you to imagine the bottomless pit back then. That fear of failure when the stakes are raised just pushes you to not settle, to give it your all."
"I see..." Lucina murmured. "Sometimes negative emotions can push us to do something positive. In my future, the Fell Dragon, Grima, ruled over all and slaughtered many, including my father. The loss broke my heart, but it also lit a spark within me...a desire to avenge him, and protect those that survived."
"Really...?"
"Yes," Lucina said with a nod. "And that's why...I want to become stronger. To protect others even better than I did...as I still witnessed losses. And...to protect myself as well..."
"I...see..." The Captain trailed off, sounding somewhat solemn.
"Hey...Captain." Lucina stopped walking for a second, looking at her trainer as square in the eyes as possible.
"...Yes? Where's this coming from...?" Falcon questioned, stopping as well.
"I..." Lucina began, hesitating for a second, then continuing, "My...progress during training so far has been satisfactory, right...?"
"More than that," the Captain answered her honestly. "It's exceeded expectations. I couldn't be more proud of you."
"Thank you..." Lucina said, feeling that same joyous feeling throughout her being. This only encouraged her to speak her feelings. "If it's okay with you...why don't...I protect you, this time?"
"Huh...?" The Captain seemed surprised by this proposition. "You...protecting me?"
"I'm serious," Lucina emphasized. "You've done so much for me. Let me return the favor."
After a moment of hesitation, the Captain obliged. "Sure. Just...don't push yourself too hard, either."
"Thank you..." Lucina felt happy tears welling up in her eyes, but she held them back for his sake, not wanting to show any perceivable weakness.
"Of course, if you ever find yourself in a pinch, I'll still step in," he advised her.
"Even though...I want to show my worth to you and protect you?" She asked.
"Can't have you dying on me, now," he told her. "What would your friends or your family think if you didn't come back? I admire your selflessness, but you can't overdo it."
"True..." she agreed, looking to the side briefly.
"Think of it this way," he proposed. "After I swoop in, we handle things together. Sound good?"
Looking at the Captain slowly, Lucina nodded. "Yeah. It's perfect."
"Great." Glancing at his lantern which had to have burned fifteen more minutes' worth of oil as they were talking, he said, "Time is an invaluable resource to us right now. Let's keep going."
"Of course."
Although... She pondered, a sorrowful and anxious expression creeping up on her face, I...don't want you dying for my sake either...I've suffered too much loss for one lifetime.
...
It was an hour and fifteen minutes into their trek. Lucina couldn't help but wonder why these stony underground passages were so empty. "Captain?" She asked him.
"Yes?" He answered her.
"Do you...have any idea why these caves are so empty? We've found locations that look like they could house a family of underground dwellers. They couldn't have built all this for nothing..."
"I believe these caverns may have been where the Goron used to live before relocating to Goron Village just a bit further from the mountains," the Captain answered her. "But it's just a theory. If I can, I'll see if I can verify it with Young Link. He knows more about this world than I do."
"I see..." Lucina said. "Even so, to build these underground caverns to shield themselves from the cold...if your theory is true, I admire the Goron's will to survive against all odds."
Almost like myself...she mused. "Say, Captain?"
"Yeah?"
"Why do you...wear that helmet?"
"This?" He asked, pointing at his helmet. "I'm a bounty hunter. I have to keep my face hidden to protect my identity, don't I?"
"Fair enough," Lucina said. "I hid my identity behind a mask once, myself, in my future. And when I traveled back in time to save my father, the mask broke...I was alarmed at first, but when I explained all to my father, he accepted everything...and I felt more confident showing off the real me."
"The real...you..." Falcon murmured. "Even when I'm not in public, I don't expose my true self to others as much anymore...ever since Jody. I guess I just...don't like showing my true self to others so freely."
"You can show me," Lucina offered. "We've been traveling together this long, after all."
"Really?" The Captain questioned, a trace of uncertainty in his voice. "Even though...I fear you seeing the real me may put you in danger?"
"Don't you trust me?" Lucina asked. "I can fend for myself now even better than before. And...remember what we talked about earlier? I want to protect you this time around."
Pausing for a moment, the Captain said, "Sure."
"Great," she replied. "I want to get to know you more...know how you're feeling at any given moment...and I can only do so much if I can't see your eyes behind that visor."
"One's eyes are the window to their soul, right?" Falcon recited the old adage. "Just for you, Lucina."
"Thanks."
I want to get to know you better too, Lucina, the Captain thought. I feel like this has been more than just a training session for me...I'm getting to see more of the real you, too. It makes me...strangely happy, getting closer to you. I wonder if you feel the same...
...
Another hour had passed. The lantern had only fifteen minutes' worth of oil left, and there was an intersection before them with two paths. One path seemed a bit more illuminated than the other, with what looked to be light coming from outside, possibly the exit. However, there was still the possibility that the other path also contained the exit to the surface.
"Is that…?" Falcon murmured, his gaze directed at the cavern opening on the more illuminated path where steam seemed to be coming off the ground. "Lucina, you go check the other path for an exit. Meet me back in the room I'm heading to."
"Okay…" Lucina said with an edge of doubt in her voice as the Captain ran off to the more illuminated cavern, handing her the lantern before they parted ways.
...
What Captain Falcon saw in the cavern confirmed his suspicions: the cavern down that path housed a large hot spring. He remembered how Pit would tell him about how great it feels to soak in a hot spring, and he had always wanted to experience it, but had been unable to until now. It was cold outside, and his muscles were sore after a long day's worth of training, not to mention the long walk through the underground passages.
He began to remove his clothing, starting with his scarf, gloves, wrist cuffs, and shirt. When he was done removing his upper garments, his rippling chest was exposed. He then proceeded to remove his helmet, followed by the rest of his garments. Taking a towel from the bag he carried while he trained with Lucina, he wrapped the towel around his waist and walked to the spring, leaving the bag by a large rock nearby.
In order to gauge the water's temperature, he dipped his right foot into the water. "Hmm…this should be fine," he said, after determining the water was the right temperature. He stepped in and slowly sat down against the rocks. Arguably, the water felt so much better when he was immersing the rest of his body in it, the gentle liquid heat enveloping him, soothing his sore muscles. He could almost feel his tension simply evaporating.
"Ah…! My God…this feels amazing…"
...
Lucina followed the other path, but unfortunately it was a dead end. She headed back to the intersection she was at before when the lantern finally ran out of oil and the light fizzled out.
"I really hope he's found the exit..." She murmured. All of a sudden, she heard his voice echoing in the dark caverns, coming from the location he said he was going to.
"Ah…!"
"Captain?!" She wasn't sure what to make of his voice, as his tone was a bit unclear.
"My God…"
She noticed his voice was a bit breathy. "Are you okay?!"
"This feels amazing…"
It was then Lucina noticed the Captain's voice sounding very calm and relaxed. She felt the blood rush to her face, turning her cheeks a bright shade of pink.
Is...he...? She thought, her heart racing. ...No, Lucina! Cut it out with those indecent thoughts! Carrying the lantern which now no longer provided light, she ran to the source of the sound.
...
Upon entering, Lucina quickly scanned her surroundings, looking up and seeing a hole in the ceiling that could be reached with the hook and rope she purchased from Clock Town, and rocks all around, as well as a wide body of water with steam rising from it, presumably a hot spring. "Captain, is everything-"
And then she saw him.
Right there, relaxing in the hot spring, was her trainer. He had been all but bared, save for the fact that the rest of his body below his waist was submerged. He had a very impressive, chiseled physique, his tan skin glowing sensually in the light coming from the hole above them. She couldn't help but marvel at his muscular, hairless chest, biceps, and abs, no doubt a result of his own personal training. Truly, his body was like a well-oiled machine, and glorious at that.
And his face…that short, messy black hair, those aquamarine eyes…and a scar over his left eyebrow. She couldn't help but wonder how he got it. Nevertheless, she thought he had a very handsome face, and paired with that well sculpted body of his and his relaxed expression...she couldn't help but get a smidge hot and bothered.
Opening his eyes, the Captain turned to his protégé. "Oh, I didn't notice you there. I'm guessing the other passageway was a dead end?"
Startled from her flustered trance, Lucina stammered, "Y-yeah...it was."
"Heh..." Falcon chuckled. "If you want to, you can come in. The water's just fine..."
"Eh-heheheh..." She laughed nervously. "I...don't know..."
"You were complaining about your back when we were training earlier, right?"
Thinking back to earlier, the swordswoman realized her training partner was telling the truth. "Well...yeah..."
"I keep telling you, it's all about posture. I hope you'll keep that in mind for the future."
"I will..." At this point, Lucina was blushing and looking away, trying not to think of how utterly attractive the F-Zero racer was without his shirt and helmet.
"In the meantime, though...I insist. The water in this hot spring will make your aching muscles feel a lot better."
"If you insist..." The Ylissean slowly looked at him.
"You can disrobe behind that rock over there," the Captain said, pointing at the large rock a short distance to the right. "While we were in Clock Town, I picked up four towels. You can wrap one of them around you, and the other two are for drying ourselves off."
"You sure come prepared for everything," the Exalt answered him.
"What can I say?" The bounty hunter responded. "It's pretty much my code of operations."
Lucina walked behind the rock, which was large enough to remove her clothing behind without worrying about peeping eyes, and proceeded to strip. She put her hair up in the gaudy hair clip she purchased from Clock Town before covering her naked body in the towel. It took a while for her to step out from behind the rock and join her trainer in the hot spring, though.
Heh...why am I nervous? She pondered, trembling slightly. Taking a deep breath, she then thought, No... if this will help me, I should put aside all shyness. I just hope I won't put aside all my inhibitions too...
She finally stepped out from behind the rock, her hair pinned up in the clip so it wouldn't get wet, her body clad in only a towel. When she noticed Falcon looking at her though, she couldn't help but blush again, holding up her towel to cover her small breasts.
She's so lovely... the Captain thought, smiling. Is she really that self-conscious of her figure?
"There's no need to be shy, you know," He said. "You're a bit self-conscious, aren't you?"
"A little..." She answered him.
"Don't be," He reassured her. "I, for one, think you look rather cute."
"You do...?" Lucina asked, feeling her cheeks heat up again. He's not...flirting with me, is he...? "I, well...I always hated that my chest was smaller than most other women my age, and that I was so skinny..."
"Well, it doesn't matter here," he said. "Come on in. You want your aches to be relieved, right? What was your issue again?"
"You're right," She nodded. "I kept feeling this...numbness close to my right shoulder blade. Your massages helped a bit, but it's still there, a little bit. My arms kinda feel like jelly too, and my legs...well, let's just say that's to be expected after walking so much." She walked over to the hot spring, and dipped her left foot in. "You're right...the water does feel pretty nice."
"It'll feel even better when you sit down."
"O-okay..." She walked in, and stood next to her trainer before slowly submerging herself up to her chest. What happened next was something she never would have guessed.
As she slowly immersed herself, the liquid warmth enveloped her, soothing every muscle in her body. Her whole body felt warmer, more relaxed. Any cramps she had just seemed to...melt.
"Ah...mm-mmmmmm..." she moaned, a slightly blissful smile creeping up on her face as she closed her eyes and savored the feeling. "You're right, Captain...this feels...so good..."
Did I really just...moan like that in front of him?! She briefly thought, as embarrassment flashed in her mind, but that was quickly overpowered by the sheer euphoria she felt in that moment.
Still...he was right...this is nothing short of heavenly...
Looking at Lucina who seemed to be enjoying herself even more than he did, Captain Falcon said, "Heh...I knew it would help."
"P-please, just..." She began, breathily, the rapture evident in her voice, her eyes still closed. "Let me enjoy this...for a bit..." She leaned back against the rocky wall, sighing deeply and smiling, holding her arms in front of her and letting them float.
The Captain looked on at her with a smile, content that she seemed to be enjoying herself so much.
A few moments of silent, peaceful relaxation passed, and then Lucina opened her eyes and made eye contact with the Captain, trying not to stare at that handsome face of his for too long. "So...Captain, I found the exit."
"You did?" He asked her. "I didn't notice..."
Those eyes...I could get lost in them, Lucina thought briefly, staring dreamily into them, trying with all her might not to smile. Clearing her throat, she glanced in the direction of the hole. "It's right up there."
"Heh...it was right there all along. You bought that rope and hook back in Clock Town, so we should be able to get out with those," he confirmed. "It's not too high up either."
"Good," Lucina said, nodding. "Once we're done here, we can finally head to the surface."
"Indeed," Falcon concurred. "Though, before we do...you wouldn't mind...washing my back a bit?"
"Huh?!" Lucina gasped.
"There's nothing to worry about," The Captain reassured her with a slight chuckle. "Everything below my waist is completely submerged and covered in the towel. Don't be shy, now."
"O-okay..." Lucina stuttered as the Captain inched forward just enough to grant her access to his exquisite bare back. She noticed the area he scraped himself when fighting the Territorial Rotbart a week ago had completely healed without so much as a scar.
"W...wow," she whispered to herself, quietly enough that he wouldn't notice.
He's...gorgeous... She shook her head. But remember...he's my trainer first and foremost. I mustn't let any feelings get in the way. She dipped her hands in the water, scooping up handfuls of the warm water, and gently doused every inch of his muscular back in it.
"Perfect..." he sighed blissfully. "I can't get over how nice this feels..."
"Me neither..." she agreed. She couldn't help but become captivated by his lovely body, even though she could only see above the waist. She could feel some of her inhibitions melting away with the pain.
"Say..." she began. "You wouldn't mind if I..." Her hands emerged from the water again, tracing their way up his back, feeling every muscle. A strange desire began to build in her, as she wanted to give him the same bliss he gave her when he massaged her shoulder earlier.
"If you...what?" He questioned.
"Just...thought this would help," the Exalt said as she gripped his shoulders and began massaging them gently.
"Lu..." The Captain gasped faintly, before feeling an ecstatic sensation flow through him at her touch. "Ahhh...s-so...that's how it is, huh? Getting back at me...for earlier...?" His voice became breathy as he sighed deeply between his words, enjoying what she was doing to him.
"You...could say that," she said, giggling softly.
"Well, it's very much welcome...mmmm..." he moaned, closing his eyes and tilting his head back slightly, his breathing becoming steady but deep. Hearing such a pleasurable moan awoke something in Lucina.
Somehow...hearing him enjoying himself...it feels good for me, too...? She seemed to sink into a trance as her hands slowly traveled down his back, massaging all the while, his moans sounding like music to her ears. Heehee...he's like putty in my hands, and I want him to enjoy every last second of this...
"How did you...get so good at this...?" He sighed, quivering softly at her touch.
"I just...have a natural talent for it, I guess," she answered him. "There was this one warrior back from my future that would often complain of stiff shoulders after a battle...he really liked it when I massaged his aching muscles." She briefly giggled as she remembered an earlier memory of her little "sessions" not going so well. "Even if I was perhaps a bit too rough the first time..."
"I see..." he said, a faint moan escaping his lips. "Did you...have feelings for him, by any chance?"
"Not really..." she admitted, looking away and pausing her tender kneading of his back.
Not compared to how I'm starting to feel for you, Captain...I can't explain it, but...
"Why'd you stop?" He asked her.
"Oh, sorry," she said, continuing to rub his back. Just as her hands were reaching the bottom of his back, an image flashed into her mind...a tempting image of her wrapping her arms around him, caressing his torso from the top of his chest to the bottom of his abdomen as her lips were pressed to his neck, enjoying the sound of his blissful moaning. Before the mental image could go any further, she drew her hands back.
"I...I think that's enough," she stuttered, feeling a bit overwhelmed by where her mind went.
That was...awkward...to say the least.
"Heh, fair enough," the Captain said with a shrug. "Though, I do thank you for that rub down. It was really wonderful."
"Thanks..." Lucina submerged herself into the water a bit more, hoping the liquid warmth would soothe the numbness near her shoulder blade, but to no avail. "Geez...you've got to be kidding..."
"What's the matter?" Falcon asked his partner, noticing her irritated expression.
"The water...isn't doing as much for my shoulder as I'd hoped..." she confessed, a slight griping tone to her voice.
"Want me to work my own magic?" He suggested, a subtle smirk gracing his face as he drew one of his hands out of the water.
"I..." She hesitated.
The rational side of me says no, but...at the same time, I really want this bothersome feeling gone... "Okay..." The Ylissean obliged.
I just hope my body and mind don't go wild with desire...Naga, please watch over me...!
"Just turn around," he instructed her. She obeyed, lifting herself up a bit, and let the back of her towel dip a little, granting him more access to her back, her fair, creamy skin glistening in the light.
Lucina, you truly are beautiful, he thought. "Just hold still for a moment..." he said, reaching his right hand to her shoulder.
Feeling a firm grip on that shoulder, Lucina questioned, "Wait, what are you—" before hearing a loud pop and feeling a dull pain as he pushed her shoulder blade back into place.
"O-Owwwwww!" She cried in pain. "What do you think you're doing?! That—" All of a sudden, a new sensation overcame her, one much more pleasant. She could feel the hot spring's warmth traveling up to that spot, relaxing every tendon, soothing every once compressed nerve.
"...Felt simply divine..." She sighed, leaning the front of her body against the stone wall, shuddering and curling her fingers. "H...how did you know...what to do...?" She slowly closed her eyes, savoring the breathtaking feeling.
"As a result of your posture, your shoulder blade began to compress the nerves in the surrounding muscles," he explained. "That led to the numb, 'rotting' feeling you felt around there. Now that they're no longer pinched, you shouldn't feel any more numbness."
"I...see..." Lucina sighed deeply, immediately followed by a moan as her mouth shaped itself into an ecstatic smile. "Where'd you...learn that?"
"Let's just say I have a friend...who's a doctor," Falcon said. "Want me to give you a rub down...?"
"Yes, please..." she sighed dreamily.
Two handfuls of warm water cascaded down her back, and what followed was something indescribably exquisite. If the way his hand kneaded the tendons around her shoulder felt amazing with their clothing acting as barriers, it felt even more so with his bare hands touching her exposed skin. Their texture wasn't too rough or too soft. It was just...perfect. The perfect balance of ruggedness and tenderness. The massaging motions combined with the liquid heat of the spring water made Lucina give in to the purest ecstasy, relaxing against the rocky ground even more, trembling softly before staying completely still, enjoying every second as she moaned softly. She didn't even care if he could hear her anymore. It all just felt so good.
So...heavenly... she thought, smiling as she sighed, her fingers and even her submerged toes curling up in pleasure as she mewled. My pain is just...melting...it almost feels like I am, too...like an ice cube in a nice, warm cup of tea. Like I'm becoming one with this warm ocean of bliss...I kind of wish this moment...would last forever.
As the Captain's hands slowly traveled down Lucina's back, her mind started to fill with...other thoughts. She could feel her body coming alive in a different sense. A more...delightfully forbidden sense.
Captain...I crave more of your touch. I want you closer to me. I want you to wrap your arms around me...I want to feel your lips on my neck... Her sighs shifted from deep and relaxed to somewhat excited and shuddering at those thoughts. Your hands on my navel...traveling up and cupping my... Her body began to shiver in anticipation at that very thought.
"You...alright there, Lucina...?" Falcon asked cautiously, noticing his training partner's odd change in behavior.
"Ah!" She gasped, his question snapping her out of her lustful daydreams. "Cap...tain...?"
Oh no...he realized...I let my urges cloud my thoughts...!
"I...I think I've had enough, too!" She cried, the sheer shame crushing her as she submerged herself up to her nose and began blowing bubbles in the water fiercely with her mouth.
I let desire make me think those...sinful thoughts! Naga...forgive me...!
"Heh, okay then," the Captain chuckled. "I imagine you're just not...used to being this close to someone of the opposite sex."
Lifting the rest of her face out of the water, Lucina admitted, still not making eye contact with him, "I suppose so...aside from my interactions with that one warrior, I was never this up close and personal with a man...and no man ever got this close to me..."
"Guess you weren't much for romance in your world either, huh?" He inquired.
"N-no...I don't think so."
Are these feelings...really romantic...? I used to think it was just respect and admiration, she pondered. "Anyway...I think I should get out."
"If you say so," Falcon said. "I'll get out after you."
"Okay." Lucina stepped out of the water, the towel around her body soaking wet. She walked to the bag behind the rock, pulling out a dry towel and drying herself off before putting her clothes back on and releasing her hair from the hair clip.
"Okay, I'm done," Lucina announced, walking to the other rock a short distance from her and hiding behind it, closing her eyes so she wouldn't see him changing.
"Thanks," he said as he climbed out of the water himself.
...
After he dried himself off and dressed, the Captain put away the towels and asked, "Alright, Lucina, you ready?"
"Y-yeah..." She stammered, slowly turning toward him.
"That bath felt great, didn't it?"
"It sure did..." she sighed. "Anyway, follow me."
"Lead the way," the Captain said. As he followed her, he thought, Am I...becoming captivated by her? I'm not just proud of how far she's come...I think I'm starting to feel something deeper, ever since that dream I had when we were at Gaur Plain...
"Captain...?" the future Exalt inquired, noticing him seeming deep in thought again.
"...Nothing," he reassured her. "Anyway, you said it was through the hole nearby?"
"Yes," Lucina confirmed. "If you would...? I need the rope and hook."
"Of course," the Captain obliged, handing her the travel bag. Opening it up, she reached in and pulled out the rope and hook, and tied the hook to one end. "This rope should be long enough to get us up there." Turning her head to glance at her trainer, she told him, "You might want to stand back."
"Okay," The Captain said, stepping back a safe enough distance.
"Here we go," Lucina said, licking her lips as she wound the end of the rope with the hook attached around in circles before tossing it up in the hole's direction, feeling the vibrations through the rope when the hook sunk into firm soil.
"Alright, it's securely attached," she said.
"Let me go first, Lucina," Captain Falcon offered. "I'm heavier, and if anything should happen, I'll be able to lift you out safely if the rope breaks when you're almost done climbing."
"Fine by me," Lucina replied.
...
The two ended up climbing out of the hole and onto the surface safely. Thankfully, the hypothetical scenario Captain Falcon described did not occur. Before them was a series of islands connected by wooden bridges above a tranquil lake, the grass green and vibrant.
"So beautiful," Lucina murmured. "It's so different from the snow covered mountains..."
"Yeah," the Captain agreed. "Anyway, it's getting late. Didn't Young Link say he'd meet us by Mountain Village?"
"He did, yeah," Lucina recalled.
"I know the way. Follow me."
...
"We're here," the Captain said as he and Lucina arrived at the lone smithy's establishment. There was something serene about the area being unfrozen and full of life, unlike the rest of the mountain. The river around them flowed gently, birds sang in the leafy trees, and frogs croaked softly. The sun was setting, bathing the scene in a dusky pinkish-orange glow.
"Young Link should be here soon, right?" Lucina asked.
"I believe so," Falcon answered her. All of a sudden, he began to feel dizzy, but not in an unpleasant sense.
"Mmmmh...?" He moaned, wavering where he stood. He began to tip forward when Lucina caught him.
His body...it's...unusually warm. Is this a fever? She thought as she felt his body heat a bit higher than normal. "You alright, Captain?"
"I..." Panting, he slowly looked at Lucina. "My mind...and body...they feel so light. I feel...sleepy..."
"It's not from the cold, is it?" Lucina inquired, knowing it was bad to fall asleep in the snow.
"N-no..." Falcon murmured, his speech subtly slurring. "It's the opposite...I think I soaked in that hot spring too long. My body's a bit...too relaxed..."
"I see," Lucina said, gently setting him down on the ground.
"It's...rather inconvenient. Even if it does feel kinda nice..." Slowly looking up, he continued slowly, "Don't worry about me. I think I could just use a little nap here...if I sleep this off, I'll feel more energized than before."
"If you say so," Lucina said, gently laying him down. "Don't worry, I'll wait here with you. If it should come to it...like I promised, this time I will be the one keeping you safe."
A faint, calm smile crept upon the Captain's face. "You'll do just fine...I believe in you..." The last thing he saw before drifting off into a peaceful slumber was her serene, kind smile.
Don't ever stop smiling, Lucina. I want to protect your happiness...no matter what... Those were the last thoughts in his mind before he closed his eyes, the lights on his visor turning off automatically.
"Rest well, Captain," Lucina whispered, gently stroking his peaceful face.
I...think I want to lie down next to him too. She slowly lay on the ground next to him, the sounds of the river and the wildlife calming her, as well as the soft sound of the Captain's breathing as he slept. Seeing his chest rise and fall with each breath filled her with a sense of peace.
I don't know why, but...in this moment, lying next to him...seeing him sleep so peacefully...the tranquil sounds of nature all around us...I just feel so calm...safe, even. Her mouth curled into a content smile as she closed her eyes.
I guess I'd better savor moments of peace like this...who knows when they'll come again.
Suddenly, a rather romantic image popped up in her mind. One where the situation was reversed, where she soaked too long in the hot spring and her body became so relaxed she began to feel sleepy. In this daydream, the Captain lifted her up bridal-style, his arms supporting her evenly, making her feel even more comfortable. She imagined her whole being feeling light as air, basking in the post-hot spring afterglow, feeling as warm as the womb itself, as he carried her to a bed at the inn, gently tucking her in.
How romantic... She thought. Opening her eyes for a moment, she began to realize this was a seemingly consistent theme whenever she thought of him.
Wanting the other person to be happy...feeling joy when they accomplish something...sharing their pain...affectionate physical contact...wanting to be by their side? Is this...what love is?
Slowly standing up, she looked down, holding her hand to her chest. Is this what's happening? Do I...love him...?
"Hey! Captain! Lucina!" Young Link called from afar.
"Young Link!" Snapping out of her trance, she called out to him, waving.
As Young Link walked up to Lucina, she complimented him, saying "Heehee...you finally got my name right, Link. But...do be quiet for a bit. The Captain's sleeping."
"Oh?" Young Link asked, glancing at Captain Falcon lying on the ground in a deep, peaceful sleep. "What happened?"
"We...kinda got lost, and we found a hot spring before coming back to the surface. I think he enjoyed it a bit too much..." She chuckled.
"Heh, yeah," Young Link said. "Wanna talk someplace quieter?"
"Sure."
Lucina and the youth walked a bit closer to the river to resume their discussion, with the Ylissean sitting on the ground.
"So, what are your plans from here on out?" Young Link asked the Ylissean.
"I...don't know yet," Lucina admitted. "I think I want to take a break from training...I want to see the world he came from. I feel we've...gotten closer during our training, and I want to get to know him more."
"Yeah, you look like you could use a break," Young Link commented. "You should enjoy it while you can..."
"I suppose." She looked at Young Link, noticing him looking surprisingly glum. "...Link?"
"You know..." He began, his tone becoming a bit depressing. "You should enjoy every moment you have with all your friends. You never know when the time will come that you'll never see them again..."
"I know...it's how I lived back in my world." She was a bit puzzled at Young Link suddenly waxing poetic and sounding all philosophical.
"I don't mean it like that..." Young Link looked up, looking a bit teary-eyed. "I mean...your friends from Smash City. You know...any one of you can be told to leave at any time. I just heard the Ice Climbers had to go home after two successful tournaments."
"Oh..." Lucina felt a heaviness hanging on her heart at Young Link's words. "I guess I never thought of it like that..."
"I can only imagine...how sad they must have been." Young Link blinked, a tear rolling down his face. "I still haven't been called back either...time passes slower in our own worlds than it does in Smash City. By the time I saved Termina after returning here from Smash City, I learned from the Captain when he came to visit once, that a whole year had passed there." Tears began to stream down his face in full. "I'm now starting to worry if I ever will return. I miss everyone...so much..."
"I see..." Lucina sighed. "Even...the Captain? Any one of us can go at any time?"
"Yeah..." Young Link wiped his tears. "I want to have hope that I'll see everyone again someday...but I...hic...I don't think that day will ever come..."
"Link..." Lucina hugged the youth. "Try to hold on to that hope, okay? You never know what may happen."
"I guess..." Young Link said, his voice sounding calm yet sorrowful. "But...you should be prepared too. In case...you have to end up saying goodbye to those not from your world..."
"I'm...sure it won't come to that." Lucina answered the youth, trying to sound optimistic.
It won't...right...? Insecurity began to settle into the swordswoman's heart. Will I really have to one day say goodbye to Shulk? To Zelda? To...him? Will I ever see any of them again?
"You'll always have us as your friends," Lucina reassured the youth, patting him on the shoulder. "What matters is the memories you made. Always hold them close in your heart."
Gods...I sound so hypocritical right now. I feel like I'm giving him false hope and empty advice...the poor thing.
"Thanks..." Young Link seemed to calm down. "I'll just keep hoping until that day comes...I want to believe it'll happen."
"There we go," Lucina said with a smile.
"Mmmm..."
Lucina turned in the direction of the sound and saw her trainer stirring, stretching his arms as he awoke. "That was a really nice nap."
"Captain? You're awake..." Lucina said, standing up. "You sure you're feeling okay?"
"Never better," he replied, a satisfied grin on his face. "Oh...hey, Link. Everything alright?"
"Yeah..." Young Link nodded slowly.
The Captain knew Young Link really wasn't feeling alright, that the youth knew the Captain and his new friend would be leaving, and he didn't know when they would be back. "Come on...you know I'll be back someday. I'll even bring Lucina next time again."
"Okay..." Young Link nodded timidly.
"Hey, Captain..." Lucina approached her trainer. "Would it be okay if..." She stood on her tiptoes and whispered something to him.
"You want to go to...my world?" He questioned, curiously. "So then...you want to take a break from training. Is that it?"
"Yes," Lucina confirmed. "I guess we won't need our survival supplies anymore, so what say you we..."
"What are you two talking about?" Young Link asked the duo.
"Link," Lucina announced. "We've agreed to leave our supplies with you, for your next great adventure." After the Captain handed the now unnecessary travel sack to Lucina, she walked over to Young Link and gave it to him. "You've got a lantern, though you'll need some oil for it. There's also some towels, and a hair clip, though you might want to let the towels dry whenever you get a chance. There's plenty of room to store anything else you may need, too."
"Thanks, Lucina," Young Link thanked her. "But...a hair clip? I'm a boy."
"You can...give it to your Zelda when you see her again," Lucina suggested. "In the meantime, you can think of the Captain whenever you use the lantern, and me whenever you have the hair clip nearby."
"...Thanks, guys." Young Link motioned for a hug, and the other two crouched down and hugged him in response.
Heehee...it almost does feel like we're a family, Lucina thought, a smile coming to her face. Her smile soon sank as she thought, For all of our sakes...I hope we can all return to Smash City next tournament. I wonder how long it's been over there...
After the three ended their hug, Young Link walked off in the direction of Clock Town while Falcon asked Lucina, "So...Mute City. Right?"
"Yeah," Lucina nodded. "It's time for a much deserved break..."
"Maybe you'll get to see me in action on the racetrack," the Captain bragged.
"I look forward to it," Lucina said.
I just wanna take my mind off this lingering uncertainty...If what Young Link says is true, I want to enjoy the time with the Captain, and my friends, that I have left...I hope it'll be enough...
OH. MY. GOD.
this is. LITERALLY THE FIRST TIME I'VE WRITTEN ANYTHING, ANYTHING OVER 10K WORDS IN A SINGLE GO, LET ALONE A CHAPTER! WHOO! This is such an awesome milestone for me! I just hope the chapter itself wasn't too long in terms of pacing as a result.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. And are also enjoying Piranha Plant in Ultimate. I hope we'll have our next DLC announcement soon.
Also, the way Young Link talked about how anyone can leave at any time...that's an analogy for cuts, and how Snake didn't return as DLC for Smash 4, as I started this fic in the 4 days. Yes, the whole "time passing slower off world than in Smash City" is a bit of a hand wave on my part after I regained motivation post-Ultimate, and this will tie in eventually to the EVERYONE IS HERE of Ultimate. Maybe...there'll be a few more surprises too.
Even so...I remember Sakurai said it was a lot of work to bring everyone back, and next Smash might not be the same...even so, we also probably won't see another Smash for another 10 years since the Switch, and Ultimate, are doing phenomenally. Maybe we'll even see more than 1 DLC season? I hope.
Oh, and if any of you wanted some delicious drama and angst...you're gonna get it. Very soon. Huhuhu...Don't worry, they'll still very much get a happy ending, but what's a story without some conflict and drama, right?