Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS: The Glory of Custom Moves

Horseplay

Immediately upon charging at Corrin, Lucina realized two things. One, she was not actually used to jousting. Aiming a pointed stick at the enemy on a horse rocking back and forth was definitely a challenge. Two, her Aunt Lissa could be effectively deceptive when she tried.

She was also aware of another problem. The arena's ornate metal platform wasn't built for a horse and a rider both clad in heavy metal armor. Sure, the platform held the two of them up, but the narrow fighting space meant that there were only two ways to go: forward and back. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't be a problem, but Lucina's steed seemed hellbent on charging ahead and only charging ahead.

Between that and Corrin's laughter, she wasn't sure what to be more embarrassed by.

Lucina missed for the second time that match, and she could feel the heat rise to her face. Corrin's laughter wasn't mocking her, far from it. Rather, Corrin looked as though he was trying his best to restrain himself. Judging by how he chortled, Lucina figured she must have looked like a dunce.

"Hey!" Lucina shouted, raising her lance.

Corrin realized his mistake just in time. The laughs were knocked out of him as he made a hard roll away from the lance, which struck the ground just past him. Corrin steadily rose to his feet, already close to the edge of the stage. As he got ahold of himself, smile wearing off, Lucina's horse trot back to the center of the stage, turned, and reared his head towards Corrin in what seemed was irritation.

"Are you finished?" Lucina questioned sternly, hitting the ground with the butt of her lance. In spite of how she sounded, Lucina could not help but feel stiff and awkward saying so seeing as she was in the middle of balancing herself and her weapon on top of the horse.

Her horse reciprocated her action with a twist of his head and a whinny. Well, Lucina assumed it was a "he".

Corrin coughed and restrained from laughter, but the hints of a smile were still on his face. "Right! Right, sorry."

Lucina studied his features. Corrin looked back up at her but struggled to meet her eyes, instead amateurishly readying his sword as if he had just picked it up. Lucina took it as a challenge and urged her horse forward. The horse responded by almost shaking her off. Barely clinging to the saddle, Lucina slapped into the side of the horse. An upside-down Corrin snorted out a laugh, then hid his face behind his sword.

"He is not taking me seriously," Lucina concluded mentally. Grunting, she hoisted herself back on the horse and clenched the weapon in her right hand.

People began whispering to one another in the colosseum's stands. The collective hushed voices combined into a cloud of comments that Lucina could hear from miles away. Lucina's face paled slightly. The words weren't discernible, but they were definitely loud enough that Lucina could guess as to what they were saying.

It wasn't the words of the crowd that made her feel stiff. Neither was the armor that made her feel ten times heavier. Rather, in the stadium audience, Lucina could definitely pick out someone familiar.

"Aunt Lissa…" Lucina thought.

There was no mistaking her. Big blonde pigtails and equally big blue eyes gazing back at her. Lucina was torn. Lissa had given her the seal and thrown her off, that was certain. But she was just being nice. In fact, Lucina realized, it must be embarrassing to see your niece get flung around by a horse in front of an audience.

Lucina scowled down at her weapon. The lance felt strange. Her Falchion sword was balanced, almost weightless like a feather to her. Falchion was nowhere to be seen. This new lance was about as stiff as she felt in the armor and difficult for swinging. The lance was longer than her sword, but if she missed her mark…

Lucina paused. Her eyes lit up in sudden realization. She was not accustomed to horseback riding, and since her arrival to the tourneys, she had not touched a lance since she had trained for who knew how long ago. Images of knights on horseback, charging into the fray pervaded her mind. Among them was a stern face and a mess of brown hair covered in similar armor to her own.

That face belonged to Frederick, one of Aunt Lissa's closest friends.

Lucina felt a bead of sweat drip down the back of her neck. It was only the first match of the tourney, for gods' sake!

Her opponent was already stepping up to fight again. Lucina calmed herself. With the tidbits of what she knew, she adjusted her position on her horse. As if he knew what she was thinking, Lucina's steed set his sights on Corrin's white hair and snorted. Lucina twirled the lance in her right hand, took in a breath, and aimed. Before she could even move to command him, Lucina's horse took off running.

Corrin was not prepared for the bronze. Strangely, Corrin felt reinvigorated by the blow which knocked him to the ground, and any thought of laughing with it. Corrin managed a sideways glance up at the rider as he laid sprawled out on the ground. Lucina looked as though she had achieved a transformation in the few seconds she spent composing herself. Gone was the floundering princess hanging on to horse for dear life. The tear in his armor was all he needed to know.

Corrin was fighting a Great Knight now. Which sucked.

Immediately after staggering to his feet, Corrin was knocked down again, but not by Lucina's lance. The horse had taken it upon himself to kick dirt up into Corrin's face.

"Hey! There isn't even any dirt on this stage!" Corrin thought.

The next minute was exhausting. As Corrin spun around to strike with his sword, his arm was nicked by the long reach of the lance. The horse didn't help, as each attack was followed by a cloud of dust and hooves that would knock him over after each successful joust. Corrin tried, but try as he might, his Yato only scratched Lucina's armor once.

Corrin was blinded and rammed back. Corrin managed a half-roll before collapsing over the opposite edge of the stage. So far, all Corrin's attempts had managed were a scratch. One measly scratch. Corrin's face heated up in humiliation. The worst part of it all was that, in essence, Lucina was mopping the floor with him.

By running back and forth.

Corrin grunted in frustration, standing to his feet. Already the horse was coming back for another round. An idea hatched itself in Corrin's head. Corrin began to ran. There was no surprise on Lucina's face as she pointed her lance ahead. The two fighters approached the center of the stage, each one poised to strike.

But Corrin didn't strike. Instead, he leaped into the air over the horse. The steed was already skidding to a stop, but Lucina was ready. A glint flashed in her eye. She managed to launch her weapon upwards, catching Corrin between the shoulders. The force wasn't quite as great as she had anticipated, but the blow was enough to send Corrin spiraling to the ground. Lucina let herself smile as she directed the horse to turn.

Corrin's landing was the very antonym of graceful. Corrin managed not to fall on his face, though his rapid descent sent him smack-down on the right edge of the stage. He tumbled, nearly tipping over the edge. In a desperate move, Corrin plunged his sword into the ground. His Yato anchored him to the stage just as he reached the ledge.

Between quick breaths, Corrin eyed the jagged scar in the stage. He felt sorry for whoever was going to fix that.

His mental meandering didn't last. Lucina and her horse were back on the saddle at full force, speeding down the stage. Corrin's heartbeat pumped along with the beating of the horse's hooves on the metal. Corrin forced himself up from the floor and readied his sword. Lucina's steed had passed the center of the stage and was practically in front of him when Corrin steeled himself.

Within the next second, Corrin felt a subtle burst of strength. His feet felt less like lead and more like cast iron. His breath steadied and his muscles tensed up. As if he were a scarecrow, Corrin stood rigid and vigilant in spite of the incoming beast.

The lance slammed into his sword. Corrin was ready for it this time. Corrin's own eyes glinted, then were obscured. Corrin's face transformed with two monochrome horns sprouting from the top of his head. A jet-black, serpent-like visor armored his features. Corrin roared into the air, sending the coliseum into cheers and awe as Lucina, who had caught on quickly on, tried to slow her horse.

A plume of water burst out from the ground beneath Corrin's feet and caught Lucina square in the chest. Despite the fortifications upon fortifications of armor, the water was stronger. Lucina was knocked up into the air. Thanks to her heavy armor, she hardly stayed in the sky for long and fell back to the floor with a resounding thud. Lucina struggled to her feet and aimed her lance again.

"Huh?"

Lucina glanced around the arena. On the other side, Corrin was preparing for his counterattack. No sign of her horse. Lucina gazed out at the coliseum in bewilderment. Did Corrin knock her steed off the stage?

Lucina barely had time to ponder before the Yato struck her breastplate. She scowled and stepped back, then glanced down at the tear in the armor. Corrin's whirred like a chainsaw, threatening to slice. Lucina jabbed at Corrin. Despite the safer, longer length of the lance, it became apparent that Corrin's strength outranked her on foot.

Lucina sympathized with turtles. She couldn't imagine how they survived if this was how it felt like to fight as one. On foot, her lance swings were slow and inaccurate. Corrin was practically dancing around her, nicking her armor and wearing her down. Sooner or later, Lucina thought, he would land the killing blow.

Eventually, after the fifth dive, Lucina had enough. Corrin landed just nearby, and much to his surprise, Lucina charged.

"You will not stop me!" Lucina cried out.

Much to Lucina's surprise, she felt something explode into existence beneath her. Lucina barely registered what had happened when her lance pegged Corrin and launched him through the air. Lucina slowed her horse down and stared down in surprise. Her horse was back.

A thought popped into Lucina's head. Slowing her horse, she quickly stepped off and turned. Horse gone. Breaking into a run, she felt the familiar weight of the horse reappear beneath her. She jumped up. Gone.

Corrin laid on his side and wheezed, legs dangling halfway off the edge of the stage. Corrin attempted to steady himself and stand using his sword. His...sword. Corrin reached for his hip.

"Oh no," Corrin muttered to himself as he stared across the stage.

Corrin's Yato was behind the horse. As Lucina charged, the horse kicked the sword away, and Corrin watched as it fell off the side. A tinge of panic roused through him but quickly dissipated. He'd get it back later, hopefully. The panic returned once he realized that the horse was halfway across the stage.

Corrin turned to run and only made it one step. There was literally nowhere left to run unless he wanted to fall off the edge. Corrin quickly weighed his options. No way, no how. No sword, no chance.

That is until the flash of green snapped him out of his doldrums. Corrin reached into his armor and pulled out a small stone. Time seemed to slow as he inspected the rock. Corrin stared into his own reflection, and a beast roared back at him. Corrin threw one sideways glance to the horse, which was practically snorting down the back of his neck.

"Now or never," Corrin sighed mentally as he clutched the stone.

A flash of light erupted from the floor. Through the blinding whiteness, Lucina heard her horse whinny as she was flung into the air like a doll. She managed to catch the audience's looks of surprise and amazement. With a quick look down, Lucina understood why. Both she and the horse were launched into the air. Rider and steed plummeted fast, falling over the edge of the stage.

"Come on…" Lucina thought as she urged her horse to jump.

Whether the steed was too panicked to jump or if the armor was too heavy, Lucina's horse didn't make a move and instead continued falling like a stone. Sitting up on the saddle, Lucina did the only thing she could think of doing and jumped. Against all laws of the universe, she and the horse pushed up into the air. The insignificant boost was barely enough to keep them from falling. Thinking fast, Lucina plunged the bronze lance into the side of the stage. The lance caught between a gear.

"Come on!" Lucina grunted and tried to pull herself up on the lance.

The lance lodged in the side of the stage was all that kept her from losing right then and there. The frail, already worn out weapon did not provide her much solace in that regard. The tip threatened with cracks, ready to fall apart at any second. Lucina was so determined on reaching the ledge just above the lance tip, that she almost didn't notice the horse disappearing again. She was glad the horse had lightened the load, yet a pang of guilt ran through her as she clutched her lance.

Lucina reached up for the ledge, then froze. Casually sitting atop the stage was the dragon. Corrin. He stared down at her, then dropped his tail off the side. Lucina's eyes widened. The tail, covered in spines, swung back and forth like a deadly pendulum, taunting her as it got closer. Lucina felt irritation broil through her veins.

Strangely, the annoyance wasn't focused on the dragon.

Lucina managed to steal her gaze away from the dragon and back to the stands. Staring at a familiar face in the crowd, she stared back at her aunt. Lissa was on the edge of her seat, leaning over the side of the coliseum's barrier in horror, holding on with one hand and pressing the other to her cheek. Lucina felt slightly annoyed, then felt bad. There was her aunt, who had come all this way to support her, and this was how she was going to prove herself to her?

Ignoring the fact her aunt had gotten her into this mess, Lucina focused instead on the renewed strength in her muscles. Lucina focused on the lance and lifted herself up. The bronze tip was already giving way. Lucina grunted as she swung back and forth. Corrin's tail did the same as it got closer.

Lucina slammed into the wall with her boots and kicked. Defying gravity yet again, she pushed off the wall and leaped up, retrieving the lance from the gear. The crowd gasped as Lucina sailed up past Corrin's tail and grabbed the ledge. Startled, Corrin hopped back.

Panting heavily, Lucina heaved herself onto the stage, aimed her lance, and thrust at the dragon.

Clunk.

The lance tip fell to the ground and shattered. The dragon stared at her with the rest of the lance stuck between one of its antler-like horns. Lucina and Corrin were at a standstill, each one gazing into each others' face. The audience was silent.

"Ha...ha…" Lucina gasped breathlessly.

Lucina then fruitlessly attempted to wrench the remnants of the lance out. The lance snapped in half, falling to the floor as two wooden sticks. The sweat down Lucina's face felt cold.

"You've...bested me," Lucina admitted shamefully.

The dragon didn't reply and stepped forward, arching its neck and pointing the horns at her. Lucina sucked in the air and braced herself.

Then she fell.

"So, Lucina…" Corrin cleared his throat, offering a hand to the sitting princess, "About that last match?"

"Yes?" Lucina answered plainly.

"I'd like to apologize," Corrin explained as he rubbed the back of his head, "I definitely underestimated you.."

"Had I been in your shoes, I'd have been taken aback as well," Lucina muttered, "There isn't anything to apologize for. It was a good match."

"Right, I just…" Corrin frowned and coughed, "Right. Good match."

The horse whinnied and licked Corrin's hand. Corrin made a small smile and tried to politely wipe his hand on his blue cape. The horse glared at Corrin, then licked his hand again. Already the spectators were leaving, filing around Corrin, Lucina, and her horse. A few odd stares were cast at the horse, which the horse reciprocated with a huff. The flood of people stretched from the halls right down to the doorway. Despite this, there was a large circle of space between the Lucina, Corrin, and the horse as the crowds shuffled past, out and into the building.

Corrin spoke up after a minute, "Where did you learn how to joust?"

Lucina paused. "My father's friend."

"It was impressive!" Corrin smiled, "There's only one other person I've seen who has skill with a horse like that."

"I can't imagine he must be too thrilled being compared to me," Lucina imagined, "Thank you, Corrin. Your skill with the blade and your...other form is superb."

"Thanks," Corrin beamed.

Admittedly, while Lucina couldn't shake the feeling of embarrassment, it was beginning to wane. Chatting with Corrin was relieving if nothing else. Before she could say anything else, a booming voice was heard throughout the hall.

Corrin perked up. "Oh, that's for me. I should get going."

"Good luck," Lucina stated and offered a hand down to her competitor.

Corrin smiled and shook her hand. "Thank you, Lucina."

With that, a bright green light cloaked Corrin. He didn't stick around long after that. Startled pedestrians ducked for cover or simply ran as a dragon bounced down the halls. A few cursed and shook fists at Corrin from the safety of the floor, which Lucina just shook her head at.

Lucina stepped off her horse. Turning toward her steed, Lucina clasped the horse's snout in her hands gently and gave him a soft rub. The horse neighed and dashed away into the crowd, which instinctively shrank and dispersed. A few even covered their heads with their hands. All of a sudden, the clopping of hooves on expensive carpet stopped. When the crowd came to their senses, the horse had vanished yet again.

Lucina trotted along in her hefty armor in the crowd, making it out from the door outside. The sun was bright and hot, already heating up her armor. Lucina wiped the sweat from her forehead as she stood. Lucina wanted nothing more than to remove the armor, but for the sake of public decency, she decided that until she knew what she was wearing underneath she'd shed.

That and the armor didn't seem to come off.

"Lucina!"

Lucina whirled around, taking care not to fall flat on the floor with all her equipment still on. The crowd had begun to dissipate, and Lucina barely had time to react when a yellow blur smacked into her armor and held her close. Lucina shut her eyes when she realized who it was. She braced herself on what Lissa would do.

Lissa just beamed up at her niece and said, "You were amazing out there!"

Classic Lissa. "I was?"

"I didn't think that it still worked, but the seal actually- You were on a horse, and you were- You were just like Frederick!" Lissa fired comment after comment, each one exceedingly more gratuitous than the last.

Lucina continued sweating, yet in spite of the sun, she hardly felt the heat. "I'm glad I impressed you."

Lissa froze, then blushed a bit. "Ah, that reminds me…"

Lucina tilted her head in confusion. Lissa stopped, reached behind her, and pulled a white bouquet of flowers and offered the flowers up to Lucina, much to the swordswoman's surprise.

"Aunt Lissa!" Lucina exclaimed and took the bouquet into her hands.

Lissa smiled. "It was supposed to be for your win, but um…" Embarrassed, she glanced away for a second. Her heel twisted back and forth on the floor, "Sorry."

Lucina shook her head. "Don't be, Aunt Lissa. Had my training been more sufficient, things would have gone differently."

Lissa pouted. "Lucy, you were great out there! As your aunt, I demand that you enjoy the flowers and don't think about it."

"But-"

"Hup! Hey!" Lissa waggled a finger at her, "No!"

Lucina smiled, though this time it was not forced. "Thank you."

Lissa beamed proudly. Lucina's gaze shifted from her aunt down to the flowers. The collection of white flowers was certainly appealing. A pleasant, rose-like scent emanated from the bouquet. Taking Lissa's words in mind, she sniffed the flowers. The aroma was comforting, leaving Lucina as though a great weight had been lifted off her back.

Wait.

Lucina glanced down at her attire and froze. In place of her larger, metal knight armor was a bridal dress that extended down to the floor. Unfortunately for Lucina, the dress was still almost as suffocating as the armor. Lucina gawked at herself, then turned to Lissa, who barely wiped the impish grin on her face off.

"Aunt Lissa," Lucina stated with a frown.

"...Surprise?" Lissa shrugged.

"That seal wasn't dysfunctional either, was it?" Lucina asked while she closed her eyes, "You planned this."

Lissa stowed both her hands behind her back and whistled innocently. Lucina scowled at her and started to respond.

"Again, thanks for the assist."

"Hyah."

Then Link and Robin showed up.

Link's new sky-blue tunic was now spotted with debris. He carried a giant, burnt spoon in one hand and the remains of a pot lid in the other. Robin's cloak was considerably scorched, as were parts of his undershirt. In one hand, he had a tome which was still sparking with energy. In the other was a half-broken sword.

"Lucina, Lissa." Robin nodded politely as he and Link passed by, walking off

Lucina and Lissa exchanged glances.

"Do we even want to ask?" Lissa frowned.

AN: So this is how it feels to write fanfiction, take a break, and come back to the newest entry in the series being teased. Huh.

Thanks XShinkuKikinX and Guests for reviewing.

Thanks for reading, this is The Pizza-Loving Turtle, off for another 100 year sleep.