Did someone say...ANGST?
cause boi
This chapter will be brimming with it. I suggest you get some tissues, my dudes - there will be feels. LOTS of them
Also, the televised races? First four are all from the Diamond Cup in GX, but the last one is the second track of the AX Cup. Felt like Phantom Road (last track of Diamond) would be anticlimactic.
Title based on the translated title of "Shinkai no Kodoku" by Houko Kuwashima (which, a character voiced by her in Japanese will probably appear later...)
Hiding in my Skin, Broken from Within
Chapter 9 - Solitude of the Ocean Depths
"Alright, we're here!" PJ announced as he pulled the Groovy Taxi into the parking lot of the Dollars Casino. It was more than just a place for high rollers to get their fix - it was also a place to bet on promising F-Zero racers, and even just watch the games without betting. "You guys wanna make any bets, or...?"
"No, we're fine watching," Lucina told the alien cabbie as she, Shulk, and Fiora stepped out. "Thanks again, PJ."
"Just stay safe, you three."
"Don't worry, sir. I'm sure we'll be fine!" Shulk reassured PJ.
"We can handle ourselves," Fiora said in a slightly bragging manner, winking and slightly sticking her tongue out as she gave a thumbs up. "Right, guys?" She asked Shulk and Lucina. The two only nodded confidently.
"Okay then...I trust you guys will be able to." Starting up the Groovy Taxi again, he said, "Hit me up anytime you want a ride!"
"Will do!" Lucina called out. Shortly after, PJ drove off in his high speed futuristic taxi.
"Well, let's head on in," Shulk encouraged the two girls.
As the three entered, they took in the sights and sounds all around them. Some patrons were simply trying their hand at blackjack tables or slot machines, while others were gathered around the large television screens close to the back of the building. That was the destination of Lucina and her two friends, and the minute they arrived, the races were about to start.
"It's starting!" Fiora squealed excitedly as she, Shulk, and Lucina took a seat on a nearby bench.
The first track of the racing tournament was the Trident at Cosmo Terminal. The cameras recording the action showed a panoramic view of the course — a large track suspended over a seemingly bottomless pit that diverged into three separate tracks that twisted into a triangle, merged, diverged, and merged again. There were holographic schematics projected above, and the walls seemed to be moving from top to bottom, giving the illusion that the track was in some sort of elevator. The starting track when merged had guard rails, but when it diverged, there were no rails.
"That's the first track?!" Lucina gasped. "No rails on most of it...and two of the diverging tracks are at an angle..."
"Hey, this is F-Zero racing after all, Lucina," Shulk told her, shrugging. "After all, all these racers are seasoned professionals. It'd take more than that to throw them off!"
"If you say so..."
The image on the screens shifted to the thirty racers at the start line. Captain Falcon's Blue Falcon was there, alongside Samurai Goroh's Fire Stingray, PJ's Groovy Taxi, Super and Mrs. Arrow's King and Queen Meteor respectively, Dr. Clash's Crazy Bear, and several other vehicles driven by racers neither Lucina nor her two friends were familiar with.
Tapping Lucina's shoulder to get her attention, Fiora said cheerfully, "Lucina, look! There's Captain Falcon!" She pointed to the Blue Falcon on the screen.
"I see him," Lucina nodded. Cupping her hands to her mouth, she shouted gleefully, "Show them your moves, Captain!"
"Blaze to that finish line!" Fiora joined her friend in cheering the Captain on.
"You...know he can't hear you, right?" Shulk asked the two girls, chuckling nervously.
Giggling and holding her hand to her lips, Lucina answered him, "We know." Looking at the screen again, she continued, "But we can still root for him anyway."
Rubbing the back of his head, Shulk conceded, "Fair enough..."
On the transmission, a large drone with three television screens on it displayed a countdown as the announcer's voice boomed:
"3...2...1...GO!"
Upon the "GO!", all the racers took off at blazing fast speeds as high energy music played.
"They're going so fast..." Lucina murmured, but what really surprised her was the first set of diverging tracks that seemed to twist together like a coil. The racers were dispersed between the different tracks, but even though the tracks seemed to go upside down, the vehicles stayed on the track.
"W-wow..." Lucina could not believe her eyes. Holding her hand to her mouth in surprise, she asked, "How are they...?"
"I'm guessing it has to do with the G-Diffuser technology PJ mentioned," Shulk said. "You know how the vehicles hover above the ground? My best guess is that the G-Diffuser technology uses some form of advanced magnetism: forces of the same polarity repel, but there is a bit of opposite polarity that attracts, and that's what allows the vehicles to drive upside down or on cylindrical platforms."
"Wow, Shulk," Lucina complimented him. "You sure know your stuff."
Opposite polarity...attracts? Her mind started to wander, but she quickly shook her head. Oh, now you're just finding excuses to be lost in thought, Lucina. It's not that deep.
As the race proceeded, one racer fell off the tracks, and another spun their vehicle around rapidly, causing a vehicle heading toward them to be sent flying off the tracks.
"Oh no!" Lucina gasped. "They're..."
"They'll be fine," Shulk reassured her. "I did my research, and F-Zero has a lot of safety regulations in place." Holding his hand to his chin in a contemplative manner, he mused, "Although, I heard its predecessor, the F-MAX Grand Prix, wasn't so stringent on safety..."
"Hmm..." Lucina held a finger to her chin quizzically. Then...was that where that Horrific Grand Finale Dr. Clash told us about took place, or...? Best not to think about it too much.
All of a sudden, the announcer's voice echoed once again with, "You got boost power!"
"Ohhhh man, this is where it gets good," Fiora chimed, rocking back and forth in her seat excitedly. "When boost is enabled, ANYTHING goes!"
"But you still gotta be careful," Shulk added. "One wrong boost and you'll fall off and become disqualified!"
"I see..." Lucina said. The three excitedly watched the race unfold before them. Shulk and Fiora watched all 28 of the remaining racers boost and maneuver their way carefully throughout the track, while Lucina's eyes were solely focused on Captain Falcon whenever the Blue Falcon was in the camera's shot.
Come on, Captain...you can do it...
"YEAH! The final lap!" A few seconds after the announcer said that, the music became more intense with a pulsating beat drop and the whole crowd of spectators started to cheer excitedly.
"Whooooooo!" The three friends cheered as well, with Fiora waving her arms to the music.
"Come on, Captain!" Lucina shouted excitedly as the Blue Falcon boosted across the track, being ever so careful not to fall, and refueling its energy on the boost strips.
"Almost at the finish line! You're almost there!" Victory was so close to the Captain's grasp, and Lucina couldn't help but feel her whole being quiver in excitement.
"FINISH!"
And as expected, Captain Falcon took first place, as displayed on the leaderboard that came up.
"YESSSSS!" Fiora and Lucina leapt from their seats and gave each other a series of high fives and low fives followed by a fist bump in celebration.
"Hey girls, I know you're happy but try to contain your excitement," Shulk told them, laughing a bit nervously. "He's still got four more rounds to go, and he needs to maintain enough points to get first place for the whole tournament. Placing first here certainly helps, but he can't fall too far behind in the next races."
"...Of course," Lucina answered him, chuckling subtly. "I knew that...it's just...seeing all this happen before my eyes, it's..." She looked at Fiora, grinning gleefully.
"SOOOO EXCITING!" Fiora seemed to finish her best friend's sentence, and the two bounced up and down and squealed excitedly.
"Heheh...now could you two perhaps sit? You're getting everyone's attention by making all that noise."
"S-Sorry!" The two girls immediately sat down.
As the two girls sat down, the next race was starting at Sand Ocean's Lateral Shift. It was a track on a desert planet that often shifted at an angle perpendicular to the ground, going through some kind of alien temple at one point. Many of the racers from the last race were there, including the Captain. However, the two disqualified pilots were nowhere to be found, and some racers that made it past the first round were replaced with some new faces, probably to give them a chance to rank as well. That round was also similarly intense, with one racer, apparently Dr. Clash, getting disqualified by crashing. This time around, Captain Falcon ranked second place.
"Oh no...he's second?" Lucina asked anxiously.
"Just wait," Shulk reassured her. "There's gonna be a second leaderboard coming up. Hold on..."
As Shulk predicted, a second leaderboard flashed on the screen. The Blue Falcon was still in first place.
Tilting her head to the side slightly, Lucina inquired, "I don't...understand?"
"You see," Shulk began, "Since this is a tournament of five races, everyone's individual score in each race, which is depicted in the first leaderboard, tallies up to their cumulative total, hence the second leaderboard. You can score poorly in one, but as long as your scores are better for the other races, you're practically guaranteed first place."
"Ah," Lucina said, nodding. "So then, that explains some of the racers who weren't disqualified replaced by other racers too?"
"Yeah," Shulk said. "To give them a chance as well. With how well the Captain's been ranking so far, though, I think it's safe to say he'll be in all the races."
"I hope so..."
Just then, an unfamiliar female voice said, "Hey guys, mind if I drop in and watch some of the action with you?"
The three friends turned around and saw a young girl with short, silver bob-cut hair, blue eyes, a teal vest, brown boots and gloves, a red camo bikini top, red camo pants, and teal goggles on her head.
"Who might you be?" Shulk asked the girl.
"You're...Shulk, Fiora, and Lucina, right?" The girl asked.
"Yes, that's us..." Lucina told her. "I'm Lucina. He's Shulk, and she's Fiora."
"Nice to meet you all. My name's Lily Flyer, soldier for the Galactic Space Forces and pilot of the Bunny Flash. Captain Falcon requested that I check in on you and make sure you guys are alright. And, since I've been disqualified, I guess I might as well watch how everyone else does..."
"Nice to have you here, Lily!" Fiora cheerfully greeted Lily, shaking her hand. "Come on! Have a seat!"
"Thanks, Fiora. Falcon did tell me you guys were a lively bunch..." Lily giggled. Shulk and Fiora sat back down together while Lily sat next to Lucina.
The next track was Fire Field's Undulation. It appeared to be a series of, as the name suggested, undulating tracks above a fast moving stream of molten metal.
"You SURE they'll be safe, Shulk?" Lucina felt a bit of anxiety upon seeing the course's layout.
"I know it looks intimidating, but according to what I researched, whenever a racer is about to drive off into a bottomless pit...or any other deadly hazard, the pilot is immediately teleported out of there, and their vehicle is repaired good as new after a few minutes. This is the future, after all." Noticing his friend's expression, he consoled her, "But if it makes you that uncomfortable, you can talk to Lily in the meantime. We'll keep you posted if anything exciting happens."
"...Thanks, Shulk," Lucina told Shulk with a smile. Turning to Lily, she asked her, "So...you're a soldier?"
"I am," Lily answered her. "I've been with the Federation all my fourteen years of life."
"I see..." Lucina said, before realizing a crucial detail that hit her like a bag of bricks as her eyes widened in surprise. "W-w-wait a second. You're only fourteen years old?!"
"Surprised?" Lily giggled slightly. "I never knew who my parents were. Shortly after I was born, I was placed in the Federation's care as a random mandatory enlistment, and was trained to be a supporting fighter."
"Doesn't that...make you sad, though?" Lucina inquired. "That you can't freely leave? That you never had a childhood, never even had any friends when you were small? I at least had some of those things before I started fighting for my freedom, and I'm a whole seven years older than you are."
"The way I see it, as long as I can serve the Federation to the best of my ability and ensure they can protect those that need protecting, I'm content," Lily answered Lucina. "They take great care of me, anyway. In a way, they're like my second family."
"I see..." Thinking for a moment, Lucina then asked Lily, "Why did you choose to become an F-Zero racer?"
"Good question," Lily said. "I'm not in it for any prize money or anything. I am, however, proud of how far I came as a soldier thanks to my training, and I figure I'd step it up a bit by becoming an F-Zero pilot. Part of F-Zero racing is reacting under pressure and making split second decisions. If I can improve those skills through racing, I can become a better fighter." Her face bore a disheartened expression as she continued, "Although, I'm still disappointed I flubbed it back at Cosmo Terminal. I don't know why, but this time around, my focus was a bit off..."
"Happens to everyone, I suppose," Lucina consoled the young soldier, patting her on the shoulder. "Just keep trying."
"Thanks." Looking up for a moment, Lily said thoughtfully, "I never saw it like that though...being deprived of a childhood and not knowing where I came from. Maybe someday, I'll try to find who my real parents are. I'm sure there's a lot I've been missing in life."
Just then, Shulk's excited cry interrupted the two girls' conversation. "OH MAN! Did you see that?!"
"See what?" Lucina inquired.
"Someone took a jump too fast and crashed into one of the poles above and BAM! They're outta here!" Fiora shouted, slapping her hands together for dramatic effect at the "BAM!"
"Even crashing into things?!" Lucina gasped.
"When you're going that fast, especially if you're wobbling like how this track tends to make you, bumping into ANYTHING will do that to you." Lily giggled as she said, "It's happened to me a fair share of times..."
Eventually the final lap came. The crowd was hyped as usual when the music intensified, and then...
"FINISH!"
Lucina stared intently at the screens, waiting for the first leaderboard, and what she saw dismayed her a bit.
"He was...18th place this time?"
The second leaderboard wasn't much better. Captain Falcon had dropped to 3rd place in the total rankings.
"Aw..." Lucina murmured, a disappointed look on her face.
"Hey, don't worry," Lily said, trying to lift her senior's spirits. "He's still got two more races after this. He was probably playing it a bit safer on this track. Rest assured, he'll get back up there and win it. I heard that he won the X tournament before this."
"Ah..." Looking at the screen as the next race started, Lucina said, "Well, I have faith in him."
The fourth race was the Dragon Slope on Aeropolis. Shulk, Lucina and Fiora all gasped in wonder at the futuristic look of the city, that looked like something straight out of a sci-fi movie they would see in Smash City. Words alone didn't do it justice.
"Welp, I guess everything's fine here," Lily told the three friends, standing up and stretching her arms. "I'm needed back at headquarters. Though I suppose I'll go for a leisurely drive around Mute City afterwards..."
"Thanks! You have a great day!" Shulk called out to her.
"Hope to see you again!" Lucina said, waving.
"Give our regards to the Captain for us!" Fiora told Lily.
"Will do," Lily said. "I hope to see you guys again, too."
After Lily left, the three focused their attention on the race as it unfolded. Midway through, however, Lucina could swear she felt somebody watching her and her friends. She could feel someone staring daggers into her back.
"Is that...?" She quickly turned around, but didn't see anyone who could possibly be stalking them.
Was the Captain right? Is someone truly watching us...? Why didn't Lily notice it?
"Everything ok there, Lucina?" Fiora asked her close friend.
"Huh?!" Lucina jumped a bit, startled. Slowly turning to Fiora, she answered her friend, "No, it's nothing."
"I hope so, cause you're really missing out!"
"Heh...sorry," Lucina chuckled, turning her attention once again to the screen. Within a few minutes, the race was over, and the Captain ranked 1st in this particular race, and 2nd overall.
"Yessss! He's back up!" Fiora cheered, pumping her fists in the air.
"He just needs one more first place and he's home free," Lucina said, a hopeful smile gracing her face.
The final track came as a surprise. The track's name was Meteor Stream, and it was in...
"Outer Space?!" Shulk cried in surprise. "Oh man, they are really pulling out all the stops this time!"
Rocking back and forth excitedly, Fiora cheered, "Oooooh!"
After the announcer said, "3...2...1...GO!", Lucina only watched silently and hopefully, thinking, I believe in you, Captain...win this...for me. She held her hands to her chest, feeling her heartbeat rapid from the hype.
"Oh, this looks like an easy one," Shulk commented. "There's guard rails on the open tracks, and most of the venue itself is an enclosed, twisting cage. It's pretty short overall too. The Captain's got this one in the bag!"
"Really...?" Watching the racers meander their way through the course, Lucina agreed, "Yeah, Shulk, you're right..."
"Leave them in the dust, Captain!" Fiora cheered, getting up from her seat.
"Come on!" Shulk joined his girlfriend in cheering Falcon on.
The final lap came, and Falcon was taking the lead.
Lucina's heart was racing almost as fast as the pilots themselves. She could no longer contain her excitement. Getting up, she jubilantly shouted, "COME ON, BLUE FALCOOOOON!"
"Wow," Shulk chuckled. "You're really feeling it, huh, Lucina?" Turning his attention back to the screens, he and Fiora joined in in cheering him on.
"FINISH!"
And surely enough, Captain Falcon not only scored first on this race, but his overall rank was back at the very top; first place. The cameras cut to show two other unfamiliar vehicles, belonging to the racers who placed second and third respectively, doing a celebratory lap on Mute City, with the Blue Falcon taking the lead as triumphant music played.
"He...he did it..." Lucina was trembling with an overflowing sense of joy. "He really did make us all proud...!" She slowly closed her eyes, happy tears streaming down her face as she smiled.
"...Lucina?" Fiora asked her, standing up and getting a closer look at her face. "Are you...crying?"
"O-only because I'm just so happy," Lucina answered the cyborg, wiping away her tears. "He said he would make me proud of him like how I made him proud of me...and it happened."
"Aww, you're too sweet, Lucina," Fiora cooed. Noticing the camera cutting to the three victors, she told her friend, "Hey! Look!"
Most of the other racers who didn't make to the top three were cheering on the three champions, including Dr. Clash and Lily. On the third place platform was a girl who looked to be only two years older than Lily, with a pink, genie-like outfit, heart-shaped goggles, and brown hair in a heart-shaped ponytail. In second place was an African-American woman wearing a somewhat revealing orange two-piece outfit with orange boots.
And in first place was Captain Falcon himself. As the cameras got a closer view of the three victors, Lucina saw the Captain smiling confidently and waving at the cameras. It almost felt like he was smiling directly at her.
There's that feeling again, She thought, her heart skipping a beat. I feel so...happy. No...it's more than that. I feel...warm inside. Like...if I were there, if only I could be there, I would run up to him, embrace him so tightly, and...and...
She imagined herself in Captain Falcon's arms at that scene, embracing him lovingly with a content smile on her face, then lifting her face to meet his and drawing closer to him, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss.
Ah...?! Lucina brought two fingers to her lips as she blushed at that thought. C-could this mean...?
"Hey, the interview's starting!" Shulk said as he stood, snapping Lucina out of her trance. The camera cut to Captain Falcon and the announcer, a strange-looking man with green hair and goggles on his eyes named Mr. Zero, as the song Mrs. Arrow mentioned back at the Dollars Bar played in the background.
"In this world you've got to be strong
You've got to fight to keep your spirit alive
And you might feel like there is nothing left to go for and fight for
But it's the fight that keeps us ready and on guard..."
"So, Captain Falcon," Mr. Zero began, "That was a stellar performance today! What brought this about?"
"Let's just say...I did this for a very special someone," Captain Falcon answered his interviewer. "Someone who I've bonded with a lot over the past few days...someone who's made me so proud of her."
"So it's a she?" Mr. Zero questioned. "This should be interesting..."
"Even I can feel the power
When I think of him I see no fear
Feel no pain..."
Captain... Lucina felt the joy within her intensify as her eyes sparkled. She could not stop staring at the image of her partner on the screen, inspecting every gorgeous feature of his face and body, and most of all, his smile.
"To you...Lucina!" Captain Falcon gave a triumphant thumbs up at the camera, grinning confidently. "I hope you're as proud of me as I am of you!"
"Ahh...!" Lucina smiled widely at his words, her heart racing, her body feeling warm inside, her eyes gushing with happy tears.
"Forever he will be my hero (better believe he knows the way!)
And not just only for tonight
And now that I'm not just a dreamer (and I know I've got what he's got!)
And not just only for tonight...!"
You will always be my hero, Lucina thought, brushing away her tears. And I'm not just a dreamer anymore. I don't care if you're sixteen years older than me. There's just so much to admire about you, Captain. Your determination, your wisdom, your intelligence, your kindness...no, it's not mere admiration. I know what this feeling is, now. It can only be one thing. It's...
"Hellooooo? Lucina?" Fiora asked Lucina, who stared at the projection of Captain Falcon on the screen, almost lovingly.
"F-Fiora?!" Lucina gasped, snapping out of her daydream.
"There's that look on your face again," Fiora teased, grinning mischievously. "I knew it. You DO have a crush on the Captain!"
"Fior—" Lucina began in an irritated manner, before realizing she couldn't hide her true feelings anymore. Closing her eyes and smirking, she conceded with a shrug, "...Alright, Fiora, you got me. It's true...I do have feelings for him."
"Ohohoho! I was right! You can't hide anything from me!" Fiora leapt in the air victoriously. "I have an idea, Lucina. When he gets back, why don't you tell him?"
"Because..." Lucina began timidly as she opened her eyes, hesitating to complete the sentence.
Because these feelings are more than just a mere crush. It's something much deeper...
"Because...I don't feel it's the right time."
"Why not?" Shulk asked. "It's never not the right time to— What...?"
"Shulk...?" Fiora asked Shulk, who suddenly went silent.
"A...vision?" Lucina pondered, noticing Shulk's eyes were glowing blue like they did whenever he had a vision. After his eyes stopped glowing, she asked him, "What did you see...?"
"It's not good..." Shulk fretted. "Some tall, strong man clad in black, with...horns on his head? I'm guessing it's part of his costume, but he storms in and attacks everyone, proceeding to ransack the place. It doesn't look like there are any survivors...not me, not Fiora...not you, either..."
"Black Shadow..." Lucina whispered vengefully, her visage turning tense.
"Come again?" Fiora asked, urgently.
"You guys need to get out of here," Lucina urged her friends. "This has to be that Black Shadow person that Captain Falcon once told me about. I don't know much about him, except for the fact that he's dangerous. I'll buy you some time to get yourselves, and the others, out of here."
"But...what about yourself?" Shulk asked, apprehensively.
"I'll do my best," Lucina asserted, mustering up all the confidence and courage she had. "The Captain has trained me well. I want to prove my strength, and if this is how it has to be, then so be it."
"I...okay," Shulk said after a moment of hesitation. "I hope you know what you're doing."
I hope I do, too, Lucina thought. Here goes nothing... "Just trust me, guys." Lucina got into a fighting stance as she saw a figure that matched Shulk's description walk into the Casino. "It's time for me to change fate."
"Heheheh..." Black Shadow cackled maliciously as he entered, not having drawn everyone's attention to him immediately.
"Is that..." a civilian murmured upon seeing the criminal wanted all across the galaxy. Unfortunately for them, Black Shadow heard their voice and began gathering electric energy in his hands, prepared to char them to a crisp with over 10,000 watts of pure electricity. Other casino goers noticed and gasped, when Lucina shouted, "Stop right there, Black Shadow!" She ran toward him and attacked him in a leaping slash, only for him to knock her away. Thanks to the training she received, Lucina flipped around in mid air and managed to land on her feet, sliding a short ways backwards. Everyone else only looked on in stunned silence.
"Everyone, just go!" Shulk called out to the other casino-goers as Lucina and Black Shadow battled in the open space on the casino floor. People ran out in droves, screaming in terror, as Fiora calmly but worriedly led them out. Once they had all left, she called to him, "Come on, Shulk!"
As Shulk and Fiora ran out into the parking lot, Shulk suddenly stopped.
"Shulk?" Fiora asked him before noticing he was having another vision. "This isn't a good time for another vision..."
"Oh no...not Lucina..." Shulk murmured after the vision ended, his face darkening in despair.
"...She'll be fine, I'm sure," Fiora tried to console him. "She's been getting stronger, remember? I believe in her. Don't you?"
"Yes, but..." Shulk began fearfully. "Black Shadow will get the upper hand, and knock her out, capturing her..."
"And the Captain will come save her, I'm sure," Fiora tried to reason with him. "You've got to stop taking all these burdens onto yourself like this, Shulk. I love you too much to see you torment yourself like this."
"Sorry..." Shulk apologized.
"Plus, what's important right now is that we make it back to Smash City safely," Fiora added, a determined expression on her face.
"...You're right, Fiora," Shulk said. "Let's go."
As the couple ran to safety, Fiora thought, Please, Captain...please save Lucina. She cares for you deeply, I can tell. And I'm sure you do, too...
"You can't run," Black Shadow bellowed as he reached his fist toward Lucina, who stood on top of a blackjack table. She quickly leapt and flipped forward in the air before his attack could connect, merely flipping the table over. Lucina then slashed at Black Shadow, only for him to swiftly turn around and block the blow with his hulking large arms.
"What...?!" Lucina gasped, recoiling slightly.
"Hmph...not bad," Black Shadow said, observing the casino floor which was now completely empty and some of the television screens destroyed, sparks flying out of their cracks. "Falcon has trained you well. Looks like that tip from Don Genie was right..."
"What of it?" Lucina scowled, cautiously circling the evil mastermind with her Falchion drawn. "I'm not letting you lay a finger on him."
So someone was watching us... She thought. And they tracked me here...
"Heh, aren't you the ever noble defender," Black Shadow taunted her. "But I don't intend to destroy him directly this time."
"What are you scheming..." Lucina murmured, her expression tense, holding her Falchion close to her as a defensive measure.
"I intend to shatter his will until he's an emotionless husk of the man he once was..." The evil F-Zero racer began, threateningly, before continuing, "And what better way than tearing the things he cares about most from him...?"
"What are you...?" Lucina questioned before hearing an oddly familiar voice behind her.
"Starting with you, young lady."
It can't be... Lucina turned around, slowly lowering her Falchion, and saw...
"Captain?"
The man who stood before her was the exact spitting image of Captain Falcon, except something about him seemed more menacing. His helmet was purple instead of red and had a silver skull engraving instead of a golden falcon. His clothes were also identical to the Captain's, except they were red with purple gloves and wristcuffs, and rose gold boots. The buckle on his belt appeared to be a solid silver disc with what looked like blood stains on it.
"That's Blood Falcon to you, young lady," Blood Falcon said with a sinister grin. "Though it doesn't matter since you're probably gonna die soon."
"Not if I-" Lucina began, raising her Falchion to attack him, only for him to swiftly and forcefully punch her in the gut, knocking the air out of her lungs.
"Ughhhh...?!" She gagged, her pupils shrinking in response to the pain, her hand dropping the Falchion which fell limply to her side.
"Your first mistake was thinking you could take me on when you're clearly outmatched," Blood Falcon boasted, smirking menacingly as Lucina's vision became blurry.
Why...? She asked herself as she struggled to keep her balance before slumping to the ground helplessly. I did it again...I got too cocky. Nothing's changed...nothing at all. I'm still weak. I'm still a burden...
Black Shadow held out his hand, lifting the woman Blood Falcon defeated with some sort of telekinetic force. "Let's see if this woman is the perfect bait for Falcon..."
And now, I'm paying the price... She was unable to move, feeling like she was just an observer to everything happening to her and lacking the power to stop it. I probably...won't even make it back to Smash City alive...and if I do, I can't even face them like this... Tears began to well up in her eyes as her vision started to go black. She didn't even feel Black Shadow trapping her in some sort of energy-based chains, or notice Blood Falcon picking up her Falchion.
Father...Mother...Shulk...Fiora...Robin...Zelda...
Her eyes slowly closed and her consciousness faded to black as these last thoughts crept into her head, a lone tear rolling down her right cheek.
Captain...I'm so sorry...
As Captain Falcon drove back to the Dollars Casino, he was not expecting to see two familiar faces running to him in distress.
"Captain! It's not good!" Shulk cried as he and Fiora ran to the Blue Falcon.
Opening the cockpit and climbing out, the Captain asked them, "What's the matter? Where's Lucina?"
"That's...the problem," Fiora panted, the color draining from her face. "This strong man with horns on his head stormed in and started attacking, but Lucina bought us time to get everyone else out and escape ourselves. It was thanks to Shulk seeing him coming through a vision."
"Black Shadow..." The Captain murmured, a trace of subtle anger in his voice. "He's stooping that low...how did he even know?"
"I do know she looked behind her shoulder after Lily left for some reason," Fiora added. "I have no idea why."
"Wait a minute..." The Captain remembered how he felt he was being watched over at the Dollars Lounge. "It must have been...someone must have been spying on Lucina and I."
"If there was, I didn't notice them there," Shulk confessed. "Or even who they might have been..."
"I see...nothing we can do about that aspect, at least." Looking around, Falcon asked Shulk, "Do you have any idea where she might be?"
"She's...probably in Black Shadow's grasp..." Shulk said regretfully, looking down with a sad expression on his face. "As we were leaving, I had another vision that Black Shadow captured her. It was either that, or, if we didn't do anything, we all die..."
"Don't worry, Shulk," Captain Falcon consoled the wielder of the Monado. "You made the right call. I'll find Lucina, and stop Black Shadow myself. You guys just head back to Smash City..."
"Yeah," Fiora agreed. "I have some...business there too."
"Come again?"
"I...have my interview today for the next Smash tournament with Master Hand himself," the former vessel of Meyneth clarified. "I didn't tell Lucina because I wanted it to be a surprise if I make it. Though...I don't want to have to be worrying about her the whole time. I'm worried I may not make such a good impression like this..."
"I'll save her, Fiora," the Captain reassured her. "Don't worry. Just do your best, okay?"
Looking anxious for a moment, Fiora then nodded, her face now bearing a determined expression. "Of course...I'll do my best for her." She and Shulk ran off to the teleporter that led back to Smash City while Captain Falcon climbed back into the Blue Falcon and drove off in search of his companion.
"Ngh..." When Lucina opened her eyes, she found herself in an industrial area consisting of ten relatively smaller towers circling a larger tower. Or at least, what remained of it. The center tower was nothing but rubble. They were all suspended by roads floating over lightning clouds, which also infested the skies. Every few seconds, lightning flashes illuminated the dark skies. Looking down, she saw she was bound by chains of blue electric energy, and was suspended in mid-air. Her Falchion was also missing.
"So, the maiden finally awakes from her slumber," Black Shadow said in a condescending manner, a sinister grin on his face.
"Don't patronize me, Black Shadow," Lucina retorted. "I demand to know where you've taken me."
"Hahahaha! The hostage is making demands!" Black Shadow mocked her. "If you must know, though, you're in the power plant region in the Lightning area."
"Lightning...?"
"I'm just thinking of the many ways to kill you and crush Falcon's will in the process," the villainous racer cackled. "Should I drop you into the abyss below us? Fry you with thousands of volts? Or no, maybe go with what I tried to do last time with Falcon's ex, Jody, and lock you in one of these power plants and rig it to explode!"
"Just...why, though?" Lucina asked. "Why are you doing all this?"
"Heheheh...you want to know why?" Blood Falcon said as he stepped out of the shadows. Upon closer observation, Lucina noticed he was holding her Falchion.
"That's...!"
"I may be a clone of the Captain created four years ago, but I ain't thick," Blood Falcon boasted. "After defeating our previous master, Deathborn, Captain Falcon hadn't been seen in Mute City for a while. And now he returns here with someone like you? Normally we wouldn't have bothered if it was someone like Snake, but Falcon seemed very close to you...almost too close. Like you were someone special to him." Holding his free hand to his chin, he mused, "Black Shadow ordered Don Genie to stake you guys out, determine the nature of your interactions. And what do you know, when Falcon was being interviewed on F-ZERO TV, he gives a shoutout to you specifically. Gee, I wonder why that is...?"
"Ah...that's..." Lucina was trying not to blush, thinking of how close she and Captain Falcon had become.
"...So that's how it is," Blood Falcon mused. "You have a thing for him? It's probably one-sided anyway, so he probably wouldn't even come to save you."
"He will," Lucina answered him. "I don't doubt that."
But...maybe his clone is right...I'm surprised he even has a clone. Is this something he kept secret from me...? Why?
"Heh, you may be right," Blood Falcon said. "He always comes out to save anyone in need. It's how we know when to attack him, since otherwise he keeps to himself in god-knows-where." Noticing Lucina's gaze shifting to the Falchion, Blood Falcon taunted her, "Oh, you want this...?"
"That's my Falchion," Lucina snarled, trying in vain to reach for the sword's handle. "Give it back right now, or..."
"'Fraid not, lass," Blood Falcon replied, grinning maliciously as he pulled the Falchion out of her reach. "You'd sooner take off an arm than break those chains, lemme tell ya!"
"Ugh..." Lucina groaned, her expression turning bleak. "Just...kill me now. Please."
"Oh...?"
"The Captain was taking me various places to train, so I could get stronger, to protect myself and those I care about. And I can't even do the former...please, I don't want Captain Falcon to see me like this...like a failure. Just kill me..."
For a moment, the blade of the Falchion was pointed at Lucina's throat. She gulped in fear, her heartbeat accelerating, the palms of her hands sweating, as she stared death in the face. After a while, she regained her determination as she thought, I've faced death countless times before...this is nothing.
Just then, Blood Falcon drew the sword away from Lucina. "You think I'd make it that easy?" He taunted. "You've got another thing coming. Killing you here would be no fun. I want what Black Shadow wants, and that's to watch the hope drain from Falcon's soul as we kill you so slowly you'd be begging for mercy...!"
"N-no..." For once in her life, Lucina felt true fear. She had never considered the possibility of being tortured in her home world, as most enemy nations were destroyed in her future. There was only the Risen, who possessed no intelligence, no willingness to torture, only knowing how to kill. She couldn't even begin to imagine being tortured or dying a slow, agonizing death in the first place.
"Well, speak of the devil," Black Shadow interrupted them. "Here he is now."
Surely enough, the Blue Falcon was pulling into view. Captain Falcon leapt out of the Blue Falcon and ran to Lucina. "Lucina! Are you okay?!"
"Captain...?" She felt a mixture of relief, joy, and sorrow, but her face was solemn. "How...did you know where to find me?"
"It was all over the news when I was heading back. They said someone matching your description was headed here, and I knew you couldn't have come here on your own."
"Captain..." A weak smile graced her face, before turning regretful. "You...shouldn't have come here."
"Why...?" The expression on his face turned melancholy at those words.
"I...failed you, Captain. I let you down, after you did all that for me. I...don't deserve to even return to Smash City."
"What's gotten into you...?" The Captain could not believe what he was hearing. "You know what I said about blaming yourself..."
"Please," Lucina begged him. "Don't waste your time on someone like me."
"Lucina..." He slowly walked closer to her.
"Please! S-stay back!" Before she could say anything else, she felt the energy chains around her shocking her with mild electric shocks, causing a fair amount of discomfort.
"Nnn...ngh..." She grunted, wincing and squirming in pain.
"Stop this, Black Shadow!" Captain Falcon told Black Shadow. "What are you trying to accomplish from this...? You coward..."
When the shocks stopped, Lucina took a few moments to regain her bearings, breathing heavily.
This is...mortifying, she thought as she panted. I don't want Falcon to see me like this...I have to show him...that I can handle this...
When her vision stopped blurring and her ears stopped ringing, she weakly insulted Black Shadow with, "Is...that all you've got? And here your little lackey said... I'd be 'begging for mercy'. Heh...what a load of bull-"
And then the shocks started up again, this time more intense, shifting from discomfort to significant pain.
"Agh...aaaaaaaaaaaaaah...!"
"Lucina!"
The shocks stopped momentarily. The color was draining from Lucina's sweat-covered face as she panted weakly and groaned, her eyes still closed, before the shocks intensified and she screamed in agony.
It's no use... She was surprised she was still able to think amidst the unimaginable torture. I...can't...
"THAT'S ENOUGH! Please, leave her out of it!" The Captain's voice was particularly anguished as he pleaded. Almost immediately, the shocks stopped.
Noticing how pained the Captain's voice sounded, Lucina slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to him. "Cap...tain...?"
"I know...what you're trying to do," Captain Falcon told his clone and Black Shadow. "You're trying to break my will by going after those I care about...? And doing it right in front of me...that's real low, I'm not going to lie."
"What are you...?" Lucina whispered, her eyes widening in tension.
"But...your endgame goal is to destroy me nevertheless, right?" He lowered his gaze to the ground as he continued, "I don't care what happens to me anymore...as long as she's safe. Please, release her and take me instead. You can do whatever you want to me...I only want her to be safe."
In the end, he thought, I only want you to be happy and safe, Lucina. I'm sorry I dragged you into this danger...Just know that you didn't let me down. I'm still proud of you...
"Oh...?" Black Shadow wondered, his voice tinged with a sinister curiosity.
"Captain...?!" Lucina pleaded. "Captain, no! Don't do this! I don't want anyone putting their life on the line for my sake, least of all you! Please...!"
Falcon slowly walked closer to Black Shadow's range. "Lucina...please forgive me."
"Heheheh..." Black Shadow laughed maliciously. "Looks like we have a deal...!" Slowly lowering Lucina with his telekinetic powers, he then snapped his fingers when she was close enough to the ground, causing the chains to separate, releasing her in the process as she unceremoniously fell to her knees.
"Guh..." She rasped, before looking up and seeing the chains float to Black Shadow's side as he converted them to pure energy again and prepared to aim it at the Captain.
"No...!" She murmured. I won't let that happen! Mustering whatever strength she could, she quickly stood, ran to Blood Falcon and kicked him in the arm, forcing him to release the Falchion. She swiftly and carefully caught it by the handle and dashed to the Captain's aid, blocking the energy with her sword.
"L-Lucina...?" Captain Falcon asked, seeing Lucina standing before him as the energy chains shattered into a million pieces.
"I said I'd protect you...didn't I?" She turned her head to him slightly as she spoke. "I want to be able to prove my own strength...I'm not about to let anyone else die for me. You saw me in so many moments of weakness...let me show you my moment of strength."
"So she wants to play, too...?" Blood Falcon questioned. "Two against two. I like those odds!"
"You may look like me," Captain Falcon began, "But you and I are nothing alike! Your creation was a mistake, and I'll ensure you don't hurt anyone else again!"
"You want to protect the Captain...?" Black Shadow taunted Lucina. "How can you do that when you couldn't even protect yourself?"
"I got cocky once. I won't let it happen again," Lucina huffed. "Plus, you fought dirty by having Blood Falcon attack me by surprise. This time, it's a fair fight!"
With that, Lucina and Captain Falcon split up and fought Black Shadow and Blood Falcon respectively. The Captain's clone attacked him with mostly punches and kicks, some of which he dodged, some that he didn't. Just when Blood Falcon thought he had beaten Captain Falcon within an inch of his life, however...
"Falcon...PUNCH!" A fiery fist landed smack dab into Blood Falcon's chest, causing him to keel over in pain.
"Gwah...!"
Meanwhile, exhausted as she was, Lucina could barely land a blow on Black Shadow.
"Heheheh..." Black Shadow cackled. "Look at you. The torture exhausted your body so much, you can barely even land a blow. Pathetic...I guess the only thing keeping you going is your determination, and even that isn't enough. Looks like you got cocky agai-" Just then, he felt a stabbing pain in his abdomen. "U-ugh...!? How...?"
Forcing her Falchion through the part of Black Shadow's abdomen that he neglected to guard while avoiding his vital organs, Lucina bragged, panting all the while, "I was actually counting on you...to start monologuing on how you're better than me. That's why I attacked you so weakly." Wiping the sweat from her brow, she continued confidently, "Looks like...you were the one to get cocky." She slowly pulled the Falchion out of the wound as Black Shadow grunted in pain and clutched his side after it was all the way out. She then deftly sheathed it.
"Guh...t-this...isn't over..." Black Shadow grunted.
"Yes, it is," a young female's voice boomed over a speaker. Turning around, Lucina and the Captain saw Lily Flyer headed to them in her Bunny Flash, plus a teal vehicle with the number 26 and the words "Wonder Wasp" written on both its sides.
"The Federation...!" Blood Falcon hissed. "Master, let's retreat!"
"You haven't...seen the last of us...!" Black Shadow limped to his vehicle, the Black Bull, and Blood Falcon got into his Blood Hawk as the two wanted criminals drove away into the distance.
His eyes drawn to the Wonder Wasp, Captain Falcon murmured, "T-Tanaka...?"
Stepping out of the vehicle, John Tanaka walked over to the Captain along with another Federation soldier. "I'm actually surprised you managed to hold your own against them. I saw the news, and figured I should rush over to help as a fellow member of the Federation. Miss Flyer volunteered, too."
"I see..." Just then, the Captain lost his balance as he clutched his side in pain. "Ugh..."
"Oh no...it's a good thing I came," John said. "I'll take you back to Mute City and have Dr. Stewart give you some first aid."
"Thanks..." Falcon strained. "Where's...Jody?"
Watching the conversation from afar, Lucina thought, He still asked for Jody...they are just friends still, right...? Ugh...why am I thinking that at a time like this? Why am I so selfish...?
"She's waiting for us at the Dollars Hotel. If you wanted to catch up with her like old times, now's your chance."
"That...would be nice," The Captain rasped. "Maybe I'll congratulate her..."
"For now, though, just save your breath," John urged him. Glancing at the other soldier, he said, "He'll ride your Blue Falcon over to the hotel, so there's no need to worry. In the meantime, let me take you there."
"Of course..." Falcon murmured. "I've been...dying to see Jody again..."
Dying to see her...? Lucina felt her heart break a bit at that statement as her expression turned sorrowful. So he does still care for her deeply...I knew telling him how I felt wouldn't have been a good idea.
Slowly stepping forward, Lucina feebly called out, "Cap...tain...?" Before feeling exhaustion catch up to her.
W-what...? What's happening? She could feel her whole world spinning, her vision blurring, as her heart throbbed weakly in her chest, reverberating loudly in her ears. I feel so...tired...
Climbing out of the Bunny Flash, Lily asked, "Lucina...?"
"Li...ly..." Lucina managed to utter, weakly reaching out her hand, before collapsing to the ground with a thud as her vision went dark.
After a few minutes, Lucina awoke to find herself in a slightly more spacious F-Zero vehicle, the scene outside the vehicle appearing to be a long suspension bridge. Looking around, she recognized the pilot as a certain Lily Flyer. It was then she realized she was in the Bunny Flash.
"Lily...?"
"Ah, good, you're awake," Lily said, still keeping her eyes on the road. "I was beginning to worry if you'd ever wake up. I could tell you pushed yourself past your limit back there."
"I guess I did..." Lucina murmured. "Where's...the Captain?"
"He's en route to the Dollars Hotel, where he'll get some first aid. Our medicine is state of the art and he seems to only have minor internal injuries, so he should be back on his feet in no time."
"That's good..." Lucina trailed off before remembering something the Captain said.
"I've been...dying to see Jody again..."
"Do you know if...he still has feelings for Jody...?"
"Ms. Summer? As far as I'm aware, not romantically. Not anymore at least," Lily clarified. "They're just friends, but it seems he still misses her. I know she misses him, because they hadn't spoken ever since she was in a similar situation to yours and he saved her."
"Right..." Lucina said, remembering Black Shadow mentioning that he once trapped Jody in a power plant about to explode in an attempt to kill her.
"Why? Do you...have feelings for him yourself, Lucina?"
"I..." Lucina hesitated, feeling a dull ache in her heart at how the situation changed ever since she realized her feelings for him. Holding her hand to her chest, she confessed, "Yes...I do."
The two were almost at Mute City. Lily answered Lucina, "Huh...I didn't think he'd be your type, but at least you know that's how you feel...have you told him?"
"No..." Lucina sighed. "And...maybe it's for the best that I never do."
"How come...?"
"I...can't face him like this. Maybe I'll never see him again...I want to just be alone for a long time."
"Lucina...?" Even though Lucina couldn't tell, Lily's facial expression became concerned.
"It's for the best...I promised him and everyone at Smash City I'd become stronger, and I only let myself be defeated, tortured and humiliated by those two..."
"Listen, Lucina," Lily attempted to console her. "It's not your fault...it happens to the best of us. You said that to me earlier."
"This time, it was my fault, though," Lucina lamented. "At least I was able to protect the Captain, but...I wish he'd at least thank me..."
"I don't think he was able to," Lily said as the two pulled into a side parking on the streets of Mute City. "Remember, John and I showed up, and then Falcon was in pain."
"I know..." Lucina said, standing up slowly. There's still the fact that...he never told me about Blood Falcon. Is that man really his clone, and why?
"You know..." Lily began, "You...don't have to face this alone. You can talk to me..."
"Thanks, but...I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I've...made my decision." Lucina could feel the sorrow and regret grabbing her emotions in a chokehold, refusing to let her go. Nothing could change her mind at this point.
"So...you're leaving, then?" Lily asked, sounding a bit solemn.
"Afraid so...I don't know when I'll be back. If I'll ever be back..."
"I...see." Looking down sadly, Lily opened the cockpit to the Bunny Flash, allowing Lucina to step out. Lily did the same, closing the cockpit behind her.
"Lily?" Lucina asked, looking down.
"Yes...?"
"Now that I think about it...maybe not knowing where you come from, or having anybody you love, like friends, family, or that special someone...maybe it's a blessing in disguise."
"What...makes you say that?" Lily grew increasingly concerned with what Lucina was saying, but knew she could do nothing to dissuade the Ylissean.
"Because...that way, you don't form attachments to people. It makes saying goodbye far less painful." Her voice started to crack a little.
"Lucina..." Noticing it was about to rain, Lily took out her Space Credits card and used it on a nearby umbrella vending machine, dispensing an umbrella. Opening it, she gave it to Lucina, seemingly as a last parting gift. "It's about to rain. I figured that, wherever you're going...it shouldn't be all alone in the rain."
"Thank you..." Slowly turning to the young cadet, Lucina smiled in a bittersweet manner that was betrayed by the heartbroken sound of her voice. "It was...very nice to meet you, Miss Flyer. I pray you have a happy, fulfilling life, no matter what may happen..."
"Lucina..." Lily looked to the side sadly.
Turning away slowly, Lucina softly murmured, "Farewell." She didn't even look back to see how Lily would have reacted as she began to walk to the hotel.
Heh...why...she was someone I only knew for a few minutes at best. Why then...do I feel so sad...? Lucina felt tears coming to her eyes as she softly wiped them away.
But no...as much as it pains me, this is something I have to do. After what happened...after how I let everyone down...I have no other choice.
"Alright, Captain, take this," a young woman with long brown hair said as she popped a pill into Captain Falcon's mouth as he lay down on the hotel bed. He obliged, and she gave him a drink of water.
Once the pill went down, he sighed. "Thanks, Jody...sorry you had to see me like this."
"It's no worries," Jody said. "I'm just glad I can catch up with an old friend again. You should be glad Dr. Stewart left these pills with me. He had to leave for an emergency, but these should fix you up in a jiffy."
"I see..." The Captain murmured. "So...how've you been, Jody? I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up as much as I should."
"Well, John and I are together now, as you probably know," Jody said as she sat down. "It's funny, I used to want him to just leave me alone. But after you saved me during the Lightning incident, he took me home, and we bonded so much after that day. I'm actually really thankful for him."
"I heard you two are considering getting married," The Captain began, slowly sitting up. "Congratulations."
"Thank you. And...thank you, for rescuing me that day...I never got a chance to thank you for what you did, even though we weren't... together at the time."
"Don't mention it..." The Captain consoled her. "I'd do anything for a dear friend."
"A dear friend..." Noticing it was about to rain, Jody asked him, "Say, what about that young lady everyone tells me you were with?"
"You mean Lucina?" Falcon asked. "She's someone I decided to take under my wing for combat training. We kinda grew close during our journey."
"I see," Jody answered him. "I guess she's the one you gave a shout out to on F-ZERO TV during your interview."
"Yeah, it was her," The Captain confirmed. "I hope she's okay. I didn't get to thank her for protecting me. John and Lily showed up, I was hurt, and then she collapsed..."
"John tells me Lily picked her up," Jody clarified. "She should be in Mute City soon."
"I see..." Falcon said, sounding somewhat melancholy. "I told her I was proud of her progress, and she wanted to protect me. I guess...she felt ashamed when she was captured by Black Shadow. I know she has a tendency to take things out on herself sometimes..."
"You should talk to her," Jody advised him. "Even though she feels validated by her training, she must still be grappling with some unseen insecurities...she would appreciate you talking to her, I'm sure."
"Yeah..." Falcon agreed. Standing up and looking out the window, he saw Lucina walking in the rain, holding an umbrella. "There she is."
"Good luck," Jody called out to him as he left. "Oh, and we found out who was watching you two."
"You do?" The Captain stopped walking, turning behind briefly.
"Evidence suggests it was Don Genie, but he fled before he could be questioned," Jody replied. "The Federation will be tracking him down. Don't you worry."
"Thank you..." The Captain proceeded to head down to the ground floor.
...
As the Captain stepped out of the Dollars Hotel into the Lounge entrance's awning, he saw Lucina standing just outside the awning in the rain, holding an umbrella.
"Lucina...?" He asked, walking over to her. "What took you so long...?"
"Why...Captain?" Lucina asked, her eyes barely visible as she was looking down. "Why'd you do that?...Why'd you try to sacrifice yourself for me?"
"I..." the Captain paused momentarily, hesitant on how to respond. "I... told you about Black Shadow, didn't I? The man is ruthless... I didn't want to risk anything happening to you. You don't know what he's capable of."
"That's it?" Lucina retorted with a dry, almost spiteful laugh. "You know of the future I came from as well...about Grima. If I could handle Grima by myself, I could hold my own against him...!"
"No, you can't," Falcon scolded. "He was out of your league. I was only trying to protect you. You weren't ready to take on someone like him. It was only a miracle you managed to injure him like that-"
"…I wasn't ready?" Something snapped inside the normally calm and composed Lucina as lightning flashed brightly in the distance and thunder boomed. "…I WASN'T READY?! Then…then was the point of the training all along? I was supposed to become stronger, so I could protect myself and those I care about!"
Even you… She thought deep down, anger and sadness brewing in her heart.
The Captain could feel the tension in the air hanging heavy on him. "I know…I remember that day in the hospital. You didn't want to feel weak anymore, and it was something I could sympathize with."
"You sure about that?" Lucina looked up, her glare burning with rage. "All your life, you've always been victorious. You've never known the soul crushing despair of defeat like I have. The pain of seeing those you love die all around you, for your sake, and you can't do a damn thing about it! You've never known loss…like the feeling my father had when he couldn't enter the Smash tournament. He wanted to show his worth, and was denied. And whose fault is that, I wonder…?"
The swordswoman's words cut Captain Falcon deeper than any sword. Taking in a deep breath, he retorted, "I was only trying to protect myself, okay!?"
Stunned for a moment at those words, Lucina seemed to calm down afterwards, but the "calmness" was only a facade. "So you admit it...you were only looking out for yourself."
"That's not..."
"Moreover," Lucina added, "Blood Falcon...he's your clone, right? Why? Why did he come into existence? Why is he evil...?"
"I..." The Captain began, only to hesitate. "I'm...afraid I can't tell you that just yet."
"So you're keeping secrets from me too...? Isn't that just great." Looking down once again, Lucina continued, her voice shifting to a remorseful tone, "But in the end...it doesn't matter anyway. You know...what Young Link told me when we were leaving Clock Town?"
…
"I had...no idea." Falcon sighed, glancing away subtly with a melancholy expression, the rain battering harder. "You're saying...any one of us may have to leave Smash City at any time, never to return? Like Young Link? Like the Ice Climbers? Like...Snake too?"
"Exactly." Pausing for a moment, Lucina began, "What if my father never gets his chance...? What if he does, but I'm not there to share the joy of his dream being realized? What if Mom, or Shulk, or Zelda, or Robin, or any of my friends aren't there anymore?"
What if you're not there anymore?
She continued, "Then all my training, all my efforts to prove my worth would be in vain. What use is the strength I gain if I can't change fate? For once, the future is a total unknown...and that's what scares me."
"But...we don't know for certain how things will turn out, right?" Falcon asked, trying to give his protégé some hope to hold on to.
"Yes...you're right." Lucina could only feel despair gripping her, as she delved into a despondent ramble. "And that's why...I feel like my efforts are futile. I really am weak. I'm...useless."
Can't you see it, Captain?
"This is why I fought alone in my future after a while. I didn't want to get attached."
Can't you see that this has taken me by surprise? I'm growing closer to you. I don't fully understand why I'm developing these feelings...but they're very much real.
"I've always hated goodbyes. I tend to get close to people easily, so saying goodbye to them under any circumstances, knowing I'll never see them again, is a pain I cannot bear."
I don't want to do this! Can't you see my heart shattering in front of you? I know it in my heart...these feelings of respect and admiration are becoming something...greater. But...I can't do anything about it, can I... I can never tell you like this. It hurts so much, but I have no choice. If I don't, I'd just weigh you down...
Lucina was starting to tremble at this point. "So, I guess...I should just be alone again. Nobody gets hurt because of me, and I wouldn't have to actually tell them all goodbye and see them suffer."
Captain...there's no mistaking it. I love you. I love you with all my heart. And it's for that very reason that I have to leave you... Fiora was right about us. We're opposites, you and I. You're the light, the sun, the fire burning bright, and I am the darkness, the moon, the deepest, loneliest depths of the ocean where the light cannot reach... And it's why we can't be together. I guess being alone is my destiny, that I have to leave all those I care about. Even you... Especially you.
Her voice began to crack. "I... appreciate all you've done for me, I really do. And I'm thankful I met you and everyone in Smash City. But...I have no choice. It's better that I disappear...that everyone, even you, forget about me. This is for the best..."
...I'm sorry.
"Luci-" Captain Falcon tried to interject, but at that moment, Lucina let go of her umbrella in a resigned manner, the object protecting her from the rain falling limply to the side before hitting the pavement with a faint splash. Letting the rain drench her head to toe, she slowly lifted her gaze to face him again. The rain mixed with the tears streaming down her face which donned a defeated, heartbroken "smile", her wet blue hair clinging to her face and clothing. The grief could not be more obvious in her voice as she softly, sorrowfully uttered these words:
"Goodbye... Captain Falcon."
The half-hearted smile became a pained expression, as if she were about to burst into sobs at that point, as she turned away, walking away slowly in the rain, her eyes directed at the ground.
"Lucina...?"
She did not answer him. After a while, she started to run faster, shutting her eyes and weeping. All she could hear was the splashing sound of her footsteps and her own sobs.
"Wait! Come back...!" He called out to her, reaching out his hand.
At that moment, the Captain knew the true meaning of futility. Within seconds, she disappeared from his sight, vanishing into the rainy horizon.
Looking down, the Captain felt raw regret overwhelm him as he murmured with a dejected sigh, "What have I done..."
You did protect me, Lucina, he thought, the guilt and sorrow overwhelming him. I was blinded by my desire to keep you safe. I didn't even know you were grappling with so many doubts and insecurities. I should have thanked you...
He sighed once again, looking up this time. How ironic... I wish you'd told me what was bothering you sooner, but I couldn't even tell you about Blood Falcon, or the truth behind the Horrific Grand Finale. What a hypocrite I am... And I even put you in harm's way, all because of my negligence. I'm so sorry...
He turned away and started to walk to his Blue Falcon as a lone tear slid down his face, the sound of the rain drowning out everything around him.
[INSERT JONTRON'S RENDITION OF "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU" HERE]
this wAS HEARTBREAKING EVEN FOR ME TO WRITE I'M CRYING
...but yeah like, I always enjoyed writing angsty scenes? I hope I handled it well here.
And yeah, this is another long chapter. Next one will be a bit shorter to provide a bit of a breather, hopefully. And rest assured, they WILL get back together...I just can't say how, just yet.
But yes RELISH THAT ANGST. SAVOR IT.