Y'all want fluff and cute moments? Yer gonna get it :3
also the layouts of New Los Angeles's Commercial and Residential Districts may not be accurate. just go with it idc
Title for this chapter based on "Walk You Home" by Karmina
Hiding in my Skin, Broken from Within
Chapter 15 - Walk You Home
The morning light filtered softly through the small window on the door of the BLADE bunker on the shores of Sylvalum that Lucina and Captain Falcon spent the night in. Stirring from his slumber, Captain Falcon slowly opened his eyes, the lights on his visor turning on mere milliseconds afterwards.
"Morning already...?" he mumbled softly, quietly turning over in the bed he rested in.
For once, I didn't oversleep... maybe it's because... I have more to look forward to now...? Like Snake returning, and... He glanced over at Lucina, who was still sleeping peacefully.
Lucina... He quietly got out of bed with a sigh, his lips shaped into a subtle frown. It's kinda bittersweet... these next few hours may be the last I spend with you, for the sake of your safety. I'm sorry... I wish I could tell you. He hesitantly walked over to his slumbering companion and, after a moment of reluctance, gently shook her awake.
"Rise and shine, Lucina..." The Captain murmured gently.
"Uhh..." Lucina faintly groaned, slowly opening her eyes. Sluggishly turning over, she directed her somewhat still groggy gaze to meet the Captain's. "What... time is it...?"
Pulling out the FrontierNav device Elma gave him, Falcon turned on its holographic screen and looked at the time. "It seems to be 9:25 AM. We should give Elma a call to take us to New Los Angeles."
"Sounds like a plan," Lucina said, climbing out of bed and fixing her bedhead as best as she could. "Let's go."
Falcon opened the bunker's door and the two stepped outside. Walking down the steps onto the shore, Falcon pulled out his FrontierNav device and began to contact Elma. Within seconds, Elma's face appeared on the holographic screen.
"Yes, Captain?" Elma asked him.
"Hey, Elma," The Captain greeted her. "We're ready to head to NLA. Could you come pick us up?"
"Of course," Elma confirmed. "I'll be there soon." The holographic projection ended, and the Captain put his FrontierNav device away.
"Say... Captain...?" Lucina questioned, walking over to the Captain.
"Y-yes?" Captain Falcon asked, slowly turning to her.
"I... have a couple of questions to ask." Looking down and wiggling her left foot shyly, her first question was, "Are we...done with our training?"
"Ah..." The Captain stammered for a moment, then answered her, "...Do you feel satisfied with your training?"
"...Yes," Lucina said after a moment of hesitation. "I realize in hindsight that... even with all the training I've received, there are some times that it's best to run away... that I can't let pride or an unrealistic desire to do more than I'm capable of take over." For a second, Black Shadow's words echoed in her mind.
"Falcon has trained you well."
Even my enemy acknowledged it... and knew it still wasn't enough as he fought dirty...
"It wasn't your fault..." The Captain tried to reassure her, noticing her worried expression. "I should have warned you about Black Shadow and Blood Falcon more in advance."
"No, please, don't worry about that anymore," Lucina answered him. "It's just..." She looked to the side somewhat regretfully.
It's just that, despite the danger I was in, I didn't want you sacrificing yourself for me... and I still don't...
"Something wrong?" Falcon asked Lucina.
"Ah!" Startled, Lucina turned her gaze to meet his. "I-it's nothing... I think from here on, we should strive to protect each other. Just do what's already within our power to do."
"Sounds fair..." Falcon trailed off.
Truth be told, he thought, after Elma's done with her interview... I think the best way I can protect you... is for us to go our separate ways.
"Captain?"
"Y-yes?" He stammered. "Geez... I did it again... guess old habits die hard, huh."
"Don't worry about it," Lucina reassured him with a giggle. "There's... actually something I've been meaning to tell you, but didn't have a chance to last night." Her face changed to an expression of worry.
"Which is...?" The Captain's curiosity was piqued.
I... still don't think it's right to tell him how I feel right now, she thought. Taking in a deep breath, she began, "You...told me your dark past last night, about the Horrific Grand Finale and Blood Falcon. I... think it's only fair I tell you mine."
"About your father and the future you come from?" The Captain inquired.
"No..." Lucina said. "It's... something deeper and darker than that." Her left hand slowly inched to the glove on her right hand when she noticed a large red mecha suit approaching them. Drawing her sword, she said, "Something's coming...!"
Turning around, the Captain recognized who it was. "At ease, Lucina," he reassured her, prompting her to sheathe her sword again. "It's fine. Elma's here in her Skell."
Within a few seconds, the Skell stopped hovering a few centimeters above the ground and landed, then shifted into a docking position as Elma exited the cockpit. "Good to see you, Captain."
"Same here," Falcon greeted Elma with a brief wave.
"Elma...right?" Lucina asked the silver-haired woman.
"Ah, so you must be Lucina," Elma said, walking over to the blue-haired swordswoman, extending her hand. "Captain Falcon told me about you. It's good to finally meet you, and see that you're well."
"It's nice to meet you too," Lucina said, shaking Elma's hand. "So this...machine...it's called a Skell?"
"Indeed," Elma confirmed. "This model is called the Verus. All Skells are capable of transforming into land or sea vehicles, advanced combat, and high traveling velocities. Of course, we're still working on getting it to fly."
"No problem," Falcon told Elma. "As long as you can get us there."
"Of course," Elma said. "Hopefully by the time we arrive, Snake will be waiting for us. I told him the situation was resolved a few hours ago." Beckoning Lucina and the Captain, Elma called out, "Alright you two, hop on in."
After the two hopped in, Lucina looked around and saw the cockpit was virtually transparent. "Wow..." She murmured in amazement as she and Falcon walked to the back behind Elma's chair. "You can see everything around you, even in the Skell."
"It certainly helps in combat and travel," Elma said. "Now... you two might want to hold on to something."
"What do I hold on to-" Lucina began before the Skell jolted as it transformed into a wheeled land vehicle. "W-whoa!" She gasped, losing her balance from the sudden jolt, when Captain Falcon caught her.
"You alright?" He asked her.
Slowly looking at him, she felt her heart race. "Y-yes. Thanks..." She smiled, then shifted her eyes away bashfully as he helped her stand.
"Sorry about that jolt, but it's otherwise a smooth ride," Elma commented as the Skell drove over the strips of beach connecting Sylvalum to just short of Noctilum.
"Amazing..." Lucina murmured as she observed the natural surroundings from the cockpit. "Mira has a lot of natural wonders, doesn't it..."
"It does," Elma answered her. "I found Falcon in Noctilum, the jungle continent. There's also Primordia, where New Los Angeles is, as well as Oblivia, the desert continent, and Cauldros, the volcano continent. Of course, Cauldros is more dangerous than the other continents, so we haven't gotten a lot of exploration done there..."
"Volcano...continent?" Lucina's face bore a look of visible discomfort at those words.
"What's wrong?" Captain Falcon asked Lucina.
"Nothing..." Lucina answered him. "Just... it's just a coincidence that my hallucination was also of a volcanic area..."
Everything will be fine...right...? She thought.
"Now both of you, hold on tight," Elma announced out of the blue. "I know a quicker way to Primordia. You're gonna love this!"
"Huh?!" Before either Captain Falcon or Lucina could react, Elma drove the Skell off the sandy path into the deep ocean.
"Elma, are you cra-" Lucina began to protest before an even bigger jolt knocked her off her balance. The Skell shifted once again to its default position, only this time it was hovering above the deep waters and moving at a faster pace with the jet boosters on its back. The jolt caused Lucina to bump into Falcon, who held on to her tightly.
"Ah..." Lucina looked at Falcon slowly, blushing, with a slightly dreamy look on her face.
He's... so close to me... Her hand unconsciously rested on his chest.
"L-Lucina...?" Captain Falcon questioned, somewhat flustered, his heart racing.
This is...not what I was intending... He slowly leaned his face closer to hers almost automatically as he thought, Even so, why can't I...?
"Everything okay back there, you two?" Elma asked them.
"Y-yeah, of course," Falcon stammered as the two snapped out of their trance. He then gently released Lucina from his arms and set her against the back wall of the cockpit before leaning back himself. Noticing a strange alien whale-like creature "swimming" through the sky, he pointed at the creature and said, "Hey, Lucina. Look at that."
"Huh?" Tilting her head up, she saw the creature in all its alien majesty. "Wow..."
"Mira's also home to a lot of interesting and diverse creatures and races," Elma elaborated. "Of course, some of them... aren't that friendly. Luckily, we have a lot of friendly alien races living within NLA's walls."
"I see..." Lucina murmured.
...
Several minutes passed, and the Verus arrived by the shores of Primordia. Primordia was a rather basic grassland continent with rivers, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and several coral-like "trees".
"So this is Primordia," The Captain commented.
"Indeed," Elma confirmed. "We're almost there. Brace yourselves."
This time around, Lucina and the Captain did just that as, after maneuvering the Verus onto the shore, Elma once again shifted it into vehicle mode. The ride to NLA's West Gate only took a minute and a half, managing to avoid any dangerous enemies along the way. Once they arrived, Elma stepped out, followed by the Captain and Lucina.
"So here we are," Elma announced. "If you look to your left, there's the teleporter leading to Smash City that Cloud and Bayonetta were calibrating the other day. Snake should be in NLA right now, which we can get to through the gate on our right." Holding her hand to her chin in thought, Elma then said, "Although... just for you two, why don't we take the scenic route?"
"How do you mean?" The Captain asked the BLADE colonel.
"Just follow me," Elma said. She led the two up some stairs close to the gate, leading up to a freight elevator. As the three rode up, Falcon asked Elma, "Say, Elma? What's with these blue-green crystals around NLA's base?"
"Oh, that?" Elma answered him. "When NLA crash landed from the White Whale onto Primordia, the structure's defense systems emitted a cushioning gel. It solidified into the crystals you see here."
"You mentioned something about a White Whale before," Falcon mentioned. "Am I right in assuming it's the ship your people escaped Earth on before it was destroyed?"
"Your planet... was destroyed?" Lucina asked, a somewhat solemn look on her face.
"To both questions, yes," Elma replied. "Part of our mission is salvaging what remains of the White Whale."
"What for...?" The Captain inquired.
Noticing the elevator coming to a stop at the top of the structure, Elma said, "I'll explain in a bit. Looks like we're here." Lucina and Captain Falcon followed Elma as she led them across the top platform into the hallway overlooking the city.
The trio's footsteps made slight metallic echoes across the steel walkway as a towering city skyline slowly came into view. Slowly walking a short distance behind Elma, Lucina and the Captain briefly exchanged glances before pressing onward. Within seconds, the two could see an even larger tower standing taller above the rest in the sunlit sky, with a digital LCD display on the top showing a timer and a percentage - 41%, to be exact.
"Whoa..." Captain Falcon murmured in bewilderment.
"What is that, Elma?" Lucina asked Elma.
"That is BLADE Tower," Elma clarified as she walked to the railing and rested her arms on it, the wind softly blowing in her hair. "It's NLA's base of operations, in the Administrative District. As for the timer... our most important mission is to find the Lifehold Core and restore backup power... otherwise, everyone here... their Mimeosomes will cease to function, and then that's it. If we can restore backup power, however, there's a chance we can get everyone back into their real bodies."
"I...see..." The Captain said, somewhat timidly. "And... District? Are there others?"
"Yeah," Elma confirmed. "If you think the view is amazing now, wait till I take you guys on a little tour. It's the least I can do to repay Smash City after Palutena gave me a tour there."
"Ah..." Falcon and his partner walked over to the railing and looked at the scenery below them. There was a series of interconnected roads above a large body of water. Or, judging by what Elma told them, the cushioning gel. The roads weren't fully connected, but there were indeed several districts, two notable ones being an area with a lot of shops and restaurants; and a residential area with various houses, a sports complex, and a cathedral.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Elma asked Captain Falcon and Lucina, who were looking at the cityscape below in wonder. "It may not be much for a beached up space ship, but to all of us here at NLA, we couldn't be more proud to call it home."
"I see," Lucina commented. "Even though you're all fighting for your survival... you're also enjoying your lives, almost like how you remember it. I wish I had that privilege..."
"And with such amazing technology too," Falcon said. "Say...that commerce area... I've read historic records from the Earth I come from, and it looks like Los Angeles, California, around the 21st century..."
"That's why we named it New Los Angeles," Elma told him with a smile. "It was modeled after the very same city." Turning to the staircase just next to them, she said, "But enough talk. I think it's time I take you guys up on that tour offer. Follow me."
As the three headed down the stairs, they were greeted by Skells walking around, as well as a test hangar, production plant, and a diner in the distance. "This here is the Industrial District. It's where the Outfitters develop new weapons and technology for Skells and infantry alike."
"Elma!" Lin called out to them from afar. After she ran to them, Elma told her, "Good to see you, Lin. I take it Cloud and Bayonetta returned to Smash City safely?"
"They did," Lin confirmed. "I wouldn't mind seeing them again someday... especially Bayonetta. She was soooo cool and strong! And I even got to show her some of my Skell fanfiction!" Remembering something all of a sudden, Lin then said, "Oh, Elma! Your interviewer is waiting for you by BLADE Tower."
"Snake..." Elma murmured. "I'll be there soon, but first I wanna show Lucina and Captain Falcon around NLA. It's the least I can do to repay them..."
"Lucina's here?" Lin walked up to Lucina. "Great to see you again! I guess this guy is your trainer?"
"Yeah," Lucina confirmed, glancing at her partner.
"Say, Lin?" Captain Falcon asked the young genius. "Elma's a member of the Reclaimers... I guess everyone here in NLA has some kinda division they belong to, but... what division are you?"
"Oh, that," Lin began. "Elma's division, the Reclaimers, seeks to reclaim the pieces of the White Whale and, most importantly, find the Lifehold Core, though I imagine she told you about that already." Glancing at a nearby Skell, she looked at him again and continued, "As for me... I'm an Outfitter."
"Developing tech and weapons for Skells and soldiers, right?" Falcon asked. "But...aren't you a bit young to be working with such things?"
"I may only be thirteen years old, but I know this is what my parents would have wanted," Lin answered him, somewhat wistfully. "So... I'm glad to be of service to NLA and BLADE."
"You're only thirteen?!" The Captain exclaimed in surprise, recoiling slightly.
"Hey now, your world has a fourteen-year-old support soldier," Lucina told Falcon with a slight chuckle. "Which, I'm sure if they somehow ever met, Lin and Lily might be pretty good friends..." Looking down solemnly, she mumbled, "I wonder if Lily knows how sorry I am for that day..."
"Lucina..." Falcon looked on at her, somewhat regretfully, as he thought, Don't worry... when I see Lily again, I'll tell her on your behalf...
"Something the matter?" Lin asked them.
"...Oh," The Captain murmured. "Lin...it's very admirable that you're lending your skills and knowledge to a noble cause."
"What he said," Lucina said, lifting her gaze to meet the young Outfitter's. "And... just stay safe and happy, okay, Lin? I know what it's like to lose your parents at a young age... In everything you do, just keep their memory alive in your mind and heart."
I can't help but see some of myself in Lin, Lucina thought. At least she'll probably have a happier future...unlike me...
"Of course," Lin told them. Just then, a ringing came from her pocket. As it turned out, Secretary Nagi was trying to contact her on her FrontierNav device.
"Secretary Nagi?" She asked as she answered the video call. "You want them there as soon as possible? Got it." Hanging up, she turned to the three and said, "Looks like you'll probably have to take a rain check on that tour. Nagi wants you guys at BLADE Tower on the double."
"Well, that's unfortunate..." Elma said. "I suppose we'll take the transport over there and you can give them an abridged version of the tour." Elma glanced in the direction of an orange and gray vehicle with hover boosters and windows on its sides.
"Sounds good," Lin said. "Follow me, guys!"
After Lin, Elma, Lucina, and Captain Falcon boarded the transport vehicle with Elma at the driver's helm, the vehicle took off above the ground and began hovering above the city at a reasonable altitude, en route to BLADE Tower.
As the two people from Smash City looked at the more in-depth view of the city, Lin announced, "Not bad, huh? You can see eeeverything from up here."
"It beats walking, that's for sure," Elma commented.
"Can't argue with that," Falcon said, followed by him and Lucina chuckling in unison.
"It really is the best way to see NLA," Lin declared. "Everytime I see the view from here, it's like it's a different city." Pausing for a moment, she then said, "Oh, right. I forgot, I may as well give you an 'abridged' tour." Clearing her throat, she continued, "New LA is divided into four districts. You guys were just in the Industrial District. It focuses on food production, Skell and weapon development, and there's even the Repenta Diner to grab a bite after a long day of work. It's also where the West Gate is."
"Is there another gate outside of the city?" Lucina asked Lin.
"As a matter of fact, there is," Lin clarified. "The East Gate is in the Administrative District, where we're headed. It's where BLADE Tower is, as well as the BLADE Barracks, Mimeosome Maintenance Center, and Armory Alley, where weapons, Skells, and gear are sold. You can also find L there selling his odd knick-knacks." Giggling, Lin continued, "If you should choose to peruse his wares, I should inform you: their intended use isn't what it looks like at first glance."
"I'll take your word for it," Falcon remarked.
"Yeah," Lin said with a slight chuckle. "And that's just on the first level. The second level below that, which connects to the rest of the districts, is the Skell Hangar. Any maintenance and repairs are carried out there."
"I see..." Lucina mused.
"Anyway," Lin continued, "To your left is the Commercial District." Lucina and Captain Falcon looked out the windows to their left and saw a sprawling commercial area with modern-looking but nevertheless traditional cars.
"The Commercial District is where the fun is," Lin explained. "A lot of different shops, restaurants, art galleries, almost anything you can think of! Perfect place for a date - you'd get to do so much stuff!"
"A date..." Lucina murmured quietly enough that the Captain wouldn't hear, holding two fingers to her lips, smiling dreamily.
"And to your right," Lin began, prompting Lucina to break out of her trance. She and the Captain looked out the windows to the right as Lin continued, "...is NLA's Residential District. You can expect to see a lot of different houses there, big and small. There's also a park, a sports complex, and a cathedral. The park is one of my fave places to just chill."
"Is that a water purification plant around there too?" The Captain asked.
"Indeed it is," Lin said. "We have a second one outside the city walls, close to Biahno Lake."
"Makes sense," Lucina commented. "You guys are making do with what you already have... I admire your ability to adapt to any situation."
"Aw, you flatter me," Lin giggled bashfully.
"Hold on, Lin," Captain Falcon interrupted them. "What's that ship in the sky close to the Administrative District?"
"Oh, that's the Ma-non ship," Lin explained.
"Ma-non...?" Lucina tilted her head to the side quizzically.
"They're a friendly alien race we met in Oblivia," Lin clarified. "They provide us with some tech for the gear we develop, and in return, we allow them to dock their ship in NLA. If anything bad should happen that we'd need to temporarily evacuate the civilians, they can provide us with the means to do so."
"I see..." Lucina mused.
"They also just love pizza. Can't get enough," Lin giggled. Noticing they were close enough to the landing dock, Lin then said, "Welp, we're here, guys!"
And sure enough, the transport had already made it to the Administrative District's top level, with BLADE Tower within eyeshot. Maneuvering the vehicle just a bit closer, Elma then landed it on the landing dock gently.
After the four stepped out of the vehicle, Lin asked Elma, "So, should I head back, or...?"
"You can come along," Elma told her. "Follow me, guys." Elma led the other three to the stairs leading to BLADE Tower. On their way there, Captain Falcon recognized a familiar face.
"No way... is that really...?"
Waiting for them just outside the door to BLADE Tower was a face Falcon thought he would never see again. It was none other than Solid Snake himself.
"Snake...?" He murmured as he stopped in his tracks, his mouth open in a surprised look. Elma, Lin, and Lucina also stopped walking momentarily.
Noticing his longtime friend standing at the foot of the stairs, Snake called out to the Captain with a confident grin, "Kept ya waiting, huh?"
"Nnnn..." Falcon looked down for a moment, biting his lip.
He's really... back...? Without another second of hesitation, he briskly walked up the stairs and embraced Snake, who hugged him back. As he ascended the steps, his FrontierNav device fell out of his pocket. Lin immediately dashed over to pick it up as it fell.
"Hey, Captain, you forgot -" Lin began, before looking to her side and noticing Lucina just looking on at Falcon and Snake, a longing expression on her face. Elma calmly followed after Falcon.
"Um... Lucina...?" Lin asked the Ylissean, to no response. Lucina still stood there with the same look on her face.
Look at him... Lucina thought. How happy he is to see his friend again... How tightly he's embracing Snake, even if it's the embrace of platonic camaraderie... I'm just so happy to see him happy. Looking to the side briefly, she thought, I wish... he'd hold me too. But... in a different way...
Lin slowly stood up and covertly hid the device in one of her pockets, then walked over to Lucina. Meanwhile, just in front of the entrance to BLADE Tower, the Captain and Snake were still engaged in their brotherly hug.
"It is just so... so very good to see you again, Snake," Captain Falcon said, his voice starting to crack slightly.
"You... you startin' to cry on me, man?" Snake asked him with a slight chuckle.
"W-what?!" Letting Snake go, Falcon complained, "N-no I'm not...!"
"Hahahaha," Snake laughed heartily. "But yeah, it's great to see you again, Cap. I'm just glad you didn't try to strike me in the chest like Samus did when she saw me again."
"She did what...?" Falcon snickered upon learning what Samus did when she and Snake were reunited.
"She said she wanted to make sure I was real," Snake said with a slight laugh. "But... all in all, she was very happy to see me again. I was, too. I missed her a lot...and you, and everyone else."
"...Everyone?" Falcon questioned.
"Would you believe me if I said... that everyone is back at Smash City?" Snake told him. "The Ice Climbers are back, Young Link is back, Red is back with his friend Leaf, Squirtle and Ivysaur too... hell, there's even a smaller Pikachu I've never seen before that tends to hurt itself in its attacks..."
"Pichu's back?!" The Captain exclaimed, part in disbelief, but part in amusement. "Get outta here!"
"Would I lie about this? If I'm back, everyone is!" Snake then placed his right hand on the Captain's right shoulder. "It's like the Colonel - God rest his soul - once told me. Once a Smash Brother, always a Smash Brother."
"Hahaha, yeah," Falcon said joyously, placing his right hand on Snake's and flashing him a confident, but grateful, smile. "Speaking of Colonels... you'll be interviewing one."
"Snake?" Elma asked Snake as she headed up the stairs. The Captain stepped aside to give her and Snake space, still oblivious to the fact Lucina wasn't standing near him.
"Great to finally meet you in person, Elma," Snake told her, extending his hand for a handshake.
"Same to you," Elma responded, shaking his hand. Meanwhile, Lin subtly approached the blue haired swordswoman who was traveling with Snake's friend.
"Hey... Lucina?" Lin called out to her.
"Ah... L-Lin?" Lucina stammered, snapping out of her daydream.
"I couldn't help but notice... the way you were looking at your personal trainer," Lin commented in a somewhat teasing tone, a smug grin creeping up on her face.
"W-wha?!" Lucina gasped, her eyes widening in surprise as she blushed vibrantly. "I-it's not-"
"C'mon, it's written all over your face," Lin giggled.
Closing her eyes as she sighed, Lucina opened them again and confessed, "Yes... it's true... I admire him. But... I can't bring myself to inform him in a subtle manner." Holding her hand to her chin in thought for a moment, she then asked Lin, "I'm... actually thinking a little... date may be the best way." Looking down slightly as she shyly touched the tips of her index fingers together, she continued, "Like, for the two of us to just spend time together outside of training. We've done it once before... You said the Commercial District was the perfect place for that?"
"Well, yeah," Lin admitted. "The FrontierNav device Mr. Falcon dropped has a map of NLA. Wanna have a look?"
"If it'll help me decide where I want to go with him, sure," Lucina agreed. Lin brought the device to Lucina while Snake and Elma were conversing.
"...I think to start off, I'll ask you some questions inside BLADE Tower. After that, I want to be able to gauge your combat abilities," Snake told Elma.
"Sounds good," Elma replied. "We're pretty close to the East Gate, so we can be in and out pretty easily. You want to start now, or?"
"Not just yet," Snake answered her. "I need to discuss something with Falcon real quick."
"Of course," Elma obliged. "You two are good friends, after all. I'll let you guys talk about whatever you need to. Let me know when you're ready." She stepped aside, and Snake walked back to the Captain's side.
"Yo, Cap?" Snake asked Captain Falcon.
"Y-yeah?" Falcon snapped out of what was seemingly a daydream from staring off into the horizon, and turned to Snake. "What's up?"
"Listen," Snake began. "I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news or anything, but you know how I said everyone is here? Now, it's just hearsay for now, but... something like this might not happen again..."
"You mean...?" The Captain trailed off, a trace of uncertainty in his words.
"Yeah..." Snake said with a solemn sigh. "There's a chance some of us may have to go our separate ways after this tournament, and... you get the idea. On the bright side, the Hands plan on making this their biggest tournament ever, so they're probably gonna bring over a lot of potential newcomers."
"I see..."
"I'm not saying... you should feel sad about this right now," Snake tried to reassure his friend. "The tournament might go on for quite a while, including the recruitment of newcomers. You've got plenty of time to enjoy hanging out with the other Smashers."
"But... you know me, Snake," Captain Falcon told his friend. "I've always been a loner in Smash City. Aside from Samus, you were my only other true 'friend'. Everyone else was just a fleeting interaction here and there..."
"No time like the present to change that, though," Snake encouraged the Captain. "I can tell you've changed a lot in my absence. You seem more... open, willing to open up to others. I'm happy for ya, Cap." Glancing at Lucina, Snake then asked his friend, "And what about her? Did you two get to patch things over yet?"
"You mean Lucina?" Falcon questioned. "Yeah... we have. More than that, in fact. We've... gotten close, you might say."
I certainly got closer to her than I was expecting... He thought, looking away subtly.
"That's progress, then," Snake commended the Captain. "You're stepping out of your comfort zone, making new friends... you're just full of surprises today, Cap." He chuckled heartily.
"Yeah... she's a friend, pretty much," Captain Falcon commented, trying to hide his true, deeper feelings. "You saying I should...?" He began, before noticing Lucina heading up the steps all on her own.
"Heh, looks like she's comin' to you," Snake remarked. "Go get 'er, pal," he encouraged Falcon, giving him a playful slap on the back, nudging him a bit forward. Regaining his balance, he made eye contact with the blue-haired young woman.
"Um... Captain?" Lucina asked her partner.
Hesitating for a moment, Falcon then asked her, "What's up, Lucina?"
Reaching into her pocket, Lucina pulled out the FrontierNav device that Captain Falcon dropped when he headed up the stairs earlier. Bowing as she extended the object to him, she said, "You dropped this..."
"Oh..." The Captain calmly took the device and put it away, prompting Lucina to stand up straight again. "Thanks... I didn't notice I dropped it." Noticing Lucina looking down and touching the tips of her index fingers together shyly, he then asked, "Is... something the matter?"
"Ah!" Lucina gasped, startled. She quickly looked behind her and saw Lin giving her a thumbs up in encouragement. Regaining her confidence, she took in a deep breath, and then said, "Lin... showed me a map of NLA on that device. I was wondering if... while Elma is interviewed, we could take it easy and see everything NLA has to offer...?"
"You mean... like a date?" Falcon questioned.
"Wha-!?" Lucina gasped, her cheeks turning beet red. "D-d-don't be silly! It's just... time to bond outside of training..."
"A date, eh?" Snake asked the Captain teasingly, playfully elbowing him with a smug grin. "You sly dog, you!"
"Shut up, Snake!" Falcon protested, blushing. "I-it's not-"
"I say go for it," Elma interrupted them. "You two have been training for a while, right? And you just crossed paths again after so long... you guys deserve to relax a little."
"I guess..." The Captain obliged. "We are pretty much done with training, so we'll be heading back to Smash City pretty soon. I imagine your interview will take a while too, Elma."
"It will," Snake confirmed. "And you two really should unwind and spend some time together. I imagine you've slowly gotten to know each other during training. I think this will help you guys strengthen your relationship outside of training, too."
"Yeah, it will..." The Captain murmured. Afterward, both he and Lucina looked away from each other awkwardly, shyly covering their mouths with their hands.
"Oh... I see what's going on here," Snake commented teasingly. "So it is a date, then..."
Lowering his hand, the Captain blurted out in protest, "Snake, I swear to God I'm-"
"...Going to see the town with Lucina RIGHT! NOW!" Lucina took the initiative and completed the Captain's sentence for him, grabbing his hand and trying to drag him along.
"W-whoa!" Falcon cried in surprise, trying to keep his balance. "Careful, Lucina! You want me to drop the FrontierNav device again?!"
Elma giggled at the scene before her, and told Lucina and Captain Falcon, "You two have fun, now!" Turning to Snake, she asked, "Shall we?"
"Yeah. Let's begin." After that, Snake and Elma entered BLADE Tower.
"Oh Naga, I can't believe I actually..." Lucina murmured to herself softly, holding the fingers of the hand that once held Falcon's for a few seconds to her lips, before turning to him and saying, "S-sorry about that."
"No problem," The Captain reassured her with a soft smile. "I figure I could use a break anyway." Looking away bashfully for a moment, he then stammered, "B-but... It's not a date, got that?"
It's just... I still can't bring myself to tell you, he thought.
"Of course," Lucina said. "We're just... going to do some sightseeing."
Even if you don't think it's a date, it is to me, She pondered. Maybe this way... I'll gain the courage to finally tell you...
"Lucina?"
"I-it's nothing, Captain," Lucina stammered. Turning to Lin, she then asked the young engineer, "Shall we get going, then?"
"Commercial District, right?" Lin inquired. "Follow me."
The two followed Lin into Armory Alley, with L, a humanoid Xenoform with blue skin, blue hair, downward pointing horns on his head, and who spoke in the royal "we", trying to get them to buy his "wares" for a moment, before Lin dissuaded him, saying they were busy. The three then found an elevator nudged away into a nook of the Armory Alley, and rode it down to the Skell Hangar.
"Wow..." Lucina murmured, looking at the Skells all around, some of which were being piloted for test drives.
"Oh, right... the Skell Hangar connects to the other districts," Falcon recalled. "So what are you gonna do, Lin?"
"I have to do some Skell maintenance, so I'll see if one of our fellow BLADEs can give you a ride," Lin explained. "Where do you guys wanna go?"
After a moment of thought, Lucina decided, "It's pretty early, so... I was thinking the Liz-Santa art gallery?"
"Hmm... didn't know art was your thing," The Captain commented. "I'm in too."
"Okay." Taking out her FrontierNav device, Lin spent a few seconds seemingly messaging someone, then announced, "Just head up that ramp over there," pointing in the direction she wanted the two to head in. "Lao will come pick you up soon and take you guys there."
"Okay," Lucina replied. The two followed Lin's directions and headed up the ramp, which led to the roads connecting the districts. Within a few minutes, a man in his early thirties with long black hair, black eyes, slight stubble on his chin, and a black skin tight body suit drove up to them in an uncovered vehicle.
"Lin told me about you two," the man introduced himself. "Name's Lao Huang. I'll give you guys a ride to the Commercial District. Hop on in."
The two did just that and climbed into the back seat, sitting next to each other. Noticing this, Lao chuckled and quipped, "You guys sure are inseparable, huh? Sweethearts, or...?"
"U-um..." Lucina looked away, blushing, before continuing, "We... we've been training partners for a while. And I guess, we've gotten close enough to call ourselves really good friends."
"I see," Lao said as he shifted the vehicle into drive and began driving over to the Liz-Santa art gallery, situated in one of the high rise towers in the Commercial District.
"Yeah, we're just gonna enjoy ourselves in town while Elma has her interview," Captain Falcon explained. "After she's done, we'll return to Smash City."
"Ah," Lao replied. His eyes still focused on the road ahead of him, he then commented, "You guys should definitely enjoy the time you have together. Don't take it for granted... you never know when you'll be separated from each other..."
"I..." Lucina hesitated, looking down and holding her left hand to her chest pensively.
"Don't worry, Mr. Huang," Falcon told Lao as Lucina looked up at her trainer. "After all we've been through... I won't take anything for granted anymore."
"Captain..." Lucina murmured. Turning her gaze into the city horizon, she pondered, I... won't take anything for granted anymore. That's why I want to enjoy every moment with you. That's why... I'm hoping soon, I can finally tell you. But... how Lao said it, he made it seem like we will be separated some day. I don't know how, but... I'm not looking forward to that day. That's why -
"Alright, we're here," Lao announced as the vehicle came to a stop. Gasping as she snapped out of her trance, Lucina looked around and saw they had indeed arrived at their destination.
"Everything okay there, Lucina?" The Captain asked her.
"Y-yes," Lucina stammered.
"Well then, let's go," Falcon invited her, stepping out of the car. Lucina followed suit, then turning to Lao and saying, "Thank you, Mr. Lao."
"Don't mention it." His eyes half-closing in a melancholy manner, Lao continued, "I mean what I said, though. The day will come when you guys will be separated, and you won't be able to find your way back home to each other again... Just take it from me."
"I...see..." Lucina solemnly looked on as Lao drove off.
Are we really... going to be separated...?
"Hey, Lucina?" Captain Falcon called out to her. "You comin' or what?"
"Oh!" Lucina gasped before turning to the man she had feelings for. "Coming!" She ran up to his side, and without a moment of hesitation, held on to his hand.
I shouldn't dwell on that. For now... I really should enjoy myself...
"Where's...this coming from?" Falcon asked.
"Oh...nothing," Lucina said coyly, with a dreamy smile on her face. "L-let's go in."
"Yeah."
As the two walked into the gallery through the glass automatic double doors, Lucina could not wipe the enamored smile off her face.
It's a date.
...
It had been only ten minutes, but the two had covered a bit of ground on the first floor of the gallery. Having seen a lot of different types of artwork, from paintings to sculptures to murals of varying styles, Lucina decided to ask Captain Falcon, "So... what piece of artwork catches your eyes the most so far?"
"Hmm..." After thinking for a moment, the Captain answered her with, "I would have to say... that polygon based scenery art we saw earlier. It's somewhat minimalistic, but that's part of its charm - how the colored triangles seem to blend seamlessly to create the illusion of a submerged iceberg."
"It's definitely your style," Lucina commented.
"Huh...?"
"Oh... I didn't mean to insult you or anything," Lucina said, scratching the back of her head shyly. "I just figured that... since you're someone with a very technical mind, this would be something you'd like."
"Ah..." Falcon giggled a bit. "Don't worry, you didn't offend me or anything like that. I'm just surprised you made the connection that easy. I never gave it much thought..."
"Heh, yeah..." Lucina only looked on at Captain Falcon with an adoring smile.
It feels like... I'm getting even closer to him... Getting to know him more, and... just falling in love with him more and more.
"And you, Lucina?" Falcon asked her. "Which piece of art stood out to you the most?"
"Ah..." Looking around for a moment, Lucina saw one particular painting that caught her eye. "This one." She motioned for him to come over. It was an abstract painting consisting of blending colors without a defined shape or form.
"Abstract, huh?" Captain Falcon commented. "Never would have pegged you as liking this type of art style."
"Art can be about interpretation too, right?" Lucina questioned. "That's the hidden beauty of this painting, I think. It can represent whatever you want it to."
"Heh, here you go with the deep thoughts," The Captain chuckled.
Puffing her cheeks in an irritated manner, Lucina grumbled, "What's that supposed to mean...?"
"Whoa, no offense meant," Falcon replied. "I think it's nice actually, how you think about things like this."
"Oh...of course..." Lucina giggled. "I think Fiora's words left an impact on how I analyze things sometimes, too."
And... he's getting to know me more, too.
"Oh please, you two, if you want to see a real masterpiece, come over here!"
"Is that...?" Lucina ran off in the direction of the voice, and the Captain followed. Standing in front of a classic painting was none other than the Umbran witch, Bayonetta.
"Bayonetta...?" Lucina asked. "I thought you went back to Smash City?"
"I did, but I got a bit bored, and decided to check out some more of New Los Angeles on my own," Bayonetta answered her. Noticing Falcon close by, she walked over to him and introduced herself. "So you must be the famous Captain Falcon. Charmed." She extended her hand for a handshake.
"Oh, please, Bayonetta, you flatter me," Falcon chuckled, shaking her hand. "But it's nice to meet you too."
"Anyway," Bayonetta began, "They call this one, Primavera. It's from the Renaissance Era, which I actually lived through!" She stepped aside, allowing the other two to look at the painting she was looking at previously. It was an intricately painted portrait of a group of mythological deities in a garden of sorts.
"They don't call it a classic for nothing," Bayonetta commented. "Perfect composition, and an unknown meaning that's open to interpretation... based on your art tastes from earlier, it's the best of both worlds!"
"Hmm, you're right..." Lucina mused.
"Heh, never would have imagined you as a patron of the arts, Bayonetta," The Captain teased the Umbran witch.
"Never would have pegged you an artsy person at all, Captain," Bayonetta remarked. "Now Lucina here, I expected, but I wasn't expecting her to like abstract art..."
"Heh, yeah..." Falcon turned to where Lucina was standing, only for her to have left the immediate room. "...Lucina?"
A short distance from them, Lucina walked over to a room with a kinetic ceiling sculpture that emulated the look of waves on the ocean. "Wow..." She murmured in amazement, looking on as if mesmerized before hearing a couple's voices break the silence.
"Babe!" The girlfriend said to her boyfriend. "Look at this!"
Walking up to his girlfriend, the boyfriend said, "Yeah, darling. This is really something."
"Babe? Darling?" Lucina murmured to herself. "Is this...how couples communicate...? Calling each other affectionate nicknames?"
"Hey! Lucina!" Captain Falcon called out to her. "Wandered off, didn't ya?"
"Oh! S-Sorry!" Lucina called to him back. "I just wanted to look at this!"
"Hmm?" Both Captain Falcon and Bayonetta walked over to where Lucina was standing, and directed their gaze to the kinetic ceiling sculpture.
"Heh, interesting," The Captain commented.
"Maybe modern art has its own merits as well," Bayonetta said.
...
Once they were done browsing the gallery, Captain Falcon and Lucina bade Bayonetta a "see you later" before stepping out and trying to decide their next destination.
"So, where to now?" Falcon asked Lucina. "Wherever you wanna go. You suggested we have this outing, after all."
Turning her head to look at him, Lucina answered him with a smile, "Thank you." Looking ahead, she asked, "...What time is it?"
"Lemme check." Pulling out his FrontierNav device, the Captain read the time. "It's 12 noon."
"Then...how about lunch?" Lucina asked innocently. "I'm sure you must be hungry... I sure am." She looked down, smiling giddily.
Eating together... yes, that sounds very romantic. Every little moment with him is a glimpse into the real him, and vice versa...
"Yeah, I'm pretty famished myself," The Captain agreed. "But... how are we gonna pay for it? That gallery was free entry..."
"Say no more, dudes, Yelv is on the case!"
Turning to the right, they saw a physically fit young man who looked about twenty-two years old walking over to them. He had messy, shoulder length blonde hair, green eyes, tan skin, and a tattoo below his right eye. He was also wearing orange and grey body armor.
"Yelv... right?" Lucina inquired.
"Yup," Yelv told Lucina. "You guys wanna have a lunch date, right? I'll cover your bills, no prob, Bob!"
"Well, it's not a date per se, but yeah," Captain Falcon told Yelv.
Gasping, Yelv announced, "Yo, hold up! Are you... THE Captain Falcon?!"
"I... take it you've heard of me?" The Captain asked.
"Heard of you?! Dude, Elma TOLD me all about you! How you're a famous racer and bounty hunter, AND how Earth is still around in your world! I'm standing in the presence of a celebrity, here!" Yelv could not stop geeking out around his idol.
"Heh, never thought I'd gain a fanboy here," The Captain quipped. "Have you decided where exactly you wanna go, Lucina?"
"Ah..." After a moment of thought, Lucina declared, "I think... we should visit Restaurant Rose Moss."
"Oof, that upscale place?" Yelv griped slightly before shrugging. "Eh, no matter. You guys are visitors, so you probably want the finest stuff NLA has to offer. And let me tell ya, you're gonna get it!"
...
After Lucina and the Captain claimed an outdoor seating connected to the restaurant and sat across from each other, with Yelv standing close by, the waitress walked up to the two and handed them some menus. "What would you two like?"
"Hmm..." After perusing the menu, Lucina decided, "I think I'll have some Shepherd's Pie and a glass of raspberry lemonade."
"You... know that despite its name, it's not really a pie, right?" The Captain asked Lucina.
"I know," Lucina giggled. "It's just... the ingredients they use in the description, they remind me of dishes they'd make back home. Plus, the name... my father's army is called the Shepherds."
"I see... so comfort food's your thing," The Captain answered her.
"And you, mister?" The waitress asked the Captain.
"I think... I'll have some fried calamari and a glass of cola."
"A fine choice, sir," the waitress commented.
"Cala...mari?" Lucina asked, tilting her head quizzically.
"It's basically squid," The Captain told her.
"So you like seafood?" Lucina asked the Captain.
"You could say that." The Captain smiled at Lucina softly. "It's too bad there isn't an aquarium here in NLA. The sight of seeing those fish and other such sea creatures in water tanks all around you...it's truly, for lack of a better word, majestic."
That smile... Lucina smiled back, somewhat affectionately. "I see... so you're just fond of the ocean in general."
"My Falcon Flier ship is over in Big Blue, so yeah."
"Excuse me," Yelv told the waitress. "They're from Smash City, and are visiting for a bit, so... is it alright if I foot their bill?"
"Of course, Yelv," the waitress replied. He handed her his credit card, and she went off to use it at the cash register before walking back to Yelv and giving him his card back.
"Thank you, Yelv," Lucina thanked the young BLADE.
"No problemo," Yelv said. Waving to them, he announced, "And I gotta take care of some stuff. See ya guys later, and enjoy!"
"Later!" The Captain called out to Yelv as he ran off into the distance. Turning back to Lucina, he said, "New Los Angeles really is something else, huh?"
"It really is..." Looking at the sky briefly as a gentle breeze blew through her hair, Lucina commented, "I wish the future I would one day have to return to would be this bright. But... when that day comes, I would still have to return to the same bleak future I came from... such is how time travel works."
"I see..." Falcon's mouth shaped itself into a timid frown.
"It's fine..." Lucina tried to dissuade him. "At least... the younger me, the me from the timeline I saved... She will get to live a happier, more fulfilling life." Looking to the side, she confessed, "I... overheard some of what you were talking about with Snake. That this might be the last time everyone's back together..."
"I know..." Falcon sighed. "But... try not to worry about it too much, okay?"
"I'll try..."
I should try to tell him now. I don't know if I will get another chance...
But before she could, the waitress arrived with their food and drinks. "A Shepherd's Pie for her, fried calamari for him, and your drinks. Enjoy, you two!"
"Thank you!"
...
"Mmm, this taste makes me think of home," Lucina commented, enjoying her meal which consisted of a mixture of ground beef, carrots, onions, peas and mushrooms in mashed potatoes and covered with gravy. "I wonder if Lon'qu would like to make a recipe like this. He's the fastest potato peeler in all of the Shepherds." Noticing the Captain grabbing a miniature fried squid and examining it up close, she asked, "Um...? What are you doing?"
"Fascinating, isn't it?" Falcon said, looking at the piece of calamari from every angle. "These... tiny little squids, you can see the suction cups on their tiny tentacles if you look close enough..."
Resting her fork, Lucina held her hand to her mouth and giggled. "You're like a little kid when it comes to these sort of things, Captain!"
"Hey! I resent that!" Grumbling for a bit, he motioned for Lucina to come closer. "I'm serious! Take a look at this!"
Leaning in closer, Lucina could see what the Captain meant. "You're right..."
"Pretty cool, huh?"
"It certainly is..." Sitting back down, Lucina winked as she teased Falcon, "Now, I think you should eat your food before it gets cold."
"Whatever you say, mom," Falcon said sarcastically before they both burst into hearty laughter.
This is nice... Captain Falcon thought, looking on at Lucina with a serene smile. It's like Neku told me... I should expand my world, and enjoy every moment with all I've got. And I certainly am enjoying these moments with you, Lucina. His smile sank as he pondered, At first I was afraid to tell you how I felt, but... now... I'm not sure what I should do anymore.
...
After they finished their meal, they decided to take a leisurely stroll around town, briefly stopping into a flower shop, a jewelry store, and a gift shop, but not purchasing anything. However, something caught Lucina's eye as she and the Captain passed a clothing store for both males and females.
"Oh, wow, that outfit looks nice..." Lucina murmured, stopping in her tracks.
"Clothing?" Falcon asked after catching up with Lucina after she stopped walking. "If you wanna take a look, I guess we could..." He then looked away briefly, covering his mouth with his hand and muttering, "Just... don't expect me to try anything on..."
"Hmm?"
"...Nothing," The Captain reassured her. "Let's go."
As they entered, they saw a man who looked to be 28 years old with short brown hair, green eyes, and black thick rimmed glasses; and a woman who had to be about four years younger with shoulder length black hair, a white shirt with a cream colored vest, and a case of heterochromia, with one eye being brown and the other purple, although the difference was so subtle that one wouldn't notice at first glance.
"You must be those visitors from Smash City I've heard about," the woman said, walking over to the Captain and Lucina.
"Are you enjoying it so far?" The man added as he approached them. "I would hope so, I've seen you two have impeccable taste in art and cuisine. As for clothing... I'll be the judge of that."
"H.B., please," the woman tried to dissuade the man, who was apparently named H.B. Turning to the other two with a somewhat sheepish grin, she introduced herself. "My name's Hope Alanzi. This is Hector Birtwhistle, or H.B. for short. And welcome to Mall Cruz, one of New LA's premier clothing stores. Is there anything in particular you're looking for?"
"We're just browsing," Lucina told Hope. "And maybe trying some on, but we unfortunately won't be buying anything as we don't have any money for NLA..."
"That's perfectly fine," Hope reassured her.
"Oh," Lucina said as she saw two pieces of clothing that caught her attention. "Let me have a look at this..." She came back with a t-shirt and skirt that did not coordinate with each other at all.
Hope and the Captain looked on in visible confusion, while H.B. promptly unleashed his no-holds-barred critique of Lucina's fashion sense. "...Really, miss? And here I thought you had a good track record..." Turning to Falcon, H.B. then asked him, "You're her traveling companion, correct? I imagine you could do better."
Stammering for a minute, the Captain turned away and told H.B., "With all due respect, Mr. Birtwhistle... I don't do 'fashion'. But..." Turning around, a mischievous grin flashed across his face as he continued, "I bet you I could pick out something better for Lucina here."
"Oh! You're terrible!" Lucina scoffed. A cocky grin crept up on her face as she challenged him, "Well then, I bet you I could pick out something for you that you're sure to wear!"
"You're on!" Falcon accepted Lucina's challenge.
"What have I gotten myself into..." H.B. murmured in shame.
"...That's it!" Hope's eyes lit up with inspiration. "If she has no sense of fashion for herself, and he feels too self-conscious picking an outfit for himself... why don't they pick an outfit for the opposite sex, for their partner to wear?"
"Huh?!" Both Lucina and the Captain looked at Hope, surprised.
Giggling, Hope explained, "I'm a Mediator. It's my job to settle disputes and help NLA's citizens in any way possible. And I guess... this is one way to settle a dispute..."
"Hmm, very well," H.B. agreed.
"...This means I'm gonna have to take off my helmet, aren't I..." The Captain grumbled.
"It'll be just for this," Lucina giggled.
"Alright then," H.B. announced. "For this first round, each of you pick out a full outfit with this theme: a gathering. Lucina, you give the outfit you picked out for the Captain here to me, and I'll give it to him. Captain, you give the one you pick out to Hope. Afterwards, you two wear the outfits and show it to each other. Go!"
...
After their outfits for their partners were selected, Lucina and the Captain headed into the changing rooms, changing into their designated selected outfits, with the Captain of course removing his helmet.
"Are you two done changing? If you are, you can step right out," H.B. told them. Lucina stepped out first, in a dazzling navy blue ballroom-style dress with gloves made of the same material that went up to her elbows.
"Wow..." Lucina murmured happily, looking at the dress she was wearing. "The Captain picked this out for me? It's so pretty..." She twirled around in place for a bit, her eyes closed, a dreamy smile on her face.
"So you like it, huh?" Falcon stepped out from his changing room. As expected, he was without his helmet, so Lucina got to gaze upon that handsome face of his again. Moreover, the outfit Lucina picked for him seemed to go well on him, too. It was one of the few times a mismatched style actually meshed so well; the Captain was wearing a rather "punk rock" getup of a black leather jacket, disheveled green and red plaid tie, a t-shirt with a band logo below the jacket, denim jeans that looked "slashed up", a studded belt, and black leather boots.
"You look stunning, Lucina," The Captain complimented her with a gentle smile, the genuine kindness reflected in his aquamarine eyes.
Blushing, Lucina cupped her face in her hands and said, "S-so do you... H.B. told me this look I picked out for you was very 'punk rock', and our styles, despite being so different, complement each other... it's like the good girl meets the bad boy and falls in love..."
"Bad boy?" Falcon chuckled dryly, scratching his cheek softly with his left index finger. "I look like someone who's going through a midlife crisis..."
"No, you actually look great, Captain," H.B. complimented the Captain. "The punk rock look suits you."
"And you look absolutely gorgeous, Lucina," Hope told Lucina.
"Heehee..." The two giggled, then looking at each other smiling. As they did, Lucina couldn't help but get lost in the Captain's eyes once more.
Imagine... if this was actually a ballroom date or something. I'd love for him to take my hands and slow dance with me, holding me close...
"...Lucina?" The Captain asked her.
"Oh," Lucina said, snapping out of her trance. "This is... pretty fun. Is there another challenge, H.B.?"
"As a matter of fact, there is," H.B. said with a sneaky grin, pushing his eyeglasses up by the bridge with his index finger. "For the next round... you'll be each showing off some skin."
"Uh..." Captain Falcon and Lucina blushed at that announcement.
"It could be a costume that shows some skin, or a swimsuit. Be creative." Looking around, H.B. then announced, "And... go!"
...
"And...you two may step out now if you've changed," Hope announced.
"Um... Hope?" Lucina called out from the changing room. "You wouldn't mind helping me with this hair ornament...?"
"Of course."
After Hope assisted her, Lucina stepped out. This time, she was wearing a costume reminiscent of an Arabian belly dancer, with some modifications. Her hair was bound up in an intricate golden hair ornament and she wore some kind of dark blue veil over her mouth. She had on navy blue fingerless gloves with golden wrist bangles that ended in a short section of transparent blue fabric at her elbows. She also wore a silky dark blue top, an exotic silky blue "skirt" of sorts, and intricate wooden sandals.
"Oh my..." she mumbled, looking down at the ground. "I can understand why Olivia feels so self-conscious when she wears outfits like this..." Her daze was broken by Falcon whistling at the sight of his partner clad in such a costume.
Gasping softly, Lucina looked up and was not prepared for the alluring sight before her. Falcon was clad in only a pair of close-fitting swim trunks that stopped just short of the knees, with a somewhat mesmerizing pattern of light and dark blue shapes among a white background, and blue sandals.
"Not bad..." Falcon said with a confident grin. "You pull off that look really well, if I say so myself."
"Ah..." Lucina felt the blood rush to her cheeks and her heart beat faster at the sight of that gorgeous chiseled body of his. She promptly looked away, cupping her face in her hands, to keep from getting too turned on. "Y-you look...great too... Captain..."
Gods... his body is just... exquisite. She quickly shook her head. Stop it, Lucina! Naga, help me rebuke these indecent thoughts!
"Impressive, you two," H.B. complimented them. "Lucina, you may not have much fashion sense for yourself, but it seems you have a better taste for men's clothing. You picked a simple, yet effective, swimsuit here. Kudos."
"And Captain, you've got rather sophisticated taste when it comes to picking out women's clothing," Hope commented.
"I guess..." The Captain chuckled, scratching the back of his head with his right hand. "You might say...this is the kind of clothing I'd like my ideal woman to wear..."
"Ideal... woman...?" Lucina looked down, wiggling her right foot shyly as she smiled coyly.
Does he really think of me that way...?
"Say, you guys," Falcon asked H.B. and Hope. "There wouldn't happen to be a community swimming pool in NLA, would there?"
"Unfortunately, no," Hope fretted with a sigh. "There are swimming pools in some houses in the Residential District, but none open to the general public at this time..."
"Well that sucks," The Captain admitted. "Still, thank you guys for this little... competition, if you can call it that. It was pretty fun."
"Yeah..." Lucina agreed. "Sorry we couldn't buy anything, again."
"No worries," Hope reassured them. "I'd like to see you guys stop by again sometime!"
...
After the two changed back into their original clothes, with the Captain once again donning his helmet, and exited the store, Lucina asked the Captain, "So... what now?"
Holding his left hand to his lips in thought, the Captain then announced, "I... lied about being done with training. There's actually... one more training exercise I have planned for you."
"Really?"
Motioning for Lucina to come closer, the Captain pulled out his FrontierNav device and pulled up the map. "This one... is endurance training. We start running from here, to..." He pulled up the map to the Residential District and traced a route from their current location, to their destination, Deliverance Park. The rather roundabout route passed by the sports complex and the cathedral. "Whomever can make it there without feeling completely exhausted wins."
"You're awfully competitive today," Lucina teased with a giggle.
"And... GO!" Falcon shouted, taking a running start.
"H-Hey!" Lucina protested. "Guess I should have expected this..." She ran after him.
The two ran into the Residental District, past several crane machines and the sports complex, through the neighborhood, and past the cathedral as expected, before finally ending up at Deliverance Park. While Captain Falcon arrived first, Lucina was the one who had managed to make it without being short of breath.
"Well, looks like... I beat ya..." The Captain strained between exhausted gasps for air as he crouched over.
"Technically, you did get here first," Lucina corrected him, "But... you did say whomever made it all this way without being worn out wins and... I feel fine, so really, I'm the victor here."
"Ah, right. I forgot..." Standing upright once again, he commended her, "It's good you remembered. So... yes, you also passed endurance training. I'm proud of you, Lucina."
I wish I could tell you more than just that, the Captain thought at that moment. This whole training journey with you... has made me happy in ways I can barely put into words...
"Thank you..." Lucina said, smiling contentedly.
This feeling... She thought as the ever so nostalgic blissful emotion she'd known during their journey whenever he commended her, welled up within her. I've missed this feeling... this is part of why I...
"...Anyway," Lucina began, "Why don't we sit down? There's a bench nearby."
"Sounds good," Falcon agreed with a sigh. "Man... I thought I still had it, but... guess the years are catching up to me."
"You're fine," Lucina encouraged him as she sat down. "You always do your best. And... I will too."
"Heh, thanks," Falcon thanked her as he sat down next to her.
"You think... Snake's almost done interviewing Elma?" Lucina asked Captain Falcon, looking straight ahead.
"Probably," Falcon answered her. "They have to at least have finished the combat prowess part of the interview, which Snake said would take place outside the city walls. Elma can give me a call on the FrontierNav device I have when she's done."
"I see..."
The sun was already beginning to set amidst the slightly cloudy sky as a gentle breeze blew through the trees around the two. Lucina silently observed the idyllic city life around her, the setting sun giving everything a dusky amber glow. People were going about their daily lives, walking their dogs, driving around town in their cars, playing tennis or basketball at the sports complex, attending mass in the cathedral, or even staying at home.
"So... this is what it's like to live a normal life," she commented. "Even though they lost their home planet, and fight for their survival on an almost daily basis, they can still enjoy their life as they once knew it. I... wish I knew such a life in the future I came from after I lost my parents..."
"Yeah, I've almost forgotten what it was like myself, outside of bounty hunting, racing, and Smash," the Captain concurred. "But... don't you get to experience that kind of life in Smash City too with your friends?"
"Well, yes, but... it somehow felt... more special with you." Lucina looked down, smiling shyly and blushing slightly.
"You think so?" The Captain inquired. "Well... if I may say so myself, this was pretty nice." Looking to the side briefly, he admitted, "I... would often keep to myself whenever I wasn't racing or fighting. The Captain Falcon that everyone else sees in public events and Smash... that's just... a persona. A mask, if you will."
"Oh?"
"All it is is keeping up appearances for my 'fans'," the Captain elaborated. "But... thanks to this journey, I'm opening up more in ways I hadn't before, not even to Snake or Dr. Stewart or anyone else. I'm forming new relationships, and... it's times like this I feel I can finally be myself, y'know?"
"Be yourself...?" Lucina tilted her head slightly in wonder.
"Yeah. It's truly a wonderful feeling... so liberating." He looked at her and smiled serenely.
Feeling that same joyful feeling from when he smiled at her at Restaurant Rose Moss within her, Lucina smiled back. "It's great for me too... This journey has been amazing for me too. It's helped me realize that I'm stronger than I give myself credit for... and that I'm not alone." This time, it was Lucina who looked to the side shyly.
"...Lucina?" Captain Falcon asked her. "What's up?"
"C-can I ask you something, Captain...?" There was a trace of timidness in her voice as she spoke.
"...Yes?"
"Ah..." Slowly looking straight ahead of her, Lucina began, "You... remember when you mentioned Jody Summer back at Mute City?"
"Yeah...?" The Captain wasn't sure where this was coming from.
No more hesitating... it's now or never. Tell him...
"Jody... she's just a friend, right...?" Lucina began to touch the tips of her index fingers together nervously.
"Huh...?!" Surprised for a moment, the Captain then stuttered, "Y-yeah... she is. She and I have no intention of getting back together as a couple. Why do you ask...?"
"W-well..." Turning her face to the Captain's but still looking down, she then asked him, "What... do you think of me?"
Is she...?
"How do you mean?" Falcon questioned, sounding as calm as possible, but feeling his heartbeat speed up a little.
"I mean, do you... well..." She gulped nervously and murmured, "Do I really have to spell it out?"
This time around, Captain Falcon... you're the idiot... the idiot I couldn't help but fall for...
"What are you -" Before the Captain could finish his sentence, he felt Lucina's right arm wrap around him and pull him closer to her.
"H-huh?!" Captain Falcon was surprised to say the least, but he did not find the situation unpleasant in the slightest.
"I..." Lucina began, looking him in his visor-obscured eyes, "I just... ask that you forgive me for this." She slowly drew her face closer to his, lips slightly parted as if for a kiss, as she slowly closed her eyes. The Captain did nothing, not even protest or pull away, nor did he even feel the need to, as deep down, this was what he wanted as well. He only remained still, slightly parting his lips as well and closing his eyes, even though Lucina could not tell. Time seemed to slow down as they both anticipated the culmination of this joyous event.
That is, until the sound of explosions broke the moment. They could feel the ground shake with the explosion's aftershocks...
...And before they could react, they just looked in the direction of the sound and saw a flipped over car that appeared to have nobody in it, starting to hurtle at them.
SURPRISE MOTHER FRICKERS IT'S ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER
and I swear my chapters keep getting longer and longer lmao... just wait till the final chapter, it's gonna be a BIG one
Anyway! I hope you guys got your fill of fluff and that almost kiss (I'm still YAAAASSSSing in my head over it lel) and that everything is enjoyable thus far.
Next chapter... it may be short, or at least shorter than this one, but... it's the moment y'all have been waiting for... in more ways than one...( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)