we're getting close to the end, folks... everything's coming full circle, most of the loose ends will be tied up, we'll even see more of how our main duo developed along the way.
also as far as I'm aware Morgan (male or female) doesn't have a Spirit in the game, but screw it I'm making him one
oh, and since he's mentioned at one point: Yuri Lowell, Tales of Vesperia © Bandai Namco
Hiding in my Skin, Broken from Within
Chapter 19 - Out of the Dark
"Ngh..." Snake groaned as he slowly awoke. "What...time is it...?" Getting up, he put the blanket he was covering himself with back into his supply bag. The air around him, Lucina and Captain Falcon had only become slightly warmer, but with a slight chill still.
Looking up at the dark sky, he thought aloud, "I guess a realm of pure darkness, or pure light, would have no concept of night or day. Kinda bothersome as you would lose track of time pretty fast..." Noticing Shulk and the others hadn't come back yet, he then concluded, "Guess they're still not back yet, but they should be soon. I should wake the sleeping lovebirds over there just in case..."
Slowly walking over to the slumbering couple, he elected to nudge his longtime friend awake first. "Cap? Rise and shine, buddy..."
"Mmm..." The Captain moaned as he awoke, the lights on his visor turning on as he opened his eyes. "Snake...? How long have we been asleep?"
"No idea," Snake answered him. "The others should be back any time soon, though, so it's best to get up now."
"You have a point..." Falcon admitted as he quietly stretched his arms before tenderly nudging his lover awake. "Lucina? Sweetheart...?"
"Nngh..." Lucina slowly opened her eyes and lifted her gaze to the Captain's. "Good morning, babe..." When she realized the Dark Realm had no concept of time due to the skies being perpetually dark, her face bore a puzzled expression as she followed up her statement with, "Good...evening? I don't know what time it is..."
Chuckling, Captain Falcon reassured Lucina as he softly ran his fingers through her hair, "Don't worry, none of us do either."
"Did you guys sleep well, at least?" Snake asked the two. "I didn't sleep that long. Feel like I've got enough energy for one more pocket dimension at least."
"In his arms, who wouldn't?" Lucina asserted lovingly as she cuddled closer to the man she loved.
"Heheheh..." The Captain giggled. "But yeah, I slept well too. It helps that we rested a bit before all this happened."
"I see..." Just then, something clicked in Snake's mind as he realized what his friend meant. "Wait a minute... you didn't..."
"Didn't what...?" The Captain asked apprehensively as he got up. Lucina stood as well, taking the blanket and walking over to Snake's supply bag a short distance away.
"You... and her? You actually...?" Laughing heartily, Snake playfully slapped Falcon's back as he announced, "You actually got some action?! Damn, you are on a roll!"
"S-Snake... can you not?" Captain Falcon turned away and blushed. It was at that moment Lucina heard Snake's comment after she put away the second blanket, that she immediately turned around and briskly walked over to Snake. "Excuse me... Snake?"
"Y-yes...?" Snake slowly turned over to Lucina and saw her serious, somewhat ominous facial expression as she glared at him.
"...Not a word of this to anyone else, Snake... got it?"
"Whoa, Lucina," Captain Falcon chuckled nervously upon seeing Lucina demand Snake's silence on the more intimate details of their relationship with such fervor. "No need to be so... intense."
"But babe," Lucina began, her expression becoming slightly more relaxed but still concerned, "I-it's embarrassing if everyone knew all the details..."
"I mean, I get that, sweetie, but..."
"No, it's fine," Snake dissuaded his friend. "Your secret's safe with me. I am your roommate after all, Cap."
"Heh, true..." Falcon made a gesture as if he were bashfully scratching the back of his head as he commented, "I almost forgot you'll be moving back in with me when this is all over..."
"Yeah... it's been that long, huh?" Noticing Lucina walk to her lover's side, Snake then remarked, "You're a lucky guy overall, Cap. You've finally found someone who makes you happy... and she's a keeper. She's definitely the affectionate, loyal type. Someone like that, you gotta protect at all costs...and never let go of her."
"I know," The Captain said with a nod. "I promised her I would protect her... and, after I freed her from Dharkon's control, that I would never let her go."
"I'll protect him too, Snake," Lucina interrupted the two, wrapping her arms around her lover. "He trained me after that incident... I'm stronger now, thanks to him. In many ways... he is the source of my strength. And I found my happiness with him, too. I won't let go of that either."
"Heh, already you two are on the same wavelength," Snake commended them. "I don't say this lightly, but you two are so compatible with each other, that you might as well be made for each other. I truly am happy for you guys."
"Even though... he and I are so different?" Lucina looked down shyly.
"Especially because of that," Snake assured her. "You have more in common than you realize. Both of you, hold on tightly to that happiness, alright?" The couple only nodded in affirmation.
"Good." Looking into the horizon, Snake noticed Shulk and the other fighters returning. "Looks like they're on their way."
...
Within seconds, Shulk and the others from the Light Realm returned with the fighters and Spirits they freed in the pocket dimension a ways off. The fighters they saved were Daisy, Robin, Robyn, Ridley, Wario, Richter, Ryu's friend Ken, and Dark Pit.
"Lucina...!" Robyn cried as she ran to her daughter and hugged her.
"Mother..." Lucina hugged her mother back.
"Your brother's here too, as a Spirit," Robyn added. Just then, a translucent Morgan materialized before the two.
"Sis!" The Spirit of Morgan hugged Lucina as well. Since he was a Spirit, Lucina could barely feel him embracing her, but she knew he was doing so.
"I've missed you too, my dear brother... I'm sorry to make you worry."
"Don't worry, sis," Morgan reassured his older sister. "I'm just glad to know you're alright..."
"Hey, Lucina," Richter greeted Lucina. "We meet again."
"I guess so," Lucina chuckled softly.
"Can we save the reunion for later?" Robin interjected. "We have some things we should discuss right away."
"Oh... right." Lucina looked down as her mother and younger brother stopped hugging her, preparing to listen to what everyone else had to say.
"Don't worry, sis," Morgan reassured his big sister. "We'll catch up more later, okay?"
"Sure."
...
"Alright, so from what we can gather so far," Shulk began, "This realm here is ruled by a being named Dharkon. They are the antithesis to Galeem, the ruler of the Light Realm me and most of the others came from, but their goals are similar. They both want to reshape the universe to their will, with Galeem aiming for a universe of infinite light, and Dharkon's goal being a universe of eternal darkness."
"What we don't know is why either of them are doing this," Robin added. "Or even where they came from, or how they got so powerful that their reach seems to extend beyond the bounds of time and space itself."
"Space... time...?" Falcon pondered. "Hey, Robin?"
"Yes, Captain?"
"When I was warping from Mute City to Green Greens, which is where I last heard Lucina was before she ended up on Mira, there were yellow sparks coming from the console. An aura of yellow light engulfed me and dropped me in Shibuya, Japan, in the year 2007 A.D., where I met that youth, Neku Sakuraba."
"Um..." Lucina decided to speak up as well. "It... happened to me too. Twice, in fact. I was warping from Green Greens, my intended destination being Mute City, when a purple light swallowed me and dropped me in Simon and Richter's world. Then, it happened again, both a yellow and purple light sent me to Mira... Do you think... the yellow light was a fragment of Galeem's power, and the purple light Dharkon's power?"
"And both tampered with the fabric of space-time..." Snake contemplated. "You might have a point. It's kinda hard to believe this is all actually happening, and not something out of a sci-fi novel. Or as Otakon would say, one of his 'Japanese animes'."
"You don't think..." Lucina held her right hand to her chest as she looked down solemnly. "That our constant teleporting... somehow alerted them to our, and Smash City's, existence...?"
"Lucina..." Captain Falcon compassionately wrapped an arm around his girlfriend and gently pulled her closer to him. "You're not to blame for this...none of us are."
"Bab - Captain..." Trying to keep the fact she and him were a couple on the down low, Lucina merely leaned closer to her lover before subtly backing away.
"Moreover," Samus added, "If Galeem gets their way, they will erase everyone in the known universe and replace them with new beings created in their image. Dharkon, however, will enslave all of their subjects to ensure their influence reaches every corner of every dimension."
"So, not a good outcome either way," Shulk concluded. "There is something that bugs me, however."
"Which is...?" Robin asked.
"It would appear they've captured the real Master Hand and Crazy Hand, which is why Galeem has an army of fake Master Hands, and Dharkon an army of fake Crazy Hands. In addition... they must be somehow connected to both that mysterious being pretending to be the Hands, and the instigator of the Subspace incident, Tabuu."
"You mean, from that day?" Robin asked Shulk. "When Cloud, Palutena, and the two of us entered the classified archives and tried to look up the Hands and Tabuu? The Hands' pages were vandalized with weird symbols, and searching Tabuu got us locked out and well...started this whole mess."
"You know, I don't think that alone started it all," Shulk said. "The fact that Tabuu was what got us locked out... makes me think Galeem and Dharkon are connected to Tabuu somehow."
"But Tabuu's dead," Snake objected. "We defeated him back then... there's no way he survived."
"I don't doubt that," Shulk told him. "But perhaps... these two are trying to finish the job Tabuu started? I wasn't a Smasher back then, but from what Palutena told us, it's not out of the realm of possibility."
"So... what do you suggest we do now?" Lucina asked Shulk.
"I was thinking, we should try to find either Cloud or Palutena so they can give us more information," Shulk answered her. "My last vision before I arrived in the Dark Realm was vague. It only showed me your location, and that some of the others were here too, but I wasn't sure who else was here exactly. I do know it showed me that the Spirits of some of our friends are here, like Fiora, Dr. Stewart, Sonic's friend Amy..."
"Hmm..." Falcon murmured. "Think you could try to see if you could get another vision or two?"
"I'll try..." Within seconds, Shulk's eyes once again glowed blue, only this time, instead of mere seconds, the vision seemed to last for more than a minute.
"What did you learn?" Marth inquired once Shulk's vision was done.
"It's...quite a lot," Shulk admitted.
"Just give us a basic rundown," Fox told him.
"O-okay." Taking a deep breath, Shulk began, "We'd need to backtrack to the platform where the Captain and I first arrived here. The bridge to the north of that platform leads to Rosalina, the Spirits of Amy and Dr. Stewart, and a pocket dimension with the following fighters: Luigi, Ike, ROB, Kamui, Corrin, Meta Knight, King K. Rool, Wolf, Mewtwo, and Greninja. There's also... the Spirit of Tabuu? How's that possible?"
"Huh... that's what I'd like to know too..." Snake mused.
"Maybe we'll find out," Shulk answered Snake. "As for the other route... the bridge to the left of the platform leads to Incineroar, the Spirits of the Octolings, and another pocket dimension with Young Link, Chrom, Zelda, the Mii Brawler, Sonic, Cloud, Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings, and Ganondorf. Fiora and Rex's Spirits are also there, and you guys might find some more of your friends there too..."
"Father..." Lucina murmured pensively. Walking up to her daughter, Robyn gently placed her right hand on Lucina's shoulder and reassured her, "We'll save him together, okay, baby?"
"...Of course, mother," Lucina replied with a confident, but soft, smile. "I want to show everyone the fruits of my training...that I've gotten stronger."
"You can tell me more about it later, okay?"
"Okay."
"There is one thing I forgot to mention," Shulk announced. "Like with Dracula's Castle, the dimension we were just in, these two dimensions have their own boss guardian as well, like it was in the Light Realm. I imagine if we defeat them, Dharkon will return. When that happens, we can defeat them and finally go home... hopefully."
"Wait, aren't we missing some people?" Samus interjected. "Namely, Roy, Palutena, Bayonetta and... Dark Samus...? You didn't mention them in your vision..." Samus's face bore a look of visible dread upon mentioning her Phazon clone. "We have to save them too... even if I'd rather not save Dark Samus... but I believe no Smasher should be left behind."
"You're right on both counts, Samus," Shulk said. "Maybe they'll be freed when we defeat Dharkon. Let's hope."
"So then," Captain Falcon spoke up. "I guess we should split up in this case too?"
"Without a doubt," Shulk confirmed. "But... this realm is nothing like the Light Realm. Dharkon has made it harder for us to survive unless we band together as much as possible. We haven't been able to find any supplies, and we used quite a lot already."
"Dharkon is a bit of a sadistic psychopath compared to Galeem," Falcon commented. "I noticed that when I freed Lucina from their control. They seemed to enjoy making her torment me, and I can only imagine the emotional turmoil it put her through..."
"Captain..." Lucina subtly reached out one of her hands to hold onto one of his. "It's... okay now."
"Lucina..." He held her hand, their fingers interlacing.
"Thanks to you, I'm stronger in every way... not just in my combat prowess. It's all...because I have you by my side."
"And I have you with me, too," he reassured her with a tender smile. "So... I'll be strong for your sake too..."
"Speaking of supplies," Snake said. "We are running a bit low, and we'll need some for the fighters we save. I've been thinking I should do a quick supply run in the Light Realm and see what I can find."
"I'll come too," Fox volunteered. "We'll meet you back at that platform. There's some kind of teleportation portal close to the pocket dimension we came out of, that I only imagine will send us back to the platform over there."
"Got it," Shulk confirmed. "We'll wait for you there."
"You coming too, Samus?" Snake asked his girlfriend.
"...Not this time," Samus declined him. "I have some catching up to do with everyone. Whichever group you decide to go with, though, I'll go with you."
"Okay." Snake and Fox ran off in the direction of the shortcut they discussed earlier.
"Well then," Shulk began, "It goes without saying that we should think about this carefully, decide which group we want to go with. We should each form groups of close to equal sizes at least. I suppose a walk back would give us time to think about it. So I guess... think on it, and choose wisely. We don't have a lot of room for error here."
...
As Shulk led everyone else single-file along the longer route, Lucina, walking next to Captain Falcon, asked her boyfriend, "Babe?"
"Yeah, sweetheart?"
"You wouldn't mind if I caught up with my mom and some of my friends?" She looked to the side somewhat bashfully.
"Go ahead," he told her. "They're important to you, too. That's part of a healthy relationship, isn't it? Catching up with people other than your significant other?"
"True..." Smiling, Lucina only said, "Thank you. I'll see you soon, babe," before falling back in line to her mother, Robin, and Richter.
"See you soon," Falcon murmured with a compassionate smile before hearing a familiar voice.
"Captain?"
Recognizing the voice, he turned around and saw Samus standing before him. "Oh... long time no see, Samus."
"Long time, indeed," Samus chuckled. "You know it's been practically over a year since I last saw you?"
"Yeah..." The Captain looked down solemnly as he and Samus continued walking. "I'm sorry... I wasn't expecting to be gone so long. Heck, even after Snake left, I've been a bit distant... well, moreso than usual. Can't believe the last time I properly talked to you was the day of that incident..."
"Don't worry about it," Samus reassured her longtime friend. "We've been friends ever since the very first Smash Bros. tournament, and we've stuck together through thick and thin. What matters, I think, is that you're here now, and that girl is safe too."
"Lucina...?" Glancing back momentarily, he commented, "You know... it's thanks to that little journey I had with her, that I think I'm starting to open up more... be less distant."
"I can tell," Samus remarked. "Talking with you like this... you feel more... natural in your conversations now. I hope that, when we return to Smash City, that you can be this open with almost everyone else. That... you can be the real you."
"Hopefully," The Captain said. "Maybe even, whenever I return to Mute City for any races... I hope to be able to show everyone the new me. The real me."
"And I think I know what caused this surge in confidence," Samus asserted. "It's because... Lucina... she's the source of your happiness now. Am I wrong?"
"Ah..." Looking to the side for a moment, the Captain admitted, "Yes, Samus. You are very much correct. I've... found love again. I've missed this feeling... I've found someone I want to protect, and she will protect me too. We truly complete each other..."
"I'm happy for you," another familiar voice said.
"Is that...?"
Within seconds, a familiar, translucent figure materialized next to Samus.
"Jody...?!"
"Sheik found her Spirit in the Light Realm shortly after she and the Ice Climbers saved Falco," Samus explained. "I know she's your ex, but you two are still friends regardless, so..."
"You know," Jody's Spirit told the Captain. "I remember a few days after we broke up, when we decided to be just friends again, you told me you were worried that you would never find your own happiness. I know I wasn't the best lover to you... I couldn't protect myself."
"Please, Jody..." Falcon tried to dissuade his ex. "Don't blame yourself. It's because I couldn't do more to keep you safe..."
"Either way, I never would have expected the young woman you gave a shoutout to on F-ZERO TV that day, would be the one you truly resonated with," Jody commented. "The Arrow couple told me about her, how she vowed to protect you too. I think that's truly admirable."
"It's honestly amazing how my relationship with her developed," Falcon remarked. "We... weren't on such good terms when we first met. But when I took her on that training journey, we became so close... I can tell it's changed her, too. She's more confident in herself."
"That's the best thing you could do for someone," Jody said. "You've finally found your happiness, and so has she. It's up to both of you now to hold on to it."
"I promise you, and Samus, that we will," Falcon reassured the two ladies. "Neither of us will take any moment together for granted anymore." Samus only smiled and nodded in approval.
Meanwhile, Lucina was walking with her mother, Richter, Robin, and the Spirit of her brother Morgan.
"Mother, Morgan," Lucina began, "I've missed you two so much. I know I've been away from Smash City for... a lot longer than I was expecting. I've been training hard for a day like this... not just for the tournament, but for myself and everyone as well."
"I know, baby," Robyn told her daughter. "And I'm so proud of you. We'll save your father together, okay?"
"Of course," Lucina serenely nodded. "And, Morgan... like I said, I'm sorry I made you worry. Do you...still have the daisy I gave you, at least?"
"Hmm?" The Spirit of Morgan checked his person. "...No, it seems I lost it in the commotion when you were sending me back home."
"I see..." Her eyes bearing a melancholy look, Lucina continued, "Here I was hoping that if I sent you home, you'd be safe... and... I must admit, I... lost my daisy too a while back..."
"Hey, look at it this way, sis," Morgan tried to cheer his sister up. "At least we're together, safe and sound."
"True..." Looking just behind her, where Richter and Robin were walking next to each other, she then murmured, "I'm sorry for not being more open about what's been going on with me. There's... some things I have to tell you, but... at the right time."
"Like the fact your trainer, Captain Falcon, is now also your boyfriend?" Morgan giggled mischievously.
"M-M-MORGAN!" Lucina cried, embarrassed. "Not in front of mother!"
"Come ooooon, sis," Morgan teased. "She could totally see you cuddling up to him... subtlety isn't really your strongest point, you know."
"I..." Lucina stammered, her face turning beet red, before realizing she couldn't hide it anymore. Sighing, she asked Robyn, "Did you really see us... mother?"
"No need to be ashamed, my dear daughter," Robyn reassured her with a soft smile. "I couldn't be happier for you that you finally found someone you could call your beloved."
"E-even though... it's him?"
"I spoke with the Captain once, when you were training the day before the special tournament that marked Ryu's Smash City debut," Robyn explained. "Even back then, he expressed remorse for what happened that day, and he even wanted to help you when you were injured during training."
"I noticed..." Lucina murmured. "And... as we were training, as we got closer... he seemed to want to atone for what happened that day. My father never held any grudges, and I wasn't about to, either."
"I'm sure your father would be proud," Robyn told her daughter. "He's moved on since then, you know."
"I know." Looking at the dark clouds above as she continued walking, Lucina murmured, "I wonder if... he'll accept me and the Captain being together..."
"He has to," Richter interjected. "I'm sure your father must know how well the Captain trained you, and that you two are happy together."
"Richter?!" Lucina gasped. "I wasn't expecting you to hear..."
"I heard too," Robin spoke up. "It's like your little brother said: subtlety isn't your strong point."
"I suppose..." Lucina admitted before she, her mother, her brother, Robin and Richter shared a hearty laugh.
"So," Richter began, "The one your heart belongs to...it's Falcon after all, isn't it?"
"Yes..." Lucina nodded. "Ever since that day, I could tell he cared for me too... He even saved me...the day of the incident." Remembering what Robin told her that day, she then asked him, "Robin... did you...?"
"I knew..." Robin confessed. "I didn't want to tell you then, but I was hoping you would figure it out. I guess you must have..."
"I did," Lucina confirmed. "And... I must admit. Deep down, I felt... worthless for letting that happen to me. I couldn't protect my father back then, I couldn't even protect myself... The Captain showed me that I wasn't worthless. He was there for me when I was at my lowest point... and he helped me become stronger. I think... he even loved me back then too..." She smiled softly, her cheeks turning a rosy pink.
"All the more reason I believe your father would approve of you and Captain Falcon being together," Richter encouraged her. "You two have come a long way, and the love you two have for each other is genuine. I'm happy for you, Lucina."
"I am, too," Robin said. "He's done more for you than I ever could."
"Robin..." Lucina murmured. "Like I was saying earlier, I haven't been completely open with you, or my family, or most of my friends about everything. I'm not talking about me and the Captain... it's... something else."
"Guess you'll have to tell us later," Richter told her. "Looks like we're here at the rendezvous point."
Sure enough, everyone had arrived back on the platform that Shulk and Captain Falcon landed on when they first entered the Dark Realm. The portal to the Light Realm was just to the south of the platform, and they were expecting Snake and Fox to return at any moment.
"If you guys come with me, I'll tell you everything after I save Zelda," Lucina said. "She's one of my closest friends, and... I've kept secrets from her long enough, too." The others nodded in agreement.
Within seconds, Snake and Fox leapt back in from the Light Realm.
"Alright, Fox and I have acquired some things we'll need," Snake announced. "Since we're going to split into two groups, everyone should take at least one thing they think they'll need."
"One at a time, please," Fox reminded everyone.
After each fighter took at least one supply they were sure they'd need, Shulk then announced, "Alright, have we decided who will be in which group? There's Team A, the team headed north, and Team B for the west."
"I'm-a going north, for sure," Mario announced. "I have to save Luigi."
"Poyo!" Kirby announced, running up to Mario.
"So I take it Kirby wants to go north, too?" Shulk asked. "To save Meta Knight, I imagine?"
"Po-poyo!" Kirby affirmed.
"Okay then," Shulk said with a chuckle.
"I'm going west," Lucina announced. "Zelda's there, and my father, too."
"I swore to protect Lucina," Captain Falcon said, holding Lucina's hand tightly but gently. "So I'm going with her."
"As her mother, I'm coming, too," Robyn asserted.
"Wherever Mario goes, I go," Peach declared. "What about you, Daisy?"
"Mmmm, I'll pass," Daisy declined Peach's offer. "I wanna catch up with Lucina, as a fellow participant in the Echo Program!"
"Echo...Program?" Lucina questioned.
"I'll explain later," Daisy told her.
"I... don't have a lot of energy for a full pocket dimension trip, so I guess I'll go west," Snake said. "But...not before saving the Spirit of Cap's friend, Dr. Stewart. Any friend of the Captain's is a friend of mine."
"I'm with Snake," Samus announced. "Rex's Spirit is in the dimension to the west. I've interviewed him before... he's a good kid, and I want to save him."
"North for me!" Pit announced. "You said Tabuu's Spirit was there, Shulk? I wanna see if we'll get any answers there."
...
After everyone voiced their choice, Shulk gave them a rundown. "Okay, so Team A consists of: Mario, Peach, Kirby, King Dedede, Pit, Dark Pit, Marth, Red, Leaf, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Mr. Game & Watch, Isabelle, the Ice Climbers, Mega Man, PAC-MAN, Ness, Lucas, Yoshi, Jigglypuff, Fox, Falco, Simon, Ridley, Wario, Olimar, and Alph. Team B consists of: Daisy, Lucina, Captain Falcon, Snake, Samus, Pikachu, Robin, Robyn, Little Mac, the Wii Fit Trainers, Ken, Duck Hunt, Richter, the Inklings, Ryu, Bowser, the Mii Gunner, the Mii Swordfighter, Pichu, the Villagers, Dr. Mario, Link, Sheik, Toon Link, and myself. Snake and Samus will head north momentarily to retrieve Dr. Stewart's and Amy's Spirits before joining the rest of Team B."
"You're heading west too?" Falcon asked the wielder of the Monado.
"Fiora's there," Shulk answered him. "I have to... she must be worried sick without me."
"I understand..." The Captain sympathized, as he had to save his lover earlier.
"Everyone got their supplies?" Shulk asked to make sure. Everyone nodded in response.
"Hey... Robin?" Ness asked Robin.
"What is it, Ness?" The tactician asked the PSI-powered youth.
"Bandee wants to come with you," Ness told Robin as the Spirit of Bandana Waddle Dee peeked out from behind him.
"He wants to see Zelda, huh?" Robin asked with a soft grin. "Come along, little guy."
"Alright then," Shulk declared. "Teams, move out!"
...
As Shulk led Team B along the western path after freeing the Spirits of the Octolings, Captain Falcon asked his lover, "So... are you ready to finally put your training to use?"
"Yes," Lucina answered him. "I promised myself I'd make everyone proud of me... like how I made you proud of me."
"Heh..." The Captain smiled affectionately at the swordswoman. "I believe in you."
Smiling back, Lucina told him, "Thank you, babe."
"I imagine you've improved your skills since then," Ryu interjected from behind them.
"Ryu..." Falcon murmured. "It's... been a while."
"Indeed it has."
"Excuse me, Ryu..." Lucina began. "I... I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the rebooted fourth tournament. I'm sure you would have liked to face off against me if I was the last one standing, were it not for that accident..."
"Don't worry about it," Ryu reassured her. "What matters now is that you believe you've gotten stronger. And I'm sure you have. Never stop improving, okay?"
"Thank you..."
"Heeeeey! Izzat you, Lucina?!" Ken called out, walking up to her and wrapping an arm around her as he grinned. "Long time, no see!"
"Ken!" Lucina greeted him. "It has... the last time I saw you was off world, during the Golden Chains incident..."
"Heh, you remember," Ken chuckled, retracting his arm from around her. "Yeah, and now your old man's joined Smash too! All we need is Fiora, and that hot android chick to join, and it'd be just like old times! Maybe even that Yuri Lowell guy too..."
"First off, her name's KOS-MOS," Ryu corrected his friend. "Second, need I remind you you're a married man, Ken?"
"Hey!" Ken protested. "Just 'cause I'm married doesn't mean I can't think she's attractive!"
"You find a robot attractive?" Ryu raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"I'll have you know the proper term is android, Ryu!"
"Heehee..." Lucina giggled. "You guys must be really good friends to exchange banter like this."
"You know, Lucina," Falcon told her. "With how I've been opening up to you... maybe... I should try to forge more friendships as well. You've given me that confidence, too."
"I have...?" Drawing closer to her beloved, Lucina told him, "I'm glad. Snake was right... it's like we really are made for each other."
"Yeah..."
Just then, they heard Shulk's alarmed cry ahead of them. "Shulk?!" Lucina gasped.
"Let's go!" Falcon told his girlfriend, the two running off to Shulk's aid. Once they arrived, they saw another fake Crazy Hand blocking their path.
"How many of these fake Crazy Hands does Dharkon even have?!" Shulk cried in frustration.
"Allow me, Shulk," Lucina volunteered. "All this time I spent training with Captain Falcon... I want to put it to use. I want to show you all how much stronger I've become..."
"Sweetheart... are you sure?" Falcon asked his girlfriend.
"I am," she confirmed, briefly drawing closer for an embrace. "And... after Dharkon separated me from you and tried to use me against you... I want them to know that it's personal."
"Just... be careful."
"I will, my love." Letting him go, she turned around and drew her Falchion as she declared, "It's time to change fate!" Dashing to the fake Crazy Hand, she leapt at it, dodging all its attacks expertly and striking whenever she had an opening, acting in exactly the way the Captain instructed her to, until the fake was defeated. Everyone watched in amazement that she was able to take down the fake so flawlessly.
"Breathtaking..." Shulk murmured. "Even I had a bit of trouble taking down that other Crazy Hand a while ago..."
"Indeed, she has become stronger," Ryu commented. "You've trained her exceptionally well, Captain."
"Thanks..." The Captain humbly murmured.
"My dear daughter... I'm so proud," Robyn uttered, happy tears gathering in her eyes.
"I did it..." Lucina panted, slowly sheathing her sword as she turned around to face everyone. "This... is the result of my training. I'm glad... that I could finally... make you all proud of me."
"You certainly have, Lucina," Robin said. "Congratulations."
"Thank...you..." Lucina began to feel dizzy before losing her balance. Thankfully, Captain Falcon dashed to her and caught her before she could hit the ground.
"You okay, sweetheart?" He asked her. "I hope you didn't push yourself too hard..."
"I...I'm not sure..." Lucina weakly uttered. "I don't need to...sleep or anything, though. I think... I'm a bit hungry..."
"Right... you probably haven't had anything to eat in quite a while... who knows how many hours you'd been out before I found you." Turning to the others, he asked, "Anyone have anything to eat? She may need it to get her energy back up."
"I might have something," Ryu volunteered, reaching into his supply bag. He later pulled out a platter of sushi Snake and Fox found in the Light Realm, still fresh. "It's still amazing how Galeem allowed these things to exist in their world..."
"Sushi...?" Falcon mumbled as he took the platter. "Thank you."
"We'll go on ahead," Shulk announced. "We'll make sure Zelda and Chrom wait for you guys, though."
"I'll see you soon, dear," Robyn told her daughter.
"Thanks, everyone..." Lucina mumbled as she slowly inched over to a rock to sit against.
"Woomy!" The Inkling girl chirped, pointing in the direction Shulk saw Incineroar in his vision.
"You want to save Incineroar?" Shulk asked her. "Okay, just meet back with us soon." The Inkling girl nodded before running off.
As the others headed to the pocket dimension, Captain Falcon crouched next to his beloved, handing her the sushi platter. "Here. Have some of this."
"This is... sushi?" Lucina asked. "It's just rice topped with seaweed and raw fish, right? Is it safe?"
"It's fresh, so it has to be," he reassured her. "You know, back in Mute City, there's a little sushi bar I like to visit sometimes... when I was there last, I had hoped you would have been there with me... I'm sure you'd like it."
"Maybe when this is all over, I can come with you someday..." Taking a sushi roll, Lucina dipped it into the small cup of soy sauce on the side and took a bite. "It's...good."
"Glad you like it," Falcon answered her. "Eat up as much as you can... you'll need the energy."
"Okay..." As she continued to eat, tears began to well up in her eyes, the reality of the situation they were in dawning on her.
"Hey... Lucina?"
She did not answer him, only continuing to eat as the tears began to rain from her eyes, faintly splashing onto the platter. Once she finished her last bite, she couldn't hold in her emotions any more as she shut her eyes and burst into sobs. Wordlessly, her lover gently drew closer and held her in his arms, just like he did in the hospital that day. She reached out an arm to embrace him back as she wept. His embrace was warm, tender, comforting, as it was that day, but it still wasn't enough to soothe the intense pain in her heart.
"It's... not fair..." She sobbed. "Why... just why do Galeem and Dharkon want to take away everything we care about? Why do they want to take away our happiness...?"
"I wish I knew, my love..."
"I don't... I don't want to lose my family, my friends, or you... I don't want to die... I'm... scared..."
"I... I am too." He held her tighter. "I don't want to take any moment I have with you for granted anymore..."
"M-me neither... I want to... enjoy every moment I have with you, and everyone, with whatever time's left..." Lucina wept. Slowly opening her eyes which still overflowed with tears, she said, "Captain... this world... it reminds me of the future... that I came from... maybe that's why Dharkon trapped me here... to remind me of the loneliness I would have to one day return to..."
"Sweetheart..." He tenderly wiped away some of her tears. "I... I'm sure there'll be enough time to enjoy with all of us once this is over. Who knows, maybe you won't have to leave next tournament...I hope so."
"I... I actually... dreamt about Galeem and Dharkon before this all happened... like a prophetic vision, or something. I heard Dharkon's voice in my first dream... a dream where I, an emissary of darkness, had to kill you, an emissary of light... I also heard their voice when I was hallucinating back at Sylvalum. They said I'd either die alone, or destroy everything I loved with my own hands... and in my vision, that included you..." She briefly blinked, causing more tears to gush from her eyes. "They said... I had a dark heart, and that I pushed those I loved away..."
"That's not true, Lucina," Falcon comforted her. "You're one of the kindest, most caring and devoted people I've ever known... you put others before yourself, and it's part of why I fell in love with you..."
"No... it's still partially my fault. When I left you... I was distant from everyone else... my brother, my friends... I would just shut them out... I'd only tell them half-truths..." Closing her eyes again, she tearfully continued, "And Zelda... part of the reason I want to save her is because... she's always offered to lend an ear for support, but I lied to her, told her everything was okay when it wasn't... because I didn't want her to worry about me. And my father... I was too afraid to congratulate him when he got accepted..."
Snake was right... The Captain thought. Lucina and I... we do have more in common than meets the eye. I can relate to that feeling all too well.
"It's not too late, though," Captain Falcon reassured her. "I'm sure they'll all understand, and most importantly, they'll appreciate how you've changed as a person."
"Thank you for believing in me..." Lucina sobbed. "Inside that tough, confident exterior is the compassionate, encouraging soul I fell in love with... I'm so happy I met you."
"I am, too." Leaning closer to her, he softly whispered, "I love you."
"I love you too..." The two shared a soft, tender yet passionate kiss as he gently wiped away her tears. Once the kiss had finished, she had calmed down significantly.
Captain... if I am the dark, you truly are the light. You're so bright...and warm... you always illuminate my darkest, most soul crushing days. I truly thank Naga for you... and I pray we'll never be apart again...
"Feel a bit better?" Falcon asked her.
"Y-yes..." Lucina stammered.
"Those... dreams you spoke about, were they... what you wanted to talk to the others about?"
"You heard?" Drying her eyes of any remaining tears, Lucina admitted, "Yes... I told Robin about one of those dreams, and that's what led him, Shulk, Palutena and Cloud to investigate... and it's part of why this all started."
"Don't blame yourself," Falcon told her. "If you hadn't said anything, things may well have turned out to be much worse... we might not even be here today. When you think about it, Lucina: you really did save us all."
"Thank you..." She leaned closer to him in an affectionate manner.
"I had similar dreams, too," The Captain mentioned. "Shortly after you left, I had a dream where... you said you didn't want to die without any regrets, as beams of light vaporized everyone, even us... I wish I knew what this all meant."
"When we save Zelda, Young Link and Cloud, we'll get everyone together and discuss it all," Lucina proposed.
"Sounds like a plan," Snake interrupted them. "Once Team A is done, we should get a messenger over there and have us all meet up to discuss what else we learned before moving on."
"You're back already?" Falcon asked his friend.
"Yeah," Snake confirmed, as Samus ran up to him. "I was thinking we send over Sonic once he's rescued. Much as I don't like him, he is fast, and can deliver a message pretty quickly."
"Sounds good," Lucina concurred.
"I'll go on ahead, Snake," Samus told her boyfriend. "I want to see if I can find Rex. I'll meet you inside."
"Alright." After Samus ran off, a familiar voice called out to the Captain, "Douglas?"
"D-Dr. Stewart?" Falcon gasped.
"Douglas...?" Lucina asked. "Is...that your real name, babe?"
"...Yes," Falcon admitted bashfully. "My real name is Douglas Jay Falcon. I know, it's a rather lame name... if that Beat kid learned it back in Shibuya, I know for a fact he would not stop laughing at me... wasn't his actual name a mouthful and just as embarrassing to him, anyway? Daisuke-something? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black."
"I think it's nice, babe," Lucina complimented him.
"You do...?"
"Yes," Lucina nodded. Giggling, she followed up with, "But I'm still calling you babe."
"Heh..."
"Babe?" The Spirit of Dr. Stewart inquired. "Did she... call you an affectionate nickname?"
"Yeah..."
Smiling, Dr. Stewart said, "So, you've finally figured it out... figured out what she meant to you."
"Yeah, and I couldn't be happier," Falcon told his fellow racer. "We're... surprisingly compatible. I protect her, and she protects me too."
"I can tell you two would be very happy together," Dr. Stewart reassured his friend. "I'm happy for you, Douglas."
"Thank you." Standing up, he reached out his hand to Lucina to help her up. "You ready to save those you love, sweetheart?"
"Yes," Lucina answered him as she took his hand and stood. "Let's go..." She, her lover, and Snake walked to the pocket dimension.
once again, for pacing's sake, I'll end it here. there will for sure be even more interactions that bring everything full circle, next chapter, and boy will it be detailed. And worth it.
Feel free to fave/follow/review if you enjoyed, if you have any questions, anything. I hope I can continue to deliver a quality work.
Oh...one more thing, as of the date of this posting (6/25/2019) I wanted to inform you all the next chapter may take... a bit longer than expected. I'm sure everyone in the Smash community at large knows right now, but famous Smash reaction YouTuber Desmond "Etika" Amofah passed away from an apparent suicide. He was dealing with some mental health issues that got so severe because he had nobody to turn to, and knowing that some people passed it off as like, him being a clown or something... it's really bringing back bad flashbacks of "friends" ditching me or making light of my problems whenever I felt desperate. If I hadn't found a therapist and more supportive friends... I might have ended up like him. So... I'm probably gonna be quiet for a while to mourn and also try to find peace in my mind and heart as much as possible.
Remember - you are not alone. You are loved. If you're struggling, don't ever be afraid to reach out to anyone, be it friend, family or professional, for support.