Gosh…Sorry guys and gals for no update in like…*cringe* three months or so…life has a way of interrupting fun things. Anyway, moving on…

Important Info:

1) Meta Knight is based on the anime Hoshi no Kaabii, where he's more of a father/teacher figure to Kirby

2) Lucario is female and Greninja is male.

Disclaimer: Ha. Ha. Ha…you're all so silly thinking this thing is mine.

Come What May

Sum: It started off simply enough. But that line bothered him. "And they call you the Radiant Hero?"

~ ~ ~ Us ~ ~ ~

Ike left the transportation room, wondering.

It started off simply enough. A time match Free-for-All. Ike had held his ground well enough, but Lucina had knocked him down from second to third with a well timed counterstrike. He felt a bit foolish and knew Meta Knight would chide him about it later. Overall, the match wasn't what caused the vanguard to wonder.

It was what Lucina had stated after the match.

When time was called, the results were displayed before the audience. All lights were shut off and then a single light fell on the victor who would stick a pose. Lucina, having won by a margin of 1, raised her sword high and brought it down swinging it. "And they call you the Radiant Hero?" She scoffed. The remaining lights brightened, showing Ike, Robin, and Kuro clapping for the winner. There was a thunderous applause as they vanished from the stage results.

When Ike opened his eyes, he saw the teleportation room before him, the light that brought the Smashers to and from matches was entirely too bright. He rolled his shoulders, feeling the after effects of the match. He glanced over at Robin who appeared to be in thought and then Lucina and Kuro. He was surprised to see Kuro smiling; he wasn't sour at his lose. He'd Smashed with the fallen angel enough to know that winning meant a lot to him. Ike never pried as to why, but this time the fallen angel was grinning and silent. As if he knew something was going to happen…

"Lucina….what was that about?" Robin asked, brow furrowed slightly.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that…comment…it wasn't like you."

Ike hummed. He hadn't had a chance to really talk with Marth's descendant so he couldn't agree or disagree with the tactician. But there was one thing that was bothering him.

"Like me?"

"No…you're a skilled and competent fighter, truly, but…you've never let it go to your head."

"What a buzz kill. I'd figured you'd say something, but seriously?" Kuro finally said, still grinning. "So what if she's a bit arrogant? She deserves it; wiping the floor with you all." He clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Nice going out there."

"Don't forget you lost as well." The tactician replied quickly, frowning at Kuro.

The fallen angel shrugged, "Yeah? At least I can accept it without ruining her mood. You're her friend; shouldn't you be proud of her and all that?"

At that moment the door flew open to reveal Pit. "Hey! You guys were awesome!" He ran in, pausing just a moment to smile at his counterpart. "Those were some nice moves out there! When Robin sent out that Arc Thunder and you reflected it back to him! Awesome, Pitto!"

"Don't call me that!" He shoved the Captain of the Royal Guards. "…and yeah. It was awesome." He sent a smug look at the tactician. Robin clutched his tome tighter, but refrained from taking the bait.

"Hey Lucina, I have a question." The vanguard moved closer to her, noting the fallen angel was currently being dragged out by Pit, chatting excitedly where as Kuro was grumbling. "What's with the title?"

"Title? Oh!" She nodded. "You mean 'Radiant Hero'. That is the title you are known by. There aren't many stories of your bravery and skill, but the few that are known bestowed the title on you."

"…I suppose that makes sense…." He replied slowly. "But…I'm not of your world. How do you have stories of me?"

Robin cut in, "That we don't know. They're merely stories passed down for generations, and no one can say exactly when they began."

The Crimea native nodded in understanding. There were plenty like that in his home world. "Okay. Anyway, good match Lucina. I'll see you later." The two bid him farewell, and as the vanguard left he heard Robin comment about the match with her.

Ike deliberated. It's no secret that Robin and Lucina hail from the same dimension as Marth. The two had blurted it out when meeting the Emperor of Akaneia; thankfully, they refrained from sharing details.

But that was it. They were from the same dimension. Ike wasn't. His world was completely separated from the emperor's. So how in the world, and why would he make it his permanent home?

The Crimea native frowned. What about Ranulf? And Soren? Did they leave him? Did he leave them? Did they…die? He felt his heart clench at the mere thought. Sure it was inevitable, but that did not make the thought any more bearable.

"Ike!"

Said swordsman was jolted out his thoughts. "Oh…hey Marth."

The Emperor of Akaneia smiled, slowing his pace as he reached his friend. "I saw your match."

"Did…did Meta Knight see it?" He asked, tentatively.

Marth grinned, "No. He and Lucario are training for their Team Match in a few minutes." He laughed when Ike left out a sigh of relief. "But I'm sure he'll watch the replay."

The Crimea native groaned. "Ugh…great, just great. He's going to make me train for days on this…"

The emperor rested a hand on his shoulder. "I think you might be overacting. Come on, let's go wait for Meta Knight's match." Ike let him be led towards the Viewing Area; a special room only open to Smashers, and they could even bet on the matches. Marth chose one of the half circular booths to sit at, forgoing the circular tables with simple seats. "Something on your mind? You're surprisingly quite after the match."

". . . . . .Do you have any shape-shifters?"

"Shape-shifters…The only one that comes to mind is the Manakete." He replied, and at the curious look, "The Manakete are dragons who claim human form. They use something called Dragonstones to shift their form from human to dragon. It is possible there are more." Marth speculated, "As there are areas overseas that have not been fully explored. Why do you ask?"

Ike gazed at the arena just in time to see the stage change into Gaur Planes, but his eyes held a distant look. "…it's something Lucina and Robin said. There're stories of me in your dimension."

"Of you?" The Emperor of Akaneia was surprised, both swordsmen missing the countdown for Meta Knight's match. "How? You're from a different dimension."

"That's what I want to know…"

The Emperor of Akaneia glanced at the stage. Meta Knight unleased three swift strikes at Mr. Game & Watch. "Why are you curious about shape-shifters?"

"I have a friend, Ranulf. He's a laguz, which in essence is the same as a shape-shifter…sort of." Was the reply. "I wanted to know…if I did somehow come to your dimension if Ranulf followed…I know Soren would. If he did, then maybe there'd be…I don't know. More of him…more laguz."

"Perhaps…you come at a later time?"

"But how?" Ike asked, completely forgoing the match. "I don't even know a single reason as to why I would just up and leave my dimension…" He grimaced. "If I ever did…I'd rather come so I could be with you. I don't want to arrive only to find you've passed on."

Marth gently placed a hand on the vanguard's shoulder. "Ike…"

"…If I have to leave Ranulf and Soren…if I have to leave my dimension, I don't want to be alone."

The emperor couldn't find the proper words for Ike. Marth opted to giving him a short embrace instead hoping it would ease some of the vanguard's worries. "Listen, perhaps it's nothing. Maybe someone else from your world found their way to mine, and carried stories of your deeds."

The Crimea native sighed. "…maybe you're right." There was still an edge of sadness in his eyes.

Marth leaned back. "I know it's not much comfort."

"No…but worrying about it will only make me crazy." He ran a hand through his hair. "…and thanks."

The Emperor of Akaneia offered a rueful smile. "I only wish I could do more."

"If…if I cross that bridge…I-"

"I'll be there…somehow." Marth immediately replied. Even if it may result in an empty promise, the thought was appreciated. Ike nodded, smiling at his fellow Smasher.

"I know."

Wasn't supposed to be as depressing sounding as it turned out to be…ugh. Sorry, guys and gals. The next one will hopefully not be so depressing feeling. I've got another almost typed out, so hopefully it will be posted next weekend or next Friday.

So, Lucina has special victory phrases when she battles Marth or Ike. However, I thought it was only for one-on-one battles. And then I was playing online as Marth and someone else was Lucina and when they won, she said her special victory phrase. So…is it whenever she wins against Marth? Or maybe I'm wrong…I dunno know. Meh…

Bye, guys and gals!

ZeroGravityDog is out.