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Chapter 9: New Nightmares

Five days … it had been already five days since her last nightmare. And she was having another one so soon.

Lucina twisted and turned in her bed, speaking. "Shulk … no …"

"SHULK!" Lucina cried as she slashed at Master Hand's glove. After a few hits, the hand lets go of Shulk, and all was well … except, it wasn't.

Master Hand's glove suddenly ripped opened, and this black swarm came out of him.

Lucina gasped, shock and confusion hitting her when this happened. "No … this … what is this?"

Before she had time to react, the swarm turned into a large humanoid, and it grabbed Shulk with its disembodied arms.

"NO!" Lucina screamed, slashing at the humanoid desperately, hoping to Naga that it will release him.

But it was too late. The swarm sucked Shulk in, and his body was molded into what the swarm was: a mess of black particles. She flinched when she heard his anguished screams.

"SHUUUUUUULK!"

"NOOOOOOO!" Lucina shrieked as she sat up from her bed quickly. Breathing heavily, she turned to check her surroundings. There were swords hanging around the walls, and her armor and clothing were hanging beside her on the bed. She wasn't in the battlefield; she was just in her room.

Suddenly, the door burst opened, and Lucina screamed again, nearly falling off of her bed. However … after studying who burst in her room, she realized that this was Shulk … alive and unharmed.

"Lucina?!" Shulk cried out, running to her. He was still in his night clothes, and he had his Monado on his back. Lucina guessed that he assumed that she was under attack.

"You all right?" Shulk asked, looking up and down at her, checking for any signs of injury on her.

Lucina nodded. "I-I'm fine … just had a nightmare …"

"Again?" Shulk asked, tilting his head. "Was it about Laurent again?"

Lucina shook her head. "N-no. I-it was different this time."

"Can you tell me?"

Lucina looked up at Shulk. He was clearly alive and well, not being sucked in by the swarm's hands.

Lucina straightened herself on the bed and began to explain her nightmare. As she spoke, Shulk had his arm around her shoulder, rubbing it and listening intently.

"I see …" Shulk said after Lucina was finished telling him her nightmare. "So Master Hand turned into this "swarm", correct?"

Lucina tried to hold back tears, and nodded.

Shulk nodded. "I understand. It was that fight against him that caused your nightmares. But think of this: it's just a nightmare; no swarm to grab me, I'm alive and well …"

Lucina nodded, and a tear fell from her eye.

"Hey …" Shulk said, wiping the tear away. "It's all right. It's just a nightmare."

"I-I know …" Lucina responded. "Thank you Shulk."

Shulk smiled. "Anytime."

He was about to get up when Lucina grabbed his arm.

"Shulk?" She asked nervously.

He turned around to face her. "Yeah?"

"You don't mind if … well …" She blushed, "if you can sleep with me tonight."

Shulk blushed madly. "W-w-well … sure!"

Lucina smiled and hugged him. "Thank you, Shulk." She said, hoping that she wasn't too bold to ask this. Then again, they're just good friends.

Shulk placed his Monado near Lucina's bed, then the two laid down, and soon, Lucina fell asleep with Shulk holding her in his arms.

The sun's rays hit the window and Lucina's face as morning came. Lucina groggily woke up, and she looked up to see the rays that hit her window. When she was fully awake, she was briefly startled when she realized that someone was with her. However, she smiled upon realizing that this was her friend, Shulk.

Blushing, she began to think.

We were close for some time … I wonder … I just wonder if …

Lucina tried to get up and not wake Shulk up, but she heard a yawn and saw Shulk stirring awake. He looked up, and he smiled. "Morning, Lucina."

Lucina blushed. "Good morning, Shulk." She wanted to say something, but she had no idea what to say.

"How are you feeling? No nightmares?" Shulk smiled.

Lucina shook her head. "No nightmares. It seemed like sleeping with you, they … went away."

"That's good." He lets her go and he got up, stretching his arms. "I'm going to go get some breakfast. I'll see you soon, Lucina."

"W-wait …" Lucina whispered. Shulk turned to her.

"Hm? What's up?"

Lucina blushed madly. "I … I kind of like it when were close together. Can we … stay here a little longer?"

Shulk's face was also red from blushing. "Uh … sure."

He laid back down, and the two snuggled.

That was when the door opened, and someone came in.

"Lucina, you're late for breakfa-"

Lucina looked up to see her father, stopping in his tracks upon seeing what was going on.

Ohshoot, ohshoot, ohshoot, ohshoot! Lucina thought. She had never expected Chrom to visit her so soon.

Chrom had his sword out, ready to strike. Lucina knew that she had to do something.

"F-Father! It's not what it looks like!" She cried desperately.

Shulk blushed. "U-uh … see you soon, Lucina!" With that, he quickly pushed Chrom out of the way as he fled, his night clothes still on. Lucina would've barked at him for fleeing, but this was a good reason to run.

Chrom sighed. "I'm going to tell your mother about this."

Before Lucina had time to say something, Chrom walked out. "W-wait! Father!" She called, chasing after him, still wearing her night gown.