Another chapter?! AGAIN?! WOW, WoW, you're REALLY on a roll!

Yes, yes I am XD

ENJOY!

Chapter 15.: First and Second Battles

As the two walked down the forest, they were then brought to two paths; a green and red path.

"Which way?" Shulk asked.

"Um …" Lucina was hesitant, but after a while a forcefield blocked the green path. "Huh?"

"Uh … forgot to say," Shulk blushed in embarrassment, "we have a limited time to choose."

Lucina glared. Having no choice, the two walked down the red path, only to be met with Pikachu's trophy.

"The first battle … are you ready?" Lucina asked, unsheathing her sword.

"Ready," Shulk pulled out his Monado.

However, this Pikachu wasn't a friendly foe challenging them … when the duo appeared in N's Castle, the Pikachu appeared … with black swarms around it.

"Huh?" Shulk asked, shocked. "This … this isn't Pikachu!"

"Piiiikaaaaa …" Pikachu growled, and right then and there, it sent out a large Thunderbolt straight to Lucina.

"MOVE!" Shulk cried, pushing Lucina out of the way. However …

"AAAAGH!"

Lucina froze in fear. Shulk. It was Shulk's voice.

Lucina quickly got back on her feet, and she froze upon seeing Shulk, who was holding his arm. Blood seeped in between his fingers.

"Shulk!" Lucina cried, checking on him. "Are you all right?"

"Y-yeah …" Shulk hissed when he touched the wound. Then, Pikachu sent out another powerful Thunderbolt.

"Look out!" Lucina called, quickly getting in front of the injured boy and placing her sword sideways to Counter the Thunderbolt.

"Shulk, stay behind me." Lucina commanded as she jumped in to battle.

"W-wait!" Shulk cried.

Lucina was already fighting Pikachu, with slashes and sparks flying everywhere. Both were at 40% health, but Lucina seemed to have the upper hand. However, when she Dolphin Slashed the dark Pikachu in the air, Pikachu quickly went down and used Thunder. Lucina was shocked, literally, as she was sent flying, her health up to 80%. She barely recovered, however, as she Dolphin Slashed to grab the edge. However, due to an injury on her left arm, she was unable to pull herself up.

"Lucina!" Shulk cried as he watched Pikachu run straight to her for a meteor smash. However, before it could hit her, Shulk jumped down from the platform and used his vision to foresee it. He then countered, and Pikachu was sent flying … offscreen.

"GAME!"

Shulk sighed with relief before he turned to Lucina, pulling her up from the ledge. "You okay?" He asked.

Lucina nodded. "Y-yeah … and you?"

Shulk nodded, but before he could say another word, he grunted when pain flared up.

"Shulk?!" Lucina cried, checking his wound. Shulk shook his head.

"I-I'm fine," he replied, "just a little injury."

"Just a little? You're bleeding heavily!" Lucina exclaimed.

Shulk sighed. "Well … we should heal a bit before we continue …"

"Hang on …" Lucina said, grabbing her satchel and pulling out an Elixir. "This will heal you up fully." She grabbed his arm, and squeezed the contents of the Elixir on the wound. Shulk hissed as the contents made contact with his wound, but sighed as it began to heal up.

"There, all fixed." Lucina smiled. When she tried to get back up, she cried out in pain. Shulk jumped when this happened.

"You okay?!" Shulk asked.

"Y-yeah … I think my arm's broken … that's why I couldn't pull myself up in that fight."

"Here, let me heal it."

"No no, I'll be fine. It'll heal over time. Besides, we need to save our healing items."

"But you're hurt! All because of me …" Then, a green Japanese symbol appeared in front of Lucina, and with that, her arm was fixed up.

"Huh? How did you-?"

"My Light Heal." Shulk responded.

Lucina looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks."

"No, thank you."

With that, the two continued on their way, where they came upon three paths: green, red, and blue.

"Which on-" Shulk asked, but Lucina already picked one. "Red."

"Got it."

As the two walked down the path, they came upon two adversaries: Marth and Captain Falcon.

"You know what to do, right?" Shulk smiled.

"Yes." Lucina answered.

The Marth and Captain Falcon were also not the same ones: both also had black swarms around them.

"This? Again?" Shulk asked, "What in the world is going on here?"

"It must be the swarm's army …" Lucina answered.

Both were teleported to the Arena, and the fight began.

"Take care of the Captain, Lucina, I'll take care of Marth!" Shulk cried, slashing at Marth with a Back Slash.

"Right!" Lucina called as she charged up her Shield Breaker, stabbing the Captain.

Shulk went with the offensive and used his Monado Powers to fight. Choosing a red Japanese symbol, his sword glowed red, and he sent out an Air Slash at Marth. The dark Falcon charged up his famous Falcon Punch, but Lucina countered it, sending the Captain flying.

"How are things going over there, Lucina?!" Shulk cried, blocking a slash with his Monado.

"Doing all right!" She called, sidestepping another Falcon Punch.

Shulk countered Marth's Shield Breaker, and with a powerful slash, knocked Marth out of the field.

"One down, one to go!" Shulk called, running to the fray between Lucina and the Captain.

Lucina was doing well on her own, dodging Falcon's attacks and retaliating with Shield Breakers and Dancing Blades. After a powerful Dancing Blade that sent the Captain flying, she called out, "Shulk! NOW!"

With that, Shulk sent out a powerful Air Slash, and Captain Falcon was sent flying farther, defeated.

"Phew! Way to go!" Shulk smiled.

"You too; you really helped me out." Lucina smiled.

"Anyway … let's go."

And so, the two continued on their way.

The large humanoid-like monster watched the two from the Smash Ball. Growling, he flipped the stage over, knocking the Smash Ball into the bottomless pit.

"Kill … now …" It growled, and the dark clones of other Smashers dissipated into nothing, transporting themselves to fight the duo.

Beta reader: Zulera301