So. 2020. New year. Byleth is FP5. 6 more DLC on the way. One last hurrah with the promised epilogue. (also note that the finale ended with "The End" and not "Fin" like I usually do)

Let's do this.

I'm still assuming KOS-MOS and Elma are in, as I'm now kinda hoping they'll be in season 2. This will also assume the following are confirmed for DLC: Neku Sakuraba from TWEWY; Octoling (another Spirit promotion; the Octoling Girl & Octoling Boy which uses the Octo Expansion artwork. they are NOT an Echo here); AND Mecha-Fiora. Yes, she finally gets her chance just like Chrom! PLEASE LET THIS ACTUALLY HAPPEN OH MY GOD. And also T-elos who is just randomly announced as KOS-MOS's echo out of nowhere, lol. Season 2 supposedly will go until December 2021 (!) and judging by a recent Famitsu column, could well be the LAST season (!) so... even though there are six spots in the second pass, they only said no echoes for the first pass. I think they'll pick 4 fighters to have Echoes (cause there are currently 10 unfilled World of Light character slots in the datamine) and bundle them with their "base" so to speak. Fiora will be Elma's Echo here and T-elos will be KOS-MOS's. Didn't want the "Echo Program" plotbun to go to waste either.

There MAY be a sequel to this later down the line...? I kinda want to do one. Maybe they'll still be dealing with the aftershock of what Galeem and Dharkon did to them. Maybe Falcon will get to explore his past and learn where he came from, and why he became a bounty hunter and racer. MAYBE Black Shadow will play a role in it, regardless of if he's ever confirmed for Smash or not. I haven't settled the full details yet tho. I may also do that rooftop party side story too.

But rest assured, you will LOVE this ending. And it may also set the stage a bit for said potential sequel...?

Content warning: MILD SMUT AT ONE POINT (also assume they're using condoms and the pill everytime they do it from here on out incl. said sequel if i include such scenes, and that Lucina stopped by Dr. Mario's office real quick upon returning to Smash City for the morning after pill - safe sex is important my dudes). also tooth rotting fluff oh my GOD I don't wanna say any more to not spoil y'all

Also, male Byleth is called Byleth and female Byleth goes by Blythe. Get it?! Anagram? (I'm so original.) I was gonna call F!Byleth Beth originally but Blythe is just more creative. Also teases of Terry/Blythe.

Title origin - Your Voice from the Xenoblade Chronicles X OST (Unsurprising)

and of course, obligatory Super Smash Prose server plug. ID is gDK48ua.

Hiding in my Skin, Broken from Within

Epilogue - Your Voice

Once they arrived back in Smash City, Captain Falcon and Lucina met up with Terry Bogard as promised in front of Smash Tower as night fell.

"Heh, took ya guys long enough!" Terry chuckled, briefly taking off his hat and spinning it around on his fingers. "So, got any burger joints you recommend?"

"I might know one..." The Captain replied with a grin.

"Oh, is it that one Shulk, Zelda and I visited one time?" Lucina questioned curiously. "I really love the food there."

"Might be... seeing as how it's the only burger place in Smash City." The three shared a hearty laugh.

"Oh, hey guys!" Banjo called out, running over to them. "You guys gonna head up to the rooftop party?"

"Not just yet," Terry told Banjo. "I'm treating the saviors of the multiverse here to some burgers!"

"They have fries too, right? And dipping sauces?" Kazooie piped up.

"Yup, a lot of different kinds," Falcon told the bird and bear duo. "Wanna come with?"

"I guess," Banjo conceded. "I guess it'll be a pre-tour for us, we'll do the full tour tomorrow probably. But try not to take too long - you guys are wanted there for the main event before the party stops at midnight!"

"It hopefully won't take too long," Lucina told them. "Say, babe, you wouldn't mind telling me about that Subspace incident you mentioned?"

"Sure," The Captain agreed with a smile. "I'll even catch Banjo and Kazooie here up while we're at it."

...

"I see..." Lucina murmured after listening to Captain Falcon's explanation of the Subspace incident over some burgers. She sat next to Banjo and Kazooie at a booth situated close to a window while her boyfriend sat in front of her, with Terry sitting next to him. Taking a sip of her cherry limeade, she remarked, "So... this Tabuu was turning everyone into trophies? And he wanted to send all the dimensions to his own to become more powerful?"

"Yeah," Falcon said. "He also imprisoned the Hands and controlled them to do his bidding - I imagine they acted as his replacements for Galeem and Dharkon who were already sealed away before that happened." Taking a bite of his bacon and blue cheese burger, he continued after swallowing, "Still feel sorry for ROB - he lost all his brethren when the Isle of the Ancients was destroyed. At least, with all of Tabuu, Galeem and Dharkon out of the way, we can look forward to a hopeful future."

"Yes..." Lucina nodded before looking to the side wistfully. "However long that may be... I hope it's long enough..." Trying to hide her emotions, she took another bite of her barbecue burger while Banjo dipped a french fry in garlic aioli sauce and tossed it flawlessly into Kazooie's mouth, and she happily gobbled it up.

"Hey, look at it this way," Terry told Lucina. "I'm aware that while this is my first Smash venture, it may also be my last. That's why I'm gonna live it up! It's an honor to even be here. Sure the bird and bear feel the same, especially considering their... unique sitch." Banjo and Kazooie silently nodded in confirmation.

"And remember what I said, sweetheart?" Captain Falcon asked his girlfriend, who lifted her gaze to meet his. "We'll make the most of our time together, and strive for a happy future? Heck, maybe we'll be able to go on another adventure together... one with lesser stakes of course, hopefully."

"Of course..." Lucina nodded, smiling affectionately and putting her burger down. "Just spending time with you and everyone here in Smash City is enough for me to be content, babe." Recalling all the details her boyfriend told her about the Subspace incident, she praised him with, "The way you used your Falcon Flier to escape the Isle of the Ancients sounds amazing. I'd like to see your Falcon Flier in action someday..."

"Yeah, one day for sure..." He smiled at her before noticing something on her face. "Oh, Lucina...?" The Captain questioned. "You... have something on your mouth."

It turned out Lucina had a small blob of barbecue sauce on a corner of her mouth. The Captain volunteered with a smile, "I've got this," and leaned over to her, his lips covering the blob of sauce before kissing her passionately, prompting her to close her eyes and reach out a hand to lovingly touch his face.

"Oooooooh!" Terry cheered. "Bro, I GOTTA post this to Smashbook!" Pulling out his smartphone, he prepared to take a snap of the romantic moment before him when a familiar face popped up in the shot.

"Initiating 'photobomb' protocol."

"KOS-MOS?!" Terry shouted, recoiling in surprise. The couple also stopped kissing each other, slightly recoiling in surprise.

"Master Hand has instructed me to inform you that the festivities on the Smash Tower rooftop are coming to a close, and they would like to give you the appropriate accolades before the party ends at midnight."

"It's what... 10:00 PM?" Terry mumbled, checking the time on his phone. "We got enough time to spare. Just give us a few minutes to finish our grub!"

"Affirmative," KOS-MOS nodded. "Please do not take too long. They said they wanted to have all of you - including Lucina and the Captain - present for an introspective speech from Shulk, and for discussing plans for Smash City's future."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Captain Falcon reassured the gynoid.

"We'll see you soon," Lucina told KOS-MOS, as Banjo silently waved with a smile.

"So... looking forward to the future is nice," Kazooie spoke up, "But Banjo and I would like that catch up on all we've missed."

"Gladly," The Captain obliged. "So let's start with..."

...

Six months later...

It's been six months since we became a couple... and six months since the Galeem and Dharkon incident. And life couldn't be better. We get closer by the day...

"Mmmm..."

...In more ways than one. Hehe.

Ever since Master Hand gave her a duplicate of the keys to Snake and Captain Falcon's apartment, Lucina would occasionally visit her boyfriend to spend time with him while Snake was out... or even spend the night with him.

Which of course led to morning lovemaking most of the time - as long as they remained relatively quiet.

And this was no different. She lay on her stomach in bed, maintaining the optimal position as he pounded into her from behind, his toned chest pressed against her back.

"Ahhhhh..." She sighed blissfully as his movements found the perfect pace, curling her fingers on her right hand up as his right hand's fingers interlaced and as he wrapped his left arm around her abdomen. Feeling his strong arms wrap around her filled her with a sense of comfort amidst the moment of passion.

The way we come together like this... it's perfect. We become one, not just physically, but emotionally too, on an almost... spiritual level, even. I wouldn't trade this for the world.

She heard him faintly moaning as he brought his lips to the nape of her neck.

Yes, babe... like that... Make me melt in your arms...

"I'm... close..." Lucina managed to utter before she reached a crescendo of ecstasy, mewling and quivering in rapture.

I don't want this... to end...

"Luci... ahhhh..." Falcon moaned before he felt sheer pleasure course through his veins as well, holding her tighter and sighing as he shuddered, the sensation of his breath on her skin giving her goosebumps.

So wonderful... Lucina closed her eyes, enjoying the two of them coming together in blissful harmony...

You cannot escape the darkness within you, or your dark future.

What?!

She could barely feel the fading sparks of bliss as that thought... those words from Dharkon that day echoed in her mind. All she felt from that thought on was nervousness.

Why now...? Why am I remembering all the manipulative things Dharkon said to me...?

"Sweetheart...?" The Captain asked her, softly backing away to give her some space.

I know all paths lead to you returning to that lonely future, be it within weeks, months, years, even decades...

"I..." Lucina trembled anxiously, her face starting to sweat. "I suddenly had a flashback of... Dharkon saying those disheartening things to me... like no matter what, I'd still return to a lonely future..." Closing her eyes, she lamented, "I thought for sure... that I'd be over this by now..."

"Lucina..." He tenderly embraced her, making her feel safer already. "I... have to confess. I haven't fully healed from that incident, either... I sometimes hear Galeem's words to me echoing in my nightmares... I can't get over their last words to me before I dealt the final blow..."

"And you forget something else light stands for... Hope!"

Hope...?

"I wasn't sure if... they were legitimately unaware of light also signifying hope... or if they were mockingly questioning me..."

"I... noticed that sometimes... when we spent the night in each others' arms, sometimes I'd hear you murmuring fearfully..." She softly drew closer to her lover and wrapped her arms around him.

"Looks like we both still have some healing to do..." The Captain murmured timidly.

"I know we can. Together." Lucina smiled at him softly yet confidently. "You helped me become stronger than I ever thought possible... and you're one of the strongest people I've known, too. Not just in battle prowess, but strength of character, too. You've been through a lot, and pushed on despite it all..."

"Heh... so have you." He softly kissed her on the forehead, prompting her to softly, affectionately chuckle. "It's no surprise we were drawn to each other... yes. We'll help each other heal, no matter how long it takes."

All of a sudden, they heard a knock at Captain Falcon's door.

"Hey, guys?" Snake asked them. "I appreciate you two keeping things quiet, but try to make it quick. Blythe is here, and she wants us all to head to Smash City Square soon... the Hands are bringing in a whopping THREE new faces at once. Well, maybe one of them may not be so new to you guys..." Blythe and her alternate dimension counterpart, Byleth, were a pair of professors who taught at the Garreg Mach Monastery and wielded the legendary Sword of the Creator. They arrived a month and a half after the Galeem and Dharkon incident.

"Coming!" Lucina called out. Looking her lover in the eyes, she told him, "Well, guess we can't be cuddling in bed all day. I'll go freshen up real quick." She climbed out of bed and dressed into her underwear, taking her other clothes with her as she approached the door. "Um, Snake," She called out to him, "I'll be heading to the bathroom. I'll be only in my undergarments, so... I'd appreciate if you didn't look."

"Okay, just make it quick." She opened the door.

After Lucina closed the door behind her, the Captain began to roll out of bed, sitting up briefly in thought.

What can I do...? I, too, feel some kind of uncertainty about the future, even though I made those promises to her... Eyeing the nearby dresser, he thought, Unless... I think it's finally time...

...

Once both Lucina and Captain Falcon freshened up, Snake and Blythe accompanied them to the elevator, followed by a taxi ride to the Smash City Square, where Terry and KOS-MOS were waiting for them.

"Greetings Captain, Lucina, Blythe, Snake," KOS-MOS greeted the group in her usual robotic way.

"Hi, KOS-MOS," Lucina waved at the android.

"You guys ready for the big reveal?" Terry asked, sounding pumped up. "I have NO IDEA who they'll be! Oh man, this is exciting!"

"I... think I know who one of them might be..." The Captain grinned. "Not tellin', though!"

"You're no fun!" Terry teasingly complained before eyeing the Garreg Mach professor with them. "Helloooo, teach," he flirted at her with a whistle.

"Oh, I'm flattered," Blythe giggled. "But maybe wait until after the show? Everyone's waiting for us. Otherwise, I might have to take some... disciplinary action." She winked.

"Ohohohoho, she's the dominant type too! SCORE!" Terry pumped his fists in the air triumphantly.

"Seriously, though, let's go," Snake advised Terry as the six joined the other Smashers who were gathered around the main stage.

"Alright, here's the event you've all been waiting for!" Master Hand began. "Let's start with our first new face in Smash City-"

Just then, a pool of dark energy materialized on the stage, prompting concerned murmurs at first, until a tall woman with dark skin and light lavender hair emerged from it. She appeared to be a combat android much like KOS-MOS, with a different... air to her. She seemed more sophisticated, more... human, even, in her appearance and mannerisms. Materializing a laser scythe out of nowhere, she began twirling it in a display that demonstrated both her finesse and fierceness.

"I almost forgot the Echo Program is still running! Here's one we enlisted from such a program - KOS-MOS's successor, T-elos!"

"Take me on, if you dare!" T-elos boasted.

The cheers continued as Daisy, Ken and Richter greeted the newest fighter brought onboard by the Echo Program, while KOS-MOS only observed from a distance, glaring slightly.

"Next up is... "

"No need to introduce me, Master Hand." A female voice said.

"Is that...?" Lucina murmured.

"I think so..." Captain Falcon whispered.

Walking onstage was none other than Elma, in the same true form she was in when Master Hand invited her to the Smash Tournament.

"Here she is, our first newcomer after that incident, who only now has finished her loose ends on the planet Mira - please welcome, Elma!"

She only smiled and waved at everyone as they cheered before noticing Lucina and the Captain waving at her, to which she responded with, "I'm finally here."

"Next on our list is..." Suddenly, two streams of ink landed on the stage - one a vibrant magenta, the other a peach color. Emerging from the ink were two similarly-colored octopi, which transformed into a humanoid girl and boy with octopus like traits.

"Veemo!"

"Oomi!"

"The Octolings!" The crowd once again erupted into cheer, with the Inkling Boy and Girl inking the sides of the stage, swimming up them, and congratulating their cephalopod friends.

"'Ey, Master Hand? Let me introduce myself."

All of a sudden, a beacon of a rather oddly stylized skull shone down on the stage, before a large beam of light emerged from it. When the light faded, a youth - about 15 years old - emerged, clad in mostly purple with spiky orange hair and headphones.

"...Neku?!" The Captain gasped.

"Neku!" Lucina happily shouted.

"...Neku Sakuraba, everyone!" The crowd once again burst into cheers.

"And last but not least, at least for now... Chrom, you remember how you finally got your chance after so long? Well, one more is getting such a chance!"

Everyone's attention was shifted to the sky as a giant lavender mech flew above them. It eventually landed, and a familiar face stepped out of it.

It was none other than Fiora, still a half-Hom half-Mechon cyborg, smiling and waving to the crowd.

"...Our next new Echo Program participant! Mecha-Fiora, ladies and gentlemen!" Cheers erupted once more, this time more thunderous than all the times before, as confetti rained from the sky.

"Whoa... four of 'em, huh..." Snake muttered. "Was not expecting that at all... gotta give it to the Hands and their penchant for surprises."

"Rest assured, there is still more to come, but for now, please welcome our newest faces! See you all soon!"

"Fiora! Elma...!" Lucina murmured, running to the stairs on the side of the stage. Captain Falcon, KOS-MOS, Chrom and Shulk took notice and followed her.

While the Inklings were busy chatting it up with the Octolings, Chrom and Lucina called out to Fiora, "Fiora!" With KOS-MOS and Shulk in tow, while Captain Falcon shouted, "Hey, Neku!"

"Cap!" Neku ran to the Captain and gave him a high five.

"You finally made it, kid," Falcon congratulated the youth. "And you don't have to worry about the Reaper's Game here, either."

"I would hope not," Neku rhetorically remarked as he and the Captain burst into laughter.

"Excuse me, Neku?" Cloud asked Neku, walking over to him with the Luminary in tow. "My name's Cloud Strife. It's nice to finally meet you."

"We meet again, Sakuraba," The Luminary greeted Neku.

Chuckling as he scratched the back of his head, Neku remarked, "Please, call me Neku." As Captain Falcon left Neku to chat with Cloud and the Luminary, Fiora was receiving a very warm welcome indeed.

"Congratulations, Fiora!" Shulk hugged his girlfriend.

"I finally got my chance, Shulk..." Fiora muttered happily. "I'm beyond honored to fight alongside you, and Chrom, and Lucina, and... oh, KOS-MOS is here too?"

"Long time no see, Fiora," KOS-MOS greeted Fiora. "I do believe that is how the phrase goes."

"Heehee," Fiora giggled.

"My best friend finally joins Smash," Lucina congratulated her. "This is definitely cause for celebration."

"As someone who waited for his chance and got it, I knew you'd get yours someday too," Chrom told the cyborg. "And hey! The Golden Chains crew are back together, just like old times! And there's also Ryu and Ken too, but they're busy right now, haha..."

"Thanks, guys!" Fiora thanked everyone. "Can't wait for my new digs in Smash Tower! I wonder who my roommate will be... KOS-MOS, perhaps?"

"Unfortunately, that is not possible," KOS-MOS replied. "Miss Blythe, of Garreg Mach Monastery, is my roommate. I am quite surprised to see she has some aptitude for machinery, as she maintains my charging station with ease."

"Who knew?" Shulk commented with a chuckle.

"Fiora?" Elma asked Fiora as she approached the cyborg and her friends. "I'll be your roommate. Somewhat fitting, too, as according to the Echo Program, you're set to be my Echo in this tournament."

"Oh, Elma!" Fiora waved at her. "You... look a bit different."

"I'm... actually a xenoform. Or as you people would say, alien. This is my true form."

"You didn't opt for your mim form, Elma?" Captain Falcon asked Elma as he approached the group.

"Oh... Captain," Elma turned to him. "My mim will be accessible once Fiora and my apartment is set up. I just thought it was only proper that I officially join Smash City in the same form I was initially invited in."

"I guess that makes sense," Lucina commented with a chuckle.

"In any case, it's great to see ya again after so long, Elma," Falcon told the xenoform. "Y'know, you said once that you wanted me to tell you more about my world. I have a better idea... as a little way of celebrating you finally joining Smash, why don't Lucina and I show you my world?"

"Really...?" Elma asked. "Won't that... take a while though?"

"We'll be in and out in a jiffy, hopefully less than a day will have passed here while we're over there," Falcon told her. "You know how the flow of time differs here vs. in our worlds..."

"Indeed," Elma nodded. "Would you like to come too, Fiora?"

"...I think I'll pass this time," Fiora declined Elma's offer. "Last time Shulk and I visited Mute City, things... got out of control fast."

"I don't think that'll happen again though, Fiora," Captain Falcon tried to reassure her. "After that incident, Black Shadow seems to be keeping his distance from me for some reason."

"Even so... I wanna celebrate with Shulk. It's my special day, after all."

"Understandable," Lucina told her friend. "You two have fun, ok?"

"Of course!" Shulk said.

"That only begs the question of who else will come with us..." The Captain murmured. "It'd feel weird if it was just me, Lucina and Elma..."

"Sign me up, boss!" A familiar young female's voice said.

"...Lin?" Elma turned around and saw Lin Lee Koo standing before her. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to congratulate you, of course!" Eyeing Lucina and the Captain, Lin added, "And I couldn't help but notice that you guys are heading to the Captain's world... is it anything like ours, Captain?"

"Even better," The Captain grinned. "Earth's still around, technology has evolved in ways you never thought possible... we have cars that drive without wheels and go super fast!"

"Keep talkin'..." Lin bounced on the balls of her feet eagerly.

"There's also a lot of different alien races in Mute City, too," Lucina continued, "And... there's someone I'd like you to meet. I have a feeling the two of you would be really good friends..."

"AAAAAA!" Lin squealed excitedly. "WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?! LET'S GO!"

"Heh, she's excited," Elma remarked. "But yes. Lead the way."

"Okay."

...

Once they arrived in Mute City, Elma and Lin couldn't believe their eyes.

"So... if Earth was allowed to continue thriving, this is probably what would have become of it... it's wonderful," Elma remarked.

"Aaaaaaaa...!" Lin could not stop gushing at all the extremely advanced technology around her. "Sooooooooooooo cooooooooooooooooool...!"

"I can tell you two are impressed," Falcon boasted before noticing a familiar face approaching him from afar.

"Lily...?"

"It's been a while, Captain," Lily greeted him. "What brings you here..." It was then she noticed Lucina with him. "Lucina...?"

"L-Lily..." Lucina stammered. "Listen... I want to apologize for how I acted that day... I felt so hopeless, I just shut you out... can you... forgive me...?"

"...Of course," Lily told her senior with a smile. "It was totally understandable for you to feel that way after all you've been through. At least, it's good you're back." Looking to the side, Lily continued, "What you did that day... was really brave, fending off Black Shadow while everyone else escaped. I should actually commend you for it. I'd probably run if I saw someone like him causing chaos in a public place..."

"Oh... thank you, Lily." Lucina invited Lily for a hug before telling her, "Oh, and I imagine you don't have a lot of friends your age..."

"Well, there's Princia," Lily said, "But she and I are often on way different wavelengths if you catch my drift."

"Well, I think you and Lin here will get along just fine," The Captain suggested.

"Lin...?"

"Yes!" Lin greeted Lily. "That's me, Lin Lee Koo, 13-year-old engineer at BLADE, at your service!" She saluted Lily.

"Lily Flyer," Lily introduced herself to Lin. "14-year-old support soldier for the Galactic Federation AND F-Zero racer!"

"OH MY GOD! YOU'RE SOO COOL, LILY!" Lin began geeking out.

"YOU'RE THE COOL ONE, LIN!" Lily gushed.

"YOU RIDE THOSE SUPER FAST VEHICLES?!"

"YOU BET I DO!"

"I TUNE UP GIANT ROBOTS CALLED SKELLS! OH, OH, AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHECK OUT MY SKELL FANFICTION?!"

"WOULD I?! SHOW IT TO MEEE!"

"AAAAA!"

"Heh, just as you two predicted, they're getting along swimmingly," Elma commented. "Any idea where we should all go first, though?"

"Hmmm..." The Captain held his right hand to his chin in thought.

"Babe... didn't you mention a sushi bar you liked to frequent a while back?" Lucina suggested. "I suppose we could go there for lunch..."

"Alright then," The Captain agreed. "Follow me, guys."

...

After the five got their seats at the sushi bar, Lily asked Lucina, "So, Lucina... I couldn't help but notice you called the Captain 'babe' back there... did you get to...?"

"Tell him how I felt? Yes..." Smiling, Lucina looked to the side as she blushed. "We've been together ever since... and I couldn't be happier."

"He seems really happy with you too," Lily commented. "It's almost like... you two are each other's perfect match."

"You think so...?" Making eye contact with Lily, Lucina told her, "Thank you."

"Hey, hey, Lily!" Lin piped up, pulling out her FrontierNav device. "I got my Skell fanfiction right here~"

"OH MY GOD SHOW MEEEE."

Elma and the couple watched the young girls' interactions, happy they had found friends they could relate to. Within minutes, their lunch was served - Lin's lunch was a ramen soup, Lily's was a shrimp tempura dish, Elma's was Japanese style fried rice with steak, shrimp, and various vegetables; and the Captain and Lucina had a shared sushi platter, with sodas of their choice. Once they were done, Dr. Stewart walked through the doors of the establishment.

"Hey, Cap," Dr. Stewart greeted him and his traveling companions. "I see you've got your girlfriend and Lily with you, but who are the others?"

"Dr. Stewart, meet Elma and Lin from the planet of Mira," Captain Falcon introduced them to the Doctor. "In their world, Earth was destroyed, so for them to see a thriving Earth like this..."

"It's exhilarating," Elma spoke up. "I take it you're also an F-Zero racer?"

"In fact, I am," Dr. Stewart answered her. "Say Cap, you up for a race? Hope you didn't drink any booze or anything!"

"Don't worry, I didn't!" Falcon and Stewart had a laugh before Falcon stood. For a brief second, Lucina thought she saw something fall out of his back pocket. Turning to the others, he said, "You can watch the races on the TV sets! I'll see you guys soon!"

"Oh, Captain," Lily spoke up, "I'll race too!" She stood and followed Falcon and Stewart.

"Good luck, babe!" Lucina waved to her lover. Elma and Lin followed suit as the Captain, the Doctor, and Lily left.

"Oh, what's this?" Lin questioned, noticing a small, square black object close to the chair the Captain once sat at.

"Ah!" Lucina reached for the object, carefully examining it. "It's a...box?"

"Have you tried opening it?" Elma suggested.

"Where do I..." Lucina found the opening, and opened the box.

"What?!"

Elma and Lin got a closer look at the contents of the box - and what it was was most surprising.

A diamond ring.

"I... wow," Elma muttered. "Do you... know what this is, Lucina?"

"No... I really don't."

"This is an engagement ring!"

"A... what?"

"When it comes to romance and courtship, this is the ultimate sign of taking things to the next level," Elma explained. "It's a sign that you two want to get married."

"W-w-whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-?!" Lucina covered her face with both hands as she blushed intensely.

"You give that ring to your beloved and ask if they want to marry you."

"I..." Taking the box and closing it, Lucina's heart began to pound and she began to feel shaky.

Should I... do it? Propose to him like this...? Might as well. It's now or never.

"I'm going to give this to him!" Lucina declared. "And I'll ask him if he wants to marry me!"

"I..." Realizing Lucina had it backwards, Elma still encouraged her. "Lin and I will be behind you every step of the way. But... isn't he still racing?"

"Oh..." Glancing at the television for a moment, Lucina then said, "But I'm sure he'll win first place anyway. He always does..."

"Yeah, but..." Lin began, "How are we gonna get there?"

All of a sudden, a familiar alien male voice with a slight Brooklyn accent spoke up. "You need a ride, ladies?"

"PJ!"

...

As expected, Captain Falcon won first in this racing cup, with Lily Flyer placing second, and Black Shadow placing third. As the three prepared to board their podiums, Black Shadow told the Captain, "So... I couldn't help but notice you returned here with that girl."

"Don't you dare think about going after her again," Captain Falcon warned the wanted criminal.

"After how she wounded me that day, I wasn't even planning on it," Black Shadow cackled dryly. "You certainly have trained her well."

"Flattery gets you nowhere," Lily objected. "Don't go after the Captain, either."

"Fine," Black Shadow obliged. "However, I am interested in joining that Smash Bros. tournament..."

"If you do get in, and that's a big if," The Captain began, "I'll put in a word with Master Hand to ensure you don't cause trouble for me or Lucina... or anyone else in Smash City."

"You sure drive a hard bargain," Black Shadow taunted him. "However... I do have something that could be of interest to you. Whether or not I join that tournament, I will have you know that being the leader of an intergalactic crime syndicate, I have access to certain... information."

"What do you mean...?" The Captain questioned.

"I know that your memories of your youth are somewhat hazy, that you don't remember certain details of your life before you turned 27 years of age," Black Shadow explained. "If you ever want that information... you know where to find me."

"... I'll consider it," Falcon said after a moment of hesitation. "But in no way does this make us friends, got that?"

"And I'd prefer it stays that way," Black Shadow replied sinisterly. "At any rate, better not keep our adoring fans waiting..."

...

Eventually, it was Captain Falcon's time to be interviewed on F-ZERO TV. Before Mr. Zero could ask his question, however...

"E-Excuse me!"

Everyone's attention shifted to Lucina, who somehow found a way into the studio. "Somehow" was an understatement - it was PJ who took her, Elma and Lin to the studio and convinced the guards to let them in.

"Lucina?!" The Captain shouted. The cameras focused on the intruder as she walked over to her boyfriend and announced, "I... have been considering this for a while, but... if I don't do it now, I'll regret it for the rest of my life..." She pulled the box out of her pocket, opened it, and held it out to him with her arms outstretched as she shouted, "Captain Falcon, will you marry me?!"

The whole studio erupted into surprised gasps as the Captain stood still for a few seconds, dumbfounded, before asking, "I... where'd you even find that?"

"It... fell out of your pocket as you were leaving the sushi bar..."

"I..." Walking over to her, he took the box and said, "L-Lucina. You know that it's supposed to be me proposing to you, and not the other way around...?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, that ring is WAY too small for my big meaty fingers!" He laughed, as did the rest of the studio, including Lucina. He then motioned for her to hold out her right hand, during which he took the ring out of its box and slipped it onto her ring finger, at which she softly gasped and blushed.

"...But it fits perfectly on yours."

"I..." Lucina could feel her heart fill with unadulterated joy as tears of happiness began to flood her eyes.

"So... without further ado," The Captain began, his voice soft and affectionate, "Lucina... will you marry me...?"

"...Yes," Lucina sobbed as she tightly embraced her now fiancé, kissing him passionately on the lips as the whole studio erupted into applause.

The cameras cut back to Mr. Zero as he said, "Well... that was unexpected, but a joy to behold. We congratulate Captain Falcon and his new fiancée, Lucina! See you all next time on F-ZERO TV!"

...

Eventually, Captain Falcon took his fiancée, as well as Elma and Lin, to an empty race track as he did a few victory laps in his Blue Falcon for his betrothed.

"Pardon me, Lucina," Elma began, "But shouldn't we head back soon? 12 hours have passed in Smash City at this rate..."

"In a little bit." Eyeing the hand that now wore the engagement ring Captain Falcon gave her, she held that hand to her chest happily. "I'm just... so happy."

"I can tell..." Elma and Lucina's eyes were drawn to the center of the racetrack, where a hologram of a red falcon and blue butterfly in flight appeared. Next to it was the following text, scrolling from bottom to top:

To my dearest Lucina,

I honestly don't know where my life would be if I hadn't met you.

It's still amazing how a chance meeting under less than ideal circumstances blossomed into something greater.

It was your voice that helped me come to terms with the real me, to not be afraid of the "what ifs" anymore.

And I know it was my voice that pulled you out of your darkest despair, that reassured you you're never alone.

We've been through so much together, and I know that together, we can bravely face whatever the future has in store for us.

After all, we are truly two sides of a coin, and we'll always be together, no matter what.

Yours, now and forever,

Captain Falcon

"Yes..." Lucina whispered, closing her eyes and smiling. "Life may catch us in the rain from time to time, but we know how to come from it dry... No matter what... we'll face the future... together."

Fin