“Cynthia, are you sure this is the right place?” Lucina asked, looking on ahead as they crested the hill.

“Positive!” the cheery pegasus knight said. “The villagers around these parts all tell stories of great power hidden within.”

“You’d think if there was a great power hidden here, it would take the time to keep the place a bit cleaner.” Severa scoffed.

Lucina couldn’t help but agree, as she looked upon the decrepit temple. “...Be that as it may, Severa,” she said, “There’s a chance, however slim, that they’re not wrong. It’s probably a simple superstition. But if there’s even a grain of truth, then it may be able to help us save our own time.”

Severa was quiet for a moment, then nodded. “...I get to say ‘I told you so’ if we waste our time.”

The trio of warriors looked down below. The temple was a ruin, with seemingly more holes than stones, but even in it’s decayed state it was huge. It had clearly once been impressive before it was ravaged by time and neglect. The nearby villages whispered of secrets hidden within, calling the ancient place the “Temple of the Silver Dragon”.

Those secrets were why Lucina, Severa, and Cynthia had come to the middle of nowhere. The rumors spoke of power within, the power of a goddess. And in the time since Grima’s defeat, the trio had grown restless. Guilt over the fall of their own time was taking its toll on all the children from the future. If there was the slimmest of chances to make it right, to save their own timeline, then they couldn’t dismiss such fantastic rumors so easily.

The three trekked down the hill. Lucina wondered what sort of temple would be built so far from towns, and in such an isolated place. Maybe there had once been settlements in these hills, long ago. Or perhaps whatever religion had been practiced in it’s halls believed in religious isolation. It had certainly once been a marvel of architecture and beauty, and it’s isolation leant it a sense of grandeur that was still felt even in its reduced state.

The entrance, past ancient marble columns stripped bare of their paint by the elements, led into a once-elaborate grand hall. The torches were long since burned away to ash, or possibly stolen from their sconces, but there was plenty of light from holes in the ceiling. “What are we looking for here, anyway?” Severa said. “A big sign saying ‘unimaginable power here’?”

“I don’t know,” Cynthia admitted, “Maybe a hidden tome containing powerful old magic. Or a benevolent spirit sealed away long ago! It could be anything, really.”

“...This is going to be a waste of my time, isn’t it?”

“If there’s anything here, we’ll find it.” Lucina said. “Let’s go. It’s a big place and the faster we search the faster we know whether or not there’s anything worthwhile.”

The trio did just that, going to different sections of the temple. For about an hour, they searched high and low. The place was deathly silent but for the sound of metallic boots on the floor and the occasional whispered conversation. It felt… wrong, to raise their voices in a place like this, like it would somehow disrespect those long past.

They were walking to the Western wing when Lucina heard something. She froze, hand on the hilt of the Falchion. A whisper at the edge of her hearing.

“What is it, Lucina?” Severa asked, looking around.

“Shh!” Lucina hissed. “Do you hear that?”

They stopped, looking around. The whispers continued. “There, did you hear it? I don’t think we’re alone here…”

“Lucina, I didn’t hear anything…” Severa said.

“Neither did I, but I believe you! Let’s follow it!” Cynthia said cheerfully.

Lucina led the way down the twisting and turning halls. The voice… it was calling to her, specifically. Calling her name.

“Lucina… Lucina… come… the goddess can grant Lucina… the power she seeks…”

It was a whisper, barely understandable. But she could hear it as clear as if Severa were shouting in her ear. And she found herself following it down twists and turns. It got louder, and louder, and she heard the others shout that she had to slow down but she couldn’t, she had to reach that voice.

By the time she was close… so close… and stopped to catch her breath, her friends were nowhere to be seen. She looked around, and listened closely, but she couldn’t even hear them - she’d lost them in the winding maze of corridors and doors. And… where had she come from? She could have sworn she’d turned a left just before coming to a stop, but the path behind her would have had her take a right before stopping.

Before she could reflect further, the voice spoke again. “Come to the goddess.... Lucina…” it hissed, so near that it was like it was whispering directly in her ear.

She had a moment of doubt, thinking she should turn, go to her friends. But the whisper came again, more insistent, and she had to know what it was. It could be the power they wanted.

She walked through the archway ahead of her, and came into a simple chamber. It was a large circle, ringed with steps down. At the opposite end of the room, it’s gaze fixed on the archway where Lucina had entered, was a statue of a dragon cast entirely in silver. It overlooked an opaque silver pool, as if guarding it.

“Welcome… to the Goddess’ Chamber…”

The voice was clearly coming from the statue, though it showed no signs of life. Lucina rested her hand on the sword. “...What do you want?”

“Aid. The goddess wants… help. The goddess has a simple task. Complete it.”

She fought the urge to accept immediately. It was hard, though. The words, the whispers, bounced around in her head, imprinting themselves in her mind. They weren’t normal sound, it was like they were imprinted directly onto her brain. “...And if I do?”

“Power. The goddess will grant her servant her power.” The voice said. “Power to preserve. To protect.”

Lucina tried to speak, but found words wouldn’t leave her mouth.

“Go into the Goddess’ Waters… be reborn… with power… to end death. To preserve for all time.”

The words coiled around her, enthralled her. Lucina tried to think clearly. But it was impossible. The power to end death. To preserve forever. The power to save her time, and all times. Something deep inside her felt like something was wrong. But that part was smothered by the desire to do as commanded.

The goddess wanted her to be reborn. She wanted to be reborn.

Slowly, carefully, she stepped downwards. She didn’t bother taking off her armor - somehow, she didn’t feel she needed to do so. She was moving almost automatically. When her feet touched the liquid, she realized it wasn’t water reflecting some ceiling or floor color. It was solid silver, oddly cool despite its state as liquid metal. For some reason she didn’t mind. She stepped down, further and further, the silver lapping at her knees, then her thighs, and continuing on and on down. Soon, she was submerged up to her neck in metal.

But she had to keep going. She took a deep breath, and stepped forward.

Now completely submerged, she couldn’t see a thing - the metal was no less opaque beneath the surface than it was above it, but she could feel her whole body. More specifically, she could feel the metal surrounding her, her armor. She felt… odd.

She couldn’t see, but she could sense how the metal was… changing, her clothes. While her armor seemed to remain as it was, her clothes clung tightly to her body, pressing against her almost hard enough to squeeze the breath from her. It also didn’t feel like cloth anymore - it stiffened, hardened against her. It was less clothing and more armor.

Her whole body felt tingly, burning. And it wasn’t just that she was holding her breath, either. Everything from her toes to her head felt the same tingle, and she was fairly sure her hair did as well. She could feel the metal seeping into her skin, almost becoming part of her… it was hard to be worried. It was wrong. It was so wrong, she felt that, but she was… enjoying it? It felt… good?

Her lungs screamed for air. She needed a breath, and for a second turned back to the stairs. But then a voice rang in her head. “Breath. Submit. Be reborn.”

If she opened her mouth it would be the end of her as she was. She knew that for certain, even if she couldn’t say how. She should leave. She should break the statue, take her friends, and never come back. That was what she should have done.

But she could no more deny the Goddess than she could deny gravity.

She opened her mouth and breathed deep, the silver rushing inside of her. It wasn’t painful, or even uncomfortable. She didn’t choke. The silver took the new means of entrance and used it, entering her body and spreading through her very veins. But she didn’t mind so much, any more - the Goddess had given her a command, and she was delighted to carry it out no matter how simple it had been.

Under the assault from both sides, her body began to rapidly change. Lucina accepted it, and actually tried to suck in more silver to hurry it along. Her Goddess demanded she be reborn, and the faster she was changed the faster she could carry out Her will. Her skin, that pale, soft, organic matter, was swiftly replaced. Flesh was weak, it could change, it could decay. Silver, on the other hand, with proper care could last forever. As her soft and supple skin was replaced by strong and stiff metal, she felt nothing but immense gratitude to her Goddess for deeming her worthy of such a transformation. Even her hair changed, going from thousands of loose strands to a single solid piece of metal.

The silver rushed on through, her now silvered skin serving as another avenue for the change. Her clothes, already metallic, seemed to merge with her. Wherever they touched they became one with her, no longer clothes or armor but a part of her body. Lucina would never be without protection again. Never vulnerable, with the form-fitting armor that was her very skin.

Lucina couldn’t see it, but she could feel the metal working over her insides. All those human organs that would no longer be essential to her survival. A perfect being like she was becoming, under her Goddess’ guidance, had no need of such trivial things. Her veins became vessels for magical power instead of blood, her heart an eternal source of energy. Her perception and thoughts sped up as her brain was converted from mere flesh to a perfect mechanical vessel for her mind.

With her body now perfect in function, Lucina could feel the Silver Dragon change her focus. Oh, what a benevolent Goddess - Lucina could have left already, but she could feel her beloved’s decision to reshape her in Her own image, a gift for which Lucina was far from worthy.

Across her body, metal protruded from new locations as it took on new shapes. In multiple places, a metallic facsimile of scales provided for all the modesty she’d need, covering her most private parts while leaving plenty on display for all to see the Goddess’ perfect servant. From her bottom, a long, thick tail grew, lined with spikes. She could move it at will, and it could serve as either a weapon or a tool, if she needed to spread her new faith violently or peacefully. From her head, a pair of long curved horns spiraled out - while they served no practical purpose, their resemblance to those of the Goddess would let everyone know her loyalty. And finally, the Goddess’ greatest gift - from her back, two great wings grew, and Lucina knew she could use them for flight. All the better to help her spread the Silver Dragon’s gifts to the corners of the world.

A mere human had stepped into the pool, but what stepped out was something completely different. She was still obviously Lucina - her face was the same, her figure. But that was the end of the similarities. She had become a metallic woman somewhere between human and dragon, with great wings and a tail and horns, clad only in scales and her own silver skin. In her red glowing eyes was not a hint of the kindness that had characterized Lucina, but a hard cruelty. Even the Exalt’s Brand had been replaced, now a silver insignia of her Goddess.

She swayed out of the pool with a smug smile on her face, but that devolved into worshipful reverence and not a small amount of arousal as she turned and knelt before the statue of the Silver Dragon. “My Goddess… I am reborn, remade in Your image… please, give your unworthy servant Your first commands…”

The newly made dragon girl shuddered with pleasure, as she felt the invisble caress of her Goddess’ power. “Perfection… Lucina has been… perfected. Now… she will bring that perfection to the world. That is the Silver Dragon’s decree.”

Perfection. Her mission, her purpose in life, was to bring perfection. First to her misguided, deluded, imperfect friends. Then to the country. Then to the world, and to all the other realms beyond the gate.

“Your Will be done, my Goddess. Your newest priestess will see to it.” she said. Then she stood, and strode from the chamber. “Severa? Cynthia? Where are you guys? I found something!” she called, in her old, human voice. They would be delightful prey, and the first to join her as sisters serving their Goddess...