I'm sure you've all heard the story.
A long, long time ago, in the times of Ancient Greece, myths were passed down and were eventually recorded. You know, like the trials of Heracles, or Jason on his quest for the Golden Fleece. And then, there's the tale of Icarus.
It's a tragic story, really; a kid and his father get locked up in a tower in the middle of the ocean. Daedalus, the father, began fashioning makeshift wings from candle wax and feathers that dropped from nearby birds. It was slow work, made even slower by his son, Icarus, who playfully scattered and ran off with the feathers every now and then. But, finally, Daedalus's efforts bore fruit, and the wings were finished.
Crying with joy at the thought of freedom, Daedalus still took care to warn his son not to fly too close to the sun, for the heat would melt the wax that held his wings together. Unfortunately, Icarus paid little attention and proceeded to fly skywards, towards the sun. Eventually, true to his father's warning, Icarus's wings fell apart as the sun melted the wax, and he began to fall. He cried out in anguish for his father, but the foolish boy had flown too far away, and could not be heard. When Daedalus turned his head to check on his son, the father was devastated to see only feathers floating on the water. With great sorrow, Daedalus buried his son's corpse upon reaching land.
...But that was not the end of Icarus's story.
It is said that a shaft of light could be seen, reaching down from the heavens to touch down upon his grave. The people living nearby took a closer look to investigate, only to find that the body had disappeared.
I'm not sure how much of that story is true, but I do know that as soon as Icarus had died, the Fates told Zeus, the king of the gods, a most interesting prophecy. It told of the coming war between light and dark, and how one person would be in the middle of it all...
The sun rose as the god Helios pulled his flaming chariot across the sky. Its rays of light reflected brilliantly off of white cumulus clouds and marble columns that floated in the sky. In the distance one would be able to hear the echoing melodies sung by the angels in the academy choir. Large statues were scattered haphazardly in the area, depicting various creatures in different poses. Strolling past one such statue of a man fighting a serpent was a tall goddess whose emerald hair flowed down her back. She held her head majestically high, and her entire being radiated light and warmth. Palutena, the goddess of light, continued walking until she found a bench by an ornate fountain. She sat herself down, all the while cradling something in her arms.
"Palutena!"
The goddess turned to smile serenely at an unusually miniscule boy who fluttered over with snowy wings. "Good morning, Julius."
"G'morning!," the angel chirped. "Whatcha doing?" He pointed to the darkened mass that Palutena held. Was that... a ball of dirt?
"You will see." Palutena placed her hands on the... whatever it was... and emanated an intense glow. Julius cocked his scruffy head as Palutena's magic cleared away a coat of debris, revealing a human child. His eyes widened.
"Hey guys! Come over here, quick!," he twittered excitedly. A couple other angels poked their heads out of the clouds curiously and buzzed over.
An angel with powder-blue hair landed next to Julius, who was still hovering in the air like a hummingbird. "What is it this time, Julius? Oh, good morning, Paluten-ahhhhh!" He cried out in surprise as he was practically mown down by an off-white blur.
"Good morning, Astro," Palutena calmly addressed the unfortunate blue-haired angel, still focusing her gaze and magic on the child on her lap. "And good morning, Corydon. Please do try to slow down."
"Yeah, Cory," Astro snapped as he smoothed his now-ruffled hair. "You just about flattened me for the ninth time this month!"
The blonde angel named Cory grinned and taunted, "Too fast for ya, slowpoke?" He flicked a golden lock out of his face.
Julius chortled, "No... too stupid!"
"Jealous," Cory shrugged. "And what about you? You always have your toga in a twist about something dumb."
"It's not dumb! It's a human! See?" The indignant angel pointed to Palutena.
"So?," Astro piped up, "We see humans all the time."
But, despite themselves, Astro and Cory peered curiously over Palutena's shoulders, their wings flapping furiously to maintain the height. The human had messy chestnut hair and a thin frame. The face looked almost delicate, with eyes that were closed in what appeared to be sleep. Astro frowned. Why wasn't the child breathing?
After a long silence, Cory nodded. "Well... she's real pretty," he said admiringly.
Palutena's lips curled in amusement. " ...'She'... is a boy."
"Uh-buhwha...?" Cory gaped in sheer horror.
Astro and Julius burst out in laughter, clutching their stomachs and kicking their legs in the air. "That's what you get for always flirting with everyone, Cory!"
"N-nuh...!"
Palutena smiled warmly. "Ah, poor Corydon. But enough of that; I must focus on the task at hand."
"Ha, ha... oh yeah, ha ha, what are you doing? Ha ha!," Julius choked and wiped away a mirthful tear.
The goddess merely looked at them in her mysterious way, and her eyes sparkled. "Would you boys like to see?"
Still snickering, the two angels pushed past a bewildered Cory to get a closer look. Palutena closed her eyes and exhaled. A moist breeze escaped from her lips and flowed into the child's mouth, filling his lungs with air. Julius gasped. While the boy's chest once was still, it began to rise and fall once more, and his heart began fluttering like the pump of a bird's wings. But, most impressive of all, a brilliant glow sprouted from his back as two feathery appendages materialized and unfurled themselves.
After a long awed silence, Julius spoke. "Palutena... that was amazing!," he breathed. Astro nodded fervently.
"Yeah... you turned the human into an angel! He's just like Alex!"
The goddess inclined her head as she inspected her work. "Indeed... I suppose that will do for now."
"A-a... buh-but..."
"Hm... perhaps you boys should run along and take Corydon home. He still seems rather shaken," she noted wryly.
Julius laughed, "Yeah, come on, 'Pyramus'!," as he grabbed Cory. "Here Astro, you can take his other arm."
"In a sec. You guys can go on ahead."
The other angel shrugged. "Alright. Catch ya later, Palutena!" Palutena waved as he took off, carrying the bewildered Cory with him.
"Hey Palutena? Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"I mean, what you did was really cool and all... but why? I know that angels are supposed to protect humans, but you're not supposed to bring all of them back to life or anything..."
"I know. But trust me, I do have my reasons for all of this." The goddess smiled benignly. "I apologize, but I should leave now; I am late for the council meeting I scheduled."
"Aw, alright. I'll see ya later." Astro paused. "By the way, what are we gonna call him?"
She considered the small child in her arms. "Perhaps... 'Pit'."
In the council room, everyone was in an uproar.
"This is not good, Palutena."
"But it is not such a bad thing either, Miles."
General Miles, bedecked in golden armor from head to toe, shook his head angrily. "The prophecy clearly implies that this boy," he gestured to the unconscious child that Palutena held, "could very well lead to the downfall of Skyworld in the first place!"
"But," interjected a female angel, "it states, literally, that he could also save Skyworld from destruction!"
"I'm not hearing it, Lieutenant Hypatia! There's too much at stake here! We can't trust him!"
Another angel groaned and clutched his own head. He stood out for being much taller than the others. "Palutena, this is just too confusing. I mean, what are we supposed to do? The prophecy is way too vague and cryptic for us to understand anything."
"I know, Alexander. But," Palutena said, turning her attention to the entire council, "I have already put some thought into this, and believe that it would be wisest if we monitored the boy closely until the foretold day arrives. We can judge him based on his actions later. And, in the meantime, I want everyone to raise him as our own. Alexander, I want him to live with you."
"What! That's so sudden!"
"You were once human too. You would understand him best," the goddess pointed out. Her expression softened. "Besides, I know you're still mourning the death of your son, and I hope that this boy-"
"Whatever you're about to say, please stop." Alex's face tightened, as if in pain. "No one could ever replace him. Ever."
Hypatia coughed uncomfortably, but Palutena continued, unwavering. "All I expect from you is to be the boy's Guardian until he is old enough to take care of himself. Every cherub needs someone to look after them, and this boy shall be treated no differently."
"...Fine," Alex grumbled, though he seemed to have calmed down.
Palutena glanced at him sadly before addressing the whole council. "Now, I would like to emphasize how important it is that no one speak of the prophecy after this meeting. Understand?," she asked sternly. "Not one word. If anyone else were to hear, then there would be chaos."
"But-"
"I will not argue with you, Miles. My orders may seem abrupt, but I have my reasons." She glanced at all her Centurions and nodded authoritatively. "This meeting is over."
"Well, I guess that's that," Alex thought and sighed. "Nothing I can do about it now." He looked across at Palutena and the boy he'd be stuck living with. Frankly, he didn't look all that menacing... but Alex didn't like the possibility that his friends could be harmed from the child's actions. "For your sake, I hope you do turn out to be good... because if you hurt anyone," he thought darkly, "I will personally end you myself."
Unknown to the council members far above, someone was watching them. Deep in Underworld, where darkness reigned and shadows lived, there was a curious torch that burned in black fire. Even more curious, however, was the hand holding the torch. The fingers were slender and well-groomed, and would have looked dainty if not for their sickly green complexion and the fingernails that were filed into lethal talons. The owner of the hand sat straight and regally on a silvery throne. This, too, looked deceptively ornate, but when examined closely one would see it was built out of polished skulls. The woman sighed and, with her free hand, reached out to pick up a goblet. She raised it not to her lips, but to her forehead, where snakes that crowned her head spat their venom into the cup. Medusa, goddess of darkness, stroked their heads in appreciation and took a sip.
"How infuriating," she muttered while swirling the venom that, strangely, resembled cider.
"What is? Your drink?" A peculiar crab-like creature called a Commyloose scuttled over, all the while staring at the floor and well away from Medusa's head.
Medusa glanced at her small, red servant and reared her head back in laughter. The Commyloose jumped in surprise, but looked pleased to have made his queen laugh.
"Queen Medusa, may I ask what is so funn-eek!," the crab squeaked as the dark goddess stabbed through his leg with a silver fork.
"You are," she hissed dangerously while dangling the agonized servant by his leg. "You're hilarious." She burst out in more laughter, but the Commyloose just shrank back into his shell as much as was inhumanly possible. "Ha, ha... because, when I heard the Fates tell the prophecy, I thought, 'Outrageous! How can a mere angel boy defeat me?' And then you came, and I realized...," her voice suddenly darkened, "With minions all as idiotic as you, an infant could just skip on down here if he wanted. This is your fault!"
"Sowee, sowee!," the crab squealed before his queen chucked him, fork and all, across the room and out the door.
"You are now." She smirked sadistically before turning her gaze back to the Seeing Torch. In its magical flames, she could see those wretched Centurions of Palutena's arguing their stupid little heads off. "Disgusting," Medusa spat as the flames displayed Palutena, patiently trying to calm everyone down. But, most repulsive of all, was that brown-haired runt sleeping in her arms. The queen of the Underworld clenched the torch so tight that a fine crack appeared in the wood.
"I had been planning a raid on Skyworld for eons, ever since that traitor trapped me down here... but those fluffy white imbeciles, without doing anything, are predestined to win! It's not fair!," she screeched, "And it's all because a boy just happened to be idiotic enough to get himself killed! Then, of course, Palutena had to be a goody-goody and revive him, and now-" Medusa paused, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "It doesn't matter now," she slumped back in her throne, all energy drained. "I'll never get the vengeance I deserve."
One of the snakes on her head sagged sympathetically. "I know, Tanatos," the goddess cooed and patted him with her finger. "I wish I could just kill that stupid boy... but the prophecy explicitly states that I can't. If only there were some loophole..." The dark queen froze and Tanatos hissed at her curiously. Slowly, her fangs bared as a wicked smile slithered across her lips. "Yes..." She glared maliciously into the black fire. It showed Palutena suddenly gesturing to the council, who turned their attentions to the boy.
"Tanatos, I have a new plan." The snake's eyes gleamed happily with blood lust. Inside the flames, the boy stirred and rubbed his eyes.
The goddess of darkness smirked. "Maybe... I'll have my vengeance after all." Shrill giggles escaped from her mouth and escalated while she threw down her Seeing Torch into a pyre constructed of dried carcasses. The black fire enveloped the bodies and burned darker than ever, and soon her mad laughter filled the halls of her palace of death.
In the inky flames, the unsuspecting angel boy opened his eyes. They sparkled a clearer blue than the sky itself as he noticed the room full of strangers. After blinking in confusion, he looked up at Palutena and gave a bright smile.
Author's Note: Woo-hoo! Howdy! This is my first fanfiction... ever. So I guess I'm fairly excited. Hm, where to start?
Firstly, this is pretty much my attempt at a backstory/novelization of Kid Icarus. Why Kid Icarus? To be frank, I'm one of those sorry people who were born a generation (or two?) after the original Kid Icarus games were created, and the first I'd ever heard of the games was after the release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Sad, I know. However, I had become quite taken with the (potential) storyline and overall adventure, and I just had to write down my zany ideas. Plus, there were like NO KI fanfictions. I mean, there are, and most of them put mine to shame, but still. There must be MORE.
Secondly, sorry to those who don't like OCs. I don't either, but I can't write about Pit's backstory and have him be all alone! But I'll try to make it as Pit-centric as possible. Hopefully they'll grow on you? Hm...
Thirdly, please give feedback and constructive advice! Whatever you want, I wanna know! Was the story moving too fast in some places? Was it moving too slow in others? Do you disagree with how certain characters had been represented? Do you need to go to the bathroom? Whatever crazy things are on your mind right now, please tell me, and then we can talk it out! My main goal in writing this story is to improve as a writer, after all.
Last but not least... Thanks for reading this far! (Sure, it's only the first chapter, but still.) Hopefully I didn't waste your time. But if I did, then... you'll get over it. Maybe? Well, if you liked it, stay tuned for the next chapter... whenever that will be... Woo-hoo!