After Pit's defeat, followed by capture, Palutena expected Medusa to unleash her wrath upon all of humanity. But much to the goddess of light's surprise, her attacks on humanity practically came to a halt. Their attacks were occasional at best. Although this made Palutena feel relieved for the humans sake, this made her grow increasingly worried about her angel. Palutena knew how cruel the goddess of darkness could be, she was a hate and spite filled being who felt pleasure in other's suffering. When she had taken over Skyworld over twenty-five years ago, Medusa had kept Pit imprisoned within her dungeon in the Underworld. Though she knew even than he was the captain of Palutena's guard, Medusa spared the angel the same fate as the Centurions, likely too busy conquering Skyworld to petrify him. But Palutena expected Medusa to make Pit suffer for that defeat she suffered from the angelic protector a quarter of a century ago. But even with her all knowing brain, she still wasn't sure how Medusa would do it. All the protector of humanity could do was fear for her followers' safety as she attempts to improvise a search and rescue mission.
Drip... a semiconscious Pit heard as he felt his body being moved.
"Drip... drip... drip." Echoed in the catacombs of the Underworld, where the flightless angel was being held in captivity. The servant of light's body wasn't function properly, likely due to the devastating injuries he took from his loss with Medusa, so he couldn't see anything; all he could do was try to make sense with the few words he managed to hear. The only words he was sure he heard correctly were "incarcerated, solitary, shatter, and weeping." None of which helped him paint a pretty picture. Pit was truly in a helpless position, he was unarmed in an unknown part of the Underworld, likely surrounded by monsters, with Medusa likely watching his every move. On top of that his body still seemed only partially operational at this time, thanks to a certain numbness. But, strangely enough, Pit was even more concerned with Palutena and the humans than his situation.
"Bring him to me..." Pit heard Medusa's voice echo, accompanied by the sound of footsteps soon after.
Pit heard an eerie, rusted, creak that hurt his ears; followed by the feeling of something pulling him by his arms. It seemed that the angels escorts knew he couldn't do anything, so when he almost immediately flopped chin-first onto the ground (confirming that he has to be in a cave) neither even attempted to make him stand. Instead they merely dragged him, which also scuffled his chest, by his arms on the hard damp floor. Continuing the painful procedure even on the steps, until they had reached what was likely the top. The two changed their transportation method; one holding him up by the forearms and shoulders while the other carried him by his feet.
"Place him in there." Medusa ordered, though Pit doesn't know it, pointing at a hot spring.
The angel's body was now in even more pain, suffering burns from being dragged, but it soon began to fade away; followed by the feeling of hot water filling his nostrils. With the hot spring working its' magic, Pit's vision had returned and he didn't expect what he'd see next...
"Nice of you to join me here Pit." Medusa said in a pleased, as well as unsettling, voice. She was accompanied by at least nine or ten Ornes that surrounded them.
"What have you done to Lady Palutena... and the humans?" Pit, frustrated by the fact that he's been captured, barked.
"Don't worry, I've been far too busy thinking of what I shall do with you." She said with a sadistic grin.
"I haven't even had time to do my hair." Medusa mocked as she gently lifted the heads of the snakes that made up her hair.
"What are you going to do with me, turn me into stone?" Pit, still frustrated, asked as he continued to soak.
Medusa didn't say another word, instead the grin on her face grew. Something was about to happen, and she had no intentions of telling her guest. Pit began to feel nervous. If she wanted him dead, he would've already been dead. Before he could even ponder the vile goddesses plan, the cornered angel was startled by the sound of an explosion and bits of the cave wall his back was facing towards striking his back. Thankfully for Pit, the ones who committed the demolition were a group of centurions being lead by Lady Palutena herself.
"Lady Palute..." Pit eagerly exclaimed before being taken by surprise by a sudden yank from his wings.
He was being pulled towards the forces of light thanks to the power of flight and couldn't be happier to be forcibly pulled. The expression on Pit's face was one of total elation, where as the goddess he happily served had a cold one of anger and fury. Palutenas' eyes were locked on Medusa, but even with the goddess of light and her troops aiming at Medusa... the queen of the Underworld continued to have a discouraging grin. It was as if she were entertained.
"Alright Medusa, I'm here to offer you a proposition..." Palutena said in a stern voice. Her words surprised Pit, even making Medusa look puzzled.
Pit became even more curious as he began to feel his altitude increasing until he was hovering in front of his goddess.
"I'll let you keep my former head guard and I won't slay you where you stand. But in exchange, you have to vow not to harm him or attack the humans." Palutena said as she flew Pit a little closer to the snake haired goddess.
"Not that it isn't a tempting offer, but why would you offer me your precious angel?" Medusa, completely skeptical, asked.
"Because I've got no use for one that doesn't heed my warnings and fails me when I needed him most." Palutena, coldly stated.
Hearing these words hurt Pit, those words hurt him more than any of the injuries he sustained at the hands of Medusa. These were wounds that were left on him psychologically as well as emotionally. For the angel, hearing those words was the equivalence to being told that he failed his life's purpose.
"I'm willing to barter to protect humanity, no matter the price." the green haired goddess finished.
Medusa was silent for a moment, likely contemplating the offer as well as her position. A few moments later... the villainous goddess burst into a sinister laugh.
"My my Palutena, the lengths you'll go to for those humans never ceases to amaze me." Medusa said after regaining her complexion.
"Although I had high hopes for throwing a killer celebration. I suppose my best option is to accept your offer. Given the circumstances." Medusa said with a smug grin.
"Very well goddess of light, I accept your offer." Medusa agreed.
"Centurions, we're done here." Palutena callously said.
After her business concluded, Palutena warped herself and the centurions away. Pit, still stricken with grief felt a tear escape his eye. After feeling the first tear hit his palm, he began to let every tear in his body leak from his eyes. The one person he thought cared about him had just handed him over; she'd discarded him all because he failed her. He failed her... He failed her. Pit repeatedly told himself.
With a snap of her fingers, Medusa summoned three skuttlers.
"Take him away." Medusa ordered.
"I no longer want him in my sight." the goddess of darkness, coldly, stated.
The skuttlers obeyed, two grabbing each of the still kneeling Pit's arms. While the third walked in front of them; leading them. The angel had finally fallen. And there was no getting up from this for him, not this time or ever again.
Medusa watched in delight as the angel was escorted to the cage he would be calling home for as long as he felt defeated.
"So, how was I?" Palutena, reappearing out of the blue, asked with a devilish grin.
"You played the part marvelously, I almost mistook you for the real Palutena..." Medusa said with her own grin.
"Thanatos." Medusa continued as the imposter reverted back to his true form.
Medusa than left out a laugh so pleased, as well as unnerving, that even Thanatos no longer felt entirely safe around her. Step one of her plan went over even better than she hoped. The real Palutena still can't find her and now her link with Pit's almost completely disconnected. But best of all, she's left Pit stuck in his own purgatory.
Author's Notes
I'm happy with all the feedback and love my story's been given, I hope I don't disappoint any of you and I begin to show improvement.
To Pitta, calm down (just kidding). Thank you to the guest who informed me of my habit of repeating the characters names when unnecessary. I doubt we'll see Pittoo here Frolise, he has yet to realize he needs Pit to stay alive. Thank you Shadsie, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. To Voltaradragoness: welp, here you go. Lolrus555, I hope you continue to feel that way.
