"But I can't FIGHT in this!" Pit was complaining as he and Palutena made their way to the training hall in the lowest floor of their temporary home with the other Smashers. "I'll trip!"

"You'll trip anyway," Palutena teased, ruffling his hair and effectively wiping out any effort he'd made to make it look a little more decent than usual. He grumbled, readjusting his laurel crown.

"Easy for you to say," he replied. "You're used to looking all fancy and you look good in anything." She smiled.

"Aww, well, thank you, Pit. You don't look half-bad yourself tonight." He shrugged, smoothing out the long white robe he now wore and adjusted the gold, lightly armored belt around his waist. Palutena, meanwhile, had donned a white gown embroidered with many organic designs at its hems and long silver gloves along with her usual crown and gold necklace. "Now, put your best foot forward, Captain! We represent Skyworld and our entire world tonight!"

"Then maybe it's a good thing Pittoo didn't come along," he muttered as they entered the training hall, though the usual equipment had been cleared out and sparkling lights blinked overhead as music from an unseen source drifted through the air. Much as Master Hand had a way of being persuasive, it was evident not all the Smashers thought the ball was worth the trouble. Most of the attendants were human in some form, though he saw Kirby trying not to get stepped on and, funnily enough, R.O.B. nearby scanning the crowd.

"Hello, Lady Palutena, Pit!" a voice greeted, and they both found Zelda approaching them with Link a pace behind. While the princess wore her usual gown save her armor and had curled her hair a bit, Link had removed his hat and put on a less battle-worn tunic more akin to the ones Pit usually found Marth or Ike wearing. His hair, like the angel's, seemed impossible to truly tame down, but it was obvious he'd made an effort if nothing else. He dipped his head respectfully to the goddess.

"Good evening, Princess Zelda, Link," Palutena replied with a friendly smile. "Link, Pit told me earlier that you've been in every one of these tournaments. Is that true?" He nodded.

"One of twelve fighters to be able to say the same," Zelda agreed. "I came in at the second tournament."

"And the other eleven, are they here this time around?" Palutena asked.

"I think so," Pit replied, counting off on his fingers. "Link, Mario, Yoshi, DK, Fox, Pikachu, Luigi, Ness, Captain Falcon, Jigglypuff, Kirby, and Samus. They kind of hold a lot of respect around here, even if people don't always show it."

"That's impressive," the goddess marveled. "I look forward to facing you in battle, Hero." He smiled and dipped his head, and Pit's mind drifted as the goddess and the princess continued their conversation, looking around at the other Smashers that actually bothered to show up this evening, catching sight of a couple of blue-haired royals on the other side of the hall.

"I never thought I'd see the day where you put on a dress," Robin remarked, and Lucina shoved him lightly. While the tactician had dressed himself in a simple dark tunic and white leggings with his usual boots, the princess wore a flowing white dress laced up her sides and exposing the upper part of her back.

"You look stunning," Marth said with what appeared to be a proud smile as he held his arms behind his back. "I've always found that, sometimes, it's nice to be able to step away from battle for a time and simply enjoy myself."

"It's not an easy notion when the world is on the brink of calamity," Lucina mumbled darkly.

"Don't worry, Lucina," Robin told her. "Chrom will be fine. Just focus on having a good time tonight!"

"Mm… That reminds me, Lord Marth." Simply calling him by his name alone, even if he'd all but insisted that she do so, just felt strange and disrespectful to her. "If I recall, Master Hand said we have tomorrow as a reprieve before the matches start the following day." He nodded. "If you're not busy, might I ask that we have a chance to talk? I'd love to hear more about your heroism beyond our time's legends."

"Of course," he replied warmly. "Though in return, I hope you'll tell me of the world my kingdom will one day become. I'd also like to see your swordsmanship, if you feel comfortable with that."

"Certainly," she smiled. "It would be an honor. Perhaps you can even teach me a few things!"

"Like you need to be any more like him," Robin teased, and she elbowed him gently in the ribs. Marth smiled and shook his head.

"You know, Robin, you remind me of a close friend of mine back home. I'm glad you have someone like him back home, Lucina." She nodded and glanced at her companion, though turned around at the sound of approaching footsteps to find the white-winged angel she had met earlier. He dipped his head once he had joined them.

"Good evening, Pit," Marth greeted. "Did you ever find that dark angel you were looking for?"

"Yeah," he replied. "He's… not exactly social. So he's back in our room."

"You share a room with that guy?" Robin blinked. "I thought Master Hand tried to keep enemies separate from each other." Pit sighed heavily.

"Pittoo isn't my enemy! I… Okay, I'm not exactly sure what he is, but we're on decent terms with each other. He's not evil, he's not a villain, and he's not going to pull some dastardly plot to try to take over the world." He paused, and when he spoke again, his tone was much lighter. "Anyway, I didn't mean to interrupt whatever you all were talking about."

"Nothing important," Marth said. "Is there something you needed?" The angel's face flushed a slight shade red as he turned to the princess and her curious gaze.

"Uh, I was kind of wondering if you wanted to dance," he mumbled, and Lucina blinked as Robin inadvertently stiffened at her side. Pit's face steadily turned redder as he awaited her response, and she smiled.

"I'd love to," she replied, and he brightened like the sun emerging from the clouds as he offered his hand.

"Now, hang on!" Robin interrupted, stepping between them a bit. "I promised her father that I'd look after her while we're in this tournament. You don't ask a princess to dance without first gaining her father's approval."

"Robin…" Lucina protested lightly, though she was amused by how seriously he was taking the role Chrom had given him.

"Huh," Pit frowned. "Well, then I guess that means her father isn't here and I can't ask him." A triumphant but reserved smile appeared on Robin's face. "Marth, are you okay with me asking your descendant for a dance?"

"Certainly," Marth chuckled. "I grant you permission on behalf of my distant grandson." Robin's smile vanished and he blinked, his expression blank.

"Thank you, Lord Marth," Lucina said with a laugh as she curtseyed to him, and he bowed briefly in return.

"Wha- But- You can't- I…" Robin blubbered as he watched Lucina take Pit's offered hand and they headed toward the middle of the hall. "Damn it."

"Relax, Robin," Marth advised. "Lucina is a grown woman and I know from the last tournament that Pit is quite trustworthy. And his youth is misleading. He's older than he appears. Though I'm sure her father appreciates you looking out for her."

Robin stiffened suddenly, his body freezing as Marth placed his hand on the tactician's shoulder, and his hands clenched into fists as his mind blanked and a twinge of fear shot down his spine. Marth hesitantly withdrew his hand, concern in his eyes.

"Robin?" he beckoned. "What's wrong?" Robin shook his head quickly and turned to the Hero-King.

"Nothing," he replied as he tried to relax with a bit of success. "I don't know what that was about. Sorry for worrying you." Marth nodded slowly and turned his attention to his descendant a short distance away.

"I should probably mention I'm a lot better at fighting than dancing," Pit told her as he took her hand and placed his other at her waist, standing slightly awkwardly about a head shorter than her.

"If it makes you feel any better, neither am I," she said with a brief smile. " I never really had time to practice while fighting Risen almost constantly."

"Risen?" he echoed.

"Basically the undead brought back by dark magic," she sighed. "It's awful."

"Huh," he shrugged. "Reminds me of fighting the Underworld Army. Except I hope you're not going up against them by yourself."

"No, I have my friends and allies," she replied. "Though without my father, I don't think we'll be able to win. The Risen and Grima have nearly driven us to extinction." Pit's eyes widened with alarm.

"That's awful! I wish I could be there to help you. It's basically my job to protect humans." She smiled.

"Thank you, Pit. I appreciate the thought. Now, if you don't mind. I'd like to focus more on making this an enjoyable evening."

"Right," he grinned. "No point in just standing here." With that, his lips pursed with concentration as he tried not to make a fool out of himself, and they began to fall into step in time with the music in the air. Neither was exactly the most graceful dancer at the start, but they managed to find a decent pace together after a bit of trial and error. Pit's flushed face admittedly amused the princess, and he leaned up on the tips of his toes to allow her a bit more room to spin before coming back to the flats of his feet and the two spread apart before coming back together as he returned his hand to her waist and she to his shoulder. She caught sight of Robin trying not to steam as he observed them and Marth had a smile on his face, giving her an encouraging nod when he caught her gaze. As the song ended, they came to a stop and Pit smiled sheepishly as he let his hands fall to his sides.

"Thank you," he said, and she tilted her head.

"For what?"

"Just… for giving me a chance. I know I don't look like much."

"I don't think I would say that," she told him. "Though I am curious. Are you… Fourteen? Fifteen?"

"Thirty-five," he said with a face straight as an arrow, and she stared at him. Her bewildered gaze made him snort softly and grin. "Yeah, yeah, I'm a lot older than I look. Just part of being an angel."

That's incredible," she breathed and smiled. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult you or anything."

"Eh, after last time, I kind of expect it," he replied with a shrug before taking her hand and kissing it briefly, then bowed. "But I can be mature! …Sometimes." She laughed, her pale face tinting a slight shade pink.

"Well, Pit, I look forward to getting to know you better while we're here. I'd love to hear some of your stories."

"Which ones? Getting turned into a ring? Eaten by Hades? Shot out of a cannon?" She again stared at him for a moment before wholeheartedly laughing, and he grinned warmly. "All true. Seriously."

"Sounds like you've led quite a life!" she snickered. "I certainly would like to hear more later." He nodded.

"For now, though, I won't keep you from your security too long," he joked, glancing back to Robin. "See you around, Lucina."

"And you as well, Pit." She dipped her head to him and he waved before they parted ways, her returning to Marth and Robin and him bound for Palutena's side.