Chapter 1
Breathing deeply, Pit spread his feet wide apart, his Meteor Bow clasped firmly in his hand. As the fake sky background came up and the hover fan turned on, Pit spread his wings to catch the updraft and as he drifted higher, Monoeyes started to file out, little pink spheres with five small tentacles that could be mistaken for tails and a large blue eye that dominated its face. Flying in a horizontal pattern, the Monoeyes shot out purple electrified-looking spheres from their eyes. By spinning, flapping and drawing-in his wings, Pit easily dodged their attacks, firing off continuous streaks of green shots from his Bow, watching them home-in on his enemies and evaporate as the arrows struck home.
"Take that, ya Cyclop blob!" Pit yelled triumphantly as he fired off a few more shots. Suddenly, Komaytos, blue, jellyfish-looking minions with a red inside, flew right in-front of him, the ranged shots from his bow deflecting off their bodies, causing no harm.
"Argh!" Pit grumbled and spun to their direction, spinning his bow so rapidly, it became a blue ring laced with gold, and shredded the jellyfish-like minions to shreds.
Before Pit could shoot another arrow, the fans shut off and the fake-sky scene was blocked out by heavy steel doors. An orange light was spinning above the door way and a faint blaring was heard through the double-doors. Pit put a fist to his chin, then lifted his hands to his head, squeezing his laurel circlet around his head, trying to think what the colour and sounds meant. The answer flooded his brain and Pit heaved on the heavy metal rings on the doors and squeezed through the thin crack before the door was fully open. He ran across the foyer of the preparation room, his sandals gripping and squeaking over the too-polished reflective tiles. He strained on the even larger metal rings on the main door and ran out onto the lush green grass of Palutena's courtyard. Pit aimed the Meteor Bow up, taking a wide stance and swinging around wildly, trying to see the enemies that he was sure was going to show up soon.
"Pit, cool your Jetstream's!" said Lady Palutena, walking out in her usual white dress and black laced shoes. Gold chains and charms looped around the lower part of her waist and were linked at the left side of her hip by a red, round ruby. A large necklace, like that of the sun but with the rays pointing downwards, covered her breasts. A large arm bracelet hung on her right arm, and gold arm braces covered the rest, from her elbow to her wrists. In her right hand; a blue staff, the blue sphere floating just above top of the staff, with two arms curving inwards to almost meet where the top of the staff began, and on her left arm, a large, mirror buckler was strapped to her forearm, a long red tassel with a gold diamond-shaped ring hung down off it. Her look was completed by two laurel bands, both starting above her eyes and joined together by a small gold chain held in the middle by another small ruby. The bands looped half way around her crown, holding her fringe out of the way, her long emerald hair flowing down to her knees. Above her head, a small blue circle appeared behind her head, which was inside a larger hollow ring, three streaks flowing from the side of the ring to give the appearance of wings. The Goddess of Light stood behind Pit confidentially, placing a soft hand on his shoulder. "Pit, do you remember what the colour orange is meant for?" she asked, eyes shut as a small embarrassed smile appeared on her face.
"Uh… danger?" he guessed, Bow now lowered but still his eyes roamed around the sky, searching for enemies.
"No Pit, it means that an ally has been injured and is being brought back to be healed. Probably another Centurion Strongarm." She said, a slope appearing on her mouth. Four Centurion Strongarms carrying a bier came into view, but instead of a large bulk on the platform, a small figure was seen but still too far to see finer details. Palutena reached within the folds of her outfit and pulled out a small spectacle. Lifting it to her left eye, she squinted into the glass. A gasp escaped her lips and she dropped the spectacle, which landed safely in the downy grass. But still, that wasn't enough to save it as Palutena stepped onto the fragile item, shattering the item beneath her foot as she ran.
"Lady Palutena! Lady Palutena?!" Pit cried as he strung his Meteor Bow across his back and took after the amazingly agile Goddess that practically flew to the bier.
"Hurry, quickly! Get her inside!" Pit heard Palutena command as the Centurions doubled their pace towards her private rooms. Pit stopped and waited as the Centurions started to run towards him. As they passed him, blonde hair spilled down the side of the bed-like structure and the smell of blossoming flowers drifted to Pit's nose. Could it be?
When the Centurions passed him, Pit turned around to see Palutena was now kneeling on the ground next to another figure. Behind her stood two proud white unicorns, their yellow lightning-shaped hooves and horns bright against the dark green of the soft grass they were tearing from the ground. Pit sped towards Palutena and when he was close enough, realised Palutena was tending to Phosphora, one of Viridi's top commanders, who specialised in lightning attacks. Her short, red tipped, blond hair was spattered with mud and her top and shorts, which were so short that if she bent over her butt would be seen, were ripped and her face was pale and she was breathing in shallow breaths.
Palutena had not said a word as she held her hand above the young woman's body, a soft teal glow emanating from her palm. As Pit watched, colour began to return to her cheeks and a smile appeared on her lips. As her eyes refocused, she looked up to Pit.
With arms crossed, Pit looked down on the now very vulnerable-looking Phosphora. "You stole Phos and Lux." He accused, bending down to get closer. Phosphora scoffed as she wobbly stood up, facing him, still unsteady on her legs like a newborn fawn.
"I did not! I borrowed them, and it was lucky I did or we would've never made it out of there. You can have them back now." She said, sticking out her tongue at Pit as she walked steadily towards where the Centurions had disappeared with the bier. Pit shook his head as he took Phos and Lux's reigns and led them towards the stable. Palutena watched him leave before walking briskly to her private room to attend to the other casualty.
Upon reaching the stables, Pit led Phos into one stall and Lux to the one beside it and began to brush down Lux, his favourite of the two, being careful not to stroke the horse in the same place more than once in case he gave off an electric charge. His chore was interrupted by a slight noise, like the opening of a creaky door, from the back of the stable. He still needed to oil those hinges, putting down a mental note to do it after tending to the unicorns. Taking the Bow off his back, Pit drew the bowstring back to his jaw, the small green meteor ready to burst upon anything that it hit. Another rustle was heard, closer to the hay pile in the corner. Pit moved closer still, eyes focused and arm steady in caution. A black shape flew from the pile and smashed into him, sending his bow flying, the small green meteor rocketing through an open shaft in the roof. He was flattened on his back and a weight held him down. He felt a sharp, cold point against his throat and looked up to see teal wings and a black chiton outfit. Dark Pit straddled Pit at his waist with one end of his Silver Bow edge pressed against Pit's throat. A smirk was pasted on his face as he looked down with dark brown eyes.
"Pittoo?" Pit asked questioningly.
"You really have to stop calling me that, I hate that stupid nickname." He grumped, lifting himself off Pit. "Call me Kuro." He said, doing what looked like the mix of a smile and a smirk. "You know, you should be more careful 'Pit stain', even in your Goddess' domain you're not safe", he said, standing up and offering a hand to Pit. He accepted and the angel was lifted up, where the two embraced in a manly hug of crushing and patting. As they stepped away, Kuro wandered off to where the unicorns waited, Lux looking at Pit accusingly as if saying "uh, hello? You're half done here!" and to compliment his look, he tossed his head at his un-brushed side and gave a soft nicker. Pit took up the brush again while his doppelganger took up the spare brush and attended to Phos. Both quietly went about the task until Kuro cleared his throat. Pit looked up; patiently waiting for dark angel to start what looked like a very personal question.
"Look, don't laugh at me okay? I just need some advice and you're the only one I can talk to, cause I can't go Palutena cause she'll blab on and on, and I can't ask Viridi cause-"
"God Kuro, just say it already, I'm listening!" said Pit impatiently, grabbing a hair brush to start on Lux's mane. He brushed quite a few strokes before Kuro finally started to talk again, though his voice was so quiet that Pit barely heard him.
"Do you think…" and the dark angel's words were lost as he mumbled the last few words.
"What?" asked Pit, brush paused, mid-stroke through the unicorn's mane.
"Do you think, that…um, me and…nah forget It." he huffed as he began to viciously brush Phos's belly, unaware of the grumpy look the unicorn gave him.
"Really, Pittoo?" Pit said jokingly to annoy his twin-like form, which did the trick, as Kuro's stare became darker than night. "Just get it over and done with, and tell me!" he prompted, throwing him a hair brush for Phos's mane. As the dark angel grabbed the brush, he fiddled with it aimlessly and for the first time since Kuro was made, Pit saw him as vulnerable, which worried him as it seemed the topic was very personal, very unlike the strong, witty and even humorous character that he was.
"Do you think, that…I could have a chance…with Phosphora?" he asked, eyes wide with expectation before he dragged them downwards, embarrassed, and began to brush Phos's mane with even more vigour. Phos snorted and turned his head to nudge Dark Pit, trying to make him see how unimpressed he was at how he was taking his frustration and embarrassment out on him. "Sorry boy." Kuro apologised, stroking the brush through his mane more gently with one hand while stroking his nose with the other. Content, Phos turned back to staring ahead blankly as he was pampered.
"Have you talked to her?" Pit asked, now moving on to Lux's tail, pulling the brush through evenly.
"How do I talk to her? I don't even know where to begin…" he said disappointedly, putting down the brush and slumping in the corner, elbows on knees and head in his hands. Putting down his own brush, Pit exited his stable and sat next to Kuro.
"I don't like this feeling Pit. It makes me feel weak. Look weak" he said desperately. "What do I do?" he said, turning his head to look at Pit, his blue eyes confident and assuring unlike his own brown eyes; uncertain and troubled.
"You have to talk to her; don't admit feeling straight away though. Make small talk, and slowly prompt some answers out of her but don't be too obvious. But also, don't be really friendly, you gotta be mean to keep 'em keen." Pit said cheekily, winking at Kuro, which made him smirk at how stupid and naïve Pit could be. "So basically, be yourself." Pit joked, smiling.
"Yes master…how you know all this anyway?" he asked, giving Pit a small elbow in the ribs.
"I don't know…general knowledge?" Pit answered hopefully, a grin on his face. "By the way, I like the fact you called me master, seeing as I am the original here, so I actually wouldn't mind if you continued to call me that." Pit said gleefully.
"Get out of here!" Kuro said, shoving Pit over and jumping on him as the two wrestled until both were worn out. "Ha, still stronger than you though." Kuro said as he stood over Pit, who was spread-eagled on the ground. He walked towards the doorway and grabbed the handle. "You won't mind if I use your hot spring pond, do you?" he asked cunningly, opening the door and stepping around it. "Oh, and thanks for offering to finish grooming Phos." He said as he closed the door in time to avoid having a brush hit his face.
Pit chuckled, annoyed but humoured by his brother-like friend. He grabbed the brush and started to brush Phos's side only to receive a static shock that made his hair stand on end and to send him flying into the stable wall. There was no doubt about it; Kuro sure knew how to pull a good prank.