Aki Ai Takehiko Yumi

Palutena had led them to an arena just outside the throne room. Zelda was relieved to see it had no roof and it let the sun in. It was much better than staying in the darkness. It didn't appear to lift Pit's tension, though, and he gripped Zelda's hand so tightly that it began to hurt her. She squeezed it back, trying to reassure him she'd be alright and to get some blood flow back in her hand.

Palutena clapped her hands and two angels came flying to her side. "Prepare a test of strength for this girl." The angels' jaws dropped, but they went off to fulfill their task.

"Lady Zelda, please come here."

Pit reluctantly let go of Zelda's hand and gave her a reassuring nod. "Go on..."

"Pit, it's alright. I'll be okay," Zelda smiled at him. Pit tried to smile back, but it was a very thin and weak one. The princess took a deep breath and approached Palutena, trying to look determined.

Hopefully Palutena wouldn't notice she was shaking a bit.

However, Palutena's back was turned to her. She was studying the state of the arena with some disapproval. "I'll have to ask the cleaners to clear all this cloud fluff later..." the goddess murmured. She turned around and faced the princess. "Lady Zelda, I am going to explain this test to you. The test of strength is very painful, but it must be done. You will be fighting against a very strong angel with whatever weapons suit you. The angel will be ground bound if you chose not to use weapons that can strike at a distance."

"So...to pass this test, I must defeat the angel?" Zelda asked.

Palutena shook her head. "No...to pass this test, you must prove you can be strong...even with the most grievous and harsh wounds ever. For this test, I will bestow upon you the strength of an angel. Your opponent will try to cut through your flesh and even impale you with his weapons. The wounds will not kill you, but you will feel so much pain. This battle will last for five minutes, on the spot, and you will not be healed until it's over. This test is to prove you are capable of handling the wounds of an angel."

Now Zelda was horrified. She took a single step back and put her hand on her chest. Palutena's eyes narrowed. "Can you handle this test? No angel ever dies from anything, much less from pain. You need to prove to me you can handle an angel's physical pain, or you will not move on."

Zelda's hands shook. "This is barbaric!! This is absolutely sick and sadistic!! I can't believe this is a part of her test!!"

"Zelda..." Pit came up behind her. "It's all a true test. If you can't do it, the whole test ends here and you won't get your wings of immortality."

The princess understood now why Pit was so tense. Zelda thought she would be tested on her fighting ability...not her body's physical strength. The test's conditions made her stomach turn, but she swallowed and looked at Palutena with a pale face.

"I'll do it."

"I have no choice...I vowed I'd do anything to stay by Pit's side. If I back down on this now, I'll be going back on my word."

Palutena didn't look convinced, but she nodded. "Very well. There is one last condition to the test..."

Zelda had to remind herself to breathe.

"To scream out is acceptable. But to try and heal yourself in any way possible is not. You also cannot beg for your opponent to stop or for mercy. Can you go on with those conditions?" Palutena asked.

Zelda was prone to screaming in Brawls, but she nodded anyway. It would take every drop of her willpower not to beg for mercy or to stop, but Palutena had told her that's what she was testing her on. To see if she meant it when she said she would go through anything for Pit.

"I will be testing your very words," were Palutena's exact words.

The Goddess of Light held her staff out and tapped Zelda's forehead. Zelda felt a warm light engulf her body, giving her strength and making her feel odd.

"I have given you the strength of an angel. For a short while, you will be immortal. Once the test is over, the wounds and the spell will vanish. Now select your weapons."

Zelda smiled. For once, this was where she refused to go wrong. She was experienced with a fencing sword and a superb archer...even though it wasn't a real fight, she figured she could hold her own and endure the five minutes.

Once the princess had her selected weapons, Palutena called out Zelda's selected opponent. A very tall angel walked into the arena with his hands in his pockets. Zelda gasped slightly and Palutena smiled. The angel she had summoned to combat against Zelda was a very physically strong angel, a man who could shatter stones easily. His build was very visible, as he was not wearing a shirt. A bit further away, Pit was sweating profoundly.

"Zelda, this is Nightwish. He will be testing your strength as an angel," Palutena couldn't help but give a small smirk. Her duty was to be fair and love all mortals, but she was still a mother...Pit's mother...and she wanted to see if Zelda was good enough for her son.

Nightwish smiled...a smile Zelda couldn't tell if it was friendly or not. "I'll be honored to fight you and test you for your worthiness of angel wings. Be warned that I am very relentless when I fight. You had better be strong enough to withstand my blows," the male angel said, putting on a pair of brass knuckles. Zelda gulped when she noticed his brass knuckles had small blades attached to them. She paled even more when he took a very large knife from a sheath on his belt and held it with a tight fist.

"Now, princess, come at me!"

Zelda gripped her chosen sword tightly and charged.

&-&-&-&

Gah, sorry it took so long.

Here is chapter 3. Shocking sort of test, yes? Palutena doesn't like Zelda much, but then again, what mother of boyfriends like their son's girlfriends right off the beat? (My sister is a prime example of this.)

Sorry that it's so short.

Next chapter: Nightwish and Zelda battle it out. Zelda's strength proves feeble against Nightwish, but all she needs is a little willpower to last. Her body, however, just can't match her will. Will Zelda fail and bleed or will she force herself to go on, despite the injuries?

Nightwish is my character. Steal him and die.

Reviews are loved, CC is appreciated, flames are snarled at and blocked.

-Moonlit Assassin