Skyworld jumped in unison, startled by the sudden crack of thunder that rang through the air. Pit almost trod on the toes of the Goddess as the loud clap reverberated through the streets of the city at the foot of the Temple. Chuckling, Palutena laid her hand against his back, steadying him as he stumbled in his efforts to not fall into the Goddess and end up in quite the embarrassing heap on the ground. Looking up as he found his balance, Pit could only marvel along with Skyworld's citizens at the sight that had appeared high above the city.
"Talk about an entrance", he laughed shakily, heart still pounding away in his chest.
"Flashy indeed", Palutena agreed.
The Lightning Chariot hung motionlessly in the air for a long moment, its magnificent steeds pawing at a ground that did not exist as their flanks crackled with electricity. Phosphora stood at the head of the chariot, clearly rather smug with the manner of their entrance and the effect it had as she confidently held the reins of Phos and Lux. Behind her stood the Goddess of Nature and Pittoo, side by side as they mirrored each other's stance with folded arms and something of an indifferent expression, leaning against the sides of the chariot.
Pit's eyes grew bright and a wide smile found its way to his lips as he saw his brother. Several months had passed since he had seen him; Pittoo never once visited Skyworld after the end of the war, always sending his greetings with Phosphora, and after Pit's wings had at last grown allowing him to the fly, Pittoo had aptly avoided his presence whenever he went to visit Phosphora. The angel had yet to look down and see him yet however; Pit watched as Pittoo turned to Viridi and said something that made her laugh. She in turn said something to him, lifting an arm to accompany her words with a gesture; Pittoo smirked, shaking his head. It rather surprised him to see it, in fact; Phosphora had told him several times of occurrences where his brother and her Goddess managed to get along for more than five minutes, but he had trouble believing her.
"Pittoo looks well", Palutena observed at his side as Phosphora flicked the unicorns' reins and angled the Chariot down towards the Temple.
"I can't believe he hasn't visited Skyworld all this time", Pit complained.
"Well, you know Pittoo", the Goddess said, and with this particular angel, those few words were statement enough.
"How do you think things will go with Lady Viridi?" Pit asked as the Chariot was guided through a tight circle as Phosphora prepared to land it.
"I can only hope it goes well, Pit", Palutena replied with a sigh. "I am contending with many years of an ingrained dislike for humankind; it won't be easy to convince her to help them".
The Chariot landed at the foot of the Temple, partly obstructing the path of the city's thoroughfare. Angels shied away from the vehicle and its steeds as Phos and Lux snorted impetuously, tossing their great heads and flaring their nostrils. Phosphora stepped down first, moving quickly to the beasts and resting calming hands upon their snouts. Pittoo and then Viridi stepped down from the chariot in her wake, the angel positioning himself just behind her shoulder as she approached the steps that led up to where Palutena and Pit waited. Angels began to gather in the streets, both to gaze at (from a safe distance) the splendour of the Lightning Chariot and its steeds as well as the visitation of the Goddess of Nature, muttering amongst themselves what the purpose and implications of that visit could be.
"Viridi, Pittoo; it's a pleasure to see you", Palutena said, spreading her arms in a gesture of welcome as she smiled warmly.
Pit charged forwards to embrace his brother, almost bowling them both back down the steps. "Pittoo!"
"Are you trying to kill me?" the angel demanded as Pit grabbed him in a tight hug, earning himself a chuckle from Palutena.
"We haven't seen you in quite a while, Pittoo", the Goddess said, giving a pause after she spoke. "You don't mind us calling you that, do you?"
Pittoo gave a weary sigh as he managed to extricate himself from his brother. "Whatever. I guess I'm used to it by now".
"I knew it would stick", Pit said confidently as he granted his brother some room to breathe.
"Yes. Right", Pittoo muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Viridi, I'm glad you came", Palutena said to her fellow Goddess. "I hope our talks will prove fruitful".
She belatedly realised her choice of words as both Pittoo and Viridi broke into smiles. She gave a chuckle, relieved that at least for the moment, the atmosphere between them was cordial. Pit looked between the three of them, confused.
"That all depends on exactly what you're planning on having me do", Viridi said with an equally polite expression. "Shall we get to it, then?"
"You would not like a tour of the city first?" Palutena offered. "Or perhaps take a moment to refresh yourself after the journey here?"
Viridi shrugged. "You'll forgive me if I'm not too interested", she said. "And our journey took all of a few seconds", she added, gesturing to the Lightning Chariot.
"Are you sure? Well then, let's go inside", Palutena said to the Goddess.
"Come on", Viridi said to Pittoo, following after Palutena. The Goddess turned when she heard this however.
"Viridi, I had thought it best if you and I discuss this alone…"
"I'd prefer to have an advocate with me", Viridi said politely, "which would have been Phosphora, but it appears she needs to remain with the Chariot to ensure Phos and Lux don't lash out at your citizens. Pittoo will suffice in her place".
Palutena wrinkled her brow in thought for a long moment. "Alright, I don't see why not".
Pit, who had been waving down at Phosphora, turned at his Goddess' words. "Wait, I thought it was going to be a private meeting! Why does Pittoo get to go?"
"I'm clearly more suitable for these things than you are", Pittoo said casually. "Don't think too hard about it".
"Lady Palutena", Pit whined. "I can be helpful too; after all I have seen Overworld first hand".
"Yes, alright", the Goddess sighed, already turning away. "Come along, then".
Pit pumped his fist into the air and nudged his brother on the shoulder; Pittoo repaid him by sticking his foot between Pit's stride and sending him stumbling to the ground.
"Hey!" the angel cried out as Pittoo smirked, walking away and following after Viridi. Pit scrambled to his feet and ran to catch up with them as they entered the Temple.
"You know about the Underworld's presence of Overworld, don't you?" Pittoo asked with an expectant tone.
They were seated in a room adjacent to the throne room, a rounded table positioned between them with the respective Goddesses and angels sitting opposite one another. Palutena had had the Reflecting Pool removed from the throne room for the moment and it sat peaceably at the centre of their circle, its contents rippling lightly with the movements of those present against the table.
"We are aware of it", Palutena answered him. "I'm not sure of the Underworld's numbers yet, but I do know that there are remnants spread far and wide across Overworld. It has been difficult to keep track of their movements".
Pit opened his mouth once more to add to the discussion, but this time it was Viridi who interrupted him. He closed his mouth again with a slight huff; he had been trying to get a good word in ever since the discussion had begun, feeling a little left out.
"Palutena, you'll forgive me if I ask you to get to the point of all this. I'm certain you didn't request my presence here just to discuss something we've both been dealing reasonably well with since the war's end. The Underworld is too weak to be of such importance right now. Besides", she said, "Overworld is my domain and so primarily my concern. I'll deal with Hades' spawn".
"You're right", Palutena admitted. "What I wanted to discuss with you is how I need your help in aiding the restoration of the civilization of humankind".
"You want me to help you help the humans", Viridi asked in tone that questioned Palutena's good sense. "Obviously I didn't make my feelings towards them clear enough".
"Viridi, Overworld is, as you yourself stated, your domain, and they are part of that. I do not ask you to love them, only to tolerate them, fairly".
"Must we go through this again?" Viridi said. "I find it difficult to tolerate a species so obsessed with the wanton destruction of my lands".
"I understand that", Palutena said in earnest, "and I will try my utmost to try and instil within them a more thorough respect for their surroundings, but –"
"Palutena, I am far older than you and since the day your Time began have watched you do nothing of the sort. The humans are if anything more destructive".
"Viridi, famine is spreading across Overworld. I am not asking much of you, only to help me –"
"Help humans", Viridi finished as she kept her expression politely neutral.
"You're being unfair, Lady Viridi", Pit blurted out suddenly. "Would you really stand by and watch the humans suffer when you could easily help them?"
Viridi turned to him. "I have done just that for longer than you could imagine. After all that they have done to Overworld to selfishly further themselves, they do not deserve my help".
"But – " Pit began, but Palutena laid her hand upon his arm and he fell quiet.
"Viridi", she said, "if you would do this, to aid me this once, I would be in your debt".
Viridi shrugged. "It doesn't matter; you can't sway me in this".
But of course, Palutena would try anyway. She had to, for she could not stand by to see her charges suffer. "Surely there must be some way to – "
"The Goddess Viridi, one of the first daughters of the Father", Pittoo suddenly interrupted, speaking in a low, careful tone. "She was painted in the image of a child but yet still beholds the heart of a mother. Nature is her firstborn, and will hold her dearest love till the end of Time. Upon her lands do we mere mortals dwell, our existence permitted only by her tolerance. For selfishness and destruction are ingrained upon the hearts of Man, and in our ceaseless journey to acquire knowledge surely we have brought the earth to harm, but the Goddess grants us another day. As Man aspires to walk the path of greatness, the fair Goddess must watch her firstborn suffer, but yet she grants us another day. Oh, but we should be ever thankful and worship the Goddess for her mercy, for only she knows what stays her great and mighty hand".
Silence dwelt in the wake of Pittoo's recitation, Palutena and Pit having turned to him with both surprise and awe upon their respective features. Only Viridi did not turn to face him, and neither did he her; instead his eyes seemed to be pointed towards the golden bowl of the Reflecting Pool.
"What is your point?" Viridi asked quietly, breaking the silence at long last.
"If you do not aid humankind, they will only seek other methods through which to restore themselves. They will pull down the forests to make tools of war and ravage the lands as they fight amongst themselves for what little food is available. They will soil the streams and rivers and pollute the earth".
"And if I help them, will they still not do the same thing in time? Humans are greedy and conniving, war is a pastime for them".
"The gods are not the same?" Pittoo asked. "The war that led us here in the first place is a product of Hades' greed for power; the gods fight amongst themselves and shatter the world of humankind time and again".
"Then why should I help them if such a cycle exists?"
"They respect you, Viridi, but only out of fear. They must be taught to understand what you are and what you represent".
"It doesn't matter, Pittoo", she said, finally turning to him. "No matter what you attempt to do, they will still – "
"This is the perfect time to effect a change", he said as he met her gaze, "otherwise the cycle will only continue. Humankind will ravage Overworld in an attempt to restore itself and you will seek your vengeance in return. Palutena, as the guardian of Man, will be forced to stop you and so you will both be at war yet again. Phosphora and Pit will meet each other on the battlefield and refuse to fight each other, and I will not fight my brother again, not even at your command, Viridi.
"So while our armies stare at each other confused and held back by our feelings, the Underworld will once again amass its strength and Hades will inflict his army upon Overworld. He will once again ravage your domain to further his own goals and we will be forced to fend him off, yet again. And as we war with each other, Overworld will be forced to bear new scars; all our fighting will succeed in doing is destroying it more thoroughly than humankind ever could. If we were to win, then we would be once again left at the beginning of the cycle, and if we were to lose then Hades would have his way with your domain and you would never recognise it again. You have a chance to change this, Viridi, here and now".
She looked at him, long and hard. He held her eyes unblinkingly. Palutena and Pit remained in utter silence, neither daring to stir the air with a single breath. Eventually, Viridi's gaze slid away from the angel; she glanced briefly at Palutena as she stood to her feet.
"Fine", she said shortly. "I'll help you".
Viridi didn't look at Pittoo again as she strode from the room. Skyworld's Goddess remembered to breathe again when she left; she regarded Pittoo with an expression that he couldn't quite decipher, though unlike the one his brother wore, powerful curiosity sparked within Palutena's eyes.
"What?" Pittoo barked eventually, shaking them from their stupor.
Pit shook his head in awe and disbelief. "Pittoo, I can't believe you just spoke to a Goddess like that".
"I prefer not to waste time mincing my words", he said in reply.
"You even called her by her name", Pit said. "I thought she was going to, you know, smote you or something".
Pittoo favoured his brother with a withering look. "Smote me? Please stop talking, Pit".
"What?" Pit said defensively. "She looked pretty mad at you".
"You don't know her like I do", Pittoo said. A moment later, when he saw Palutena's eyes grow, he wished he had chosen different words. Pit, thankfully, appeared to remain oblivious to the revelation his Goddess had seemingly come to.
"If you say so", Pit said with a shrug. "Oh, and thanks for saying you wouldn't want to fight me again. You…you did mean that, right?"
"Sadly, yes. You're an insufferable pain in the neck, but you're my flesh and blood. Literally".
Pit easily laughed off his brother's gibe, half-turning to the Goddess when he spoke. "I guess we're done here now, Lady Palutena? Pittoo, care for a race around the city? I bet I'm the better flyer".
"Sure, let's race", Pittoo said dryly. "I'll just borrow the Lightning Chariot if you're game".
"Alright – hey, wait", Pit amended as he stood to his feet.
Palutena spoke then as Pittoo smirked, pushing back his seat and making to stand. "Just a second, Pittoo", she said. "Pit, I'd like to talk with him for moment, if you wouldn't mind".
"Oh, okay", said the angel. He turned to his brother. "I'll be waiting for you outside, don't chicken out on me!"
"I wouldn't dream of it", Pittoo replied as he watched his brother leave the room before turning back to face the Goddess. She rested her hands atop each other, leaning against the table and regarding him with a small – and knowing – smile.
"So, how have you been?" she asked. "I admit I was a little surprised when you decided against staying in Skyworld".
"I've been fine", he said simply. "And I just didn't really want to be around Pit every waking moment; I don't have the same degree of tolerance as you".
"I'm sure you would have developed the patience for him in time", Palutena said. "He did miss you quite a bit".
Pittoo gave a short pause before he gave her a shrug. "That's just how I felt", he said.
"It's alright, I am not trying to make you feel guilty, Pittoo. In fact, it may be that your decision to live with Viridi and Phosphora had its own merits".
"I have no idea what you're talking about".
Palutena smiled. "Are you sure? Your time in Viridi's abode has been a simple, trivial affair?"
"Nothing noteworthy to report", Pittoo said.
"Aside from your wings, of course".
"Of course".
Palutena had learned through Phosphora and Pit that Pittoo had gained his wings. A week after the Goddess and the angel had repaired their relationship, Pit had come running to her one morning inexplicably knowing that Pittoo's wings had grown too. He had attributed this knowledge to his gut instinct and a sensation that rippled through his own wings; Phosphora had not a day later been able to confirm this news, though she did not truthfully divulge what had occurred in the time between Pittoo learning of Pit's wings and Viridi finally allowing him to go to the Rewind Spring. Neither did she later divulge to them the nature of Viridi's and Pittoo's relationship after he had returned from wandering across Overworld. Pittoo had been adamant that she keep their relationship a secret, a request that Viridi had then made concrete by turning it into a direct command. Phosphora had almost let it slip to Pit on numerous occasions in the days that followed.
"Pittoo, I do think you're being the slightest bit untruthful".
"I disagree".
"Well, perhaps I read you both incorrectly then", Palutena said with a musing tone, her eyes glittering.
"That's unfortunate", he replied. "So, if you don't mind – "
"There is something between you and Viridi, isn't there?"
Pittoo didn't answer for a long moment, and Palutena watched his expression slowly shift from carefully neutral to resigned. Even still, he attempted to keep up the charade.
"I don't know what you – "
"The Viridi of several months ago would never have let you speak to her like that".
"We're friends", Pittoo began.
"She never would have looked at you like that, either", Palutena spoke over him. "Or let you use her name".
"I used your name too".
"And we both know the difference".
Pittoo threw up his hands in surrender, lifting his eyes to the ceiling. "Fine. I give up".
Palutena smiled warmly at him, watching him huff and fold his arms, unable to meet her eyes as the slightest hue of pink tinged his cheeks. She would not have imagined that Pittoo would be the one to sway Viridi's thoughts, and the manner in which he had spoken suggested that it was not improvisation but rather something that he had perhaps been considering for a while now. She herself had inwardly expected the Goddess' continued refusals and rebuttals; she had quickly been running short of ideas of how to convince her otherwise.
"I am happy for you", she told him sincerely. "For both of you".
Pittoo shifted a little uncomfortably in his seat before he looked up and met her eyes. "I'm…I'm happy too", he said.
"I would assume that this means you will be staying with Viridi from now on".
He nodded. "I'll make more of an effort to visit", he said.
"Pit would like that", she said. "I wouldn't mind either; you're always welcome here, Pittoo".
"Thanks", he said and this time when he stood to his feet she didn't stop him; she didn't say anything until he was almost out of the room.
"And I hope you two are behaving yourselves!"
Which earned her the slamming of the door as Pittoo promptly left. Palutena gave a small chuckle, falling silently shortly afterward and gazing at the Reflecting Pool. Pit had found Phosphora and Pittoo Viridi, but she had had to learn what it meant to let go. Where they had no doubt struggled with the idea of becoming closer to each other, she had fought against the reality of being apart from the one she held dear. It was almost painful to think of the cruelty of that contrast.
After a moment, she slowly pulled the golden bowl towards her. There was something she had begun to do lately, a practice that part of her disapproved of but her lonely heart would steer her towards daily without fail. Sweeping a lock of hair behind her ear, she gazed into the depths of the Reflecting Pool, watching her reflection gradually shift and meld into the dark terrain of the Underworld. There, she turned her ethereal eyes to the countless sparkling streams of souls stitched across the fading orange sky, looking and listening for the star that was her sister.
He found her standing on one of the islets that floated aimlessly nearby the crystal statue of Palutena at the peak of her Temple. His wings fluttered gently as he landed, flattening against his back as he approached her. He moved to her side, looking across to see that she wore a contemplative expression.
"Are you still angry with me?" he asked softly.
She shook her head minutely. "I wasn't angry with you in the first place".
He lifted his brow. "You stormed out as though you were".
She smiled slightly, sadly. "At myself, not you".
"Why?" he asked.
"Because of what you told me", she said. "I didn't want to hear it, but you made me listen. You made me understand what some part of me has been trying to tell myself for longer than I can remember".
She turned to look at him. "I knew you would be the one to convince me".
"Is that why you insisted I come along?" he said, for he had been reluctant to do so until Viridi practically dragged him onto the Chariot. "You knew I would change your mind?"
"I didn't plan it that way", she answered to his tone. "I just…part of me just knew that I would listen to you. That you would tell me what I needed to hear".
She closed the distance between them, slowly sliding her left arm around his waist and resting her head against his shoulder. He embraced her similarly and held her against him, resting his cheek upon her hair.
"Where did you get those words from?" she asked. He knew what she was referring to.
"Do you remember that human account of the history of the gods I read to you?"
She didn't answer for a long moment. "Figures", she said. "I should punish you for lying to me".
He smirked. "Your reaction was priceless".
"Well, you're never going to get another one like that from me", she told him. "You're going to teach me to read".
"Of course, Mistress", he answered cheekily, squirming as she poked him the ribs afterwards.
They fell silent, looking out over the city from their vantage point. However, they had unwittingly drawn a good amount of attention to themselves in the process. Pittoo looked to see angels in the streets below gazing up at them, hands pointing in their direction as they whispered excitedly to those around them. Some had even taken to the air and tried to pass off their furtive, investigating gazes as they flew passed as innocent glances. Pittoo shifted his gaze and looked to where Phosphora had landed the Lightning Chariot, finding her in the company of Pit who had followed the eyes of Skyworld's citizens and was staring up at them with his eyes wide and his mouth agape. Pittoo suddenly felt an uncomfortable heat sweeping through him.
"Viridi, perhaps this isn't the best place to be right now". He swallowed. "Everyone is looking at us".
When she spoke, however, Pittoo came to forget his embarrassment,
"Let them look", she said simply. "I am tired of having to prove myself, Pittoo".
"What do you mean?"
"In the time of the old pantheon, I had to prove myself to my fellow gods, prove that just because I possessed a form so young did not mean I was to be trifled with. I had to prove that I was worthy of the respect even of those who came after me. I had to prove to the humans that I was not to be taken lightly, that if they overstepped their boundaries there would be consequences.
"When the Chaos Kin enslaved Palutena and I offered Pit my help to rescue her I had to prove to him that my intentions were good, that I could be trusted. I had to prove that I was more than just a single-mindedly vengeful Goddess. Now, I have to prove to Palutena that I can be trusted to help and not change my mind at the slightest provocation and harm the humans. I have to prove to myself that I am more than that, that I can hold true to my word.
"But you, Pittoo?" she said, lifting her arm and softly laying her hand upon his chest. "I don't have to prove anything to you. With you I can just be me. Viridi. And that's all I've ever wanted, someone who can look beyond the fact that I'm a Goddess and beyond my appearance as a child and see me for who I am".
Pittoo was appropriately speechless. "Viridi…I…I'm – "
"Why do you think I let you use my name?" she asked him. "I don't think of myself as being above you; I don't think that you're beneath me. I can look you in the eye, Pittoo, literally and otherwise. I don't think you understand how much that means to me, not yet. I've had to look up my entire life, but then you came along…and here we are".
Pittoo was at an utter loss for words. He opened his mouth, but all that he could squeeze past his lips was her name. "Viridi…"
She lifted her head and turned to look at him. "You look like you're struggling there. Here, let me help".
Her hand moved from his chest to his cheek and turned his lips towards hers. They kissed softly and slowly, the gesture full of meaning. Pittoo felt euphoria rushing through his veins as he held her against him, enjoying the warmth and pressure of her body and relishing the taste of her kiss. When they eventually parted, he was out of breath, almost panting as though he had just flown the race Pit had earlier challenged him to. Viridi looked and laughed at his expression, lightly patting his chest.
"Try not to faint on me, Pittoo. That would be embarrassing".
"I'd appreciate a warning before you kiss me like that", he returned.
She rested her head at his shoulder again, speaking softly. "Just like the warning you gave me the first time?"
"Point taken".
"Oh, that reminds me", she said after a brief silence, "I never asked if you minded me calling you 'Pittoo'".
"It's a little late now", he laughed. "You drummed it into me as stubbornly as I called you by your name. Why, did you have something different in mind?"
She paused in thought for a moment before giving a small shake of her head. "Your name sounds silly enough".
"I appreciate your sincere honesty", he intoned plainly.
She patted him on the chest. "You'll get used to it, Pitty".
The streets of Skyworld flinched at his subsequent roar of outrage.
A/N: And there we have it. Voila.
Well, this was certainly interesting to explore, I know it isn't the conventional Pit/Viridi pairing, but I like to try and write things other people haven't really attempted yet. So this would be called what, DarkPiridi? Lord, that sounds silly. Anyway, here it is. What do you think? Did I fail miserably? Is Pit/Viridi really the only Viridi pairing that makes sense? I don't necessarily favour one over the other; I think Piridi is a more...romantically awkward and lovey-dovey kind of thing whereas DarkPiridi (oh gawd) is a more confident and openly passionate relationship. Both have their merits.
That being said, this is likely to be the last KI fanfic I write. I've covered pretty much everything I've wanted to explore for this fandom except a Magnus/Gaol fic, for which I've no idea how to go about. There are other things I want to focus on now. So, happy holidays to all, thank you for all your reviews/favourites/follows and I hope you've enjoyed my work. Toodles : )
