Dark Pit dodged around the fire from his adversaries as a large dome came into his view, and he spun out of the way of an approaching Komayto before he slashed through it.
"This thing definitely is stronger," he mused to himself and readied an arrow that, contrasting Pit's blue, glowed with a bright red light. The charge of the shot took out a Monoeye in one hit as he dodged around what seemed to be the tongue of a Mik. "Hey, Palutena," he called out.
"Yes, Kuro?" the goddess replied, her voice sounding mischieveous in his head.
"Did you know Lord Dyntos was going to do this to me?" he inquired, not hotly, but reserved.
"What would make you ask that?" Dyntos teased as the dark angel shot down one of the strange Aurum creatures.
"Because she gave me a stronger bow just before I ended up on a solo mission," he answered flatly. Both Dyntos and Palutena laughed.
"No, I can honestly say I didn't know he was going to do that. But now's your chance to really show off. And we all know how good you are at that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he stuttered. "Ow!" In his distraction, he'd lost track of a Mik that had gotten to his side and fired. He retaliated quickly and slashed through it, then turned to find himself approaching the entrance of the dome.
"Just the whole 'Anything you can do, I can do better,'" Viridi taunted. "You're just like Pit in that sense. Always have to put on a show."
"Do not," he argued.
"You really do, Kuro," Palutena snickered. Dark Pit rolled his eyes as he entered the dome, then quickly found himself being ambushed by Handoras and more Aurum troops. He sighed and gathered his energy, then pointed his bow skyward. A light shot up from it and rained back down as legions of arrows that made quick work of the enemies.
"Haha," Dyntos laughed heartily. "You really can do just about everything the other chicken can, huh, sonny?"
"If not everything," Palutena confirmed. "Well, they do share a-"
"A soul," Dyntos interrupted lightly. "I'm aware, dear Palutena."
"Wait," Dark Pit blinked. "How do you know about that?" He shot down another Aurum foe as he approached a platform at the end of the corridor.
"I hope you're not as thick as your partner," Dyntos chuckled. "But I'm aware of your situation- just about all of it. And I'll admit I'm impressed by everything you and Pit have accomplished so far. You two do share quite the deep bond."
"Oh. Well, uh…" Dark Pit frowned. "Thank you?"
"However! You've still got to pass my test." Dark Pit blinked as he heard Dyntos's voice not only in his head, but echoing around the corridor, and he found the god of the Forge lounging about on a pillar overlooking the platform, where he finally landed. "Welcome, sonny," Dyntos smiled through his messy mustache and beard. "Are you ready for what I've got for you?"
"Like… a weapon?" Dark Pit wondered cautiously.
"Far from it, my boy!" Dyntos laughed. "Don't worry, you'll get the gear I can make for you if you pass my trials. You'd best prepare yourself, little angel. I bet I've got some stuff in store that even you couldn't expect!" Dark Pit nodded.
"I'm ready," he confirmed, gripping his bow as he squared his shoulders.
"Excellent," Dyntos grinned. "I'll expect quite a show from you, Kuro! Just step on that elevator in the middle there, then be ready to fight for your life!" Dark Pit reluctantly stepped on the platform serving as the elevator and ascended to another area. After scanning the area for a moment and finding little other than the stars overhead and the strange architecture of Dyntos's workshop, he started up a nearby flight of stairs.
"Whoa!" About half way up, a giant metal saucer of sorts came crashing down from above. "What the heck is this thing?" Unfortunately, he got no answer as it dropped several Aurum Monoeyes. Dark Pit sighed and sprinted forward, slashing through the mechanical monsters quickly before he turned to their parent ship. He took a step back and fired a charged shot, then followed up with several weaker arrows. The bottom of the saucer exploded just after it spawned a few more Aurum troops. "Okay," the angel growled. "That's it." He crouched down and sprung up, gaining a bit of height as he thrust down his wings and fired a charged shot that sent one Aurum hurdling back into another and both were destroyed. As soon as he landed, he dashed forward and destroyed the saucer with one last shot.
"Ho ho, impressive!" Dyntos commented. "You really know how to use those wings of yours."
"I don't think I've ever seen you do that before," Palutena agreed.
"You know I've had a little more practice," he reminded them with a smirk. "Even if I lost the power itself, I still remember some of the stuff I learned back when I could fly whenever I wanted to." To his complete bewilderment, Palutena started laughing. "What?"
"Nothing," she giggled.
"It's not nothing," he accused as he continued up the stairs and he started another sentence, only to be cut off by a blinding light as he stepped onto the landing on the top of the stairs. "What the…?" He scanned the area to find himself in some sort of arena with electric currents running around the edges, and the currents darted across the arena at random.
A cheery laugh caught his attention, and he looked up. His brow furrowed in annoyance as he found a young woman gently descending, her blond-orange hair flipped up and she had a humorous smile on her face. She wore a white shirt and shorts and a vine climbed up her right leg, and each of her wrists and lower legs were wrapped in dark cloth. Wrapped around her neck was a blue scarf that ended in an electric blue energy that crackled and faded in and out of existence.
"Well, it's about time you showed up!" she mocked.
"Hello, Phosphora," he grumbled.
"Man, you're so depressing," she sighed. "Oh well. I'm not here to talk." With that, she shot a bolt of electricity at him.
"Hey!" he jumped out of the way and glared at her. "What the heck are you doing?"
"Lord Dyntos asked me to come here to test you," she winked at him. "And I could use some exercise." She stretched her fingers and smiled dangerously. "I'm at full charge, so I hope you're up for some fried angel wings."
"You're nothing but talk," he replied flatly. "Nothing but sparks."
"Haha!" she laughed. "You know nothing, Pittoo." He growled, but realized that correcting her would only be a waste of breath. "I hope you conduct electricity as well as your twin!" With that, she fired another bolt of lightning at him and he dodged back again.
"I'm not here to play," he informed her and fired a charged arrow. She squealed and glared at him.
"Tough guy, huh?" she grit her teeth. "Fine. We'll get down to business." She ascended once again and Dark Pit felt the air crackle around him. "Let's see how you like this!" With that, she shot down a crackling blast, and he let out a scream of pain as electricity raced through his body. He collapsed to the ground, utterly stunned as he tried not to black out.
"Urgh…" he grunted, his limbs still tingling as he collected himself and slowly got to his feet.
"Wow," Phosphora rested her arms behind her head. "I can't believe that didn't totally char you."
"Quite!" Dyntos agreed. "Impressive, sonny. Good work. But can you still fight?"
"Of course," he replied and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I can take a little shock."
"That was quite a gamble, Phosphora," Palutena joined the conversation. "Using so much of your energy in one attack?"
"Butt out, Palutena!" Phosphora yelled. "You weren't supposed to mention that!"
"Wait…" Dark Pit smirked. "You poured all of your energy into one attack to beat me down before I got a chance to fight back. But it didn't finish me." His smirk grew. "So, now you're weak, and I'm just getting started."
"Shut it, jerk!" Phosphora retaliated. "I'm fine!" She sent another bolt toward him, but he nimbly rolled out of the way and countered with an attack of his own. She let out a little gasp. "Alright. I'm gonna finish you!" She charged another attack as his mind started racing with a formulating plan. He narrowed his eyes, focusing only on his adversary, and pulled his bow apart into two blades. Just as she pulled back her hand to ready her shot, he threw one blade forward. Her attack hit it as it sped toward her, and she shrieked as the electricity crackling across it shocked her once it hit her. She fell to the ground and the currents around the arena ceased, and she grunted as she pushed herself up.
"Tricky little blackheart," she growled at him, but fell to the ground again, mumbling a soft "ow" as she tried to get up again. He swallowed a fit of anger at her words.
"Just because my wings are black doesn't mean my heart is," he replied through grit teeth.
"Excellent job, sonny! Impressive!" Dyntos praised. "I don't think Pit would have ever come up with something like that: using the metal of your bow to redirect her attack? Most excellent." The arena flashed away and Dark Pit found himself standing on the original landing among the steps of Dyntos's workshop. "But I've got two more little challenges for you. So, when you're ready…" Dark Pit nodded and continued on up the next set of stairs.
"Whoa!" He dodged to the side just as a pair of Ornes popped up on either side of the steps. He sprinted forward as they gave chase, and he felt his heart pound as he tried to swallow his growing fear. As soon as he stepped onto the next landing, the light flashed again and he found himself in another arena. He took a deep breath as he attempted to calm himself, but disorientation hit him as he realized the area he was in: A pale blue platform surrounded by mirrors.
"Where am I?" he inquired. "What's going on?"
"Time for your next challenge!" Dyntos announced.
"Be careful," Palutena cautioned. "I think those mirrors will reflect your shots."
"Noted," Dark Pit nodded, then added a quick "Thanks."
"Just be sure to give me a show!" Dyntos chuckled as a fire suddenly erupted from under him, knocking him off his feet. He twisted and landed hard on his shoulder, his skin singed. With a grunt, he got to his feet just as a human form with a long blue ponytail shot out of the flames, and he felt a fiery rage he thought he'd suppressed burn forth within him again.
"Pandora!" he growled, gripping his bow tight enough that his knuckles turned white. She merely winked at him and drew forth a blade that seemed more fitting for decoration than combat. "Why the heck is she here?" he demanded of Dyntos.
"Don't fret too much," Dyntos replied. "That's one of my creations. A perfect replica, minus her overused vocal chords. I'd never get any work done if I had to listen to her yammering."
"So, she can't talk?" Palutena summarized. "Well, that's a relief."
"Yes. But regardless," Dyntos continued, "I made her after I realized what a hatred the boy here had for her."
"And what could POSSIBLY possess you to do that?" Dark Pit inquired.
"I want to see how you work under emotional pressure," Dyntos laughed, to the angel's annoyance.
"Fine, whatever," he grumbled and separated his bow again, then sprinted toward the Pandora duplicate and dodged around the heart-shaped barriers she fired at him. He ducked forward and slashed at her, making several hits before she teleported to another spot on the stage and threw several explosive spheres at him. He stumbled back, just out of their blast radii, and raced forward again only to be knocked back by her barriers.
He clenched his teeth as he got to his feet again and, yelling out wordlessly in rage and frustration, he plunged the first blade through her and slashed up with the other, his breath coming in gasps and leaving in pants. The Pandora duplicate cried out soundlessly and fell to the ground, and she disappeared. Dark Pit fell to his knees, still panting with his teeth clenched and his brow furrowed, and he gripped the two swords tightly.
"Kuro…" Palutena beckoned. "Are you all right?"
"Fine," he mumbled.
"I… I'm sorry," she continued, to his confusion. "I didn't realize your grudge against her was still so strong." She paused.
"Yes, but he performed accordingly," Dyntos interrupted. "Alright, sonny. Pull it together." Dark Pit took a deep breath as he tried to bite back a complete eruption against the god of the Forge. "You did well, and I've only got one trial left for you. Are you ready?" Unable to speak, the dark angel only nodded. "Very well." Once again, a bright light blinded the angel and, when it died down, he found himself in a new arena of sorts. Unlike the other two, it had little in the way of features that could harm him like the electricity or the mirrors. Instead, it was a relatively flat stone surface with two other islets hovering above it in different places.
He looked down to find a Drink of the Gods next to his foot and, after a moment's hesitation, he swallowed it quickly and felt relief flood his aching limbs. His burns healed and he felt new energy surge through him, along with a new determination to win Dyntos's final challenge.
He glanced around the stage, but found no sign of whatever challenger he was to be up against.
"So… what's going on?" he wondered, the relief of his injuries taking the edge off his sullen mood. "Lord Dyntos," he added respectfully, "what's my final challenge?"
"Oh, you're going to love this," Dyntos laughed. "And don't worry. Palutena won't interfere this time. It'll just be you and…" a shaft of light descended from above, "him."
Dark Pit blinked in disbelief as the light died down, revealing a figure holding an impressive-looking bow with decorative beams of light that demonstrated its power hovering around it. On his free arm there was a reflective shield fastened to it, and the wings on his back sparkled with a power the dark angel had only seen one other time, when he had unintentionally joined Pit in the Underworld to fight against Medusa. The weapons the white-winged angel had been using then matched the ones this newcomer had now, against everything that made sense to the dark angel: the Three Sacred Treasures, supposedly destroyed by Hades mere weeks before.
The figure himself was also encased in the same armor that seemed to come along with the Treasures, and his helmet helped hide what Dark Pit already knew were spiky brown locks of hair. The newcomer's blue eyes sparkled as he smiled mysteriously at the dark angel, who clenched his fists.
"Alright, Lord Dyntos, what's the deal?" he called out, looking up at the sky.
"This is your final challenge!" the god replied with a laugh. "Beat him, and you get your gear."
"No…" he mumbled. "I can't… I'm not going to fight Pit!" He returned his gaze to the angel in front of him. "Pit? Is that really you?" The angel's smile only grew, and he shrugged in a teasing way that Pit would. Dark Pit bit his lip for a moment, then sighed and readied his bow.
I'm just going to have to trust that this will work out, he told himself as "Pit" leapt into the air and took aim with an Arrow of Light.