An elderly woman opened the door curiously, and it swung open as her green eyes stared at him in shock. Her graying brown hair was cut short around her shoulders, having grown a bit since the last time he'd seen her, and around her neck was a leather cord bearing a feather he recognized all too well. It seemed she had stopped breathing for a moment.

"P-Pit?" she stammered, and as soon as he nodded, she pulled him into a tight embrace with her face buried in his shoulder. "Pit…" her voice was muffled. "Wh-what are you doing here?" She pulled back a bit to gaze at his face. "Did something happen?" His voice caught in his throat and he bit his lip as he nodded again. Concern became evident in her features as she motioned for him to come inside. "Don't worry," she told him. "We'll do what we can to help. Ephram should be back soon." And with that, his heart broke and he felt his eyes sting with hot water.

"Mom…" his voice was strained to escape the lump in his throat. "D-Dad isn't coming back." He wasn't sure what had shocked her more- what he'd said or what he'd called her.

"Wh…" He followed her to the table in the great room, and his eyes couldn't help but stray to the table where the painting of them in what seemed like another lifetime stood. He sat down next to her and took her hand.

"Ephram… Dad is…" he swallowed. "He was ambushed and… he's dead," his voice squeaked, and at any other time, he would have been embarrassed about it. But he had other things to focus on as realization and grief quickly swept over Helen's face. "I'm sorry…" he mumbled, and held her close as she sobbed and trembled against his shoulder.

"He… no…" she said softly. "No, he can't be gone! That… he just can't…" He held her tighter. "What will I do without him…?"

"I wish I could stay and take care of you," he said. "But…" he pulled her back and looked into her eyes. "Don't ever doubt that I'm watching over you, alright?" She nodded slowly as tears streamed down her face. He shut his eyes for a moment and summoned his staff, then used it to return to his true state of being with clothes cleaned of dirt and blood. "I'm sorry I couldn't reach him in time."

"Pit…" she stood up and took hold of his hands. "No matter what, I… I could never blame you for anything. I know you're doing the best you can."

"I… It wasn't just anyone that got to him," he continued. "Dad's attacker wasn't human. I guess they were unhappy with me and wanted to…" he swallowed. "If it helps at all, I've taken care of the one that… that stole him from you." She looked down, still shaking, but she nodded slowly

"Ephram was fighting the Underworld even when you were still with us," she thought aloud, and even smiled a bit. "All to protect you and me. Even if…" she sighed softly. "I suppose part of me always knew that he wouldn't pass peacefully. But that was his choice." He nodded.

"He smiled," he told her. "Before he… before he died, he smiled at me." Thinking about it sent another wave of grief over him. "I wish I had gotten the chance to tell him, but… I won't make the same mistake now. I want you to know." She looked up at him curiously. "I… remember when I told you that I had no recollection of my life here?" She nodded. "That's… no longer true." Her eyes widened, and she sat down again, as if the weight of everything that had suddenly come to her knowledge left her unable to support herself. He sat as well, resting his wings over the back of the chair.

"What do you mean?" she asked in a soft voice.

"There's a goddess out there that records memories," he began. "Named Mneme. A short time after I returned to Skyworld last time, she called me to her home and… I suppose you could say she returned what I had lost when I turned from human to angel." He smiled a little. "I remember watching Dad train with his friends and wanting to join them, and he always had to shoo me away since I was so small. And I remember picking flowers in the fields to give you, just because they made you happy." Though her tears didn't cease their flow, she smiled gently. "I remember playing with you and Dad, when he'd chase me around and I ran to you, thinking you'd help me get back at him."

"You were such a wonderful child," she said as she wiped away the water on her face. "It broke my heart when we lost you. But… maybe a part of me always knew you weren't really gone. And now, here you are." He smiled a little and nodded. "You do so much, have to be so strong… I know Ephram is- was- so proud of you."

"He's not gone forever," he assured her. "I promise. He may not be here right now, but he'll always be out there somewhere."

"Alright…" she let her breath go slowly. "Then I'll have to be strong until I can meet him again someday." He nodded. "I'll hold on, Pit. Don't worry about me."

"I can't help but worry," he replied lightly. "But… I need to get home and take care of a few things."

"I know. Be safe, will you?"

"I will." He knelt down and hugged her again. "Everything will be okay. I'll do everything I can to make it so."

"I know you will." She stood up slowly. "And say hello to Kuro for me, will you?" He smiled and nodded, and she walked to the front door with him.

"I love you, Mom," he told her as he stepped outside.

"And I'll always love you, my son." She placed her hand against his cheek for a moment, and once she withdrew it, he spread his wings and took off for the heavens.

A short time later, with his staff at the ready, he flew over his home and waved it forward as a light spread across the islets. Slowly but surely, the fallen Centurions began to rise, and he couldn't help but smile a bit as a shout of his name rang out.

"Everything okay?" a voice caught his attention, and he looked behind him to find Kuro flying nearby. "I mean, with all things considered."
"As much as they can be," he agreed. "Mom- er… Helen, says 'hi.' Where's Nemo?"

"He went back to the Underworld," Kuro replied. "Says he wishes you the best and to let him know if he can do anything to help. But he seemed distracted."

"I'm sure he has a lot on his mind too," Pit pointed out, and his somewhat decent mood fell once again. "What did you do with Elora?"

"Of all people, Nemo called Onore to come help us," Kuro explained. "He cremated her body and set the ashes off on the wind. Neither of them were exactly happy about the situation, and Onore said he's sorry it happened."

"I am too," Pit sighed. "Look… I need a little time alone. Can you keep an eye on things?"

"Of course," Kuro nodded. "Take your time." They went their separate ways and Pit headed for the temple, landing outside before he continued down the main hall on foot to the Gate Chamber.

To his surprise, it was occupied when he entered.

"Lord Pit," an echoing voice greeted him, and he found what appeared to be a woman with long, shimmering blond hair, softly glowing blue eyes, and wings in place of arms waiting for him. He bowed for a brief moment. "I must apologize on behalf of myself and the other Keepers for what you've experienced." Even she seemed saddened by what had taken place. "Even we do not foresee everything that happens. We never intended for Elora to choose the path she did, and you performed admirably in handling what you had been presented with. I apologize for the loss of your father."

"Thanks," he mumbled, not really knowing what to say.

"Now… As you may have guessed, I've come to inform you of the identity of your new angel." He nodded, though his eyes widened as she briefly faded from sight and reappeared above at the fountain. "If you would join me…" He jumped and flew up to the other side of the fountain, and she waved her wing over the waters. "Your new angel, following the cycle, will be male. Also, we have decided on a name I hope you'll find fitting, in order to honor your father. And so, the next angel will be namd Ephraim."

"…Ephraim," he repeated in a nearly silent voice. The Keeper nodded, and the image of the new angel's parents appeared within the fountain's waters.

"Yes. As you already know, he will come to you shortly after his fifth birthday as a human." She shut her eyes. "I can promise you that he will have a strong sense of justice and desire to serve." She withdrew her wing, and the image faded.

"I understand, milady." He dipped his head. "Thank you."

"I wish you luck, Lord Pit. Farewell." With those words, she faded from his sight and he gazed blankly into the water below.

"Ephraim," he said again, pondering the name for a moment longer before he turned and headed out of the temple. There was much that needed to be done to restore Skyworld to its former beauty, and he wanted to help in any and every way he could.