I love updating! It makes me feel powerful! HAHAHA! Total randomness, I know. So, thanks to all of you people who have been going along with me and blah blah blah...Just a question I want to answer to the anonymous readers who I can't PM:

G.M. : Yes, I will finish this story! My sisters would kill me if I did not finish any of my stories, and I prefer not to be dead, so I will indeed finish this. Thanks for reading!

Anyhow, thanks to everyone! It really bugs me that I can't respond directly to anonymous reviews, but I'm glad that word about my story if getting around. Thanks for all the reviews!

Ryan was up early the next morning. He had hoped that he might wake up and the whole "angel experience" would turn out to be just another dream. Then he realized where he was sleeping: the couch, not his old bedroom. The angel had taken his room. The angel existed.

Ryan slowly sipped his cup of coffee. His mind was jumbled from last night. Somehow, his mother had managed to sleep fine right after the attack from the "girl of darkness". Ryan, unfortunately, had not.

Jenny hurried into the kitchen. She completely ignored Ryan and instead threw some bread into the toaster. Ryan watched in silent fascination and confusion as Jenny grabbed the butter from the refrigerator and set a knife next to the platter, leaving it there, and grabbed a plate from one of the cabinets and set it in the other room. Ryan watched his mother hurry from room to room. "Um…Mom? What are you doing?"

Jenny gave him a sly smile but instead called from the kitchen, "Pit! Breakfast!"

Ryan heard the slam of a door and the quick pounding of feet down the hallway. Before Pit could reach the kitchen though, the toast popped up. With lightning speed, Jenny buttered the toast and, to Ryan's amazement, threw it in the air. "Think fast!"

Pit bolted in the room, fully dressed in a pair or dark jeans, a white t-shirt, and an orange nylon jacket, and quickly scanned the kitchen with quick eyes. He raced into the other room and came back with the plate, throwing himself to the ground and holding out the plate, catching the buttered toast neatly before it hit the ground.

Jenny smiled. "You're getting faster!"

Pit dragged himself to his feet, the plate remaining neatly in one hand. "Yeah!" He grabbed the toast off the plate and handed the plate back to Jenny. "I promised Mark and Kaitlyn I'd meet them at the park today. See ya!"

"Wait a sec there, Pit!" Pit had gotten fully to the door before Jenny called him back. Pit screeched to halt. Jenny inspected him up and down. "Wings?"

Pit looked behind him and span around in a circle so Jenny could see. "Covered."

"Knives?"

Pit opened his jacket, where his knives were nestled neatly against his side. "Got 'em!"

"Remember, you're not technically allowed to have knives that long, so keep them covered unless absolutely necessary. And if you're attacked by Dark Angels, bring Kaitlyn and Mark back here, okay?"

Pit saluted. "Yes, ma'am!" He turned away from her and threw on a pair of white Nikes before leaping out the door. Ryan watched his mother's face line with worry as she gazed at the shut door. Ryan wasn't surprised. Anyone would be scared for a kid who was being chased by evil flying creatures.

Jenny returned to the kitchen and began to slowly make herself some toast. She turned to Ryan as she waited for her breakfast. "Welcome to the hectic mornings your mother now has, Ryan."

Ryan shifted uncomfortably. "Mom, are you sure it's the best thing to have this…boy in the house?"

Jenny's green eyes gleamed. "How so?"

"Well, we were attacked by a creepy angel made of shadows and darkness last night—."

"And Pit came in and rescued us. Ryan, I feel safe with Pit around, just as I felt safe when you were around, after all of your training."

Ryan looked up at his mother, blue meeting green. "Are you sure you're not pushing yourself too hard to help this boy? This morning, when you made him breakfast…what the heck was that?"

Jenny laughed as she buttered her own toast. "Oh, that? That's just a little training exercise that Pit and I came up with so his reflexes will remain top notch. He told me that on Angel Land, they would play dodgeball for training, especially for those who play airball. All the angels have to remain in good shape, so Pit and I decided to come up with some of our own exercises to keep up his training."

Ryan raised an eyebrow.

Jenny sighed and rolled her eyes. "I forgot. You have no idea what I'm talking about. Okay, here's the spiel…"

"Hey, guys, sorry I'm late!" Pit raced through the green grass, which had yet to die from the slowly chilling weather, to where Kaitlyn and Mark waited. Mark leaped up and grabbed his friend in a hug, while Kaitlyn merely waved, her golden hair curled just so and her knee length jean skirt fluttering ever so slightly in the wind.

"Hey, Pit, you ready for the tour?"

Pit grinned. "You betcha!"

And so it began. Today was the day that Mark and Kaitlyn had decided to show Pit around Chicago, seeing as Pit was still quite new. When he had mentioned that he had never been to Chicago, and he might be moving away soon, Kaitlyn had mentioned the idea of a tour and Mark had agreed to help her.

"It's kind of strange how the buildings are so close together," Pit remarked as they made their way into the depths of the city.

"Yeah," Kaitlyn said, "It makes it hard to see the sky."

"But," Mark put in, "it makes it windier. The buildings act as a wind tunnel and draw the wind in, making the breezes more powerful. Hence the name "The Windy City".

"That's not why it's called "The Windy City"," Kaitlyn chided him as they turned to another street, "A long time ago, before we had the Louisiana territory, the East was the only colonized place, and the East was closer to the ocean. There wasn't nearly as much wind out there. The farthest city west that we had was Chicago, which was farther away from the ocean and was windier. It was the windiest place in the United States until we attained the west from France. Now, a lot of other cities and places are windier, but they're all out west, like Colorado, for instance."

"Why is Colorado windy?" Pit asked.

"It's because of the mountains. The wind becomes stronger as it is pushed over the mountains."

"Dang," Mark grumbled, "I feel like I'm in Mr. Romaro's History class." He made his voice deeper as he mimicked the large teacher. "'Ms. Dufrene, you are indeed the smartest person in this class. You don't have to do any homework for the next two months'."

Kaitlyn whacked his shoulder. "Whatever."

Mark rubbed his shoulder as he pointed to a huge building off in the distance. "Oh, that's the Sear's Tower, or whatever they call it now."

"The Willis Tower," Kaitlyn said automatically.

Mark rolled his eyes. "It's a stupid name if you ask me. We Chicagoans like the old name. It fits."

"Oh," Kaitlyn pointed to a beautiful old building, "That's the Chicago Art Institute. If you ever get a chance, go and see the Thorne Rooms. They're so cool!"

"You mean the sixty-eight miniature rooms that are all different?" Mark asked.

Kaitlyn nodded, her eyes dreamy. "It would be so cool to live in rooms like those. They're so pretty!"

Mark pointed out a large building as they passed by, after having gone on a train that Mark called "the L", which Mark said was the Chicago Institute of Science and Industry. Pit wanted desperately to go into that one: he might be able to get more insight on how human being's machines and technology worked. He would ask Jenny if they could go to that one later.

The three wandered around through the downtown after seeing a few more places. Pit's senses couldn't take in enough. The smells nearly overpowered his nose, and his ears tried desperately to clear out the noise from his brain. His eyes flickered back and forth, inspecting every vendor, every person, every shop sign. He couldn't get enough of the world around him.

"Ooh, "The Avengers" is out!"

Pit turned to Kaitlyn who had stopped in front of a large building with a large English word that Pit still couldn't read in glowing lights above them. Kaitlyn gazed up at the building in longing. "I so want to see that one!"

Pit wasn't exactly sure what she was talking about. "Huh?"

"You know," she smiled, "the movie, "The Avengers"? It came out yesterday! I so want to see that!"

Pit shrugged. "Sounds cool. I haven't seen a movie in…" he paused, "…forever!"

Kaitlyn's eyes glittered in the limited light of the sun. "Hey, maybe we could see it together."

Pit shrugged again. It sounded fun enough. "Yeah, sure! I'm going to be gone all Fall Break in California, but how about when I come back in a few weeks?"

Kaitlyn's smile widened. "That sounds awesome."

Pit grinned widely. "Great!"

They continued onwards, but as Pit went on, his only thought was, Now what the heck is a movie?

"Are you sure we can trust him, Palutena?" Nighthawk said nervously, "I mean, he's never been this…humble before. It's a little suspicious."

Palutena's eyes bored into Nighthawks through the bars. "I trust him, Nighthawk. I believe he's really sorry for what he's done. And we'll need his help to keep on Medusa's good side."

Nighthawk nodded. "Well, if you trust him, I trust him." He turned around to where the dark angel was waiting in the corner of the dungeon room. "Alright, you can come over now."

Kuro leaped happily to the cage site. Nighthawk had seen a dramatic change in Kuro, but only when he was around Palutena. With her, he was happier, lighter, and seemed perfectly at ease. But as soon as he turned back to the Skyworld, as soon as he slipped his glass crown over his head, he became almost awkward, almost nervous. Palutena seemed to bring him peace, and Nighthawk wasn't surprised in the least. He felt the same way around the goddess.

"So, what's the plan?" Kuro asked, kneeling next to Nighthawk, across from the goddess.

Palutena sighed. "So far, the same as it has been since the beginning: wait until Pit returns and fight when he does finally come."

Kuro raised an eyebrow. "But, why don't we attack already? I mean, Pit is one angel. What difference does it make if he's here or not?"

Nighthawk shook his head. "That's the thing. Pit may be young, and quite clueless, but he knows how to fight."

"I didn't make him a general for nothing," Palutena put in, "What he lacks in strength, height, and power, he makes up for with determination and loyalty. He never gives up."

"How are you so sure he'll be back so soon?" Kuro asked.

Palutena smiled. "His wings should be close to growing in fully. In a couple of months, he'll be able to fly with full strength. And when he does, he'll be back."

"If he survives that long," Kuro murmured.

"If you mean those Shadow Angels," Nighthawk blinked, "Pit'll be able to take them down lickety-split, as soon as he finds a weakness. Those angels are going down!"

Kuro nodded. "I just wish he would learn to fly faster. We need him more and more every day. I don't know what Medusa is planning, but it's not going to be good."

Palutena nodded. "Nighthawk, I want you to spread the word among the angels that Pit will be returning in a couple of months. Kindle the fire of hope and rebellion among them." She turned to the dark angel, "Kuro, keep up your relationship with Medusa. Gain her full trust and learn what you can for us. You will be the spy on our side."

Nighthawk and Kuro nodded. Palutena gazed upon them with her beautiful green eyes. "Good."

Pit leaped through the door. "I'm home and I'm not dead!"

Jenny laughed and looked up from her paperwork. "Well, we're all happy about that. How was your day?"

"Great, but can you explain what a 'movie' is?"

"Dang," Ryan commented from his work on his laptop (it had taken Jenny ages to describe the internet to Pit), "you angels are missing out if you don't have movies in the Skyworld."

Pit liked Ryan. He admired the tall, blond adult's cool, calm attitude, and frankly, if he was Jenny's son, that was just fine with Pit. Ryan's blue eyes gleamed as they met Pit's. Ryan's eyes were lighter than Pit's, and nicely accented his well-formed face. The only thing Pit didn't like about Ryan was how tall he was. Pit felt tiny next to the tall man.

"Why is that?" Pit asked, "Are they as good as chicken noodle soup?"

"Better."

"Nutella?"

"Better than that too!"

Pit thought long and hard. "Well, how the heck are they so good?"

"What if you could watch me do something over and over?"

Pit raised an eyebrow. "Like, in my memory?"

Ryan scratched his head. "Sort of. But, try thinking of it on a wall, or something like that. You could literally watch me do something over and over again, anytime you wanted."

"I'm still not following you."

Ryan stood up and stretched out his arms, taking his laptop off of his lap and setting it on the couch. "Well, then, I'll just have to show you. Mom, Pit and I are going to the movies."

Jenny smiled as she looked up from her paperwork. "Have fun, then!"

"That girl was a good archer," Pit commented, chomping on popcorn as he and Ryan left the theater, "but her feet could have been placed better."

Ryan rolled his eyes as he opened the door to the car. "Only you could notice something like that. How long have you been doing archery?"

Pit shrugged. "For a long time. Every angel learns the basics of self defense. Only the Centurions take it to the next level."

Ryan began to drive as soon as the road was clear. "So, how did you like The Hunger Games?"

"It was cool!" Pit perked up, his brown hair flopping messily around as he bounced on the seat, "The huge dogs were awesome, and the creepy dude with the weird beard was really interesting. I also liked the girl's skills and how she never gave up! Thanks for taking me!"

Ryan gave Pit a half-smile. "No prob. So, do you finally understand what movies are?"

Pit nodded. "Yeah. I sure wish we had them up in the Skyworld."

They drove on in silence for while, the only sound penetrating the quiet being the slow crunching of popcorn kernels in Pit's mouth. Ryan, a few moments later, turned to Pit with a sigh. "Sorry for all the quiet. I've never talked to an angel before."

Pit gave Ryan a grin. "I don't bite, I promise!"

Ryan laughed. "That's good. Anyway, you're too short for me to really be afraid of you."

Pit's face pinched. "Wait till you feel the wrath of my knives, then!"

"I didn't mean it as an insult. Anyway, not much scares me anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because I've taken my self defense to the 'next level'."

Pit looked up at him in interest. "Really?"

"Yeah, I'm a third degree black belt in karate, fourth level in kendo, and second level judo."

"Huh?"

"Let's just say that if you came running at me and I felt threatened, you might not remember what happened in the next few days."

Pit's face lit up. "That is so cool! All I've got is archery, and I'm good with blades. Oh, and I can fly."

"Always a good thing," Ryan commented.

"Well," Pit said slowly, "I can almost fly. I'm not exactly there yet."

"Why not?"

"Well," Pit sighed, "My wings are still growing. Until they're fully grown, I can only fly for five minutes at a time."

"That's five minutes more than I can fly," Ryan commented quickly.

"Yeah," Pit said, "But compared to all the other angels, I'm basically the weakest. I'm the only one who can't fly. Even angels that are younger than me can fly farther than I can and, heck, they can just fly! That's why I'm stuck here on Earth. I have to wait for my wings to finish growing."

Ryan looked at the angel. Pit didn't necessarily look sad to him, more just determined. His eyes were hard and his knuckles turned white as he made them into fists. His eyes gleamed in the light that came in from the windows.

"Well I can help you!"

Pit's head shot up, his eyes meeting Ryan's in amazement. "How?"

Ryan smiled slightly. "I can't make your wings grow, but from what Mom told me, you're heading back home to a fight. When it comes to fighting, I'm a master. So how about when we head to California, you and I spend some time training, and then you can practice more when you get back home, after you leave? That way, for at least a week, you can have a coach. I can teach you a lot about fighting without any weapons, in case anything happens to those knives of yours. What do you say?"

Pit nearly shot out of the car, while it was still moving. "I totally accept! I can use all the help I can get, and you sure seem to know a lot! This is great! More training! Yahoo!"

Ryan had to force himself not to laugh as the little angel grinned wildly in excitement. The boy's enthusiasm reminded Ryan of himself when he was young. Ryan had begged his mother to sign him up for karate when he was little, and she had consented after a long while. It had taken long hours of practice on Ryan's part to do well, but after hard work, he passed each of his belt tests and was now at one of the highest points he could get to, and he was still learning! But the determination that shone in the little angel's eyes was enough to convince Ryan that Pit would have no problem with hard work.

"Hey, Pit, you coming?"

Pit shook his head slowly, tuning to Kaitlyn and Mark. "No, I need to talk with Mr. Laurel about something. I'll see you guys later."

Kaitlyn shook her blond curls. "Well, I see you in a week then. You two have a good break!" She turned and skipped off, her skirt fluttering behind her.

Mark jumped up and grabbed Pit in a quick hug. "See ya, buddy! Have a good time in Cali!"

Pit waved after his friend. "Yeah, you have a good time here! See you in a week!" Mark disappeared behind a wall, leaving the once crowded hallway nearly empty and unusually quiet. There was the sound of distant chatter coming from another room, and the slamming of lockers, but it was quiet enough to leave Pit in his own thoughts.

He gripped his books tightly. He stared at the wooden door to the Greek room, where Mr. Laurel waited. This was it, the last day before break. And the day was over. And the note had said to meet him in the Greek room after school on the last day before break. Pit sucked in a breath and held out the note, reading it to himself over and over. He squared his shoulders.

The room was empty. Pit shut the door behind him and looked around the room. The lights were dimmed, throwing the room into an odd perspective where the shadows were too large, making the room look smaller. Pit gazed around the room, his eyes resting on the whiteboard, which seemed to be covered in tiny marks. He squinted his eyes and walked closer. The marks…they were Greek letters! Pit stared, amazed at the board. There was a whole letter there!

Dear Pit,

I regret not being here to speak directly with you, but something important has called me away (Pit stared at the board in confusion. Mr. Laurel had been there not two minutes ago!). So I wrote this for you to understand.

You received the letter I wrote to you in class, where I told you that I knew you were an angel. First of all, I know this because you can only write in Ancient Greek, and not in English, which is nearly impossible for anyone to do. Ancient Greek is rarely used anymore, unlike the Modern day Greek. Your athletic skills, so I have heard from Mr. Goldburg, are very advanced, and you have so far outshone everyone in archery, which is a skill that takes a long time to master. Also, angels just seem to recognize each other. (At this moment, Pit stopped reading, for his breath had suddenly become short). Yes, Pit, I am an angel as well…

Pit literally fell backwards, crashing over Mr. Laurel's desk and toppling to the floor. He rubbed the new bump on his head absentmindedly, but he didn't really pay that much attention to his aching body. He was much to amazed for that.

He stared at the board. Mr. Laurel…was an angel? Pit clutched his chest, forcing his heart to slow down. His breaths came in gulps. The crabby teacher who seemed to be upset at everyone, the one who took one look at Pit and said that the he couldn't learn Greek…was an angel? Pit pressed his hands to his forehead, desperately trying to keep the headache that was beginning to build up at bay. He stood up and walked back to the board, continuing with the letter.

…Pit, you are a strong, smart individual, so I wonder greatly how you came to Earth and why you left the Skyworld in the first place. I left the Skyworld longing for a taste of new surrounding. Queen Palutena told me not to leave. She said I would not find what I was looking for on Earth. She was right.

Despite my change of heart, I had been seriously damaged on my way to Earth, and have been unable to return since. I have had to make my way in the world of human beings. I have found only pain and anger here. Nothing here is like the Skyworld. Humans are cruel creatures, Pit. Watch your back around them. Trust no one. When your wings grow out, do not linger here: return home with speed. I can offer you no greater advice than that.

I hope you enjoy your break.

Mr. Laurel

Pit clenched his hands into fists. With slow, deliberate strokes, he began to erase the whiteboard. As he wiped off each sentence, words from the line screamed at him. But the most powerful ones came towards the end.

Humans. Cruel. Trust. No. One.

Pit winced and continued wiping the evidence of words from the board. Humans…were they so cruel as Mr. Laurel said? Jenny definitely wasn't, and Ryan had only a few days ago offered to teach Pit combat skills so he would be better off in the Skyworld when he returned. Mark was anything but cruel. And Kaitlyn…Pit immediately shook that thought from his mind. The words "Kaitlyn" and "cruel" should not even be used in the same sentence.

How could he trust no one? Not even the people he loved? The four people he had just thought of were the only people who he could trust on Earth. They were the ones who made his stay on Earth bearable. They were the ones who gave him comfort, fun, and safety.

Pit shook his head and smiled as he wiped away the last sentence. "Sorry, Mr. Laurel, but I can't not trust my friends. They're the only hope I have." He slowly wiped off Mr. Laurel's name from the whiteboard, gazing at the blank board. He frowned and picked up a marker, and slowly wrote his own words.

He slowly left the room, gazing back one last time at his words, and smiling.

Τρυστ ανδ ͑ώπ αρ ολ θατ ις λεφτ

Trust and Hope are all that is left.

Greek takes a long time to write, even if it's not actual Greek! I kept on having to change my words because of the lack of certain sounds for certain words. But, hey, it worked!

Sorry for the little history lesson in the middle of this chapter! I actually recently found out about the whole "Why the Windy City is called that", so I decided to implement it in here. Also, sorry for the Avengers and the Hunger Games. I actually haven't seen the Avengers. My brother has, but I have yet to see it. I only used the Hunger Games because it has archery in it. I loved the Hunger Games movie, but I am not obsessed by a long shot. Just saying.

So...Pit and Kaitlyn's date...a lot of people have been PMing me telling me that they need to go on a date. So, here you go! It might take a couple of chapters to actually get there though. So, sorry for the wait! I hope everyone liked this chapter! (*turns thoughtful*) Now what to have Pit do in California...?

Keep up with those reviews!

~pj