It had taken Dark Pit a long time to find it, but Viridi's sanctum had an edge, a point where the plains and mountains and cliffs ended, falling off into nothing but sky. He'd walked along it, taking care not to tread too closely to the edge (he had already jumped off the edge of a sanctum once, and didn't want to think about it again anytime soon.) There were a few rivers that dropped off into the distance, creating loud, tumbling waterfalls, and a couple of giant trees that had a few roots teetering off the brink, but had solid purchase on the mainland.
Dark Pit wasn't the sentimental sort, but he appreciated the sheer magnitude of what he saw. He could spend hours wrapped up in the sound of water rushing down towards infinity.
The wind, warm and light, led him towards the edge. He was used to finding Viridi somewhere along the wind's path, but there was no little nature goddess sunning or working by water. The wind continued to tug at his wings, like a small child, and he spun around slowly, searching for its source or reason.
"Over here! Come a little closer, please!"
Dark Pit nearly groaned; he should have known that such a breeze meant the goddess of love was nearby. There she was, floating just beyond the edge, legs crossed underneath her as she sat on air and floating ribbons. She waved insistently, especially when he looked about to walk away, but made no effort to approach herself.
"Are you here to try to sell more hair-brained ideas?" he asked, staying well out of arm's reach of her.
"Hair-brained!?" Aphrodite pouted theatrically. "My last idea was excellent, in case you've forgotten!"
"Near fatal results, almost irreversible emotional damage...but sure, going with your last idea went fine otherwise."
"Results and errors due to execution are not my responsibility. I provide inspiration only," she said, wagging a finger slowly. "Anyhow, I came to check up on you! Has your disposition improved? I heard a few things happened that might be cause for happiness!"
Dark Pit's feathers rustled, though he remained composed. "Things happened," he said.
"They did indeed! Though I suppose it's a bit early to say how well they went. Still, it's good - a bit of the gloom has left you!"
He shrugged, wondering idly if giving short or nonverbal answers would make her go away faster.
"But yes, also! I have something to give you from Skyworld. A request!"
"If they want anything from me, they can ask themselves," he said, crossing his arms.
"But what if they lack the confidence to ask you directly? They're trying quite hard not to cross you again, you know!"
He gave a thoughtful flap of his wings. "Then why would they get you to ask me?"
"I don't quite know myself, though I have some guesses. Perhaps, because I was around! Or because I fly! Or maybe even, because of this!" Aphrodite flicked a ribbon into existence, drawing out its pearly length between her hands. It was of a tremendous length, and she had to spool it up in order to present it to him. "This is for you!"
Dark Pit stared at it. "This isn't going to brainwash me, is it?"
"I hardly think I deserve your disdain, considering all I've done for you, you naughty crow! Besides, my ribbons can't influence - this one is only a message. A message for you! So take it!"
He took the spool and unwound it slowly, cocking his head at it. Words were written on the surface, and he had to hunt for the start of it. Even if he couldn't read the words written, he heard Palutena's voice when he looked over the words. He blinked, shook his head, and dropped the spool on the ground so he could pull up from it as he scanned it.
I know that we should probably tell you this in person, but I...we figured that it would be easier for all of us this way. You can take your time with your answer.
You've given us a lot of things to think about, Dark Pit. And you are right - I'm not entitled to your presence or service, nor am I entitled to that of any other angel...you are your own being, free to think and feel and do as you please. I mistreated you, and I am deeply sorry, and I hope you'll give me the opportunity to be a better person towards you. I...I might not get it right right away, and I don't claim that I'll be able to, but I want to try. Please forgive me...for that, and for what I've already done.
Please, visit us again at Skyworld. Or let us visit you someplace of your choosing, even.
Dark Pit blinked hard, wiping his eyes with an arm. His legs felt weak, like he no longer had feet, but he forced himself to remain standing through sheer power of will. Aphrodite cleared her throat.
...There was more to the ribbon. This time, Pit's voice ran through his mind.
Um...I know we've both been kind of jerks to you sometimes. If you don't want to have anything to do with us anymore...I...that'll be fine. But things will be different, I promise! Please don't...don't leave.
"Of all the things..." Dark Pit muttered, clenching his eyes shut. He wasn't ready for this and it hurt him back at Young Valley; why did they think that repeating themselves now would be any better? It was almost cruel and unnecessary...
Aphrodite giggled, though it was soft and gentle enough not to come off as mocking. Her smile when he looked up wasn't malicious, either.
"So you can just...oh dear!" she flinched and fluttered away, disappearing into smoke.
Dark Pit blinked, opening his mouth to wonder at what was going on, but a turnip flew by his head, sailing harmlessly through the pink fog the goddess of love left behind. "Get out! Shoo! You're still not welcome!" Viridi yelled, chucking more turnips at the smoke until it vanished completely.
"Wow, I didn't think Aphrodite respected anyone. Guess I'm wrong," he said.
"What on earth was that love-drunk doing here?" Viridi huffed. "She's supposed to be banned from these grounds!"
"She wasn't trying to get in," he said. "She just gave me a message from Skyworld."
"What? You mean this?" Viridi bent over to pick up some of the ribbon trailing on the ground.
"A message for me," Dark Pit said, setting his jaw. She stopped, glanced at him, and straightened.
"Yes, and?"
"I don't know. They want to meet up again. And I guess we'll talk more when we do."
"If you ask me, you all are long overdue for a real conversation!" Aphrodite said, peeking her head out from a little whorl of smoke.
"Nobody asked!" Viridi chucked another turnip. Aphrodite slipped out of the way, ducking back into her smoke.
"But I don't want to talk about it anymore," Dark Pit said, spooling up the ribbon slowly. "It's just...sure, I appreciate the apologies, but I want to know what they're actually going to do now that they've made them. It's just lip service until they prove it."
Quiet settled over him. After a moment, Aphrodite peeked out again. "Would you like me to relay this to them?"
"Sure."
Viridi frowned, but she didn't protest. Aphrodite drew out one of her arms from the residual smoke and tugged at the air, producing a long charcoal ribbon with gold lettering on it. She spun her hand in a few tight circles to wind it up, then tucked it into her smoke.
Viridi sighed and took a leaf that blew by on a sudden gust of wind, pressing it to her forehead. "Take this, too," she said, wrapping it around a turnip and throwing it at Aphrodite.
"Oof! Fine, Earthly One! I'll deliver your message!"
Dark Pit managed a faint chuckle. His eyes fell on the turnips in Viridi's arms.
"...Why do those have faces on them?"
"What, these? They're a variety from some kind of dreamland. Not good for eating, just for tossing."
"Okay. I thought they might be some kind of new troop of yours or something."
"Subcon breeds are no children of mine," Viridi huffed, dumping the turnips into Dark Pit's arms. "Here, toss 'em, it'll make you feel better."
"Fine, I'll leave, if you're really quite settled on it!" Aphrodite's voice shimmered in the air.
Dark Pit threw a few turnips to be sure she was gone. "...What was your message about?"
"That's for Palutena and company to know, not you."
"Fair enough."
A parcel materialized - no, flew - into existence in one of Palutena's private chambers. It fluttered, innocent and innocuous, a few meters from the window in clear view. It would have been any other treasure box were it not for Dyntos' seal instead of a lock.
A little smile drew across Palutena's face. The forge god seemed to be having a great deal of fun showing off how subtle he could be, hiding in plain sight like that.
Inside was one of her commissioned artifacts, along with a note promising the second in due time. It was perfectly fitted and crafted, of course, with embossed feathers on the leather. Though they were reduced in size, the feather designs were clearly modeled after her own.
All that was left was to give them away. She took a deep breath and let it out, smoothing her dress.
"Pit, I'd like to speak with you. Will you meet me by the main temple? You're not in trouble, promise."
"Of course!"
The sun was beginning to come down when he arrived, smiling brightly. When he saw her staff in her hands, he stood straight, waiting for what she had to say.
"Pit, I know we've been talking a lot about how we should be treating Dark Pit. But I haven't forgotten about you, and how I can treat you better as well."
Pit fluttered his wings, his mouth drawn tight. He seemed like he wanted to protest, or reassure her that it wasn't necessary, but knew that she wanted to continue.
"To begin, I am going to reduce active service of all members of my army, including you. Maintaining a military force, even with the best intentions, invites conflict...and while I can't eliminate it completely at this time, I would like to diminish its presence."
"Then...you have some other job for me to do, right?" he asked.
She shook her head, emblem twinkling. "In doing this, I also want to have what remains of my army to function on its own. You no longer need to be its captain, Pit. You are, of course, my best warrior, and I will need you to fight at times, but the task of maintaining my forces need not fall upon you."
Instead of receiving this joyfully or with pleasant surprise, Pit looked actually hurt, and tucked his wings close to his body. Palutena gripped her staff, worry crossing her features. Had she made another mistake?
"You're...firing me? Why?"
"Because -" she began hastily, and stopped herself to swallow and gather her words. "I want to release you from your obligations to me. I can't let them all go, but -"
"I want to serve you! That's my decision! It's not because I'm forced to or because I'm used to it or...whatever you're thinking!" he said, cutting off any potential responses by stepping forward. "Lady Palutena, I really appreciate what you're doing for me, and for Pittoo - I mean Dark Pit - gah. But for me, for this, this isn't something I have to do. I serve you, and I follow you, because it's the right thing to do. Because you're always thinking about what's best for others. You're the goddess of wisdom! You're on the side of the world!"
Palutena swallowed hard, finding it difficult to meet his impassioned gaze. She should have expected his devotion to take a stance against her...
"And...and! If you go astray, I'll lead you back to the light. I'll fight you if I have to. After all, I did it once before."
She looked at him, stunned to stillness. After a moment, she chuckled to keep herself from shedding tears.
"Pit...thank you. You have your moments of wisdom as well."
He rubbed the back of his head bashfully. After a moment, he said, "Please don't fire me. I wouldn't know what to do with myself!"
"Well...maybe if I give you this, you'd have some ideas?" Palutena said, bringing the treasure box forth. "Go ahead and open it."
"What is it?" Pit asked, beaming as he popped it open. "A new weapon? Maybe a power? Or a...pair of shoes? ...Ah, they're...nice! Really nice!" he said, pulling them out. He seemed a bit confused rather than disappointed, turning them over in his hands.
"You can tell there's something special about them, right? Go on, they're meant to be put on, not admired."
He switched his sandals wordlessly, tying the artifact to his feet. He stood, flexing his toes and walking in a little circle. "They fit well! I feel light. But there's something else...?"
"Pit," Palutena said, smiling. "Try to fly."
"Lady Palutena, I can't..." he began, but when he caught her expression, he took a deep breath and flapped his wings. At first nothing happened, but slowly, his wings shimmered and he began lifting from the ground. "Whoa! Hang on!" With a great flap, he shot into the air, pulling into a fast glide around the temple.
She grinned as she watched his path, her heart soaring along with him. "With this, you won't need my Power of Flight to fly - it's built in, along with some of my own natural flight. It might not be permanent, but the side effects should be much less painful. And no pyrotechnics."
"This feels great, Lady Palutena!" Pit's shouted, whooping into the heavens. "Watch out! Angel coming in for a landing!"
He came to a stop in front of her, all smiles, and ran up to her to give her a big hug. She patted his hair as she returned the embrace.
"I hope you'll forgive me for not thinking of having them made sooner. They came at a great expense, but you completely deserve it," she said softly. "With them, you don't need my permission to fly. Go where your heart and your wings take you."
He snuggled her chest, the warmth of his gratitude filling her whole body. "Thank you, Lady Palutena. Just...thank you. I don't know what to say..."
She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the top of the head. He laughed, pulling back so he could kiss her nose, and then fluttered out of reach.
"Oooh! Get back here, one kiss deserves another!" Palutena said, shaking her staff in mock-frustration.
"Then catch me!" Pit beamed, spreading his arms out. When she brought her wings out, he dashed off into the sky, his laughter filling the air.