About three years had elapsed since Levica had briefly returned to Skyworld in order to inform Pit that she would be staying with Nemo permanently. Their sudden love story had caught him off guard, but he wished them the best and bade her farewell. A year after that, he'd welcomed Ephraim as the new angel to Skyworld, and couldn't help but be taken aback by the young boy's black hair, his blue eyes, his confidence and eagerness to learn and train. He barely left Kuro alone when the commander was training with the Centurions, and Pit had made a point to be involved in his life. Ephraim more or less looked up to him like a father, though it seemed Kuro was more like an older brother to him. A sarcastic, strict, and somewhat irritable older brother.
But now, he found himself waking up in the middle of the night for the first time since Medusa's defeat. His dreams had actually been quiet for once, and he felt better after finally catching up on the sleep he'd missed out on due to her actions. So, why did he suddenly feel like someone had siphoned his energy from his body? He groaned and sat up, feeling like an overcooked noodle.
And yet, after only a few moments, it all returned to him, and the exhaustion it had brought evaporated as if it hadn't been there in the first place. Someone had opened the floodgates to refill the dried pond that he seemed to be. It made absolutely no sense: One moment, he was as weak as a piece of parched grass, and the next, he felt like he could move a mountain if he tried.
"Something's wrong," he mumbled and got to his feet, dressing quickly before he headed out of his room, down the main corridor of the temple, and outside. A brisk chill in the air greeted him under a cloudless sky, the stars and moon shining above the nearly silent islets of Skyworld as a handful of Centurions went about their patrols. He took to the air and flew toward the structure Kuro called home, landing in front and proceeding down the main hall to a staircase on the right-hand side. Once he had reached the top, he knocked on the door he came to. Of course, there was no answer.
He sighed and entered the darkened room with his only light being the moon above streaming in the skylight. On one side, Kuro was sprawled across his bed, lying on his front side and wearing only his shorts with the rest of his clothes messily piled on a table nearby. It was obvious he was deeply asleep, his breathing soft as his wings twitched gently. Pit rolled his eyes and smiled, shaking his head as he turned toward the other occupant of the room.
They'd decided that Ephraim should share a room with Kuro for the time being. Despite being an angel, he was still a child, and they didn't want to leave him alone. Ephraim had been ecstatic about the idea, and even Kuro had warmed up to it eventually. Ephraim now was curled up on his own bed, more or less on his side with his eyes closed peacefully. Neither of them stirred at Pit's entry, and his chance was simply too perfect. He crept over to the side of Kuro's bed, smirking to contain his snickering.
"Hey, Kuro!" he yelled, and Kuro's eyes flew open. Within about half a second, he was up, standing on his bed in a defensive stance as he tried to control his heavy breathing. Pit couldn't contain his laughter as his twin's expression changed from shock to confusion and finally to anger as he registered it was the god of Light that had disturbed him. It seemed Ephraim found it amusing as well, and he was laughing as he sat up on his bed.
"What is WRONG with you?!" Kuro demanded as he jumped off his bed. "In the off chance that you weren't aware of this, I was SLEEPING." Somehow, these relapses that Kuro had when he was tired only amused Pit further. Never would one find him in a more sarcastic mood reminiscent of his time before he became Palutena's new captain. And that was only further evidenced as he mumbled "Pit-stain" under his breath.
"The opportunity was just too perfect," Pit replied, grinning, and Kuro glared at him.
"What do you want?" he inquired. "You love sleep way too much to give it up just to irritate me."
"Alright, alright, calm down," Pit patted his twin's head, only further aggravating him. "But, in all seriousness, are you feeling okay?"
"I was feeling FINE before a certain brown-haired moron decided to wake me up. So, explain to me why I shouldn't kick your butt into next week."
"That's not very nice," Ephraim said from his spot, and both of his superiors turned to look at him briefly. "Lord Pit was just playing, right?"
"Right," Pit nodded. "Exactly. But anyway, I woke up and felt like something was off… one moment, I felt really weak, and the next I was fine. I guess I wanted to know if you had experienced anything similar." The disapproving irritation was still evident in Kuro's eyes, but he relaxed a bit.
"No, I can't say I did," he said. "Not that I noticed, anyway."
"Hrm." Pit crossed his arms and lowered his head in thought. "Then what was it? It wasn't natural…"
"Maybe Nemo is acting up," Kuro suggested with a heavy sigh. "I mean, he's the lord of the Underworld and the embodiment of your opposing force. Who knows what he's up to?"
"Lord Pit?" Pit looked down at a tug on his robe and smiled at Ephraim. "Can I help?"
"Sorry, Ephy," he said as he knelt down to meet Ephraim in the eye. "I think I'll head out on my own this time. Besides, you need your sleep."
"So do I," Kuro grumbled, earning an amused smile from his twin.
"Well," he stood back up, "I think I'll head down and pay him a visit. It's been a while since I last talked with him, and even longer since we spoke face to face."
"Be careful!" Ephraim cautioned as he turned back for the door, then hurried outside and back to the temple's Gate Chamber. He pointed his staff at the Gate itself and it opened slowly, and he leapt out into the air, arriving at the outskirts of the City of Souls. He invoked his own Power of Flight and sped around the glowing blue columns, dodging around the few souls that flitted about around him. Nothing came to attack him, no Underworld monsters of any sort.
Before long, he arrived at the shrine toward the center of the city and landed on the platform in front of the door, then headed inside with his staff at the ready. Nemo had taken to lighting the halls of the shrine with what, at first glance, appeared to be torches. But their flames were very light, pale blues that flickered white as they burned. He sighed and ignored the twinge of panic that shot through him, opening up his senses to seek out Nemo and Levica, provided she was still there.
"Ah ha!" he picked up his pace once he pinpointed them and hurried through the halls until he came to a closed door leading to a room he'd never actually been to. Strangely enough, he thought he heard what sounded like a cry from behind the door. He backed himself up against the opposite wall and sprinted forward, launching himself foot first toward the door, and busted it open without any warning whatsoever. Sure enough, Nemo glanced up at him in alarm from his place next to a bedside, and it seemed Levica was lying there. The lord of the Underworld sighed heavily and approached him.
"Thanks so much for knocking, Pit," he said curtly. "And calling ahead of time. Whatever it is, this really isn't a good time."
"What, because you're planning a hostile takeover again?" Pit inquired, and panicked a bit when it seemed Nemo thought he was being serious.
"Excuse me?"
"L-Lord Pit?" Levica called, and she sounded incredibly weak, alarming him.
"That might explain it," he mumbled.
"Explain what?" Nemo asked, crossing his arms. "Exactly what is it that brought you down here without warning?"
"I was up in Skyworld, and I suddenly felt really weak, like someone had sucked my energy dry. But the next thing I knew, I was feeling fine." His eyes narrowed and he pointed his staff at Nemo. "It's got to have something to do with Levica. What have you done with her?! I should have known it. This is all just a plot to-"
"Calm down, Pit!" Nemo raised his hands up. "I didn't do anything. She's just tired." And, for reasons Pit didn't understand, Nemo then smiled. "And I don't blame her. She's been through a lot. Now, if you'll excuse us, I've got a lot to tend to right now. It's going to be busy for a while."
"No, Nemo," Levica protested. "Why don't you explain? Let Lord Pit meet him." Pit blinked.
"Meet who?" he demanded as he looked over to her, and he noticed she appeared to be holding something. She looked like death warmed over, her face pale and sweaty, but she was smiling.
"Fine," Nemo nodded. "I was hoping to introduce you later on when we'd gotten everything sorted out, but I suppose now is just as good." He motioned for Pit to follow him and returned to Levica's side, and Pit complied. He blinked, stunned into silence as he found the violet-red eyes of a newborn infant staring at him curiously. It was wrapped in a white blanket and was still a slight bit messy, and even Pit knew it couldn't have been more than an hour old.
"Remiel, meet Lord Pit," Levica cooed. "You'd best get acquainted now, so he doesn't do anything mean to your father." Again, Pit blinked.
"Wait, wait," he massaged his forehead and looked from Remiel to Levica to Nemo. "What's going on here?"
"This is our son," Nemo replied bluntly, though he smiled proudly. "Remiel. Do you trust me to be a decent father?"
"I didn't know you were capable of having children," Pit blubbered without really thinking about it, then realized what it was he had said. "I mean not you specifically! Just you as Oracles. I… er…" He scratched the back of his head.
"We didn't either," Nemo agreed. "And thank you for elaborating."
"Nemo." He turned back to Levica at her beckoning. "Would you like to ask him now? Or should we wait?" Nemo thought it over for several moments as Pit continued to stare at Remiel, who stared back.
"I suppose there's no point in waiting." He turned back to Pit. "Pit, if you don't mind, we have a request for you." Pit turned his attention to him and nodded. "With no pun intended here, would you be Remiel's- er… well, godfather?"
Again, Pit blinked.
"Me?" he wondered, and Nemo nodded.
"Yes, you. Beyond my not knowing who else to turn to, I know I can trust you to look after him if needed. I'd greatly appreciate it if you would accept." Pit lowered his head and closed his eyes in thought.
"I suppose I can do that," he agreed. "It'd be an honor." He opened his eyes and smiled. "Thank you."
"Thank YOU, Pit," Nemo smiled back and looked to his family. "That makes me feel a lot better."
"Um… if I may…" Nemo nodded, and Pit held his hand out, hovering over Remiel, and he narrowed his eyes. "I guess that would make sense. There's both light and darkness in him. That may explain why I felt so weak: Something else was suddenly drawing on the Light!" Nemo chuckled a bit. "But… no offense or anything, but exactly what IS he?" He withdrew his hand and turned back to Nemo.
"What do you mean?" Nemo wondered.
"I mean you're the lord of the Underworld, so I guess that would make him its prince. He's the son of a god, but also of two Oracles, who are in turn taking human-like forms without actually being human."
"Uh…" Nemo frowned and looked at Levica, who shook her head in bewilderment.
"Aw well." Pit shrugged. "I guess it's not important." He smiled. "Anyway, as Remiel's godfather, and as an apology for breaking in without warning, I'd like to give him a little something."
"Lord Pit," Levica smiled. "You don't have to."
"But I want to," he insisted. "Really, just something small. Nothing important." Levica nodded and looked up at Nemo.
"What do you think?" she asked.
"I don't see why not," he replied. "Go ahead, Pit." Pit grinned and lifted his hand, his fingers curled into a loose fist.
"Let's see if I can do this," he mumbled, and took a deep breath. A light flashed as he stretched his palm, and it solidified into a small, round pendant on a gold chain. On one side of the pendant, it bore the insignia of Light that he was so familiar with, and on the other, the insignia of Darkness. Carefully, he placed it over Remiel's head, and Remiel continued to stare at him. "Just a little symbol of what he embodies, I suppose."
"Thank you, Lord Pit," Levica dipped her head.
"Aye," Nemo agreed. "It's a wonderful little token." Remiel let out an enormous yawn and promptly fell asleep in Levica's arms, and Pit smiled.
"I suppose I should let the three of you get settled," he noticed. "And I should be getting home anyway before Kuro gets either mad or worried."
"I'll walk you out," Nemo volunteered. "Is that okay, Levica?" She nodded, and he leaned down to kiss her forehead briefly before the two gods departed.
"He really is a cute kid," Pit told him. "So you've got a family now, huh?"
"Indeed, I do," Nemo nodded. "And I'm very lucky to have them."
"Someone to love, a child to call your own," Pit mused. "That must be nice." He paused. "I mean, I know Kuro is like a brother to me, but… I guess I don't have much in the way of family anymore. I guess there's Ephraim, too, but…"
"How is he, anyway?" Nemo wondered.
"Fine," Pit replied. "Getting stronger every day. He's a good kid- no one could argue that. And… It's kind of strange, but he looks so much like my dad. I know the Keepers named him Ephraim in memoriam, but…" When he heard Nemo stifle a laugh, he turned to stare at him. "What's so funny?"
"It's more than that, Pit. Maybe they don't want me telling you this, but… well…" he shrugged, and his smile faded. "After that whole incident with Elora, I returned here to find Ephram's soul. I wanted to make sure it was taken care of. What do I find? One of the Keepers- one with long brown hair dressed in red robes with her bangs hiding part of her face. She demanded Ephram's soul from me and said it was to be immediately reincarnated." Pit blinked as he processed what he'd just heard.
"So… You think that they…"
"Ephraim is your dad, Pit. Or at least his reincarnation. I guess they felt the need to make up for the hell they've put you through since you became the god of Light. Obviously he doesn't remember his life previous to now, but… Well, anything is better than nothing, right?" Pit nodded.
"I suppose so. I'm glad he's safe… Thank you for telling me."
"Of course." By that time, they had reached the entrance of the shrine, and Pit spread his wings.
"Good luck, Nemo. I'll be sure to tell you about Kuro's reaction!" Nemo laughed and waved as he took to the air, bound for Skyworld.