Author's notes: December 19th this year is the 30th anniversary of the release of the original Kid Icarus. Thirty years! And Nintendo isn't going to give us anything! Not even silly 3DS home themes! (Yes, I'm still bitter.)

Pit's family is a subject that isn't explored much (mostly due to the fact the majority of the fandom seems to think Palutena is a family member rather than a friend or love interest.) I have some ideas regarding Pit's family, his wings, and how it all affects Dark Pit as well...and while I would have liked to have a chance for Dark Pit to express his opinion on having or needing a family before I talked about Pit's parents, it seemed appropriate for Pit's birthday to talk about the circumstances around his birth.

It was not unusual, back when angels still roamed the heavens, that angels from different cults would come together. It sometimes seemed like the various deities encouraged such couples...none more so than Aphrodite, of course. Angels were affectionate, loving creatures, and the temples of the love goddess had a lot of traffic from followers and visitors alike.

It was customary for acolytes of Aphrodite to greet visitors and accommodate their desires, and Mana, a young angel freshly initiated in Aphrodite's mysteries, found a young soldier hovering around the entrance as if deciding whether or not to enter. "You're a member of Palutena's guard, aren't you? Is this your first time here?"

"Yes and yes! Just got back from patrol and wanted to check this place out. Other members of my squadron always talk about the sights here," the soldier chuckled, wings flicking. His cheeks were flushed, and his gaze was solidly on the angel in front of him.

"The sights, hmm?" Mana chuckled, leaning towards him so much he had to lean back, spreading his wings for balance. "Well, if you're purely interested in sights, we have an art gallery you might want to look through. If you would rather have company, we have -"

"An art gallery?" the soldier cut in, brightening. Mana was taken aback a bit, not expecting her little joke to have had such an affect on him. But he seemed genuinely interested, so she smiled and gestured towards the temple.

"Right this way, sir."

The soldier followed her closely, as if he was afraid that someone else might snatch him up. "My name is Phocus, by the way," he said.

"My name is Mana! Nice to meet you!"

The two of them spent an afternoon exploring the art gallery. Though it was clear that he lacked the education to appreciate the subtleties of the works, he greatly enjoyed what he saw, and he listened to her explanations with an honest interest. After her tour was over, he thanked her for her time and kindness and left with a few other soldiers.

It was a little unusual, but not by much - Aphrodite's domain included aesthetic beauty as well as love and passion, so someone could well seek out her cult without intending to partake in more...physical activities.

Mana was all set to forget about this soldier, even though he was cute and kind, but he sought her out again on his next visit. And his next, and his next...naturally, they became friends. Mana showed him new additions to the galleries when they were available, and Phocus returned the favor by describing some of the adventures he had while on patrol.

"I think of you when I'm out there," he said.

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Yeah. I mean, even I know that I'm no artist. I don't even know what to say about a painting I like. But when I see something beautiful when I'm traveling...maybe a sunset, or a field with flowers, I try to imagine what you would say about it."

"What!" Mana could feel her cheeks heating a bit, but couldn't stop a grin from spreading across her face.

Phocus smiled back at her, then gazed out into the sky. "It makes me feel a little less lonely out there."

She was silent awhile. He noticed this and fluttered his wings.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to make this all serious."

"No, that's fine. I'm glad I can help you out there, even if I'm...not really with you."

He turned back towards her, relief in his features, and she cupped a wing around him.

Their love and trust in each other grew day by day. They never formally declared their relationship with any kind of ceremony, because they understood it so well. They had each other, and when they could, they spent time together.

Eventually Mana found herself with child. Phocus was ecstatic about this and mentioned it in almost every conversation. The other members of the cult of Aphrodite found this amusing to no end.

"He loves you so much! Your child will be very healthy," they told her. After all, young angels grew strong wings with the help of their parents' love.

Even Aphrodite herself, because she loved checking in on her worshipers, came to congratulate the couple, to Phocus' great surprise.

"I didn't think there were any gods who were that personable," he said.

"Lady Aphrodite stops by every so often! There are even some of us who attend her private parties."

Phocus took a long breath in and out. Mana moved to embrace him, closing her wings around his body.

"Have you ever met Lady Palutena?" she asked, hoping to break him out of his silence.

He straightened, expression relaxing. "I've seen her, but I haven't met her, if that makes sense? She sometimes gives us orders in person...or maybe it's just an image of her, hmm. And it's always from up high, too," his shoulders drooped. "My mentor, who is very old, says she wasn't always this way. But after she had to banish Medusa, she changed..."

"Losing someone you love can change a person," Mana said.

"Yeah..."

Phocus wrapped his wings around her and planted a kiss in her hair.

Months passed. There were whispers of activity bubbling from the Underworld, so the members of Palutena's guard were often deployed on short surveying missions in and around the area. Phocus and his squadron left one day on one of these missions and did not come back.

Even though it was not certain that they had died, Mana still received a visit from Phocus' mentor, Nestor. It was a brief one, and she was too deep in shock to remember what he told her, anyway.

She spent all her time in her chambers. Friends and family came and went to make sure she was taking care of herself. She took to staring at flames - they reminded her of Phocus' oddly bright, red eyes.

Mana was not alone for long, however. A wisp of pink smoke fluttered out of the candle. She blinked at it for a few seconds before the smoke thickened into the shape of Aphrodite.

"I hope this is no intrusion, dearest," the goddess began, "but I can't ignore your sorrow. Are you alright to talk?"

Mana's wings rustled, but eventually settled. She stared into the candlelight. "Yes, but...I don't know if I can go to the temple for a while. My apologies, Lady Aphrodite."

"I would not be so cruel as to expect you to come in. Your heart needs healing."

Mana was silent. Then she curled up carefully, hugging herself. "I'm sorry, Lady Aphrodite. I don't mean to shut you out."

"Shh," Aphrodite drifted closer, lifting Mana's face with delicate fingers. "Do not apologize for your grief. Will you answer some questions for me?"

Mana nodded after a moment.

"What will you do with the little one?"

Mana clenched her eyes shut, wishing she could break away. "Everyone wants to know that..."

"It is very important, for you and for them. Tell me your thoughts."

Mana sat back in her chair, and Aphrodite reclined nearby. "My father...he's a scholar, and a doctor. He says the smartest thing would be to give them up. Because I won't be able to find someone else I can love in the same way I loved Phocus."

"Not before the little one is born, in any case."

Mana sighed. She knew that maybe she could love again - dealing with broken hearts was a major part of the teachings of Aphrodite - but at this moment, her grief felt insurmountable. So she let the goddess' comment slide. "And my mother...well, she did that unhelpful mom thing. You know, telling me I should follow my heart."

Aphrodite frowned, pursing her lips. "...Have people mainly been advising you to abandon the child?"

"Yes. Father described several cases of young angels not being able to fledge after losing one of their parents..."

Aphrodite regarded her patiently and calmly.

"I want to raise them. I just...don't know if that's selfish or not."

"Selfish? I do not think so. It would require quite a lot of strength, both from you and the little one," Aphrodite said. "But I think you will be up for the task!"

Mana let out a long sigh. "Thank you, Lady Aphrodite. You're the first one to believe in me."

"You are one of mine, so of course I have confidence in you!" Aphrodite beamed, cupping Mana's face again. "Here, I will give you a gift!"

"Ah?" was all Mana could manage before Aphrodite kissed her forehead and faded away. "Lady Aphrodite? I...oh, well." Perhaps this was a blessing? The goddess of love was often obscure in her ways. Still, it seemed like a good sign.

Mana gave birth to a son, healthy and whole save for the little wings on his back. They barely reached past his elbows. She loved him immediately, but couldn't think of a name right away. It wasn't until she discovered his endless appetite that she found an appropriate one for him.

Despite his stunted wings, Pit grew and grew. He was a bright, playful child, though he seemed to know he was different than the other children and stayed away from them. Fortunately, the other members of the cult of Aphrodite were kind and patient with him, allowing him to stay within the public areas of the temple.

Mana was no longer one of the temple's greeters, preferring to tend to the galleries and gardens. This meant that she couldn't always keep an eye on Pit, considering the galleries were off-limits to children, but the job was relaxed enough that she could spend a lot of time with him once her duties were done for the day.

One day, she found him in the courtyard, flapping his wings with excitement. "Mommy! I met Lady Palutena today!"

"Oh? What did she look like?"

"She was pretty, and huge, and shiny!"

Mana held her hands out, scooping Pit up when he toddled into her grasp. "Did you introduce yourself? Were you nice to her?"

"She knew who I was! She said, 'Pit, I hope you'll grow strong'! I wanna see what she says when she meets you, Mommy!"

"Oh, Pit," Mana chuckled. His imagination must have invented such a meeting. "I'm sure Lady Palutena is very busy."

"But I want you to meet her! I can bring you to her!" Pit beat his fists against her shoulder playfully. "Mommy, please!"

"Oh, alright then! You can show me Lady Palutena tomorrow. Right now, it's bedtime."

The next morning, Mana followed Pit through the city.

"Oh, Pit..."

He had brought her to one of the giant statues of the goddess Palutena that were scattered across Skyworld. This one, which was in front of her main temple, depicted her in a guise of wisdom - standing solemnly with her staff, with an emblem shining behind her head. Next to her, there was space for another statue, but that one had been taken down long ago.

Pit waved his arms. "What is she saying?"

"Pit, it's a statue."

"What is she telling you?" he insisted.

Mana resisted sighing and looked back up at the statue. The goddess of light wouldn't have anything to say to her, would she? Palutena was the patron goddess of all angels, due to her role in their creation, but Mana wasn't exactly devout - not to her, anyway.

And yet...there was a feeling. It wasn't one that was expressed in words, but Mana felt a wave of gratitude wash over her, gentle as a sunbeam.

"Mommy!"

"She said thank you," Mana said, turning back towards Pit. He grinned and reached up for a hug, which she granted warmly.

I don't know how things will turn out for you...but I hope you'll grow strong too, Pit.

Pit woke to warmth and light. The sheets were a little frumpled, but he was comfortable. He shifted, searching for his goddess with languid limbs. He bumped into her, but she wasn't in bed - she was sitting on top of it, already dressed, smiling down at him.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Palutena said, running a hand through his hair. He rolled his head towards her touch, not willing to push himself up yet. She continued to pet him for a while, giving his scalp some scritchies every so often. He closed his eyes.

"Happy birthday," she said, ruffling his hair a little more roughly and drawing her hand back. He shook his head and sat up, shuffling over to her.

"Can I get birthday cuddles?"

"You most certainly can!"

"Aw yiss," Pit said, grinning as he settled into her arms. She chuckled and rested her cheek against his hair. He cupped his wings around her.

They stayed like that for a while, Palutena idly thumbing the feathers at the base of his wings.

"...I had a dream about my mom," he said.

"Oh? Was it a good dream?"

"Yeah. I don't know how much of it was true, though."

Palutena shifted so they were resting against the headboard.

"...Did you know my mom at all?"

"I knew of her, in the way I knew the presence of all angels," she said, hands stilling against his back. "But she was one of many, and part of another goddess' cult..."

"The cult of Aphrodite?" Pit asked.

"I believe so," Palutena let out a sigh. "...I'm sorry I can't remember more clearly."

"Don't worry. I mean, I don't remember her much either," he laughed softly. "It's been so long. I'm grown up now."

Palutena was silent for a long while. The light in the room changed a bit as her emblem fluttered.

"Your mother loved you very much," she said, fingers brushing against his feathers again.

"Yeah. ...I'm thankful for that," he flexed his wings against her touch.

She kissed his head, then drew back, smiling at him. "What would you like to do today?"

"Maybe spend some time flying? With you and Tip! Oh, and I want a big birthday dinner! We can invite Viridi, and maybe Aphrodite, and...hm, maybe not Magnus, he's never been up here. I could bring him something..."

Palutena chuckled. "Well, I'll see what I can do about the dinner. I'll talk to Tip while you get dressed, alright?"

"Thanks, Lady Palutena!"

She left, giving him a little wave before she turned out of the doorway. Pit stretched, wondering about his dream for a moment. Perhaps he'd ask Aphrodite if she remembered someone named Mana, but for now, the memory - imagined or not - of his mother sat warm and safe in his heart.