Chapter 37: Laid to Rest
Dark Pit awoke with a nervous feeling in his gut. Aria was still sleeping in the other bed. She seemed so peaceful. He'd need that kind of peace in order to let go of his hatred. However, this was something he would have to do completely on his own. He couldn't allow his teammates to suffer from his problems anymore. He had to lay them to rest.
He quietly slipped out of the room. He was headed to the roof so that he could watch the sunrise. Magnus caught him as he was headed down the hall.
"What?" Dark Pit asked.
"Good luck," Magnus said simply.
"Thanks," Dark Pit replied.
The dark angel moved to the roof. There was a fog surrounding the city. The sun was just coming up. The fog seemed to light on fire in the sun's light. It was a truly beautiful morning. It was one that would have caught him and Lilia together had she lived. But she didn't, and Dark Pit was here to move onto that.
As Dark Pit jumped off the roof, he thought he felt something odd. He shrugged it off. However, what it was was sensing Pit's presence. Dark Pit didn't recognize that due to the fact that he'd shut out his twin sense ever since the last battle with his double.
However, the dark angel was totally unaware. He just went outside the city gates. As the sun rose in front of him, he felt it's warmth creep into him. He was looking for a very specific patch of woods. When he found it, he entered.
It was just as he remembered it: peaceful. It reminded him of the life he once had. It reminded him of the life he could have had. He thought about blocking the thoughts, but decided against it. He needed to think about these things. If he didn't, he'd never be able to lay them to rest.
He only had to walk a few minutes before he found what he was looking for. It was a multi-colored rosebush. On it was a section of blue roses. It was the same bush that he had picked flowers from the day she died. It was only fitting that he paid his respects with flowers from the same bush.
He bent down and picked a bouquet of the bluest flowers he could find. They matched her hair perfectly, just as the flowers from nearly three years ago did. Dark Pit had to hold back his emotions. He didn't want to cry until he saw her. That would be unnecessary.
The flowers picked, he tied them together as he returned to town. He needed to find that grave site.
Magnus went back to the room to wake his wife. However he found that he couldn't do it. So he just lied down next to her, and hugged her close. She shifted a little, but didn't wake. Even in sleep, she knew his embrace.
Two hours later, Magnus himself had almost drifted back to sleep. However, a knock on the room door kept him from entering the embrace of sleep. He just shrugged and got up, planning to get the door. Aria was on the other side.
"Hey," Magnus greeted sleepily.
"I think it's about time for breakfast," Aria said.
"Right," Magnus responded. It made sense that she'd go to him. Magnus had been entrusted with the group fund upon the reformation of the Dark Triad. It was with some reluctance that he went to wake Gaol up.
"Hey, Beautiful," he called softly. "It's time to wake up."
She groaned. "Five more minutes."
"No," Magnus responded. "We need to eat."
"Fine," was the groggy reply.
Magnus stepped out of the room. "She'll be a few minutes," he told Aria.
"That's fine," Aria responded. "I won't die of hunger in a few minutes."
Gaol chose that moment to come out. She dressed fast. "Let's go," she said, headed for the bar. Magnus and Aria followed.
Dark Pit would never forget the location of that grave site. It took him some time to get there from the forest. The sun had been up for about an hour when he arrived. He walked into it slowly, with a purpose. He moved towards the center and found a gravestone that he recognized very well.
On it were written the words:
Here Lies Lilia Hecatesdaughter
A bright cheerful friend and bride-to-be.
She was loved by all around her.
They were the words that he himself had carved into the headstone. He chose now to let his emotions loose. He cried long and hard. For 45 minutes he lamented her passing. Her death still stung. His failure to her stung even worse. But he had to go through it.
"I'm sorry," he told her. "I'm sorry I forgot you. I promise you, I'll never forget again. I loved you while you lived. I will always have a place for you in my heart. But I can't be a man living in the past. I need to move on. I hope you forgive me for my failure."
"I'm sure she does," a voice called from behind him.
Dark Pit stood and saw a middle-aged man with short, graying hair. His face was average and stern, but it had a degree of wisdom. Dark Pit knew who he was.
"George," he said.
"I was wondering whether or not to let you know I was here."
"I should have guessed I wouldn't be the only one here."
"Of course not. She's been dead for three years today. As a father, I must pay my respects."
"I hope you can forgive me," Dark Pit asked, downcast.
"For what?"
"I broke her dying wish. She made me promise not to forget who I was. I promised not to turn into someone else; someone worse. But I did. I forget her. I forgot our entire relationship until recently. I've come here to ease the pain in my heart."
"Before her death, I would have held a grudge against you. However, ever since her death, I've strove to live in a way that would make her proud. She would have forgiven you. It was in her nature. So, I'll forgive you as well."
Dark Pit let tears roll down his face, unashamed. "Thank you. You don't know what this means to me."
"I have a feeling."
"Thank you, for speaking to me."
"She loved you, it's the least I could do." George looked at the flowers. "Beautiful flowers there. She'd love them."
Dark Pit looked at them, lost in the past. "I got the same kind of flowers to propose to her with. It seemed fitting that I get them to pay my respects as well."
"Indeed it is."
With that, George left Dark Pit to his thoughts. And Dark Pit had a lot to think about. But, he had a load off of his chest.
Magnus, Gaol, and Aria ordered a simple breakfast. It was just bacon and eggs. Everybody enjoyed their chicken babies and fried pig's flesh. Gross as it sounds there, it was truly enjoyable. They were just finishing up when a voice sounded behind them.
"You've gotta be kidding me," it was meant to be quiet, but they heard it anyway. They turned around and were stunned to see Pit's team standing behind them.
No one said anything for three or four tense minutes. Then Vinnia, the blond one, yanked her lance out of nowhere, causing the bartender to yelp and duck. Another tense silence ensued as the groups prepared for hostilities. Of course, that would be a losing scenario, given that all of Dark Triad's weapons were back in the rooms.
Finally, Magnus and Vinnia stepped towards each other, preparing to square off.
"Oh no you don't!" Aria said as she stepped between the two. "Look, we're not here to fight you. We're here for personal reasons."
"And you think I care?" Vinnia asked with hostility. "You left us for this pack of fools? What makes you think I'll listen to you?"
Aria had no comeback to that one. But she was saved when a raven-haired girl stepped forward to pick up the slack.
"Vinnia," she said. "Let's not do this. I mean, there's innocent people around here. We wouldn't want to be responsible for any injuries."
"I've got it!" exclaimed a brown-haired boy who up to this point had been silent.
Everyone turned to look at him. He pulled a deck of cards out of his shirt, removed them from the box, and used wind powers to shuffle them. "We'll have a game of Go-Fish," he stated proudly.
Everyone just looked at him as if he were crazy.
"Come on," the boy insisted. "It'll be fun."
Magnus stepped forward. "You know what? Why not? Let's relax a bit."
Gaol then stepped forward. "By the way," she started. "Before we start, where did you get that deck of cards?"
"Uh," the boy said unsure. "You don't need to know that. I mean, it's not like I know about the existence of inter-dimensional holes or anything."
Everyone stared blankly for a second. Finally, Gaol said, "I'm watching you."
They all sat down at a table as the boy began dealing the cards.
Dark Pit had been sitting at the grave for some time now. It was about two-and-a-quarter hours after sunrise. Dark Pit had already cried his last, and was just sitting there, paying his respects. She deserved that from him.
Suddenly, Dark Pit was aware of Pit's presence. He may have been shutting out his twin sense, but now it refused to be ignored. Pit was nearby. It was a good thing, too; as Dark Pit had a few words to say to the angel.
He stood up and turned around, his gray eyes meeting Pit's blue ones. Pit had left his weapon against a toolshed.
The two angles did nothing but stare at each other for a full minute. It was tense, as neither really knew how to start.
"I-I'm sorry I couldn't remember," Pit finally said. "I'm sorry it took this long to realize what I had done to hurt you so badly. Otherwise I would have apologized a lot sooner. It kills me inside, too, to know what I've done. I guess I deserve death at your hands. You have a right to hate me."
Dark Pit decided to step in before Pit's pity party got too bad. "I don't have a right to hate you. I promised her that I wouldn't become someone else. In hating you, I broke that promise, and nearly destroyed my team and my mission." Before Pit could say anything, Dark Pit continued, "You are not free of guilt in her death. However, hard as it is, I need to say it." Dark Pit took a deep breath. "I forgive you."
Dark Pit immediately felt enormously better. He felt that he could finally let go of all the hatred surrounding Lilia's death. He finally felt that he could be free of that debilitating hatred. He might never forget the pain of her loss, but he could finally, truly move on.
Dark Pit felt the other angel embrace him. Dark Pit went stiff, and said through clenched teeth, "This isn't a hug-it-out moment." He then tried to push the angel off of him. Pit got the idea and let go.
Dark Pit stumbled back a little. However, he made himself stop before he stepped on Lilia's grave. Dark Pit then noticed that Pit was staring at the grave with a strained look. It was almost as if…
"You can't read it, can you?" the dark angel said.
"Um…yeah," Pit admitted, slightly embarrassed.
"If you came to apologize to her, I'll read it for you."
Dark Pit looked at the grave, but before he could start, Pit said:
"Wait a minute. You can read?"
"Yes," Dark Pit said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I'm sorry, go on."
Dark Pit took a deep breath. "Here lies Lilia, Hecatesdaughter. A bright, cheerful friend and bride-to-be. She was loved by all around her." Dark Pit paused for a second and then added, "I carved those words myself."
Pit knelt at the grave and said, "I'm really sorry this happened." It was to both the dead woman and Dark Pit. "When I came into the service of my Lady, Palutena, I swore to protect the humans with my life. I had only ever come close to breaking that oath once. Now that I know I have broken it, my guilt is more than it has ever been. If you were alive I would plead for forgiveness."
Dark Pit watched the display in silence, but placed a hand on Pit's shoulder after the little speech. After a moment, Dark Pit said:
"Lilia was a forgiving person. I'm sure she would have forgiven you."
Pit stood up and said, "Thank you."
"So it was you," a voice called. Dark Pit at first recognized it as the Somewhat Staff that Pit carried. But, it struck a deeper chord of recognition.
"Ladon?!" Dark Pit questioned in shock.
"I should have killed you," the staff continued telling Pit. "I knew long ago that you had killed her; back even before I knew that she was my sister. But I held it in with my doubts and hoped that it would vanish with the mission. But I can't hide from this any longer. I don't care if you're to save the gods or not. I'm killing you right here, right now."
Dark Pit stepped forward, grabbed the staff, and looked it square in the eye. "NO!" he yelled. "I WON'T LET YOU!" Ladon was too shocked to reply. "Lilia made me promise not to change who I was before she died. When I gave into my hatred, I broke my promise to her. I won't allow you to fall into the same trap!"
More awkward minutes of silence passed as Dark Pit stared straight into the staff's eye. Dark Pit was shocked to feel an enormous force pushing him away from the staff. For a few seconds, none of his senses worked right.
Dark Pit came around just in time to hear Pit cry "Ladon! What are you doing?!"
"I WILL AVENGE HER!" Ladon yelled as he began glowing blood-red. "YOU ARE BOTH TRAITORS!"
"You are the traitor here," Dark Pit said calmly.
As the staff fired, Dark Pit drew his sword. Silently, he wished he'd already fused all those weapons he'd gotten from the Dark Agent. Too late now. Simultaneously, the angels charged the staff.
Aria stared at her hand intently. It wasn't her turn, but that didn't matter. It was Raven's turn, and she was hoping that Raven wouldn't ask for the three in her hand. Aria wanted that pair, as she was in dead last.
Aria watched nervously as Raven surveyed the group, trying to read their expressions. Despite her worry, Aria had a good poker face. Maybe too good.
"Aria," Raven called.
Crap, Aria thought.
"Got any threes?"
"Nooooooooooooo," Aria wailed. However, she reluctantly handed her three over.
"Thank you," Raven said with mock politeness. Aria shot her a look which Raven totally missed.
She then turned to Vinnia. "Got any sevens?"
Vinnia smiled wickedly. "Go. Fish."
"Auuuuuugghhhhh!" Raven yelled. Aria just smiled smugly. Her rival's luck had run out. She didn't look too pleased with the card she got, either.
It was now Zephynn's turn. He was tied with Magnus at four pairs. Aria watched this round intently.
"Gaol," Zephynn said. "Got any sevens?" Raven shot Zephynn a look. Gaol, however, threw the card at him in disgust. "Raven, sevens?" As she gave him the card, she punched him in the arm. Ow!" the wind demigod cried. He held his arm and shot Raven a nasty look as he picked the card up and made the pair. Zephynn turned to Magnus. "Magnus, have any sixes?"
"Go fish," Magnus said, hiding his face with his cards, "wind boy."
Zephynn hit the table with his bad arm and screamed from the pain. Then he drew a card. It was now Vinnia's turn.
"Gaol," she said while glaring at the woman in question, "have any fours?"
"Go fish," was the cold reply.
Gaol was smug. She was sure that she could get a card from Vinnia this time. She looked at her hand, then finally settled on the card that she'd ask for. "Vinnia," she said confidently. "Do you have any fives?"
"Pursue aquatic life," she said with a mock smile.
"You suck," Gaol said under her breath as she drew her card.
"I heard that," Vinnia chirped.
Magnus was smiling. He had both of the cards that the women were asking for. He couldn't wait to see the look on their faces. He also couldn't wait to see how his rival would react to having his lead closed once again.
"Fours, fives, cough em' up," Magnus said while pointing to the two women. They grudgingly handed over the cards.
Gaol leaned over and whispered, "You're not sleeping in the bed tonight."
Magnus was displeased, but happy at his overall victory. Raven was staring in shock, Zephynn had his mouth wide open, Aria was growling in anger, and Vinnia slammed her head into the table.
Magnus then moved to take something from his rival. He hoped his luck still ran strong. "Zephynn, do you have any queens?"
"Go fish," Zephynn responded proudly.
Magnus calmly grabbed his card from the deck. "Fished my wish," he declared calmly as he set the pair on the table.
"Ugh," said Zephynn, slamming his fist into the table.
Pit was thrown to the ground by a charge shot from Ladon. Dark Pit charged forward with his blade surrounded by a fiery tornado. He hoped that combining the powers of his blade would stop the raging staff. Long story short, it didn't work.
Dark Pit was once again on his rear end recovering from a burning shot. Pit pulled out a Darkness Bow and began shooting three-round bursts. The angry aura absorbed Pit's bolts as if they were nothing.
Dark Pit got up and began sending a series of fireballs charged by his Obsidian Fist. These, though powerful, had no effect. Dark Pit had to let up the attack after a minute, or the Fist would drain too much stamina. Dark Pit was losing enough stamina as it was.
Dark Pit knew that another tactic would be needed. "LILIA WOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOU!"
The attack let up. Dark Pit couldn't read Ladon's emotions. He didn't have a face, after all. He was just glad that he had more or less gotten through. He looked at Pit. The angel was tired, but he didn't look near as bad as Dark Pit felt.
The Obsidian Fist's power really took a toll on his stamina. He'd have to force himself to work more with Aria. Her Silver Fist could charge the Obsidian one. Dark Pit stood, waiting for the staff's response.
"Lilia," Ladon said quietly to himself. He continued to float in mid-air. Pit returned his Darkness Bow to wherever he'd taken it from. Dark Pit retracted the blades of his sword and stuck it in his jacket. The two angels walked up to the staff.
"I apologize to you too," Pit said. "For what happened to you; in that I couldn't prevent it. Please understand, I feel guilt still. Now, if only you will forgive me, perhaps it will all leave me."
"I have nothing to apologize for," Dark Pit stated. "I've said my apologies."
The staff looked between the two angels.
"I am the one who should be sorry," Ladon said solemnly. "I let myself be blinded by rage. That is my fifth and most fatal skill."
"I don't really know what that means," Dark Pit said. "But I don't care. I'm leaving."
With that, Dark Pit turned to go back to the inn.
"Just like that?" Pit's voice called.
Dark Pit ignored him, intent on getting to the inn.
The tension in the room was tangible. An audience had gathered to watch the hotly contested card game. It was now Zephynn's move. Aria looked at him suspiciously. He knew something. If her hunch was right, he could break the tie with Magnus and take the game. She looked nervously at the deck, which only had one card left in it.
"Aria," he asked nervously. "Do you have any tens?"
Aria breathed a sigh of relief as she said, "Go fishing."
Zephynn slammed his fist into the table so hard that he hurt the arm again. He then reached for the last card in the deck. He picked it up and looked at it. Zephynn grinned wickedly as he put the card he drew with another one in his hand and slammed it onto the table.
"Fished my wish!" he exclaimed. "Magnus, ace. Gaol, jack. Vinnia, nine. Raven, three. Aria, two."
The group all groaned in defeat as they threw the cards that were called for at the now-winner. All except Magnus, who was acting so civil it was scary.
Aria's head turned towards the door and she gasped. Standing in total shock were two opposite colored angels. Everyone followed her gaze to the door.
"What's this about," Dark Pit asked.
"Go-Fish," was Raven's squeaky reply.
"Wait," Pit replied. "So this is all over a Go-Fish game?"
"Yes," Aria was quick to say.
The two angels facefaulted. Meanwhile, Magnus got up and walked over to Zephynn.
"Good game," Magnus said, taking the wind demigod's hand and shaking it. However, Magnus was thinking, I'm going to find a way to get you for this.
A/N Yes this is the last of the triple update. For those of you who don't watch anime, a facefault is when a character slams into the ground, face-first because they were shocked by something extremely stupid.