A very unexpected twist is going to happen at the end of this chapter! Hope you're ready for it!
Enjoy! ;)
Chapter 21: Palutena's Temple
[BGM: Agniratha, Mechonis Capital – Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition]
The city around Viridi's temple was especially different compared to the city of Skyworld. Just like with her temple, the whole city looked like a true paradise of nature all over: trees everywhere – some of them bearing fruit – with entangled or thorny branches, exotic and beautiful flower beds covering the ground, and roads made out of natural wood. The residents, much like with Viridi's forces, all looked like they were made out of natural materials. Trifle, Jewel, Zelda, Shulk, Melia and the Loyal Bodyguards sans Eight were walking around the oddly beautiful place and admiring its surroundings, and during their walk, some of the residents were a bit on edge due to the presence of humans, but as their goddess told them, they shouldn't worry about them too much.
Meanwhile, in Viridi's Temple, Phosphora and Eight were tending to the unicorns Phos and Lux, washing and brushing their manes. Phosphora was tending to Phos, while Eight was tending to Lux.
"You are truly majestic." Phosphora smiled as she finished brushing Phos's mane, and then she offered him a carrot as he happily ate it.
"I agree." Eight agreed, feeding Lux an apple. "I've never tended to such a beautiful horse before. Well, actually… maybe my wife who was cursed into a horse could also count."
"Your wife was turned into a horse?" Phosphora asked.
"Long story short, a curse was casted onto the kingdom of Trodain, changing her into a horse and her father into a troll-like creature. So that led me to set off on a journey to break the curse on them and on Trodain."
"Ah, I see. But wait… wouldn't you be cursed as well?"
"For some reason, I was the only one who wasn't affected by the curse and I didn't know why back then. I was an amnesiac since my early youth, so that journey I went through was also to discover my true identity than just breaking the curse."
"Wow… you must have been through a lot then, cutie."
Eight jolted. "C-cutie?!" he blushed. "B…But I thought you said three years ago that-…!"
"…-you weren't cute at all?" Phosphora finished his sentence. "Oh, that's just because we were enemies back then. I lied. You really are cute-looking." she spoke in a flirty tone just like back at the Thunder Cloud Temple as she walked closer to Eight, who just blushed harder.
"H-hey… You do know that I'm married already, right?"
"I know, but who's to say that this won't stop me from hitting on you?" Phosphora winked.
"…Please don't. That's disturbing." Eight then faces away from her and back to Lux. "L-let's just resume tending the horses…"
"Whatever you say, little prince!" Phosphora giggled and turned to face Phos.
"Sounds like you two are having fun." a solemn voice said as Phosphora and Eight looked over to see Pit, who was looking unusually quiet since returning from the previous mission, walking up to them.
Eight immediately noticed the melancholic look on Pit's face. "Are you feeling okay, Pit? You look so…melancholic."
"We just saw someone taking the Chariot Master's life away before we had the chance to prevent it. How would anyone feel okay after that?!"
"So you still have guilt washed all over you, huh?" Phosphora guessed.
"Why wouldn't I? And don't even remind me on the fact that my body ended countless lives while I was trapped in a ring! Having arrived too late to stop someone's death only added more fuel to my guilt!" Pit crestfalled in sadness and frustration.
Eight then walked over to Pit and patted his shoulder. "Pit, all that happened to you wasn't your fault. You can't blame yourself. You weren't in control of both situations."
"I know that, but it's hard not to feel guilty. I just wish all of this never happened."
"He's acting a lot like how my grandpa acted after he revealed my true origins…" Eight thought, frowning at said thought.
"And you wished you could go back to the past and change it?" Phosphora asked as Pit nodded in response. "Well, bad news; you can't. Look Pit, this may sound cruel, but it's a fact of life. No matter how much you want to, you can't turn back time. Life just gives you two choices: either you get stuck in the past and let it haunt you every day that could be bad for your mental health, or you can learn from it and move on to look forward for a better future. I just want to let you know, but dwelling on what happened on your previous mission all the time will give you nothing but headaches."
"She's right, Pit." Eight threw in. "My grandfather went through something similar, but he has now moved on from that a long time ago. He swore to himself that he would never make the same mistake that led to his guilt ever again, and you must do that too. As Phosphora said before, it's bad for your health if you dwell in the past."
Pit let both Phosphora and Eight's words sink in, and then he took a deep breath to let his melancholic look disappear completely and replied with a now more determined face, "Right. I have to stay strong anyways, since we're about to confront Lady Palutena herself soon enough…" he clenched his fists. "…even if it means we have to fight her."
Eight formed a smirk. "That's the spirit!"
"Thanks, you two. I really needed to hear those words from you."
"I know that you all will be able to save her." Phosphora blessed. "I'll put all of my faith to you." Pit and Eight nodded in response to that.
[BGM End]
Later…
[BGM: Palutena's Temple – Kid Icarus Uprising]
With Phos and Lux fully tended and ready to go, the gang rushed over to board the Lightning Chariot that stood right in front of the gates. "Phos! Lux!" Pit called out as they all hopped on the Chariot and Pit grabbed the reins. "Giddyup!" he hits the reins, and the twin unicorns immediately took off at a blazing speed.
"WHOOOA!" the group yelled, nearly getting thrown off by the sudden jerk.
They were out in space, high above the Earth's orbit since it was necessary for the Chariot to reach its maximum speed according to Viridi. Not too long after, Underworld enemies soon appeared in front of them, and so Phos and Lux instinctively fought them off by firing energy blasts from their horns.
"This Lightning Chariot will pierce the force field on Palutena's temple." Viridi told the gang. "Keep your wits about you. You're all moving so fast, you can't afford any slipup."
"Understood." Pit replied.
"We'll reach a warp tunnel in about one minute."
At that moment, Phos and Lux sped up, almost knocking the gang off the Chariot. "Gaaaaaaah! My skin feels like it's going to peel right off!" Trifle yelled.
"We must be going as fast as Sonic!" Jewel exclaimed. "Maybe even faster!"
"What was that? You want to go faster?!" Viridi teasingly asked. "You all are the arrow of light that pierces the heart of darkness!"
"I never imagined it would come to THIIIIIIS!" Eight frantically yelled as the Chariot suddenly jerked faster, with the gang trying their darnedest to hold on to the Chariot as if their lives depended on it.
"This chariot's a real beast. These speeds don't even touch it. Wish I could say the same for you guys, but you're such fragile little things. But even a pebble becomes a bullet if it moves fast enough. Just be extra careful not to get your butts ripped off in the process."
"That's easy for you to say it!" Arusu retorted.
"Don't you worry. I'll show you how it's done!" Pit proclaimed.
"You sound awfully confident all of a sudden." Viridi snarked.
"How hard can it be?"
"I guess you'll find out soon enough!"
With that, the gang continued their ride through the sky until suddenly, a warp hole began to form in front of them. "Look!" Zelda exclaimed.
"We've reached the warp tunnel!"
"Yeehaw!" Pit cheered as they charged through, going into an even faster speed than ever before. "Whoa-oa-oa! This is cra-a-a-zy!"
"Juuuust keeeeeep hooooooldiiing oooooooon…!" Shulk screamed, his voice vibrating.
"Keep your faces on. It's just a warp tunnel." Viridi said. "It'll take you straight to Palutena's temple."
"I know this is a weird time to ask, but I have a question." Pit said, trying to keep himself together.
"What is it?"
"Back in the Chariot Master's tower, Hades said I was the cause of all this chaos."
"You were. You, Palutena AND your friends."
"What?!" the group exclaimed.
"What does that even mean?!" Eleven questioned.
"Remember the Lunar Sanctum you all destroyed three years ago?" Viridi asked.
"Oh, Arlon's moon fortress?" Pit recalled.
"You dummy! That place was a PRISON! And you and your friends freed the prisoner, the Chaos Kin! You DO know about the Chaos Kin, don't you?"
"None of us ever heard of it!" Solo replied, he and the rest of the group shaking their heads. Pit, on the other hand, thought that name sounded familiar to him and brought back some memories, but before he could get a chance to answer, Viridi spoke up again:
"It's the most – Oop! You're almost at Palutena's temple."
"Wait… What?" Pit asked.
"Brace for impact!"
"Get ready…!" Melia grimaced as they all braced themselves, while the unicorns charged through the portal at breakneck speed.
[BGM End]
We cut to a faraway shot of Palutena's destroyed temple… where all of a sudden, a beam of light pierced through the force field, shattering it completely and a small explosion of dirt occurred.
"Ha HA! Success!" Viridi cheered. "You still alive there, guys?"
"And kicking!" Pit replied, and then he and the group jumped off the Chariot. "Now to save Lady Palutena! Ouf!" they landed on the ground, and once they did, they saw the Lightning Chariot flying off into the sky with Phosphora suddenly chasing after it.
[BGM: Destroyed Skyworld – Kid Icarus Uprising]
"I'll hold on to the Lightning Chariot for you." Phosphora said.
"Phosphora? Where'd you come from?" Eight asked.
Phosphora chuckled. "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not here to help. Stopping Palutena's your job."
"That's fine. We don't need your help anyway!" Pit said. "Let's be off, guys!"
"Right!" the group nodded as they began making their way towards the first building of the temple.
"Hello again, everyone." came Palutena's telepathic call, her tone completely sour.
"Lady Palutena!" Pit exclaimed.
"Now how did you all make it through that barrier? It seems you're not the helpless, sniveling little things you were before."
"We were never like this to begin with!" Eleven retorted as they were taking out some Centurions and Centurion Strongarms.
"And you have to stop attacking the humans!" Pit added.
"No, Pit. Don't you see? This is my atonement for my greatest sin." Palutena replied.
"For what? By putting everyone in danger?!" Melia questioned.
"I let the people grow arrogant and betray the heavenly order."
"Oh, jeez. You're just figuring that out now?" Viridi asked sarcastically.
"Palutena, you have to stop! This isn't you!" Zelda pleaded. "You're not yourself!"
"Zelda's right!" Pit chimed in emphatically. "The Lady Palutena I know would never say something like that!"
"Please. Angels cannot truly know gods." Palutena scoffed.
"I followed your orders because I trusted you. I can't even count all the times I've risked my life for you!"
"What a sap…" Viridi rolled her eyes.
"Viridi, please. Show some respect." Solo replied sternly.
Pit continued rambling on, "I trusted you because I knew you were on the side of justice and…and light! But something is blocking that light now. This isn't the real you."
"Someone cue the strings…" Viridi muttered.
Some cross-popping veins appeared on Pit's head. "Hey, would you mind holding the commentary for just two seconds, Viridi?!"
"Why, yes. Yes, I would."
"These are goddesses you're talking to here, Pit. Watch your tone." Phosphora warned.
"Butt out, Phosphora!" Pit snapped. "The goddess of light has turned dark. Skyworld is destroyed! Everything is wrong, and it's up to me and my friends to make things right!"
"Yeah!" the group exclaimed.
"Oh, everyone." Palutena deadpanned. "You never change, do you? You're all just as naive as ever."
"We're not naive!" Shulk retorted.
"You're damn right, we're not!" Arusu threw in.
"Don't get me wrong. I appreciate how easy that's made things for me." Palutena said. "But you all have to understand, the past is gone."
Pit growled. "Fine. If that's the way you really feel, I guess I have no choice. As the captain of your guard, it's my duty to save you from what you've become. And if saving you means defeating you, then I'll do what I have to do." he turned to the group. "Let's go."
The group nodded. "Lead the way, Pit." Trifle said.
With Pit leading, they entered the first building and were immediately horrified at what they saw: the six statues that lined the halls were destroyed, and the room was entirely grey and lacking the pristine color it once held.
"I finally get to see the hallowed grounds of Palutena's temple." Viridi said.
"It used to be so beautiful… It's even devoid of its original colors!" Zelda observed, but they were soon attacked by a few Centurion Strongarms as they defeated them and exited the room, where they found themselves in a hallway with some destroyed Exo Tanks.
"Are these… Exo Tanks?" Jewel asked.
"This used to be an Exo Tank track." Pit replied solemnly. "Now look at it. It's a wreck. Along with these Exo Tanks."
The group frowned. "Our condolences…" Solo cresfalled.
"It just makes me sad to think that a goddess could become corrupted like this…" Eight lamented.
"You don't know the half of it…" Viridi sighed.
"Oh, that reminds me…" Pit thought, and addressed Viridi, "So, Viridi, tell us about this Chaos Kin you mentioned earlier."
"Oh, right, I almost forgot. Little is known about the Chaos Kin except for this. It takes its victims back to its nest, the Chaos Vortex, and consumes their souls."
"Well, that's disturbing…" Eleven trailed off.
"It gets even worse. It melts them down and then slowly chews away at them." the gang cringed upon hearing that. "Even more frightening is the Chaos Kin's ability to control the soul's owner."
The gang's eyes perked up upon hearing that little bit piece of information. "Wait, it can control the soul's owner?" Shulk repeated, and then everyone exchanged glances. "You guys don't think…?"
"Does that mean that Lady Palutena is under the Chaos Kin's control right now?" Pit hazarded a guess.
"It's very likely." Viridi confirmed. "And as for who turned you into a ring, who would be capable of such a thing? You yourself admitted that Palutena's put you and your friends in some very dangerous situations."
"Don't even remind us on that…" Arusu muttered, no doubt recalling about his incident with the monster pheromone.
"So she must have been acting under the Chaos Kin's control this entire time." Solo concluded.
"She has to be." Melia insisted. "She's not being herself."
"But there's no time to think more about that. We have to save Lady Palutena before the Chaos Kin consumes her soul." Pit said.
"You think it starts from her head or her feet? Big bites or tiny nibbles?" Viridi joked.
The gang blinked. "Wow, Viridi. Just… Wow." Trifle said, he and the others not even gracing this question with an answer.
"…Let's just go." Pit said as the rest nodded and moved on, going into the next building where they were attacked by more Centurions plus two Centurion Knights. Upon defeating them all, the gang used a jump pad to reach the next door, going down a set of stairs.
"Things get a little twisted up this way." Viridi warned, and not too long after, the gang found themselves in a room littered with jail cells, some of them housing Underworld monsters. "There are multiple jail cells above – and belowground."
"I'll say it's twisted! Skyworld never needed jails before!" Pit exclaimed, opening fire at the patrolling Centurions.
"Snap out of it, you idealist. There's obviously a need now."
"But-"
"It's a maze. That's what I meant when I said it's twisted. Familiarize yourselves with the surrounding passages to keep from getting lost."
"So it's just like a traditional dungeon from various adventure games. Got it." Jewel nodded as they started to walk around the prison… but theeeen…
"Sorry I'm late! Thanks for clearing the way for me, Pitty Pat and friends."
"Hades!" the gang exclaimed in unison.
"Oh, great. It's Mr. Personality." Viridi groaned.
"I just want to get this out there. The Chaos Kin doesn't work for me." Hades stated. "It seems it built up quite the grudge being locked away in the Lunar Sanctum."
It was then that Eight recalled the insect-like thing he and the others saw bursting out of the Lunar Sanctum and flying away through a flashback from three years ago: now he knew that thing was the Chaos Kin. "So when we defeated Arlon, it got loose." he confirmed before sighing, "I knew that thing was suspicious…"
"And we all, mostly me, completely ignored that in the end." Pit recalled before sighing in frustration, "I really should have listened to you back then, Eight…"
"If only I'd been there at the time." Viridi began. "Or Arlon should have explained the situation. But you know how reserved he is. Well, that's all in the past, and we can't change that. Besides, Arlon posed a threat to you. So I can't blame you all for defeating him."
"But I can!" Hades interjected. "Because the Chaos Kin didn't just 'get loose' on its own. You set it free. That overgrown louse is quite a handful, even for me."
"I don't understand why anyone would create such a hideous monster." Pit muttered.
"And who made you the final arbiter on which creatures live and which ones die?" Hades asked. "The Chaos Kin might not be as soft and cuddly as you, Pitty Pat. But you can't just wipe out every living thing that doesn't suit your liking."
"Technically, you can." Viridi spoke up. "Especially if you're in battle."
"Hmm. Can't argue with that."
"Just so we're clear, we're defeating the Chaos Kin to save Palutena." Eleven stated. "Not because it's really ugly!"
At this point, the gang managed to find a key in the depths of the prison after navigating around long enough and used said key to unlock a door, causing a bridge to rise up and then they crossed it to make their way out of the room. But upon stepping into the following room, they were immediately ambushed by several Centurions and a Juggernaut.
"Will you look at that! The mice made it to the cheese!" Hades playfully said.
"Good job, guys!" Viridi praised, ignoring Hades. "But you're out of the frying pan and into the fire!"
"Not a problem!" Arusu said as he, Trifle, Jewel, Pit and Eleven attacked the Juggernaut with melee blows while the rest not mentioned took care of the Centurions.
After that, they exited the room and went up the stairs, taking them back outside where they could see the statue of Palutena far away in the distance, but there were strong winds blowing across a narrow passageway leading to it.
"It's a long way down." Pit gulped as he looked down below from the edge.
"Yes, falling would certainly throw a wrench into the plan." Viridi said.
"So would getting tossed around by the side winds ahead." Hades added. "My, my, Pitty Pat. Palutena must hate you even more than I do!"
"This isn't her doing!" Pit retorted.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Palutena spoke up.
"What is this, Everyone Pick On Pit Day? I don't want to hear anything you have to say, you fake. And I'm NOT going to let a little wind stop me or my friends!"
The gang first took out a nearby Erinus and a Tempura Wizard first before charging forward, trying their best to resist the strong winds that threatened to blow them away. Soon, they made it to another Exo Tank track, and this one held ten still-functioning Exo Tanks.
"Looks like someone left some tiny trikes behind." Hades said.
"They're not trikes! They're EXO TANKS!" Pit snapped as he and the group hopped on each of them.
"You really have to learn how to tune him out." Viridi said.
"We try… But he's just so annoying!" Melia complained.
"Anyway, just drive those Exo Tanks right through enemies!" and the gang did it so, mowing down and ramming into several Monoeyes, Daphnes, Shulms, and Leoxes that roamed around the track. A gate then lowered once all enemies were defeated. "You'll need to use the Exo Tanks to cut straight through the area up ahead. Whatever you do, don't slow down. Just go for it!" the gang then charged straight ahead, using the Tanks' boost jump to clear the gap easily.
"Awesome! We did it!" Shulk exclaimed.
"Excellent job, guys!" Viridi complimented.
"'Excellent' might be overstating it." Hades remarked. The gang just ignored him and got out of the Exo Tanks to use a jump pad to get up and go through the gate, where they were surrounded by some more Centurions, Centurion Strongarms and two Juggernauts.
"I suggest you quit while you're ahead, everyone." Palutena said.
"Things are about to get hectic!" Viridi exclaimed.
"So what?! We can take it!" Pit declared.
The Loyal Bodyguards blocked the arrows fired out by the Centurions before casting Sizzle to incinerate them all in blazing flames, while next to them, Trifle grabbed a Centurion Strongarm by the arm and tossed him to the other Centurion Strongarm, where Shulk finished them both off with a Monado Buster. Then, Melia used Summon Flare to boost up her and the unmentioned rest's melee strength so that they could make quick work on the two Juggernauts.
"We got them!" Zelda exclaimed once the Juggernauts were defeated.
"All right! It's finally time to save Palutena." Viridi said.
"'Save Palutena'? Don't you mean 'crush Palutena'?" Hades asked.
"Go home, Hades. Just…go home." Trifle deadpanned, he and the others having had enough of Hades's bullcrap as they sported looks of extreme annoyance.
Then, they proceeded to the courtyard up ahead, ready to face off against Palutena and try to get the Chaos Kin out of her.
[BGM End]
As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, they could see Palutena up ahead walking towards them, but she seemed to be hunched over and staggering as if the real Palutena was trying to resist the Chaos Kin's control on her. "So you're here to fight me, everyone?" she asked.
"No…" Pit trailed off. "No! We're here to save you!" he declared, splitting his bow and assuming his fighting stance along with his friends.
[BGM: The Venerable Ancient Battlefield ~ Suwa Foughten Field – Touhou: Mountain of Faith]
Suddenly, the platform below rose up into the air, turning into a makeshift arena as Palutena began hovering around and firing an Autoreticle at the gang, but they easily dodged the energy blasts. "The Chaos Kin is close by. I can feel it." Viridi told the gang. "You all have to locate and destroy it. However, be sure not to hurt Palutena."
"But I thought the Chaos Kin was, like, camping out in her brain or something." Pit speculated.
"Makes things easier, I guess." Jewel said, and then she used her Shield Tanzanite to put up a protective shield around the gang and block a light orb that Palutena tossed at them.
"Afraid to face me, everyone?" Palutena taunted. "Figures. Some heroes you turned out to be. You're all nothing but sniveling cowards!" she then surrounds herself in a pillar of light and charged at the gang, forcing them to move out of the way.
"We're not cowards!" Pit shot back. "The real coward here is you, Chaos Kin!"
"Oh, really? Then let's see how you fare against THIS!" Palutena rose up her Mirror Shield. "Cover your eyes!" a blinding light shone out from her shield, blinding the gang as they shrieked while shielding their eyes. "It's time for a sacrifice!" Palutena declared and fired a Mega Laser at them, making them scream in agony before getting knocked away.
"Guys!" Viridi cried.
"Bravo! What a show!" Hades clapped.
"Oh, shut up, Hades!"
"Nnngh…" Solo groaned. "This is getting us nowhere… We have to find the Chaos Kin, and fast!"
"But how?" Eight asked.
"I got an idea." Pit said as he quickly rose up to his feet. "I'll try to talk out to Lady Palutena, because I know she must be in there somewhere. Maybe by doing this, the Chaos Kin might reveal itself!"
The others stood back up. "Well, let's hope this works." Zelda hoped, but when she saw two light orbs coming directly towards them, she quickly used Nayru's Love to repel them away.
"What are you all blabbing about? Come and face me!" Palutena said.
"We won't fight you, Lady Palutena! I know you're in there! Fight the Chaos Kin!" Pit demanded.
"Sorry, but 'Lady Palutena' can't come to the phone right now." Palutena laughed as her halo glowed and fired out a blast of energy from it, but they jumped away.
"I wasn't talking to you, you freak! I was talking to the actual Lady Palutena, the goddess I know!"
"Sure, keep trying to talk to the person trying to kill you and your friends." Palutena teased and next fired out bolts of light at them, but Shulk shielded everyone from the bolts with Monado Shield.
"No. Lady Palutena is not trying." Pit replied sternly to the Chaos Kin. "If she really was trying to kill all of us, we'd be long dead by now. You don't know how to use Lady Palutena's body well enough." he then attempted to talk to the actual Palutena again, "Lady Palutena! Listen, you're the goddess of light. You're a lot stronger than some bug. I know you've been resisting during these past three years. I'm really sorry I wasn't there to protect you in time. But don't let that thing win! I know you can hear me! Fight it!"
"Hah. Silly angel. You think she'll be able to-… Ungh!" Palutena suddenly faltered and clutched her head in pain, grunting the last sentence with the Chaos Kin's voice as the gang's eyes perked up in surprise.
[BGM Pause]
"U-uuugh…" the actual Palutena groaned, seeming to have regained control of her body. Not only that, but a purple aura also appeared above her, catching Viridi's attention as she looked closely at it:
"Look carefully! Above her!" the gang looked up to see the purple aura above Palutena.
"Nah, you don't need to look up there!" Hades said.
"P-Pit… Help…me…" Palutena weakly pleaded.
"Lady Palutena…?" Pit whispered as he cautiously walked over to her.
[Resume BGM]
But unfortunately, Palutena suddenly cackled wickedly, due to the Chaos Kin assuming control of her again. "I can't believe how pathetic you are!" her voice then faded into the Chaos Kin's voice and launched an Explosive Flame at Pit, knocking the angel to the ground. "You worthless piece of trash!"
"Pit!" Trifle exclaimed before he ordered the rest, "Hurry! Shoot at the aura above her head!" the group then opened fire at the aura while dodging Palutena's pillars of light, until the Chaos Kin's real body appeared.
"Gross! It's uglier than I imagined!" Eleven cringed.
"Then let's take it down already!" Melia ushered as they aimed at the Chaos Kin and fired at it, only for it to hide behind Palutena to use her as a meat shield.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Arusu growled.
"Calm down. Just wait for your chance!" Viridi said.
"I'll never let go off of her!" the Chaos Kin mocked. "She's mine!"
Pit then found the strength to get back up. "Oh, yeah? We'll find a way!" he proclaimed.
"We'll see about that!" the Chaos Kin then launched a poisonous cloud at them as they avoided, as the creature was unaware of Shulk sneaking from behind.
"Back Slash!" Shulk shouted, attacking the Chaos Kin.
"GAH!" the Chaos Kin cried, letting go of Palutena.
"Now's your chance! Attack!" Viridi commanded.
The Chaos Kin growled. "Why, you! I will- Agh!" before it could attack Shulk back, it suddenly found itself bound in place by Melia's Shadow Stitch.
"This'll prevent you from flying away!" Melia said.
"Nice one!" Pit smirked.
"Yeah, that's it!" Viridi chimed in. "Finish it off!"
"You got it!" and with that, Pit charged towards the Chaos Kin, twin bow blades in hands. "YAAAAAAAAAH!" he let out a war cry and swiftly slashed through the Chaos Kin, defeating it.
[BGM End]
"I can't believe it! We did it!" Pit cheered.
"Unghh…" Palutena groaned, and then the rest of the purple aura came out of her as she stumbled in place for a bit before collapsing to the ground, prompting the gang to rush to her aid. "Everyone…" she moaned weakly, slowly lifting herself up and clutching her head.
"Are you all right?!" Pit asked in worry. "We didn't mean to hurt you."
"Ugh…huh…"
But then, right behind them, the Chaos Kin was slowly getting back up as they were all completely oblivious of that. "Now's my chance..."
Viridi gasped. "Guys! Behind you!" she warned as the Chaos Kin charged towards them… but only Zelda saw its actual movement in the corner of her eyes, and noticed that it was going for Palutena.
"LOOK OUT!" she yelled, quickly pushing Palutena out of the way… right as the Chaos Kin thrusted its hook-shaped tail out, causing it to impale Zelda instead of Palutena, as the princess immediately let out a pained cry.
Everyone else gasped in complete horror, and watched helplessly as the Chaos Kin ripped Zelda's soul out of her body, leading her to scream as a lavender-colored light shot out from her back.
"ZELDA!" Trifle screamed in horror as Zelda reached out to him, only to slowly turn into stone.
"Curses! I missed!" the Chaos Kin growled as it landed on the ground, but then looked at Zelda's soul attached to its hook. Her soul was depicted as a purple orb with Hylia's symbol in the middle (think of the Spirit Orb from Breath of the Wild). "Hmm, actually… I can sense incredible divine powers within this soul too… Maybe this could be a good substitute then!"
Everyone was at loss for words. "No..." Shulk whispered.
"This can't be…!" Melia whispered.
"Did… did Zelda just…?!" Viridi exclaimed in surprise.
"Zelda!" Trifle cried, holding on to his cousin's petrified body. "No… NO! This CAN'T be happening! ZELDA!" a tear escaped his eye as he panted due to yelling too much… and then he glanced over at the Chaos Kin behind her, his eyes slowly turning to rage. "You…" he growled, pulling out his staff. "YOU BASTAAAAAAAAAARD!" he screamed, running towards it. "YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID TO MY COUSIN!" he yelled and attempted to smack it, but it flew away from him while taking Zelda's soul with it, and then it cleaved open a hole in the sky with its tail, creating a portal to a strange otherworldly dimension of sorts.
"Sorry, but I don't have time to play some more games with you!" the Chaos Kin taunted. "Toodles!" it flew into the portal.
"It's heading into the Chaos Vortex!" Viridi exclaimed as the portal began to gradually shrink.
Pit then immediately sprung up to his feet and dashed off. "I'll get it for you, Trifle!" he assured as he ran past Trifle. "Viridi! You have to help me fly RIGHT NOW!"
"O-of course!" Viridi quickly activates the Power of Flight to Pit as he took off flying towards the shrinking portal… only to slam against it due to it becoming too small to enter through.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaugh!" Pit screamed as he was launched back, and slammed into Trifle.
"OOOF!" Trifle yelled, knocked down. "Nngh…" he groaned as he slowly sat up, looking up at the small portal. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" he complained.
"Now what?!" Viridi questioned.
"Out of the way! Coming through!" all of a sudden, Dark Pit came in riding the Lightning Chariot straight towards the portal.
"Pittoo?" Pit wondered, and then everyone watched as Dark Pit crashed the Chariot into the portal, shattering it open.
"Grrah!" he winced, getting knocked away. "Agh!" he landed on the ground next to Pit and Trifle. "Grah! Ugh…"
"Don't worry. I got this." Phosphora said, taking off after the Lightning Chariot that was flying away in the distance.
The rest, excluding Palutena, stared at the whole scene with looks of utmost confusion. "What the−?" Eight started to ask.
"There's no time to talk about it!" Dark Pit cut him off. "We have to go help Zelda NOW!"
"He's absolutely right." Viridi threw in. "But first let's get you all back. You've been through a lot, and the Author probably wants to take a break from that." and with that, she extracted everyone, including Palutena, Dark Pit and Zelda's statue, back to her temple.
To be continued…
Yep, you read that right; the Chaos Kin took Zelda's soul instead of Palutena's. I did this not only to throw in another big surprise, but to also rub even more salt in poor Trifle's wound. Plus, it makes sense for the Chaos Kin to immediately accept Zelda's soul since she's the mortal reincarnation of Hylia, another powerful goddess from her home series. Not to mention about the fact that Zelda turning into stone could work as a shout-out to The Minish Cap, where she gets turned into stone by the sorcerer Vaati.
Zelda's soul was taken away... so it's up to the rest of the gang to get it back! Until next time!
