Chapter 4

My name is Day

In dedication to red apples : J

"You're wings are showing again.." Emma frowned trying to pat down the lump at Kuro's back. He still couldn't shake off the feeling when he heard her voice. Anything that sounds as gentle as feathers and soothing like a harp CAN'T be human. Living in the skies and watching human actions destroy homes or creating deaths, left a big impression on the angel. He watched the girl tilt her head, trying to think. And so he sighed, heading out and taking his leave. "Wait!" She called.

Above the windmill turned, little by little. Most of the panels had broken off over years of war and memories, even the brick had crumbled. Pieces, in time, let go and fall to the dry dirt below. The once tall art of machinery, died slowly to a useless and abandoned half building. Part of the roof and side, gone. A door no more, but rotten wood torn and thrown inside, welcoming wind to fill. Stone and rubble scattered by a ruined staircase clinging to the inside windmill walls, leading nowhere but up. Higher. Farther from the surface and closer to the heaves, a place where a dead soul desires. Around, around the staircase spirals, reaching to the top where the the rest of the building broke off.

Surrounding the windmill was little but a patch of flowers, guarded by no more than a few steps of fence. The meadow stood out from the building behind. Greens and pinks, yellows and whites in contrast with the old building of grays and browns. One would think that the girl were the flowers and the windmill the angel.

Kuro raised his hood over and covered nearly half top of his face as he followed Emma with her basket. "Ready?" She asked him.

"Apples."

"Fair enough."

As the two progressed, the path widened connecting to a main road leading right into the encaged city. The walls sturdy but worn from years of violence stood tall. As they got closer, the rustle of people were now heard by the human ear, men working and women buying, children running and yelling. The angel heard it all, so different from what he was used to. In the sky, the towns and cities were as well busy but it gave off a pleasant sound. Chatter amongst the heaven villagers, little ones laughing and even merry tunes played by local men with flutes and fiddles.

His thoughts were cut off when Emma turned around and reminded him to stay close. Not surprised but the angel huffed and kept from any eye contact.

"EMMA! EMMA!" Screamed a little boy in the distance. "RUN!" He ran towards his sister. "EMMA BEHIND YOU! RUN!"

The girl looked back once again to see Kuro, he too looked over his shoulder.

The little boy ran into Emma's arms and she asked confused, "Daymein, what are you-"

"DIRTY HOG! STAY AWAY FROM MY SISTER!" The boy by the name of Daymein, glared at the cloaked angel, "EMMA WE HAVE TO RUN! THERES A ROBBER RIGHT THERE!"

She tried to hush her brother, "Daymein please, you're attracting the guards."

"ROBBER! ROBBER!" Screamed the child, he then started to push Emma away. "Go leave me, I'll be okay sis. Save yourself."

"Daymein-"

He hid his face, "GO! I AM TRYING TO SAVE YOU!"

"Daymein..."

"HELP! HELP! WE'RE BEING MUGGED!"

That's it, thought Kuro clearly confused and irritated by such noise. He pulled down his hood and stared deep into the kid with his blood red eyes.

"AHH VAMPIRE! THE STORIES ARE TRUE! RUN EMMA!" Daymein tried to pull his sister away once again, but with much effort he couldn't move her one step.

Kuro rolled his eyes and folded his arms, all he wanted was an apple, how difficult could it get? He looked down at the boy and watched Emma explain that he was in fact: not going to rob anyone. Judging by how tiny amd weak the kid was, Dark Pit confirmed that Daymein was not any older than seven years of age. Rag clothing and mud stained skin with pale blue eyes and golden hair, he didn't look related to Emma. Though he recalled him calling her, sis.

A wall guard came trotting over, "Ma'am is everything alright here?" She nodded, the man saluted and made his way back to his post.

Emma introduced the boys, "Kuro, Daymein. Daymein, Kuro."

They said nothing to each other. Not a word. It was about time Emma questioned why her brother came yelling, because she spent the night with Dark Pit, Daymein had to stall for her absence. He was worried sick. For the sake of all to be quiet, Kuro put up his hood once again, his eyes barely showing. Daymein held on to his sister's skirt and she ringed her arm around the angel's. It kinda looked like a family. A really weird one.

Wall guards and trolls patrolled the entrances, and kept a sharp eye on Dark Pit. But once they saw Emma greet, "Morning." So softly, they continued on with their jobs.

:D :D :D

Dark Pit was in one of the worst confusions any angel could ever meet. This object in front of him, was the same shape of an apple but the colors were different. Instead of the red he knows like his eyes, there were GREEN apples and YELLOW apples. "What the hell?" He picked the round object up, observing it. The three of them were looking around bazaar, stalls and carts with tarps over protecting from the sun. A large fountain lay at the center of all. This place was called the Maine. Filled with shops and merchants, alive and loud, but as the skies darken, thieves and shadows roam. With cobble and stone as the ground, continuous taps and stomps were heard sinking in with the noises of metal pounding at the blacksmith's and chickens squawking, chased by local kids. Some arguments and shouts break out, Dark Pit also saw fights taking place. Humans, he muttered.

Probably the first time he used her name, Kuro called, "Emma." She probably couldn't see the confusion under the cloak hood and she didn't know what the problem was. "Why is this green?"

"It's a green apple, and this," she held up the yellow apple. "Is a golden apple. They have similiar tastes but each color is either more sweet or more sour."

"Where are the RED apples?" He demanded.

The girl looked around the fruits and asked the merchant. But alas, they have ran out. "Do you want to try these ones instead?" Dark Pit went silent and looked at the weirdly colored fruit. NO. He wants the red apples! "How much for the apples?" She asked.

Dark Pit raised a brow looking at the fruit basket. He also got used to taking his arm out of his cloak to hold on to Emma. When an argument broke out next to them, his first instinct is to find the girl and lead her away. Something deep, deep, DEEP inside his chest changed... puberty? Nahhh, he is starting to liiiike someone! It also occurred to him that he was really touchy with Emma, he would have his arm around her and Kuro wouldn't even notice. There was also this one time in the bazaar, the girl had her attention on supplies. A thief dressed in white was fleeing and had bumped into her, almost knocking her to the ground. That is... until Kuro caught her and punched the guy right in the face. He was out cold.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

The angel looked off to the side, again avoiding eye contact. "I should be asking you that," he said.

Emma frowned, "Why do you do that?" She looked up at him trying to move her head to face his. But Kuro just kept turning the opposite direction. "Can you look this way please?" With his chin still high in the air, the angel looked down for a split second. Emma smiled, "I really like your eyes Kuro."

He huffed and took a green apple from the basket, quickly taking a bite. But quickly spitting it back out, "I want RED apples".

"Try the golden apple," the girl lifted the fruit to him and watched him take a bite. His face said it all, Dark Pit managed to gulp it down. "Red apples only.." she whispered, thinking. "Kilden, she might have one. I'll go get Daymein."

Dark Pit watched as she left, her body disappearing into the crowd. Waiting and waiting and waiting, after a good half hour the angel realized something wasn't right. Pacing and sighing, he grew inpatient. Maybe she's just taking her time or got caught in traffic, unlikely but it could happen. It was very busy today and the weather was nicer than most. Easing up, Dark Pit took a deep breath. But after a scream was heard in the bazaar, the angel shot up to his feet. It was coming from the fountain, he pushed through the spectators, making it out to the open.

A group of drunks surrounded a girl, "Emma?" he wasn't sure. After watching the men Daymein calls, "Hogs" throw the girl into the fountain Kuro made his move. He ran releasing a punch when he got close. A gasp fell over the crowd and Kuro glared at the group around him.

"Hey who do you think you are, kid?" Spat a drunk.

Another joined in, "You look mighty familiar, lad."

A man behind Dark Pit pulled down his hood and whistled loud for everyone to hear, "Red eyes and black hair, looks like a monster to me." Murmurs filled the crowd watching. No human owned blood eyes.

"Kuro?" Emma stood in front of the people with Daymein hiding behind her. Aw crap, the angel looked over to the random lady who got out of the water. Looks like Dark Pit got himself in a lot of trouble. He could totally over power these weaklings but it would only confirm to the people that he is a monster.

"This kid is just wasting time, let's show him not to interfere." A bearded man twice the size of Kuro went in for a punch. He easily dodged. "What the- ? Come here you little-" the man missed again.

Three more hogs joined, each trying to lay a scratch on the angel. This is where things got messy, all five men came at Dark Pit but of course he was too quick. A missed punch flew right into the man behind making a hog punch another hog. Kuro stepped back dodging another hit, this time he left his foot out, tripping another hog. Two down, three to go. Bending down, Kuro swiftly avoided two punches from both his sides, he then stepped back to let the last man run into his teammates. All hogs were down in a matter of minutes and Kuro humiliated them in front of all the people in the bazaar. Humans... he thought, only want power over others for their own sake.

Everyone watched in silence as the cloaked stranger walked right up to Emma and Daymein. The people who stood by them back up and whisper, but he didn't mind. Instead Kuro dropped to his right knee and let Daymein climb up over his shoulders for a piggy-back ride. Then he wrapped his hand around Emma's, walking away and out of the bazaar.

"Haha yes!" Cheered the little brother, raising his hands up to the sky. "I'm on top of the world!"

"It's a one time deal-" The angel was cut off when Daymein pulled on his hair, "Hey!"

Ignoring whatever came from Kuro's mouth, the kid held his hands over his head again."My name is Day and I'm king of the sky!"

Irritated, Dark Pit explained. "Actually, Lady Palutena is the ruler of the sky. After having Pit kill Hades, peace was restored throughout the heavens and here on the surface."

"Then I'll be the king of the skies under the clouds!"

"There's no such thi-" Kuro was stopped when the kid's sister rested her hand on his arm shaking her head to just let it go.

"My name is Day and I rule under the clouds!" He smiled and looked up to the bright blue above. "I wish I can fly..."

:D :D :D

Kilden is a cook apprentice who spends most of her day is the kitchen. Bread in the mornings, lunch rush at noon and learning/cleaning till sun down. The night is when Kilden has free time to relax, she takes her job seriously even if she's young. It's one of the things that Emma likes, strong determination while having a soft side for food and sweets. The restaurant that she works at isn't far from the bazaar, a couple blocks of narrow streets, buildings and houses then a hill. A sphere shaped dial Daymein kept showed that it was a little past noon, they hoped the apprentice wasn't too busy.

The back door was unlocked so the three just wondered in, Daymein hitting his head on the top door frame. For once the kitchen was quiet, the fire was lit in the stoves setting pots at a simmer. But other than that, silence. Tools and food left behind and forgotten. A knife as long as Day's head was sticking off of a cutting board, a poor fish cut in half.

"I guess no one's her-" Emma spoke too soon for her friend dressed with an apron over her attire entered. "Kilden, I-"

"Emma! Lass! I am grateful for your unplanned appearance!" The cook assistant hugged her friend, then spotted that she has more guest. "Daymein my lad how are you? And who do we have here? Hmm?"

The kid pulled on the angel's cheeks, "This is Kuro, he took down fifty Hogs in ten seconds!" Blurted the child.

His sister sighed, "T'was only five drunken men, Daymein..."

"Same thing!"

A voice came from the kitchen doors, a new order. "'Nough chit chat, I am very tight on schedule. Emma aid me?" Asked the cook. Her hair velvet red and short under a large white toge.

"Of course, but them-"

Rushing to wash her hands, she eyed the boys once more. "Them? Every bit counts now, doesn't it? Very well, wash up. All of you." Kilden had a quick light accent tied in with her words. Dark brown eyes with her red hair made the cook look strange from the average townsmen. A bright smile and well strict tone worked for a unique personality. She wanted things done, tasks finished quick and well. "Emma you are in charge of cutting, Day thee... handing-me-things-when-I-need-them-job, and you Kuro, will serve. Alright make me proud."

All Kuro wants is an apple, nothing more, nothing less. One red apple and he will be on his way where ever Emma leads him. Leaning against the wall that separated the kitchen and the restaurant, Dark Pit waited for orders. It wasn't long until he heard, "Gnocchi soup with a side of Kappa Bread, extra butter to Watson." Memorize it, wait and serve. That's is what has to be done, that is what he will do. For the apple, reminded the angel, the apple. He watches Kilden call out the ingredients, Emma helps chop and the cook prepares them into a boiling pot. Then demands the remaining foods that Daymein brings. She does the rest. Then once done, Kuro takes the plate and bowl out to a crazy filled room, "Watson!" He hollers over the rustle.

"Here boy!" A Hand raised with gold.

Dark Pit retrieves the profit, gives to the manager then heads back into the kitchen. Repeating the process for more than four hours, till business slows down. Then Kilden is able to handle it on her own, thanking the three.

EXHAUSTING

Apples, the angel reminded himself once again. He and Day exit the kitchen and stand near the edge of the hill, raising their arms to stretch. A grown tree, its trunk and roots clinging to the hill and its branches fanning over the two boys. And the skies were stained red and orange by the sun setting over the city. Everything beautiful, to the tired Maine emptying and the sun rays glowing over the roofs of buildings. Dark Pit looked down where Daymein relaxed his eyes, staring as far as he can pass the city and to the turning windmill. The sun laid right behind. It was peaceful and it felt great to be outside after suffering hours in a cramped area. Kuro had respect for Kilden by then, trying to imagine longer hours everyday.

Day fell asleep, napping in an overgrown patch of grass. Close by, Kuro sat thinking of the people above. Betting Pit would be the happiest and thinking that Pandora is looking for him as he speaks. The surface was different, but once you get used to it, it isn't that bad. Trust Dark Pit.

Hearing steps from behind, Kuro looked over his shoulder to meet with Emma and her basket. She pulled a single object out and handed it to the angel saying, "Red apples only." Her delicate voice relaxes him, and she goes on taking a seat closer than his shadow. Resting her head on the angel's shoulder and closing her eyes, Emma hears the simple crunch.

:D :D :D

"Disgusting and pathetic." Spat Hades. "It will take time but I'll greet that little human of yours Dark Pit, it will be my pleasure. Oh and the other one! What is his name again?" Hades laughed, "that king under the clouds! HA, wonderful, I must meet him as well." He then stood from his throne searching the skies, "Calamity what are you up to? Where are you?"

Deep in the forest, a portal opened and the Goddess entered closing it behind her. As Pandora uses nearly all her power to escape Hades reach, she struggles to keep a float.

The palace was dark, empty and silent. No more tricks or pranks, no more magic. Just a Pandora dying from existence. Slowly making her way to a long corridor and walking pass many fake walls, Amazon finds herself to the new location of her favorite mirror. Dark aura appears as she walks closer and lightning strikes above.

"Shadows..." she whispers, holding an image to the mirror. "By my command... please aid me."

Chef: Apples :D :D :D

Funshine: Aww DP and his apples... Anyways, I'm Funshine XD, and I'll be the new banana from now on! Ok that sounds a bit weird... Anyways, I'm going to be replacing Banana from here on out because he moved away D: Not to sound fruity or anything, but I hope you don't miss him too much. Or throw tomatoes at me. Either would be bad. See you later!

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