"That explosion was his heart," Kuro was saying. He was sitting on a platform of crystalline energy he'd crafted next to a bubbling fountain in Skyworld's main plaza. Despite the thin clouds, the sun just didn't seem as bright as it once had been. "The look on his face was absolutely priceless. I figured it could only mean one thing, so I steered Phos and Lux and rammed straight through him. Sure enough, there was your father, half beaten and drenched in stuff I didn't even want to guess at, but in a surprisingly good mood. Hades was mad, but we got out of there before he could catch us." He smirked. "Despite everything, Pit said that his heart was oddly cute."

"I can't believe Father actually got eaten," Aegle chuckled. She was sitting on the ground before her uncle, happily listening to his stories. "That sounds absolutely disgusting."

"I can only imagine," Kuro agreed. "And I prefer not to. He'd been through so much that day, but he endured it all with a grin on his face." He paused. "But that was him. No matter what tried to knock him down, he got back up and kept going."

"I thought it was crazy that he got shot out of a cannon," Marth remarked as he lounged next to his sister. "He must have been so relieved to see you."

"He was," Kuro nodded. "I was glad to see him too. He had me worried for a while." He stood up, his seat vanishing as he did so. "All right, I'll tell you more later. Right now, I need to check in with Ephraim." Aegle and Marth both got to their feet, and he hugged them both. "You two behave, got it?"

"Got it," Aegle laughed. As he pulled back, Marth looked up at his uncle with a more reserved smile.

"Thank you for the stories, Uncle Kuro," he said. Kuro smiled and placed his hand on his nephew's shoulder.

"Any time, kid. I'll see you later." With that, he spread his wings and took off, leaving the siblings to themselves.

Twenty five years had passed since Pit had vanished, and there hadn't been any sign of him since as far as his children were aware. Aegle was thankful she had most of her childhood with him, but unfortunately, Marth had no memory of their father. Lucina had raised him as well as she could with Kuro's help, and they both appreciated the stories that their uncle had for them.

Marth had grown quite strong and limber in his own right, now looking equivalent to a human teenager while his sister was now a young adult. Aegle had certainly inherited Pit's more magical abilities and his light, but Marth was quite an adept fighter just like their mother and uncle. Though he had his mother's blue hair and pale skin, there were several residents and visitors of Skyworld that remarked on how much he resembled Pit. It was a small comfort that gave him some connection to his father.

"I hadn't heard that one," Aegle was saying as she and Marth walked across the plaza. "Who knew such a terrible god would have a cute heart?" He shrugged. "...Marth?" Aegle turned to him curiously. "You okay?" He realized he had stopped walking, and he refocused his attention on her.

"Yeah, yeah," he said. "Sorry, I just…" He looked out to the temple in the distance, and he fell silent. Aegle raised an eyebrow at him, then turned to follow his gaze. He focused in, though on what, he wasn't sure.

"I… hear something," he said. Aegle turned back to him, puzzled.

"Hear what?" she asked.

"Like… something's calling me," he said half to her and half to himself. "I don't really know how to explain it." She frowned and looked back at the temple.

"I don't hear anything," she said lowly. "You're sure?"

"I'm sure," he insisted. "I've never felt like this before. Like… Something is beckoning me? Pulling me in?" Aegle looked back at him thoughtfully.

"Should we let Uncle Kuro know, or do you want to check it out ourselves first?"

"He's busy enough as it is," Marth said as he shook his head. "I don't want to bother him unless we have to." She nodded, and the two of them started off in the direction of the temple where they made their home. The Centurions on guard at the entrance greeted them respectfully, and they politely replied as they headed inside. A few paces in, Marth stopped again and looked around. He was silent for several moments as he focused.

"..."

"There's definitely something," he said. "I don't know what it's trying to say, but I can hear it." Aegle gestured for him to lead the way, and he did as well as he could while stopping every few paces to figure out the best way to go. They made their way to the heart of the temple and past the Gate Chamber.

"Come along, Princey." Marth stopped short and Aegle almost ran into him.

"Sorry," he said as she muttered something. "Okay, I heard a voice, no doubt about it. I think it's…" He paused and focused again. "Coming from my chamber?"

"Oh, wonderful," Aegle remarked. "Shall we go, or do you want to get Uncle Kuro?" He glanced up at her and hesitated.

"I can't explain it, but… I don't think we should tell him yet. Just… You'll stick by me, right?" She smiled softly.

"Always. I'll keep you safe, no matter what." He nodded his thanks and they continued on, casually greeting any patrolling Centurions they passed until they arrived at their destination. The siblings stopped and exchanged a concerned look. Aegle motioned for her brother to stay back for a moment, and she stepped into the room.

"Who are you?!" she demanded, stiffening and setting herself into a defensive stance, light illuminating around her hands. Marth peeked around her and found a humanoid figure standing by the window and smirking at them. His messy, colorful hair dripped into nothingness, and his skin was colored like lavender. He watched them with one dark crimson eye and the other a deep gold with amber pointing into the diamond pupil. He was dressed in a fine robe but wore no shoes.

"Oh good, you both came," he said in a startlingly sweet voice. "You can relax, I'm not here looking for a fight."

"It was you," Marth realized. "Why were you calling me?" The stranger huffed.

"In all of Skyworld, I figured the two of you would be the only ones to hear me out, and I, unfortunately, had to wait until you grew up a bit, Princey. But now, you're about the age your father was when Hades kicked down the Underworld's door and launched his invasion, so I figured you could handle this."

"What do you know of our father?" Aegle demanded, clenching her fists. "Who are you?!"

"Let's say that my interests aligned with Pit's," he said. "And so, I'm here to finish up my part in this little endeavor." He looked between the two, and Marth shrunk back a bit behind his sister. "Your father is alive," he said, and they both stared at him.

"What?!" they both blurted.

"Well, more or less, technically," the visitor mused as he pursed his lips in thought. "I mean, it is true that Pit is alive. Technically."

"Explain," Aegle snapped.

"Somewhere in the Overworld, you may find a clue that will lead you to him. I'd let your dear old uncle know, but he and I don't exactly see eye to eye and he'd probably banish me from Skyworld before I had a chance to say two words." He laughed. "I respect it." Aegle's eyes narrowed.

"You… You're Mastema, aren't you?" she said, and he grinned. "You're the last person anyone saw Father with. What happened? Where is he?"

"I told you, you'll find a trace of him in the Overworld. By all accounts, he really should have been wiped from existence, but I didn't want to give them the satisfaction." He spread his arms dramatically. "You can thank me any time for saving his life."

"You… saved him?" Marth asked.

"Don't be so quick to listen to him," Aegle interrupted. "He's the god of Space and Chaos and he's brought plenty of misery to the immortal world." Mastema held his hands up and shrugged.

"Guilty," he said. "But look, I don't have any reason to send you on some pointless, neverending search for your father. It wouldn't be worth the time or effort." He crossed his arms. "I am the god of Chaos, not the god of Mild Inconveniences. I intervened for your father because it suited me, nothing more. I don't care if you find him or not, I just want to finish my part in all of this. I figured you two don't have immediate problems with me, so you'd at least let me say my piece before kicking me out."

"So… You're basically saying that we should believe you because you have no reason to lead us astray," Marth surmised, and Mastema nodded.

"Exactly. What you do with all of this is up to you, so I'll take my leave before your quite volatile uncle decides to show up. Milady, Princey," he bowed slightly to them. "A pleasure to meet you both. If you do happen to find Pit, tell him 'we're even.'" With that, he vanished, leaving the siblings reeling with the information they'd been given. They both stared at the spot where Mastema had been standing.

"Father is… alive?" Marth said softly, and Aegle crossed her arms and looked down in thought.

"He's right that Uncle Kuro wouldn't give him a chance to speak. There's too much animosity between them. But…" She looked up and out the window. "He had no reason to lie…" She shuffled over to sit on the edge of Marth's bed, and he joined her. "But if Father is alive, why hasn't there been any sign of him?"

"He said that Father is 'technically' alive," Marth pointed out. "He looked unsure of what that actually meant himself." They were both silent for some time as they pondered what they'd learned.

"A trip to the Overworld wouldn't be that big of a deal, right?" he asked after a little while, and Aegle turned to him. "Have you ever been there?" Aegle shook her head. "Mother was born there, but that was in another timeline…" He frowned. "I guess that means she probably can't go, and Uncle Kuro is needed here whether he would trust what Mastema said or not."

"And Captain Ephraim is busy helping him," Aegle agreed. "It… it really does have to be us, doesn't it?" She paused as she looked at her brother. "Actually… If we both just disappear, Mother and Uncle Kuro will be worried sick and know something is up. But I can cover for you if I stay here."

"What? No way!" Marth protested as he stood up quickly. "You're stronger than me and you can fly on your own, and you know I can't use light like you can." Aegle stood up as well and gently placed her hands on his shoulders.

"Mastema said he waited to come until you were old enough to undertake this," she pointed out. "There has to be a reason for that. I don't know what, exactly, but I think it's better if you go. I can help you get there, and you can go through the Overworld Fortress's path skyward on your way back." Marth dropped his gaze and bit his lip.

"You really think I can do this?"

"I know you can," she said with a smile. "Find Father and bring him home." He looked back up at her.

"I can't remember anything about him," he said. "I don't know anything beyond the stories I've heard. I don't even know for sure what he looks like!"

"He's Uncle Kuro's twin brother," Aegle reminded him. "Brown hair and blue eyes, otherwise they look almost exactly alike. You'll definitely know him when you see him." Marth fidgeted and took a deep breath.

"If he's really out there, I want to bring him home," he said. "Okay, I'll go. I'll check in with you when I can."

"Please do." Aegle pulled him into a hug that he gladly returned. "We'll get him back." Marth nodded as he stepped back.

"We will," he agreed. "One way or another, he'll come home."