Sleep did not come to them at all despite their desire to obtain it. Pit had remained in his place among the lush grass of the garden still hoping that sleep would visit, but it didn't. After their return from the Labyrinth of Deceit and the realization that war might be taking place outside their safe haven, the three of them had been unable to take things easy.

        (Y/n) had attempted to lighten to mood by telling stories of her home in Seattle, but the attempt failed after the third story reminded them all that they couldn't go back there any time soon. The Divine Orne was likely still there or not far from it. After eating in silence, they had each gone to their own spaces in the garden to rest for the night. (Y/n) had been the first to pass his line of sight. He pretended to be asleep when she passed him by, realizing that she must have intended to check on him. After she left, Dark Pit was the next one to come near him, but he didn't leave.

        "I know you're awake," his double stated with a light shove to Pit's shoulder.

        "You can't sleep either huh," Pit muttered.

        "Yeah...it's too dark here for me to sleep."

        "What?" Pit didn't quite understand. "You do know you're supposed to sleep when it's dark, right?" He got no answer, so he decided to drop the topic. "Do you think we can stop Lady Palutena?"

        "We? What makes you think I'd go anywhere near that crazy goddess. I'm not serving anyone for any reason, and that includes you. Just because you saved my life doesn't mean I owe you anything. I didn't tell you to do it," Dark Pit spoke.

        "I'm glad I saved you anyway. I have someone to call family again now thanks to you. Palutena took me in as her son after I saved her, but after what I found out...it seems more like that was never really the case." Pit sat up and found that Dark Pit had given him a look of surprise although he quickly looked away when Pit saw him. "I don't care if you don't want to help me. Just promise that you won't ever do anything bad. I'd be sad if you turned out like Lady Palutena..."

        "Yeah whatever," Dark Pit huffed. He glanced back at Pit, immediately looking away again when he realized that Pit was still staring at him. "I already told you before. I don't have a family, so quit using that word."

        "Yeah you do. I just told you that I'm your family," Pit stated with a pout. Dark Pit sighed at Pit's claim.

        "Just go to sleep and quit bothering me," Dark Pit muttered.

        "But aren't you the one who came over here? Is it really because you couldn't sleep or..." Pit was cut off before he could say anything more.

        "I said go to sleep!" Dark Pit had growled before bringing his knees up to himself and hiding in his wings. It was much like the state Pit had found him in when they were still in the Labyrinth of Deceit. Not knowing what else to say, Pit turned back to his place in the grass allowing his wings to droop.

        "Good night..." Pit mumbled. He didn't get a reply nor did he expect one, and soon he was finally able to sleep. For a while, nothing plagued his dreams as he went back to the times he had shared with his mother under his obliviousness. All he had known was safety and the kindness Lady Palutena always showed him. This dream was cut short by a sharp pain to his shoulder. Before he could yelp in pain, a hand covered his mouth to muffle the sound. It was Dark Pit who had hit him and also the same one who had kept him silent. It didn't take long to figure out why as Pit heard the faint voice.

        "You see ME?" The sound had Pit petrified. He caught sight of Dark Pit in a similar situation, frozen in fear since he also knew what it was that had said such a thing. Both of them looked around for it, but didn't see it. "YoU seE ME?"

        Pit fought the whimper of terror that was attempting to make its way out. Dark Pit freed him and helped him sit up so that they were both huddled together as if hiding behind something although there wasn't anything close enough to hide them. Their fright worsened when the voice suddenly sounded closer. Looking behind him to search for (y/n) left Pit with an unpleasant surprise when he faced forward again. The Divine Orne was floating towards them.

        "Pit, Dark Pit, are you two okay? Don't say anything. I can see you from where I am. Just nod," (y/n)'s voice could be heard within their minds much like when Palutena spoke to Pit during his attempts to save her. Pit gave a slight nod although he was afraid to do so. He could see the firey orne slowly creeping around the garden in search of the slightest sounds. "Just stay still. It can't see it yet. I'll get it out of here I just need time..."

        She trailed off when the creature of death suddenly picked up its pace and seemed to be heading straight for them. "It can't see us. It can't see us," Pit reminded himself over and over as it approached. His thoughts were not helping despite the truth they held. There was no way that thing was entirely blind since it was heading straight towards them. It made both himself and Dark Pit realize the significance of the words it spoke.

        "YOu SeE Mee?" it called. Pit dreaded to think of what the Divine Orne might start saying if it were to add him to its list of victims. Dark Pit had taken hold of his arm without making a sound. Pit hadn't even noticed until he was touched and almost let out a shriek of terror, but settled with internal panicking. Dark Pit was slowly standing up and was trying to get Pit to do the same. Not once did either of them take their eyes off that thing.

        "As soon as I say run, get to me as fast as you possibly can. I can't kill it, but I can stall it," (y/n) instructed. Not long after she spoke, a flash of light passed above them and landed directly on the creature's ugly face. "Run, now!"

        She didn't have to say it twice. Dark Pit had already been ready to do so and didn't hesitate to pull Pit along with him. Lucky for Pit, he managed to grab his weapon before they passed it. Several more lights flashed past them, and Pit could now see that it was (y/n) who shot them from her fingers. A snarl that sounded more like a human scream came from behind them as they ran. Pit saw the expression (y/n) made and it didn't help that she stopped shooting and began to run towards them. "Duck!" she shouted.

        Pit was bewildered by the sudden claim that such an animal was in sight, but he was brought out of this confusion as Dark Pit pulled them both to the ground. The fall was not pleasant at all. The two of them tumbled across the grass as (y/n) let herself skid across the ground as well. As she did this, she reached into her pocket and pulled free a relocation charm without looking at it. As they all came to a stop in the same general area, the Divine Orne passed right over them, just barely missing their location. If they hadn't stopped when they did, it likely would have caught up with them.

        Pit's senses were a little hazy from the fall but he knew for sure that his knees and hands had greatly suffered. (Y/n)'s sudden use of the relocation charm didn't help either. Knowing that the threat of the Divine Orne was now gone, he didn't restrain the whimper of pain he had from the headache given by the instant travel. He kept his eyes snapped shut but was able to feel a hand of comfort combing through his hair after he himself was laid down to rest.

        "Pit, you okay?" It was Dark Pit who had spoken, but it was (y/n)'s lap that Pit's head was resting on. Pit nor (y/n) had the time to give an answer before someone else spoke.

        "(Y/n)! You're alive...! You're really alive," the voice said. Pit opened his eyes finding himself in an odd position. One of his hands clutched the side of (y/n)'s pants while his other arm was wrapped around her waist. He must have done this unconsciously, yet he didn't bother to move. Everything hurt and he was sure she didn't mind the invasion of personal space since she was still running her hand through his hair.

        "Who are you and where are we?" Dark Pit demanded from the stranger that had spoken (y/n)'s name with so much relief. The sibling had attempted to sound intimidating even though he was visibly bleeding and was holding a cut on his arm that Pit was sure hadn't been there before. Everything was interrupted when the sound of hissing surrounded the trio. Pit panicked, knowing only one thing that sounded like that.

        "Snakes!!" he yelped as he let (y/n) go and attempted to get to his feet. His attempt failed since he only managed to lift himself onto all fours before being promptly bitten by one of the terrible creatures. "It bit me! It bit me!" he cried as he swatted the animal away. It retreated into the dark corners of the room slithering around the broken glass and spilled substances as it went.

        "Calm down, Pit. That's a snake of healing. I don't like them either, but they can heal anything as long as they bite you. This is Asclepius, my best friend and god of medicine..." (y/n) tiredly explained although she trailed off after actually seeing this person called Asclepius. Pit followed her gaze to see that this best friend of hers was very close to dying.

        (Y/n) quickly jumped to her feet and rushed to catch him just as he fell forward. She cleared the broken glass from the area with her foot before laying Asclepius down. His alarmingly long black hair pooled around him, hiding the blood that was certainly there. Pit carefully made his way to her and this stranger before sitting next to her.

        "Asclepius, what happened? Who did this to you? Why aren't your snakes healing you?" (y/n) inquired as she put her hands over the hole in his chest in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Pit grew sick at the sight. It had been a long time since he had witnessed the horrors of battle, but he recognized them easily. Asclepius had fought for his life but ultimately failed.

        "I'm fine. This much won't kill me. I'm just glad you're okay. Palutena's forces attacked us and you didn't answer Medusa's nor my own call. I thought Palutena had killed you or sealed you off somewhere," Asclepius explained. He suddenly winced in pain and his hand shot up to catch one of (y/n)'s wrists. "Try not to press too hard. That still hurts. I'm not healing fast enough for the pain to go away." (Y/n) muttered an apology and moved her hands entirely.

        "If Lady Palutena did this...it must have been because of me," Pit stated. He met Asclepius' gaze, looking into his pearly white eyes that made it seem as if he were blind. "I'm sorry. As soon as I can, I'll go and stop Lady Palutena from harming anyone else. It's my responsibility to stop my mother...no one else can."

        "And I'll help." Pit quickly turned back at the sound of his brother's voice. Dark Pit stared straight at him without even a frown. "This goddess Palutena...she's the one who sent that creepy thing after us, isn't she? Then I'm going to pay her a visit," he spoke. Pit fought his urge to grin and turned back to Asclepius.

        "Yeah the Divine Orne is Lady Palutena's doing to an extent," (y/n) admitted.

        "You've forgotten to introduce me to your new friends. I think I know who this one is." Asclepius spoke. He smiled a bit although Pit could tell he was suffering and doing his best to make it. "Pit, right? I've heard a lot about you here in the Underworld. Nice to meet you." Then he gave a slight sigh. "I'm glad you were able to stop your inner darkness but...why didn't you kill your clone?"

        Pit grew tense at those words and he could practically feel Dark Pit's unease at the question. "Dark Pit is my brother, my family. I would never harm him," Pit declared. Asclepius shook his head.

        "It would have been better to let him rest in peace in that mirror. You've doomed him to a terrible fate. Dark Pit, that's your given name, right?" Asclepius waited for an answer, yet he received nothing of the sort. "Let me ask you. Do you already know about it? The time limit...?"

        Dark Pit remained silent and Asclepius seemed to have gotten the answer he was looking for, but Pit didn't understand. "Very well then. I'm actually surprised. Take good care of your family, Pit. It seems your darkness is just another form of light. That's incredible...you're amazing,"

        "I don't know what you're talking about. Dark Pit, what is he talking about?" Pit was feeling helpless knowing that something was wrong. His brother said nothing and neither did Asclepius. "Mr. Asclepius...?"

        (Y/n) suddenly panicked. "Asclepius, hey, wake up. Now isn't the time for a nap," she pleaded. Her eyes were already watering because she already knew. "Please don't go..." she whispered as she lowered her head and took hold of one of his hands.

        Hope sparked in their hearts as they heard his faint voice. "...snakes..." Pit leaned closer to hear what he was saying. "Take...the snakes..." he breathed. "Live..."

        Their hope vanished just as Asclepius did. He glowed in a blue light and vanished right before their eyes becoming nothing more than a beautiful mist. But even that disappeared. Pit had already started crying, for he hated suffering. Even though he had only known Asclepius for just a few moments, he was thrown in to sorrow by this death. Palutena had done this. She had killed this person who was likely innocent of bloodshed. It was unforgivable.

       The quiet sobbing is what drew his attention from his thoughts. His wings drooped all the way to the floor when he saw her crying over the loss of her friend. He took her hand and she almost pulled it away, but his grip was firm and he wouldn't let her go. She must hate him right now, or perhaps her hate was directed at his mother. "I'm so sorry," he apologized as he pulled her into a hug.

        "What did he say to you?" she asked through her tears.

        "He said to take the snakes and live," Pit answered. (Y/n) said nothing more and let her sorrows out while Pit hugged her. And it was here that Pit's affection for this angel truly began. As he comforted her, he began to vow that he would do whatever he needed to in order to ensure that she never cried again. He had briefly seen the pain she had suffered through from losing when she had initially saved him and when she had come back from the Labyrinth of Deceit. Never again did he want to see anything of the sort anywhere near her. Today was the day his eyes were fully opened. He finally saw it, the full face of the woman he had been calling mother, and it was ugly.
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Next chapter should be making it's way here soon. Definitely by the end of the week. Until next time you spectacular readers!