[TartoonHand94]

Trumpets blared across the sky as a airborne parade of angels ascended through the sky. Centurion forces of every rank flew in file, grand marshaled by none other than Pit, the captain of Palutena’s guard, and Lady Palutena, the goddess of light herself in his arms. Since he was only flying thanks to the Power of Flight she provided him, it was more like she was carrying him. ...it was a mutual carrying.

Beside them, flew Palutena’s guests honor were Zelda and Arle Nadja, who were riding together in a chariot drawn by two muscular stallions of centurions. 

	“Hylia, Arle, as a token of my gratitude for your most valiant efforts,” Palutena addressed the two girls. “When we get back home, I shall host the grandest of celebrations in your honour!” “Oh Palutena, that sounds absolutely divine!”  Zelda blushed, shy and humbled by such a grand gesture. Goddess reincarnated or not, she and Arle were still mere mortals doing the right thing. To be treated like queens, rather even like goddesses by a goddess was more than she could fathom. “But we're just-I mean, we couldn't possibly-”
	“Don't be silly, I insist!” Palutena found Zelda's modesty adorable. Even back when she was a goddess, Hylia always had this prudent sense of modesty about herself. She definitely used to walk the walk more than she talked the talk. As such, the gratitude of her subjects was always sincere.  “We shall have the most bountiful of feasts and dance the night away under the heavenly stars! What do you say?” It would be just like the old days when Palutena would have to drag the studious Hylia to the parties the gods were throwing. She always ended up having a better time than she thought she would. At least that's how Palutena remembered it. “You had me at Feast, Lady Palutena!” Pit had to do his best to keep from drooling at the thought. Palutena could only giggle as the feeling was mutual.

[Mari]

Arle clung to Zelda's waist for support as they flew, curiously watching everything going on around her. Hey, this was pretty cool! As much as she was curious herself, she was mostly just letting Zelda speak for her. She trusted the other, and was admittedly distracted. However, the thought of food drew her attention. "A feast..??" Arle remarked in shock. Oh goodness. Her belly was talking to her already! Food was good! She could deal with being rewarded with good food! "I'd love that! It's been a while since we got to spend any time together anyway~" Arle went on to reply, flashing a gleaming smile in Palutena's direction. Outrageously beautiful women treating her to nice things and good company? All she needed was Rulue and she'd be in heaven! Pun intended.

[TartoonHand94]

	“That’s right, Arle.~” Palutena smiled, pleased by her excitement.  It was cute to know there was someone Else here who appreciated a good feast.  There was sure to be a three way competition for who can clear the buffet table fastest.  “Indeed, it would be simply divine to spends some quality time together after so long...” The goddess agreed with Arle again. Sighing nostalgically as she caught Arle’s gleaming smile and reflected it at Zelda. Upon noticing this, Zelda shyly looked away, deciding to shine it back down to Arle.  “Just us, together again…” “I totally know whacha mean!”  Pit eagerly agreed, unknowingly a square corner in the smile triangle.
	At last, they made it. To the point in the sky to which the scientist’s telescope does not point.  Beyond the rain and over the rainbow, where rock sits firm among the clouds.  At last they arrived in Skyworld.  It was shrouded in a dreary post-rain fog, as the news of Palutena’s revival had not yet reached. “Hylia, Arle, we’re here.~” Palutena stood up onto a floating rock to use as a podium.  “On behalf of all of Skyworld, Welcome to-” She waved her hand to part the clouds like a curtain to unveil her domain.  The sun rose and shown over Palutena’s sacred temple to reveal…
	“-What happened to my temple?” Palutena shrieked. It was a mess! The once shiny and pristine palace was decaying with maintenance neglect. The grass overgrowing, the windows were whitened with stains, there was litter everywhere! Cups, plates, empty boxes, barrels and feathers littered the streets. ...Was that someone’s loin cloth?
	A chorus of sheepish coughs and nervous whistles rumbled across her entire army. Even Pit was stunned speechless for fear of anything he could begin to say. “Honestly. I can’t leave you boys alone for five minutes, can I?”

[Mari]

Arle couldn't help but gawk at the scene a bit, bewildered as could be. The implications were lost on her. This place definitely needed a woman's touch. Palutena's touch, maybe? She looked up to Zelda in search of answers, but wasn't surprised when she didn't find any. "This place really fell apart while you were gone... I guess this is why you didn't stay with us down at the magical girl's society lodge very often. Hehe." Arle replied, sheepishly making light of the situation. Boy, even her house looked better than this--and she wasn't exactly cut out to be a housewife.

" . . . Does this mean the feast will have to be cancelled?" Arle went on to ask after a moment. It certainly seemed reasonable to her, anyway. There was no way they could clean up this disaster zone in time for a feast!

[TartoonHand94]

	Zelda could only wince at what she would hate to admit was a familiar sight. Living at a school in the sky with a bunch of teenagers would leave plenty memories like this.  “Lady Palutena, please! I can explain-!” Pit pleaded for mercy, taking a knee and everything. “I understand, Pit. You don’t have to explain a thing.” Palutena gently raised a palm to silence him.  “Besides, I am in much too good a mood to be upset with anyone right now.” She graced everyone, Arle and Zelda in particular, with a forgiving smile. “No. of course not, Arle. The feast is still very much on!”  Palutena happily announced, to cheers from her entire army.
	“Gosh. Thank You, Lady Palutena!”  A relieved Pit kowtowed to her mercy. “It’s the least I could do, the main course being Roast Angel and all.”  She smiled innocently. Her entire army and Zelda fell silent while her captain of the guard fell stunned and pale. “…Just kidding.~”  Palutena winked naughtily, giggling at how gullible they all were. With a wave of her powerful staff, her gigantic palace doors unlocked and creaked open with a rumble like moving mountains. “Now come along, there’s a party to be had.”  She invited with a second wave of her staff.
	“Oh Boy! Come on, everybody!”  Pit lead a charge for the door.  However, they were abruptly stopped by their goddess warping in front of them and shielding off the door. “Huh?”  Pit rubbed his nose in confusion. “Not so fast, young man. You all can join Us…”  She gestured to Zelda and Arle who were on her side of the barrier.  “After you clean up your room. All of your rooms.” A symphony of groans hummed over the crowd. “Palutena, are you sure you wouldn’t like some help tidying up?”  Zelda sheepishly offered from behind her. “Nonsense, Hylia. You and Arle are my guests. They all live here.”  She drew the difference between the girls and all the boys. “Now hop to it!”  She conclusively clapped to her forces before turning to escort Zelda and Arle into her chambers.  “Cleanliness is next to Godliness after all.~”

[Mari]

...Arle was silently grateful she hadn't expressed her interest in roast angel. It wasn't a word she was familiar with, and the implications had been lost on her until everyone went silent. However, soon everything was set right. The boys were set to clean up their mess and the feast was apparently still on. That meant it would just be them three as far as she could tell for now. "Seems like it'll take them a while..." Arle murmured aloud. Though, she supposed it wasn't a big deal. pit was the only one missing out, right? She supposed Palutena had her reasosn for treating him like that. It must be some kind of mom thing... She wouldn't know anything about that. Not in recent years, anyway.

[TartoonHand94]

	“That’s why they call it Eternity, right Hylia?” Palutena laughed like a noblewoman, inviting Zelda and Arle to join her as the door closed behind them.  The echo of the door slamming was the only thing left to be heard as Pit stood in front of the palace door in a cold introspective silence.
	“Well boys, you heard her. Let’s get to work.”  Pit turned to his troops with a wistful sigh.  A siren of groans echoed through the ranks. “Aw come on, guys. Don’t be like that.” Pit picked up his tone in an attempt to lighten up the mood. “Don’t we want a feast?” A couple of Centurions agreed.  “Aw come on, I said Don’t We Want a Feast?” Pit shouted louder like a motivational speaker. A louder shout of Yes came back at him.  “Aren’t we hungry?” Yes! “Doesn’t she feed us?” Yes! “Well, all our great goddess asks in return is a clean domain! Can’t we do that?” Yes!  “Then put down the bows and pick up the brooms!”  Pit rallied his subjects like a true captain of the guard.  “Let’s make this place shine brighter than Isle Delfino on a completionist run!” Yes!  What followed was a musical montage of jolly little winged men sweeping, scrubbing and wiping a temple in the sky, whistling merrily all the while.
	Meanwhile, much to Palutena’s flustered surprise, things weren’t that much cleaner inside her temple. Despite being much goldier, Palutena’s private lounge was also a mess. The litter was distinguishably not as masculine in nature to that outside. It seemed that Palutena had neglected to tidy up before she was kidnapped as well.  “Oh, dearest me.” Palutena chuckled embarrassed. “It appears my shrine’s overdue for a sacred dusting.” She hummed, trying to play this hiccup off as nobly as she could.  “Power of Cleansing!” With little more than a raise of her staff and a flap of her ethereal wings, all the mess vanished in a brilliant flash of light.
	By the time Zelda and Arle opened their eyes again, Palutena’s lounge became a swank and stylish hangout. Complete with chaise longues in the classic Greek style, marble pillars rising from a polished floor that shone like a mirror, a mini bar stocked with exotic godly drinks and fruits fit for finger-snacks and even a working indoor hot spring. The VIP Lounge at Ceasar’s Palace could not compare. “Much better.” “Incredible.” Zelda gasped at the transformed room, holding Arle’s hand in amazement. “Palutena, your quarters are the… forgive me for not finding a better word but, the fanciest I’ve ever seen!”  “Yeah, I know.” Palutena confidently shrugged off the compliment. “Go ahead Hylia, Arle, make yourselves at home.” She invited them to come join her on the long chair.  “Can I grant you anything while we wait?” She eyed Zelda, a hostess eager to please. “Er... Would you like anything, Arle?” A flustered Zelda tried to delegate the question to her daughter.

[Mari]

" . . . " Arle's eyes were glued to something in the distance. Not the ghostly afterimage of the mess that had been Palutena's room. As while she certainly wished she could clean up like that, it was a bit much to ask for. Instead, her eyes were locked onto the hot springs. Palutena had her very own hot spring?! It looked like it was designed for soaking and relaxing! Did Palutena share her appreciation for such things? You could just see the desire on her face before Zelda even asked, at which point she admittedly did snap to attention. "Do you have drinks in your--I mean is there time for--Can we use your hot spring?" Arle blurted out.

[TartoonHand94]

“Really in a rush for that R & R, aren’t we Arle?~” Palutena couldn’t stifle her purest of giggles in time. Now that was just precious. The similarities between Arle and Pit kept piling up. First her appetite, now her affinity for hot springs? What was next? Not being able to fly?
“Of course you can, Arle. After the day I’ve had, I could go for a nice hot dip myself.~” Palutena smiled with a stretch, getting up to escort her to the pool. As much as the idea of spa time with one of her heroines appealed to her, there was someone else in the room the goddess was interested in swimming with.

“Aren’t you coming Hylia?” She turned to invite Zelda along as she shed the jewellery on her arm. Perhaps a nice soak in the rejuvenating waters will jog some memory of her former form. The hours they’d spend together, the small talk they’d engage in, the playful splashing that resulted in rainstorms,
“Th-that’s very generous of you Palutena, but with all due respect…” Zelda sheepishly had to protest as she got up and took Arle by the shoulder. “…Neither of us brought our bathing suits with us.” She admitted, growing flustered and self-conscious.
“That doesn’t stop anyone around here.” Palutena blissfully shrugged as she removed her tiara and began to disrobe. “Not even my highest-ranking officers disrobe before entering a hot spring.”
“They go in fully clothed?” Zelda blinked in disbelief.
“Only if they bathe while on duty.” Palutena admitted, dropping her goddess robes to the floor. “And the last time I checked, this was your time off.” Palutena winked, flirtatiously to Zelda’s increasingly reddening face.
“What’s the matter, never seen a goddess in a maillot before?~ I could’ve sworn they were all the rage for paintings and statues…”

[Mari]

" . . . Bathing suit?" Arle asked in bewilderment. Why in the hell would you go bathing in a suit?? She continued being confused up until Palutena revealed herself in that maillot of hers. Oh. ...Oh! Swimsuits! Of course! That made a lot more sense! ...Why in the hell would you go swimming in a hot spring?! The somewhat befuddled mage quickly cleared her thoughts. "...I don't normally wear anything while soaking~" Arle awkwardly explained to both of the others in the room, anxiously tapping her fingers together in a manner that suggested she'd become intimately aware of the fact that she was alone in this act. "I guess we're probably a bit too filthy to jump right in anyway." Arle bashfully continued, half-heartedly excusing herself from her request.

[TartoonHand94]

“…That’s a relief.” Palutena sighed at Arle’s confession of her preferred soaking method. “Neither do I.” She whispered over Arle’s shoulders. Welp, she had finally found a big difference between her and Pit. “It’s okay if you prefer to do it the Japanese way. After all, it’s only us girls here, right Hylia?” She winked over to Zelda, still prudishly pouting on the couch. She seemed to be the only one in the room more flustered than Arle, and Palutena was just eating every moment of it up. She really hadn't changed a bit from her days as a Goddess. If only she could remember. A hot spring bath was sure to remind her. “You can let the waters of Lady Palutena's Personal Hot Spring wash over you and cleanse both your body and mind. It’ll be our little secret. Between you and the goddess of privacy herself.” Palutena promised. “Unless of course Hylia would like to join us.~” She beckoned her ex once again in sing-song tone. “You shouldn’t leave your child unsupervised in a hot spring, you know. Not that there are Sharks or anything but…” She punctuated her warning with a playful chomp of her teeth.

“…Very well.” Zelda finally yielded with a sigh. “I shall join you after all.” She decided, getting up from the couch and loosening her garments. “I suppose it would be rude of me to refuse such a generous invitation.”
“Very rude.~” Palutena smiled, proud of her persuasion skills.

[Mari]

Arle gave Palutena a confused look. "What..?" she asked, not aware of what a japanese was or why it was being brought up. The blue mage continued to look around, utterly lost as things continued. Who was Palutena..?--Arle furrowed her brows. Somehow it felt off being talked about that way. Maybe it was because she'd just saved them both, or maybe it was because they both looked too young to be talking about her like she was a little kid--...probably that last part. Ah well. She guessed it wasn't a big deal.

Soon enough, Arle had freed herself of her clothes and submerged herself in the water with only her head poking out. She seemed content and entirely comfortable, without even a hint of awkwardness. If there was any one thing she had understood from Palutena, it was that they were all girls here and that there was no need for any unnecessary awkwardness. "Wow--It must be really nice having your own personal hot tub all the time~ ...I guess it must get a little lonely sometimes, though." Arle casually remarked in a thoughtful tone. As she thought about it now, she didn't think she'd ever seen a female member of Palutena's Army. It was kinda hard not to notice, what with most of them not named Pit having those rather ...She hesitated to call them gross. It seemed pretty much, but let's just say she wasn't having second thoughts about her dating interests anytime soon.

[TartoonHand94]

“Yes it is quite divine, isn’t it?” Palutena giggled as she elegantly descended into the hot spring, the water fizzing as each sacred curve was submerged. “Almost as divine as finally having someone to share it with.” She sighed contently, in up to her shoulders. Contact with Palutena’s body seemed to be having an effect on the spring waters. It seemed to naturally glow from below the surface. It must have had something to do with her being the Goddess of Light.

“Whether you want to believe my army and I are the only ones up here, you are right Arle. It does indeed become profoundly lonely.” The smile in Palutena’s voice faded. “How a mere mortal could comprehend the solitariness of being the sole queen of a menagerie of winged dwarves.” She lamented, slowly sinking further down into the water.
“Hylia’s got the better idea though.” She reemerged from the water, towering over Arle’s head. “Fine taste in Links you got here~. If my chosen hero were this cute, I just might’ve left too.” She waggled her eyebrows at Zelda as she meekly dipped into the water, anxious to preserve her modesty as quickly as she could.
“T-that’s not Link.! I mean she may have acquired the Goddess Sword, but she's not The Link.” She quickly corrected as she sloshed her way over to join Paltuena and Arle, submerged up to her chin. “The Link that was Hylia’s Chosen Hero was a student at the Knight Academy like me. He may have been a ‘mere mortal’, but he was every bit as courageous as any one of your ‘winged dwarves.’” She asserted with a decisive huff. “And nowhere near as mouthy. He rose to the challenges Hylia’s quest and saved the world from Demise once and for all!” This sudden attitude seemed to amuse Palutena greatly.

“You mean this Isn’t another Link? But she looks courageous enough to be to me.” Palutena gasped, examining Arle with feigned disappointment. “And if the Goddess Sword has chosen her too, perhaps she Should be. Demise may have been dropped shortly after being apped, but it’s only a matter of time before somebody apps him again.” The look on Zelda’s face read that she has no idea what Palutena was talking about.
“How about it Arle? Why don’t you whip it out and show us~?” Zelda was unamused by the choice of phrase.

[Mari]

Mere mortal..? Queen? ...Dwarves?? Arle giggled in amusement. "You're describing the loneliness of being the only girl!" Arle corrected in a matter-o-fact tone, likening it to a feeling that any mere 'mortal' could have understood. It wasn't hard, really! You couldn't go bathing with boys, after all! Now that was just salacious! Speaking of crossing boundaries, Arle's train of thought was derailed momentarily when Palutena ...made a point to rise from the water right behind Arle, spooking her slightly and earning Palutena a pair of golden eyes glancing back at her. The innocently bewildered mage found that Palutena was now sitting behind her in the water. Huh? What just happened?? Ah well. It clearly wasn't important enough to distract from her relaxation. However, what followed was, frankly, bizarre. She was half certain she was being fawned over, and another part of her got the impression Zelda thought she didn't stack up to this link to who knows what. Honestly, Arle was enjoying Palutena's flattery more than Zelda's ... whatever that was--even if she didn't understand a lot of what was being said.

And then Palutena asked Arle to show her her sword, earning a confused glance from the mage. "Huh..? I'm not hiding a sword in here." Arle replied. It seemed like she didn't realize she was playing along with an innuendo. It had flown over her head. They were... in a hot tub. Surely Palutena had to realize Arle wasn't secretly a boy going to bring her stuff in with her. However, she moved to slip past Palutena to reach her stuff, situated at the edge next to the towel she was going to use to dry herself off once she was finished. Gingerly drying her hands as best she could on the towel, she fished in her bag and produced the Goddess Sword before turning about and holding it by the flat side with both hands for the gallery. "It's a very pretty sword. I've never seen one that's green like that before." Arle thoughtfully remarked

[TartoonHand94]

“You’re not?” Palutena peered over Arle, feigning ignorance, much to Zelda’s wistful groaning. “You don’t have pockets like a Link either.” She teased as Arle fished for her things. The self-playing harp in the corner of the chamber strummed in some extra fanfare as Arle unseathed the Goddess Sword for all to see.
“Ahah. It Is a pretty sword.” Palutena nodded, eyes widening at the sight of the Goddess Sword glistening against the reflected light of the hot spring. Upon closer inspection, the twinkle in her eye faded with disappointment. “…Pretty underwhelming I’m sorry to say. ”
“W-What she means is, the sword isn’t finished yet.” Zelda, understanding of what Palutena meant but not wanting Arle’s feelings hurt quickly interjected. “It has not yet been tempered with it’s full power or potential. Right, Palutena?” She nodded at her insistently.
“I mean, you haven’t even turned it on yet.” Palutena shrugged incredulously. With a gentle wave of her hand, the sword began to glow brilliantly with a light that whitened the whole room.

When the light dimmed to a level safe for the naked eye, a fourth girl was in the room with them.
Floating before Arle, above the surface of the water, hovered a humanoid spirit of blue and lavender.
She stretched her legs and wings as her empty, pupilless eyes opened and fixated on Arle.

“The one chosen by my creator. I have been waiting for you. You will play a role in a great destiny.”

The spirit announced with an etherial monotone. 

“According to your social customs, I should provide you with my personal designation. Fi is the name I was given.”

She introduced herself.

“I was created for a single purpose, long before the recorded memory of your people. I must aid you in fulfilling the great destiny that is your burden to carry.”

“Really Hylia, This is how you left your messages?” Palutena chuckled in whisper, much to Zelda’s shushing. “I know, I know it was a long time ago. I’m just nostalgic for out-dated tech.”