[Mari]

Arle just sort of stood there looking rather bewildered. Why was she being yelled at for taking down the monster? And.. why was that monster talking? Garuda didn't talk! They were beastial dieties. That was why no one worshiped them. They weren't intelligent, they weren't wise. They didn't particularly control any aspect of the world and weren't responsible for protecting anything. Their main claim to deityhood was their immortality and raw power. ...So who the heck was this?? Had the previous garuda she fought just not bothered to talk to her after eating a lamia before her very eyes? Perhaps its mouth had been full..??

eJ|IQOuBp_1d20+1 (Oh)

Regardless, Arle soon found herself knocked on her back by a large wing. Aw geez--And right after she'd been browbeaten into not fighting too! What a jerk carnivorous bird. ...The idea that it might try to eat her occurred to Arle as she sat back up and gingerly brushed some dirt out of her hair, picking and putting her tiara back onto her head. It sent a shiver down her spine, but ... what else was she supposed to do? Sure it filled her with an immense amount of anxiety, but she couldn't just let it take Zelda and Palutena from her. They needed to live too! Before she could really rationalize what to do, Zelda's loftwing caught her attention. ...Huh! That could work. Arle hesitantly tested the loftwing's reaction to her by laying a hand upon it, observing that it was calm around hr before moving to pull herself up onto its back, wrapping her legs around it to steady herself for a rough ride. The nice thing about having a skirt this short was that she didn't really need to fuss with it very much while riding, as it wasn't long enough to get easily caught underneath her and pull her legs up if she weren't careful like a longer skirt might. "Alright, new deal. ...Let's go get Zelda back." Arle instructed, maintaining her calm well enough for now. Ushering the loftwing on, Arle attempted to catch up to the Garuda! Meanwhile, she cast a healing spell on herself to soothe the bruise she'd been given when she was struck.

p_1d20+1 (Treating as a success)

p_1d15+4 (Arle's Healing)




Arle hunkered down lower, already used to riding from her experience with her own personal mount, albeit the giant flying squirrel didn't so much fly as it did take enormous running leaps that could clear entire towns. This was decidedly a bit more gentle on her thighs, which she wasn't complaining about. She soon caught up with the garuda, flying above it to avoid being clipped by those massive wings. Frankly though, she was having none of this being polite business. The damn bird was holding two of her close friends hostage for crying out loud! "I've had about enough of your squawking! If I don't get my friends back safe and sound, I'm going to cook your rare, immortal goose!" Arle snapped rather irritably, presenting the garuda with an ultimatum.

p_1d20+4 (Arle's attempt to intimidate the Garuda into doing what she says)

Arle Damage: 0% Shield Damage: 0% Status: None Growth Cooldown: 1 Turns Remaining Healing Cooldown: 2 Turns Remaining

1d20+1·1d20+1·1d15+4·1d20+4

[TheSpatialWeeg]

Arceus was going to continue reasoning with the Garuda, however as the huge bird ‘deity’ captured Zelda, he felt...a lot less forgiving. One could hear an audible sneer from the PokéGod.

While he wanted to stick to what Zelda requested, the Garuda was not being very cooperative. And as much as he didn’t want to actually engage in battle, he was feeling very much forced to do so.

The deity performed a frenetic ‘dance’ and soon was enveloped in a red aura. For safety purposes, of course. After this, he tagged along with the other two, and he caught up with the Garuda fairly quickly.

((In other words, Arceus has granted himself Swords Dance.))

Once close enough, Arceus would present himself in front of the bird-like creature.

“I’ve tried to be polite. However, you have just now captured another ally of mine, and allow me to say that you’ve made a wrong move.” Are you squinting hard enough? You might see Arceus holding a face of anger. “I’m still very much open to discussing things with you like reasonable figures, however, your actions are implying that you are not do not share the sentiment. I will, however, give you one final chance. Release Zelda and Palutena, and I’ll work a deal with the human and the angel in return. Else...I will have to resort to engaging in battle with you.”

((h4q6cGa0p_1d20 Will Arceus’ ultimatum fall on deaf ears? Find out next episode!))
1d20

[TartoonHand94]

Between breaths after the initial scream, Zelda opened her mouth to scold the Garuda for kidnapping her and attacking Arle and Pit with its wings, when she couldn’t help but notice… that the Garuda’s sharp talons weren’t piercing her the way a bird of prey normally would its prey. She was being gently clasped between its feet instead of brutally clutched. But why would the Garuda…? …Unless…

Zelda’s contemplative stares up at the Garuda were interrupted by an arrow that just narrowly missed them. They both looked down to find Palutena’s Army swarming out of the sea of clouds bellow them. They were catching up and closing in on the Garuda like a living fishing net.

“There it is! Open Fire! Shoot it out of the sky! Hit it with everything you’ve got!” Pit bellowed at his troops. “…And try not to hit Zelda!” He appended his order with whatever shred of sensibility he had left.
“Oh No!”

And open fire the Centurions did. The sky lit up with a daytime fireworks and laser show. Blasts of bullets and arrows of light of every shape and size rained up at the beast.
Caring as much as an audience member rather than a target, the Garuda blissfully and gracefully bobbed and weaved between fire, gracefully dodging each shot, much to the firer’s collective chagrin.
The whole while Zelda couldn’t make heads or tails of it: Why was it merely dodging instead of fighting back? Surely a being of its size and power could decimate its attackers in a matter of flaps. Why was it just letting them follow it if it were trying to get away…?
“Wait Pit! Do you not see?” Zelda tried yet again to protest, having yet to give up her cause. “I think the Garuda is trying to-” She tried to explain to him before having to shield herself from a stray arrow.

(Yoc9x5ULp_1d20+5 Lanyru's Love to block an arrow)

“Do you mind? We’re trying to save you!”

With all the commotion coming from below, the Garuda hadn’t noticed one more bird in the sky. Zelda’s Loftwing had caught up with the big bad bird as well. Conveniently for the little bird, Arle was considerably lighter than its usual rider.
“Arle! Are you okay?” Zelda called up to the young mage, more concerned with her little scape from earlier than her own current predicament.

“Cook my goose? My my my little human, you make quite the compelling ultimatum for your age.” The Garuda telepathically complimented on Arle’s threat. If only it could telepathically slow flap.
“Considering how much as I do love a freshly cooked Prime Country Groose a la Provencale, stuffed with chestnuts and basted in white wine, ask yourself now, what sort of incentive is That for me to co-operate?”

The mage on a bird above it was soon joined by the Pokégod in front of it.The Garuda stopped cleanly on a dime in the mid-air preventing head-on collision to listen to what Arceus had to say.
Zelda's Loftwing and the entirety of Palutena’s Army zoomed right past it, unable to slow down, stop or turn around nearly as dynamically.
“Oh thank heavens, There you are, Arceus. For a moment, I was worried you had left me alone with these mortal peons.” The Garuda begrudgingly greeted Arceus. You couldn’t tell if it were rolling its eyes or just looking around, since it was, y’know, walleyed.
“Certainly, you’ve heard the old saying, ‘An eye for an eye, a wing for a vine? Several hundred arrows for getting rekt son?”
“An eye for an eye makes the world blind!” Zelda reminded her captor.
“And what shall I get for this?” The Garuda asked, lifting Zelda into Arceus’ view. “I’m still very much open to discussing things with you like a reasonable deity too. You two are the only few here that has yet to make an attempt on my life.” The Garuda huffed disgruntled.
“While I’d gleefully remind you of all deities the risks that entail Pokémon battles and mortals, I shall comply as much as I can.” It agreed much to a civilized surprise. “Alas, I must lament that I can only concede to half of your terms: For how can I release what is not in my grasp?” the winged beast asked as it slowly released Zelda from its grip talon by talon.

Garuda
452 HP
Stats: Normal
Threshold 15
p_1d25
Centurion α Alpha	Centurion β Beta	Centurion γ Gamma	Centurion δ Delta	Centurion ε Epsilon
10 HP	10 HP	10 HP	10 HP	10 HP
x25
Pit Damage 0% Status: Normal

1d20+5·1d25

[Mari]

Arle was busy considering the implications of the garuda wanting to eat birds and debating how weirded out to be when she abruptly noticed Zelda starting to droop after the garuda's weight fell out from under her. The panicked mage would lean forward and tighten her thighs' grip on the loftwing, giving it a pat on its neck to get its attention and gesturing to Zelda. The two then dropped into a steep dive, to chase Zelda as she fell, scooping her up mid-dive before slowing their descent and correcting their flight to begin climbing back up, providing a very gentle landing for the other ... right into Arle's arms. "Got you!" she blurted out, cradling Zelda like a baby. It was rather ironic given the terms of their previous engagements. Holding her tightly and protectively in her arms Arle just kind of backed off, content to fuss over saving not-technically-Mom and let Arceus do his thing. Look at her--she's a good daughter! Arle honestly wasn't sure how or where to set Zelda down, and so just kinda wound up resting Zelda's weight in front of her to take some of the strain off her arms but not really putting the other down at all. Zelda could, of course, squirm her way out of Arle's embrace and take the reigns if she wanted.

[TheSpatialWeeg]

Oh, you just had to mention the Pokémon and humans thing did you?

Arceus would try to save Zelda, but Arle already did that, so...what was left is taking care of that what he just said. "Hmph. There might be no physical limit to a deity's power, but the deity must exercise said limit themselves." He went on to retaliate. "I expected you to be understanding of such concept since you're considered a deity to some."

"I have created a world, and both Pokémon and humans to live within it. However, they are all following the paths they desire. What sort of god would I be if I forced all of them to bend to my will? If my children were all suffering from this, I would've stopped that then and there. But, that is not the case. We should let our creations flourish on their own, instead of telling them what they should do." It seemed that the comment has hit a sour spot for the Original One... 

4VSdjJ97p_1d20(Here, have a light lecturing or something.)1d20

[TartoonHand94]

Instead of shrieking in fear as any lass dropped from the sky would, Zelda did as she always would, and whistled for her Loftwing. Being a highly trained bird, the Loftwing obeyed both Arle and its master and dived down under the falling Zelda. Lucky for the falling Zelda, Arle’s extra input turned what would normally be a thump on her bird’s back into a soft catch landing right in her arms.
“Thank you Arle! That was so very well done!” Zelda panted in relief, putting her arms around to hug her very good not-technically-daughter. She spared a pat for her Loftwing’s head too. “You too.”
Not very quick to let go of Arle, Zelda looked up to continue watching Arceus negotiate with the Garuda.

“Zzzzzz….Huh? You done?” The Garuda yawned, pretending to wake up from a nap.
“I’m sorry there Arcy, it’s just that I’ve heard it all before: Take the responsibility in your power and don’t overstep your boundary, or tip the celestial balance, or anything or else the likes of Officer Palutena’s gonna sick her SWAT (with a fly swatter) team on your tail. Is that right?” He shrugged, floating lazy circles around the Pokégod.
“Well good news to the celestial B; I quit. I give up, I surrender, I’m done. For I shall be frank with you, Arceus; I’m bored. I’m bored of this. After eons of maintaining the celestial balance, what little mischief I tried to cause by holding onto this trophy, didn’t turn out nearly as fun as I hoped.” He flatly sighed.

“When the she fell in battle, the idea of keeping a statue of a goddess as a trophy sounded Awesome! All the power of the Goddess of Light herself, once exclusive to the Amazons, all at my talon tips!” The Garuda almost got excited about it, wings picking up speed as he soared across the sky, only to dip at the next thought.
“Then I tried it and found out. Do you have any idea how useless this statue actually is? Sure, it looks nice on a shelf, but I expect a bit more bang for my beak.” He huffed, inexplicably remaining airborne with his wings crossed.
“I tried playing games with it, but out of my whole library, it's only compatible with, like, three! You'd get more bang out of a figure of Luigi. Not that I expect Yours to be worth any more...” He rolled his eyes in disappointment at Pit.

“But you know the old saying, don’t buy what you can’t sell? I figured I’d hold onto it as a collector's item anyway. See what anyone's willing to do to get their hands on it. But after waiting what feels like a year now, that wasn’t worth it either! Maybe a playful game of chase across the sky would be fun, but her entire army’s gotten tough as overcooked noodles without her! I’m better off playing my tricks and jokes when there’s a competent force out to stop me!
So here!”
In the time he monologued, the Garuda managed to steer himself and the distracted Arceus directly above one of his shrines, hidden by the clouds. Swooping into his fog cloaked nest, the Garuda returned wielding Palutena’s trophy in his talons. It was stashed at that shrine the whole time.

An abrupt hush fell over the crowd. Stunned in midair in awe of finally seeing that which they came all this way for. Palutena was in their sights…and the Garuda was in the sights of Pits crosshairs.

“And now that I’m getting this off my hands, I wanna get this off my chest too:
You're too strong to be acting so weak, ” He scoffed at Arceus’s passive sovereignty and ability to be defeated in battle by creatures he put on earth himself.
“I’d kill You here and now, but that’d just be petty of me, ” He squinted at the thunder-happy Arle, earning a scowl from Zelda.
“You're overprotective to compensate your own lack of a mother figure, ” He promptly went after Zelda next.
“You're cool, ” He praised Zelda’s Loftwing with a thumb up.
“And You'd kill and die for a waifu that's a manipulative tease at best and a cougar at worst.” He roasted Pit lastly but not least.
“I'm out!” He screeched, bluntly lobbing the trophy at Pit and knocking him clean off his chariot.

The Centurions did not have a choice in letting the cackling Garuda sail away as their captain and leader plunged into the sea of clouds below.

“Don’t just float there! After them!” Zelda cried out urgently, taking the reins of her Loftwing and leading the charge down after the diving duo. The weight of Palutena’s trophy was dragging Pit down faster than his Centurions or even Zelda’s Loftwing’s wings could chase after them.
Before long, Pit and Palutena’s trophy punched through the bottom of the cloud ceiling. Now there was nothing left between them and the ground but an ever-shrinking distance.

So there he was: Unable to fly and falling to certain doom, with the only person who could help him fly, frozen as an inert statue. Things were as grim as they could get for poor Pit.
Looking up at the sky, at all the Centurions rushing down through the clouds in vain bid to save him, Pit saw reflected his own actions that lead to this moment. He’d failed his assignment, he failed to protect his goddess, he failed to properly step up and take her place in the sky, he failed to train her troops to reclaim her. And now, as the ground draws ever near, they were sure to fail to save him.
And yet, they still haven yet given up on him. Not a single one. Even now, they’d all fly and fight from the heaven to earth in the hope to rescue him. …Same as he’d fight through hell and earth for the hope to rescue her. He’s not all that different from any of them.
Having come so far with nothing left to gain or lose, Pit reached out and grabbed hold of Palutena’s trophy, and held her close for the first time in a long time, one last time. If he were to die again, at least this time, he would die with her.

“Captain!!!” “Pit!!!” Zelda and the Centurions cried out as their captain and trophy exploded in a blinding flash of light.








Clenching with his eyes closed, the last thing Pit felt was his momentum come to an abrupt stop.
…until he felt a new sensation. A feeling he hadn’t felt in what felt like years… in his wings! He knew this feeling anywhere! He was… Flying? His eyes shot open faster than his tears could fall to find Palutena there in his arms… No longer a trophy, but alive and well again! And the Power of Flight on Pit’s wings!
Pit couldn’t believe his eyes, or his arms or his wings! He was sure he had died and returned to heaven but it was all true! He was utterly speechless.



“Tsk tsk, Pit. Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting?” Palutena huffed, impatiently placing her hands on her hips and turning her nose up away from him. Pit was really speechless now. Without missing a beat, she turned her head back to face him, her disappointed frown façade dissolving into a smile as warm and playful as ever.
“Well sorry to…Sorry to keep you wait… Sorry to keep you waihai ha haha hahahaha!” Pit couldn’t stop himself from crying tears of joy long enough to finish his catch phrase. Palutena took her hands off her hips and proudly wrapped them around the captain of her guard as they floated gently to the ground together.

Once safely on the ground, Pit let goddess down to stand. Before she could open her mouth to thank him, he let go of her and took a knee, bowing reverently.
“Welcome back, Lady Palutena.” He lauded devotedly as the rest of the Centurions, now caught up and landing around them, took their captain’s example and bowed.
Zelda, now landing in the presence of a goddess, dismounted her Loftwing with Arle, and guided them both to bow.

“Thank-you, Pit.” Palutena returned praise as she lifted her hero’s chin, bringing him up to his feet. Pit slowly started opening his arms, hoping for a hug at the most, but Palutena took this chance to lean in and plant a grateful kiss softly on Pit’s cheek, catching him by surprise. “It’s good to be back.”
A chorus of cheer erupted as all the Centurions jumped up to their feet, dancing and hugging each other, flying circles in the sky, dropping hearts and overall celebrating a day finally saved.

MISSION COMPLETE

Having finished thanking her champion, Palutena eyed the other heroes present, standing tall above her Centurions.
“So~ Aren’t you going to introduce me to your new friends, Pit?” Palutena asked the winged tomato blushing beside her.
“O-Oh of course, Lady Palutena! W-We couldn’t have saved you without their help!” Pit stumbled to regain his composure.
“Allow me to introduce, Arceus the Alpha Pokémon! He talked the Garuda into giving you back. And this is Arle Nadja! She whipped that bird to a pulp first! You should’ve seen it! And then there’s…” Pit introduced Arceus and Arle before noticing Palutena wandering on her own toward Zelda. She was examining her curiously and intently as if finding something familiar about a stranger.
“Uh yeah, and last but not least, I’d like you to meet-”

“…Hylia? Is that you?”

[Mari]

Woah. Arle hadn't expected Zelda to go along with this. She was just doing what she needed to do, y'know? This actually felt a little danger, having her hands full while she flew. ...Eh. She'd have to trust that the loftwing would take care of her--and that her legs were stronger than her arms. Regardless, she had a moment with the other. Burrying her face in Zelda's collar, she snuggled into the other's embrace and just kind of enjoyed the sweet little moment while it lasted. It was a little weird knowing how uneasy she was with being touched at times, but Zelda had been holding her since she was a baby after all!

Finally, they landed and Arle was left to watch Palutena reincarnate from her trophy form--aaaaand holy smokes she was pretty. It had been so long that Arle had nearly forgotten what a pleasure Palutena was on the eyes. It filled her with the same sort of admiration she got when she gazed upon Rulue, only Rulue decidedly matched her a lot nicer. Palutena was somehow another type entirely, What type that was, Arle wasn't sure, but she was definitely not envious so much as she was just content to have Palutena back.

"Hi Professor Palutena~!" Arle greeted from Zelda's side, holdng one of her hands. "The sisterhood really missed you. --...Hylia?" the mage went on to remark, becoming confused. Was there a Hylia nearby? She certainly hadn't been aware of any. She was looking right past Zelda for some stranger nearby.

[TheSpatialWeeg]

Sorry, Garuda, but Arceus had heard these words before. Honestly, if he looked even slightly draconic, he'd assume the creature was related to Giratina.

His mind wasn't focused on the words directed at him, however. They had managed to recover Palutena, and she was all well in spite of her previous state. The Original One gave Palutena a quick bow as Pit introduced him to the other...then he glanced at Arle as the other seemed confused about whom Palutena was referring to. He chuckled a bit in a hearty fashion. Naivéte was something he missed a fair bit.

"Unfortunately, as much as I would like to continue alongside you all, I have pressing matters to attend. May we meet again, and you all take care." The PokéGod said, beginning to emit a glowing aura before zooming away at blinding speed.

Now, whether or not they would meet him again, it was up to fate.

((End of Presence))

[TartoonHand94]

Pit and his Centurions would all be waving goodbye to Arcues and thanking him… if they weren’t all stunned silent by the shocking revelation. They all stood in silence. Not as if they heard what Palutena said, but she was so quiet they assumed something had just happened and they wanted to hear what happened next.
“W-wait, you two know each other?” Pit gasped in confusion.
“Don’t we, Hylia?” Palutena asked Zelda encouragingly. Zelda was put on the spot now, and she had no idea what to say. Zelda knew 'Palutena' as in she knew who she was, but she had no idea how Palutena knew her.
“I…guess?” Zelda uncomfortably answered. “It’s um… an honour to meet you, Lady Palutena.” She did her best to greet her with a curtsy.
This elicited a disappointed look in Palutena’s eyes, answered by an apologetic look in Zelda’s eyes.
“…But I thought your name was Zelda.” Pit finally broke the silence to say. In the span of a thoughtful blink, Palutena made a decision.

“Well Zelda, Arle, Arecues-oh he left. Oh well, Zelda and Arle, in appreciation for your heroic deeds, I hereby invite you to my Palace in the Sky!” She dramatically gestured up to the sky, calling down a flood of light to pierce the cloudways, opening a direct path to the heavens, much to the oohs and aahs of all her subjects.
“For a tea party.”
“That… Would be an honour, Lady Palutena. Thank you.” Zelda bowed again bashfully.
“Yeah I know.” Palutena giggled as the chariot-driving Centurions came down with Pit’s perch, offering Zelda and Arle a seat aboard. “Now come on, let’s get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Pit sighed in relief. “I am So Done with Crestfallen Castle!”
“Speaking of Crestfallen Castles, Pit...” She gave him a smug, knowing smile. “What’s the damage?”
“T-the damage?” Pit squeaked, immediately realizing what she meant. Since her disappearance, moral around Skyworld was at an all-time low and keeping things tidy. Pit hadn’t even cleaned his own room since that fateful mission that started this whole mess.
“Sounds like you know what you’re doing when we get back home.~” She winked to his bemused shrug of acceptance. “Now come on Pit,” She invited him to take her hand as she raised her staff high in her other. “Let’s go home.”

On her mark all the Centurions, knights and strongarms alike spread their wings and took to the skies once more. They rose in glorious formation, spiralling up the beam of light into the hole in the clouds like objects sinking down a drain. Except the opposite since they were flying up.
Up along with them flew Zelda and Arle like two greek nobilities in their own personal drawn chariot, as Zelda’s Loftwing flew alongside them.

Last but not least, came Palutena and Pit. Deciding a Goddess needn’t walk nor fly herself anywhere, she settled herself a seat in Pit’s arms, and activated his Power of Flight, that he may carry her in his arms, bridal style, all the way back to her temple. Which he was happily obliged to do. So happy, so elated so overjoyed to in fact, his little angel heart couldn’t help but swell and burst in song. It’s what happens when TartoonHand94 ends a thread.

“Again today at last I’m soaring through the sky ♪
Sad yesterdays we all can kiss them all goodbye ♪
Gracious Goddess of-of Light blesses us once again-” ♪
“Just like this song, this mission has a happy end! ♪

THE END
((of presence))