[TartoonHand94]

With the storming emotional storm of pity, sorry, and joy and comradery finally settling, the rain on Pit’s cheeks died down in the embrace of his new friend. He was summoned to this farmland to exterminate a monster, and instead he discovered a kindred soul. Artorias was everything Pit strove to be. Strong under the force of adversity, A fearless tether on the cliffside of the abyss, a shining light of hope in the darkness of…well, darkness. He was everything Pit could be. Through his tears, Pit could make out a face, lit from bellow by the fire beside. Geez, if he was everything Pit could be, he should at least quit watching Stadium Battles in the darkness of his room with all the windows shut. A little more sunlight in his diet wouldn’t hurt. Artorias on the other hand looked long overdue for a hot spring soak.
	Palutena did not know how properly to respond to Artorias’ implications fearing more questions out of Pit than she had answers to. However, she did like the sound of his offer. “MmMmm~ That sounds like quite the offer~. Why thank you, Sir Artorias. Considering the nature of missions around here I’m certain that your services will come quite in handy.” Looking down at Artorias’ heels in the meantime, Pit noticed the darkness ebbing and flowing, ceding and receding at the idle swing of his foot. Fascinating…
	“Yeah! For Our Lady!” Pit agreed, jumping up to his feet. “Oh boy would I!” Pit eagerly accepted Artorias’ invitation for another ride. “So how about it, Our Lady?” He whispered to his goddess with a hinting flex of his wings. “How much time we got left?” “Oh, a couple of minutes to spare~” She replied by igniting them with an aethereal glow, intending to surprise their new friend as soon as he took his leap.

[Deleted]

"Then forward we go, milord." Artorias would back up before leaping high into the air once more, the sudden burst of power splitting a bit of dirt aside, unearthing a few weeds as he took off into the sky. Artorias was acclimatized to these heights, able to fall from these distances with no more than a mere annoyance when he fell. As they soared skyward, Artorias put his arms out as if spreading wings of some kind. "Hahahaaa! Heights like these..!" he did a backflip, letting Pit go as he descended back to the ground, "...Are best shared!" Artorias tumbled quite a bit, a cushion of abyssal energy ready to catch Pit if his wings didn't spread.

This was the life.

Artorias lay on his back now, gazing up to the sky. The eight foot tall warrior was laughing, and hysterically at that. It was clear he was enjoying himself beyond belief. Pit had breathed a life back into this old, decrepit warrior. Pit had given him hope. The boy here was someone who he felt he could trust in the heat of battle, someone who he could rely on to also spill his emotions towards. Artorias would daresay that Pit was like the little brother he never had, or even a son. Hopefully he could nurture this relationship to such a level, to earn Pit's respect, and know him well enough to have someone so close.

[TartoonHand94]

“Here we go!” Pit hooted in a mock Italian accent as they boost blasted high into the sky. Upon reaching their peak, Pit’s wings lit up and extended as wide as Artorias’s arms. Much to Pit’s surprise, however, Artorias let go, causing them to part ways mid-air. Now with an unexpectedly light weight on his wings, Pit did a huge loop in the air, a barrel roll and several other aeronautical tricks across the sky. After putting on a show for Artorias bellow, he descended, swaying back and forth like a falling leaf, before touching down on his back beside the knight. “You said it.” He sighed contently.

[Deleted]

Artorias just lay there, gazing up to the sky. Pit could see his face now, in full. Pale skinned, torn from a thousand battles, though so well healed, that perhaps he'd not taken a hit since. His grace and speed, even in his armor, must be to thank for that. The gleeful smile, beyond the hollow gaze, and the deep sunken eyes, was bright as day and gleaming like fresh steel, white as can be. Artorias must have at least been fortunate enough to take care of himself between combat. In truth, he'd only recently started, given his lack of ability to even do so before his quest, and the technology in his world. 

"Pit."

Artorias's laughter lowered, and finally grew to a solemn sigh as well. He took a breath, gathering courage to say this. Finally... He admitted, and with a bit of shaken confidence. "This is the most fun I've ever had in the eons I've lived. Time in my world runs in circles, with no clear beginning or end once you're in the cycle. I can feel the continuity has yet to end here, that perhaps... the cycle is perhaps beyond our time itself." Artorias's voice quivered a bit, unsure of how to ask Pit this. He knew that Li was not forever. He knew that Li was not going to hold them for an eternity. Eventually, this would end, and Artorias did not want to return to his world. He wanted to finally feel a single continuity. Artorias could not take the idea of a circular timeline any longer. "When we return home, I am unsure if my land will ever be the same way. There... is an object from my land. The Soapstone. Many are created, and... they allow the transposition of a being to another world. If we can find parallels to our worlds. I... I request that you take me with you. There is nothing for me left in the world I come from. Nothing but destruction and ruin. If you cannot accommodate me, this is fine."

[TartoonHand94]

“Hm?” Looking up from where he lay, Pit saw an abruptly chilling sight. Artorias’ full, pale, battle scarred face, but declined to comment. What could he possibly say about that face when it was making such a gleeful smile? “This is the most fun I’ve had since December 15th 2015.” Pit smiled back. “I know whacha mean. Till Medusa came back it felt like I was climbing out of the Underworld for 25 years. Not having a sequel’s like living in a rut.” Pit sighed, unprepared for how serious the conversation was going to get.
	“Wow …The Soapstones in Our world just make you clean.” Pit mumbled, not sure what to do with a question that heavy. “I…I don’t know if that’s even something I can do… Maybe If I ask-” “Who knows what will become of any of us when this is all over.” Palutena chimed in from above. “As much as we’d like to believe it to be so, nobody’s future is made more certain by being here. That being said…”
	Down from the heavens, suspended in divine light, a Priest’s Hat slowly descended to be caught by Pit. “Take this, Knight Artorias, servant Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight. This is a Blessed Headpiece.” Palutena instructed him to receive it from Pit who dutifully knelt to offer it. “I have imbued this helm with the sacred power to communicate with me. And with Pit.” She explained, much to Pit’s humble smile. “Wear it so that when my time comes for you, wherever you may be, you may hear my call.” She then changed her tone of voice which echoed louder and more ethereally as if she adjusted the acoustics of her palace in the sky. “Place it upon thyne head so that I may dub thee a Champion of Palutena.”

[Deleted]

"Milord, the soapstones were carved from them." Artorias corrected Pit's presumptions, before hearing the voice of his new lady in his head. She echoed in his mind, a familiar... soothing presence. Artorias removed his helmet, the faded hair, and the extent of his scars, exposed into the almost painful sunlight. The hat was consumed, engulfed by abyssal mist, assuming the shape of his former helmet. Palutena and Pit could likely feel the dark growing closer to their souls, but... it wasn't a bad kind of dark, it wasn't an evil. This presence was just... a natural dark. His fingers clasped carefully over the once holy relic, placing it on his head. Lifting his arms to his blade, and plunging it to the ground, kneeling, he awaited Palutena near silently until he finally spoke.

"I shall do thy bidding unto the land's better interest. I shall fight alongside thy forces, thy men and thy heroes. Milady, and my goddess, thou'rt gracious to consider me as thy Champion. Henceforth, my blade is thine. My will is thine. Thy enemies shall be my own, as thy allies art. E'er so, I shall not waver if danger comes unto thee. I shall be thy blade, thy aegis, and thy Champion. So help me unto any being that thy grace shall stand in equal presence. I shall hold thy champions in equal regard, I shall treat them as my kin, my flesh and blood."

[TartoonHand94]

	Pit visibly flinched as both he and Palutena can feel the darkness that consumed the hat. This was unusual. From the way the blessed headpiece of light could be taken by darkness so easily, to the fact that the darkness was so benign and inherently evil. Pit couldn’t place it, but he could feel an essence akin to Dark Pit. Palutena on the other hand could sense an essence of…Medusa.
	“So shall it be!” Palutena announced after a brief pause. A heavenly round of applause erupted from the sky as if a legion of Centurions among the clouds were putting their hands together for Artorias. Pit joined in the clapping. “Welcome to the team, Artor!” Pir congratulated, extending a hand for a high five.
	“And now would be a good time for this social to end.” Before he could make contact, however, Lady Palutena cut him off by shining another light down on him. “Now it’s about time you came back, Pit.” “Huh? So soon? Why? What’s the matter Lady Palutena?” Pit asked completely oblivious. “I’ll explain when you get here, now come along, Pit.” Palutena hastily answered, lifting Pit up into the column of light. “Can’t Artor come?” Pit asked unsatisfied. “Not yet Pit.” Was the last thing her voice said before Pit disappeared into the atmosphere leaving only a clutch of feathers fluttering behind in the breeze. “Not till we’re sure it’s safe.”