Pit grumbled in his sleep. The sunlight from the window had hit his face at that annoying angle again, dragging his mind back from the land of nod. He sighed inwardly, he had never been and knew he never would be, a morning angel. As his mind groggily readjusted itself he remembered something. He had the day off, Palutena had surprised him with that lovely fact yesterday, for all his hard work or something. He didn't remember exactly, when the words 'day' and 'off' were mentioned in the same sentance he zoned out. Days off meant lie ins and lie ins were the best thing since sleep itself.
Pit smiled to himself, now the wonderful moment were he could just drift back off to sle-
Something smacked Pit on the forehead knocking him out of his pleasant daze.
Pit fell of the edge of his bed in surprise, sprawled out on the floor in a mess of limbs and the bed covers.
Pit mumbled a few curse words under his breath as he looked up at his assulterer.
Dark Pit was standing over him with a small smirk on his face.
"Rise and shine princess."
"It's bad luck to wake up a sleeping angel you know" Pit grumbled in reply
"That's sleep walkers" Dark Pit replied shaking his head slightly
"Pretty shore it's both" he said under his breath
Dark Pit recovered the sandal he had lobbed at Pit and began refastening it to his foot.
"Come on, Plautena wants us"
"That's Lady Plautena" Pit stressed
"Come on Pit you've known her your entire life, you can stop with the formalities you know"
"Besides" Dark Pit continued before Pit could defend himself "she doesn't like being called that"
"W-wait she doesn't?!" Pit said surprised
"You mean you never bothered to ask her?"
"No I just, kinda always did it" he replied "Anyway how could you know she wants us, your not even dressed yourself" he pointed out
Dark Pit smiled slightly again "Don't be dumb Pit, my wreath vibrated like normal. Wait why aren't you wearing yours?"
"I don't really sleep with it on" Pit said unsure of himself again
"Why exactly? You can hardly feel it when you sleep." Dark Pit said curious
Pit looked down slightly breaking eye contact
Dark Pit's grin grew wider.
"You still think it's going to 'squeeze your brains out' don't you?" he said
Pit still looked slightly embarrassed.
"You need to learn how to take a joke Pit"
"Yeah, but whenever she does say that it grows tighter!" Pit responded
"Added comic effect or your imagination, you know she would never actually do it Pit" Dark Pit said back still smiling. "you really are a pranker's dream you know"
"Come on you making me late as it is" he cut in quickly before Pit could try and justify his gullibility
Dark Pit finished strapping on his sandal and proceeded to dash out of the room still snickering to himself.
Pit sighed getting up and proceeding to reassemble the bed, casting his mind back to the events leading up to sharing a room with his snarky clone.
Pit had essentially just saved the world. The dark lord of the underworld, stealer of souls and downright annoying God of evil had been blown to smithereens by his own hand (that and a supercharged experimental laser cannon). The humans had all rejoiced at the victory ceasing the war, skyworld had been rebuilt and the forces of nature had called a truce with the Skyworld army with even Vicenti had even admitted Pit had done a good job. The celebrations had been underway when Pitto had spoken to Plautena privately. He had surprised the Goddess when he essentially opened his heart to her describing his apparent lack of direction in his life. He saw himself as an imperfect clone, created from the worst qualities of a good person. He felt lost and unsure about his true purpose with what to do next now that there was nothing powerful left for him to fight. Palutena had responded with the content of her own heart to. She offered him a choice of joining her and the other angels in skyworld, a job and a home. Dark Pit was similarly surprised, an unconditional act of kindness from a person who didn't even know him all that well. He had been reserved about the offer, he would be serving a god, contradicting his fiercely independent nature. When Plautena casually mentioned that he would get to fight alongside and against Pit himself Dark Pit had quickly made up his mind.
Pits reaction had been somewhat different. He had no problem with Pitto himself ("stop calling me that!") but it was Palutena's decision for them to share a room that he objected to. Palutena said it would help them bond, Pit said he couldn't snore at leisure anymore. To Plautena it didn't really matter anyway, having two angel captains was better than the one. And so for 4 months Dark Pit and Light Pit had been room mates and had only 30 less arguments than expected for the first month. Neither of them however could argue with how well they worked together in battle together when they fought together on a regular basis. alutena had seen the goodness within Pitto, understanding who he really was and had given him support, Pitto had thought it only fair to repay her in kind.
Pit just finished getting ready, preening the last of some loose feathers from his right wing, there had been more and more of those recently he thought. Replacing his golden wreath on his head he dashed out the door after his new partner.
* * *
Celestia stood regally on her balcony like she did every evening. She had already set the sun and Luna was already fulfilling her own duties as she quietly stood there. Celestia was not there for the calming scene like normal, nor for the peace that practically radiated of it either, no she was there for another reason. Her manner was not particualrly different from normal but her mindset was. The sad fact was that she didn't really know what her mindset was, she knew it was negative what she was feeling was not what she would normally call 'good'. She was......worried, yes that was the best word she could think of, nothing was wrong with the state of equestria but she felt that something would at some point, in the future happen and that that something would be bad. And that's what frustrated her, her conclusion was nothing new, it was almost certain that something bad would happen in the future but she still felt uncomfortable and she couldn't for the life of the sun put her hoof on what she was so worried about. She sighed slightly, she was probably just not feeling herself although she couldn't care to remember the last time she had been properly ill. She turned away from the fantastic view, with a very slight frown on her face trying to dispel the strange sense of unease she felt. Walking back towards her room a soft fluttering behind her confirmed what she already knew. Luma princess of the night, had finished guiding the moon on it's course across the star speckled sky and had decided to join her sister on her balcony to briefly review the day together like they did occasionally. Celestia would always greet her appearance with her warm smile and a small remark, so Luna could tell something was wrong to her sister when she landed behind her and saw her heading back inside earlier than normal. The fact that she didn't even look up at her when she landed didn't do anything more to help her worry.
"Tia, what's wrong?" Luna asked apprehensively but with some small sense of urgency, a worried sun goddess is never a good thing.
Celestia stopped and turned her head towards Luna with a smile halve the size of her normal one.
"Nothing to worry yourself about."
"Tia, it obviously is if it worries you" she replied with more force, secrets or doubts held from one another had done them no favours in the past.
Celestia turned to face Luna properly.
"It really is quite insignificant, call it leaders worry" she said shaking her head slightly "either that or I've picked up a bug"
Luna immediately relaxed, releasing the small amount of tension in her muscles.
"Please, don't do that" she replied but now with a sense of ease "I trust you instincts an awful lot you know"
Celestia smiled "A little too much" she tittered.
Luma returned her smile "Hey I shouldn't be here, to sick monarchs makes running a country far harder" she said playfully.
Their conversation quickly turned to more trivial matters, sharing some of the days events with each other before Celestia stifled back a small yawn.
"And I'll take that as my cue to leave" said Luna.
"Yes, sleep is a demanding obligation" Celestia said through another yawn.
"I'll let you get to your important duty and while I'll get back to mine" Luna replied with a smile
Celestia returned it in full and with a small nuzzle to Luna before making her way back inside while her sister took to the night sky to watch over the night once again.
Celestia removed her bridle and crown rubbing her fur underneath, those can get very uncomfortable after long days she thought.
Celestia began to get into her princess size bed when she felt the same sensation again. She thought she had felt it earlier, it had given her the sense of worry in the first place. But it was far more intense this time and she had no doubt over what she was feeling. It was not pain for a disruption of the order of equestria. No, it was something more profound, definitely negative in tone but curious in nature. She didn't know why but Celestia felt a sense of loss. Something was missing from the world and it put her on edge. Celestia continued to get into bed apprehensively, she didn't know what to do. Being tired didn't help here thought process at all, she needed to deal with this when she didn't feel like sleeping where she stood. Getting under the covers, Celestia's mind rushed with worry until she tired herself out and gave in to sleep.
* * *
Palutena greeted her guardian angels with her usual warm smile. Dark Pit and Light Pit both fell to one knee before her at the same time and almost symmetrically, an habit neither of them particually liked but found themselves doing automatically.
"Good morning to you both" the goddess of light greeted them.
"Sorry of our slight delay" Dark Pit began "we were held back by Pit's extended beauty sleep"
"Hey you seen the studies, it does help maintain muscle tone and a clear complection" Pit retorted.
"Your not helping your side you know, sleeping beauty" Dark Pit responded glancing sideways with a condescending look.
"Actually it doesn't particularly matter" Palutena said cutting off Pit before they both started bickering again "I called you both up slightly earlier than I needed you to compensate for" she cleared her throat quietly "my captain's resting habits"
"Wait you know?" Pit said a little shocked.
"I've known your for a your whole life Pit, a person tends to learn about another if they've known them that long" Palutena said "that and you have obvious bed hair"
Pit suddenly reached up to feel his hair, a shocked expression on his face.
Palutena openly laughed lightly while Dark Pit chuckled to himself.
"Anyway" Palutena said reestaishing the topic while her captains stood up to face her, one considerably more miffed than the other "we have a special guest here today to help with the new boot camp"
"Oh I forgot that was today" Pit realised
"Yeah, I was surprised you actually went through with that idea" added Dark Pit
"Well if the war taught us one thing it was that the centurions are just as fickle as ever" Palutena replied "so this will help toughen them up a bit although I still hope I don't have to use them..."
"Me and Pitto are more than capable for anything that can be thrown at us" Pit said boldly while Dark Pit glared at him for using his disliked nickname.
"Oh those no issue with you two" Plutena replied warmly "it's mostly so they have something to do and can pick up the slack from both of you should you need it"
"Which brings me nicely on to why our guest is here" she continued
"Oh yeah, why is that?" asked Pit, it was rare for vistors in Skyworld, it being in the Sky.
"Well I needed someone to help introduce the training regimen to the troops and since you insisted on that day off...." Plautena said
"Wait I asked for a day off?" Pit interjected
"Yes you did, for both you and DP, don't you remember? You had plenty of holiday time so I reallocated a day here" she finished with Dark Pit smiling for her using his prefered nickname before he realised what Palutena had just said.
"You asked for a day off for both of us?" asked a perturbed Dark Pit, turning to Pit "I'm more than ready for a bit of sparring and knocking around a few grunts" he said briefly shadow boxing as he finished "Speak for youself next time."
"Oh yeah I remember now" Pit said, recalling yesterday's events and ignoring Dark Pit "it was because my wings have been giving me trouble lately"
"Your wings?" Plautena said, a genuine curious tone in her voice.
"Yeah, they keep aching and more of my feathers keep falling out"
"Getting all over the furniture" muttered Dark Pit.
"I've seen a few black ones around to actually" Pit replied.
"I keep mine confined to the bed and-"
"Ok you two, I understand" Palutena interrupted with a motherly albeit firm tone "the reason I woke you both up is because I thought you would like to meet our guest" she said smiling again.
"Who is it exactly?" asked Pit
Plautena smiled wider and indicated with her hand to her right. Through a door way strode a largely built human with a mop of long black hair and a rough shaven face with a small goatee. He was wearing blue dyed clothes that did not seem to be able to give any form of protection to the obvious warrior they were worn by. His bare arms each had long but simplistic black tattoos down them which gave of a sense of hard battle experiance along with the over sized blunt sword on his back.
"Hello again, angel face" Magnus said in his gruff voice.
* * *
Celestia was pensive at breakfast, idolly chewing her manhatten bagal while not touching the rest of the large assortment of foods in fron of her. Luna, on her part had done her best to ignore her sisters behaveior dimissing it as the illness she theorized the other day. It was however becomeing harder and harder to do as every time she sttemptted to strike up casual convsersation, Celestia shot it down with some half conjoured relpy that wasn't rude but gave little room for expansion in the interaction.
"Weather is set to be bright all week" Luna tried again.
"Mmmm" Celestia mumbled.Still gzing at the back wall behind Luna.
"Supposed to compensate for spate of rainstorms the weather factory organized last month." Luna continued.
A small silence decended on the room again, before Luna tried again.
"Fleet Foot is expecting a foal." she said making the topic more important.
"Good, good" she replied lazily, now focusing her gaze on the corner of a tapastery hung on another wall.
"She thinks it may well be a filly, 'little filly fleet foot' she calls it" Luna said with a hint of happiness for the mare.
"Makes sense....." Celestia replied, trailing off.
"Tia who am I talking about?" Luna suddenly asked.
"Mmmm?" Celestia uttered, focusing her attention on Luna who was wearing a frown on her face.
"A pony. I was just talking about a pony who had some interesting news. Who was it?" Luna said sternly.
"Um. Sleet Soot, the chimmny sweep. He's expecting some coal." She said with forced sureness.
"You're not listening to me?" said Luna a stern and offened tone to her voice.
"Pardon?" Celestia replied, suprised by her ssister's apparant change of character.
"Fleet Foot. PegasusDivision, 3rd regiment. She's pregnant witha foal." Luna repeated, exasperated by her sister's lack of attention.
"Oh, of course. Good for her" Celestia hastily said.
"Why aren't you listening to me, this is not normal Tia. You've been acting wired since last night but just brushed it off as to an affliction but this is out of character and no ill I know of dampens the attention span" she finished, worried but stern.
Celestia's shocked expression vanished almost immediately as it had come and she let out a resigned sigh.
"Your right, Luna" she admitted "I'm not myself but I dont know what's wrong. I know something bad is going to happen but it is so hard to pin down what. I keep feeling these sensations of loss, I think, but I don't know what of. I feel like the world is made of glass and is just about to shatter...."
Luna lost her flustered state and imdeitaly changed it to one of understanding. Celestia was far more in tune with the world then she let on. She had become in one with the blance in equestria and was affected by sudden changes in it. Thus when Celestia felt something it was always best to take it seriously. Luna knew this all to well.
"Tia" she said getting up and walking round to her side of the table "whatever it is we can get through it together and prepare for what ever is going together" Luna assured her, embracing her with her wing.
"It's the worry that bothers me so.. " Celestia began.
"Which is why it is best if you tell me your troubles as a burden shared...." Luna intergected.
"...is a burden halved" Celestia finished with her usual smile.
Luna nodded and returned it while Celestia pulle her closer into the embrace.
"Thank you Luna, you help me focus on what's important." Celestia said with her eyes closed and a smile on her face while in the hug.
"We both support each other, that has how it has always been and it has always worked." Luna replied while doing much the same as her sister.
"But what do you think we should do?" Celestia said with tripedation, breaking the hug to look at her sister.
"Prepare what we can" she said matter-o-factually "it being a vague threat doesn't mean that there is nothing we can do about it"
"Yes your right" Celestia nodded
"I will go and do some more research to try and assess the balance of the world and specifically look for things that might be missing." Luna confirmed
"And I will inform Twilight, she may not be able to do anything now but it will be better if she was at least aware of this" Celestia replied.
"Meet back at my room in half an hour?" proposed Luna
"An excellent idea." Celestia agreed.
With that Celestia nuzzled Luna quickly before bidding her sister a late good morning and parting ways. Celestia left the dining room assured but still reserved. As she walked back to her quarters with her guards she couldn't stop herself thinking one thing:
Please let me be wrong.....
Author's Note
First Fim fic so go easy. Constructive criticism appreciated.
'Light' Sparring and Unsure Mares
"Two of you now? That's turn out for the books, never thought you'd settle down Pitto" Magus mused as he and the twin captains walked through the halls of Plautenas place.
"I prefer Dark Pit" said the blacked winged angel, with a hard undertone to his voice.
"Just as tetchy as you said" Magnus said looking at Pit, blanking his dark counterpart.
"Yeah, just don't get on his badside though, he holds a grudge for far to long." said Pit with a hushed tone for the last part, obiously making an attempt to tease Dark Pit with a pretend seccracy with his new companion.
Magnus grinned while Dark Pit shoke his head in frustration turning away and deciding to walk behind them.
"Speaking of settling down" Pit started with a mischevious grin on his face "I heard you and Goal finally tied the knot"
Magnus gave Pit a disgruntled look. "It's not as cheasy as it sounds"
"Oh, I think it is exactly as cheasy as it sounds" Pit conitued wiith the same grin "just think, you childhood sweetheart corrupted by the evil lord of shadows and forced to his bidding but her knight in disshevled armour bursts into her fortress to liberate her from the corruting inluence with a large amount of help from yourstuly" Pit bragged placing a hand on his chest "and she's all like 'oh Magnus my hero'" Pit said in a overly high tone " and you say 'anything for you my love' *snogging noise*" Pit finished with gusto, doing his best Magnus impression.
"So yeah couldn't really be anymore more 'cheasy' in my book" he remarked with his grin still plastered on his face.
Magnus had listened to this with a look of stoic disamusement that was focused on Pit and din't even flinch when Pit reanacted the reuniteing between Magnus and his old comerade.
"I can't wait to kich your ass in sparing" he remarked simply.
Dark Pit perked up at the sound of this and increased his pace to walk along side Magnus on his right.
"Where're sparring? I thought you where going to introduce the raing scheme to the troops?" he said interested.
"And what better way to do that than with a demonstration?" Magnus relpied, happy to change the subject "Show 'em what to aim for, give 'em a point of referance. And since you two don't seem to be to bothered with using your day off, I have to perfect fighting partners right here." he finished simling at a now worried Pit.
"Welllllll it was nice catching up Magnus" Pit started suddenly stopping and beginning to turn around "but we really have to get back to other important stuff, you know with all this free time we need to, eh, fill out weapon forms and scout areas, sleep, you know, stuff like that."
"Not so fast angel face" Magnus said calmly grabbing Pit by the back of his tunic and hoisting him up to face him in the other direction with himself and Dark Pit blocking the rest of the corridor. "Where here now and it will give the centurions a brilliant lesson how to not fight like their captain when he gets beaten my a mere mortal such as myself.
"I call dibs on round two with him" Dark Pit cut in.
"That's if he makes it that far." chuckled Magnus.
They soon all arived outside into the main training grounds of the the palace. It was a wide open area with dry dirt underfoot and a race track marked onto it. It was surrounded on all sides by the walls of the palace that made it appear like a coutyard but woth spectator seats surrounding the perimeter. There was already a substational amount of centurions present, ranging from the standard centurion archers, the very heavily built centurion stongarms and the agile and skilled fighters. Magnus strode ahead of Pit and Dark Pit and clapped his hands together to get their attention. The trops stopped their various warm up excercises and all turned to face their new trainer.
"Good morning ladies" Magnus announced "I'm your new guest trainer and official eliminater of weakness, Magnus." He finished striking a battle ready pose with his sword drawn in both hands pointing down and a 'come at me if you think your hard enough' look on his face.
"I am here to show you all your new back breaking, mucsle tearing and heart stopping training regimenine that will actually make you worthy of calling yourself centurions." he declared.
The centurions present looked a little uneasey and a few murmered to one another, their captain's training sessions were alitlle more easy going compared to this 'Magnus's approch.
"Now, everyone take of your armour and drop them along with your weapons in a pile over there" Magbus ordered.
Ther centurions all glanced at Pit for guidance, who taken aback, looked to Dark Pit who simply shrugged carlelessly.
"Move it ladies, or you'll all be on cook duty with the goddess." Magnus repeated.
They all responded to that, it was known far and wide in Skyworld that when Palutena cooked something it never really ended well for any of them, the vegetable surprise was the best example of that.
Magnus tuned slightly towords Pit and Dark Pit with his sword still slung over his sholder and tilted his head towords the pile the centurions were creating.
"You to, feather boys." he said.
"Featherboys?" Pit began before he was shoved off in the direction of the equipment pile by Dark Pit, stopping him from starting another comeback war.
As Pit and Dark Pit stripped down to their shorts along with the rest of the centurions Pit mumbled to his companion
"What exactly does he think weare gonna get out of this?"
Before Dark Pit could respond, Magnus's sword came spinning from behind them to impale itself in the groud a foot away from where it was standing. He promptly recoiled from the waepon with a look of shock on his face and gritted teeth.
"Because captain" Magns began from behind them as they all truned round to face him "it doesn't matter how good you are with a sword, how well you can swing a club or evn cast the most powerful spells" he said throwing histwo bbots into the pile for added emphisis "if you can't fight with just the natural gifts you were born with" he contunied unstrapping his various belts and removing his top which were also added to the pile "there's no point you being warrior let alone serving under the goddess of light herself."
"This is where our little demonstration comes in." Magnus said smiling "if we can show these fine gentleman here" he said waving his arm at the gathered centurions while still looking at Pit "a little sparring with the improvisation of unarmed combat beween two very different opponents, the will glimpse the true nature of battle and have some thing to build on." he finished, his smile becoming a knowing one.
"Well put." Dark Pit remarked shoving Pit towards Magnus
Pit was caught momentarily off guard but went with the shove to walk up and face Magnus with a duel distance between them.
"The rest of you form paralell lines to the sides of us, and stand back, wouldn't want your captain to go flying in to any of you." Magnus said grinning.
"Oh, now it is on." Pit replied returning the grin as he jumped sllightly on the spot before entering a fighting stance with agnusdoing the same.
"Remeber this is light sparring only so that means its over when the other person looses conciousness" Magnus said
"I like your idea of 'light' sparring" Dark Pit remarked
"And that means" Magnus continued "that there cannot be any- hey wait what's that?!" Magnus finished rising out of his stance slightly and pointing off into the distance behind Pit.
"Wah?" Pit said confused turning around while keeping his feet still in the same place.
Magnus grinned braodly as he suddenly charged at Pit full pelt.
***
Twilight Sparkle sat at the desk in her room, as usual on said desk there lay a book. This one had been particualry intersting to Twilight as it was focused soly around magical theory. Every sentance in it was purly speculation about the larger and far smaller details of magic from the greatest magical theorits in Equestian history, abstract theories that they developed on the smallest piece of evidence after they had completed their more famous works. Everything from Starswirl the Bearded's attempts to pinpoint the limitations and causes of magical fields to Chatterbox the Mads theories regarding theexistance of 'anti magic'. It was her kind of fiction, specultion bout the wondorous art of spellcraft. Wait, was it even fiction if it could be true? Twilight wondered. It didn't matter exactly, she still enjoyed every word of it.
"Twilight! Are you coming for breakfast?" called the voice of Spike.
Twilight smiled to herself closing the book. "Coming Spike" she replied.
Twilight trotted down from her room into the libarys kitchen to be greeted with the table layered for her with her number one assitsant standing on a box frying something in pan over the cooker. He was seriousabout this activity Twilight could tel,l because he was wereing his best cooking apron.
Spike was suprisingly good at cooking and his skills had only improved as he had almost egerly accepted cooking duites for him and Twilight, which she was happy to let him do. The result was the tasty looking morning salad he had made her this morning.
She sat down and began to dig in. "Did you sleep well last night?" she asked.
"As deep and as well as ever." he repilied with a smile and a turn of his head.
"Whatcha making now?"
"Sunnyside eggs-Spike style. Want some?"
"Spike style?" Twilight said with a smile and a raised eyebrow.
Spike grinned as he pivotted on his box to show Twilight the contents of the pan. In it were two normal sized eggs, cooked golden but cut crudly to resemble a profile of Spike's head.
"Originality is the keystone in the best chefs skill." he said proudly while still moving the eggs around in the pan with the spatula in his hand to keep them from burning.
Twilight shoock her head while still smiling.
"As long as it doesn't effect the taste like it has your ego" she said as he turned back to the range.
Once the eggs were served up, they began to tuck in, Twilight with her salad and egg hybrid dish and spike with his egg and toast with a side of gems with milk.
"Spike do you have to eat with your mouth open?" Twilight asked rehtoically to spike with a friendly frown on her face.
"It's more comfortable." Spike insisted.
"Rarity won't be impressed." Twilightcommented returning to eat her food casually. Spike perked up slightly at the mention of his crush with a slight blush on his face. Twlight giggled at this. Just then the dragon took on an expression of shock tha was familiar to twlight as he put his hands over his mouth and burped up a scroll in his usual way.Then several things happened at the same time. Spike in the shock of having an enchanted scroll reform in his stomoch expelled the scroll along with the milk from the mouthful he had just ingeted but out of his nose with the scroll coming out of his mouth. The duel action of his body rejecting these forign objects casued the dragon to tumble of his seat to the floor with a cry. The scroll was promptly soaked by the expelled milk and then recived a seond dose of milk by landing in the remains of spikes bowl of gems. Twilight laughed harder at the first two events but quietened down when she saw where thescroll now sat. Picking it up in her magic while eyeing with a hint of digust she broke the seal while beginning to read it.
"I wnder what the princess needs?"
"She needs better timing." replied Spike getting up with one arm on the table.
Twilight registered this with a titter before turning to the letter proper.
"What does it say Twilight?"
Twilight had become completley focused on the letter. Her expreesion was one of concerned curioisity with a slight frown and her mouth slightly agape.
"Twilight?" Spike said with more concern in his voice.
Twilight put down the letter and looked straight at Spike.
"Spike we need to go the see the others, the libary will be closed today."
***
Pit fell hook, line and sinker for the clasic distraction Magnusad employed, he only had a few seconds to turn around again with a resigned look of defeat on his face before the haymaker Magnus had charged at him with connected with the side ogf his head.
Pit went flying backwards and landed hard on his back. This was accompanyed by the centurions present to collectivly flinch and grimice.
"Ohhhhhhh, that's gotta hurt" remarked Dark Pit.
"Lesson 1: Your opponent should be all that you focus on, the battle's only over until you land the last blow." Magnus stated.
Pit flipped back onto his feet a scowl and a hand on his face.
"A cheap shot..."
"But still an effective one. You left yourself completly open to attack and I merely took the invitation." Magnus returned
"Lesson learned!" Pit shouted as he threw himself back at magnus.
Pit feigned a ground assult as Magnus grabbed for him. Pit leaped over the failed grapple, jumping over Magnus and delivering a back kick to the back of his head.
Magnus grunted spnning around and launching another blow. Pit dodged this by leaping back further until they were now facing each other again but from the opposite positions they started in.
They both breathed slightly heavy than normal as they stood each other down again. Magnus was stronger than Pit but he was far more agile. It was a cleiche match up but that was probberbly why Magnus had insisted on it, a text book example with no weapons would clearly allow fot the troops to see how the combatants utilised their gifts propperly.
They both rushed each other again. Pi leaped over Magnus again but gaining more height. Magnus expected this and had slowed down slightly before he met Pit. He reached up with his and and grabbed Pit by the ankle. Pit registered the grab to late. Magnus spun round to face Pit bringing him down to the ground that he was directly above. Pt hit the ground hard but braced himself with his arms. He quickly recovered from the fall from by rolling around to the side of Magnus and while crouching, strock magnus in the ribbs with his hand in a spear shape. Magnus grunted in pain as he struck the nerve cluster and swung his arm round in a blind slap in return. Pit took the blow sliding back slightly before rushing Magnus again. Magnus was taken by suprise slightly as Pit managed to get a few punches in to his gut. Raising his guard Magnus easilty blocked the remainder of the punches that Pit delivered. Seeing his flurry was loosing his time window Pit flared his wings ready to dash away. However Magnus had other ideas and side swiped his last punch asdide while grabbing it as the same time. Pit struggled against the grip in vain as Magnus jabbed him in the face before swinging him completly over his head and back down to the earth. Pit was throughrally dazed by the amount of personal timehe had been spending with the ground at the moment and so didn't try the best he could to get back up when Magnus slammed his foot back down into his chest. Pit struggled a more in vain against the foot made of rock on his chest butitpushed down harder.
Magnus who still had hold of Pit's arm spoke up.
"Lesson 2: When your down, stay down." he grinned "Give up?"
Pit nodded, a pained expression on his face.
Still ginning Magnus faced the crowd which had been joined by some other servants from the palace who wanted to watch the spectacle. "I hope you ladies had been taking notes"
The centurions looked unsure while Dark Pit had a slight smile on his face. He then noticed the spectating servants in the stands and in the group of centurions.
"Hey, don't you all have some serving to do?" he asked rehoriaclly to them. THey all perked up at this and scurried off back to their duties with apoloiges and "yes captain"s. Dark Pit turned back to the victorious Magnus and his defeated counterpart when he caught Pit's eyes. His gaze was focused on him and he had a smile on his face that didn't look nearlty as pained as it had been earlier.
"You people can come back actually" he said to the servants over his shoulder who hestitaed slightly but returned to their postions with looks of cinfusion on their faces.
"You guys better pay attention too" he said addressing the centurions who also shared looks of confusion but complied anyway.
Magnus frowned but qiuckly realised what implications this had. He was too late to bring his foot back off Pit as he grabbed it throwing it off his chest. Magnus's foot made contact with the ground as Pit used the ridgiity Magnus had applied to it to swing his own feet round at Magnus's ther foot. Magnus had not expected this, thinking Pit would try and exploit the hold he had used on Pit with his foot, instead Pit was using his own defense to attack his other leg. Pit did just that and with gusto, Magnus's leg was swept from right underneath him and quickly lost his balance. Pit swung back up into a standing position while Magnus was still falling, he helped him along by bringing his elbow down into his chest and carrying him to the ground. Magnus grunted far louder in pain and followed this up with a gowl and thrashing his limbs around ina cordinated patterns in order to try and grab his oppnent again. Pit dashed out of his range again and waited until he bagan to get up to his feet. Pit dodged to the side of Magnus but qucickly switched his direction again as Magnus brought up his arms in a dfensive postion to his side to counter Pits attack. Pit was now facing a momnetarily open Magnus who spun his head around to recover himself. Piy took his chance raising his open palms up and simulatanously hitting Magnus on the sides of the head on the ears. The air tha this trapped within Magnus's ear cavities along with the oddity of the attack at this instant completly disorentated Magnus. He brought up his left arm up to his ringing ear while croaching and raising his other before his face, taking a steadfast and defensive stance. Pit suddenly began backing up, still facing Magnus.
"What's the captain doing?" asked a fighter to her partner.
"Just watch." Dark Pit commented not taking his eyes of Pit.
The fighter looked at him curiously.
"But sir, he's, isn't he running away?" she asked very confused.
"No" Dark Pit replied turning to her with a smile "He's finishing him off"
Pit suddenly began running at Magnus again faster than before. He gritted his teeth as he drew nearer and nearer to Magnus. The crumpled warrior only registered a white blur coming at him and he smiled slightly.
"Not bad kid." he muttered with a pained grin.
Pit reached a couple of meters in front of Magnus before he sparkeled a momentary shade of puce before he was laaunched into the air by a rush of power.
The crowd stared in a mild sense of awe.
"Mmmm, wouldn't really consider Sky Jump a gift you were born with, Pit...." Dark Pit mumbled
Pit went flying through the air and began to decend when above Magnus, still with an expression of determination on his face.
Pit landed squarley on Magnus's upperback with both his feet. Pit imediatly flipped of Magnus on to one knee as Magnus shoke slightly as his head rose back up showing his dazed and pained expression to the crowd. He then slumped to the side, throurghly unconciousness as Pit stood up and turned on his heels to face the crowd.
"Lesson 3: It's not over till it's over." he said with a grin on his faceand his arms spread wide, triumphantly to the crowd.
The ceturions began to cheer their captain and the servants still looked on in awe whith some smiling and also joining the centurions cheer. Dark Pit stood with his arms folded and a smart smile on his face.
"Class dismissed" he suddenly cried to the crowd who began to disperse.
***
"I really don't see what the fus isall about, darling."
Rarity commented as Twlight paced in front of her friends who had all gathered in the libary.
"Rarity's rite Twilight" Applejack chimed in "The princess is worried abou somethin' sure, but that don't mean you need all of your sceincy stuff." She saidd pointing to the large whuring machines behind Twilight.
Twilight had had Spike move most of the contents of her basement laboratory in to the landing of the libary, he had needed bribing to do such a large undertaking as many of the machines seemed to have been designed to be heavy. He was now sleeping off the aches and bruises in his basket upstairs. While he had done the heavy lifting, Twilight had gone to round up the other elements to rely the news to everyone.
"I know they can be" Twilight looked at the metal monstocities that virtually blocked the back end of the house. "big." she said, for lack of a better word "but they can help me paint more of a picture of this area." she finished adjusting the modified specrometers connection to her own telescope that was positioned out of the window.
"Paint a picture of what exactly?" Rainbow asked rubbing her cheek while hovering near one of the machines, eyeing it suspicously.
"Well, in lamens terms, the 'order' of ponyville." Twilight replied.
"Which entails..." Rarity led her.
"You know, magic flow, star light patterns, magic use feedback, that kinds thing."
"And you'll thing this is nessesary cus the princess had a bad inclin' towords some 'threat'?" Applejack said with unconvinced emphise put on threat.
"Look, I know you may thing this might be excessive" Rainbow snorted to which Applejack responded wih a small glare "but
Celestia seemed really off when I spoke to her."
"The Princess came here?" Rarity probed.
"Yeah, she thought it was actually urgent enough." Twilight adopted a more concerned expression. "And it was after when we got the letter. In fact almost straight after."
"Oh, was she sure everything was okay?" Fluttershy asked curiously.
"No she was just really unsettled. And she even brushed me off when I asked her about it." Twilight finished in a more offended tone.
"That's why thought it was necessary for all this." She finished, sweeping a hoof for emphasis until she stopped mid gesture when she caught a glimpse of Pinkie Pie.
"Pinkie, that's expensive tech. Cut that out!"
Pinkie had been busy twanging aerials, pulling leavers and pushing red buttons.
"Sorry Twilight, there's just so many flashing lights!" She said gleefully while jumping down and staring back up at the machine displays.
Twilight shook her head. "I should've known something was up. You were quiet for more than five minutes." Chimed Rainbow.
A titter spread amongst the ponies with Pinkie leading when one of the machines began rumbling and clicking more vigorously than normal and churned out a graphs that quickly began piling on the floor.
Twilight pounced on the heap like a poised cat and began speed reading through the apparent 'data' on the sheets. Her friends looked on curiously.
They felt a building sense of trepidation as the violet mare's face became intrigued then full of obvious worry.
Applejack stepped over and tapped her friends shoulder.
"Err, a translation if ya please sugarcube." She said glancing at the meaningless squiggles on the page.
"Ummm, yeah." Twilight began, her thoughts compiling the findings into a conclusion.
"The Princess had every right to be worried." She began turning to the others with the sheets in her hooves and the sane worried look on her face. "Because according to this several laws have just been broken....."
Author's Note
Chapter 2 is online. My first attempt at 'battle writing' so feed back on that and in general appreciated. Big thanks to all those who favorited, keeps me writing more! By the way I write first and then edit later, as long as these are legible that's all that really matters. The checks and balances section comes after I have straightened out the story. Oh yeah, just a note, the build up before the actual crossover will be longer than most. The actual meeting will probberbly happen around chapter 4.
Update: Sooooooo sorry it took me this long to cap this chapter off. Shits just been happening but this is now back on my agenda so I actually get started again! Thanks to all who favourited, liked and commented (comment and criticism welcomed!) I'll actually try and make this crossover worthy of both franchises now. I've honed my skills and will edit the other chapters, let's get this on!
Pit ran-flew happily over the bridge that connected the sports atrium from the rest of Plautena's Palace. The bridges where the only means over the massive gorges that separated the humongous units of the Palace, a architectural choice that puzzled most of the Palaces residents but that nobody paid anymore mind to. When you have wings the consistency of the solid ground becomes far less of an issue. As such the bridges where the only real way of dealing with this artistic choice and where there as an obligation. Of course to the flightless Captains they were a necessity and the only means that they could take back to the Palaces central body. They were rickety things and the quickly pace that Pit ran-flew at only served to emphasise this.
Dark Pit scrabbled for the handrail again as Pit landed after another bound further along the bridge. The merry behaviour of Pit had been a great source of Dark Pit's current discomfort. When they were making their way back through the halls and the centurions were dragging Magnus back to the infirmary he had only regarded Pit's gleeful gaunt with a small smirk and a shake on his head. But now as it threatened to dislodge the flightless angel from the precarious perch, he regarded it with more severity.
Bracing the after shock of Pit's latest bound, Dark Pit opened his scrunched up eyes and yelled towards his companion. "Knock it off already!"
"What?" Pit replied, still revelling in his victory. "Can't I just skip merrily along?"
"Not if it means I will fall to my death." Dark Pit retorted, his disgruntlement mirroring his twin's happier mood (a circumstance others frequently pointed out). He took a quick look over the edge and recoiled quickly, still in the bracing position.
Pit did the same, albeit more casually and looked up at Dark Pit's contorted face with an eyebrow raised and a slight smile.
"Weird for a bird-brain to be afraid of heights. An angel with acrophobia. Something isn't right there" He teased.
Annoyance flashed on Dark Pit's face in response. "I'm just as much a bird- brain as you and my 'phobia'." He said straining the word. "Is based solely in fact."
"You had the complete power of flight in your hands." Pit pointed out casually leaning against the guard rail.
"Which I lost and now very much leaves me with risk of leaving a black and red smear on the ground when I fall from a great height." Dark Pit said slightly more panicked as he visualized his fear.
"We haven't fallen yet and aren't going to." Pit said matter-of-factly. "Stop being so high strung."
"High strung?!" Dark Pit squealed, the fall becoming higher and higher and the bridge appearing weaker and weaker. "You of all angels should know what I mean! You fallen from the stratosphere for heavens sake!"
Pit tittered at this outburst before replying. "Yeah, and I survived. So there's nothing (much) to fear." He finished walking back along the bridge with his hands in the air and a backward glance.
Dark Pit huffed and cautiously made his way along the bridge, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the firm safely of the exit passage.
"It was only because of me that you survived." He muttered as he eagerly stepped in to the entrance corridor.
"Yeah, and I'm thankful for that." Pit said, overhearing his throwaway comment, spinning around and draping an arm over Dark Pit's shoulders while matching his pace.
Dark Pit tensed at the contact as Pit continued. "And do you know what I learned from that?" He asked with a friendly tone. The silence afterward was made somewhat awkward by Dark Pit interpreting this as a rhetorical question. Pit saved the moment by continuing on past Dark Pit's deadpan stare. "It's that you've got my back bro." He gave Dark Pit a playful lunch, breaking away from the embrace. "And as long as we keep doing up like that, what could possibly go wrong?"
Dark Pit visibly relaxed at this and sighed with a slight smile. Pit's smile widened at this and he beckoned Dark Pit on. "Now come on, I am really overdue on sleep time."
Dark Pit smirked and began heading off after his partner. He then scowled and yelled. "Stop skipping!" Before dashing after Pit to preform some physical deterrent.
"And humming, you know I hate humming!"
The sound of Pit's laughter echoed down the hall.
***
The sensation was back again.
Pit thought it had gone, though he had won the battle. Three hours of resisting couldn't have been for nothing, could it? It granted him solace but apparently not more than 40 minutes. This was not worth it, the things he was being told to do were not helping. He couldn't keep resisting like this! He just had to itch, oh heavens how he wanted to itch.
The sensation was mocking him. It wasn't as forceful now but came in more of a dull throb in several areas at once rather than the earlier bout that screamed "Scratch your wings now!" until it deafened his own mind.
No, in may ways this one was worse. It was trying covert tactics when the other tried sheer force. Pit wasn't really sure how an itch could actually itch covertly but it made sense in his mind and he was going to run with -Gaghh!- That side-tracked though process didn't distract him like he hoped it would.
Aw, heck. He might as well fold. He wasn't the angel of steel some (or at least he hoped some) people thought he was. Sure, he could take down the flaming demon Twinbellows with nothing more than a shock collar and a bucket of water but that was his duty not his personality. He couldn't be all calm, strong and silent like Pitto or have the 'hard mantle' of Magnus. No he was a piece of paper when it came to mild inconveniences and he would fold like one to.
"Ahhh! I can't take it!" Pit piped up jumping from his bed and furiously grating his wings.
Feathers fell from the afflicting areas as Pit dealt with another case of late night itching pangs. They had only gotten worse after a month had passed when Dark Pit had become his co captain, and he had complained of them to. In fact it became quite a common sight for residents of the castle to find fresh trails of either ivory or ebony feathers trailing around the Palace whenever either of the captains had their episodes late in the middle of the night and tried to walk (or otherwise) it off. They always lead back to the captain's shared quarters and ended in large heaps of shed fast growing baby feathers.
That was the problem, thought Pit as he ground his fingernails into the apex of his right wing. Why did his body only keep growing baby down? The follicles of his wing became inflamed and rushed out the easiest production feathers they could produce which clashed with the other feathers around it and caused itching. He would begin to itch and they would fall out and his body would again try to compensate for the now more inflamed skin and lack of feathers. It was a vicious cycle he and Pitto were doomed to repeat.
Moving to the bathroom as to better assess his condition, Pit heard noises from the room. Opening the unlocked door he saw why was co-captain was absent from his bed as well as he was.
Dark Pit was busy gnawing at the roots of his left wing like a feral beast, black feathers floating down to the floor.
Both he and Pit stopped mid itch as they locked eyes with Pit's mouth slightly open from shock and Dark Pit's open due to the wing in it.
Well so much for calm, strong and silent, thought Pit.
Dark Pit broke eye contact and went back to chewing on his root. "Go ahead, judge me, I don't care." He said through a mouthful.
Pit disregarded the semantics of the situation and the broken façade Dark Pit had tried to create and asked an honest question.
"How long have you been in here for?"
Dark Pit sighed and spat out his limb. "I don't know. Kinda lost track of time." He replied, grabbing his other wing and pinching out loose down.
"Is it just me or his it getting worse." Pit said frowning and grating the same spot.
Dark Pit shared his expression and concern. "Yeah, and this is by far the worst one. At this rate I might even cut 'em off."
Pit was uneasy as Dark Pit said it in the tone he adopted when he was being properly serious (he was always serious). Unfortunately it was also the tone he used when he was being darkly humorous which is where Pit was unsure.
Dark Pit's left wing twitched outwards quickly and a dissatisfied somewhat pained expression crossed his face.
"Ah, where did that come from?" He muttered. He indicated with his head for Pit to scratch it. "Could you just.....?" He half ordered.
With his free hand, Pit scratched the sore spot. The back of the root, very hard to reach. Pit had had a few bad ones there to so knew what Dark Pit was going through. The last night that had happened he had to borrow a cooking utensil or two from the Palace kitchens. He had replaced them where he had found them but didn't touch any of the soup prepared for the next days breakfast.
"Ahhh....! Thanks." Dark Pit muttered when Pit had scratched the feathers loose, quite satisfied.
"What are we gonna do?" Dark Pit asked, now kneading the arch of his right wing.
"Showers sometimes help." Pit stated.
"Ahhh...ha...yeah." Dark Pit replied guiltily looking down at his wing as he worked it.
"What..?" Pit asked. A slight tilt of the head was his answer.
He stepped over to the shower and peered in. The water was not draining properly and the reason was clear why. Fluffy black down was built up around the drain and the water pooled round it hopelessly. The offending feathers were not exclusive to the floor either, fine coarse fur plastered most of the falls indicating that Dark Pit must've shaken like a dog in desperation to get them all loose. Pit knew this as he had done it himself.
"Well I'm not cleaning it." Pit remarked neutrally, absolving himself of all responsibility.
Dark Pit looked up again from his red raw wing. "We've got to see Palutena about this." He said serious again.
Pit's eyes widened. He had learned a long time ago not to wake up a sleeping Goddess at three o'clock in the morning. "We can't....!" He said slightly worried, remembering the expression and close burning she had afflicted on him.
"You got any better idea?" Challenged Dark Pit, somewhat perturbed.
"She'd probably tell us to the same thing anyway." Pit rushed out, fumbling for reason's not to go.
"And what would that be?" Dark Pit replied, half curious half annoyed.
"To stop itching." Pit said, oblivious.
"How's that workin' out for ya?" Dark Pit deadpanned.
There was a momentary silence between the two. Pit looked down at his inflamed wing.
"Point taken. Let's go."
"Oh wait right after this." Dark Pit interjected as his wing went into another itching spasm which he clawed at.
Both Pit's wings twitched similarly. "Ahhh, now you've got me doing it." He said angrily but more at his biology than his twin.
Slipping on the first clothes they could find, the captains made their way out of their quarters and deeper into the palace, grumbling, itching and shedding where they went; leaving a trail of black and white feathers out of their room.
***
Palutena really didn't want to be in this situation again. She layed with her eyes twitching and wide open as her captain continued to make a racket down the corridor to her quarters.
"Ahhh! The other one's at it again!"
"Oh shut up! Your not helping!"
"I'll complain all I want! It's the itches fault not mine."
Wait, was he with someone? Palutena resigned herself to the intrusion, partially out of inevitability and curiosity. Sighing, she slipped on a robe and walked to her door to brace for Pit + one arrival.
"Pit, this better be another Orne infestation or so help me....." Palutena began rubbing some sleep for her eye.
She paused mid rub with her mouth slightly agape when she took sight of her guests.
Dark Pit was trying to eat his wing while Pit was covered in snow white feathers from head to toe.
There was a second of silence before Pit spat a few stray feathers from his mouth.
"Oh, oh, oh s-so sorry Lady Palutena! We just came here too, erm well.." Pit rambled before trailing off as he desperately tried to make himself look presentable and gather up as many feathers as he could.
Palutena had relaxed and taken the situation in and smiled at her captain sweetly and turned to his dark counterpart who promptly took the opportunity to explain the situation proper.
"The wing itches.... there getting unbearable...." Dark Pit groaned kneading his wing. "For both of us." He continued. "Is there anything...." He trailed off again as a particularly horrible itch came up, leading him to knead harder.
"Oh, OK." Palutena began, forming a plan. "I didn't know it would be this early but..." She admitted. "You'd better come inside."
Dark Pit followed his Queen with Pit dropping his pile of feathers and kicking the last off his sandals, following right behind him.
***
"We going to fly....?" Dark Pit repeated with some disbelief.
"Whoop!" Pit shouted again in response as he continued to tear round the room with his arms and wings outstretched, his itches apparently drowned out by his glee.
"Essentially, yes." Palutena confirmed with a smile that held no candle to Pit's.
"Your just hitting the moulting process. I wondered when Pit was due, he's a late bloomer it seems, but every angel goes through it." The light goddess explained.
"And the incessant itching?" Dark Pit asked, instinctively itching his wings.
"Years of erm...moulting, catching up to you." She answered.
"What does this entail exactly?" Dark Pit responded, more curious.
"What do you mean?"
"Like, why moult? What does it do to help us fly?" Dark Pit clarified.
"Well, your wings are adjusting." Palutena explained, as she gently picked up the tips of Dark Pit's wings and held them out. "And growing." She finished smiling again.
"See?" She pulled his wings forward and showed Dark Pit the slight difference in length in them.
They certainly were bigger than he remembered, especially now. He took them out of Palutena's hands and looked at them himself before stretching them out and smirking slightly.
"Your wings are growing rapidly, but will even out. It seems especially bad tonight, we must be getting close to your first flight now!" She said gleefully.
"WHOOP!" Pit shouted again, in response, still half listening.
"Pit quiet down, others are still asleep." Palutena hush shouted, with a disapproving scowl.
"Sorry..." Pit whispered stopping to rub the back of his head.
"Why haven't I heard of this before?" Dark Pit asked, slightly annoyed. His smirk now a light frown.
Palutena turned back to him as Pit began running around gleefully again. A flash of nervousness waved over face and she became obviously reluctant to respond.
"Well, you know...." She started. "It's the last part of...." She trailed of, avoiding eye contact.
"What?" Dark Pit asked, genuinely confused. He added a raised eyebrow to his frown.
Palutena blushed slightly before saying in a hushed tone. "Angel Puberty."
Dark Pit frowned again. "Angel Puberty?" His faced relaxed slightly as he turned to his excitable co-captain. "I'd never heard of it before." He finished, throwing his voice so that his roommate would hear him.
"Ahhh, guess I forgot...?" Pit said nonchalantly, still darting about.
"How could...! Will you stop that!" Dark Pit said beginning to get frustrated.
"No harm done." Palutena democratically interjected. "Your going to be able to fly tomorrow anyway." She smiled again but not before throwing a warning glance at Pit who remembered his vow and mimed zipping his mouth.
Pit let out an audible, internal whoop as Dark Pit turned back to his mistress.
"Here, this should take care of the itching." Palutena said, handing the Dark angel a bottle.
" 'Aphrodite: Sleek and Shine' " Dark Pit read. "This is shampoo" He questioned.
"Yeah but it's great for itchy scalps!" She said a bit to enthusiastically.
Dark Pit's eyebrow raised again with his smirk this time.
Palutena looked distinctively embarrassed.
"You have a old woman's scalp." Dark Pit commented. Pit tittered.
Palutena saw red and moved to do something not entirely positive to Dark Pit. Dark Pit imeditatly backed away. "Well, it's very nice of you to see us milady annnnnd thanks for the shampoo." Dark Pit said semi-calmly while pointing at the bottle. "But you know it's late and we really need to get going." He continued, grabbing a passing Pit by the collar.
"Sorrybyeokthankssorry!" He blurted as he dragged himself and his friend out the door as he bolted down the corridor.
Palutena launched the table the shampoo had been on at the door as it closed sharply behind the duo. She visibly calmed and chuckled to herself. She picked the table back up and returned it to its place, dusting it off lightly.
Sighing she lent on it. "Be careful you two, big things are coming and I don't want to be the one who kills you before then..."She said to know one in particular.
Jumping back on her bed she let out another well deserved sigh before falling fast asleep.
Author's Note
A development chapter on Pit's side of the story. I really thought it was necessary to include this as it develops the story further and makes Pit's form and character change more developed as well. Plus it establishes concepts I can build on in the future. So sorry for the lack of ponies. The next one will be quite Pit heavy again but will be necessary also as it ties the worlds together but then its angels and horses from then on out! Will try and keep future chapters around the 3,000 mark and will write them more frequently. Thanks for reading through this drawl and all feedback is welcome!
