[center][h3]A Chance Encounter[/h3]

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]Pit[/b] - [u]Level[/u]: [b]8[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 348/80[/color]
[color=bc8dbf]Grima - Level 5 (holding 1 level up) 46/50 EXP[/color]

Location: Esaka's High Tier, Forbidden Kingdom (Friday Morning)
Word Count: 2233 (+3 exp) [/center]


[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Robin! Hey, Robin!"[/color]

Grima didn’t respond, at least at first. People calling out other people’s names was not something that concerned the Fell Dragon. ‘Robin’ was a name she was not familiar with, after all. But when the person calling it out continued to run up to her, Grima was forced to look up, glancing around and noticing that there was truly no other person they could be calling out to.

[color=bc8dbf]“... I believe you have me mistaken for someone else,”[/color] Grima states calmly, placing her coffee mug down on the table in front of her, putting on a friendly facade as she took note of the [i]stench[/i] of the boy in front of her. If the clear wings were not an obvious enough sign, then the scent of divine favor radiating from them was a sign that this was, at worst, a servant of the gods. The fact that they mistook her for someone else was a curiosity though, [color=bc8dbf]“Regardless, is there something you need?”[/color]

Pit faltered a little, but since she didn't seem to immediately brush him off the angel took that as invitation to stay (though to be fair, he likely would have regardless). He squinted his eyes and tilted his head at "Robin."

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"No, I'm pretty sure you're Robin. The girl Robin! You got the coat and pigtails and everything!"[/color] Though he wasn't as close with her as he was with other 'Smashers,' she was exactly how he remembered her being. He didn't believe this was a case of mistaken identity. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"It's Pit! You know, veteran adventuring angel who's just as cool as Link? Don't you remember me?"[/color]

He smiled widely at her as though that would jog her memory, but after a moment his eyes shifted to the woman's own. Unsurprisingly, they glowed with the evidence of Galeem's influence. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"...or maybe you don't."[/color]

[color=bc8dbf]“No, I do not ‘remember’ you. Nor do I know of any ‘Link’. I am sure that I would remember someone like you,”[/color] Grima states with a small shrug, her gaze steady as she looked back at the angel, [color=bc8dbf]“Odd that this ‘Robin’ sounds like me. I, however, am… Grima.”[/color] the Fell Vessel explains.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Grima?"[/color] Pit questioned, confused, while at the same time a voice in his head echoed him. [color=lightgreen][i]Grima...?[/i][/color]

After a beat though, Pit smiled in a way that was just a little embarrassed, but in a good way. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Heheh, someone like me huh?"[/color]

He fluffed his feathers proudly at what appeared to be a complete stranger (who dressed identically to someone he knew) recognizing his strengths at a glance. Or maybe his looks. Or his can-do attitude? He had a lot of good points after all. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Sorry, you just look exactly like a friend of mine."[/color]

[color=lightgreen][i]I don't think you're wrong, Pit. Technically, I mean. It may be more accurate to say that right now, only part of her is the Robin you know.[/i][/color]

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]...I'm not following.[/i][/color]

[color=lightgreen][i]Remember a while ago when we talked about parallel universes and different timelines?[/i][/color]

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]Yeah, and what the point in doing anything was if there was always going to be another version of you that did the opposite thing and–[/i][/color]

[color=lightgreen][i]Not that part. In Robin's world, they already had to deal with at least two timelines. One where the incarnation of an evil dragon's spirit into their fated vessel failed, which is where the Robin we know comes from... and one where it succeeded, and their body and soul is ruled by that same spirit. The Fell Dragon - Grima.[/i][/color]

It was only a scant few seconds between Pit's apology and then a sudden, surprised outburst. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Wait, Fell Dragon?!"[/color]

His angel senses had been picking up on something, but he'd thought it was just Robin's unique magic signature. With that revelation, the aura of the woman in front of him now seemed a few shades darker.

Grima’s faux friendliness evaporated practically in an instant, her eyes narrowing slightly at Pit’s outburst, [color=bc8dbf]“... Seems like you caught on. That saves me the trouble of beating around the bush, though I suppose it may have been better had you [i]not[/i] realized,”[/color] Grima comments, picking up her coffee again and taking a casual drink, [color=bc8dbf]“Yes, Fell Dragon. Though I am hardly your enemy. In fact, I believe you happen to be part of the Seekers of Light, correct? In that case, our goals actually align. I too have been dealing with the current leaders of this city. A certain Lucky Chloe has already been dealt with and shouldn’t interrupt the rest of your plans.”[/color]

It was one whiplash after another it seemed. Pit hardly had time to even process that Grima was an enemy before she denied it. He floundered before finding his voice again. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Uh, yeah, I'm their captain! But how did you know about us?"[/color]

Neither Captain Falcon nor Bowser Jr. had mentioned seeing Robin, or as it turned out, Grima's vessel. Not to mention the fact that Grima was still gleaming with the firelight of Galeem, a fact that he'd initially come over to remedy. He regretted not freeing Ken back when they'd met the man a few weeks ago, and he wasn't going to pass up a friendly face again if he could help it. So... how had that turned into all this?!

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"And how do you even know about our 'goals,' I thought it was impossible for people still brain washed to even think about that stuff!"[/color]

[color=lightgreen][i]Interesting...[/i][/color] Lady Palutena chimed in. It felt to Pit as though her divine gaze was leaning forward for a better look. [color=lightgreen][i]Though she probably means defeating the Four Kings. It [/i]is[i] pretty much every person in the city's goal after all, right?[/i][/color]

[color=bc8dbf]“It’s simple really: I overheard it at the Wine-Cup Hold meeting. You wish to overthrow the Four Kings, and so do I. It’s a matter of common grounds-”[/color]

And there was one more thing, arguably the most important thing in fact. As he kept talking, Pit had gotten more excitable, until he slammed his palms onto the table Grima was seated at. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Plus you're apparently possessing the body of my friend! How does that not make you a bad guy?!"[/color] Of course saying that was a little hypocritical considering that Pit had actually done the exact same thing before, intentionally even, but it had been for good reason and temporary. Still, the conviction in his stare may have faltered slightly as he recalled his own soul-jacking incident. 

Grima’s earlier comment was quickly interrupted by Pit slamming the table, not quite jolting the vessel but causing her to blink slightly before sighing, [color=bc8dbf]“The commonality of this vessel and your ‘friend’ is irrelevant. They were not them, of that I can be certain. Even if they were hypothetically, what would it matter? This vessel was made from the start to be mine. I’m sure even your friend behind those eyes can agree on the value of a proper vessel,”[/color] the Fell Dragon stated, her own gaze locking onto Pit’s, [color=bc8dbf]“Don’t think I haven’t sensed them. The scent of the divine is something I know far too well.”[/color]

Though they were just words they did startle Pit, who drew back slightly. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Wh- you can sense Lady Palutena?"[/color]

[color=lightgreen][i]Veeery interesting![/i][/color]

If any of the other deities that Pit had spoken to since reuniting with Palutena had also sensed the presence of the Goddess of Light, none of them had mentioned it. So far they had been content in the knowledge that with Galeem's influence dominating the world, the telepathic conversations between angel and goddess would be difficult, if not impossible to intrude upon. Perhaps it was then that they just hadn't encountered someone with powerful enough magic, or force of will, to be able to do it. But Palutena pushed that train of thought to the side for the moment, addressing Grima's claim on vessels.

[color=lightgreen][i]She's not wrong. Like Amaterasu's reincarnation into a physical body, or my Power of Transformation so that humans can comprehend my form, embodying a vessel is just another way for gods to interact with the world. And a bad fit might be more trouble than it's worth,[/i][/color] she said, her tone scholarly. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]Then... she's telling the truth?[/i][/color]

If she had been physically present, the goddess might have glanced down at her ward then. She of all people knew full well that naivety was literally built into Pit's being, and the hope that Robin really wasn't stuck disembodied and helpless as he’d once been was now fighting with the lessons he'd learned about not trusting others at face value.

[color=lightgreen][i]About no one else being in her body but her? It's a little frustrating, but even I can't tell.[/i][/color]

So they were at a bit of an impasse. 

Pit squinted at Grima again, his expression something between glaring and scrutinizing. After a few long moments he bit his lip, and a few more later he crossed his arms. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"...okay, fine! She said you're not wrong. I'll believe you... for now!"[/color] he said, clearly conflicted over his own decision. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"So you just happen to look like someone we know, overheard some of us meeting, and want to join up in taking down the Guardians, is that it?"[/color]

“The Guardians? I’m afraid I don’t know [i]those ones[/i], but if they are in leagues with the Four Kings, then it would be only natural to oppose them.” That was a half truth. She didn’t quite know the Guardians, true, but eliminating them would only depend on their status and threat to her resurrection, “Overall, yes. As I said, our goals align in this matter.”

Right, she still didn't know what Guardians were, or even what the Seekers of Light's [i]actual[/i] goal in Esaka was. Pit pursed his lips, evidently falling into silent thought again. This time was much shorter before he nodded once and set Grima with a determined stare. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Alright. If you wanna team up with us, there's an initiation you gotta go through."[/color]

[color=lightgreen][i]Are you sure you want to de-story her?[/i][/color]

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]Honestly, I don't know. But if even a King of Evil like Ganondorf can work with us, then a Fell Dragon probably can too, right? And... if she's lying about possessing an empty body, maybe freeing her will bring Robin back.[/i][/color]

[color=lightgreen][i]Hehe, how astute of you, Pit! Normally I would recommend purging an existence like Grima's, but in this case? I agree with you. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, as they say.[/i][/color]

Then Pit smiled at Grima, the kind of expression that declared a challenge. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Don't worry, it doesn't hurt that much!"[/color]

[color=bc8dbf]“... An initiation?”[/color] Grima asked, her eyebrow rising slightly, before she rolled her eyes and stood, [color=bc8dbf]“Fine, and what would this initiation entail exactly?”[/color] the angel said it wouldn’t ‘hurt much’, which Grima knew was likely a lie. She would wager a guess that it would be testing one’s ability to fight, in which case… She would be all too willing to oblige. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"We're gonna see how strong you are,"[/color] he told her, which wasn't technically a lie even if it wasn't the point of the 'initiation.' [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Come on, I know a place we can use for it!"[/color]

Neither the weather nor the hour kept Esaka's citizens from going about their business throughout the city. Today was still only the second round of Pool's matches, but tonight would mark the start of the weekend and the start of true hype surrounding the tournament series. That fact energized everyone from common folks at their daily jobs to participants doing morning training under the light rainfall. There had been one place Pit had visited before that was mostly empty though, and as he led the two of them up into the High Tier he found that that was still the case. The street ring wedged in the blind spot between the tier's edge and tall buildings, abandoned in favor of sparring pits in better locations or with more pleasing views but not yet repurposed. The same place that Pit had fought and freed Ashrah. 

The roofs of the buildings around them did little to stop the rain, but at least it was still only a drizzle. Pit shook the wetness from his wings before holding his hands out to display the area, as uninspiring as it was. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Nobody should bother us here, I think... not that it's gonna take long."[/color]

Grima looks around the chosen arena, her eyes taking in the unremarkable scenery, [color=bc8dbf]“Hm. Quiet and out of the way. Very well, you wish to see my strength, so I shall abide,”[/color] the Fell Vessel commented as she walked into the abandoned ring, drawing her sword and twirling it in her hand, a bit of smugness creeping into her smile, [color=bc8dbf]“Whenever you are ready to be crushed, draw your weapons.”[/color]

Fighting and freeing people on a small scale like this wasn't all that bad, Pit thought, as he mirrored Grima. He'd been doing a lot of it these last couple of days, but when in the city of fighting, why not? The Palutena Bow manifested in his hands with a small golden sparkle, and without a string it appeared to be a long, two-sided blade - unmistakably divine in nature. 

Pit was unbothered by the confidence in her tone, because there was one way and one way only that this would play out.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Hehehe, you're about to be in for a rude awakening!"[/color]