Lady Palutena

The possessive lilt to Palutena's words are not lost on Aqua. But somewhere in her all to eager to please heart, she believes this to merely be an expression of acknowledgement in its truest form. After all, what is it to be subservient than to relinquish control of the self?

The master, in all her sad and lonely years deprived of that guiding hand she missed so dearly, could not help but to fall steadfast into the embrace of such words. Yes... hers. Pit was Palutena's. Aqua had hoped, earnestly, that there was a place too in the Goddess's palm... even for a starved and mangy soldier like her to eat from.

Still. That hesitation. It lingers. Perhaps there is one thing more precious to Aqua than to serve. Bonds. Connections. Friendship. Pit was her friend, wasn't he? But... couldn't both of those desires meet half way?

❝ I... I am so sorry. I wasn't being honest with you. ❞ She caves, swallowing down a prickly lump. ❝ I'm just so worried about him. When he was here, he was so... different. ❞

Perhaps he was just wrong. Yes, of course! He was making a mistake. Even friends would do that. And Palutena – she would know best. She could take this fear and doubt away from her heart. She could fix that worrisome face from the captain's face that haunted Aqua.

❝ I am just so worried about him. He wouldn't tell me what he was about to do, only acting like he was going to do something drastic... like it was the last time he would ever speak with me again...! Hearts! I should have stopped him! ❞ Her eyes raise, their pools rippled with quaking emotion.

It makes the Goddess smile. To know that Aqua's loyalties lay with her and not Pit. She knows how close the two had become, after all, she sees everything, but it seems that Aqua's desperation for acceptance and duty far outweighs the loyalties of a friendship. Good.

While Aqua wasn't being honest at first, she is now, and that matters greatly to the Goddess who is willing to let such betrayal go in favor of letting her speak. Now that she has, Palutena doesn't want to accidentally frighten the poor bluebird from quieting any information that could be useful.

❝ Different, you say? ❞ Palutena frowns, wanting to ask how, but doesn't stop Aqua from continuing. Her soldier speaks quickly like rushing water. Now that it was flowing out of her, she couldn't find it in herself to stop. It proves far more useful than she could imagine.

Palutena lets her speak, her hand still resting comfortably against Aqua's cheek, her thumb running along the upper bone of her soldier's cheek as she does so.

It seems her runaway captain was causing quite a stir. Wherever he had gone.

❝ Yes. You should have stopped him. ❞ Palutena's hand pauses. A look of disappointment-- a hint of frustration and irritation-- crosses her features for a second's moment before she reins in her expression and lets it soften.

The hand resting on Aqua's cheek moves towards her bangs, brushing them away from her face and tucking them behind her ear in a caring and considerate fashion.

❝ It seems you're the only one I can count on, my dear Aqua. My only trusted soldier while all the others continue to fail me and forget their place. ❞ She lays the praise on thick, knowing the starving bluebird would peck the seeds from her hand and be grateful for it.

Her voice is light and airy, just a breath of a moan, as she starts to lean in. ❝ But you. Oh. You. ❞

Her hand smooths over her blue hair towards the back of her skull, then to her nape, cupping it gently as she nears her closer. One could assume the Goddess was about to kiss her for her allegiance and faithfulness.

She stops just inches away from letting her breath ghost Aqua's lips.

He held his ground and stood firm, but fine hairs at the nape could not help the way the stood on end — it was of primordial decree that those that live in the dark stretch and recede from the light's scrutiny.

But Sasuke was adamant that he was not going anywhere.

❝ A goddess, huh? ❞

His elbow perches on the hilt of his blade where it's fastened to the shimewana at his obi, a lackadaisical display for someone on high alert — but a demonstration of no intention to attack, currently. Perhaps to a divine being like herself it is a show of arrogance, which holds comedy of its own given that he is still very much mortal. But there is a stipulation to the red blood that runs through him, and he plainly explains it to her ;

❝ You'd only be wasting your time. ❞ His lone obsidian eye peers from beneath his fringe to lock onto her seafoam pair. A sickly look about him when he says to her with utmost honesty, ❝ This darkness is of my choosing. ❞

The pressure around him, too, would distort. But rather than warm waves, it hangs heavy like an omen.

❝ You know... your light burns like antiseptic. But I never wanted to be made better. So long as I bear the burden of this darkness you treat like a disease, no one else will suffer the same fate. The hatred this world has for me, it's how I created peace. ❞ By violent force. The way a tyrant would.

She is offended by the fact, and her teeth clench tight. Brows furrow together. He dare refuses to bow nor submit himself to the immense power of her light and benevolence?

❝ This darkness is of my choosing. ❞

She's heard those words before. In a distant past, the words utter in her ears much like the omen that he bathes her in.

〝 This darkness is of my choosing, sister.〞

Oh, how similar the two are. Thinking they are stronger than what they truly possess within. They sicken her as much as his refusal to show meekness in her presence.

The grip on her staff tightens and a sudden intense desire to humble this boy racks throughout her entire body. Her knuckles turn white and her hands shake with the immense desire to burn him right then and there.

But she soon notices something about this boy as he continues to speak. He feels the need to over-explain himself. To appear strong and unafraid; to seem unbothered by her divine presence. A being who monologues was one buying time.

So she does the only thing she could think to do in the moment.

She laughs.

❝ Ahahaha! A God?! Oh, do seek some modesty, boy. ❞ She huffs, but no sooner decides that it was no longer funny.

She squares her shoulders, raising her chin. Her demeanor shifts from one of kindness and goodwill to looking down at the boy like he were nothing more than a mere insignificant ant underneath a microscope. One she intends on chasing with her light and burning him.

a collection of too close for 'just friends' prompts. adjust phrasing as necessary

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Even the most devoted disciple of the Heart can find themselves ensnared by corruption; the Darkness has a peculiar way of manifesting, creeping into the hearts of the unsuspecting. But what transpires when a fervent devotee of Demeter succumbs to this ominous force? What once blossomed as genuine love and unwavering loyalty has quickly turned into an all-consuming obsession and destructive delusion. Shadow has read this narrative one too many times…

It hits closer to home; every time he gazes at his host's reflection in the mirror, the light in his host's eyes, once vibrant with passion for life and love, is now tainted with a sinister essence.

Where there was once a tranquil connection to the heart and the hearts of others, now a twisted longing blurs the line between admiration and madness.

Shadow’s heart feels the weight of the fragile balance between love and obsession, and the tragic consequences when that balance is broken… He feels pity for this woman, now nothing but a powerful, floral Heartless known as Requiem's Devotion. Shadow propelled himself into the air, aware of the treacherous plant's deceptive flowers. He cleared one of the enormous, thick vines that twisted and curled like a serpent in the vibrant landscape. As he touched down on the earth with a graceful thud, he built upon that momentum, sliding effortlessly beneath another massive vine that whipped through the air above him like a battering rod.

"Palutena! Watch out for its-!"

However, Shadow's warning came too late for the radiant Goddess of Light, Palutena. One of the plant's vibrant blue flowers—a deceptive beauty nestled among its rich foliage—unfurled with a sinister grace, releasing a cloud of pink mist that billowed directly into her face. Shadow's instincts had screamed at him during the battle; after all, he had noted early on that in the wild, anything that shimmered with bright colors often concealed deadly toxins or hazards, be it plant or beast. Palutena now faced a hidden danger that threatened her life.

Shadow propelled himself into the air, aware of the treacherous plant's deceptive flowers. He cleared one of the enormous, thick vines that twisted and curled like a serpent in the vibrant landscape. As he touched down on the earth with a graceful thud, he built upon that momentum, sliding effortlessly beneath another massive vine that whipped through the air above him like a battering rod.

However, Shadow's warning came too late for the radiant Goddess of Light, Palutena. One of the plant's vibrant blue flowers—a deceptive beauty nestled among its rich foliage—unfurled with a sinister grace, releasing a cloud of pink mist that billowed directly into her face. Shadow's instincts had screamed at him during the battle; after all, he had noted early on that in the wild, anything that shimmered with bright colors often concealed deadly toxins or hazards, be it plant or beast. Palutena now faced a hidden danger that threatened her life.

As he turned to witness the consequences of this dangerous battle, a wave of dread washed over him. He watched helplessly as Palutena staggered, her expression quickly shifting from determination to panic. Shadow's heart raced as he felt the ground tremble beneath him, sensing the approaching threat: massive tree-like hands from an unseen part of this monstrosity surged forward, breaking through the very earth as they shot towards her. Without hesitation, he dropped to all fours, driven by determination and desperation to reach her in time.

'C'MON! C'MON! C'MON!'

Shadow let out a mental roar of determination as he pushed his body to its limits, each thunderous step reverberating through the earth beneath him. His hands and feet hit the ground with tremendous force, sending soil and debris flying in every direction. Despite the overwhelming limbs and relentless attacks from the Heartless, which sought to impede his progress at every turn, Shadow’s agility allowed him to maneuver through the chaos with incredible finesse.

With a surge of power, Shadow gathered himself for one final, monumental leap. His muscular frame launched through the air, arms outstretched as he aimed to grasp Palutena. In a split second, his powerful limbs collided with her, effectively snatching her from the brink and pulling her to safety just as the tree-like-hand tried to snatch her. He held his breath, the remnants of a choking pollen cloud swirling around them, still thick in the air with a sickly sweetness that assaulted his senses.

As they crashed to the ground, gravity took hold, pulling Shadow into a roll that dissipated their momentum. Yet, through it all, he kept a firm grip on Palutena, ensuring her safety was his primary focus. Once he had regained his bearings, he quickly sprang to his feet, still cradling her in his arms. His powerful legs skidded across the dirt, sending up a billowing cloud of dust that swirled around them like a veil obscuring the chaos. Panting heavily from the exertion, Shadow turned his gaze to Palutena, ready to inquire about her well-being.

But the moment he met her gaze, his heart sank, and his yellow eyes widened. The expression twisted across her face—flushed and strained—sent a jolt of apprehension through him. Her delicate hands reached up, cupping his face with an urgency that demanded his full attention, drawing him close and forcing him to meet her eyes with intense focus.

“You’re mine. God help me, I don’t care what we call it—you’re mine.”

As she spoke, her words struck a chord deep within Shadow, causing a squall of thoughts to swirl chaotically in his mind. Something was unsettling in the air, not the pollen, no —a metaphysical shift in the essence of Palutena's heart that he could distinctly perceive. It began to change, morphing into something darker and more complex. It was enough to send a wave of nausea coursing through him, a physical reaction to the sudden and heartbreaking shift in the emotions surrounding her. Yet she had said something else… only for Shadow to wonder…

'Who is Medusa...?'

ﾟ･☆¸¸.•¨*• #fieldsofstardew

.☆.¸ Independent multi-muse roleplay blog for the bachelors of Stardew Valley and Fields of Mistria. Spoilers for Fields of Mistria likely to occur. Proceed with caution. Minors DNI. Mun is 30+.

#GODDESSXOFLIGHT ▻ "You shall be purified!" #IKAROSXFLIGHT ▻ "Great Palutena, victory is ours!"

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# PALUTENA ┊# PIT ;

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ Independent and Selective Roleplay blogs based on the Kid Icarus || Of Myth and Monsters series. Written by Ghosty and Daedalus. Mirror writers. Canon-Divergent! Heavily Greek Mythology inspired and p l e n t y of creative liberty. Disclaimer: Mature Topics ahead; triggering content and dark themes. Must be 21+ to interact.

@ Art Credit to Jay.