Flightless, Part 2

   After the incident, every day felt the absolute same, so much that Pit began to lose track of time: Wake up, eat, school, eat, go back home, stare out the window, sleep.  His legs might as well have been chained to Skyworld for all he cared; no flight meant no going outside of Skyworld at any time. He could barely even show his face to other angels, who would just oggle at him like he was a freaky alien or something. Whenever he went out, he would always just hear things like:

    "Woah, its a flightless angel!"

    "Thats weird. How can an angel not fly? He didn't fail flying, did he?"

    "Haha, what a loser! What kind of angel doesn't fly, anyway?"

    "Hey mom, look! Its Pit! He can't fly!"

    "Now, now, son, its rude to point."

    He was already tired of  being stared at and called names. So most of his days were spent inside, away from the eyes of his fellow angels, just cooking and doing his own laundry and practicing his kung fu skills. Okay, maybe he didn't have kung fu skills, but who'd pay attention if he said he was practicing archery? Every centurion and their mother could use a bow. Not like he was anything special... aside from being flightless.

    Every once in a while, he met up with Selena at the Hot Springs, in the hopes that everything was just a bad dream and that he really could fly, really! She would watch as Pit stretched out his wings and jumped off the edge of the island, only for her to shortly take flight when it was painfully obvious that his wings weren't working. "I'm sorry, Pit," she told him countless times. "I don't think willpower will make your wings work... And I'm getting a bit tired of flying to catch you when looking down makes me scared!"

    Pit never responded to her. His wings would just droup every time as he sulked on home.
    The truth was clear: He would never be able to fly on his own, short of some miracle. Palutena wouldn't have much use for an angel that couldn't fly, anyway. What was he going to do when other troops tried to invade and THEY could fly? Try to hit them from the ground? His aim wasn't THAT great. Yet.

    So it was a surprise when centurions knocked on his door and dragged him all the way to Palutena's Temple.

    They dumped him at Palutena's feet and bowed. Pit got up and dusted himself off. "You guys could have at least been more gentle," he grumbled as he smoothed out ruffled feathers on his wings. He stopped when he finally looked up at the goddess. "L-L-L-Lady...Lady Palutena!" He got down on his knees faster than he could eat a turkey drumstick. "I-I didn't see you there, I swear! Erm, what is it that you seek, Lady Palutena? Is that how they say it?"

    Palutena chuckled a little and took his hand, pulling him up. "No need to be so formal, Pit," she said with a smile. "And its kind of cute seeing how flustered you are! Never get a chance to go out of the house to see me, do you?"

    Pit's eyes widened as he frantically flailed his arms around. "Yes! I mean, maybe! How do you even know I stay home most of the time?"

    "With my All-Seeing Eye of Palutena!" she answered. "I am a goddess, you know. And I know a whole lot about you!"

    "L-L-Like what?" Pit secretly hoped that the goddess didn't watch his attempts at flying. Or him burning his food. Or his lame scores in Mario Brothers. That would be horrible.

    "Nevermind that. Right now, though, I'm looking for someone brave, strong, and kind to command the centurions."

    "Don't change the subject!"

    Palutena went on as if he didn't say anything. "Right now I have a lot of other duties to attend to, so I need someone to handle the centurions in case a war breaks out. And you seem to fit the bill!"

    Pit stared at her as if she was crazy. "You're nuts!" he said, his feathers getting in a ruffle. "YOU, Lady Palutena, Goddess of Light and protector of the humans, are asking ME, Pit, a flightless angel, to command the centurions? Shouldn't you get someone more capable?"

    "Nobody trains as diligently as you, from what I've seen. And wasn't one of your wishes to be a part of my personal guard?"

    "Y-yeah, but-"

    Palutena patted his back pretty hard. "Then I don't see the problem here," she said happily. "Welcome aboard, Pit! As your first duty as captain, you should go get some of the vegetables from my garden!" She began pushing him away. "Hurry up! Otherwise I won't be able to make a welcoming dinner for you!"

    Pit didn't move at all.  "Lady Palutena... Doesn't it matter if my wings don't work right? I can't do much if I can't fly... And I'm a weirdo to everyone else. Doesn't it matter?"

    Silence filled the air as  the goddess seemed to think on her answer. She smiled at him and said, "I think it doesn't matter if an angel can fly or not. I care about you all the same. Now you should hurry and get those vegetables!"

    For the first time in months, Pit's eyes brightened up and his heart beat in excitement, pounding hard against his chest. "Aye aye, Lady Palutena!" he said with a salute, before he became confused. "Wait, what does being captain have to do with getting vegetables?"

    Palutena giggled mischeviously and replied, "Oh, didn't you read the job description? A captain doubles as my servant! Now chop chop, Pit! We're on the clock!"


    Pit was about to say didn't, but realized how embarassing that would sound. He never did learn how to read. So instead, he said nervously, "Oh, of course! I read that! Yep! Off I go!" With a smile, he headed off towards the garden, happy that at least Lady Palutena could see past his messed up wings and see him as a whole. As long as she had his back and believed in him, it didn't matter much that other angels saw him as a freak.

    A new plan for flight came into mind as he worked, though. After all... Palutena IS a goddess, right? Maybe she could help...