In the end, only pain can come of this.

So great the suffering is, even angels will lose their way.

Alas, this is the only way it can be.

One year. It had been exactly that long since Ike had been struck down by his lover, and time could pass by so quickly, yet be just as slow at the same time. Many events happened during this period; the return of some old friends, new rivalries erupting, and the many conflicts that happened day-to-day with countless fighters.

Perhaps it was because the year was so busy that many of them simply had forgotten about what had happened. Most of them weren't present during that time, only knowing the basic facts from certain people. It had, in no way, bothered them. For the people that knew Ike and were left behind, they were the most affected with his death, and they moved on.

But to one person, Ike was more than that, more than a simple memory. To Pit, the mercenary was a true hero; someone who had done everything in his power to help people and had paid the price for the one act that had set his destiny on one certain path. Even as time passed, he wouldn't forget. He couldn't.

It was this train of thought Pit was on as he woke up, sighing. "Another day..." he moaned as he rose up off the bed, stretching lazily. Every day was the same thing, falling into a monotonous pattern. Wake up, get ready, go out. Eat, train, fight. Eat again, fight some more, sleep. If he felt like it, he would converse with some of the fighters to pass the time, but it didn't happen too often.

Sighing, he made his way to the bathroom, fishing out his toothbrush and toothpaste. Ever since that day, the days seemed to slow to a crawl. Weeks and months passed without him knowing it, as he had long since stopped paying attention to the calendar; each time he would look at it, he would automatically know how many days it had been since he died.

He quickly decided it was in his best interest not to look at what day of the week it was.

Shaking his head, he spit into the sink and rinsed out his mouth, angrily muttering under his breath. Time was not friendly, he supposed, as he absentmindedly rubbed his arms. He could feel the muscles that had formed with months of swinging Alondite around, he could feel the calluses on his hands as he dragged his fingers lightly over the toned flesh.

"Yeah...it has been," he murmured quietly, sighing. Looking into the mirror, he wondered if he liked the person he became after his death. A person who held onto memories like the most precious item; a person who had found himself steadily drifting away from others. The day when he put on Ike's headband was when he resolved to change, and it had been a constant struggle to do that. Brushing his fingers over the worn green cloth, he narrowed his eyes and nodded. "Yes, I do."

The other fighters...after that day, reactions had been very mixed. After he had told everybody his story, he could tell just from the reactions and attitudes the very next day what they felt. Some hated him for doing so, cursing him for not finding a better way. During those days, it was a struggle to only stare coldly at those people and not do something he would probably regret later, like beating sense into them. Some had accepted his story, yet treated him indifferently after that. He didn't mind, really...he had done what his most precious person had asked, and if other people didn't care, that wasn't his fault.

However, to a small group of people...they not only accepted it, but they embraced him when the full details of what happened were revealed. Pit felt a small smile creep up on his face as he thought of it. Friends. Ike had been absolutely correct about having friends; they helped you in the hardest times, and even if you only had one by your side, only one person to help you up when things were at their worst, that was enough.

In all honesty, if it weren't for people like Captain Falcon or Link, he didn't know how he could keep going. He had resolved to be strong, but acting strong and actually being strong were two very different things; it wasn't until the full gravity of the situation had hit him that he had finally realized that. But they were there; they were there to encourage him, to help him back up to his feet, and help him through what was the hardest time of his life. It was then that he realized that Ike had fought for his friends; he swore he would continue that and fight for the ones that made the effort to help him.

Pausing, he scowled as he stared at his face, some unpleasant memories resurfacing. One day, months after what had happened, he had heard something very unpleasant; something that angered him to his very core. He brushed off any hatred or insults towards him, but when Bowser decided to take it to the next step by spitting upon Ike's memory, calling him all sorts of things.

The giant dinosaur had been beaten within an inch of his life during his match with Pit, and he had no doubt that people feared him if they even talked badly about Ike. He should have been ashamed of his behavior...yet he couldn't find it in his heart to even admit that. He would not tolerate anyone speaking badly of his lover, but thankfully, that little demonstration caused everybody to think twice about what they said.

Shaking his head, he tightened his headband and walked out of the bathroom. Walking over to the case beside his bed, he lifted Alondite out of it and smiled at it. "Yet another day, Alondite. Although...I can't help but feel like something's horribly off. I wonder why..."

Alondite, the twin of Ragnell. For a short time, Pit found it impossible to hold--much less look at--the sword. The memories of Ike driving himself onto the blade were still fresh, and the sight of the blade ripped those wounds wide open. It had taken several days of gathering his courage to hold it once again, and even then, he had to steady himself whenever the images of Ike's face came to mind...

Without a sound, he strapped the large sword to his back, moving his wings to accommodate it. He couldn't place his hand on it, but something definitely felt wrong. It was like something was trying to remind him of something important, but he just couldn't place his finger on it.

Taking in a deep breath, he looked back at the electric calendar on his desk, and his eyes widened. That date...!

"Is today really...?" he asked in a whisper, almost unbelieving as he walked over and took the device in his hands. "How could this be? Has time really been that fast?"

Closing his eyes and willing himself to calm down, he sat down on his bed and covered his face with his hands. "By the goddess, how did I not realize?" he groaned, shuddering. "Tonight. I'll see you tonight. Nothing will stop me." The angel muttered a quick prayer before he got up and left his room, his eyes narrowing.

He had not been looking at the calendar for so many months, but today...today was when it really counted.

Today was the day when he had killed Ike one year ago.

Roy felt uneasy.

Well, it wasn't really a surprise when a rather stoic Pit crossed the hall, the ever present scowl on his face having been deepened for some reason.

"Hey, Pit! Morning!" he called, waving a hand over to join him and his friends. Pit grunted and raised a hand in greeting before walking away, not even turning around to acknowledge him. Frowning, he sat back down in his seat, trying to figure out the mystery that was the angel.

"He's a lot more sour this morning, isn't he?" Marth asked conversationally, a cup of tea set in front of him. "Haven't seen him look so angry since the time he beat up Bowser."

Link chuckled, despite himself. "I'm sure he's fine. He could just be remembering it again." Marth nodded in understanding, but Roy's frown got more pronounced.

Ever since he had returned, there was a feeling like something serious had happened. He knew it pertained to Pit somehow, considering how everyone either went out of their way to avoid him or to make conversation. However, anytime someone mentioned a person named Ike, his two friends would clam up and direct the conversation elsewhere. He didn't know why they made so many vague statements, but whatever happened to cause him to not be around must have been bad.

"What is 'it', exactly?" he queried, hoping today that his friends would be a little more pliable. He didn't miss the look the two shared between themselves before Marth shook his head.

"Something that shouldn't be dug up," the prince answered simply before making conversation with Link about the day's matches. Roy noted that each time he had asked a question regarding Pit and this Ike character, he always got the same answer. If it was any other day, he wouldn't have minded. There were some things people didn't want to talk about, and Ike apparently was one of them. Today, however, there was something in the back of his mind prodding him to find out more, not taking no for an answer.

"You say that every single time," Roy groused, getting both of his friend's attention. "But you always avoid the question. Why are you guys so adamant about not telling me?" The general watched as they traded looks again, but this time, they seemed somewhat distressed.

"It's...well, it's not our place to say. That's all." Link said in a tone that wouldn't brook any sort of questions. Roy tried to ask something again, but was cut off with a hard glance from both of them.

Why do they keep avoiding the subject? he thought as he visibly sagged in his seat. Maybe I should try approaching this from another angle...

"I'll go ask Pit later, then." he remarked casually, and was pleased to hear Marth spraying the tea he was drinking all over Link. "What?" he asked innocently.

"You don't want to do that!" Marth sputtered, getting a napkin and wiping his lips. "Seriously, what are you thinking?!"

Link grunted, trying to wipe the tea and spit off his tunic. "He's right. Roy, the less you know, the better. We're saying this for your own good."

"You two won't tell me anything about him, so when I think of going right to Pit, you two say I shouldn't do that either!" Roy said in exasperation, getting up. "You two may be fine with keeping me in the dark, but I'm not! So take your worries and shove it." With that, he walked away furiously, ignoring the other two standing up.

Marth watched his long time friend leave and sighed. "Do you really think we've been doing this right? Maybe we shouldn't have hid everything from him..."

Link shrugged, frowning. "Well, like I said...it's not our story to tell. Ike was our friend, but what happened was so far out of our hands that it's uncomfortable just talking about it."

The prince sighed, nodding. "You're right. Pit would be able to tell him everything without our own viewpoints coloring his opinion. Let's just hope Roy knows what he's doing."

He wasn't supposed to feel this agitated. The angel chalked it up to the shock of the morning, but every minute he was standing around doing nothing was another minute remembering the events of last year.

It wasn't bad, per se. As much pain the past held, it also held the best moments he had ever experienced. A small smile appeared on his face as he remembered the moments he and Ike shared; the times they sparred together, the times they spent just being in each others company...

The time they spent together, preparing for his eventual death.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he frowned. He had survived the year not only because of his friends, but by steadily overcoming the pain he felt in his heart and getting over it. He had come far in this endeavor, but every single time he thought of that moment, he couldn't help but wince and fight to control his breathing. The pain was still there, although dulled. Pit knew Ike wouldn't want him mourning him forever, but it was just so hard...

"Hey, Pit!"

Snapped out of his thoughts, he looked over his shoulder to see Roy running up to him, a curious expression on his face. "Yeah?" he asked gruffly, crossing his arms.

The general stared at the angel, apparently trying to word some sort of question. "Uh...what time is your match today?"

Pit looked at the general suspiciously. "It's in a half-hour. Why do you ask?"

"It's just...well, I kinda wanted to ask you about something." Roy said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

"Go ahead, I'm listening."

"Um..." Now that he was actually in front of the angel, he suddenly felt too nervous. Pushing it back, he took in a deep breath. "Who is this Ike person I keep hearing about?"

Pit visibly froze, his eyes widening. "You...you don't know?" he asked cautiously, trying to keep his expression guarded.

Roy shrugged. "No, I don't. Anytime I ask about it, everyone just keeps changing the subject. What exactly happened that has everybody so secretive? Since everything seems to be revolving around you, I just decided to ask the source."

Pit took a deep breath and schooled his features, the scowl back on his face. "It's none of your business," he spat, although both of them noticed the lack of venom the angel tried to put in his words. "It has nothing to do with you."

The general felt like tearing out his own hair as he twitched in anger, but reined in his ire. "Look, Pit...I'm not trying to bring up any bad memories, but every time someone brings him up, it's always downplayed. I'm just curious."

"Why would you want to know?" Pit retorted, deflecting the question. This whole situation was taking a turn for the worse, and he had to fight himself to not retreat right then and there.

The general was about to say something before he stopped himself, a somewhat embarrassed look coming onto his face. "I want to be your friend," he said simply, catching the angel off-guard. "But you close yourself up all the time, and it has something to do with him. Why...?"

Pit shook his head, every instinct yelling at him to get out now. "I have to go. You'd be wise to drop it!" he said hastily as he turned his back and fled down the corridor, his heart beating sharply.

Roy only could stare after him, wondering what exactly he said that unnerved the angel.

Pit, Roy decided as he watched the match--no, massacre--go on, was very strange. He was polite and friendly to a degree, but he was impersonal and very fierce. The way the angel was moving screamed that he had been taught in two different kinds of fighting styles, flowing between one and the other as he switched weapons on the fly. How he handled that large sword intrigued him; the style was pretty awkward, but the sheer strength and skill shown always astounded him.

As the angel was busy beating up Fox and Wolf, the general let his senses wander to the group of fighters sitting not far from him, each of them observing the battle below with some slight trepidation.

"He sure is vicious today," Captain Falcon remarked, a slight wince on his face as he saw Wolf go flying by. "He's worked up about something, that's for sure."

Peach sighed as she saw how the angel was tearing apart the two pilots with a vengeance, even as they tried to double team him. "I haven't seen him this angry ever since that one match with Bowser." At that remark, Roy frowned. Did his words really have that much of an effect on the angel?

Samus crossed her legs, studying Pit's movements with a frown. "Besides his anger, he's incredibly focused. I can tell that just from here..." she sighed, shaking her head. "The only time that happens is when someone mentions Ike."

The group silenced at that, trading a sympathetic look. Roy was gritting his teeth; everyone knew something he didn't, and it was bothering him!

"I hope Roy didn't say anything to upset him..." Marth said suddenly from his spot next to Link.

"You mean he actually went to go talk to him? About Ike?" Peach asked in surprise. Link nodded.

"Considering Roy isn't dead, we can assume that something didn't go right." he responded, leaning over the rail.

Roy saw Samus literally freeze in her spot, craning her neck to stare at the Hylian. "Guys...do you know what today is?" she asked, paling a bit. In all of his time at the mansion, he had never seen the bounty hunter look so apprehensive.

Peach glanced curiously at Samus. "Of course. Today is--" And then, she suddenly froze too, a look of comprehension dawning on her face. "Oh no..." she whispered.

Captain Falcon seemed to reach the same conclusion as well, his posture stiffening. Marth and Link merely looked at each other, confused, until the prince suddenly blanched.

"Ah...! Link, today is that day!" he said in alarm. Link's eyes widened.

"How could we have forgotten...?! No wonder he's so focused today..."

Okay, that's it. Roy thought, deciding he had enough. Quickly making his way down the stairs, he coughed loudly and got the group's attention. "Okay, tell me everything about what this day means to him. Now." he said with all the command he could muster, tapping his foot impatiently.

Samus merely rubbed her temples, trying to ward off a headache. "Since the prince and Link didn't want to tell you, I suppose I can make it brief. Exactly one year ago, something very bad happened. I can't really describe it any other way, because it really was that bad. It involved Pit and Ike, and suffice to say, the episode was really painful for him."

Roy slowly nodded. At least that answer was better than what he was given. "Fine, but what happened, exactly?" he asked, noting at the way the atmosphere seemed to darken. "And what do you mean by 'him'? Do you mean Pit?"

Captain Falcon sighed. "We can stop beating around the bush, everyone," he said gruffly, turning to stare at the general in the face. "Roy, Ike is dead."

The general froze, any retort dying in his throat. He wasn't expecting that...

"He was a great friend to us. He was reserved, sure, but there was something in him that drew us all together," the racer continued, shaking his head. "When he passed...it was painful for us, even though we've all seen death. He made that much of an impact in our lives."

"I had no idea..." Roy breathed, sitting down in the nearest seat. "But how? How did he die?"

There was that insufferable silence again, but the general really needed to know. "Come on, guys...just tell me."

Finally, Marth sighed. "You're probably sick of hearing this, but...it's not our place to tell. It's his," he said, motioning to the angel, who was exiting the arena. "I wouldn't bother him today, Roy. It holds a lot of painful memories for us, but for him..."

"Where's he going?" Roy cut in, closing his eyes. He knew how much losing someone could hurt. He saw his father go through it for his mother. He comforted Lilina each year on the anniversary of Hector's death.

Samus regarded him coolly. "And what would you do, Roy? Why do you care so much about him?" she asked calmly.

The general shook his head. "It's hard to say exactly, but I want to be his friend," he said firmly, brushing off the stares the group gave him. "I'm serious! I want to understand what he's gone through. He shouldn't have to face his pain alone...no one should."

He watched as everyone traded looks between themselves before Peach nodded. "I understand," she said softly, breaking into a small smile. "Right now, he should be heading towards the Shrine of the Blue Fire now, which is by the lake. If you leave now, you can catch him."

Roy smiled, nodding in thanks to Peach, before he left. As the five watched him leave, Link turned to the princess with a curious stare.

"Do you think letting him know that was a good idea?"

Peach sighed. "Honestly, I don't know. But I can tell Roy genuinely wants to help him. He's that kind-hearted." she murmured, wringing her hands. Among them, she had been the most affected by Ike's death, still not totally grasping why things had turned out the way they had. She had accepted Pit's explanation about what they were doing, but she couldn't help but wonder if things had turned out different.

But then she winced. If things had turned out differently, they would have been dead. No, Pit suffered because he did the right thing, which ate away at her. She wanted to do whatever she could to bring a smile back to his face, and if Roy just being his friend would help, then...

"Regardless..." Marth muttered, leaning back in his chair and sighing. "I hope he won't go too far. He shouldn't be involved in this."

There were some nods as they turned their attention back to the arena, waiting for the next match.

The Shrine of the Blue Fire. That's what the other fighters called it. A sacred ground cloaked in eternal night, the bright stars and the glowing blue embers of the fire giving the whole area an ethereal atmosphere. The tree itself was enveloped in a pyre of blue fire, glowing with a magnificent light. It marked the grave where a great hero fell and finally slept.

Pit fought to keep from snorting, smiling at amusement as he approached the tree. Ike would have hated such grandiose names, but...for some reason, naming the area to honor his lover was fine by him. It really had been too long since he had last been here...he just hoped Ike wasn't angry at him.

"Hey," he greeted warmly, smiling as he let his eyes take in the glowing words on the ground. "It's been a while, Ike."

Plunging Alondite into the ground nearby, he sat down under the tree, leaning against the blue flames. Where once before it was the thing that symbolized the end of their time together, now it was comforting. The flames swirled around the angel as he leaned on the tree, warming his back and swaying comfortably against his skin. "You don't have to worry about me, you know...I've survived. I've made myself strong, see?" he said while flexing his muscles, chuckling quietly to himself. "But yeah, I've managed to overcome things. It was hard, but..."

The angel loved watching the lake, especially now with how the moon always hung overhead. "I should probably tell you about what's been going on, huh? You'd probably love to know, since you're stuck all the way out here."

Closing his eyes, he began to tell of what he had been doing for the past year; his struggles, his worries, and his triumphs. He spoke of how he had made friends, and how they pulled him back onto his feet. He grumbled about the jerks that couldn't see what truly happened, which got him angry. While the past year had been slow, there were both good and bad things that he had experienced.

"You know..." Pit murmured suddenly, placing his hand on the tree. "In a few months, I'm going to go to your world. Your friends there deserve to know about your death," he sighed, looking sad. "I know very well some of them will hate me. Especially when they see me carrying Alondite. But I have to do this; none of them should be kept in the dark about what happened to you. Your sister should know..."

The angel then sighed, crossing his arms. "I'm scared. I've fought so many fighters, I've fought you...but the fact of having to tell them about it scares me. When I picture their reaction..." he trailed off, shuddering. No one should have to hear about their family or friend's death, but it was necessary. He just wished it never had to be this way.

Perhaps it was because he was so immersed in his thoughts and memories that he didn't notice the person walking up to him.

"Pit?"

Startled, Pit looked up to see a red-haired person staring at him, a worried expression on his face. "Are you alright?"

"What are you doing here?" the angel hissed, glaring at the general. It was bad enough he had been stopped and questioned by him, but for him to follow him all the way out here?

Roy sighed. "It's a long story," he said, eyes drifting to the burning tree. "Do you mind if I sit down?"

Pit searched the general's face, studying it to see if he had any ulterior motives. Finding none, he turned away. "Fine." he mumbled. Roy gave him a slight smile as he sat down next to the angel.

"So..." he started, unsure on how he wanted to phrase his question. "This place is rather beautiful, isn't it?" he remarked casually, hoping to open the conversation with some humor.

Pit didn't find any. "It is..it's sacred ground," he responded drawing his knees up to his chest. "Tell me why you've come here."

"Right to the point, aren't you...?" Roy mumbled. "I know that I don't really know you or what happened, but you've been acting strange today. I didn't know why until your match earlier."

The angel stared at the general with a raised eyebrow. "Just from seeing me fight?"

"No, not exactly...although I can tell you're using two different styles, which is pretty odd in itself," he remarked, missing the slight flinch. "I overheard a conversation from some of the others...they said today was 'that' day."

"Figures that they would remember..." Pit muttered beneath his breath. "Today was...when he died. When Ike died." he said sadly, looking away.

Roy nodded slowly, looking apologetic. "It's odd. No one wants to talk about him at the mansion, saying it's none of my business. Maybe it isn't, but the more they talk about him and how he pertains to you, I keep wondering what happened."

Pit frowned. "And why do you want to know? This doesn't-"

"-concern you," Roy finished, a frustrated scowl on his face. "Of course it does! I want to be your friend, Pit! But every time I try to find something so I could connect with you or understand, I'm brushed off!"

"What even makes you think I want to be your friend?!" Pit growled angrily. "What gives you the right to know what I've gone through?!"

Silence met his exclamation, with Roy only staring back at him with a serious expression. "Nothing."

Pit blinked. "What?" he asked in surprise.

"I don't have any right," Roy admitted, sighing. "It's your right if you want to tell me or not, but...I do want to know. I want to know what you've gone through. I want to know about the person who seems to be suffering from some unknown weight. Even if you don't want to call me a friend, seeing you like this..."

Pit gaped at the general, who seemed to trail off as he stared at the moon. "Why?" he asked quietly, any anger he had suddenly draining out of him. "Why are you making such an effort?"

Roy shrugged. "Because I think you need a shoulder to lean on, that's all."

Blinking, the angel looked at Roy for a few moments before snickering. "You're a lot like him..." he chuckled, leaning back against the raging flames.

"Ike?" Roy queried, being met with Pit's nod.

"Alright. I'll tell you what you want to know." the angel sighed, looking up at the stars. Roy noticed he looked a lot more pensive than usual, and inwardly wondered if it had been a good idea to force him to tell him like this. But he had come too far to back out now.

"Please, tell me everything. About him and what happened." Roy clarified, frowning when Pit sucked in a deep breath.

"Ike was a true hero," the angel started, looking at the general. "At first glance, he was rude, cold, and blunt to the point where no one asked him anything. But he was so much more than that...he was compassionate, he didn't care what race you were, because he just labeled you as a person. He was the first one to ever talk to me."

From the way Pit smiled, Roy had to guess that the angel must have been in a pretty awkward place when he had first arrived. "I see..."

"Over time...we grew closer. He was my closest friend; he watched over me, he helped me train, and we talked about whatever we had on our minds. And then, one day, I confessed my love to him." Pit laughed at the small blush on Roy's face, amused at how he was taken off-guard. "He loved me back too. At that time, I thought everything was perfect. Nothing could come between us."

The general then sensed the conversation was about to get a lot more serious. "Something did, huh?" he pressed, only to be met with a nod.

"Yeah..." Pit muttered, a pained expression on his face. "One night, everything changed. He called me out to this very spot, and asked one simple thing of me," he explained, closing his eyes in remembrance of that moment. "He asked me, at a future time, to kill him."

Roy could only stare in pure shock. "What?!" he sputtered, the only response he could make.

The angel chuckled humorlessly. "I know what you're thinking. He wasn't crazy; in fact, he had everything planned out...everything," he muttered, looking down. "You have to understand something. A few years ago, he had just survived a major conflict that had his world at the brink of annihilation. He had to make one huge sacrifice to kill the goddess who was going to do it. He channeled the full power of the Goddess of Chaos and paid the price for it."

"He slew...a goddess...?" Roy asked, his eyes wide. Pit nodded.

"When a normal person comes into contact with the power of Chaos, their soul goes completely crazy. In short, they became nothing more than a mindless killer," the angel explained to the general, who only nodded slowly. "Ike...he still held some of that power within his body, and it continued to grow. He saw the writing on the wall, and wanted someone to end his life before it reached that point." Pit then sighed sadly. "That person was me."

Roy shook his head, the whole tale already proving to be a bit much for him. "That's...man, how could he ask that of you?" he choked out, finding it hard to even talk.

The angel chuckled. "That's what I kept asking. The simple answer is always the best; it's because we loved each other. For the months after that day, he constantly trained me for the day I would do the deed. We became even closer during that time, if it was possible. There was almost no moment when we weren't together, and the connection I felt with him...it's beyond words."

Roy could feel the sadness in the air, the expression on Pit's face darkening. "And then, the day finally came. We had one last fight to remember each other by. During the fight, the power started to get out of control...and I was about to kill him." The angel then chuckled mirthlessly, raising his eyes to the night sky. "Of course, nothing ever goes as planned. Suffice to say, there was some interference and we were faced with a berserker. Ike could not be harmed in any sort of way, and we were helpless."

"An invincible opponent..." Roy muttered. He had faced several people claiming to be that during the war. Zephiel was possibly the most striking example, and it took such a prolonged fight to bring him down, he couldn't even remember the fight clearly to this day. It was one battle he was happier not reliving. "I know how it feels to face down one such as that."

"It was a whole lot worse than that. When I said he couldn't be harmed, I meant it literally. Not even Samus' weapons could deal a wound, much less a scratch," Pit responded, not even blinking at the sight of disbelief that crept onto Roy's face. "That day, we had to run. It was only thanks to my goddess that we got the time we needed. I remembered one weapon Ike gave to me before, one weapon that could harm him."

Roy took in a deep breath, looking at the silver blade stuck in the ground not far from him. "Was it that...?"

"Yes. When I came back, my goddess was about to be killed, so I leapt in to distract him...and we made our final charge." he whispered, closing his eyes and shuddering violently as he remembered. Oh, how he remembered.

"Is that when he died?" Roy asked after several moments of silence. Pit shook his head.

"Yes and no. When we were about to hit each other, he had momentarily regained his senses, and the last thing I could ever remember of that moment was him smiling at me...a true smile of his, unburdened by pain or fear...before he threw himself onto my blade." Pit finished, taking several breaths and fighting to keep his eyes from watering up. Even now...even now it was hard to talk about that moment. That moment when everything had changed...!

"Oh, Pit..." Roy muttered, utterly speechless. Never had such a thing had happened, even in his wildest imagination.

"He gave me his headband..." Pit murmured quietly, pointing to the green headband that was wrapped around his head. "A symbol of who he was. I promised that I would never forget who he was. Even if everybody else in the world forgot, I wouldn't," he said solemnly. "I put this on as we buried him here, swearing that I would never go back on my promise. I haven't forgotten...I would never."

"Wait, he's buried here?!" Roy asked suddenly, startled that he was now on top of a burial ground. Pit nodded.

"He loved this place...so I decided to bury him here. My goddess was the one who did everything else," he said, motioning to around them. "After that...no, that's too much. Everything was crazy after that. That's everything that happened. Everything..."

Roy could only gape at the angel in shock, his heart hurting for the angel. "You've gone through a lot, haven't you?" he asked quietly, looking out at the lake.

"I'm still going through a lot," Pit admitted, clutching his arms. "Every single day is tough. I might look strong, I might act strong...but it hurts, you know? It's like a giant void opened up in my heart, and it has made it hard to feel anything," he muttered sadly. "Honestly...it's hard without him. But I have to survive...for him."

The general shifted uncomfortably, staring blankly at the night sky. "It isn't fair." was all he managed to say.

"It isn't," Pit acknowledged sadly, nodding. "But things are never fair in life."

"Yeah..."

They stayed like that for several minutes, staring into the starry sky as they both thought of what happened. The angel broke it by suddenly chuckling. "Hey, Roy?" he pressed, looking at the red-haired general. "Thanks."

Roy blinked in surprise. "Thanks? For what? I should be apologizing-"

"No, don't," Pit said, holding up a hand. "I think I really needed to get that off my chest. To let someone know..." He took a deep breath and smiled at the general, who was dumbfounded at the happy expression. "Thanks for coming out here."

Roy scratched the back of his head sheepishly, looking embarrassed. "It's really nothing. I just thought you needed someone to talk to, that's all."

"I really appreciate it. He would have done the same thing." he said, and Roy smiled sadly. Even though he never knew the mercenary, something about him just connected with him, and he felt sad that he would never meet him.

"You know...sometimes, when I'm sleeping, I dream about him." Pit said suddenly after a few moments of silence. "I feel that he's right next to me, whispering in my ear. He's encouraging me to keep going, holding me...and when I wake up, he's no longer there. But I can still hear his words, still feel his embrace..."

Roy smiled. "I think he's watching over you. I'm sure of it!"

I am. Pit, you're strong. You can take on anything that comes your way.

The general perked his head up, looking around wildly. "What was that?!"

Pit chuckled, a lone tear coursing its way down his cheek. "That was him. Ike, thank you so much...for everything."

I'm glad. You've found people to call your friends...people that you can rely on in your times of need.

Roy closed his eyes, a slight wind now overtaking him. "He sounds like he's glad to see you're safe."

The angel closed his eyes, smiling wistfully. "Yeah. I know he is...Ike, can you see me now?" he asked as he looked back at the tree, staring into the blue flames. "Even when times are hard, I know you're always with me. That strength we forged together...I'll use it to press ahead. Just keep watching!"

I'm there for you, Pit. I'll always walk beside you, no matter where you are.

The angel then turned back to Roy, the sad smile still on his face. "Let's go back to where our friends are. I don't want to worry them anymore."

Roy smirked. "Does this mean I'm your friend now?" he teased. Pit only grinned back.

"Well, now that I've told you everything, you better damn well believe it." He then walked over to Alondite and took it out of the ground, hoisting it over his shoulder reminiscent of Ike. "Let's go, my friend."

The general chuckled as he began to follow the angel out of the sacred ground, but before he exited, he felt something peculiar. "Hm?" Unsheathing the Sword of Seals, his eyes widened as the crimson flames engulfed the sword, almost as if it was resonating with the azure flames of the tree. Staring at his sword, he smiled and nodded, understanding the unspoken message.

"Don't worry. I'll be the best friend he could ever ask for. You can count on it."

With that, he exited the clearing, unaware of the spectral presence that had appeared.

I'll walk beside you for eternity, Pit. I want you to live again. I want you to love again. And even if you can't...know that I'll be there for every step of the way.

Ike smiled to himself before he disappeared in a plume of blue flames, resuming his watch over the angel he loved so much.

"Oh, a shooting star!"

"First time seeing one, Pit?"

"Of course!"

"Well, make a wish then. Supposedly, it comes true."

"Oh, I see...um..."

"Well, what?"

"I want us to be by each others side forever. No matter the pain or despair, we'll be there for each other, right?"

"Of course! Always."

"Heh...I love you Ike. Now and forever."

"I love you, my angel. Our souls will join hands forevermore."

A/N: And there's the epilogue of Solemn Judgment. This story was just as fun to write as it was to come up with.

Thanks to everyone who kept reading from the beginning! If you have any questions, or just wish to contact me, use a PM.

Keep on the look out for more stories from me coming soon.