Full Summery- Holy Nightmare Enterprises sends out its true trump card to conquer Pop Star and eradicate any hope the universe has to overthrow Nightmare himself. It is revealed to be the monster that wiped out Meta Knight's comrades so many years ago in the battle that ensured the tyrants reign. Can Kirby and Meta Knight team up to defeat the formidable dragoness Cynder? Or will she triumph in the name of her Master?

Disclaimer- I DO NOT OWN CYNDER, AS SHE IS A CHARACTER FROM THE LEGEND OF SPYRO SERIES (which I adore). I really did not feel like coming up with an OC, so I figured that she would be perfect for this story…

Chapter One- Cynder

"I've had just about enough of your failures with your weakling demon beasts! I want that Kirby to be eliminated one and for all!" Dedede yelled at the Salesman of HNM. He slammed a gloved fist on the armrest of his throne. Escargon face-palmed himself, but said nothing.

The Salesman gave Dedede a cold, greasy smile, "Could you hold on a moment? I'll be right back…" The screen that showed his face promptly turned completely blue with the words "Please Hold" written upon it.

"Ugh, I swear they send me weak demon beasts claiming that they are powerful on purpose!" Dedede growled, bashing Escargon on the head.

"Master," The Salesman glanced at Nightmare, whose eyes glowed red in the shadows, "Do you think the time has come…?"

Nightmare merely smirked, "Cynder…"

There was movement on the other side of the room, and a similar pair of eyes glowed as a panther-like black dragon emerged from the shadows. (A/N: IMPORTANT- GO TO AND LOOK UP CYNDER TO GET A DESCRIPTION!!! I CAN'T DO IT .)

"Yes, master…?" the beast hissed, rustling her torn wings

"Go forth…you know what to do…"

Dedede gave a cry of outrage as the screen on the wall fuzzed out and shut off.

"What in the name of-!"

The machine in the center of the throne-room suddenly sparked and came to life. Escargon cowered and shrank back near the king as bolts of lightning came from it.

"Are they sending a demon beast?! What is going on?!" Dedede demanded, eyes not leaving the center of the room. "I-I-I d-don't know, y-your M-majesty!!!" Escargon yelled back over the increasing noise. Smoke was now filling the room as the transporter's alarms started sounding, red "danger" lights flashing every few seconds. Meta Knight, who was lurking just outside the throne room, watched intently, 'It looks like his majesty has bitten off more than he can chew this time…' he thought to himself, his hand on the hilt of Galaxia. The sword suddenly sent out a brief shockwave of energy, causing the Star Warrior to gasp and glance down briefly, "No…it can't be…!"

A terrible roar, followed by a massive explosion, shook the castle to its very core. The earthquake that resulted was felt by everyone in Pupu Village. Even the children, playing near Kirby's home, felt the earth shake under their feet, causing them to fall.

"W-whats going on sis?!?!" Bun yelled, clinging to Kirby for dear life. Fumu, who was under the tree writing as usual, yelled back, "I-I don't k-know!" she struggled to get up, using the tree as support. Tokkori, who was napping inside, was shaken from the bed onto the floor. Crying out in panic, he hid under the bed until the quake subsided.

Outside, dark clouds were starting to form above Dedede's castle, red lightning cracking and striking the ground. Several cappies screamed and headed for cover inside their homes: the children piled inside Kirby's house as a foul wind started to blow harshly. They clung together, shaking and scared; sensing something evil had made its way into their world.

'No no no no no no NO!!!' Meta Knight's panicked thoughts swirled uncontrollably as he watched a lithe black dragon materialize from the smoke and wreckage that was the transporter. Both Escargon and Dedede could only watch as she fanned the smoke away with her massive wings. She was huge, a full 50 feet from the tip of her narrow snout to the end of her bladed tail.

"W-who are y-you?!" Dedede demanded, trying to control his shaking body. Cynder merely ignored him at first with a flick of her tail, red glowing eyes surveying the room she was in while she stepped down from the remains of the transporter to pace the room. Meta Knight shrank back as she slowly walked past the doorway near his hiding spot. He was tempted to turn and run and not stop for anything, but both Parm and Memu were still in danger inside the castle: Dedede and Escargon he would have to leave to their fate. He slowly backed away, then took off down the corridor to find Sword and Blade.

It was then that Cynder answered Dedede, striking an impressive figure in the center of the room.

"I am Cynder, the demon who ended the war between my master and the Galaxy Soldier Army. It was I who slaughtered them all in the name of my master, the invincible Nightmare, eNeMeE of the universe and all who oppose him"

"So," Escargon managed to speak, "You're the one that killed all the Star Warriors all those years ago?"

Cynder stalked closer, lowering her fearsome head to look him in the eye a mere 10 feet away, "Yesssss little snail…there are none who are stronger then I…" Escargon felt his heart flutter in fear, and he looked up to see Dedede with a wicked smile on his greedy face.

"Then I guess you'll have no problem dealing with a certain pink puffball who resides in this very village then…" Dedede leaned forward slightly, clearly interested in Cynder's abilities. The black dragon smirked,

"Of course not…although there is one matter I do have to attend to first…"

"Oh and what's that?"

A sly gleam entered Cynder's evil gaze, and bared her formidable fangs in a cruel smile, "Overthrowing you, of course…"

"Huh?!" Dedede jumped off his throne, fists clenched in fury, "I've ruled this place for 300 years, you beast! Do you think that I, its illustrious ruler, is gonna give up the throne just like that to some demon-!?"

Dedede never got to finish his tirade: Cynder roared mightily at the top of her lungs, causing the floor to shake once again. Escargon grabbed Dedede's arm and pulled him out of the throne room as fast as he possibly could as dark energy poured out of Cynder's body in waves as she continued her ululation. Meanwhile, at Meta Knight's command, Sword and Blade had gotten Memu and Parm to safety, while the Star Warrior himself flew hard and fast to find Kirby in the village. The darkness from Cynder's arrival made the air heavy with evil, plunging the day into night, and making it hard to breathe and fly. Soon he found Kirby's house and sensed the children in there. He knocked on the door, and called loudly to make his voice heard over the howling wind,

"It's me, Meta Knight! Please open up!"

It wasn't long before Fumu opened the door a crack, then opening it wider once she saw it was indeed him. He entered, relieved to be out of the sudden cold that had struck the land. The three cappy children were huddled in the corner, with Bun and Kirby on the bed with Tokkori.

"You three," Meta Knight motioned to the three cappy children, "Your families must be worried, please see if you can make it home to them. Tokkori, go and make sure they don't get hurt."

The three looked scared, but complied and hurried out the door into the chilling cold, followed by the yellow woodpecker.

"What's happening, Sir Meta Knight?" Fumu asked, noting how uneasy and nervous Meta Knight was: his eyes were dim and he shifted his weight from foot to foot. It took him a long moment to respond,

"The very being that haunts my dreams and is the source of my fears has come…"

"Who is that?" Bun asked, clearly curious despite the gravity and seriousness of the situation. Meta Knight took a deep breath, dim eyes fogging over as he became lost in a sea of old memories…

FLASHBACK

It had been the day of the final battle with the struggle against Nightmare, the feared eNeMeE of the universe that was the source of everyone's pain and sorrow. Meta Knight knew that today would decide the fate of everyone, and that he and his sword Galaxia could not afford to fail. He was the first on the front lines, surrounded by his friends and comrades who he knew depended on him, as he depended on them. The bloody battle had been going on for hours, but he and his men fought on nonetheless, no matter how fearsome or deadly the demons were becoming. Soon, much to the GSA's relief and elation, the waves of demon beasts had subsided. But that joy was short lived…

Thud

The stagnant air shivered from the strength of the concussion.

Thud

Another dull blow made Meta Knight's teeth chatter, and he shifted Galaxia to a better grip to better face the dark force that was now overwhelming his senses.

Thud

He and his comrades were forced to put their hands over their ears to protect them from the painful spikes of pressure.

Thud

The blood soaked and battle stained grass bent under the sudden gust of icy wind.

Thud

From below the edge of the cliff rose a huge black and red dragon, whose massive torn wings blocked out the fading sun as she beat them to stay airborne. She opened her narrow jaws to reveal fangs the size of Galaxia, and belted out a roar that made the ground crack and shake. The GSA had little hope and strength to face this new menace: they were tired from the endless hours of fighting the other demon beasts. Nonetheless they charged towards this new foe with unbound courage. Meta Knight attempted to shout orders to back down and retreat from this enemy, but his cries fell unheeded as Cynder slaughtered them all without remorse or effort, fresh blood soaking the already mire coated ground. The dying screams of his men was all he could hear, along with the evil laughter of the one who to the present day haunted Meta Knight's every thought.

END FLASHBACK

"Wow…" was the only word Fumu and Bun could manage. Even Kirby looked serious and somber due to Meta Knight's chilling tale. Meta Knight turned away, blinking away the tears that now threatened to spill over.

"Now…that monster is back…and she will kill us all…"

Fumu jumped off the bed, a defiant look in her emerald eyes, "So, you're saying that we are all basically doomed here? That we are supposed to lie down and accept our fate?!"

"What can we do, Lady Fumu?!" Meta Knight raised his voice in response, "The entire GSA was helpless facing that thing! HELPLESS!" He started to shake, "And all I could do…was watch them all be killed by that soulless monster…" He collapsed on one knee, causing Fumu to rush forward to his side.

"Sir Meta Knight!" Bun joined his sister, as did Kirby while chirping a concerned, "Poyo!"

Meta Knight looked up into the eyes of each of them, lingering on Fumu's the longest. Was he destined to watch the ones he cared about get killed yet again, with him being helpless to do naught but watch as their blood also soaked the ground? Fumu bit her lip, disturbed to see Meta Knight in this state of despair,

"Isn't there anything we can do, Sir Meta Knight… anything at all?"

Meta Knight looked down to the floor once again, and slowly got to his feet. He walked over to the window, only to see that the dark clouds had spread as far as the eye can see, 'So…her influence over the land is spreading fast…does she plan on holing herself up at Dedede's castle to let her life draining aura do all the work?' He shifted his sharp gaze to the castle and with a sinking heart confirmed his hunch: a red and violet dome-like barrier had now completely encased the castle, which had also changed drastically in appearance. Its stonework now appeared to have changed into indigo crystal, and the structure was also 2x as tall as before with one thick tower rising higher than the others.

"So much has already happened in such a short span…" Meta Knight noted out loud, his grip tightening on Galaxia. There wouldn't be much time before the residents of Pupu village and eventually the rest of Pop Star would start to feel the foul effects of the black mist now starting to spread throughout the world. As if on cue, Bun started to cough heavily, sounding extremely sick.

"Bun?! BUN!!" Fumu went to her brother's side as he proceeded to cough violently, "Whats wrong?!"

"It's her…" Meta Knight hissed in anger, eyes glowing red, "Her aura will make everyone sicker and sicker until…" he was too angry to finish. Fumu gasped: Bun had suddenly developed a high fever! She helped her brother into the bed, who reached out weakly to hold Fumu's hand,

"Sis…I'll be ok…just make sure Sir (cough) Meta Knight and K-Kirby (cough cough) make mince-meat of that demon!" he said weakly, smiling faintly before closing his eyes and falling unconscious.

"The weak will be the first to feel the effects of this mist…" Meta Knight stated, disturbed, for Bun may have been a kid, but he was by no means weak. Fumu sniffled a bit, starting to really become frightened, "Will…he be…ok?" she looked at Meta Knight with tear filled eyes. He felt his heart clench at the sight of her sadness of her brother's plight.

"If she cannot be either removed from Pop Star or killed…then most likely not…" the words were spoken gently, but Fumu felt the truth of them hit her like a title wave. She leaped into Meta Knight's arms, causing his eyes to flash briefly orange in surprise before going back to normal. She sobbed with an abandon that scared Meta Knight to the core, more than the first time he laid eyes on the demon beast Cynder again centuries after that battle, no, slaughter… He held the weeping girl close, not caring if her tears soaked his cape. Soon, her crying subsided into sniffles, but still Meta Knight held onto her, lest she fall apart yet again. He wished nothing more than to say that everything would be ok…but even he himself wasn't sure of such an outcome. Kirby, who had been silent all this time, was now gazing out the window with a gleam in his eye he didn't have before. He turned to Meta Knight and motioned outside the window.

"You say you wish to fight?"

"Poyo!" Kirby nodded resolutely, hopping down from the window. He opened the door and ran outside into the darkness.

"Wait, Kirby!" Meta Knight cried out. Fumu backed away and wiped away a single tear that formed, "Please Sir Meta Knight, I know this Cynder may be strong, but with you and Kirby fighting together, nothing is impossible for the two of you!" She also ran outside to where Kirby was standing looking resolutely at the castle. Ignoring the suffocating air, she took a deep breath and cried out with all her might,

"WARP STAR!!!"

It wasn't long before the golden star came into view on the horizon, speeding as fast as a bullet towards them. Kirby hopped on as it flew past, his balance perfect as the star picked up speed to fly towards Cynder's stronghold. Meanwhile Meta Knight stood in the doorway, eyes orange in shock. Why was he, one of the strongest in the universe, afraid to charge into battle when a mere child was willing to put himself in mortal danger to save the world from an impossible evil? Kirby's resolution made something click within Meta Knight, a missing piece that had just now fallen into place. He was a Star Warrior, not a coward!

With a mighty battle cry, Meta Knight unfurled his wings and took off after Kirby, leaving his fears on the ground as well as a shocked Fumu. He vowed to himself that he, Meta Knight, Star Warrior of the GSA, would have his revenge Cynder, lest he die trying….