Sweey: Alright, here comes the ridiculously long AN. I didn't make you guys wait long for the first chapter now did I? :)Couldn't help it! X3
disclaimer: I do not own Meta Knight or any SPECIFIC Kirby related thing but do own the story and the other characters.
First off, I'm only doing this once so listen up! (especially if you're new here)
This story takes place after The Past of the Masked Knight. If you haven't read that yet, can't say this story will entirely make sense, but you're welcome to read on anyways. ;D Alright, this is five years after Meta became a Star Warrior within the Galaxy Soldier Army and Erratima (Emit)and Arrowing (Venton)are still working under (general) Dark Meta Knight under Nightmare's mountain. Expect in this story a plethora of twists, cliff hangers, and extremely intense epicness. Take note that this is before Meta has claimed the Galaxia Sword AND before Nightmare got his sunglasses if that's what you'd call it.
Most of the characters that were introduced in the Past of the Masked Knight will be in this story. Like Thorn for one, shall be, as he was in the prior story, a very crucial character in this story. He is still looking to find revenge on Nightmare. Also, I use the word shadow in place of apprentice, for just as a shadow must follow its host, an apprentice must shadow his master. This is typically used to describe Thorn's shadow(apprentice), Edge or Erratima's shadow, Myno Shade.
There are several species in my story that are based off of those in the anime. I strictly refrain from calling Meta Knight's species kirbies or puffballs. :, To me it's too cliche. Not to offend anyone who does use it though. I just feel it would make my story feel less professional. Therefore there are two different "puffball" species in my story. The Cathicans and the Satisans. The Cathcians are exactly the same as Kirby and Meta Knight. The Satisans are different by only one trait: their Satisans (if you are familiar with Kirby's epic yarn and the anime) either have eyes like Silica, Fumu, or Knuckle Joe, or eyes like Prince Fluff. None of them have oval eyes like Kirby or Meta Knight. The other quality that makes their eyes so significant is that their right eye always glow (like Meta's but instead it's only one eye) and are often covered by a half visor. The Satisans are also frequently called the Satisan shape-shifters as they can shape-shift into other people and species to hide their identity (kinda like Mystic from the Xmen. Not exaclty, but similarly) but cannot turn into animals, while the Cathicans can swallow enemies and house their abilities (like kirby). Though both of the abilities of the Satisans and Cathicans have become rare and almost unheard of. Especially the Cathican's ability to steal their enemies powers but the Satisans are working hard to restore their ability among their people.
Now, as for "cappies", I will refer to two basic planets, Ivo and Elibis. a few for example: Thorn, Edge, Cat, and Erratima. These are species like Fumu and Silica. Humanoids if you will. As for Knuckle Joe's species, there are the Ironcladdians who live on the planet Ironcladd. In my story, Nightmare's home base is beneath a mountain upon a deserted planet called Efurd. I have several characters and I plan to make this story into two parts like The Past of the Masked Knight. If I haven't already scared you all off with this incredibly ridiculous AN... I think it's time we get started. So, without further ado, I present to you,
The Life of a Star Warrior Part 1: Shifting Sands
...
~Chapter 1 Return of the Masked Knight~
Victory was near and defeat was at hand.
Another demon fell to the sword of a masked knight. He pulled back the deadly weapon and thrust it into the side of another monstrous beast. Blood elaborated the silver mask that armored the mighty knight's round, muscular, midnight-blue body.
A snarl came from behind and the masked knight turned to face his new opponent. The beasts eyes glared as it raised its deadly talons to strike the masked knight down, but the masked knight rolled to the side, surprising the great beast with his unexpected speed and agility. Before the beast knew it, the masked knight was already upon it, driving his needle-like blade through its head and leaving it there for dead.
"Sir!" a stout axeman shouted. He ran up beside the masked knight and heaved in the air as he reached his side.
The masked knight's glowing, golden eyes fixed themselves upon the axeman, "What news do you bring?"
Suddenly, the axeman's voice altered greatly followed by his very demeanor. "I am here," he paused as he lifted his ax, "to deliver death to you!"
In a whirl of confusion, the axeman attacked the masked knight though instead of the ax delivering the death to its victim, the masked knight quickly blocked the path of the massive ax and stood staring deeply into the axeman's eyes.
The shocked axeman stared at the interlocking weapons. The masked knight's delicate blade was so polished, it's surface shown like a mirror reflecting the stars that dangled high above them as it held the ax back from its killing blow.
The masked knight held his pose. He would not strike the axeman until the knight was sure the axeman was ready. For he was a knight and would never do anything to hurt his delicate reputation. He knew all too well that a stroke of his blade could not be taken back.
The axeman shook himself back into reality, staring into the deep, glowing eyes of the masked knight before him. They seemed to peer right through his disguise. He began to consider retreating.
Anger flared within the axeman. How could he let the mere gaze of the masked knight to lead him away from his purpose? With that thought in mind, he lifted his battle axe for yet another strike.
In one fluid motion, the masked knight slipped clear of the treacherous battle axe and leapt to the air landing behind the axeman before the axe had even reached its full swing.
The axeman turned around in shock, dropping his axe to the ground as he crossed his eyes awkwardly at the masked knight's sword as its razor sharp point was held just centimeters from his face.
The masked knight shook himself in disgust as he pointed his sword at the axeman, "You are a poor assassin. I thought a Satisan shape-shifter such as yourself would have been better prepared."
The axeman looked at the knight in shock when his dark secret had finally been revealed.
A soft chuckle echoed from beneath the knight's silver mask, but joy failed to mingle with it. It was meant to be mocking, not humorous. "Don't be so surprised!" His eyes then blazed crimson and his voice reached a dangerous depth, "I knew it the day you boarded my ship and joined my party of Star Warriors three weeks ago!"
The axeman's face went pale, "H-how did you know!"
The masked knight shrugged, "Guess you could call it instincts."
"Sir Meta Knight!" a familiar voice called to the masked knight.
"What is it Vex?" Meta Knight asked his fellow Star Warrior.
"Th-they have arrived!" Vex answered excitedly between ragged breaths.
Meta smiled beneath his mask. "Excellent. Thank you for bringing me this news Vex. Now do me a favor and lock this fellow in the brig. I'm sure Captain Kolat and Sir Randal would like to have a word with the traitor."
"Traitor? But sir! He's one of our own!" Vex protested as he gestured towards the star brooch that was fastened to the axeman's left shoulder pad.
Meta nodded slightly, "Yes, but take a good long look at his right eye."
Vex glanced from Meta Knight to the axeman and back again before he stepped forward and squinted his eyes for a closer look. "He's a Satisan!"
Meta nodded again then handed the Satisan imposter off to Vex who drug the unfortunate fellow off to their fleet of star ships with Sir Meta Knight leading the way. Soon, they reached the main ship where Meta met his expected guests.
"Yamikage, I am pleased that you have come," Sir Meta Knight greeted the ninja warrior.
Yamikage nodded before he spoke. His voice was gruff and slightly muffled. A side effect of the black veil that was secured tightly over his mouth. "I am pleased to honor our alliance Sir Meta Knight. When would you like us to begin?"
Meta thought a moment, glancing off at the battle between the Dark Army of Nightmare and his Star Warriors. "Now would be a good time as ever. Besides, I'm sure your ninjas are itching for a good fight."
Yamikage nodded then lifted his hand, jerking it towards the battlefield. His fellow ninjas darted out into the battlefield like shadows and were soon unable to be seen by the untrained eye.
Before dispersing off themselves, Meta Knight and Yamikage bowed to each other in respect then darted off to join in the warfare.
Soon the battle for planet Fenon was won and the Star Warriors yelled in their triumph. Though the ninjas never showed any signs that they were pleased but instead stood staring as the demons dispersed to their own ships far beyond where the previous battle had been held.
In the distance, Yamikage espied the dark general of Nightmares demon army. He looked peculiarly like Sir Meta Knight, though altered by evil.
"What's Sir Meta Knight doing on the side of the enemy so suddenly?" One ninja asked himself aloud.
"That's not Sir Meta Knight! That's the Dark Shadow!" one soldier remarked.
"The Dark Shadow?" Yamikage asked with sudden interest.
The young Star Warrior nodded, "Nightmare created him to look like Sir Meta Knight so that it would confuse us on the battlefield."
"Who told you that?" Yamikage demanded.
"Why, Sir Thorn," the young Star Warrior answered matter-of-factly.
Yamikage turned without another word and departed from the main group, standing alone upon a cliff-side as he pondered about the information that had just been delivered to him, "So, Sir Anduin Isan Thorn has decided to keep Sir Meta Knight's past locked in secret. Interesting..."
...
Dark Meta Knight paced about his office as he was furious by their loss, "How could this happen! Victory was in our grasp!" He held his hand up as though it victory literally sat in the palm of his mitten.
Erratima and Arrowing exchanged rueful glances. It was Arrowing who stepped forward. "There was a surprise attack. The Star Warriors were reinforced by the Shadow Striders, a group of fierce and expert ninjas. We stood no chance!"
"We'll see what Lord Nightmare has to say about that!" Dark Meta growled as he plopped into his chair. It was obvious how furious he was by the way he was acting. Of course, when was he not? He pounded his fist on his desk making the other soldiers in the room jump though Erratima and Arrowing were unmoved, "Damn! I thought we were on a roll! We've had victory after victory and now this? We've fought ninjas before! What in the Universe went wrong!"
"Yes sir, we've faced ninjas before, but not these ninjas. As I said before, these ninjas were the Shadow Striders led by the legendary Dark Shadow Yamikage himself!" Arrowing explained. "The Shadow Striders are the best of the most profound of ninjas. We were as good as beaten the moment they arrived."
"Not to mention they had the element of surprise on their side," Erratima added.
"The Dark Shadow you say," Dark Meta said rubbing his mask where his possible chin lay underneath, "And who gave him such an extreme title."
"The demon beasts call him that sir," Arrowing replied.
Dark Meta grinned sinisterly beneath his mask and his red eyes glittered with subsiding fury. "How amusing. Well, go give Phantom our report and have him take it to Nightmare."
The two metal knights nodded then turned and left the room, leaving Dark Meta Knight there to plot his next attack.
...
"Once again, Sir Meta Knight and his Star Warriors have brought us another glorious victory!" Sir Arthur declared in his rich, mighty voice. The Galaxy Soldier Army's five superior leaders were gathered around a round table all maskless as they prepared to enjoy the feast that had been prepared for them.
"I would not have been victorious if it were not for the Shadow Striders," Meta Knight replied modestly. Yamikage twitched a glance at him and Meta saw a flash of gratitude in the ninja's eyes. Then almost as soon as it had appeared, it vanished.
Meta lifted up a goblet of wine and stood, "To the Galaxy Soldier Army and the Shadow Striders! May our alliance out last the stars!"
A chorus of agreement followed those words and a clashing sounded as the goblets came together in a toast. Of course Yamikage didn't make a sound all the while, but he did participate. No one was offended, they all knew it was the ninja's way to go on unnoticed and sulk in the background, veiled in the shadows.
Meta swirled the red wine around in his mouth as its bittersweet taste surrounded his taste buds.
"Sure Sir Meta Knight you will be able to go visit your family now!" Sir Nonsurant stated.
Meta smiled slightly, "I wish, but battles have been growing more frequent. The Galaxy Soldier Army cannot afford to spare anyone right now. Besides, I feel wrong having a holiday when my fellow Star Warriors cannot."
Sir Dragato frowned, "But Sir Meta Knight, you haven't visited them for nearly half a year! Don't you miss them?"
Meta's face grew pained and his gaze fell, "Yes, terribly. I long for them like parched and withered forests long for rain."
Everyone grew silent as they began thinking about their own families and how dearly they missed them. No longer were their masks there to hide their painful emotions.
Sir Arthur smiled warmly at Meta Knight, "At least go and see them for a week. Peace should follow this battle. There is no need to worry. You shall depart tomorrow at dawn."
Meta's gaze shot up at those words and opened his mouth in protest but Sir Arthur cut him off.
"Sir Meta Knight that was an order! You will follow it as one!" Sir Arthur demanded firmly, the humorous tone from before was no longer present in his voice.
Mead nodded as a meek smile spread slowly across his face.
"I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I think it is high time we feast! The ham is getting cold!" Sir Falspar declared. Immediately the others agreed with him and began to devour the delicious food set out before them.
...
"Straight!" Erratima exclaimed in triumph as he revealed his hand of cards.
Phantom, Arrowing, and Shade groaned.
"Can we play something else? I'm sick of loosing," Phantom asked woefully.
"Sure!" Erratima replied cheerfully as he shuffled the cards, arching them up as they soaked into a bridge making a clattering, fwo-o-o-oopt sound."How about Slap Jack?"
"Why don't you just slap me in the face instead?" Arrowing asked sarcastically.
Erratima rolled his eyes in irritation, "I'd like to sometimes." He changed back to the former subject. "What about Spoons?" The others all shook their heads in rejection. Erratima went through the entire list of games until all of them had been dismissed by his friends.
"Well? What do you suggest we play then?" Erratima asked them crossly, nearly scattering the deck of cards that his hands constantly played with.
"How about Upload?" Shade asked quietly. So far, this was the first time he had spoken a word.
Erratima raised an eyebrow at his young shadow, but the little black Cathican showed no sign of other options. Erratima looked at the others and they too nodded in favor of the idea.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but alright!" Erratima growled as he put his deck of cards away and pulled out the special demon beast cards that Dark Meta Knight had given to him as a gift. "I hate you guys," he mumbled as he dealt out the cards.
"We know!" Arrowing said cheerfully. "We hate you too!"
Erratima rolled his eyes, "Well, who'll go first?"
"I will!" Arrowing spat blissfully.
Again, Erratima's eyes rolled to the heavens. "Very well."
"Do you have any Mumbies, Erratima?" Arrowing asked mockingly.
It was as if he knew the answer! Erratima growled as he handed over his Mumbie card to Arrowing. He then turned to Shade and spoke, "My young shadow, do you have an Ebizou?"
Shade shook his head, "Upload."
After Erratima grabbed his card, Shade turned to Phantom. "Have a scarfy?"
Phantom shook his head slowly, "'fraid not, upload."
Shade nodded then extended a hand to draw a card. To his delight it was a scarfy and he laid down his match for the others to see.
"Luck, pure luck," Erratima grumbled grouchily.
Phantom turned to Arrowing, "Have any Broom Kings?"
"Yep!" Arrowing thrust the card in Phantom's direction and the masked knight growled in distaste.
"Hey Shade! Got a Poppy Bro. Jr.?" Arrowing asked the small, round Cathican.
Shade nodded and handed him the card.
Erratima looked at Arrowing, "Do you have a Wind Whipper?"
"Spoot!" Arrowing handed the card to his rival.
"You know, as much as I love watching you all play such a childish game, I think it's about time we all head to the throne room."
"Kikio! How long have you been here?" Arrowing said in both shock and delight.
"She's been drawing at the table since we began playing cards," Erratima informed the group. His senses were impeccably sharp, though none knew quite how they became so.
Arrowing looked at Kikio and smiled, "Why didn't you say anything, Kik?"
Kikio shrugged, "Didn't feel like it."
Arrowing's smile broadened, "Of course you didn't! So, you were saying."
"Nightmare called a gathering," she replied leisurely.
"When does it start?" Erratima asked coolly.
"Fifteen minutes," Kikio answered him casually.
"Fifteen minutes!" They all said in chorus.
Kikio watched as the four knights scattered about erratically through the room putting on their ceremonial armor and taking to other such tasks. Shade of course, wore no armor, so he took a seat beside her. He revealed in his hand of eight cards four matches, thus winning the game of Upload.
Kikio giggled, "Of course you would."
Shade's teal eye was the only feature visible that told Kikio he was smiling beneath all the linen wrappings that wound around his entire body. They were very similar to the one Mumbies wore though they were of the purest white. Her curiosity immediately took hold of her.
"Why are you wrapped in linen?" she asked.
"It creates static electricity. Enabling me to create plasma fire," he explained as he demonstrated his ability. A light teal flame appeared over his mittened hand and then it vanished at his command.
Kikio nodded, suspecting that wasn't the whole truth but decided that it made enough sense that there was no need to pry any further.
"We're ready!" Arrowing announced.
Kikio giggled, "Not quite." She approached the winged archer and turned his helmet around. "Now we're ready to go."
"Where's Cat?" Erratima asked Kikio.
"Probably already there," Kikio answered leisurely.
Erratima nodded, but he still wasn't comforted by her answer. Nevertheless, he stayed quiet.
When they arrived in Nightmare's throne room, they were shocked by the chaos that filled it as they had suspected that it would be a private meeting, but it seemed as though every demon under Nightmare's mountain was present. Despite the chaos, the group of warriors made their way towards their seats near Nightmare's throne.
A obnoxious demon though was foolish enough to bump deliberately into the already edgy Erratima and the tall Ivoian glared fiercly at it. It began to curse at him and through hideous insults. For a while, Erratima merely glared at it but then the demon landed a punch and that was when Erratima's fuse had met the bomb.
The hiss of steel resounded through the vast room as Erratima unsheathed his pantara claws and pointed inches from the demons throat. Instantly the little demon backed down and those who had been encouraging its rebellious behavior fell muted in fear.
Erratima nodded slowly, scowling fiercely at any of them who challenged his gaze.
"Come on lord Scaryman! Let's go!" Arrowing urged his friend.
Erratima followed the corner of his mouth baring his teeth ever so slightly. His usual expression that told the world, 'Touch me and I won't hesitate tearing you to shreds."
When the group finally reached their seats Erratima sat down then looked in alarm at Cat's empty seat. He looked at Kikio in alarm. "I thought you said she'd be here!"
Kikio scowled at him, "Actually, I said she was probably already here."
"Well, where is she?" Erratima asked as his eyes searched desperately for Cat. He looked at his friends but they all shook their heads. Before he could leave to go search for her, Nightmare demanded for everyone to be seated.
Their attention was taken to the large open space in the middle of the massive throne room.
"This place always reminds me of the circus," Arrowing declared absentmindedly.
"Yeah!" Erratima agreed. Then his voice grew very sarcastic, "A very bloody, disturbing sort of circus!"
"As if clowns aren't scary enough!" Shade added.
Everyone looked at him with mixed expressions of surprise and confusion.
Shade scowled at them all with his one, visible eye, "What? Nobody likes clowns!"
The others couldn't help but agree with him. Erratima merely grunted.
"After all, Nightmare did create those demon clowns a while back," Kikio recalled.
Arrowing dipped in agreement. "What did he end up doing with those freaky things anyhow?"
"He didn't like them so he sold them to a circus," Kikio informed him, "Called them the Circus Freaks."
"Oh sweet, sweet irony," Erratima stated sarcastically.
"Look! It's General Meta Knight!" Their gazes all followed to where Phantom pointed. "And Cat's with him!"
Erratima stood from his seat and held onto the railing that separated him from Cat. He watched as General Meta Knight led Cat to the center of the Arena and he immediately knew what was going on.
"NO!" he cried desperately. "I will not let it happen again!"
Several demons were commanded to hold him back. More came until a heap of them weighed him down. Nightmare smiled as he watched this in dark amusement.
Then suddenly, Erratima burst forth from beneath the demons, his veins bulging in his double set of wings. He flew towards the Arena but found it was already too late, Cat had already been transformed into the demon beast WolfWrath.
"Shall I send her off?" General Meta asked Nightmare.
Nightmare pondered for a moment on this, "Yes and send her after Sir Meta Knight. He's beginning to become a thorn in my side."
General Meta Knight let out a sinister laugh that seemed to echo from beneath his metal exterior, "So be it my lord!"
Arrowing, Kikio, and the others threw desperate glances at Nightmare but found no pity within his red eyes. Erratima's gaze was fixed upon WolfWrath, his heart in flames. He glared at Nightmare.
"I've had enough of this evil nonsense!" Swiftly, he darted towards Nightmare and managed to slice through his blue, starry cape and deliver a slight gash on one of the dark lord's skeletal arms before being captured yet again.
"I will never let you get away with this!" Erratima screamed at the dark lord.
Nightmare laughed, then grew very dark and grave, "General Meta Knight, flog him."
"With pleasure," Dark Meta said grinning sinisterly. He gestured to the demons who held Erratima captive. "Strip off his armor."
The demons snickered and sneered as they pulled of Erratima's armor piece by piece until they reached the cloth and leather that lay beneath.
Dark Meta approached him as the demons tied Erratima's hands, one to two different posts. "I'm going to enjoy hearing your screams."
Erratima glared at him, but said nothing.
Suddenly, a leather whip fell on Erratima's back but Erratima made not a sound.
Each time the whip fell upon his back, no scream of pain emitted from Erratima's lips. Not even a grunt.
Dark Meta began to grow infuriated when the music of pain refused to reach his ears. He turned to the crowd, seeking out one in particular. "Phantom! Bring me Metalax!"
Kikio, Arrowing, and Shade all turned and looked at Phantom, waiting and watching to see what he would do.
Regretting his actions, but not wanting to get in trouble with General Meta Knight, he roused from his chair and spread his wings to go fetch Metalax for Meta.
"You coward!" Shade screamed at him. Everyone was surprised with the young shadow's sudden fierceness.
When Phantom landed down in the Arena with Metalax in hand Shade jumped clear of the rail and darted towards Phantom.
Meanwhile, Erratima had heard everything that was going on around him then heard a pair of footsteps. Erratima's eyes shot open wide. He recognized those footsteps. Though he could not see his young shadow, he knew it had to be him. Erratima screamed in protest, "My shadow Shade! Do not let vengeance take over your actions! Yield!"
Shade threw a teal orb of burning plasma at Phantom, but deliberately missed by just centimeters.
Phantom knew Shade could have hit him. Despite the shadow's warning, he handed Metalax to Dark Meta Knight.
Dark Meta held the deadly weapon up to his gaze. Metalax was a whip and as its name suggests, it was made entirely out of metal. Instead of a single leather strap like the previous whip had, Metalax had three long wires. One was thick, one was braided, and the last was almost as thin as a strand of hair with small weights tied to it so that it would follow through with the swing and not flail wildly. Together, they cut through Erratima who finally emitted a scream of pain and agony as he stood helplessly before it.
As the whip Metalax fell upon his back for the fifth lash, Erratima knew that he only had a matter of seconds before he would go out cold. It would be relieving to allow nausea to provide such an escape from the pain that overwhelmed him. That thought dissolved into nothing as he watched WolfWrath explode out of the Mountain and immediately set pace for her distant target.
Slowly, despite the sting of the whip and the cruel, lingering spell of nausea, Erratima spread his four wings. They pumped powerfully, freeing him from his chains. Swiftly, he swooped down to retrieve his claw gloves then flew back up to the window. He turned and lifted a hand in farewell, nodded to his shadow, Shade, and sending one last glare at Nightmare before breaking through the glass and disappearing into the midnight sky.
Beams of white light fell upon his friends below. Not soon after they realized that it was the moon. They watched as General Meta Knight flew to the shattered window and were shocked when Nightmare raised a hand to stop him.
"But my lord! He could ruin our plan!" Dark Meta Knight protested.
"So what?" Nightmare said confidently, "We've already won the war. It is only the little battles that we have yet to triumph over. Go feast and be free of worry."
Dark Meta nodded then motioned for the remaining four to follow him. Reluctantly, they did.
Before he allowed himself to obey, Shade lifted a clenched fist. Plasma fire burned over it like his new found it subsided.
He'd get revenge one of these days, but like Shade was about everything, he would be patient. Then Shade stepped into false submission, fooling everyone around him was one skill Master Erratima had taught him well. Shade was ready to unveil himself from the shadows he had lingered in since he'd first arrived. It was time he proved his worth.
Sweey: Over 5,ooo words! Now how's that for service? :) If you have any questions about species or characters ask me without hesitance. I'll be glad to answer. Also, if you'd like to use any of my OC's your are welcome to as long as you ask and give me at least an idea of what their roll is in your story. Anyways, here's the FIRST chapter of many. :) Btw, General Meta Knight is the same as Dark Meta Knight, k? Comments, questions, concerns, advice? Throw it at me in a review! ^_^ Later Gators!