A Soldier's Metal
Chapter 1: Knights of the Star Table
Lights shot through the black void as fast as the Steerstars riding through them. The racing course known as Light, was buzzing with it's racers. Kirby was showing Prince Fluff how to use the vehicle, along with his own world. The prince was flabbergasted at the velocity they were rushing into so casually. Kirby could only giggle as the prince gave a small cry from the thrill.
The other Star Warriors were also racing; they all appeared like Kirby in body, differentiating with personality and color variants: red, yellow, blue, green, purple, white, and brown.
"Yo, I'm gonna drill you!" The red one warned the leading Kirby and Prince Fluff. The two gasped at the closeness of the impending buster-drill and quickly drifted away to avoid it. The red Star Warrior grinned and veered in with the attack.
Prince Fluff was clutching a Steerstar for dear life whilst Kirby sped up with a speed boost from a fallen object. With a quick ding from the bell, Kirby and Prince Fluff had won the race.
Kirby quickly stopped the Steerstar, jumping down to observe a very dazed monarch stumble to the glowing ground. The young warrior helped his friend stand up with a smile. The others joined them as a round of cheers echoed from their innocent voices, bounding around the neon-lit walls.
"Hey, Prince Fluff, you wanna try by yourself? We'll go easy on you." The yellow warrior beamed with an eagerness, grinning kindly.
Prince Fluff nodded in his dizziness, losing balance. A tug from Kirby's little arms reassured the prince he would not fall without a fight from his powerful friend.
"I say we give him a few seconds, guys." The green warrior chuckled as the white warrior poked the royal's back playfully. "Poor guy's not used to being anything more than string!"
In the distance, Meta Knight and Galacta Knight were observing the whole scene from a stream of light in the distance, overseeing the Light Course from the Top Ride sector of the Air Ride city. "Ho, those children are having the time of their lives, aren't they, Meta?" Galacta Knight stretched his wings out of built up stiffness from being folded for too long. White plumage caught itself in the dying breeze, intertwining with the ghost of a race.
"They might be planning to let Prince Fluff try on his own..." A chuckle escaped Meta Knight's caged lips. "Poor soul."
"Indeed." Galacta Knight turned to Meta Knight with amusement glittering in his ruby eyes. "That young prince hath better learn quickly."
The indigo knight kept his eyes on the activity below him. "But... it's good training for all of them. They are learning to move at high speeds, and think on their feet. They are also learning how to use their Warpstars correctly… They will need that for the future." Meta Knight's voice quieted down slightly.
Galacta Knight tilted his head in curiosity. "Well, certainly… until they get their wings."
Meta Knight's eyes shifted to a thoughtful green, Galacta Knight opening his mouth to prompt his thoughts, but Meta Knight chuckled suddenly, silencing the other's unborn sentence.
"Here they come."
"Hey, Sir Knights!" A squeak made the two jump down to the course, landing atop of solid nothingness with a small tink rebounding from their armor. "We're going to the Nebula Belt next! Prince Fluff is going to try a Turbo Star!" The blue warrior chirped excitedly.
"Wanna come watch us again? Oh, please, Sir Knights?" Innocent eyes begged for a 'yes', followed by eight extra pairs of silent beggars.
Meta Knight was about to answer, but was cut off by an angel's wing practically smothering him. His small arms tried pushing the pure plumage away without avail. The children giggled briefly at the scene. "We will, little ones. But, Meta and I have something to small to take care of." Galacta Knight had such a playful aura on him with his actions.
However, the young group looked disappointed. Their eyes were all ready to drown themselves in tears until the electric pink knight quickly spoke up. "I promise it will be quick! T is upon mine honor as a Sir." Galacta Knight gave a small bow with his wings, freeing Meta Knight to slap him with his more nightly pair. He laughed at the revenge-seeker.
The children giggled at the subtle spat between the respectable warriors. Thankfully, they were easy to pacify.
"C'mon guys, let's go! Sirs never break their promises!" The yellow Star Warrior reassured everyone with the obvious knowledge. The smaller warriors all gave a quick nod of agreement, before dragging the poor prince to the Air Ride section. It was not long before they were out of sight, and the two knights were alone in the darkness of Light.
Meta Knight watched Galacta expectantly. "So, what is it that we need to take care of, Galacta?"
Galacta Knight took his mask off, sighing briefly. His fair face was so much like Kirby's, he could easily have been mistaken for the young boy's older self. Yet, it had it's own unique appeal of grace and allure that was too far from Kirby's innocence. It far was too devious for its own good.
It wasn't until those lips spouted words that Meta Knight's attention was back on his question's answer. "Hey, Meta… Art thou alright? Your eyes changed into that green. I am unsure if it means anything, but thou art not usually content when it appears." Galacta Knight was just concerned for him.
Meta Knight turned his gaze to the eternally night-stricken sky above the Nebula Belt. The stars glimmered beautifully. "I was just thinking. That's all."
"Hmm…" Galacta Knight was unconvinced.
Meta Knight only sighed, rolling his yellow eyes.
"Meta…" He huffed somewhat irritably. That look changed as quickly as the warrior could stab. With a sneaky swiftness, the angelic soldier swiped Meta Knight's mask playfully. He gleefully jumped away into a graceful float, grinning with a devil's smile.
"Galacta!" Meta Knight sputtered in embarrassment, blue face turning a redder than a Maximum Tomato. He hid his face with a wing desperately, glaring above at the fiend. "Give that back, now! Before someone sees me!"
Galacta Knight giggled, fangs in a teasing show of mischief. "Oh, but Meta, but thee behold f'r fair! T's a sin to encave yond visage! I'll nev'r see wherefore thee like not who is't thou art!" His voice teased with words that showed his age.
Not caring about the comments about not liking how he looked, Meta Knight gripped at his sword, Galaxia. He made an attempt to try and slap the mask away from Galacta Knight's hands, but the other immediately retaliated with his lance. "Ho, we spar together. You expected that to work on me, fusty friend?" They clanged their weapons together before Meta Knight's wings finally brought him up to let their weapons clash in the air.
"Galacta, you're technically older than me." Meta Knight was still reddened from frustration and embarrassment. "No one will take me seriously like this! Give it back! Now!"
Galacta Knight smiled at Meta Knight's easy torment as they flew up higher, both flying up to the starry skies glittering above. "At least I don't act like my age, fusty sir!" Galacta Knight laughed to himself, never taking his cherry eyes off the flustered Meta Knight.
The indigo warrior flew straight at him, making a quick spiral over and returning underneath. Galacta Knight twisted himself in the air to gently poke Meta Knight as a joke. He didn't want this game to have blood. Not for this. Such a thing was solely for the war.
Meta Knight reacted with a grip on his wing, the scales turning into the velvet fabric of his cape, tossing it over himself like a cocoon. He became black as the sky, vanishing completely, much to Galacta Knight's excitement.
"Ho! I love this trick! Cometh out, cometh out, wherev'r thou art..." The electric pink Star Warrior scanned the area, awaiting his battle partner to reappear for a counterstrike. "Cometh out, Meta…"
A shadowy movement ensnared his visionary senses, white gloves gripping Galacta's wings firmly, bending them painlessly inward into their relaxed position. A flustered ancient knight squirmed at his failure to detect Meta Knight as they fell through the beautiful void of lights. Meta Knight's own set of wings slowed down their fall, though there was still enough wind for Galacta Knight to feel the rushed warning of hitting the ground.
"Ho, ho! Meta! You win!" Galacta Knight huffed with a fit of laughter, feeling the air escape him. Meta Knight was not going to release him. He was awaiting complete submission; he wanted his mask back. The angel rolled his eyes, speaking in the defeated tone of a child being scolded by a parental figure. "Fine! Thee winneth!" The silver mask was freed, the force of their fall pushing it higher than the duo were.
Meta Knight immediately shot up for it, catching it in his hands and placing it back on. He glared down at an eye-rolling knight putting on his own mask.
"Cometh, Meta, let's go join up with the children." Flapping his graceful plumes, Galacta Knight gestured for Meta Knight to join him a dance-like flight to the Air Ride sector.
As they flew through the black cosmos of streaming glows, Galacta Knight dove down in a sea of white feathers to join the race upon the interstellar lights. Meta Knight uttered a chuckle at his companion's spontaneous antics.
The strongest warrior in the entire galaxy behaved like such a child; the darker knight often wondered how he had managed to keep so avoidant of seriousness with their grim circumstances of being soldiers. He scratched the thought away, wanting to observe the reaction of the young soldiers below his luminous perch. The ancient warrior was planning something interesting, that much he could tell.
Vibrations radiated from Meta Knight's position, making him feel the itch to join as well. The machines were so fast, making the wind absolutely restless. Machine roared with their passing. Perhaps another day, the old knight would race with them.
"Hey, Sir Galacta Knight!" The brown child smiled and waved as the senior knight flew next to the children in the race.
Galacta Knight waved a quick greeting, pulling ahead of the everyone. "Hey! That's cheating! You didn't start with us!" The wind muffled the distressed words. Galacta Knight seemed to be challenging the little warriors' skills in his own, fun mannerism.
"Can thou defeat me?!" He summoned a pretend evil laugh summoned by his lungs. The children all looked bewildered by the frightening sound, most quickly remembering that it was Galacta Knight, the fun knight. It was safe. "Come and defeat me, if you can!" He chuckled once more, removing some of his darker tones, guiltily aware he startled them.
"Get him! Nightmare possessed him!" The red warrior made a game of it, revving up a rental Wheelie.
"You're going down, Sir Galacta Knight! We'll beat you!" A shout came from behind, the white Star Warrior grinning with confidence upon his Warpstar.
Galacta Knight laughed more happily, giving the little ones a challenge by speeding up slightly. His flight was backwards, leering at the racing ability of Kirby and his friends. One by one, they passed through an artifical Ability-Changer, each gaining something to use against him.
Galacta Knight put on some more acting when he loudly spoke, "Such foolishness! You dare to think you stand a chance against me? I am Nightmare, your NME!" Continuing his joke of a performance and flight pattern, he observed changes of flame, sparks, sleep, bomb, needle, bird, ice, and mike.
Kirby had gotten the Mike Ability, shaking up the entire course with his horrible, off-key singing. Galacta Knight cringed in the air, wings stiffened from such painfully out of tune singing.
The red Star Warrior pulled ahead as swift as Dynablade's flight. The rash warrior released a few embers to stagger the rest of the competition. The oldest warrior had to swerve away ungracefully to avoid burning his precious plumage.
Galacta Knight snorted as the bells went off, declaring the red child had won. Machines sped past his landing spot on the glittering floor, making the knight smile at the resourcefulness of the children.
Kirby came in second, followed by the yellow warrior trying to zap him, blue's needles shooting in a frenzy, green's bomb exploding, purple sleeping, white simply racing, and brown's shiver-worthy ice. The pink soldier grinned beneath his crossed mask. "My... they hath beaten me…" A chuckle escaped his breath as he walked over to the children, realizing one was missing. "Ho, where is Prince Fluff?" Galacta Knight scratched his horn. "I did not see him at all during the race..."
Kirby looked like worry had just dawn on him. The poor boy twisted in every direction to locate his friend.
They all heard a small cough from a very wobbly prince, falling over his Turbo Star. "Prince Fluff! Art thou alright?" Galacta Knight was ready to scold some children with the true fury of Nightmare, each gulping out nervousness.
Kirby ran with the group to see if the prince was alright.
"We just raced!" The brown one frowned in concern. "I swear, Sir Galacta Knight!"
"Did our abilities hit him!? Perhaps we shouldn't have used them…" The young yellow soldier frowned.
The white warrior bit his lip. "Oh no, what if he's deaf from Kirby's Mike!?"
"We were all hit with that and we were fine, Popopo!" The red warrior corrected the other.
Kirby flinched at the possibility that he caused his friend harm. "Poyo!"
Prince Fluff shook his head slowly, laughing softly. "Ignition... So much spinning... You were all so fast...! My heart-strings couldn't take it." The others didn't know whether to laugh or to remained stunned at the explaination. "But I'll be ready next time! Hehe... I'm not going to lose to Kirby again!"
It was then the yellow child took note that someone else was missing. "Hey... Sir Galacta Knight… where is Sir Meta Knight?"
Galacta Knight snapped out of the moment and noticed the younger Star Warrior was right. "Uh... Well Keeby… I guess he left already... Whither didst he wend?" He commented to himself, disappointed Meta Knight didn't wait for him.
Turning to the children, he spoke with the more modern tongue, "Well, who would like some food?"
"Meta Knight, would you? Please?" Silica and Knuckle Joe each gave a pleading smile to the old Star Warrior. They were lucky to have caught the old soldier while he was away from the others. What they wanted of him, he wasn't really in the mood to share.
"Of course I would join you and Knuckle Joe to honor Garlude and Jecra. I was planning on going myself sometime… I'm… certain they would have wanted me to accompany you." His cape was wrapped around him protectively as he gazed down at the two teens from a higher stream of solid light. His eyes gave a small glow of green. "This gives me an excuse to do so, without his majesty believing I'm doing anything suspicious, I suppose." The duo beamed brighter than the Nebula Belt in enthusiasm. "When will we go?"
"Dusk, tomorrow." Knuckle Joe turned to Silica. "It feels right for it to be around that time... Y'know?" The young fighter shrugged questionably, a little unsure of how to express what he meant.
Silica understood, responding with a nod and smile. "Yes. We'll be at Joe's house... It's near Kabu's Valley. I'm staying there, since I don't really have a home in Pupuland." The female's eyes hastily left the boy watching her for approval, setting her sights on the knight above.
Meta Knight jumped down in front of the two, Silica's expression reflecting a thought process. Yellow eyes blinked in a snickering fashion, guessing what was going on. He had seen enough in his life to tell where the duo were headed at this point in their lives. It was cute to watch his two deceased friends' children getting along so well.
"So, what do soldiers normally bring to this sort of thing? Food? Flowers? Swords? Shields? Or...?" Knuckle Joe asked with no notice to the young dame's reaction to their eye-lock momentary.
"Typically, when Star Warriors die during battle, there is no real ceremony because we're busy trying to keep alive, ourselves. Anything would be a pleasant luxury." Meta Knight gave a slight shrug, regretfully recalling his fallen friends' lack of a real funeral. Jecra's body was luckily buried, though Garlude's body being left in a cave to rot away with a Demon Beast. Any Star Warrior was usually just remembered by their comrades and their families given notice upon the earliest convenience. The teenagers certainly knew the last part well enough.
Knuckle Joe and Silica nodded in understanding, both turning to leave.
The spiky-haired battler paused in his exit, fist hitting the palm of his other hand. "Oh... Meta Knight, would you mind coming with us to my house for a second?" Knuckle Joe turned back around to face his father's close friend.
"What for?" Meta Knight was curious as to why the tough adolescent needed his presence. Galacta Knight would probably be upset that he was left behind, but if the teen soldiers needed him, he couldn't really refuse them.
Garlude and Jecra would probably rise up and haunt him if he ignored their parentless children.
Knuckle Joe gave a slightly nervous, yet somewhat sad chuckle. "Sooo… you remember that old amulet my father gave you to give me? Well, I found some old photos I think you should see. I did some digging around in my house, since my dad apparently sent photos to my mom to show me." He smiled a with a sad understanding of something, arm reaching behind his head. "She… um... never really let me see them though… So they're new to me, since she's gone now. There's a lot with you in them, Meta Knight."
"...Alright, I'll come." Meta Knight answered quietly, feeling a little guilt prick at his heart. He knew all too well why Knuckle Joe's mother didn't like him. Galacta Knight would also have to live without him for a few hours. That was at least manageable on his end, surely.
He began to follow Silica and Knuckle Joe with the small clanking of his armored feet against the spacial floor.
The two teens grinned in victory, both giving each other a high-five.
"It seems you two have certainly bonded since you both tried to kill Kirby and myself." Meta Knight's voice caused the two to quickly separate, bringing about embarrassed laughter. Silica smiled with a sugar-sweet expression, and Knuckle Joe rubbed under his nose.
"Hey, Meta Knight," The power-snow girl caught the warrior's attention, "Could you tell us something about you and our parents?" She looked to the nearby boy, silently hoping for Knuckle Joe to ask as well.
The boy did so, giving a curt nod in support of the idea. Meta Knight couldn't resist the eyes of wonder they gave him; he knew they hardly knew their parents the way he did. It was a shame too. Their parents were such great warriors, and wonderful people. It was a shame for them to grow up without them.
It was hard to say no.
"Very well. A story for the walk, I suppose." Meta Knight hummed, thinking of something appropriate to tell. There was a lot he would need to omit, seeing as he went through hell and back with their parents many times.
Of course there were moments on cloud nine Meta Knight was certain he didn't need to talk about to either of them. Especially Knuckle Joe.
The adolescent warriors grinned at their glory of a second victory, each falling back to Meta Knight's sides. Enthusiastic interest gleamed in both of their curious eyes. Ears were attentive and their breaths seemed to be held in anticipation, the two blinking when the deep voice of the soldier spoke as he walked.
"This was around the time your mother was new in the army, Silica; Jecra, Knucke Joe's father, and I had just met her." Silica smiled brightly at her mother's name, Knuckle Joe giving the same reaction to his father's name. "Jecra and I, being seniors for a few years, were showing the new Star Warrior recruits how to use Sword Beam… that was the start of Garlude's friendship with us, as I knew Jecra for a few years prior to her joining..."
Sir Arthur, leader of the Star Warriors was giving drills for swordplay. The newest Star Warriors lined against one side of the training arena, each trying the best to appear presentable to the more senior soldiers in the facility.
The experienced warriors arched against the other side, barely concerned for first impressions. No eyes wavered when Sir Arthur spoke, every breathing being completely attentive to his word and movements.
"Alright, Sir Falspar would you kindly show the others the move I was explaining earlier?"
The named knight did not speak as he walked over to the battling arena. He shut an eye, taking a few steps back. Sir Arthur silently ordered the others to make room with a simple gesture.
Falspar swiftly jumped into the air, spinning rapidly before unleashing his sword. It gave a brilliant radiance before the very light itself began cutting through the straw target. Wind kicked up the remains, causing the newer soldiers to raise their arms to protect their eyes.
The senior soldiers smiled lightly at their reactions, completely unfazed by the flying remains.
Sir Arthur observed, before silently walking to Falspar. "And that was a low-energy Sword Beam. Well done in not breaking anything more than what was needed." He congratulated the other Star Warrior with a gentle pat on the shoulder.
Falspar nodded in thanks, moving back in line to listen to their leader. He casually fist bumped Meta Knight on his way back in, aloof and pleased with himself.
"The full extent of the Sword Beam allows for much more destruction and devastation; a useful tactic when faced with many of Nightmare's Demon Beasts." Sir Arthur paid Falspar's nature no mind. He was used to it. He continued his lecture with his violet eyes scanning the newcomers. "However, this attack does not have friendly fire. It will harm anyone around, including fellow Star Warriors and civilians. Exercise caution."
He walked over to the more advanced warriors. They gave more casual smiles, knowing how their commanding officer worked. They didn't need to impress him anymore. Most didn't ever really have to.
"Your fellow Star Warrior seniors will spar with you to help you learn! Pick whomever you'd like; they will be your mentor for the next week." A gloved hand raised turning to the newer group. "Next week's training will be about utilizing the environment and undergoing assignments; we will be going through a review for the older warriors as well, and the newer soldiers will be given the rain course. Master the Sword Beam as taught, and using your swords in battle will be like an extension of your own arm." Sir Arthur took his own sword out, pointing at the to-be trained warriors before him, as the others saluted. He began smiling at the ones who knew him, walking off to the side to observe.
"So... which one do you want, Mety?" Jecra whispered to Meta Knight, still in their wall-bound line-up. There was a mischievous grin on his face, eyelids lowering in his devious comments towards the ordeal. "That cute pink one? Maybe that green guy with all the beef? Oooh, oh, I know! That big blue one with the big muscles!" His grin widened as the yellow eyes watched him, body remaining still as statue. "Or maybe you want a lady?" His cheekiness didn't stop.
"Whichever one approaches me." Meta Knight muttered back with honest disinterest, watching the younger warriors take their pick in cautious approach. "Either way, we have to teach someone for the next while."
"Yeah, yeah, you're right." Jecra rolled his eyes behind his mask, unamused from Meta Knight's lack of response.
"Relax, Jecra, Meta's probably just mad because he hasn't had his ice cream yet," Falspar quietly joked, earning a roaring laugh from the larger warrior. Meta Knight drew his sword to playfully have at the other, but the cheeky green fighter ran off before he could even try. "Byyyeeee!"
"Falspar, you bastard!" Meta Knight chuckled. He watched the other dash right to a new warrior and casually chat away. The indigo soldier huffed, hearing Jecra's laughter die down.
"Hey, Mety, there's a pretty, purple lady. I think she's looking at you! Ohhh man, you're going to make me so jealous!" The larger warrior teased playfully. "You're gonna break my heart."
Meta Knight sighed both amusingly and irritably at Jecra's silly banter. "Shut up."
Jecra snorted quietly at Meta Knight's reaction. "Whaaaaat?" He started poking the rather soft soldier next to him. "Man, you're so wound up today! It's called a joke-there's no way she'll be as pretty,-" The finger poking gave a gentle caress, gaining the a golden, softer gaze, "-or as sweet as me." The blond smiled behind steel, Meta Knight doing the same.
The hand was playfully swatted away by the a great wing, earning a teasing growl from Jecra as he swatted back. "C'mon, Mety. You know it's true!" He snickered, getting another beat from the giant appendage. "Is that really what's eating you? Not enough ice cream? I'll give you some later, I swear!"
The antics were noticed by the female approaching Meta Knight. Her expression was of confusion, as soldiers were legendary for their serious, machine-like outlooks. She saw two playful friends in a world of carnage and death, wondering what exactly she was getting into.
"Shut up, Jecra!" Meta Knight tried to fight the pink trying to infect his eyes. "She'll think we're making fun of her. Go off and get your own! Go make me jealous!" His voice changed to a calm challenge with the return of his usual yellow.
"You're on!" Jecra folded his arms in acceptance, winking at Meta Knight. "I'll try not to make you miss me too much, Meta." Cheeky attitude filled his sentence as the warrior approached.
"Um... excuse me…?" The girl blinked awkwardly, slowly to beginning to regret her selection. The lavender female caught their loose attention, both eyeing her curiously. "Uh, you're Sir Meta Knight, right? Would you do me the honor of being my mentor?" The voice seemed confidant, though unsure; something common and unsurprising in the latest generation of Star Warriors.
Meta Knight gave a polite bow, Jecra's hidden grin burning behind him as he waved a impish goodbye. It was intentionally ignored by the older soldier, as his greeting was a forced polite set of words as he spoke. "Yes, of course. I am Meta Knight. And you are, ma'am?"
"My name is Garlude. Shall we?" She smiled in hopes of a good impression, ready to take her sword out at any moment to impress the senior.
Meta Knight walked her to the end of the training area, taking out his own sword. "Let's begin with an introduction." He swiped his sword into hers, giving a small clank in the air. Garlude did not argue, but instead focused on watching Meta Knight's methods.
Meta Knight began pressing his sword with a little more strength, testing out how much physical capacity she had. She looked down to her feet, searching for an opening; that gave away her physique was not entirely the best; it was not uncommon in females of most species.
Garlude did attempt to press back, giving a twist and rearing her blade to Meta Knight's in return. "How is that...?" She smiled lightly, breathing more heavily from their clash. Meta Knight chuckled at her confidence.
"You have much yet to learn..." He shifted his sword, jerking it to hit Garlude's hand, knocking her sword away. She staggered, opposite hand on her wrist in both stun and mild pain. The silver blade Meta Knight held was pointed at her neck, ready for a quick stab. There was a low laughter from him, shifting the sharper end to face upwards. "Had I used the thinner side of the blade, your hand would have been sliced off."
Garlude was speechless as the sword lowered. Yellow eyes grew serious, along with voice. "This is a small taste of what the battles are like. Never let your guard down and never allow your confidence to overrule your judgement; I can not stress that rule enough, otherwise you'll die. The enemy will use any tactic he can, and will kill you if given the chance. Nightmare is nothing to laugh at."
The blue knight suddenly stabbed the ground, hopping up onto his silver sword's hilt. Garlude twitched at the sudden motion, in awe at Meta Knight's balance before frowning at her failure.
Green eyes glowed before gazing back to the younger soldier in neutral yellow. He had hoped that his tone of voice did not completely crush her enthusiasm.
"...And, you'll teach me all these things?" Garlude picked up her fallen blade, casting aside the painfully sickly feeling of being scolded, preparing herself for another match.
The knight smiled beneath his mask, glad she had not give up. He could feel the crestfallen voice wanting badly to redeem itself. Her passion for joining the war shouldn't be shattered so soon. If it broke this early and easily, she wasn't suited for this.
"I don't plan on dying without taking Nightmare to the very hell he's made every planet he's touched." She announced more fiercely. The fire in her was pretty strong.
Meta Knight chuckled at her eagerness to learn. "I won't, today. I was ordered to simply teach some basics that will lead you up to Sword Beam."
Jumping down and removing the blade from the terrain, he demonstrated a quick slicing movement. "The Sword Beam is like an extension to your blade; as Sir Arthur explained. You can't think of it as a separate being-it's like wielding a dual-bladed sword. Both are two pieces of the same whole." He sliced the air once more, watching a small beam of light cutting another target.
"It takes practice to create the extension, as well as it's size. Normally, it is quite big in length; reaching to approximately 25 meters in length. To make it smaller is a challenge in itself. Shattering a mountain is a simple task with the force of Sword Beam, but a dummy like this is a good way to exercise control in proportion."
He a skillful cut in the air, leaving a little mark on the straw dummy across the area. With the sword still in the air, the yellow eyes were on Garlude, voice calm as the expert he was. "I have already mastered this. Performing both versions is as natural as breathing-soon, you will be able to do the same, with enough time and patience."
"So, by making it small, I'll lessen the chances of hurting one of my fellow Star Warriors, right?" Her question was followed with a practice attempt of the slicing action. She did not expect any lights to glitter upon her first trial, calmly swinging once more with more added power. A sound reverberated through the training center as it touched the ground with it's weight.
Meta Knight nodded, putting his sword back in the ground to stand on once more. He wrapped himself tightly in his cape and watched her.
Garlude watched for his approval of her swing. His eyes seemed distant, though his observation of her efforts told her enough. "Alright, Sir Meta Knight..."
Noticing her slowing down as she breathed, he gave a firm and simple command. "Practice the swings."
"Yes, sir!" Following the what she was told, she began raising her sword and cutting the air. She seemed interested in conversation pass the time. "Hey, your species ages oddly-" She gave a small grunt from her sword slash."-I can never tell how exactly old you all are. I heard Sir Arthur is the oldest, but he hardly looks differently from the rest of you. Is it cosmetics?" Wind whipped at the metal slicing it, giving faint sounds that kept the elder's attention.
"I suppose that's my secret, isn't it?" He kept his tone friendly, as he answered her questions, returning to a seriousness when the lesson was at hand. "Keep swinging, ma'am."
Garlude grinned at his formality. "Just… Garlude! And… yeah, I suppose! It'd be a nice thing to know; I'm pretty sure my daughter will be asking that question one day when I get back." A swift cut was performed in the chilled, evening air.
"You have a daughter?" Meta Knight was a little surprised.
He was certainly aware Jecra had a son. However, his child was living with his mother-most females who ever dared to set foot in the army were either without partners, or mourning their family with a lust for revenge.
Meta Knight has assumed she was under the latter category, as it was far more common for males to join the battle for their more naturally-given strength. They were typically built to be stronger in most dimorphic species he had seen in his lifetime.
Garlude noticed his moment of pondering, laughing to herself. "Bet you're wondering what a mother like me is doing in the army, huh? I'll tell you if you tell me. Answer my question and I'll answer yours?" She teased with her own flavor of friendly. "It's only fair, wouldn't you agree, sir?"
Meta Knight chuckled at her playfulness, knowing she was going to fit right in with this merry band of misfit soldiers. "Alright. The secret? It's a Slow aging process. Currently I'm 49, 985... I'll be 49, 986 soon."
She quickly stopped, both to catch her breath and to gawk at Meta Knight's answer. The look of disbelief on her face caused the knight's eyes to turn pink from internal amusement. He tried to contain his internalized laughter.
"You... can't... be serious..." The lilac female panted, leaning against her weapon.
Meta Knight unfurled his cape, casually tossing a water bottle to the mystified Garlude. "I wish I wasn't. Oh, and no cosmetics. Sorry. I'm all-natural." The rosy eyes returned to their golden neutrals. "Your turn, Galude."
"Air first, you old geezer. Air... is nice. Water too." Garlude panted again, before drinking the cool liquid away, making the bottle appear as though it were imploding.
Clearing her throat she summarized her reasons with a strained voice. "My husband… he was killed by a Demon Beast. My little girl is all I have left, and I refuse to just wait around until another monster comes for us. I'm going to make Nightmare regret the day he terrorized my home, and killed my husband." Her grip on her sword tightened as she thought of the subject. The despairing rage was clearly written on her tightened face.
No one came here without some kind of baggage.
"Where is your daughter now?" Meta Knight was curious for the little one.
Garlude's mood returned to a more positive appearance at his questioning manner, shoving her darker thoughts away. She picked up her sword and skimmed it's flat side with her slim finger, watching the knight's mask-covered face with a bittersweet glance.
"She's with a friend. She lives on a different planet that has yet to be terrorized by Nightmare's monsters. I'm hoping to end this all quickly-I want my baby girl to grow up in a world of peace... not a hellish blood bath. She deserves a chance to be happy and to live without fear-unlike Nightmare. I'll make him regret everything he's done."
"I agree. The sooner, the better." A sadder tone swamped over Meta Knight. The cape changed into dark wings with a shake of his body. It was time to practice, not gossip. "Now, try again, but this time, feel an extended blade and hit the target. Become one with the blade-try to use Mushin, if it'll make it easier. I want you to have a spark of light before we end the day."
"Yes, sir!" She nodded, obeying his commands for fiercely. There was some smiling at the wings, finding him to be more and more interesting.
"Home sweet home!" Knuckle Joe whistled happily, opening the wooden door. "Now for those photographs..." He raced into a different part of the cluttered house, leaping over some scattered papers and small trinkets across the floor.
Silica and Meta Knight awkwardly sat down in the junkyard of a living room. It was full of little bits and pieces of items left behind by Knuckle Joe's parents. The whole house appeared to have been attacked by an army of Demon Beasts from the mess. Meta Knight immediately recognized Jecra's objects and family photographs on some dusty shelves.
Silica briefly smiled at the colorful decorations melding with the grey pictures on the plastered walls. Christmas lights that encircled the area twinkled and glistened around a few frames, intertwined with some feathers from beasts. Both noted that the boy was not particularly tidy, Silica leaning on her arm with an unimpressed gaze.
The indigo soldier drifted his attention to a cleaner section of the room; the shelves. Two sepia photos were placed side-by-side, incense burning between the two. It gave a kind, but strong scent of vanilla.
Jecra and the woman that gave birth to Knuckle Joe were both together, smiling behind the open glass. Pity was over the warrior's thoughts, wondering if the boy's mother would have hated him for being so close to her husband. It was a same Knuckle Joe's mother was no longer around to find out.
"Hey, Meta Knight..." Silica kicked an empty soda can under a mahogany coffee table with a quiet mutter.
The knight's attention wavered like a moth to a brightness, feeling a little grief returning to him. Turning to face the girl, he noticed her expression was as serious as her mother's temperament in the past. Meta Knight flinched at the noticeable resemblance, keeping himself collected.
He prompted her to speak what she wanted to say with a small head movement. "What do you think happens when we die?"
The illusion of laughter was echoing in Meta Knight's mind, as though Nightmare himself was mocking him from afar. The Star Warrior blinked in the process of the question's answer. "I never gave it much thought, as it cannot be proven. Until we die ourselves, all we can do is move on until it is our turn to know."
White gloves covered his mask, pearly fangs biting his lip. Though his lifespan has been long, and his bonds with Sir Arthur's circle of knights was strong, Jecra and Garlude were incredibly dear friends. In the grand scheme of his life, it had only felt like so long ago they were alive and well.
Coming to terms with their deaths was quite a few years behind him, but it didn't mean it still didn't hurt to think of them. There was a sort of fickleness from being around so many things that captivated his memory-it bothered him, and yet, it was calming at the same time.
Meta Knight kept himself neutral, silently noting he would find a solitary moment to gather his thoughts, and possibly take care of his issues alone. With a soft breath, he released the bud of stress taking form, turning it into his hand gripping the couch cushion.
He did still miss those two deeply, even if he knew he would have eventually outlived them.
Silica bit her lip, giving guilty eyes from her question. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean..." She gulped, Meta Knight shaking off her apology with a wave of his hand.
"You have every right to ask, Silica, as you have your mother and father gone. Knuckle Joe has the same rights as well. I am fine, don't worry." His words were soft-spoken, Silica placing a hand on Meta Knight's shoulder in sympathy. He knew her mother better than she ever did. She seemed to understand how he would feel.
Even though she had tried to murder him on their first encounter, she certainly had that same fire Garlude had when she convinced Meta Knight to go after Galaxia. The two were relentless and powerful females. They certainly defied their natural disadvantages.
Both suddenly jumped from their seats when a loud bump on the wall was heard, followed by a cheerful expression of finding something. "Aha!" Knuckle Joe raced back, nearly tripping over a lamp cord. "Whoa...! Here they are!"
He set an old shoebox down on the coffee table, tipping over the container to allow the faded memories to pour out, and carefully spread them around for Meta Knight to revisit.
"Wow, you and my dad looked like you guys had fun." Knuckle Joe was correct with such a comment from Silica's eyebrow rising in offense. "Sorry, Silica. I mean, My dad, Dame Garlude, and you sure had fun, right?" An apologetic grin fashioned itself on his pink cheeks as she smiled at the recognition.
The photos showed the trio of warriors in various silly poses and goofy faces. Many of the backgrounds contained distant planets they visited, interesting places, and their more light-hearted moments. There were very few of the photos in regards to actual military work. There was the odd picture of an awarded medal by Sir Arthur, or posing with their weapons. The smiles and hilarity overshadowed them. If one didn't know them, they would have most likely assumed these were photos of casual friends having many vacations, rather than the Star Warrior's finest fighters.
So many smiles. Sweet as the lollipops he made.
Meta Knight felt nostalgic about the pleasant memories flooding back to him. "We did. Too much fun at times... Garlude was always the one to keep us in check." He mused, eyes turning pink. "She always had our backs. Jecra and I were quite the troublemakers back then, especially with Falspar. Though Garlude had her moments as well..." A happier laugh was uttered. "We were the most respectable in the army, but we were also the ones known to cause mayhem with the Star Warrior army. I'm sure Sir Arthur could certainly attest to that."
"Oh, Meta Knight, please continue! The story!" Silica urged, completely enthused with her mother's past. The very idea that the warriors did such things appealed to her; every discription her ears ever heard was that of seriousness and robotic soldiers. The pieces of the past before the three showed otherwise. Part of the words in her request was her attempt to allow Meta Knight to enjoy some more pleasant memories, distracting him from the sadder feelings she induced earlier.
Knuckle Joe also seemed interested in him continuing his incomplete story. "Hey, yeah, continue! Does my dad show up again?" Legs dashed to a chair to hear the story.
He was amused by their excitement at a simple tale of the past. " Yes, he does…Now then… Let's go to the best part." Meta Knight's eyes became pinker at the kind travel through time. "This was just after we were done our training session." Both teens drew themselves closer, completely attentive, holding their breaths excitedly.
"So, how'd you and the babe handle things?" A maskless Jecra teased Meta Knight, munching on a star-shaped sandwich. "Diiid you two have a good time?"
Meta Knight responded by shoving a wing in Jecra's face. He sucked on the straw from his yogurt drink through his metallic mask, ignoring the underlying joke.
"Ahh, I get it! Down, Mety! Down!" The larger warrior was flailing dramatically to create amusement.
Meta Knight furled his wings back, rosy eyes revealing a hidden amusement with silent laughter.
"Well, my bad boy's doing great. He got a few nicks on the dummy. How'd yours do? Seriously. No more wing bitch-slapping," Jecra raised a hand defensively.
"Garlude started getting a little light out of her sword today." Meta Knight bended his napkin, folding it around to make a five-pointed star. He held back a smirk from Jecra's surprised reaction. "She'll be slicing foes soon enough."
"Garlude huh?" Jecra chewed a bit. His interest was only as far as his food was from his mouth. "Speak of the Demon Beast!"
Meta Knight looked away from his mess-hall origami to see Garlude, seating herself down before them.
She smiled at Meta Knight, giving a curt nod to Jecra.
Jecra smirked. "Hey, Meta, you know you shouldn't date coworkers. It never works out." He playfully poked Meta Knight, whilst the blue warrior gave him a swift kick under the table. "Ouch!"
"I'm all too aware." He teased back, eyes still a playful pink.
Jecra laughed as he placed an arm over Meta Knight's shoulder pad. The dark wing folded back into a cape while the other was more relaxed.
"Uhhh... no, we're not dating." Garlude snorted a laugh at the two. "I swear I was looking for Sir Meta Knight, the well-respected Star Warrior, one of Sir Arthur's best. Not a joker with his best friend."
"Well, you found him alright. I'm his best friend. Jecra's the name-you must be this 'Garlude' I've heard so much about." Jecra smirked. "So, what brings a lovely lady like you into a hellhole like this? Do the charms of death by Demon Beast thrill you? 'Cause oh man, that's the way to go!"
Garlude smiled at the charming sarcasm. "Haha, oh yes! Death by Demon Beast. Absolutely thrilling. Sign me the fuck up." Dry words dripped in her speech, and completely took attention away from her sugary smile. "Rather, I wanted to see if Sir Meta Knight would train me a bit more after dinner. I think I'm getting it, but I want to continue working on the Sword Beam, if that's alright."
Meta Knight shook his head. She frowned in disappointed curiosity.
"Jecra and I have... plans tonight." He sounded awkward, making Garlude question what he meant.
"Plans…?" She asked seemingly trying not to offend the senior warriors. "Should I leave you two alone?"
Jecra chuckled at the question. "No, no, you're fine miss Garlude." His head turned away quickly, breath muttering, "Nova, please." Jecra's head returned with an unamused huff from Meta Knight. "Juuust joking. Buuut, if you want, we could tell you what we're up to... if you want in." A devious smirk grew over his violet face.
Garlude leaned in, interested. "Just what in the galaxy what are you two planning?"
"Operation: Candy raid." Jecra spoke lowly to her attentive ears. "Meta and I were going to sneak into the nearby town we're currently docked in and we're planning to get ourselves a big stock of candy. Tomorrow's Meta's birthday-and..."
"I have a bit of a sweet tooth." Meta Knight admitted, finishing Jecra's sentence.
The blond soldier snatched Meta Knight's origami napkin and wiped his mouth of crumbs. "More like a whole mouth of sweet teeth." He laughed in a mischievous manner. "I'm surprised you haven't gotten diabetes, or even one cavity, Meta. Especially with all the ice cream and lollipops you love. What's your secret?"
"It's called a toothbrush, Jecra. Use it sometime." Meta Knight teased. The other warrior returned the favor with a stuck out tongue and a wink. "He also wants to try my type of sweets." The smaller soldier smiled beneath his metal mask.
Garlude raised an eyebrow, brimming with excitement. "My, my, you're both setting a terrible example for us new soldiers…" She smirked. "So, what happens if we get caught?"
"Kitchen duty for three months. If not that, then probably garbage duty... Argh..." Jecra cringed at the horrors of the food from the mess hall. He soon returned to his aloof smiles with talking about their rebellious plan. "But it'll totally be worth it! And I know for a fact that we won't get caught." The brimming cockiness was radiating from the duo.
Garlude could sense Meta Knight's amusement of ease from his hidden face. "You're so sure of yourselves..." She commented. "I take you've done this before?"
"It's easy when you have special methods." Meta Knight looked at the female soldier.
Jecra grinned brightly. "There's also a cut of candy in it for you, if you would like to join us! If that isn't good enough for you, well… it'll hone your stealth skills... to a degree… so yeah… Sneaking around and all that fun stuff. No getting caught by the night patrol or anything."
"Count me in." Garlude seemed genuinely excited. "So, how do we escape from this place without getting caught?" Her voice slipped into a quieter tone, blending among the other warriors' chatter. "Security is incredibly tight, I've noticed. Just getting here for day one was a nightmare."
"Easy; for us, anyway. Might be tougher for you, ma'am. Good thing you wanna improve skills!" Jecra chuckled. "Meta's got his magic ways to get us out, and since we share a room, it's easy to get with him. You'll just have to sneak into our room somehow. Oh, and good luck with the night security, by the way. They're tighter than-"
"Jecra, don't finish that." Meta Knight was preparing to use his fork to fling food at Jecra's face.
"Whaaaat? I was going to say tighter than a screw on a shield." Jecra grinned cheekily, petting Meta Knight's head. "You've been around me too long, Meta." He chuckled, Meta Knight narrowing his eyes.
Garlude laughed at the two, smiling as she folded her arms. "Alright. Consider it done, you two. Tonight we'll meet up." She lifted her fork and began eating her food. "Where do we meet?"
The maskless Star Warrior grinned, leaning over Meta Knight a little. The indigo warrior did not fight this. His cape turned into wings to willingly support the extra weight.
"Meet us in room 337 at O'100." Jecra grinned, biting the fork Meta Knight had prepared to utilize as a catapult. He smiled as he saw the faintest shades of pink on the smaller soldier's eyes.
"Challenge accepted!" Garlude bit into her Greens Greens salad, giving the males a cheerful thumbs up, still amused by their interaction.
"Oooh, you're gonna fit right on in here, Garlude," Jecra winked, earning a wider smile from her.
"So... that night we-" Meta Knight's story was interrupted by the door's sudden swing and crashing against the stony wall.
Silica and Knuckle Joe jumped from their places. The instincts of war made them reflexively prepared for a battle. Silica had her gun-sword locked and loaded and Knuckle Joe had his fists in the air. Meta Knight had his sword set with a speedy arm bend. A flash of pink and cheer huff at the door, four-starred mask behind glorious, feathered wings.
"Meta! How dare thee leaveth without telling me!" Galacta Knight leaned against the door, tapping his foot at his opposite-natured partner. "That was just mean, you fusty sir!"
"Galacta..." Meta Knight facepalmed, Silica and Knuckle Joe sighing in relief from not accidentally attacking the other. "Learn to knock first..." Three pairs of eyes had silent annoyed words expressed in their sight.
"Meta!" The galactic knight's own crimson opticals rivaled their own in emotional value. "Thee hath left me with the children! Thee has't nay idea what horrors lunch hadst!" The angelic warrior shivered. "T wast worse than Nova's seal!"
"I can guess..." Meta Knight sighed lightly, knowing entirely how expensive and messy the event of all those young soldiers eating could get. "But you are intruding Knuckle Joe's home. Speak the modern language."
Galacta Knight immediately realized he did break into a house. "Ho... Things just aren't the same as they were all those years ago... So sorry, Joe, and Silica. I won't happen again." He placed a hand over his heart. "I promise."
The two younger teens smiled it off. "It's alright, Galacta Knight." Knuckle Joe stared out the door absently. It was already the start of sunset. "Whoa, it's already getting late. We should start getting ready for tomorrow. And I need to get an extra bed for me, since Silica's gonna steal my bed tonight." He grinned with the girl giving him a playful punch.
"We'll meet back here, tomorrow at dusk." Silica reminded Meta Knight with a slight smile. "You can finish your story along the way, Meta Knight." A smile glowed in renewed respect for the warrior.
"I will, Silica, Knuckle Joe. Galacta, let's return home. I've had a long day." Meta Knight walked past the electric pink soldier and out the door silently.
Galacta Knight chased after him, arm out and gripping his friend's shoulder.
"Ho, art thou really alright?" Galacta Knight was sincerely worried. It was an endearing quality of his. "Thou… you can speak to me if you need someone. We are both Star Warriors. We are not alone."
"Galacta. I'm fine." He insisted, cape unfurling into wings and launching into the air. The angelic knight pursued, flying closely to him. "What is it now?"
"What tale were you telling them?" A sense of wonder was in his voice. Those cherry red eyes hoped for some sort of dialogue. The previous subject was now changed, so Meta Knight didn't mind as much. "Which tale was it? You were so caught in it, I scared all of you so easily!"
"The candy escapade-back when I was in the Star Warrior army. Back when I met Silica's mother with Jecra." Meta Knight explained, being very fond of that memory. "That was a fun night... The first night all three of us got together for something fun, and nothing violent happened."
"I remember that one!" Galacta Knight flew ahead of Meta Knight, turning towards him. "Ho, why don't we have some candy when we get back? Sword and Blade would probably enjoy that. I believe all your Meta Knights would too, and Kirby, of course." Glee appeared in his words. A laugh was hidden behind the metal. "He loves your homemade lollipops best."
Meta Knight rolled his eyes at Galacta Knight's comment on Kirby's diet.
"Kirby loves anything that you can eat. After today, I'd think you would have learned that." Meta Knight's eyes turned green at the thought of sweets flowing with his nostalgic mood. "...Although... that would be nice." He seemed a bit pleased; it seemed as though Galacta Knight's mission was complete.
"Banzai! I made the fusty knight happy!" Galacta Knight praised himself contently. He gave a happy little spin in the air. "Cometh, Meta! The others can't wait forever!" He clasped his hands in Meta Knight's and started to drag the warrior through the dusk of sunset's sky.
The two flew through the sky with another aerial performance, enjoying the wind's cooling caresses. Feathers danced with scales in a friendly union of darkness and light.