It was different being the prey.

Much different.

He'd been foolish to think he could take on this beast alone. He wasn't thinking right, blinded by grief and uncontrollable rage. And now, he was pinned underneath the monster, it's claws digging into his back, and he deeply regretted his decision. He screamed as it sunk its teeth into one wing, squirming, trying to get away. It chuffed, amused at his struggle.

He was going to die, or worse; he was going to lose his wings.

Help me!

"Meta Knight!"

He awoke with a jerk. The first thing he noticed was the liquid dripping down his face, and he quickly wiped it away.

"You're crying..." Kirby frowned.

Meta Knight pushed him away and hastily got to his feet. He felt exhausted, despite sleeping in so late.

Kirby sighed, casting a look at him that only he could pull off.

"Won't you ever tell me about these dreams? Maybe talking about it will help–"

"It won't," his mentor replied sharply. "There's no sense in making a fuss. You have other things to worry about."

Kirby frowned again.

"You're all I've got. The least you can do is let me worry about you."

Meta Knight glanced at him, surprised by how hurt he looked. They'd lived together for a long time, and though the pink puff knew more about him than anyone else, he was never satisfied with what he did learn. He wanted to know so much more, and he knew that very well, but..

Knowing would hurt him more than not knowing.

"It's none of your business. Now go get ready for your training."

Thankfully, he didn't press it any further, and turned and walked out of the cave.

Meta Knight let out a deep breath. After all these years, he still didn't know how he felt about Kirby. He took him in when he was just a child, raised him on the road. It would be too impersonal to say he only thought of him as a student, but he didn't think of him as a son either. And he certainly couldn't call him a friend if he didn't even feel comfortable telling him about his dreams.

All he knew at this point was that he cared about him, more than Kirby thought he did. He thought he was constantly pushing him away, but truthfully, he was attached to him. It made sense, since they'd spent so much time together. Most of the time they were alone, living off the land, training, fighting monsters. After the fall of N.M.E., thousands of his creations escaped the facility and were running rampant throughout the galaxy, and that's why he took Kirby when he left. They had to clean up the mess, even if it took them their whole lives to do so. They were the last of the Star Warriors, it was their duty to fight evil.

Was it fair? No. But it had to be done. He had worked for so long to see the prophecy fulfilled, to see Kirby defeat Nightmare enterprises, but he wasn't about to stop there. Now all he wanted was peace, so he could die knowing he'd done everything he could to protect the innocent...

He could hear Kirby outside, talking to himself as he punched a nearby tree. Meta Knight smiled sadly to himself.

Kirby was getting lonely. His friends back in Pupu Village were all long gone. That was the worst thing about their long lifespan; most other creatures didn't share the same privilege. He was glad he got Kirby out of there when he did, however, before he got older, formed real friendships, had real feelings, so he couldn't miss them, and most importantly, so he didn't have to watch them grow old and die.

The only person Kirby remembered that was still alive was King Dedede, and though he lived longer than most, he was very old now. He'd told Kirby stories about the crazy antics of the penguin King. He left out the parts where his servant and best friend Escargon grew old and senile, forgetful, and eventually insane. The king was never the same after that. He spent his days locked up in his castle, and he never let anyone visit. Lucky for him, the only person who cared to visit was Meta Knight.

And Sword and Blade-

They stuck with he and Kirby for a while, but eventually, they started to get old too. Last he'd seen them, they'd settled down in a small town in the Sacchar province. He didn't want to think about them too much.

Tiff, ah, she was the one that stuck the most in Kirby's mind. He talked about her often when he was younger, as if she were still alive and well, described her actions as if they happened yesterday instead of two hundred years ago. It took some time, but eventually he came to terms with her death. Meta Knight wasn't entirely sure Kirby even remembered her anymore.

Another sound erupted from outside. Meta Knight rolled his eyes and strode out into the sunlight to meet Kirby. He was still punching the tree, and actually put a good dent in it, but he didn't look any less frustrated.

He glided up behind his pupil and watched for a moment as he pounded the tree, flinching back a little at the spray of bark in his face.

"Go for a flight. We don't have to train today if you don't want to."

Kirby spun around so fast it almost frightened Meta Knight. A huge grin spread on his face. Meta Knight smiled too. He remembered when Kirby used to smile like that all the time.

"You mean it?"

The knight chuckled.

"Yeah, go have fun."

Kirby jumped a little and hurried out across the field, opening his wings to let the wind catch him and whisk him away. Meta Knight looked on wistfully.

Kirby's wings had developed not long ago, and it was hard to teach him to fly when he couldn't fly himself. Sometimes when he and Kirby sat around the campfire he caught himself staring at them, sometimes even reaching out to touch the soft, downy feathers. Some puffs grew bat wings, some angel wings. The white feathers really suited him, he thought.

Kirby never seemed to mind when he'd sit and absently stroke his wings, actually, he seemed to enjoy it. He would drift off into a peaceful daze and sometimes even fall asleep. Meta Knight almost forgot how sensitive they were.

He watched as Kirby swirled and dove in the sky above, feeling the morning sunlight soak through his feathers and the warm breeze on his face. There was really no words to describe the blissful happiness of being in the sky with the whole world below you, weightless, free. There were few feelings like it.

Kirby swooped down towards the earth before turning sharply in a small circle, then flapping as he lowered himself to the ground so he wouldn't land too hard.

Meta Knight watched, impressed. He was always a fast learner at fighting, but even faster when he learned to fly. He was a natural, but somehow Meta Knight knew that long before he'd grown wings. It was his spirit, he was always so free. He was born to fly.

"Tired already?"

Kirby shook his head, folding his wings behind him as tightly as he could.

"Hungry. We haven't eaten yet, you know."

Meta Knight almost slapped himself on the forehead. He really needed to get up earlier from now on so Kirby could get back on his regular training schedule. He was almost completely dependent on his next meal. When he didn't eat breakfast, his training was below his norm if not poor. He could still eat an entire buffet if he had the chance, but opportunities like that were rarer than them stumbling across a unicorn in the middle of the forest. They'd ventured far from any sort of luxury in the past twelve and a half hundred years or so. It's hard to imagine how quickly the world changes-it's quick for everyone, but for him, the mere blink of an eye and he could lose a year.

"Meta Knight!"

"Hm?"

His thoughts had been wandering, as they had been doing often of late.

"Lunch, breakfast, food, anything? I'm starving."

"That's up to you. I hope you paid attention when we came here. Did you see anything we could eat, maybe game we could hunt?"

Kirby was obviously prepared for that question.

"An orange tree, just on the outside of camp. Some mushrooms in the forest, they looked safe, and a wild watermelon patch just a mile out..."

Meta Knight smirked, knowing very well what he'd choose.

"Hop to it, then. And try to save me one this time!"

Kirby grinned widely and bounded out across the field once more, taking to the skies in a flash. Meta Knight watched as he disappeared beyond the trees and then turned back towards the cave. They carried only a few things with them on their travels–some basic supplies like matches and blankets, a map, and a couple of valuables. Kirby had only one thing he took with him, his warp star, which he always wore on his shoulder. Meta Knight kept his warp star, also, and the locket he'd gotten from Jecra. He gave it to Jecra's son, Knuckle Joe, several hundred years ago, but he fell in battle at a young age, and it was passed back to Meta Knight. He ran his gloved fingers over its gold surface, corroded and scratched over time. It's glittering jewel still shone brightly. He hadn't opened it since he got it back, knowing the photo of Knuckle Joe that lay inside would bring too many painful memories to light. But still, he liked to look at it.

Sighing, the knight set the locket aside and rolled out the map. There were many circled areas that they'd already visited and cleared of monsters. If he'd ever permitted Kirby to see it, he'd notice that they were avoiding one sector in particular. The Taria plains. He'd heard rumors lately of a large, fire-breathing monster wreaking havoc in that area, and he knew what it was. Wolfwrath had returned. The thought sent chills down his spine. Even after being defeated long ago, he was still able to regain his strength. It must've taken a long time, from the fight Kirby gave him. Meta Knight had thought him dead until he heard the news. Which is why his dreams had been so troubled recently.

He wouldn't go there, couldn't, not now, not when he knew the very beast that had ruined his life could not be defeated by any normal means.

Drawing his mind from the subject, he scanned the map for an unmarked area, pointing when he'd found one. It was a little out of their way, but Kirby wouldn't ask questions, not with the knowledge that they'd have to fly there.

The route was already planned out in his mind before he gazed at the map again, this time where the land met the sea. He recalled many lonesome months out on the cliffsides of the Cape of Stars, searching, hoping for the one thing that could fix all of his problems.

Sir Arthur had grudgingly revealed to him the existence of a remote spring, said to have been hidden away by the Father Warriors long ago in a cave near the Cape of Stars, for fear of its power. The most fabled thing in all of creation; the fountain of youth. He searched for almost a year, having no luck, and no clue to guide him but one phrase Arthur had said to him; "when the blood of an angel purifies the earth, the fountain will be revealed". Even Arthur knew not what it meant.

Finally, Meta Knight closed the map. He shook his head. No matter how he tried, there was always something to remind him of the past.

As he began stuffing their belongings back into the sack they carried on their adventures, he heard the gentle whoosh of Kirby landing outside, though heavier because of the two watermelons he carried. Meta Knight stood and began making his way out of the cave, wondering if he'd ever re-visit the Cape of Stars to look for the fountain, and if Kirby would be willing to go with him.