"Sire." Meta Knight enters the throne room of the rotund penguin King Dedede and addresses him.

The king does not stir. He remains sprawled in his throne; drool dripping from his beak, fast asleep. Meta Knight speaks up, "Sire!" Dedede's eyes flutter open. "Wha-," he glances at the knight. "Oh, it's you. Go away; I'm sleepin'."

"I've come to offer my resignation."

"Resig-what!" the blubbery mass bolts upright and towers over the solemn figure, glaring straight into the knight's blazing yellow eyes. "Listen here, you sorry excuse for a servant! No one leaves my employ unless I tells 'em to!"

"Nonetheless, I must depart."

The king hops off his throne and stomps over to his ex-servant. "I won't take none of this quittin' talk, Meta Knight! It weren't easy findin' someone like you to defend my castle, and I'm not gonna try to find a replacement!"

"There is no question of my leaving."

The king grows red with fury. He reaches to grab the impertinent knight, then notices the hand reaching for the golden sword hilt. "You think you can beat me, do ya?" he taunts.

"You brought this upon yourself. . ." Meta Knight warns, drawing his sword.

The bulky penguin chuckles. "Always so dramatic." He reaches behind his throne and lifts a massive wooden hammer. "Now I'll show you who's king 'round here!"

The hammerhead slams into the ground, but proves too slow as Meta Knight rolls to the side and casts off his cape. The knight lunges, swerves past the hammer, and lands a blow to the king's cranium.

"Hey! That hurt!" Dedede shouts, swinging his weapon more forcefully. And haphazardly. The knight swiftly avoids the poorly aimed attacks and lands multiple strikes. The king stumbles back but regains his balance. With tremendous force he leaps into the air and pounds the ground, shattering floor tiles on impact. Meta Knight flips backward and scoops up his cape, then, as the king leaps for a second attack, folds his cape into wings and soars away from Dedede.

"Think you're the only one who can fly?" Dedede counters upon landing. Opening his mouth, the king inhales enough air to cause him to puff up like a parade balloon, then clamps his beak shut, flaps his wings, and lifts into the air. Building momentum in flight, the massive penguin shoots toward Meta Knight who sharply turns downward to dodge.

"I was fully aware of your ability to fly," Meta Knight explains, continuing his acrobatic flight. "But tell me, can you perform any attack aside from throwing your bulk?"

"I-," Dedede begins, but in the process expels his air and hurdles head first into the wall. As the king's mass crashes to the ground, Meta Knight lands and restores his cape to normal.

"Your highness. . ." the knight speaks with a bow to the slumped form of the unconscious king. Then with a quick turn, he exits the throne room.

Meta Knight boards the Halberd and is greeted by Captain Vul. Vul salutes. "Captain," Meta Knight replies, bowing.

"Halberd systems ready," Vul reports. "Awaiting your presence on the bridge."

Meta Knight nods and the two proceed down the hall. "Is the intercom on the observation deck in order?" the knight inquires flatly.

"Yes, sir," Vul replies.

"Good. I will go there."

As Vul steps onto the bridge, Meta Knight ascends in an elevator to the observation deck. Three of the walls on the deck are a bland grey, the fourth covered in large windowpanes. As the hangar gate begins to creep open, Meta Knight opens the intercom channel.

"Reactor 1, output normal," a technician announces. "Adjust the balancer to … 0003!"

"Let's raise the anchor," Capt. Vul orders.

"Check anti-gravity plant," the technician continues. "1, 2, 3 OK!"

The gate opens wider and the crimson light of sunset washes over the Halberd. "Release the sails," Vul commands. "Solar level 288!"

Sunlight reflecting his image in the window, Meta Knight steps up to the intercom. "The time has come," he declares. "The time to show our power! Dream Land's lazy lifestyle will end! I will rule!"

The Halberd's wings spread and the hangar opens completely. Unbeknownst to Meta Knight, however, a lone figure is rushing to stop him. . .