Chapter 7 Encounter
All too soon, the doors of the elevator slid open. Meta Knight looked out cautiously, keeping the picture of his friends clear in his mind. He stepped out tentatively, his wings twitching. Darkness. The elevator door shut behind him and he heard it make its way back down. This was it, he couldn't go back. Postponed events. You must let them happen… Meta Knight walked forwards into the gloom. He was here…
Meta Knight knew better than to call out. He just had to wait for Nightmare to show himself. Thirteen paces from the elevator, Meta Knight stopped. A faint murmuring had begun, and he became suspicious at once. Almost automatically he drew Galaxia; its bright glow illuminating his mask and the patch of floor he was standing on. It did not have the power to pierce the blackness beyond. He thought he felt something brush lightly against him. He spun around wildly.
"Someone's jumpy." A low voice in the dark.
"Show yourself!" Meta Knight cried.
"Why I'm right here, Meta Knight."
The voice came from behind him. Meta Knight spun on his heel holding Galaxia aloft. Nothing. Realisation struck him like a blow.
"You don't have a physical form!" he said, "You have no power over real things."
Unusually soft laughter rebounded off the unseen walls. It gradually got louder and harsher, until it ran through Meta Knight's head.
"Wrong. What do you see in front of you? Behind you? Above you? Beside you? Darkness. Darkness is real enough, Meta Knight. Not even your shiny sword can overcome it."
Meta Knight frowned under his mask, staring hard into the black void.
"I overcame you. You have no power over me. I want only what is mine."
"And what might that be?" The voice asked in mock innocence.
"You know as well as I do," answered Meta Knight stonily, "Give me my soul."
Silence. Then, a shimmering gold droplet appeared right in front of Meta Knight. That sense of longing rose in him and reaching out cautiously he touched it. It stuck to his hand, just as the elevator door swung open. Wordlessly, Meta Knight backed away. He turned, ready to run for the door if he needed to. He got to the elevator door. Suddenly, the lightbulbs burst, causing Mate Knight to leap backwards as he was plunged into complete darkness. The doors slammed shut again, and Nightmare's harsh laughter was all that could be heard.
"You're forgetting something, Star Warrior."
Meta Knight spun around, Galaxia blazing brightly, silently cursing himself for being so naïve. His eyes shone red and he looked down at the droplet. It flashed red, then turned black, and Meta Knight tried to fling it off. It didn't budge. He grunted and looked up, just in time to see a flash of green out the corner of his eye. He froze. Could it be-? He turned and ran to where he last saw it, and saw it again, this time on the other side of the room. The image was clearer now; it was round, and about the same size as him. He followed it, he had to.
What Meta Knight didn't notice was that the black droplet detached itself from his gauntlet. It hovered in mid air, and started to swell. It grew rapidly to the same size as Meat Knight. Two dark wings sprouted from a round back. Arms and large feet followed. It picked up a grey mask at its feet and put it on. A sheath hung at its side and it took out a bright red sword, a mirror image of Galaxia. Last of all, it opened its eyes. Blood red and soulless, they were fixed on Meta Knight's back.
Meta Knight held the real Galaxia over his head, searching through the darkness for that green figure. The dark puffball took a step towards him, Nightmare's commands running through its head. A shadow of a smile crossed its hidden face. It gripped the sword, and advanced on the oblivious knight.
…
"Lololo! Anyone coming?" Joe called to the little flying puffball.
"All clear Joe," Lololo replied.
Joe rubbed his fists together.
"Right. I think we should split up from here." He looked around at the little group.
"We can find Meta Knight easier that way." The others said nothing; Bun was staring at a strange portion of the wall. Joe continued regardless.
"Okay guys. Sword, Blade, Bun and Lalala will be one group, and Kirby, Lololo and Fumu; I'll come with you. If one group find Meta Knight or needs back up, blow on one of these."
He handed Sword a whistle.
"Where did you get this?" Sword asked, looking incredulously at his whistle.
"A trainer." Joe said, nonchalant. "Alright, let's go on a knight hunt."
The two groups split and headed for separate doors. Joe called over his shoulder to Sword as he laid a hand on the door handle.
"It's a good thing this place is so-"
Joe's gaze was drawn to the doorframe, which had suddenly filled itself with large furry monster.
"-deserted…"
The huge yeti roared and Lololo and Kirby jumped back. Fumu screamed. Joe, Sword and Blade were on it in a flash.
"Vulcan Jab!" Joe yelled, hitting it straight in the eye.
Sword and Blade, brandishing their swords, attacked the monster's heavy feet. It growled and angrily kicked the knights out of the way. It lumbered towards Joe, and Kirby jumped forward and stated to inhale, but it was too big. The sucking sensation had distracted it though, and now its small eyes were fixed on Kirby. Kirby met its stare and held it, ready to dodge out of the way.
Sword and Blade wasted no time. Running deftly around it, they launched themselves as the thing's back, giving Kirby enough time to run to the others. They hacked at the monster's back, but the fur was too thick even for their swords. Two hairy hands reached up and tossed them aside. Sword and Blade hit the wall hard. Fumu cried out again, and the monster turned to their little group. Joe's Vulcan Jabs were doing little more than the knights' swords.
The yeti stomped towards the smaller, less threatening ones, seeing they were unarmed. Lololo and Lalala flew in front of Fumu and Bun, who backed up against the wall. Joe glared at the hairy mass and ran to the others' aid.
"Oh no you don't!" he cried, throwing a Vulcan Jab right into the thing's face. It roared, and the sound bounced off the walls, almost deafening the group. They covered their ears, grimacing, and gritted their teeth; Joe opened one eye to see Kirby standing in the beast's path.
The little puffball didn't seem affected by the monster's roars; his expression was fixed and his big eyes hard. Slowly, he lifted a sword in the air. A green cap appeared on his head, the bobble settling on the floor. The monster stopped his deafening roar and paused to glare at this act of defiance.
In desperation, Bun struck at the strange wall with his fist. He heard a click, and felt buttons of door panel, and the secret door next to the group slid open.
"Go!" shouted Joe, ushering them in. The door slid shut again and the sounds of battle disappeared for Bun, Fumu, Lololo and Lalala. But Joe, Sword, Blade and Kirby were still in the other room, trying to overpower the monster.
Snarling, the monster raised its paw to strike. Quick as a flash, Kirby was in the air, the sword glinting in the artificial light. The great hand slammed down on the floor, a deep gash spilling blood. A second later, the sword entered the creature's back. The yeti screamed, but the stab wound wasn't deep enough to do a lot of damage. It straightened up suddenly, and Kirby held onto the hilt for dear life.
"Kirby!"
Joe and Sword ran to help him, Blade hung back; it was his sword Kirby had inhaled. Jumping together, Joe punched and Sword hacked a way through the masses of hair.
The beast grew angrier by the minute. Blood was trickling down its shoulder, and now two more of these things were trying to hurt it. Joe saw the fist approaching and cried out.
"Get back!"
He and Sword dove out of the way. As soon as the thing's fist came into contact with the ground, Sword ran back to it. He grabbed a hold and swung himself up. The hand began to shake; but he clung on. Kirby was desperately trying to free the sword. It had got caught in the beast's hair, and the blood only made it more difficult to untangle. He jumped up on the hilt when he heard a cry.
"Kirby - jump!"
Sword saw the other hand ready to clamp on top of him. He thrust his sword over his head – and felt blood rain down on him. Before he could see the damage though, he was jerked off the hand and sent flying through the air.
Joe ran to catch Sword's fall and Sword fell heavily on top of him. Getting up, they watched in shock as the monster stumbled backwards shaking its injured hand. Kirby was frightened – he clung to the sword hilt and glanced around, crying out.
"Poyo..!"
Joe clenched his fists. Sword shook his head.
"He's not going to jump!"
The monster crashed into a control panel in the centre of the room. Kirby finally let go. The impact sent him soaring overhead, and Blade's sword flying away from him. Blade ran to try and catch him, just as the remains of the control panel exploded. An empty elevator shaft opened, Kirby hit the ground hard and bounced into it. The Knights and Joe screeched to a halt. They yelled and ran to the edge of the shaft, but Kirby was gone.
"KIRBY!"
…
