Synopsis for Chapter 7:

When we last left Tiff, she was hunting down Meta Knight, who fled into the Dreamland Desert. He then finds himself wandering in circles, somehow avoiding Tiff, who stumbled her way into the dunes as well.

Chapter 7—Duel in the Desert

Dreamland Desert:

The Dreamland Desert is devoid of all life. Once a mighty prehistoric sea; the water evaporated and the temperature rose. The ground turned to sand that is kicked up by the massive drifts in the area. Meta Knight tried to lose Tiff in this desert, but found out she was still following him. He ended up getting lost, but for him, Tiff was too.

"Gee, it seems like I keep running around in circles." Meta Knight said. He continued walking.

"Didn't I pass by that giant palm tree already?" he asked. He continued walking.

"And there's that pile of sand shaped like Elvis Pressely!" he stated. He took a rest by another giant palm tree. He reached for his cantina. He opened his mask to try and drink some water, but his cantina was bone dry and he ended up getting sand in his mouth.

"I have to find water, before, before I die." he stuttered. He got up and walked around, like he got spun around several times.

"I just hope Tiff isn't following me." Meta Knight said.

With Tiff:

She began her quest to eliminate Meta Knight again. She looked behind her and shook her head.

"He wouldn't go backwards. The only way he could've gone in forward." she stated. She picked up by sword container and hit the road.

After a few minutes walking, she stumbled upon the Dreamland Desert. She took a deep breath and sighed.

"I don't know if I'll be able to find him. You can get lost in this desert." she said before entering.

With Meta Knight:

Our masked crusader was soon becoming impatient at the lack of water. He threw his cantina down in disgust.

"All I have is my spit left." he said, weakly. He tried to spit, but found his tongue dried out. He shivered and angrily kicked some sand.

"God, I need to find some water. There has to some out there somewhere." he said. Over in the distance, he found a sparkling lake.

"Please be real, please be real." he pleaded. He raced over like a shot to where the lake was. But, it was a mirage and Meta Knight ran straight into a sand dune. He squirmed angrily, trying to free himself, but to no avail.

With Tiff:

Tiff found Meta Knight's footprints and began to follow them. After several minutes, she stopped.

"Hey, these just go around in circles!" she said, angrily. She also kicked up sand angrily. Then, something caught her eye. Meta Knight's footprints picked back up going north from her current location.

"You thought you could run, but I've got you right where I want you." Tiff said, following the footprints.

With King Dedede and Escargoon:

King Dedede was on his throne, watching TV. Escargoon just gave a "Humph!" and King Dedede turned around.
"Escargoon, what's the matter?" he asked.

"It's nothing sire." Escargoon replied.

"Now, Escargoon. Tell me." King Dedede replied.

"I've received word that Tiff has chased Meta Knight to the Dreamland Desert." Escargoon stated.
"That's good." King Dedede replied.

"She might get lost in there." Escargoon said.

"That's bad." King Dedede replied.

"But, she might find Meta Knight." Escargoon stated.

"That's good." King Dedede replied.

"But, Meta Knight might kill her." Escargoon said, glumly.

"That's bad." King Dedede replied.

"But, Tiff's a smart child." Escargoon said.

"That's good." King Dedede replied.

"But Meta Knight is smarter." Escargoon said.

"Can I go now?" King Dedede said.

"Ugh!" Escargoon said, bitterly as he left the throne room. King Dedede turned his head back to the TV screen.

"Ah, TV, what you we ever do without you?" he asked.

With Tiff:

She chased Meta Knight's footprints to where Meta Knight was currently located. He had no success trying to squirm free of the sand dune. He felt like he heard footsteps and he felt something grab his feet. He was suddenly jerked from the sand. He looked up and saw Tiff, with an enraged look on her face.

"You thought you could trick me." she said, drawling her sword.
"I wasn't trying to trick you." Meta Knight replied.

"You thought you could pull a fast one." she replied, lurching closer.

"Honestly, I swear. I wasn't trying to trick you!" Meta Knight replied.

"Sorry, but you're a direct threat to my Majesty. And I'm here to eliminate you." Tiff stated.
"Tiff, he brainwashed you, so he could rule as king with no problems!" Meta Knight stated.
"You're lying!" Tiff shouted angrily. She jumped and slashed at Meta Knight. The problem here was the sand dunes shifted and were seemingly, working in Tiff's favor. Meta Knight ended up swishing at nothing but air and Tiff got several close slashes in.

Meta Knight fell to the ground, clutching his side, which was bleeding profusely. Tiff walked up to Meta Knight and leaned down.
"Give up yet?" Tiff asked.

"Never." Meta Knight replied, getting up. He tried a slash at Tiff, but she dodged. She once again slashed furiously at Meta Knight. Again, he fell to the ground.

"You're not making this easy. If you just give up, you can live the rest of your life working for King Dedede." Tiff stated.
"You sick, twisted little girl." Meta Knight said, bitterly.

"Hey, it's your funeral." she said, evilly. She gave one final swish and Meta Knight fell with a thud.

END Chapter 7!

(Chapter 8 will be a brief Epilogue about what happened after this event. So don't think the story's entirely over).