Remember that test that was mentioned in the previous chapter? Let's see how that goes...

Chapter Nine: Duel Role

It was a strange feeling, knowing how much they've grown, but not at all an unpleasant one. Even stranger was knowing that they'd started out as petty thieves, robbing travelers and looting bodies for survival. Now, Sworcio and Bladence were his most trusted comrades, his partners, his brothers. Meta Knight knew that the Galactic Nova Itself couldn't have given him better friends.

He had referred to them as knights in the past, only to be reminded that they weren't technically knights, merely his knaves. Perhaps that was why he hadn't done anything like this sooner. Because, he simply forgot that they weren't official knights. If all went well today, and he knew it would, he would certainly take care of that.

Meta Knight, his wings unfurled and wrapped around his body, watched from his position behind the bushes as his soon-to-be-fellow-knights gazed around impatiently from just outside of Whispy Woods Forest, their armor reflecting the mid-morning sun and almost blinding him in the process.

"Where's Meta Knight?" Sword wondered. "It's not like him to be late. Especially when it comes to training."

Blade shrugged. "Eh, he's probably spying on us. I can't be the only one who feels like we're being watched."

"Ha ha! Yeah, that sounds like something he'd do. But, in case it's not him, we better stay sharp."

"Right."

Ah, good instincts, boys. But, Meta Knight remained where he was, welcoming the shadows that seemed to naturally draw close to him, wrapping themselves around him and keeping him near-invisible. Though normally an unwanted reminder of...certain things, their camouflage could be rather useful, he had to admit.

Meta Knight's mind buzzed with anticipation as he waited for the signal. It had been a long time since he'd been in a real fight, and adrenaline was already flooding his body. This would surely be a good battle. The shadows surrounding him danced and held him tighter, reacting to his heightened emotions, yearning to be used for violence.

Then, Galaxia's temperature spiked so much that he almost cried out. As the heat died down, Meta Knight breathed and mentally thanked it. The sacred sword always seemed to know when his dark side started to overpower his light, and it always managed to remind him to pull himself together, that he wasn't the monster Nightmare had expected him to be.

A sword beam shot down from the sky. Sword and Blade jumped out of the way just in time. The beam wasn't big enough to cause any real damage, but it did leave a decent-sized tear in the ground.

"Kirby?" Sword exclaimed as he and his brother spotted the airborne, armor-clad source of the beam. "Watch where you're shooting that thing!"

"Yeah, you almost hit us!" Blade agreed. "What are you doing anyway?"

Kirby raised his lance to the sky. "We are pufflings, and we declare war on the wingless ones!"

Meta Knight mentally face-palmed, and Sword and Blade just said a flat, "What?"

Well, that was his que, he supposed. Meta Knight shot into the air. Sword and Blade turned their confused gazes on him. "You two." Meta Knight unsheathed Galaxia and pointed it at them. "Fight me. Fight us."

Before they could react, Meta Knight and Kirby dive-bombed them. Sword dodged Meta Knight while Blade intercepted Kirby's attack with his own sword. The battle began; Meta Knight taking on Sword, Kirby with Blade. Slash after slash, block after block. A rolling dodge here, a forward thrust there, a deliberately small sword beam or two, switching sparring partners at random intervals. A run-of-the-mill training session, nothing more, nothing less.

Then, Kirby and Meta Knight stole a glance at each other. No words were needed to convey what would happen next.

The Star Warriors flew up high. Below them, Sword and Blade braced themselves for whatever was coming next. Meta Knight's dark green eyes locked with Kirby's navy blue ones. "Like we practiced."

Kirby nodded. Did his eyes flash red just then? Perhaps not.

Meta Knight glared down at his knaves. "Know our power!"

Focusing their energy, they raised their weapons high. Small white lights formed on the tips as the Sword Beam began to form. Then, they touched the tips together. Sparks emanated from the joined lights, and the Star Warriors thrust downward as one. A huge Sword Beam, bigger than one had any hope of creating on their own, came barreling at Sword and Blade at high speed. The twins sprinted out of its way just as it landed, tearing its way through the dirt, creating a chasm that stretched out quite far before finally dying off in a heap of pale gray smoke. Sword and Blade stared in shock at the wreckage then looked at each other then up at the Star Warriors.

"No more playing around," Kirby announced. There it was again. That flash of red. Meta Knight was certain he didn't imagine it. Before he could say anything, Kirby barreled down at the twins, calling out, "It's time you know what real power is!"

Suddenly, Meta Knight's instincts were screaming at him. Something was wrong. Very wrong. He flew after Kirby, who spun faster and faster in his freefall until he was using the Mach Tornado attack. Meta Knight had taught him that move at some point. Right?

Sword and Blade jumped out of the way, and Kirby landed with his lance jammed almost comically into the ground. As he tried to yank it out, Blade smacked him with the blunt side of his sword. Kirby fell and rolled a little at the impact, but his lance was in his hand now. He briefly looked up at Meta Knight, who had drifted back on to the soft grass at this point. Kirby's eyes were blue again.

Strange.

Meta Knight's thoughts were halted by a sword slamming into his mask. He heard a loud crack, and Sword said sheepishly, "Whoops. Sorry, Meta Knight."

Meta Knight felt around his mask. There was a sizable break in it, but it was still in one piece. Right. Time to focus on the battle. Meta Knight flew backwards then thrust his sword into the ground, sending a bolt of blue lightning at Sword. Sword made a rolling dodge then lunged at him while Meta Knight pulled Galaxia from the ground. Kirby came at Sword from behind, but Sword spun around and blocked his attack.

As Meta Knight pulled Galaxia out, he whipped around and intercepted Blade's near-successful sneak attack. Blade feinted left, but Meta Knight leaped back into the air and unleashed three consecutive Sword Beams. Blade dodged the first two and countered the third with a Sword Beam of his own. The two beams collided and burst into a glittering haze. Cutting through the pretty fog, Meta Knight flew directly over Blade and swooped down at him sword-first. Blade jumped out of the way but not without a gash in his armor. Fortunately, Meta Knight hadn't broken any skin. After all, the plan was to test their abilities, not to cause any serious damage. Meta Knight pulled Galaxia out of the ground-

Clang!

Blade slammed his sword into Meta Knight's mask, but Meta Knight stood his ground, despite the vibrations the impact sent through his head. He readied an attack, but Blade reeled back in shock.

"Ah, geez!" Blade exclaimed. "I-I'm sorry, Meta Knight. It was accident!"

Suddenly, Meta Knight was acutely aware of his trademark mask sitting in the grass, split in two, as well as his own exposed, heavily scarred face. Sword and Kirby had stopped what they were doing and gawked briefly as well.

Then, Sword came over and stammered, "Uh, it's not all his fault, sir. I-I cracked your mask first, after all."

"I'm just gonna stand over here and play with Tangie," Kirby stated awkwardly, staring at the fluttering creature with noticeably less enthusiasm than usual.

Meta Knight looked from him to his knaves to his broken mask. That mask was made of some very strong material. Not easily broken, so that in itself was rather impressive. The twins had also displayed some great techniques and reflexes. They'd sustained some dents and a break or two in their armor but nothing that couldn't be easily repaired. Sure, Meta Knight had restrained himself, but he and Kirby together made for a tough combination. Fortunately, Sword and Blade were equally difficult to beat. Yes, they did well. Very well.

Meanwhile, his knaves were stock-still. This wasn't the first time their Lord's mask had been shattered, but they had never been the culprits before. And, whenever Meta Knight's cute-but-battle-worn face was exposed against his own will, the normally even-tempered Star Warrior would become...angry, to say the least. Sword and Blade stood there anxiously, waiting for a verbal lashing at best and/or a physical lashing at worst. They watched breathlessly as he ran a hand over his face and his eyes turned orange as he slowly realized what had happened. Then, his eyes became light green as he considered...what? What was he thinking about? Then, they were...blue?

Meta Knight smiled and bent over to pick up the pieces of his mask. "Kirby, we are done here." With that, he threw his cape around himself and shot himself high into the sky.

"Uh…" Kirby drawled as he and the dwarves stared in shock at where Meta Knight had vanished. "I don't know how he did that, so I'm just gonna fly away like normal." And, he did just that, leaving Sword and Blade to ponder what this all meant for them.

I wasn't gonna cut it off there...but then I did. Either way, I think you guys can probably figure out whether or not Sword and Blade passed their assessment. Review!