Meta Knight's POV

Meira's training was going quite well, and it's only been two weeks. When her arms were swollen and sensitive, she pushed further without me having to tell her to. She deflected attacks more efficiently than before, and dealt out some of her own. She always had a look in her eye that sent a convoluted message-whether she was determined or eager to please her elders I could not tell-clearly intended to be difficult to decipher. I did not think she was being truthful when she said that one of her best qualities was docility…but it is.

"The next part of your training will be difficult for you," I told her. "Have you ever had trouble looking people in the eyes, Meira?"She looked away, slightly embarrassed. "That's what this will help with. This will give you leverage against Marx Soul when you run into him again. If he doesn't discomfort you, he cannot harm you. Then your general training can be put to good use."

When I snapped my fingers, Sword and Blade Knight set up a small device to Meira's head. A Dream Simulator. I focused her attention towards me, to keep her from becoming frightened as the lenses generated a hologram onto me. I was disguised as Marx Soul. Meira became uncomfortable and turned her head at an angle and shut one eye, holding her sword out at arms-length. Honestly, her shyness made her look pathetic-that's what Marx Soul liked about her.

"Don't avert your eyes, Meira! It's horrible to look at, but you must do it!"

Slowly, painfully, Meira turned her head back around and opened both eyes. I could still see the discomfort in her face as she looked past me. She sucked in a deep breath and relaxed her grip on the sword. Her dark eyes narrowed in angry determination as she looked directly at me; I moved closer and her sharp gaze didn't falter, but her hands started to tremble. The Dream Simulator made the hologram flicker for a fraction of a second, and Sword Knight flipped a switch on the control panel, allowing animations. I heard a laugh that wasn't my own-a demented, warped cackle-and Meira took a step back. She took another deep breath and leapt forward, swinging wildly in front of her.

"Control yourself!" I called out. "Don't let your nervous tension replace your wits!"

Meira glanced down before returning to her hardened gaze. In a flash of silver and soft black, she struck at the fake Marx Soul with focus and a touch of elegance. 'Marx' sliced at her throat-she swiftly evaded and swatted his claws back with her weapon. Marx teleported behind her and grabbed her by the shoulders. Meira froze and dropped her sword-she was paralyzed in place; Marx Soul ran a claw along her neck. She did nothing. Marx Soul grinned and licked the side of her face-Meira shuddered. She looked as though she was in a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. I felt some guilt in putting her through this, but I knew she'd thank me later. I remembered the Dream Simulator could also make known her true thoughts, and I groaned inwardly, wondering why no one had thought to use it when she was first recruited.

The false Marx Soul continued to petrify her with his tongue, smiling. Meira could have pulled herself away, but an unseen force within her kept her in place. This was just as I had worried about-Meira had never been susceptible to terror before arriving to Dreamland, thus not knowing how she must overcome it. Fear is an acquired thing, contrary to popular belief-if you see something as undesirable, you're inclined to do whatever you must to avoid it. That's why Meira is frightened. I ordered Sword Knight to switch off the device; and Meira fell to her knees in relief.

"That's enough for today, Meira," I said, helping her to her feet. "Take a rest."

Later that day, when my daily duties were fulfilled and the sun was setting, I went to check on Meira. I found her fast asleep, lying peacefully in bed. She lay still on her back, her wounds almost fully healed. I quietly approached, careful not to wake her. I wasn't ready to let her sleep on her own yet-she needed my protection from Marx. Training or no training, she can't protect herself if she's asleep. I knew I was going to be here the whole night, so I removed my mask, convinced no one who see me without it, and set it on the desk beside the bed. I climbed onto the bed and sat next to her, gently stroking her hair. I never got tired of looking at her… I glimpsed pink light reflecting off of my armor, indicating my mood.

Just as I was growing drowsy, I heard rusting under the blankets. Was she relieving an itch? I became alert once more and looked down at her. She looked frightened, and despite my efforts to comfort her, she squirmed slightly. She must be having a nightmare again, I thought as I squeezed her hand-rehashing the terrors of her training earlier on. I felt bad for her, but she had to overcome her cursed fear before it ate her alive. There have been too many cases of residents committing suicide from fear alone, or sacrificing themselves to save the rest of their families. I won't let the same happen to Meira.

I then had another idea. I could train her while she slept, since her mind is still technically active. I let of her hand and stood up, watching her intently. Normally her unconscious adventures will resolve themselves, unless she woke up to prevent from seeing something truly awful. Her mind, body and soul had been trained not to feel fear, but never trained with how to manage it. Same as with a healthy person contracting a fatal virus. Mental armor only protects the inexperienced, and that was something Meira must learn quickly.

"I'm sorry, Meira," I whispered. "You must learn a long and hard lesson. You'll hate me for it now, but you'll thank me later."

The effects of the Dream Simulator were still evident. She was uncomfortable while she slept, squirming and wincing as if in pain. I resisted the impulse to cup her face and promise her to always be there…. because even I knew that's a promise I couldn't keep. Perhaps she was still scarred from her run-ins with Marx Soul. As I contemplated this, my thoughts were torn from me when I heard a raspy moan rise out of her throat. Her chest tightened up and she gasped repeatedly, as though she was suffocating. My face contorted-I refused to give in to my chivalric impulse to wake her up and end her struggle, even if she could die in her sleep. Just when I was about to break, Meira sucked in a deep breath and breathed in a strained voice,

"Please, just leave me alone!"

I gasped. Meira sound like she was being strangled. No, she was, which brought me to the conclusion that Marx Soul was causing mischief in her head. I couldn't take it anymore. I took her face in both of my hands and shook her. But she wouldn't wake up. It was as if she was in another dimension and I couldn't reach her. I was completely distraught.

Then, she abruptly grabbed me and pulled me close. I was torn from within as she kissed me. She was breathing normally again, and she had calmed down, but I was still worried. Was she intentionally messing with my mind? I did not have much time to consider this. Meira made me content and relaxed, and I was coaxed into kissing her back. A fiery passion coursed through me, causing me to caress her before I could stop myself. Embarrassed, I pulled away and shook her gently. Somehow I knew this had to do with Marx and nothing with me. Upon waking her up I had a strange longing for something more. As she stirred, I sensed movement near the window-a flicker of white and silver. Someone had seen my mishap, and there was no way I was going to live down that we're simply friends and nothing more.

"Sir Meta Knight, what's wrong?" Meira asked me, rubbing her left eye with two fingers.

"Are you okay?" I asked, sitting back down on the bed. "You looked like you were having another bad dream."

"I was," Meira whispered. "It was awful. I'm fine now that you're here."

"I was always here with you, Meira. What were you dreaming about?"

Now it was her turn to be embarrassed. "…I dreamt about…about Marx again. It was freaky."

"I'd say so," I pointed out accusingly. "You were talking in your sleep, and you also took me in an embrace." Meira became shocked, realizing her actions. "You kissed me in your sleep," I said quickly.

"I'm s-sorry," Meira said, her cheeks turning red. "I didn't mean to… without your permission. I don't know what came over me. I went from being petrified to…" Meira was going to break her sanity if she continued to dance around the subject. She has something she really needs to tell me but she won't. Just when I was going to shake it off, she let it all come tumbling out.

"I can't do this anymore! Meta Knight, I've got a serious problem. I keep going outside and he keeps putting his tongue in my mouth and I like it and I can't help it! That monster's the first who's ever kissed me like that and it saved me from being murdered! Kissing like that keeps his fangs out of my flesh, but it ain't about survival no more! I just can't control it. The same guy who wanted to kill me now wants my babies!" She let out a heartbreaking sob before continuing. "There's nothing I can do. I don't want to kill him because of this, because… I'm sorry but the training won't help me conquer this. I'm addicted to being hunted."

Neither of us said anything for a long time. Thinking it over, I actually felt some jealousy towards the beast. I had more than enough potential to be her first. However, it wasn't Meira's fault she had her first kiss with an abomination. The consequences of having blood in her mouth were out of her control and mine as well. She's human. Humans' bodies, if not for their complex minds, could care less where sexual stimulation comes from; a kiss is a kiss. Marx is highly equipped for pleasing a human, and just as well equipped for tearing one apart. If this keeps up, Meira and Marx Soul will look towards other things to satisfy their wildest desires… That's what Meira is afraid of.

"Meira, don't be so hard on yourself," I finally said, stroking her hair. "You only fear what you can't control."