I don't own Kirby.
...are my disclaimers getting boring now? XD
So here we are. I've filled this chap with lots of action, so action fans can be happy and stuff.
Meta Knight reappears...
So yeah. Please enjoy.
"Wouldn't that kind of ruin the point of sneaking here though?" Bun asked blankly.
"Not really," The magician replied, smiling. "Nightmare will allow the Halberd to land, thinking Kirby and I are on it. Then he'll blow it up to destroy our supposed only escape route and send in demon beasts to kill off the people he doesn't care about so he can face Kirby himself—so he can have the satisfaction of destroying the last Star Warrior."
There was a grim silence at her blunt words—said in an unfittingly cheerful manner—broken only by Kirby's delighted "poyo!" at the mention of his name.
"You sound pretty sure of this…" Fumu said quietly to the medic.
Kitsu laughed. "Nightmare works in a pretty simple way actually. It doesn't take long to figure out what he does."
"So," Dakonyo began. "You're suggesting we wait until the others land and then join them in a wild rampage across Holy Nightmare?"
She nodded eagerly. "Holy Nightmare's quite a large place and we aren't going to be able to find one person here no matter how hard we try. The more ruckus we make, the sooner Nightmare's going to come himself. Then we'll figure out where Meta Knight is, go fetch him and escape via the Firebird. Because the Halberd is almost certainly not going to make it." She said the last phase in a hushed manner, glancing around as if fearful of the doomed ship's vengeful owner.
Just then a large explosion rocked the upper levels of the parking lot they stood on.
"Oh! Sounds like they've landed," Kitsu exclaimed happily. "Let's go~!"
She skipped off as though making a journey to a picnic, Kirby following radiating a similar aura of joy. Bun and Dakonyo exchanged a look before following at a serene pace, leaving Fumu the only one who seemed to be worried about anything. She let out a heavy sigh, at the behavior of her companions whom she would never understand. "I miss you, Meta Knight-kyou. You were the only sane one."
"You guys okay?" Asked Silica, upon their reunion.
"We should be asking that of you," Fumu retorted. "That was really dangerous!"
The bandana girl merely grinned, the shells spewing from her machine gun as she fired wildly at the approaching swarm of demon beasts. The little ones fell over first, bloodied bodies riddled with bullets. Silica switched over to the flamethrower mode of her weapon next, burning the larger demons to a crisp. Her smile widened into a savage smirk that frightened Fumu enough to look away.
"Vulcan Jab! Vulcan Jab! Spin Kick!" Knuckle Joe crowed as he blasted enemies aside. "Smash Punch! Spin Kick!"
Sword and Blade wasted no words, slashing apart demon beasts with practiced ease. Dakonyo wielded a sword as well, waving it wrathfully as he attacked with more furious retribution than the others combined. Even Bun swung a wooden club, laughing in delight as he reveled in the power of taking down foes.
"Come on, Kirby." Sickened at the display of violence, Fumu turned and murmured to the pink ball who had not yet joined the battle. "Let's go look for Meta Knight-kyou."
Kirby looked up from where he had been gazing into the shimmering golden blade of Galaxia. He had brought it along and now held it in a wistful way that held great yearning for the comfort of his mentor.
"Let's go, Kirby," Fumu repeated, gently.
The Star Warrior nodded solemnly. Kitsu leapt out of nowhere, joining them as they went down a more empty corridor. They came to a fork.
"Which way?" Fumu asked, looking cautiously down each of the identical metal corridors.
"We could flip a coin," Kitsu suggested humorously.
"Very funny," The girl returned. "I say right."
"Poyo!" Kirby said, pointing left.
"Why left?"
"Poyo," was the reply. Fumu stared uncomprehending at the pink ball and glanced at Kitsu, who wore a cheerful smile that did not necessarily signal that she understood Kirby any better.
"Alright. Left it is," said Fumu, deciding to trust the young Star Warrior's judgment. The threesome turned in said direction and began walking.
They came into a widened chamber. The polished tiled floor, ceiling, and walls were all a shiny metal-like grey. Strangely, everywhere Fumu looked, there were racks. Attached on the walls, standing on the floor, even hung from the ceiling…shiny silver metal racks full of one thing: swords. Some of them were the standard katana. Others came in all sorts of exotic shapes and lengths and colors. Curved, straight, short, long. Some were like giant versions of a meat cleaver or a large tooth-edged saw—others were elegantly forged scimitars. There were claymores, sabers, rapiers, foils—double-handed swords, single-handed swords, double-edged, single edged, shaped like an elongated needle, or studded with spikes on the sides like on Galaxia. Some were decorated elegantly with jewels, some had plain wooden crossguards. Some shimmered of the finest, newly polished steel, while others were flaking with rust.
All of the swords and the racks were arranged in evenly spaced rows. That, combined with the slightly oval shape of the chamber that had many high and low levels and platforms around it, made the entire place feel like a battle arena of some sort. Fumu shuddered. Wanting to leave as soon as possible, she opened her mouth, only to see both Kirby and Kitsu staring purposefully upwards.
"Looks like the path Kirby chose was correct~," The magician sang, serenely drawing out her wand.
Suddenly the way they had come was closed by a huge and thick metal door, trapping the three of them in the large chamber. Fumu glanced back, a cry of alarm forming on her lips.
A half-shadowed figure glared down at them from a platform above.
"Hello there, Meta Knight," Kitsu greeted, cheerfully waving. "Still retaining your habit of appearing in the most absurd high places, huh?"
There was no reply. Meta Knight's metal shoes clanked dully against the floor as he emerged into full view. Fumu gasped in horror and drew back.
The knight's normally gentle golden eyes simmered a hideous crimson, burning dully beneath his visor like a pair of stoked coals. His cape was absent; in its place was a pair of bat-like wings which extended outwards in an intimidating fashion. He was weaponless, but still radiated a chilling, deadly aura that Fumu had never felt from him.
"M…Meta Knight-kyou?" She whispered, refusing to believe it was him.
"Poyo! Poyo," Kirby pleaded, begging for the knight to return. Again, no answer.
Loud, harsh, grating laughter echoed in the cold arena-like chamber. A dark half-visible figure appeared besides Meta Knight.
"Welcome, welcome," The voice chuckled maliciously. "Welcome to my humble abode."
"Nightmare," Kitsu said, an extremely rare hint of anger in her voice.
"If it isn't Kitsu," The conqueror of much of the universe said mockingly. "I knew you would all come. Well here's the person you were looking for huh? Ah Meta Knight…I always found him to be the greatest enemy of all, you know. A bigger threat than Sir Arthur, or Garlude, or any of the others. You'd find that he's changed a little bit since his stay here. Don't worry though. I'm sure you will all have fun."
The mocking laughter echoed even louder as the shadow stepped back slightly, to watch the show.
"Meta Knight-kyou!" Fumu cried out again, desperately wishing that he could snap out of it.
The red eyes stared past her coldly, gazing upon Kirby blankly. Abruptly the knight reached forward to a nearby metal rack and drew a long thin rapier from it. He gave it a few experimental flicks in the air. Apparently, he was not pleased for he lowered it as if to put it back.
Fumu did not even see the throwing motion Meta Knight made, but nonetheless the rapier had been thrown straight at them like a javelin. It cut through the air with frightening accuracy. Kirby dodged aside, eyes wide, while Kitsu pulled Fumu away. The sword pinned itself to a far wall, its blade sinking halfway into the tiles.
"Poyo…" Kirby whispered brokenly, realizing that something was indeed very wrong with Meta Knight. Why was he attacking them? And why did he radiate such a frightening aura?
Meta Knight already had another sword drawn from the rack. It was a large and bulky one and he was obviously unimpressed by this one as well. Kirby let out a startled yelp and rolled out of the way as it was hurled at him.
The knight slid a third blade out. It was a short sword, plain and mostly unadorned but about the same size and length as Galaxia. He weighed it in his hand, twirled it about expertly and gave a spiteful nod before suddenly launching himself off the platform. His wings flicked open and he shot at Kirby like a bullet. The pink ball barely had a chance to lift Galaxia to deflect the blow. The strength behind the sword strike, however, still sent the younger Star Warrior flying.
Fumu watched, mortified, as the knight began hacking viciously at Kirby. Kitsu watched, a half-interested expression on her face. Fumu yelled at her furiously to go help Kirby, but the magician seemed to be entranced by something in the far distance.
Nightmare's laughter echoed loudly in the background.
Kirby was struck several times, slammed on the floor. He was knocked back many feet and smashed into the wall where he gazed up, eyes full of misery. What had Nightmare done to his mentor?
Meta Knight stepped forward slowly, red eyes blank and burning with hatred.
"Poyo!"
There was no recognition in those eyes. The knight almost stepped on something. It was Galaxia, which had slipped from Kirby's grip. Meta Knight's eyes gleamed now, like a hungry wolf that had finally found a way to finish off its prey. He stabbed his rental sword into the ground and reached down to grab Galaxia.
Nightmare howled with mockery. "Ahahahah there we are…with Galaxia, Meta Knight is unbeatable. How will you defeat him now?"
"Poyo!" Kirby wailed and cowered back as Meta Knight lifted the golden blade above his head and prepared to bring it down upon his student.
Suddenly, the sacred sword burst into golden electricity which engulfed the knight's body. Meta Knight let out a hiss of surprise and pain as he was forced to release Galaxia. The blade clattered to the floor.
Nightmare let out a growl of annoyance. "I see. Meta Knight made it so that he could only wield Galaxia on the condition that his heart is his own. Otherwise it would reject him just like it would anyone else. Rather clever of him…but no matter. Kirby, prepare to die by your own teacher's hand!" Nightmare returned to cackling in the most evil fashion.
Kitsu made an odd noise, next to Fumu, and she realized the magician was snickering.
"Have you gone crazy?" Fumu hissed. "Go attack Nightmare! He's the one controlling Meta Knight-kyou, right?"
"Hmm~? Me? Attack who? I'm just the medic," Kitsu replied airily as thought distracted by something of much more importance. Fumu thought frantically of a way to escape this desperate situation. She had kicked the metal door that trapped them several times but it was absolutely no use. Perhaps Kirby could…but no. Kirby was in no was in position as of now, to help her destroy a door.
Meta Knight glared at the rebellious golden sword that had dared to bite its master—but instead of attempting to pick up Galaxia again, he stepped back and took the borrowed short sword up once more. He lifted it high, intending to end Kirby's life with that blade instead.
"Kirby! Inhale Galaxia!" Fumu screamed desperately. To her relief, the pink puff obeyed and swept Meta Knight's sword up in a huff.
When Kirby had landed from his transformation-induced twirl in the air, the pointy green hat was in place on his head and he held Galaxia in a tight and much more firm grip. Meta Knight lunged with his short sword, but with just as much skill, Kirby parried the blow. The two blades clashed, ringing out in high pure voices, all with Nightmare's grating laughter cheering them on in the background.
Fumu desperately wished that that guy would just shut up.
Back and forth, Kirby and Meta Knight danced in their deadly battle, swords flashing with unparalleled skill. As the knight slashed with his right hand, his left reached out and snatched up a sharp saber which lacked a crossguard, and looked like it was carved out of ornately chiseled bone. Meta Knight flung the weapon at Kirby who had to turn aside to dodge it. Taking advantage of the opening, the elder Star Warrior surged forward with renewed ferocity. Kirby leaped back several paces and returned the gesture by sucking up a claymore from the same metal rack and spitting it back out at his opponent. Meta Knight, however, easily deflected the impromptu projectile with his sword.
The speed of their combat only increased from there. The two twirled about in a deadlock, clashing at a rapid steady beat, retreating and advancing, hopping about the platforms, and occasionally tossing swords from the numerous racks at each other.
Kitsu appeared to have her eyes closed and was murmuring something under her breath and Fumu had to wonder if Nightmare had taken control of her as well.
"Poyo!" Kirby said, steel in his voice as he feinted right. As he expected, Meta Knight anticipated the fake and already had his sword up to block the incoming left swipe. However, Kirby continued right, lunging and scoring a solid hit on Meta Knight. It was a blow to the side of his head, by the flat of Galaxia, but it was enough to send the knight reeling back, stunned. Meta Knight fell backwards, red eyes flickering with disorientation, grip on his weapon loosening.
"Finish him!" Nightmare crowed, obviously enjoying the death match very much.
Kirby hesitated, sword arm trembling from exertion and sorrow and terror at the prospect of being possibly forced to kill Meta Knight. Already the elder Star Warrior was recovering from the hit. He sat up, shaking his head briefly, focus returning to his crimson eyes.
"Just hit him again already," Kitsu called cheerfully. Immediately Fumu leapt away from her. So the magician had become controlled by Nightmare, too!
Kirby gave her a look of utmost disbelief.
"It's okay," Kitsu said, smiling. "Go on. Smack him a few times. I'll just fix any damage you do."
Right on cue, Meta Knight picked up his sword again and charged at Kirby. The pink ball flinched backwards and lashed out with Galaxia. The sword's blade grazed the knight's arm, and the first blood of the battle was drawn. Kirby drew back at the sight, horrified at what he had done. Meta Knight glanced at the small wound dismissively before raising his blade to attack once more.
Kirby squeaked as the sword missed him by a hair's length. He was forced to lift Galaxia to defend himself, but the knight's attacks were as strong and fast as ever while Kirby was exhausted and faltering. He was breathing hard and his footwork was getting increasingly sluggish. Panic was starting to show in the pink ball's eyes.
"On the head," Kitsu called evenly. "Get him on the head."
"What's wrong with you?" Fumu demanded furiously. The magician did not reply to that and merely hummed to herself an odd tune.
Kirby let out a small distressed sound at Kitsu's instructions, but could not spare a second to look back at her. He ducked under his foe's swing and sliced hesitantly at the knight's mask. The weak blow bounced harmlessly off the protective metal but it seemed to crush something on the side of it. A short burst of electricity fizzled and a small cube-shaped thing surrounded with ripped wires fell out. Just then, Nightmare's laughter turned into a howl of fury as his already half-visible image seemed to flicker further and then vanish. Fumu realized that he had been nothing more than a hologram.
The metal door that Fumu had been trying so hard to get open lifted up, revealing their escape passage.
"Yay an escape route!" Kitsu cried with delight, as though it was a great surprise to her as well. "Let's run awaaaay!"
With that, the magician turned and began skipping towards the exit. Fumu called Kirby's name and the weary pink ball turned and hurried after them. There were rapid wing beats, signaling Meta Knight's pursuit.
They rushed through the many corridors, footsteps echoing loudly. After many minutes of running, Kirby's pace slackened even further, the exhaustion showing plainly in the small Star Warrior's face. He stopped, panting and gave Fumu a hopeless look. Galaxia drooped in his grip.
"We have to keep running," The girl urged Kirby. "Don't give up!"
"Poyo," Kirby said with sorrowful desolation.
"Actually, we're good," Kitsu cut in brightly. She pointed ahead, where Sword and Blade were rushing towards them.
"Where were you guys?" Sword demanded, armor clanking. "We were looking all over for y—Meta Knight-kyou?"
Blade took an alarmed step backwards at the bat wings—spread wide and imposing like a massive owl—and the furious smoldering red eyes. Meta Knight hovered in the air for a few more moments before landing on the ground and folding his wings lightly on his back. He pointed his short sword at them threateningly, obviously about to launch another attack.
"Nightmare did something to him! He's attacking us!" Fumu cried to the two apprentice knights. Neither seemed to be listening, though. They raised their swords purposefully and stepped between Fumu, Kirby, and Kitsu, and their lord.
"Meta Knight-kyou," Blade said softly, pleadingly. The knight, of course, offered no reply other than charging forward with his weapon raised. The two apprentices surged forward to engage him grimly, the anxiety and half-heartedness evident in their movements. Soon the clashing of blades echoed through the hall.
"Come on," Fumu said, tugging on Kirby's hand. "Let's go."
"If we leave them like this, Meta Knight will kill them both in no time," Kitsu said calmly. She tilted her head thoughtfully and then made such an exaggerated I-have-an-idea gesture, that Fumu could practically see the lightbulb floating above her head.
"Let's take a trip, Kirby," The medic said to the pink ball, happily. In the background, Meta Knight was beating his two apprentices back easily. They were forced to retreat, clumsily defending themselves from their much more skilled master.
"Poyo?" Kirby asked blankly to Kitsu's suggestion.
"Yep! Meta Knight is fond of you, right? You might be able to get through to him, whereas I couldn't." Kitsu nodded thoughtfully to herself and Fumu realized with guilt that she had been so unresponsive during the last battle because she had been attempting to break whatever curse was on Meta Knight.
"Well? You up for some traveling?" Kitsu asked with an ardent grin, holding up her baton. Kirby hesitated, unsure what she meant, but nodded nonetheless.
Blade was suddenly knocked into the wall by Meta Knight. He slumped down, sword slipping from his grip. The other apprentice knight charged, but Meta Knight dispatched of Sword just as easily. Sword fell forward, helmet hitting the floor with a solid clunk. Meta Knight paused then, looking between the two of them, as if wondering which to finish off first.
"Wait," Fumu began. "Where are you going…?"
"Nowhere in particular," The fox puffball said cheerily.
Meta Knight had evidently made his decision and he stood, sword poised above Blade's unmoving form. His arm swung downwards, weapon aiming for the gap between Blade's helmet and his plate armor, about to sever the apprentice's head cleanly from his body—as Kitsu waved her wand in a sweeping gesture at him, Kirby watching, mesmerized.
"Poyo?" Kirby yelped, as the floor seemed to disappear from beneath his large red feet. "Poyooooooo!" He wailed as he started to fall towards a bottomless pit that had appeared from nowhere. The world around him was vanishing, too, the metallic walls and Fumu next to him disappearing into blurs of black. The almost painful panic rose up in Kirby like pressurized molten soda, threatening to burst.
"Wheeeee~!" He turned with relief to see that Kitsu was falling along with him. She had her wand in hand and twirled it playfully as she giggled in enjoyment of the freefall.
Her carefree aura was contagious and soon Kirby was laughing with delight along with her, as they fell down into utter darkness.
"Poyo po?" The pink ball inquired, wanting to know where they were going. Kitsu answered, this time.
"Into the dark and twisted mind of Meta Knight-kyou," Kitsu said with a grin, tacking on the honorific at the end of his name in the most cheerfully sarcastic manner.
They fell into the blackness below.
So let's take a trip into Meta Knight's head. This will be fun.
Next chapter soon and stuff. :3