I know the tiniest bit of Swedish ever. Ahem, "Körta tåg, gå mot mitten av plattformen."(Short train, please move down the platform…I think) Lol. T-banen are cool.
You know what's great about writing fanfiction for a kid's show? You can be as cheesy as you like.
Is this the last chapter? Even I don't know at this point.
Ch. 11 Loyalty
"Meta Knight!"
Sword and Blade barely had time to think before Meta Knight attacked. Galaxia slashed at them, and together, they thrust their weapons upwards to block. They had no time to voice their shock, and confusion; Meta Knight was already at their blind spots, causing them to jump apart in surprise. He's too fast! Sword thought desperately, while Meta Knight momentarily concentrated on a struggling Blade. What happened to him?
He gasped as Galaxia came within an inch of helmet, and ducked. Blade bravely dived at Meta Knight's back, but the knight had expected it and knocked him back easily. Sword quickly darted around Meta Knight to defend his fallen comrade. Blade took the chance to whisper to him.
"We can't last much longer. We have to stop him!"
With supreme effort, Sword held Meta Knight back.
"I know, but how? Even if we wanted to, we can't kill him! He's too strong-"
Sword's weapon rasped under the strain of holding Galaxia back. He could feel himself being overpowered. Meta Knight was gaining the upper hand. Blade noticed and dragged himself to his feet.
"Stop!"
If Meta Knight had heard it, he didn't comply. He broke Sword's hold and his sword clattered to the ground. Blade quickly knocked Sword out of the way and dodged, dragging Sword behind him.
"Run!"
Sword freed himself from Blade's grip and began running.
"My sword is-"
He looked back, just in time to see Meta Knight pick it up and stalk after them. Blade had noticed too.
"Oh, great!"
Sword sped up.
"Where can we run? It's all darkness!"
"I don't know, but we need a plan!"
Sword took out a small dagger to replace his sword.
"I can't do much with this."
"We'll have to disable him somehow – get the swords off him."
Blade took out his own dagger and tossed it to Sword.
"Here. Two are better than one."
"Ah!"
The two skidded to a halt as they saw Meta Knight's silhouette in the darkness just ahead. Those blood-red eyes stood out starkly against the blackness, and at that moment, the two knights realised that this was not the Meta Knight they knew. He had changed, and they both knew what they had to do.
We have to change him back, no matter what.
They tensed, weapons at the ready. Sword stole a glance at Blade.
"We'll have to attack him together."
"Good idea."
Meta Knight raised Galaxia and drew back into his defensive stance. The knights gripped their weapons and dashed forward. Their sword clashed, and the sound rang through their ears. Sword and Blade disengaged and struck again. Meta Knight parried, and thrust at them with Galaxia, making them separate. Sword rolled to the side.
"Oh no you don't."
He quickly stood and ran back to Blade's side.
Meta Knight was ferocious in his attack; the two knights had to switch from offence to defence in the bat of an eyelid. In spite of their brave thinking, they couldn't help but remember how Meta Knight had dealt with those doppelgangers. They were slowly being driven back too, but they had no idea where the wall lay.
All at once, Meta Knight slipped through their defences and used a sword beam. It knocked them both off their feet. Sword cried out; he was clutching his arm and blood was staining his glove. One of the daggers fell and stuck in the floor, and Sword fell a small distance away. Blade was unhurt, but slightly dazed. He shook his head hard and focused on the figure approaching. Inside his helmet, his eyes narrowed. He stepped in front of Sword, shielding him, and raised his blade again, looking Meta Knight straight in the eye.
"Meta Knight, please stop! It's us, Sword and Blade."
If Meta Knight had heard him, he did not comply. Blade cried out as another Sword Beam narrowly missed him. Meta Knight walked past him, advancing on the injured Sword. Sword gritted his teeth and gripped his dagger hard. It was his good arm that was injured; he was at even more of a disadvantage than before. In desperation, he followed Blade's example.
"Sir Meta Knight! Please, hear us! Stop!"
"It's too late."
Sword looked around frantically.
"Who said that?"
Blade ran back to him. A ripple of laughter flowed out from the darkness.
"You can't help him, silly little knight."
Sword and blade gasped.
"Nightmare!"
Meta Knight had stopped walking and was now waiting for the voice to finish, looking around at the darkness with slight irritation. Sword ground his teeth and shouted at his surroundings.
"What have you done to him? Show yourself you coward, so we can fight you instead of our friend!"
More amused laughter. Then the cold, malevolent voice came again.
"Kill them."
…
Meta Knight mentally sighed in frustration. That voice, that taunting, controlling voice. These things would be dead if he hadn't interrupted. How long would these tests go on? His master could be so…
A shadow of a doubt had crossed his mind. Just what was he about to think? He pushed the thought away, and concentrated on the fight. Those stupid knights were saying things again. How did they know his name? Clenching his sword tightly, he ran at them. Mindless monsters. They shouldn't be talking in the midst of a duel; he thought he'd taught them that.
Wait – he physically slowed in his assault, making the others two pause too – he'd taught them what? He'd never taught – His eyes widened. With physical effort, he roped in his murderous intent, just a fraction, enough to pause and look at the two knights. He stopped, a few feet away from them.
Sword and Blade. He was attacking Sword and Blade.
How could he not have recognised them? His eyes flicked golden again, but returned to red almost immediately. The two were looking almost hopefully at him, and Sword muttered almost incredulously,
"Sir?"
Meta Knight felt another rush of rage and killing intent wash over him. He clutched his head, trying to will it away. No, he couldn't kill them, he wouldn't…
It was no use; he could almost feel that tiny particle of control slip away. Before he was lost completely, he managed to say one thing.
"…Get out of here!"
…
Blade and Sword watched in horror as Meta Knight's eyes grew cold and bloodthirsty again. Blade quickly hoisted Sword to his feet.
"Come on."
Sword was indignant.
"We can't leave him here!"
"We need help! We have to find the others!"
They ran, remembering vaguely where the door lay. They could hear Meta Knight storming after them. Sword grimaced as he held his injured arm.
"Meta Knight's still in there, but how did this happen? I've never seen him like this before. His eyes…"
Blade voice was laced with anger,
"It's all Nightmare's fault. Meta Knight will never be all right until he's gone. We have to get rid of him, once and for all."
They cried out again as Meta Knight caught up with them. Sword brandished his dagger wildly as they tried to speed up.
"Stay back!"
"Sword, look!"
Sword spun around. Blade was pointing to the band of light ahead. It was getting wider and wider with every passing second.
"The elevator!"
Seven silhouettes appeared in the doorway. Under their helmets, Sword and Blade sighed with relief.
They slowed, and that was when Meta Knight struck. Blade gasped and fell to the floor hard. Sword turned to him.
"Blade!"
His comrade lay face down on the floor, moaning and shaking. Blood flowed from a deep, open wound on his shoulder. Sword's eyes grew hot, but he had no time to rush to his friend's side. He barely heard the whoosh of metal through air, and instinctively lashed out with his remaining dagger. He caught Meta Knight's blade and desperately tried to keep it there. A shout rang through the air.
"Vulcan Jab!"
Sword dived out of the way, landing roughly on his side. Looking up, he saw Joe, Kirby and someone else rush in and tackle Meta Knight. He looked away and turned back to Blade.
"Blade…"
He dragged himself to the fallen knight's side and tried to use his gloves to stop the bleeding. Blade whimpered as he clumsily but firmly tied them round the injured shoulder.
"Stay still. You'll be fine, just don't move. We'll get you home soon."
Sword wondered how much of this was true.
…
While travelling in the elevator, Carida had informed the others about Meta Knight's soul, though she managed to avoid mentioning he was once Nightmare's. She could see that Fumu and Joe weren't fully satisfied with her explanation, but she figured if they ever got out of this mess, Meta Knight could tell them his origin himself. Now that they were finally at their goal, they knew what to expect, and acted appropriately when they saw Sword and Blade being chased by Meta Knight. Joe was now trying to overpower him. Kirby, the twins and Fumu and Bun ran over to Sword and Blade. Sword looked up uncertainly.
"How…?"
Fumu quickly explained the situation.
"Kirby found Carida in the dungeons. She knows how to help Meta Knight. Come on, we have to get you out of here."
Sword stood up unsteadily.
"I can help-"
The five shook their heads with uniform firmness.
"No way. You're both hurt, you can't fight anymore."
With that, they led the two knights – the twins and Kirby carrying Blade, while Fumu and Bun supported Sword – out and into the elevator. Sword looked over his shoulder. Joe was tiring; Meta Knight was attacking him with renewed ferociousness. Joe ground his teeth.
"Snap out of it already! Carida!"
Carida stood a few feet away, waiting for an opening.
"Just hold him a little longer!"
"Easy for you to say! That sword's sharp!"
Joe swallowed, clamped his gloved hands around Galaxia, and struggled to keep it there.
"Now!"
Carida obliged and ran forward, hands outstretched. Meta Knight glanced over Joe's shoulder, eyes narrowing. The green puffball ran around him and grabbed his arms, immobilising him.
"Kirby!"
"Poyo!"
Kirby dashed forward, soul droplet in his raised paw. Carida and Joe felt Meta Knight freeze. Kirby jumped up and over Joe and landed on Meta Knight, and dropped the golden orb into the mask's opening. The small drop floated there for a moment, then slowly got smaller and smaller. The three watched with bated breath as it shrank, willing it on silently.
All at once, a blast of wind knocked them in four different directions.
"Tenacious brats!"
Carida, Joe and Kirby hit the ground hard.
"Nightmare!"
The voice boomed from all directions.
"I can't believe I underestimated you this much. Carida, you escape your prison, Kirby survives that fall, and the rest of you kill off my sentry! And you even managed to find that."
Joe stood up and pointed a threatening finger overhead.
"That'll teach you to underestimate us in the first place! We're taking Meta Knight back right now!"
"You think so? What if he won't come?"
The three looked across at the knight. He was getting to his feet again, but slowly this time. Kirby hastily got to his feet and tiptoed over to him, his big eyes wide with worry.
"Meda…"
Carida and Joe inhaled sharply.
"Kirby be careful!"
But Kirby paid no heed. He wanted to see his lost friend.
Meta Knight straightened up, and opened his eyes. Kirby stood in front of him, quivering slightly. Nightmare spoke again, in a dangerously soft voice.
"Kill the pipsqueak."
Meta Knight raised his sword again. Carida and Joe cried out.
"Kirby! Run!"
But Kirby stayed where he was, shaking, and gazing at Meta Knight with frightened eyes. Galaxia came down. Kirby shut his eyes tightly. He gave a terrified squeak as the blade struck his head. Then the squeaked turned to one of confusion. Meta Knight had hit him with the flat of the blade.
He opened his eyes again and stared at Meta Knight, dumbfounded.
"Poy…o?"
His head hurt, but only a little. Kirby could feel a bump forming. Meta Knight lowered Galaxia.
"Never let your guard down."
Meta Knight's golden eyes twinkled. Kirby smiled broadly. Carida, Joe and the others in the elevator exhaled deeply.
But suddenly, Meta Knight snapped his eyes shut, shuddering.
"D…damn it."
Galaxia drooped, and fell it the floor. Meta Knight clutched at his head, breathing heavily. The darkness around them somehow became even more oppressive.
"You can't save him with that. I made him in darkness, the darkness in his heart will eat up that soul droplet like it did to the rest."
It took a second for Nightmare's words to sink in. Kirby, Fumu, Bun, the twins and the two knights gasped, and Joe was completely thrown for a loop. Meta Knight was a Star Warrior, wasn't he? How could he be Nightmare's? He glanced at the others. The look on their faces suggested it was news to them too. Carida, she must have known.
"You knew?"
She avoided his eyes. Nightmare laughed at the reaction he had caused.
"He never told you? How selfish of him. He probably thought you wouldn't accept him into your little village if you knew. Pathetic."
They were speechless. But Meta Knight shook his head.
"That's …not true."
He was succeeding in pushing the darkness back. He didn't know how long the soul drop would last, but with his companions here, he knew he had to make it last. He'd never hurt any of them again, as long as he could hold on. Now that his secret was out, he could at least make sure they heard the rest from him, now, not Nightmare.
"I didn't tell you because I'm not his anymore!"
Carida and Kirby smiled. Nightmare scoffed.
"You're not fooling anyone, Star Warrior."
Meta Knight ignored him. He drew Galaxia, its light illuminating Carida and Joe's faces. He gave a start when he saw her clearly.
"Carida, how-? You-"
Carida smiled hastily at him, pleased at being recognised.
"I'll tell you some other time."
"R-Right."
He turned to face the heart of the darkness. Joe, Carida and Kirby ran back to his side.
"Now, Nightmare. Where were we?"
"Take your best shot, little warriors."
Joe leaned in and whispered to Meta Knight.
"What do we do now? He's not exactly a physical thing, I can't hit a shadow."
Meta Knight replied, in equally low tones.
"We'll have to try. It will distract him, until we can think of something better."
"I'll handle him."
The three turned to Carida in surprise. Joe looked at her sceptically.
"You don't have a weapon. What can you do?"
Carida gave a small smile.
"I have a secret art that might work."
Joe and Kirby looked at her blankly. Meta Knight frowned.
"Out of the question, whether it works or not. You shouldn't keep using that. Jecra said so too, remember?"
Carida raised her hands.
"No, it'll be fine, I promise. I won't overdo it."
"No. Leave this to us."
And with that, Meta Knight, Joe and Kirby ran at the darkness.
.. .. ..