Meta Knight didn't sleep that night. Not at all.
But a few hours before the dawn, he drifted into a light slumber. In a way, he was still awake for he could still hear what was going on around him, but it all reached his mind slower. The footsteps that approached him were no exception from that.
Through the fog of subconsciousness, the information that someone was coming in his direction didn't reach his mind until said someone shook him. His eyes snapped open and he literally jumped to his feet, unsheathing Galaxia in the process.
"Whoa, come down, it's just me!," called a familiar voice. Meta realized it was Sir Falspar. The green soldier had risen his hands in a calming gesture, an amused glimmer in his yellow eyes. Meta Knight quickly sheathed Galaxia, fighting back the feeling of embarrassment that had started to rise inside him.
"Arthur wants to see you," Falspar muttered and signaled Meta to follow him.
The green warrior led him through the makeshift camp until they reached a rather large tent. Falspar entered, closely followed by Meta Knight. Gloomy twilight greeted them since the sun hadn't even started to rise yet.
Meta narrowed his eyes and tried to make out who was inside the tent already. Blizzard's white frame was clearly visible, as was Arthur's golden armor. The rather bright silhouette of Nonsurat wasn't hard to identify either. The last shape looked darker, but the ponytail told Meta that it must be Dragato.
The warriors stood around a round table that was covered in several papers. When Falspar and Meta entered, they looked up. Dragato made a disapproving noise and Meta Knight tensed up, but the violet warrior didn't say anything.
Arthur signaled them to come over. They did, and the GSA-leader continued what he had been saying earlier.
"We will land on Kivi today. After getting the Mirror of Shadows, we will find Dark Meta Knight and seal him in it. Questions?"
Dragato looked like he wanted to object, but he remained silent. 'Arthur probably talked to him earlier,' Meta Knight thought.
"What if Nightmare has guards on Kivi?," Nonsurat asked, fiddling with his battle ax nervously.
"Then we will fight them," Blizzard growled, "We're warriors after all."
Arthur nodded: "Just as Blizzard said. N.M.E. may think he got rid of us by destroying the ship, but we will soon show him different!"
Cheers of agreement were heard, but Meta Knight remained silent. 'Do you really know what you're talking about?,' the blue soldier thought bitterly.
The remains of the once powerful GSA marched over planet Kivi with the determination of true warriors. They would fight; to the death if they had to.
For Meta Knight, Kivi held painful memories; Garlude's death, Galacta Knight being sealed away... But it was also the place where he had learned the truth about himself – the fact he wasn't only a demon, but also a true Star Warrior.
"How long until we reach Kabu?," asked Falspar, jerking Meta out of his thoughts. They had refrained from landing anywhere close to the ancient stone so any flying demons wouldn't spot them.
Without answering, Arthur stopped. Blizzard almost crashed into his brother.
"Arthur, what-?," the white prince started and fell silent. The rest of their group stopped as well. A small figure came toward them. The rising sun looked like flames dancing behind it.
"Could it be?," Nonsurat asked quietly.
"Jecra!," someone called from behind, voice vibrating with joy. The warrior with the messy hair approached them with slow steps. Meta's heart felt like a heavy weight had been lifted from it: Jecra was alive!
Then the violet warrior came close enough for the blue puffball to see his face and his joy melted like ice in the sun. Jecra's eyes gleamed maliciously red, an evil aura radiating from him.
A female puffball beside Meta gave a joy filled cry and tried to run toward Jecra. Meta Knight quickly pushed her to the side and she fell to the ground. Calls of surprise came from the GSA, but they soon went silent again.
Demon beasts came flying from behind Jecra, ready to attack the out-numbered soldiers.
"Get into an attack-position!," Arthur yelled, jerking them out of their frozen state. The first demons reached them, but fell under the weapons of the determined warriors. Meta Knight looked at his former friend sadly.
"I'm sorry Jecra. I'm sorry."
Then he jumped at Jecra, closely followed by Blizzard. The two Star Warriors teamed up against Jecra, trying to stop him. Blizzard landed a blow on Jecra's sword arm, but the possessed warrior didn't seem to notice. No matter what injuries they caused the violet warrior, he didn't slow down.
Blizzard jumped in the air. "Sword Be-" But before he could unleash the beam, a giant crow-like demon slammed into him, literally throwing him back to the ground.
Jecra used the opportunity to disappear in the crowd of battling creatures. The crow started to pick the ground, trying to get Blizzard. Meta ran toward the prince, intending to help him, but Blizzard shook his head violently.
Dodging the demon's beak another time, he yelled: "Get the Mirror of Shadows!"
Then the crow caught him, throwing him across the battle-field. Meta's first intention was to disobey him and help anyway, but he knew the mirror was more important. He spun around and ran into the direction of Kabu, but someone stepped in his way. 'Jecra!'
The former GSA-soldier aimed a heavy blow at Meta, but the blue puffball dodged. Galaxia's blade hit Jecra's shield, causing a small shower of sparks and a high pitched noise. Jecra charged at Meta, this time aiming for the Star Warrior's throat. Not even the steel of his mask would protect him from the force.
Nevertheless, Meta dove forward. 'I'm sorry,' he thought and felt how his sword buried itself into Jecra's chest. Bones and muscles gave way under the golden blade, ripped away by the flame-shaped weapon.
Jecra dropped his sword a heartbeat before it pierced Meta Knight's mask, gasping with pain. He fell to his knees, letting go of his shield as well. Meta pulled Galaxia out of the dying opponent. The sacred blade showed no signs of blood, revealing that Jecra had indeed become a demon. Jecra lied on his back by now, eyes half-closed.
"I'm sorry," Meta Knight repeated. Suddenly, Jecra grabbed something on his chest. Slowly, he rose his fist that held a golden amulet. Meta Knight stared at it. Jecra's breath stopped and his hand fell limply to the ground.
The impact with the ground opened the amulet, revealing a small picture. It showed Jecra's son. Meta felt sick; he had just killed the father of this little child.
'I had no choice... Nightmare controlled him,' he told himself and the feeling disappeared. He picked up the amulet, closed it and put it in his cape. If he ever got the chance, he would pass it on to Jecra's son. That was all he could do. Right now, he had a different mission to accomplish.
With a last look at Jecra's dead body, he turned away and ran towards Kabu once more. He could see the ancient stone in the distance already, when he was stopped a second time. A whizzing sound became audible and he spun around just in time to see several kunai fly at him.
He brought up Galaxia and deflected them, but missed one. It pierced his foot and lodged him to the ground. He gasped as pain shot through his body; every little move he made only worsened his ordeal.
Then the ground shook violently; a giant paw stood in front of him. Looking up, Meta's blood ran cold. A massive dragon-demon towered him, casting its shadow over him. And on its head stood no other than...
"Yamikage," he growled at the ninja and winced a second later when the kunai refrained him from moving.
Yamikage chuckled: "Did you miss me?" Meta Knight only snarled.
"You know," the ninja said almost bored, "That dragon could easily burn you to ashes." He jumped down and walked toward Meta Knight with the calmness of a snake preparing to kill.
He got out his katana and continued: "But I wouldn't find any satisfaction in that. I want to be the one to end your life." He stopped a few meters away from Meta Knight and flicked his wrist. The kunai nailing Meta Knight to the ground disappeared in a cloud of smoke and re-appeared in the ninja's hand.
He leaned closer to Meta who had to stop himself from shaking from the pain in his foot: "I want you to fight me to the death."
"Sure," Meta growled and lifted Galaxia, "But it will end with your death, not mine."
'Not while I still have a mission,' he added silently. In the distance, they could hear how the GSA battled the demons, but their own battle-field was silent.
Yamikage charged at Meta, katana outstretched. Meta Knight side-stepped and winced when his foot hurt. Nevertheless he spun around quickly and tried to stab Yamikage's back, but the ninja dodged, jumped and landed behind Meta Knight. A painful blow threw Meta Knight down.
He lied on the dusty ground, panting from pain and exhaustion. It shouldn't end like this...
Suddenly, rage flared up inside the blue puffball – before Yamikage could react, he spun around again and stabbed him. The ninja held his bleeding shoulder hissing in pain.
'Blood... he's acting on his own free will!'
The thought only made Meta angrier. With a rage-filled cry, he charged at the ninja, ignoring his bleeding wound. Yamikage's red eyes narrowed as he dodged and threw a shuriken.
Meta Knight blocked it with Galaxia and continued to run at the ninja, hardly slowing down for his defense-move. Yamikage staggered backwards.
"This isn't over yet," he snarled. Then, both the ninja and the dragon-demon disappeared in clouds of smoke. Galaxia hit the spot where Yamikage had been standing a second earlier; Meta growled in frustration.
'No, it isn't over,' he thought grimly, 'It won't be over until you're dead at my feet, Yamikage.'
He inspected his foot; the kunai had pierced it in a clean line. Should he head back? But what good would that do? He had to get the Mirror of Shadows first.
Gritting his teeth, Meta Knight continued his way. Kabu came closer and closer, looking like a giant hill against the horizon. As usual, a fire burnt in front of the entrance; but something was different.
Meta Knight stopped a few feet away from the stone. The fire looked darker, the flames seeming to crave for a victim to burn. It was odd; as he came closer, he felt no heat coming from the flames, nor could he detect any scent of smoke.
He flexed his muscles, knowing that something was wrong. In the distance, he heard the roll of thunder. A storm was rising.
"Kabu?," he called; no answer. Now really worried, Meta Knight approached the fire in front of the entrance. The flames made hissing sounds and blazed high into the sky, but Meta Knight didn't flinch.
With determined steps, he walked straight into the fire. It merely tickled him as the cold flames danced over his body. Then he had reached the other side.
For a second, everything seemed normal. Then he saw the figure standing in front of the pedestal that was meant for Warpstars. It had its back to him, but obviously knew he had entered. Meta Knight shivered.
"I've been waiting for you," it muttered.
I know it is a bit short, but this was a nice point to split it :3 One more chapter and the epilouge, I think. Still don't own anything^^"
Flamefox2: If one of Kirby's half would be split, it would be a shadow kirby and the split kirby-half, yes :3 Funnily, I liked Dragato a lot, but while writing this, my liking faded...^^"
Tabby Sky Silver: Thanks! :D