After the blinding light of Magolors attack faded, the aftermath of his outburst became clear. Nobody remained on their feet, haven been thrown back by the massive amounts of force in the previous moments. The room had scorch marks scattered here and there. Some of the black marks still crackled with fading power. But the being who had received the full brunt of the attack had been Nightmare. A downside to being so close to Magolor during his fit was that the dark emperor had had no time to defend or evade, and thus had been caught off guard. He had been launched to the back wall of the throne room, and collided with the bricks with crushing force. Nightmare was now slumped against the wall, and was not moving. He had not yet recovered his strength from merging Kirby and Dark Meta Knight souls, and with this added burden the dark emperors mortal form couldn't remain standing. Having been knocked out for the time being, his dark hold on the other three prisoners had faded. Meta Knight and his knaves dropped to the floor and staggered on the spot. While they had not felt the full force of the attack, they had not remained unscathed. Their skin and armor crackled with residual energy. The same could be said about Marx, Yamikage, and Kirby. The remaining Dark Matter drones had been annihilated in the attack.
Magolor once more was curled in on himself, shivering on the floor. With his face buried beneath his hood and scarf, nobody could tell if he had been corrupted by the Dark Matter yet. For the moments after the explosion cleared and everyone was still gathering their bearings, all eyes were locked on the shivering alien, trying to guess what he would do next. But in a move that surprised all, and at the same time was no surprise whatsoever, Marx began snarling. Little jolts of electricity danced across his body as he fought to keep his wrath down. This failed, surprising nobody. His hat had been skewed atop his head, covering one of his eyes. He flailed his head in his pitiful attempt to right it.
"And suddenly I've lost all my patience." Marx hissed, finally managing to throw his hat back into a reasonable position. Before he could take a single step forward, Yamikage stuck an arm out to block his path.
"Take Kirby away. I will clean up here." Yamikage commanded. It was at these words that the stable Light Worlders returned to their senses. Meta Knight was the first to his feet, and took a running dive at Kirby in the hopes of grabbing him before Marx could get his grubby teeth on the child. But before Meta Knight could put a single hand on Kirby, Yamikage intercepted Meta Knights dive with a powerful kick to the side. The knight grunted as he slammed into the wall, and in that moment Yamikage threw Marx a threatening glare. "NOW! We can't afford to lose him!"
Marx had ever intention of arguing that they should switch roles. But his words died in his mouth when he caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. Instead of turning toward the source, Marx decided it was time to get out of dodge. He knew he could always come back later, so long as Kirby was at no risk of being lost to them. In a single movement, Marx had bit down on one of Kirbys new horns, and allowed himself to offer a smarmy little grin towards Sword and Blade, who were barreling down on him.
"Buh-Bye!" Marx cackled between his teeth. Just as Sword and Blade jumped for Kirby, Marx blinked out of existence, teleporting to parts unknown.
And with him, Kirby.
Sword and Blade collided into each other as they hit the floor, both of them grunting in pain as their faces smashed against their helmets. They scrambled to their feet and threw their gazes around with speed, hoping and praying that for a single moment that the last five seconds had not actually happened. Marx was no where to be found, and not even his familiar laughter echoed. Wherever Marx had teleported, it was clear he was no longer around. Swords swear was loud and violent as dread started to overtake her heart. Blade kept quiet, but he felt the same way his fellow knave did.
"He has to be somewhere in the castle." Blade hissed, throwing his glare toward the doors. In a silent moment of agreement, both knaves vaulted for the doors with all intents and purposes of chasing down the bastard jester.
"Not so fast!"
It took only a split second for the room to be thrown into a bright white light, and half that time for the knaves to throw themselves away from the door as a wall of energy erupted from the floor, blocking their exit. Piles of rocks and concrete had been jostled from the blast and now flew threw the air like raining hellfire, which the knaves dodged in a sloppy manner. Yamikage clicked his katana back into its scabbard, the blade still hissing a hot white. Not a moment later, Yamikage had to sidestep an attacking Meta Knight. In the same motion, Yamikage swept to the back of the knight, and planted a strong kick on the center of his back. But Meta Knight would not be made a fool, and as he fell to the floor, managed to slam the heel of his shoe-guard into Yamikages cheek. Yamikage fell to the floor with a hiss of surprise, his cheek purple and bleeding. Meta Knight was already to his feet, and right behind him stood his knaves who stood tall like iron walls. The three Lightworlders shook with their exhaustion, trying to keep their breathing steady so not to tip off their opponent. If Yamikage was wearing out, he hid it well.
A deep laugh echoed across the room. "I don't suppose I could convince you to just give up, now could I?" Yamikage hissed while rising to his feet with all the time in the world. His cheek dripped blood a few drops at a time. He swiped at his cheek, only managing to stain his glove red. Yamikage ignored this. "I can see the exhaustion in your stance. You are weaponless. You are defenseless. Yes, I may be outnumbered;-" With the speed of his title, Yamikages katana was leveled at his enemies. A dangerous glint was in his eyes. "-But you are outmatched!"
It took a single second for Yamikage to cross the distance. Time seemed to slow as he lunged into the air, his katana poised in a downward thrust position. That had been one of the fastest attacks the Star Warrior and his knaves had ever seen, and they made to dodge much too late. By the time it took to dodge, one of them would already have a sheet of metal buried in their chests. Yamikage had been aiming for Meta Knight, so he would be the first slain.
"STOP!"
Nobody had time to turn to the source of the shout before the surrounding area heated up to suffocating levels. A barrage of blue flames came from no where, landing several devastating strikes against Yamikage. The ninja hissed with pain as he was thrown off balance, his attack having been interrupted. Before Yamikage could roll to his feet, he was pelted with wave after wave of blue fire. His skin started to blacken under the painful heat, and even someone as resilient as Yamikage could feel the sharp burn. Meta Knight and his knaves had nearly tripped over each other in their haste to get away from Magolors assault. The reason Magolor was attacking could be for justice, or perhaps for self preservation. If for the latter, the Star Warrior and knaves wanted to seem as little threat as possible to their friend. To their horror, Magolors eyes were still a mismatch of red and yellow. His entire form shook as if he was freezing. Nobody missed the glassy look his eyes held, or the wet shine his cheeks reflected. But the emotion of sadness radiating from Magolor was buried under the fierce anger.
"I'VE HAD ENOUGH! I'M DONE! I'M DONE!" Wave after wave of blue fire was shot forward, and each one cause more pain for the ninja. Every time he tried to dodge, Magolor would find a way to pin him down once more. Yamikages skin was starting to turn a raw red, and yet Magolor did not let up. He continued to scream his built over rage at no one in particular. After another full minute of this onslaught, Magolor finally ceased his attack. Not because he felt Yamikage had had enough, but because he had fallen to the floor in his exhaustion. Magolor was still shivering, and his mumblings were incoherent. On the other side of the room, Yamikage lay smoldering. His skin had just begun to melt away, leaving behind second degree burns all throughout his body. His ninja suit was tattered and in need of repairs. Low groans could be heard from his direction as his mind attempted to come to terms with what just happened. Every few seconds, a sharp spasm of pain rocketed throughout his nerves, increasing the pain for a few second. He made no attempt to stand.
The room was plunged into the loudest silence any of them had ever experienced. If time continued to tick forth, this room was exempt from the motion. Any words that someone might've said died in the back of their throat with the horrible thought of breaking this silence. But time was not on the Light Worlders side, so they could not waste any time. Meta Knight took a cautious step toward Magolor, and felt like cringing when the click of his show guards swallowed the room in its sudden noise. But he could not stop. Meta Knight took a few more cautious steps forward. Magolor did not stir, and his ramblings continued. When his knaves tested the waters with their own steps forward, Meta Knight held up a hand to halt their movements. If Magolor was a threat, he didn't want all three of them to be caught in any attack he might try. Sword and Blade wanted nothing more to argue against this silent command, but their respect for Meta Knight quieted any arguments. A few more padded steps, and Meta Knight was at Magolors side. Even though Meta Knight was but a few inches from Magolors side, the aliens ramblings still made little sense. But now was not the time to dwell on this. He need to see if his friend was compromised.
"Magolor." Meta Knights tone was that of speaking to a frightened animal. Which, the knight made note of, was exactly how Magolor was behaving right now. These next few moments needed to be handled with the utmost care. Which is why when Magolors violent shaking ceased in a heart beat, Meta Knight felt his skin prickle. He was ready to get away at a moments notice, choosing to remain poised to dodge just in case Magolor struck out. In a stark contrast to the quick moment of his stillness, Magolor raised his eyes toward Meta Knight. They were still broken. Duel shades of red and yellow fought for dominance.
"Help-" That was the only work Magolor was able to speak, for a seconds later a wet cough came forth, rattling Magolors very core. Magolor heaved, and a disgusting gray-yellow liquid with the consistency of gruel exited his mouth and splattered across the floor, only inches from Meta Knights shoe guards. Vomiting was one of the symptoms of fighting the Dark Matter, and Magolor was putting up one hell of a fight.
The moment the bile left his hidden mouth, Sword and Blade scurried toward the duo. They were smart enough to keep their foot fall light and not to rush head long at Magolor, lest he feel threatened. Before Sword or Blade came to a stand still, Meta Knight was already moving. He padded around the icor to stand at Magolors front. Magolor no longer looked up toward Meta Knight, but now had his eyes toward the floor. His trembling had returned, but his muttering was more intelligible now. He continued to beg for help. By time Sword and Blade stood at attention and awaiting orders, Meta Knight had assisted Magolor to a shakey hover, for the alien was having a difficult time rising into the air on his own. Magolor leaned all his weight against Meta Knight, but if this threw the knights balance off in any way, he did not show it. Magolor stared into nothingness as the battle in his mind waged.
"We have to get him out of here. To Dreamland." Sword hissed, her posture in a defensive position lest something or someone try to attack her. "We'll go to Drawcia and explain the situation. We'll make her understand." Both Sword and Blade threw their desperate glances at Meta Knight.
"I agree. Take Magolor away from this place. But I will remain behind. Kirby is still lost and I will not leave without him." This time, Sword and Blade glanced between each other. Behind their masks, they were cringing. Even without being able to see their faces, Meta Knight knew something was wrong. He did not call them out on it, however. Instead, he decided to wait and see if his knaves would make their uneasiness known. It was Blade who spoke first, almost a full five seconds later.
"Sir...this mission has failed." He mumbled, unable to look his lord in the eye. Meta Knights heart clenched for a moment at these words, but he forced himself to stay calm. Before he could respond, Sword chimed in. She spoke in a breathless manner, tipping the knight off that she had spoken only to keep him from doing so.
"We don't know where Kirby is, and with what...whatever Nightmare did to him, he's more than likely compromised. We don't even know where Dedede is, and the Dark Matter are crawling around. Plus, Magolor is unstable right now. Yamikage was right, we are badly outmatched." Swords hands were balled into fists. Behind her mask, her teeth were clenched. She had to get Meta Knight to understand. "We need to retreat for now. Come back with the GSA and fight them on even terms." Behind his mask, Meta Knight chewed his lip, just praying that some sort of idea would present itself. An idea that would make it known that this mission hadn't ended in a colossal failure. But none did. His hope was waning, but he couldn't get himself to give up.
"There is still the chance that-"
"-That you could throw your life away on a final, suicidal attempt to save Kirby and Dedede, right?" At this bold accusation from Sword, Meta Knight actually flinched before looking her dead in the eyes. Even Blade found himself surprised at Swords outburst. But Sword did not show any discomfort under the gaze of her teacher or friend. In fact, it seemed to empower her to continue. "Sir Meta Knight, do you remember the promise you made Fumu?" The chill in her voice could've brought the collective temperature in the room down. The knight did not respond at first, and it almost seemed like he wasn't going to respond. But before Sword could ask her question again, Meta Knight spat the answer out. It tasted bitter on his tongue.
"I would not sacrifice myself to win the day." Swords only response to this was a slow, serious head nod. Still she did not look away from Meta Knight. A deep frown crossed the old knights face when he realized he had been backed into a corner. Either option; fighting or retreating, would have bitter results. But which was the lesser evil? Desperate to get his mind to make a choice, Meta Knight tore his eyes from Sword, and towards Magolor. It seemed the alien had started to drift off on the knights arm. Meta Knight would think the alien asleep, if not for the fact his breathing was much too fast. His eyelids were cracked just a fraction as well, and the red still battled the yellow. Meta Knight could've sworn there was less yellow than before.
All hearts stopped for a collective second when a groan behind the group sounded off. All heads swiveled towards the noise, and to the horror of them all, Nightmare was shifting. It didn't seem like he was awake just yet, but the pitiful noise made it known he would be soon. Once more, Meta Knight turned his eyes towards Magolor. And then towards the door. He felt as if his heart would burst with apprehension. A choice needed to be made, and needed to be made now.
"Clear the rubble from the door." Meta Knight said with a nonchalant tone. A mirror opposite of what he was feeling inside. Sword and Blade swapped skeptical glances, but Meta Knight would put their worries at ease. He sucked in a sharp breathe, and the sudden, intense smell of Dark Matter and bile made his stomach heave. "We will make our escape, and return with reinforcements as swiftly as possible." Sword and Blade nodded once, before sprinting into action. Meta Knight had never seen the knaves move so fast or so in sync. It was no surprise that the task Meta Knight assigned them was completed in only a few minutes. The four moved as quick as possible out of the throne room, although their speed was cut in half with Magolor being unable to carry his own weight. His other side had been draped over Blades shoulder for extra support, but still their speed was minimal.
Out in the hall, everything seemed exactly the same as it had been before. The black blood had fizzled and ruined anything it had touched, and the red blood stained the exotic white walls a brutal pink. Stomachs rolled when all three looked up for a split second, only to look away in disgust when they noticed the dead body of Tokorri was still plastered to the wall. Sword made quick work of prying the shrunken from the wall, and laying the bird down on the ground. No one deserved that. The door which they had made their grand entrance was stained with a bit of red blood, but otherwise would still make an acceptable escape route. Elsewhere, the group was relieved to see the weapons were still scattered around, which they gathered into their possession post haste. Sword kept hers drawn while the duo in charge of Magolor sheathed theirs. Only one weapon remained unclaimed, and it lay right next to a bloody blue rag. Blade looked it over with a cringe to his face.
"What about Bandana?" He mumbled, already knowing the answer. Meta Knight shook his head.
"I wouldn't even begin to know where to search for him." Meta Knight replied, his tone as soft as Blades had been. The familiar feeling of betrayal clenched his heart. Just like in days past, Meta Knight remembered having to leave wounded war brethern behind for the sake of a mission. Choosing to leave them to die, or to be taken captive in favor of completing the task. People always believed that the heroes worked by the motto of 'Leave No Man Behind!', but sometimes, one life was not worth trading for thousands, millions, or billions. As this thought ran through his mind, Meta Knight felt a wave of nausea hit, knowing that he was saving his one life and risking thousands, millions, billions, trillions in return. He clamped his eyes closed, and forced his mind to return to present times. The act left him with a headache. Once Meta Knight opened his eyes, he realized Sword and Blade were waiting for instructions. But really, what could he say, but: "We will return for him as well. Bandana is strong and will endure." Yes, Bandana was strong. But could he hope to be strong enough against three of the worst monsters in this universe? Meta Knight didn't speak this thought out loud, though. Instead, he motioned for them to continue. "We can make our escape through the barracks." His knaves nodded their understanding, and they were off. Or they would be, If Magolor hadn't begun resisting Meta Knight and Blades pull. The duo almost fell forward with the sudden weight shift, but for Magolors sake managed to remain upright. All eyes were thrown towards the alien with curiosity, and horror. Magolor ignored all three of them, instead letting his eyes linger on the bloodied blue bandana discarded on the floor. Once more, Blade and Meta Knight tried to coax Magolor forward, but he resisted the pull once more.
"Magolor...?" Blade spoke, trailing off when he realized he had no idea what to say.
"Where..." Magolor lifted his sick eyes toward the trio, one after another. Behind the sickness, he held the expression of a child who lost their mother in the mall. His voice matched this as well. Before finishing his though, Magolor returned his eyes toward the rag. "Wh-where's Bandana?" Nobody responded as Magolor began casting his sad glances around once again. The trio looked between themselves with apprehension, unsure of how Magolor would react to the truth. The way Magolor was looking around like a wounded puppy made it clear that Magolor was just now realizing Bandana was not with them. Which meant he must not remember Bandana being on the edge of death, or being taken prisoner by Marx Soul. In his critical state, perhaps a lie would be easier to take.
"He's outside." Meta Knight spat out.
"There's blood on his bandana." Before Meta Knight could even form a response, Magolor began to shift in his hold, as well as Blades. The duo fought to keep the alien upright, but Magolor continued to resist them. He wasn't falling, he was attempting to get away from them. "Where's Bandana?!" His voice had taken on shouting levels, and anyone conscious in this section of the castle would pick up on the echo. Meta Knight could've bit a hole through his tongue in horror.
"Magolor, you must keep your voice down!" Meta Knight hissed. At this mention, Magolor became more aggressive in his attempt to escape. Blade and Meta Knight were no longer just trying to keep the alien upright, but trying to keep him still and quiet as well. As his anger grew and focus faded, his eyes took on more and more red. The trio all noticed this, and all expressed some form of agitation. From a sharp curse to a gruff exhale.
"Damnit Magolor, calm down!" Sword spat, making sure her own voice wasn't too loud. She danced on the spot, looking this way and that. With the noise Magolor was making, she was sure someone was going to barrel down on them any minute now. "Someone's going to hear him!" Sword said this to Meta Knight and Blade, who could only pay her minimal attention at the moment.
"LET GO, LET ME GO!" Magolor bellowed, his voice so loud it cracked. He hissed and frothed, but the only progress that was made was the progression of the Dark Matter taking hold of him. In a stroke of luck for Magolor, he was able to pull away from the duo for only a few seconds, but before he could float a single step forward, was promptly pinned to the ground by an impatient Sword. If the alien was healthy, he would've been able to make an escape right then and there, but with his body being weakened, he could do nothing but squirm and scream. And he did both with urgency. "WHERE IS HE? WHERE IS HE?!" He cried with all his might. The trio were growing more and more frantic by the second to get Magolor to quiet down. They couldn't speak over him, and showing this much aggression towards him was just driving him closer to corruption. Nobody wanted to hurt him, for they knew Magolor wasn't in his right mind right now. Hysteria was another symptom, after all. It was only when Magolors screaming fit morphed from coherent words to unintelligible and primal banshee calls, did Meta Knight decide this nonsense would stop and would stop now.
"I will find him!" Meta Knight barked, bringing the clatter to a sudden stand still with its echo. Sword, Blade, and Magolor all looked upon Meta Knight with different expressions. Meta Knight felt a bit uneasy under the sudden and brutal eyes, but continued to speak. "I will find...Bandana. Alright Magolor?" He spoke with a soothing tone, hoping to appease Magolor into simmering down. The look on the aliens face was unreadable, but behind their helmets, Sword and Blade wore looks for dread.
"Sir?" Sword spat with an incredulous tone.
"Sword, get off of Magolor. Both of you, help him rise." Sword and Blade could only throw each other confused glances as they did what they were told. Sword sheathed her weapon before assisting her partner into getting Magolor to his nonexistent feet. Not once did Magolor take his eyes off of Meta Knight, but to the knights relief, the red was starting to recede as Magolor regained his focus. Only when Sword and Blade both supported a side of Magolor did Meta Knight continue to speak. Before rising, Magolor had clutched onto Bandana's bloody head rag like a security blanket."I will search for Bandana, and meet you three in the paint dimension when I have him." Sword spat out a few letters as she tried to form a simple response, but nothing came forth. Before her sputterings could become coherent questions, Meta Knight continued. "Take the Dee escape route out of here. Without Bandana you will have to rely on muscle memory. The other exits will be guarded as Yamikage mentioned, so only escape through the beach, understand?" Blade could only offer a numb nod. But Sword would have none of that. She inhaled a sharp breath, but before she could, Meta Knight took a step to her side, so that he was only inches from her ear. "I will remain behind for twenty minutes to give you three a head start. Then I will make my own escape." Meta Knight spoke in a breathless whisper that only Sword could hear. In a mirror move of Blade, Sword could only offer a dumb nod as she heard Meta Knights clever, if not conniving plan. Meta Knight took a step backwards, and turned his eyes toward Magolor. Still, Magolor kept the expressionless gaze at Meta Knight. If the alien wasn't going to say anything, it was time to get the plan into action. "The three of you, get moving." Sword and Blade nodded, and all four of the Lightworlders turned toward the Dee barrack door. But the new sight in front of them dropped a rock in all their stomachs.
The door was beginning to corrode into black smoke.
"They heard us." Blade mumbled, realizing the Dark Matter who had been trailing them before must've been close enough to pick up on Magolors screams. In an action that was becoming more and more common, Meta Knight let out a low curse towards fate. The barracks was a no go now, which left their only known option of escape useless. He threw his frantic eyes this way and that, trying to figure out where they could go. But the action was pointless, for Meta Knight had no idea where they were. When the door emitted a sudden cracking noise, the knight realized he didn't care where they went, so long as it was away from the Dark Matter.
"This way. Hurry!" The four barreled around the corner and away from the door as fast as their legs could carry them. Magolor tried to support his own weight as best as possible, but still felt too faint to move without support. Their chosen path led them into a straight shot, and nary a door or window presented itself. Which meant that if anyone was approaching the way they were going, it'd be a choice between facing the new threat or facing the Dark Matter. Nobody tried to think of that possibility, though the fear was still very much there.
Another booming crack filled the air, and the knight knew that they had only seconds before the Dark Matter swarmed. But still no where to hide presented itself. At least no in the form of a normal door or window. A brown speck on the floor made itself known, and the closer the Lightworlders came, the easier it was to recognize that this brown speck was in fact a trap door! It could either be a door into a sort of cellar or storage, or perhaps an escape route to the outside world. Either way, it was a way out of this hallway. Meta Knight gripped the iron handle, and threw the latch open with little care for the woods health. It seemed the door had been locked before, but the dingy thing was no match for a Star Warriors adrenaline charged strength. Being careful not to let go of their charge; Sword, Blade, and Magolor started down the stairs first. Their pace was quick, if not a bit unsure. Meta Knight grabbed the handle on the opposite side of the latch, and slammed it shut. Not five seconds later, the eruption of splintered wood echoed throughout the halls. Fate certainly was a fickle mistress. Meta Knight let his hand linger on the handle for a few more seconds, not really believing that they had beaten the Dark Matter by mere seconds. His breathing was a bit shaky, as was the breathing of the other three Lightworlders. From adrenaline, exhaustion, and terror, no doubt. The sound of their ragged breathe was the only way Meta Knight could tell where his charges were, for the room was darker than Dark Matter. The knight blinked a few times, trying to at least see a few inches in front of his face. But yet, nothing. Not even the soft glow of his eyes helped, for it seemed this darkness swallowed up any light. Deciding to keep a hold of the handle, just to have one bearing in this dark and dank place, Meta Knight swiveled toward the other three. Or at least where he thought they were.
"Is there a light switch?" He asked in a low whisper, unsure of where the Dark Matter were at this time. They could be anywhere right now. They could even be moving away from them right now. But if the luck of this mission meant anything, Meta Knight wasn't taking any chances. He heard a few grunts, and the sound of gravel being rustled. He had no idea what was going on, but figured that if his knaves were not causing a scene, they were the cause of the noise itself. Next, Meta Knight heard a soft padding noise, which he guessed was either Sword or Blade patting the wall in search of a light switch. A low grumble of annoyance sounded off, which could only be from Sword. About a minute later, she let out a triumphant aha!, before flicking on the overhead lights. Meta Knight blinked his eyes as they adjusted from pure darkness to this new source of light. It was a pitiful light, casting everything in a sickly yellow glow. From his own self, to his knaves, to Magolor,
To the two dozen or so Waddle Dees.
Mirror Dee's and Lightworlders stared each other down for what felt like eons. Both parties held wall-eyed expressions of confusion. But while the Lightworlders were just confused, the Dee's held a look of trepidation to boot. They all cowered into the farthest corner with arms spread. Their tiny bodies shivered, and Meta Knight couldn't tell if it was from the chill in the air, or from fear. Probably both.
"What the hell..." Sword mumbled, an incredulous look on her face and a posture to match. She expected the Dark Matter to phase through the wall before she expected to be face to face with a bunch of gray Waddle Dee's. She looked back to Meta Knight, and then at Blade. Both held deer-in-the-headlight expressions, unsure of how to proceed. Just as she was about to turn her eyes forward once, a slight grunting noise caught her attention. Turning toward Magolor, Sword was already preparing to pounce on the idiot alien if he tried being stupid again. (Okay, she knew that was rude. But this day sucked, and she wasn't in the mood to play babysitter.) This time, though, Magolor just repositioned himself from where he had been sat against the wall. Now supporting himself with one hand, he raised the other to point at nothing in particular. His eyes drooped to the floor.
"Marx..." He croaked out, his voice sounding very much like he needed a drink of water. But despite this, he continued to speak. He did not notice the Dee's collectively cease their shivering at the name, only to replace it with a wide eyed horror that outmatched their fear from before. "Marx said that...he put Bandana with the other Dee's..." He nodded to himself, as if confirming his own memories. Both his pointed finger and his eyes locked onto the group of Dee's. "Wh-Where is he?" Magolors eye skittered across the group, trying to pick out a spot of red in the sea of grey. The Dee's all shared confused looks, as if not knowing what Magolor was talking about. If that was the case, then Bandana wasn't down here. The knaves and knights realized Magolor might throw another fit if this was the case, and the way Magolor was becoming more and more frantic, they probably had a minute or two left before meltdown. Behind his mask, Meta Knight ground his teeth with apprehension. He did not blame his friend a single bit for what was happening to him, but damn it all if it still wasn't infuriating! Deciding that Magolor's random mumblings weren't progress the search, Meta Knight stepped up. He removed his hand from the handle, and descended the ladder, taking extra care not to seem like a threat to the frightened Dee's.
"Did Marx happen to bring another Waddle Dee down here? A red one?" When the Dee's offered no reaction or response, Meta Knight knew he had to try harder. "He came with us to this world. He is our friend." Meta Knight pointed to the blue rag in Magolors hand. "That is his bandana, which is why my friend referred to him as such." Meta Knight tucked his hand back into his cape. "We just want to take him home."
The Dee's did not move from where they cowered, instead deciding to share glances with each other. Meta Knight could not read the expression on their face, but narrowed it down to either curiosity or doubt. Not a sound permeated the air, even with the the voices of twenty four discussing amongst themselves. The act of waiting was leaving Meta Knight a bit reckless, and he fought to avoid fidgeting on the spot with his growing discomfort. Meta Knight offered his own sidelong glance toward his comrades. The three of them watched the Waddle Dee's with interest. Knowing they had no information to offer the knight for the time, Meta Knight returned his sights to the Dee's. After a while still of the dead silence, all twenty four pairs of eyes swiveled toward Magolor with lazer precision. The act was sudden and unannounced. The alien did not so much flinch under the sudden assault. But he reacted with a slight shiver, as did the other three, when the air in the room seemed to chill all of a sudden. It was less cold, but more somber and sad. And the looks on the Dee's faces mirrored this.
Like the Red Sea, the Dee's parted to reveal the far corner of the room. Magolor could not repress a cry of alarm at the sight tainting his eyes, nor could the other three hold back a flinch or sharp sigh. A pitiful red form lay discarded in the corner. Dried blood surrounded a fresh blood wound through its back, though it was scabbing over to say the least. The process was not yet complete, for the figure still bled, drip by drip. Looking at this red thing too fast would trick the viewer into thinking the object was still, but a collected eye would catch the subtle rise and fall of its chest. Bandana was a pitiful thing right now. He lay on his stomach, but used his arms to prop his face up. The action was weak, and his arms shook under the strain. Bandana's eyes were open, but just a crack. The little bit of black that was noticeable seemed to be a faded gray, like the very light was fading within him.
Magolor and Bandana lay for the longest time, just observing each other with horror and sorrow. It was as if the duo had forgotten the other presences surrounding them. Nothing could've prepared the other for the sight that now tainted their eyes. The sight of their best friend in so much unrelenting pain. But the stillness would be broken by Magolor, and in an impatient way. He started clawing at the wall in an effort to find some sort of clutch. In an slow speed that ate away precious time, Magolor begin to rise off the ground. Millimeter by precious millimeter he rose, and not one fraction of his ascent was graceful or balanced. Sword and Blade both offered assistance, but with an unintelligible grunt, Magolor shrugged them off. On the other side of the room, Bandana had heaved his feet under him, and started his own rise. The Dee was the first too his feet, but this was not something to celebrate, for the action had Bandana's head spinning. A nameless Dee caught Bandana before he could topple. After this brief assistance, Bandana accepted no more help.
It took all the time in the world, but soon Magolor and Bandana were both standing tall, only in part to support from the wall. Both figures were hunched and crooked, and the slightest puff of air could throw them off balance. Perhaps it was this reason why the room held a collective breathe, just waiting for either Magolor or Bandana to make the first move. Nobody could guess what would happen next, and nobody was sure they wanted to know what came next. It was only when Magolors breathing quickened for a few seconds did everyone know he was about to speak.
"Y-You..." Magolor coughed with fury, and the process almost sent him back onto the floor. Both Sword and Blade tried offering help again, but Magolor waved them off. His throat felt dry and cracked, and talking was no easy task. After a moment of this, he cleared his throat before rising once again, meeting his broken eyes with Bandanas faded ones. "You..." His eyes smirked. "You've got something...all over y-your stomach."
Bandana tried his hardest, but could not keep the humor off of his face. Bandana had his own comeback in mind, and was about to poke fun at Magolors eyes, but he was cut off in the worst possible way. A harsh choke of breathe sounded from Magolor as every trace of happiness left his face. Sadness and regret took over in an instant, and the weight of both these feelings dropped Magolor to the floor. It took both hands to keep him from collapsing totally. Not once did Magolor take his eyes off of Bandana, but in fact kept them trained right on the horrendous gash on his stomach. Bandanas quip died when Magolor began choking on his tears. Only thoughts of comforting his friend filled his mind now. The Dee attempted to take a step forward, but the action was sloppy, almost drunk like. His friend was only a few meters away, but the short walk seemed like miles right now. Like Magolor before, Bandana shrugged away any help with stubborn intent. His pace was a near standstill, and he tripped over everything and nothing with each step. Just as he reached the halfway point, Bandana once more tripped over a loose stone on the floor, and was set flying onto his face. Or he would've been, if a pair of hands did not reach out and catch him. Bandana tilted his eyes ups to see that Magolor had rushed Bandana, not being able to stand seeing his friend fall all over himself anymore. The sudden action sent both Magolor and Bandanas heads rolling, and the duo ended up slumping onto each other for shared support. But that didn't matter to either. The only thing that mattered was that they had their best friend back, and that the other was alive.
"I'm so sorry." Magolor sniffled between hiccups. His entire form shook, but it didn't seem he noticed. Bandana shook his head, and gave Magolor the same pitiful and apologetic look that Magolor held. Both apologized in their own way for what had happened to the other, and both blamed themselves for it. The only sound in the room was Magolors muffled wailing, and the sound shattered every heart present. All other eyes were downcast, hoping to give Bandana and Magolor as much privacy as possible in this tiny room.
Magolor continued to mumble his apologizes between his bouts of tears. Combined with his cracked throat and possession, speaking was a monumental task. Bandana continued to shake his head, having no other way to express all of his bitter emotions than that one, somber movement. He tried readjusting his stance so he could look Magolor square in the eye, but the moment this action was achieved, Bandana collapsed forward, as if he had lost consciousness for a few seconds. Magolor gasped as Bandana fell, and attempted to catch his friend. But he could not support himself and Bandana, and both tumbled to the floor.
"C-come on Bandana. We need to go." Magolor whispered, not bothering to hide the shakiness. "We're gonna...we're gonna get out of here. And we're gonna go back to Dreamland. A-and we'll get you healed up." Magolor nodded with speed, trying to adjust his friend so that he could look Bandana in the eye. Magolor had to hold back another gasp when he got a good look at Bandanas face, now noticing that his friend had grown pale in a matter of seconds. A new emotion entered Magolors eyes. Fear.
"N-nononono!" He spat, his eyes growing in size as Bandana took a turn for the worse. Magolor began to panic as he looked around the bare room for something, anything, that could help Bandana. His eyes drifted to his hand, which still held Bandanas namesake with a white-knuckled grip. In a last ditch effort, Magolor heaved Bandana up against the wall, using every ounce of his energy for the simple action. With Magolor now free to move, he started tying the cloth around Bandana's circumference, hoping to preserve just a few drops of blood for the Dee who so desperately needed it. But just as Magolor was about to bring the rag all the way around, Bandana lifted up an arm. The action was so frail that it seemed the tiny red arm could disintegrate at any moment. Bandana set his paw on top of Magolors quivering hand, and pushed it away. The rag fluttered away from Bandana and onto the floor. Magolor could've passed out at the action. "D-don't do that, B-bandana. I...I need to...y-you're...you can still be saved." He said the last part much too fast, as if the thought had rushed through his mind and he clung to it with his very life. With so much desperation in his eyes, Magolor turned towards the knaves and Meta Knight. The three had tore their eyes from the floor, and gave Magolor a somber look. Even though Sword and Blades eyes were hidden, you could tell they were thinking the unspeakable. Meta Knights eyes were more readable, and were a deep blue.
"H-he can...he can still be saved." This was as much as a statement as it was a question. Magolor threw his glance toward all three multiple times, hoping one of them would reaffirm his thought that Bandana could be saved. But nothing of the sort happened. And even with Magolor knew that nobody was going to back him up, he continued to beg for the reaffirmation nonetheless. The only reason he ceased this action was when the flutter of fabric kissed his hand. Magolor whipped his head back toward Bandana, who had bent down and retrieved the fallen blue clothe. He held it out toward Magolor. In the time Magolor had looked away from Bandana, the Dee had become white, and his wound dripped with less and less speed. The fact the gash wasn't bleeding as much did not ease Magolors mind in the slightest. For a few seconds, Magolor just stared at the rag with an empty expression, but realization hit soon enough, and it hit hard. With great speed, he shook his head, and pushed the blue cloth back toward Bandana. "I can't take this!" He barked a bit loud. Once more, Bandana held out his hand, rag and all. Magolor did not push the hand away, but he didn't take the bandana either. He eyed the blue rag like it was poison incarnate. "Don't..." The words died on his lips with the pleading look in Bandanas eyes. Magolor tried resisting once more, but he found his voice had vanished. He could not keep his hands still as he clutched the bandana in his hand. They lingered for a few seconds before Bandana relinquished his hold. The moment this happened, Bandana lunged forward, and locked Magolor in another hug. Magolor returned it, being as gentle as he could as not to disturb Bandanas wound. Magolor wanted to say something to fill the awful silence, but his heart burned too much, and any words he tried to speak came out in a ragged sigh. Magolor shut his eyes instead, and just let the tears fall.
And then, something changed. At first, it wasn't noticeable, but Magolor found Bandana slumping downward a few centimeters every second. Magolor paid no attention to this, and just figured that Bandana had lost his footing. When Magolor tried to adjust his hold on Bandana, a cold rush of shock flooded his veins with his discovery. The shallow and pain filled rise and fall of the Dee's chest had ceased entirely.
It had happened.
Bandana had passed on.
Magolors mind and body entered a full on panic. He began to hyperventilate as realization dawned on him, and his world began to spin. In a tiny moment of clarity, Magolor was able to sit Bandana against the wall, and prayed to every deity that he could recall that this was all just a bad dream. It had only been a few seconds, but Bandana had changed in subtle ways. His wound bled no more, and instead of a pale color, he looked a sickening yellow. Magolor felt bile rising in the back of his throat, and was at risk of passing out himself. He continued to stare down at his tiny friend.
When a sudden pressure was placed on the small of his back, Magolor did not push them away this time. He pried his eyes away from Bandana to look at the new arrival. Meta Knight offered Magolor a gaze that was filled to the brim with pity. His eyes were back to yellow, but Meta Knight felt anything but calm. Magolor turned his eyes for a split second towards the knaves, and was surprised to see that Blade had turned away from the scene and removed his helmet. His palm swept at his eyes every few seconds. Sword still wore her helmet, and was speaking in muted tones toward Blade. She had a hand on his back, and leaned in close to her brother in arms. Her shoulders bobbed with every inhale of breathe.
Magolor returned his eyes toward Meta Knight, whom had moved his gaze toward Bandana. His gold eyes were a faded color now as he paid his last respects to the brave Waddle Dee. Magolor once more looked toward his friend, and the moment his eyes came to a halt, Magolor burst into another crying fit. He slumped to the ground, no longer having the energy to keep himself standing. He pressed the bloodied rag to his chest like a security blanket. His wailing's were the saddest noise anyone had heard in the longest time. This lasted for a few minutes, until Magolors fit started to fade into weak snivels and hiccups. Magolor had no energy left. With everything that had happened today, and was happening at the moment, it left the poor alien physically and mentally exhausted. He wanted to sleep almost more than anything in the world. But Magolor knew that he could not sleep yet, for they were all still in danger. He tried to float, but found his muscles would not respond to his command. To make matters worse, he found himself drifting toward sleep, even though he knew he needed to stay awake. Magolor began to whimper with fear at what was happening, afraid that he too would cease to be.
"Magolor." His name had been whispered with such softness, that at first Magolor hadn't realized Meta Knight was the one who spoke. With the last bit of his energy, Magolor tilted his head toward Meta Knight, pleading with his broken eyes for help. Meta Knight did not say, but the red in Magolors eyes had faded the smallest amount. Knowing Meta Knight had Magolors attention, he continued to speak, choosing his words with careful consideration. "You will be okay."
Magolors head swayed as the weight of Meta Knights words crushed him. The words he had hopped would be uttered for Bandana were instead being spoken to him. It twisted and tormented his heart, and it felt as if it shattered into a thousand shards. Even though these words burned him, they also brought a sense of comfort and peace, knowing he could still make it to the end of the day.
With these words drifting in and out of his mind, Magolor blacked out.
Magolors rapid breathing took a few moments to slow, and when it did it seemed as if the alien had just fallen into a light slumber, instead of losing total consciousness. Whether it was another side effect of battling the Dark Matter, or the weight of today's events crashing down on Magolor all of sudden, no one could say. But everyone could guess.
The silence was not allowed to linger, for Meta Knight began to move only seconds after Magolor drifted off. Without a word for the time being, Meta Knight lifted Magolor off the cold ground with little effort. Meta Knight couldn't help but be surprised at how light Magolor was, but did not speak this thought out loud. The old knight hoisted Magolor onto his back, carrying the sleeping alien in a piggyback style. With this done, he turned towards his knaves. Blade once again wore his helmet, and Sword no longer shook with her repressed sadness. Both stood at attention, and awaited orders. Meta Knight opened his mouth to speak, but the only noise to escape was a low sigh. His heart burned so much, and the guilt plagued his mind with a harsh intensity. He almost envied Magolors sleep, if not for the circumstances with which it was caused. Meta Knight hated what he was going to say next, but it needed to be said.
"We must move on." He spat, forcing himself to look his knaves in the eyes. Instead of a response, the duo drifted their gazes toward Bandana. Meta Knight pleaded with the stars that they would not ask about the body. They had know that they could not carry it back. A body without a soul was nothing but extra weight, and with him supporting Magolor, they were out a swordsman. Blade turned to him first, and Meta Knight clenched his teeth.
"What about...what about them." He motioned behind Meta Knight. The knight turned his head to peek over his shoulder, and was met with the eyes of twenty some Waddle Dee's, all looking at him with the same questioning look. Meta Knight opened and closed his mouth, but no words left. He turned toward Blade, then the Dee's, and back again as his mind raced with ideas. It would be nigh impossible to escort two dozen plus Waddle Dees out of the castle without being spotted, but he could not, in good conscious, just leave them to face Marx once again. He had seen them react with the violent twitch when Magolor had mentioned the bastards name, and he knew that Marx could not be doing anything pleasant to them. Meta Knight ground his teeth as no solution presented itself. His mind was blank. He just did not know what to do. Meta Knights train of thought was about to crash, but something else happened first. One of the Waddle Dee's tapped the knight on the pauldron, catching his attention. When Meta Knight glanced its way, the Dee pointed toward the trapdoor. Meta Knights expression was blank for the time being. One after another, all the Dee's began pointing toward the door, and looking the knight square in the eye. Realization dawned on Meta Knight, and when it hit home what the Waddle Dees were implying, he raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"You would surrender yourselves to Marx to let us escape?" Meta Knight questioned. All the Dee's nodded, some more convincing than others. Meta Knight glanced back at his knaves, who seemed just as shocked as their lord. As much as Meta Knight wanted to argue with the Waddle Dee's, and tell them how foolish they were being, he knew that he needed to take the first chance of escape he could get.
And this was the first chance.
Meta Knight sucked in a sharp breathe, and clenched the guilt that bloomed in his chest. He adjusted his hold on Magolor, before offering a curt nod. "One way or another, we will kill that demon. If we cannot save you all in time, please know that one day Marx will no longer draw breathe. For you, and for Bandana, this I swear." Before the Dee's could offer a response, Meta Knight turned towards his knaves. "Let us depart. Perhaps if we are lucky, Marx will be elsewhere and Yamikage and Nightmare will still be unconscious." Meta Knight could've almost laughed at at the thought of relying on luck. It had done nothing good for them, and Meta Knight was sure it would continue to be their enemy. Meta Knight offered one last nod toward the Dees, before starting up the ladder, using one arm to support Magolor, and the other to clutch the wooden bars. He glanced towards his knaves. "We will try to descend another floor, and escape through a window. There, we will snake around and make our way back to the portal." Of course, Meta Knight had no idea how they were going to get through the portal, seeing as it was more than likely still fifty some feet in the air. But Meta Knight pushed this thought from his mind. First thing was first; Getting out of this wretched castle.
Once at the top of the ladder, Meta Knight place a hand against the trapdoor. He sucked in a sharp breathe, and let it out with control. He prayed and prayed to the stars above that the hallway beyond them would be clear of enemies. It just had to be. Meta Knight let himself take another controlled breathe. He would take a quick glance around to determine if it was safe or not to move on. A small peek couldn't alert anything to their presence, so long as it was a small peek. With this confidence in mind, Meta Knight eased the trapdoor up by centimeters.
Only to have it ripped out of his hand seconds later.
"No longer draw breathe, huh?!"
A sharp jolt of pain traveled through Meta Knights body as a steel toe was slammed into the center of his mask, sending him crashing down the ladder. Sword and Blade had reacted fast enough to catch the duo of Meta Knight and Magolor, and prevent them from having a messy spill. But the reaction had sacrificed dexterity for speed, and the knaves grunted with pain as their bones locked. Once the suddenness of the situation passed, the knaves and knight were finally able to see who had attacked them. Swords colorful curse spoke for everyone.
"Word of advice. Ripping the lock out of the trapdoor is anything but subtle." Marx said with a smarmy tone of voice. The condescending look on his face filled everyone with a burning fire. He strolled down the stairs with not a care in the world. But Marx was not the only one to enter the cellar. Behind him, King Dedede made himself known. The Lightworlders and Waddle Dees backed up as Marx and King Dedede advanced. The King took up a position in front of the stairs, preventing anyone from passing him. Marx stood tall and proud in front of his personal minion. That familiar, and oh so vile, smug grin was etched onto his face. He looked each of the three over, like he was browsing furniture. Marx didn't look impressed. "So...you're plan was to jump out a window? That's...that's an awful plan." He snorted. "Where's the part of the plan where you all put on fake mustaches and act inconspicuous?"
"Jumping out a window is how I escaped you the first time." Meta Knight spat back, eager to knock Marx down a few pegs. Marx blinked at the knight for a few seconds, trying to understand what he had just heard. When realization hit, it hit hard. Marx went from a thoughtful expression to one of loathing.
"YOU DID JUMP INTO THE MOAT." Marx screeched, kicking a loose pebble across the room and into the wall. It exploded into a fine powder. Marx only displayed his anger for a few more seconds, before he reigned it in with a short intake of air. It was almost like a switch had been flipped. He shrugged to the best of his ability. "Well it doesn't reeeeally matter now that you got away. Because we have Kirby noooow, so your escape attempt failed in the end." And the smug grin was back.
"Where is Kirby?" Meta Knight barked, glaring holes through Marx. The jester didn't react to this hidden threat. He offered another shrug.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Alright, you listen to me you little shit!" Sword snapped, drawing her weapon and holding it in an offensive position. "Either tell us where Kirby is so we can get him, go get him for us, or let us leave this hell hole without a fight."
Marx threw a lazy glance toward Sword with a single raised eyebrow. He chewed the inside of his cheek with boredom at the sight in front of him. "What's your name, again? Shank?"
"It's Sword."
"So, Knife-" Sword twitched under her helmet. "-I have constantly kicked the hell out of your little band of misfits. I have the collective entity of darkness as an ally. I have a mindless tank behind me on standby, and at my say so will rip you in half. I have the ability to summon an endless supply of Dark Matter whenever it tickles my fancy. And I have you trapped in this hole." Marx nodded to the side, as if agreeing with what he had just said. "And even after all of that...you think you can actually make demands?" Marx spoke with a casual tone, as if speaking about some pleasant weather. His expression mirrored this. He 'tsked tsked' Sword. "That's not even brave. That's just stupid."
Sword chewed her lip behind her helmet, unsure of how to proceed. In truth, she had no grounds to be making demands, for she was sure she would not be able to back any threats up in full. But Sword would not be required to think of a comeback, for Marx continued to speak. "Now, since I have constantly kicked the hell out of your little band of misfits, have the collective entity of darkness as an ally, yadda yadda, I can make demands!" He bounced on his tones in a giddy fashion. "Yamikage is assisting Lord Nightmare as we speak. When we arrived at the scene of the crime- By the way, nice job trashing Yamikage.-" Marx winked and smiled at the group, who could only share awkward glances with each other. Marx either did not notice or care. "-when we arrived, Nightmare had this to say:" Marx cleared his throat, and when he began speaking once again, was using a poor impression of Nightmare, throwing his voice into a deep hiss. "'Kill the Lightworlders, and bring me the floating alien. I will deal with him myself!'" Marx coughed a bit to clear his voice, the scratchy tone from before doing a short number on his throat. Meta Knight fought with all his will power to keep his eyes yellow, for he was sure they would be burning a hot white any moment now. He succeed in hiding his surprise. "So those are my...well, not demands, but I guess that's my..." Marx snorted, and rolled his eyes. "Oh, who cares."
Without warning, Marx stomped forward, sending everyone in front of him a step backwards. A twisted little smirk stretched onto his face, like a feral animal cornering prey. The comparison was not so far off. "Now, I would've started with the Waddle Dee. But I've noticed the stupid little thing has already kicked the bucket. So that makes my life easier." Marx ignored the twenty some angry stares he now received from the Waddle Dees. But the Lightworlders did not, and the three cringed at the dark looks. Never in their lives had they seen a Dee so incensed. In a flash of familiar but unwelcome white light, Marx sprouted his rotted pink wings, and ascended into Marx Soul. He took another heavy step toward his targets, backing them all into the corner. Blade drew his own weapon, knowing a fight would be inevitable. Marx Soul flashed his fangs in a sadistic smirk.
"Now, you can join your little pet!" Marx Soul barreled forward at great speeds, letting loose a primal war cry. But that war cry shifted to one of shock only a breath later, for he had been knocked aside by no less then ten Waddle Dees. He expected Yamikage to swoop in and save the Lightworlders before he expected the Dees to do so. Everyone displayed some semblance of surprise, even King Dedede raised his eyebrows in the faintest show of expression. Marx Soul lay on his side against the ground, and before gaining a chance to rise to his feet, was dog-piled by half of the Waddle Dee's, who began ripping at anything they could get a hold of. None of them had any real power against Marx Soul, and couldn't hope to kill him, but they had the advantage in size and a relentless assault. Marx Soul kicked at them, and for every one he managed to toss, another two took its place. Marx Soul attempted to fight back, and was preparing to summon a barrage of energy arrows to skewer the pesky things, but his concentration was shattered when a few of them tackled him to the ground once more, and slammed his forehead to the stone. Every time he tried to attack, the Waddle Dee's would intercept him. Not with power, or skill, or cleverness, but with numbers alone. Having had quite enough, Marx Soul turned toward King Dedede, and was about to demand he get rid of the Waddle Dee's. But his words died in his throat when he realized that the other half of the Waddle Dee's had gone after King Dedede. The King was tripping over them with every step, and had the same problem with Marx Soul, where one gone meant two returning. In the mass confusion, King Dedede had stepped away from the ladder, leaving the way out obstacle free. Meta Knight glanced at the exit, and knew this may be their only chance for escape. He adjusted Magolor one more time, before nodding towards his knaves. They nodded their understanding, and started up the ladder with great urgency. Meat Knight followed behind, and only took a split second to look upon Bandanas lifeless body one more time, and offered a word of thanks to all the Dee's present, before climbing the last few rungs and escaping the cellar. Just as he stepped out, he hear Marx Soul call out for them to come back, and for King Dedede to go after them. His voice was filled with fury, and a bit of desperation. Not surprising, seeing as their escape meant disappointing Nightmare. But Marx Souls troubles were of no concern to the Lightworlders, who now sprinted down the hall once more. They had only managed around fifty steps, when a large crash echoed down the hallway. They didn't stop for a single second, but Blade took a quick chance, and peeked over his shoulder. He yelped with surprise when the sight of King Dedede barreling down on the trio met his eyes. King Dedede looked malevolent, and hell bound to make the Lightworlders hurt. Marx Soul was no where to be seen, but if King Dedede had been able to escape, Marx Soul would have to be arriving on the scene any moment now.
A connecting hallway approached the trio, which they all ignored in favor of continuing straight, but a cry of attention from Sword had them all backpedaling down connecting hallway instead, for at the end, the walkway opened up into columns instead of walls. And beyond those columns lay the outdoors. They all put on a final burst of speed, hoping the ground would not be too far away. With King Dedede still hot on their tails, they would only have a few seconds to asses the situation before they would have to make the leap of fate. Once at the edge, the Lightworlders threw their eyes downward, and cringed as if struck. They had run towards the side of the castle, and in doing so now overlooked the courtyard. One hundred percent death if they jumped. The trio made to continue running, but fate would continue to spit upon the group. A small cluster of Dark Matter charged at them, and the trio was certain it was the same Dark Matter that had chased them from from the beach. So this is where they had gone. Good to know...
So now, both paths were blocked, and only three options remained. Meta Knight could almost laugh at the full circle feeling. Fight, surrender, or jump. But unlike last time, all three options would get them killed.
But also unlike last time, Meta Knight had the Dimensional Cape with him.
With no word of warning, Meta Knight removed Magolor from his back, and commanded Sword and Blade to take him with no explanation. They did as they were told, but confusion still seeped into their postures. With only a few seconds left, Meta Knight grabbed the edges of his cape, and decided that the time to fight had passed. He let all thoughts drain from his mind, and all worries cease. His guilt of letting Bandana die, or failing Magolor faded away into nothing but an old memory. Meta Knights heart rate slowed, as did his breathing. A sharp sense of being filled his every fiber as the state of mushin was achieved. The same state of being one had to be in to perform a Sword Beam. Letting all thoughts and emotions go. There was no thinking, just doing. Thoughts and doubts were Meta Knights enemies, and they had had to go.
With a flick of his wrist, Meta Knight swept his cape over his allies and himself, and teleported them as far away as he could. Going too far would sap the knight of every iota of energy, but if he could just get them out of this castle! While using the Dimensional Cape in the state of mushin, he had no idea where they would go, but all he knew is that it would be away from this hell.
And away from that hell it was. The entire process felt like nothing more than a blink, but once Meta Knight pulled his cape back, the scene around them had changed from the pristine white castle, to the familiar courtyard of Castle Dedede. For once, luck allowed them to teleport out of sight from the Dark Matter and King Dedede. The trio had no idea where they would go next, but for the time being, they were safe. Sword and Blade reeled from the sudden action, trying to gain their footing on a ground that shifted beneath them. To Meta Knight, it had been a blink. To them, it had been a roller coaster minus seat belts. Magolor remained asleep, and did not look jostled in the slightest. He still cluthced onto the bandana with the strength of a titan. Meta Knight glanced around the courtyard as his knaves got their bearings. Nobody was present. He nodded before turning towards his knaves.
They would run in five minutes.
LONGEST. CHAPTER. TO DATE. 11,000 words! I would NOT let myself end this chapter anywhere but them getting outside the castle, so I knew this chapter would take a while. WHICH IS WHY IT TOOK A MONTH. I HAD AN EXTRA 4K WORDS TO WRITE.
Okay, I reaaally didn't want to kill Bandana off. Like, Bandana was one of my favorite characters to write. Like...so much. And I actually cried when typing it. QAQ I declare Dec. 9th National Bandana day. Wear your bandana's in remembrance!
Now, for something a bit more serious. And I hate to be thatauthor, but it needs to be said because it's gotten a bit out of control. I understand you guys are excited for new chapters, and the waiting period between them is brutal. Now, if you want to message me telling me you're super stoked about the next chapter and can't wait, that's fine. Hell, one of my readers made a heeelarious video about it, and I laughed my ass off! (It also pumped another 1k words out of me that night, so that was good XD) That's all fine and dandy. BUT what isn't fine and dandy is getting message after message of someone asking me when I've updated or if I'm going to update or why haven't I updated. Not only was this chapter 11k words long, but Novemeber was a bad month for me. Sick in more ways than one, art commissions, family stuff, etc. During that month, I made sure to type as much as I could anyways, knowing that it wouldn't be fair to make you guys wait months and months for a chapter. But when the act of typing starts to feel more like a job than for fun, it starts to get a bit grating. Especially if I have half of on my tail about it. I respected your guys' want for a new chapter, even during my bad month, and I hope in the future you guys will be able to respect that I can't spend every second typing. I update my page every week with story updates, and I update the story section every time my writing status changes.
Now that I've become thatauthor, let's end on a positive note. I got Kirby Mass Attack and I'm proud to say it is the hardest Kirby game I have every played. :,D I guess that's a bit of a spoiler. Since I JUST got Mass Attack, no Mass Attack stuff will be in this story. Derp.
Review, rate, comment, favorite, follow, floss, celebrate national Bandana day with, learn Spanish with, lunge at, and ENJOY this chapter.