Disclaimer: I do not own Super Smash Brothers, the characters, or anything related.

Episode 17

The sun was close to setting, embracing the Smash Universe with twilight before the end of the day. The temperature had been warm, the pleasant July breeze sweeping across the land. For a Saturday, it was calm rather than chaotic. The Smashers, even the villains, didn't cause any trouble. Days like these came rarely. Meta Knight would have enjoyed the morning better had he not been persuaded to join the other swordsmen in their conversation after breakfast.

Flashback from After Breakfast:

"I heard you gave Toon Link quite a scare yesterday," Ike said, finishing his coffee. "Wish I could have seen it though. I happened to be at the training room with Marth at the time."

"I don't think so," Link replied. "Meta Knight doesn't normally act like that."

"It was an accident," Meta Knight said, not even going to mention the truth. He'd rather leave it in the shadows and let it go, and not let the startling truth bother him. He refused to go to therapy after the incident and to his annoyance, everyone found out.

"Did you go to therapy afterwards?" Ike casually asked him. Meta Knight nearly spat out his juice which he drank with a straw.

"W-Where did you hear that from?" He asked menacingly. "And to answer your question, I never went to therapy."

"I heard the Master Hand talking about it last week," Ike answered. "And we all know you're lying. We know you are under a lot of stress. Is it because you're a top tier in this tournament?"

"Um..." Did he mention something like that in the Master Hand's office last week? He couldn't remember what lies he told. He took a deep breath and made a decision. "Yes, that has to be it."

"That's not what you told the Master Hand," Ike pointed out. "He said it was emotional."

Meta Knight froze up. Oh no, caught in a lie.

"Your brawling record has been good; in fact it is one of the top. Has this been causing you stress?"

"No." Didn't the Master Hand know when to give up? This conversation had been going no where.

The Master Hand closed the folder. "If it is not that, does this have to do with another Smasher perhaps?"

"No ..."

"Be honest Meta Knight. Is someone bothering you?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"I am certain."

"Is it perchance, emotional?"

Meta Knight shifted again. He had to admit, the Master Hand was clever in his ways, especially when it came to interrogating. He bit his lip. He needed to change the topic.

"Master Hand?"

"Yes?"

"What is bothering me...is the fact that you shut me up in this office for over an hour demanding a response I cannot provide. I already answered honestly so I have the right to leave. Our conversation is over. To be correct, it should have been over in the first minute I came here."

"You are not leaving, at least, not yet. After I mention emotional pain, why are so intent on leaving? You are hurting emotionally, are you?"

"That letter you were carrying ... that must have been an appointment for the therapist. It all makes sense now."

"You were spying?!" His tone was more threatening than he wanted it to be; it sounded more like a growl. Ike flinched, seeing Meta Knight's eyes flash red, his cape twitching. "That was supposed to be personal and yet you intruded upon my privacy! How dare you?"

Marth spoke up. "Please Meta Knight, don't be mad at him. He was only concerned for your well being."

Meta Knight's hand shook, nearly breaking the glass containing his juice. He slammed it down on the table and left the Smash Mansion, cape transformed into his wings. He needed to leave before he was overcome by his demon side.

Meta Knight stood by the forest, now almost four in the afternoon. Twice he put the other Smashers at risk. Therapy wouldn't do him any good, especially that everyone found out because of Ike. He couldn't bring himself to go there again, let alone be interrogated by that woman. His eyes flashed red, wings coming out. There was no other choice. He had to leave the Tournament.

"Are you there Meta Knight?" came a familiar voice, freezing him in place. His date with Jigglypuff; he almost forgot.

"Y-Yes Jigglypuff," he called back, jumping down from the tree. His eyes reverted to yellow, wings back into its cape form. He nearly lost control around Jigglypuff; he needed to calm down. He remembered clearly the anxiety he felt asking her out, the humility of researching romance advice...it didn't help him any.

"Wow, I like this place. I can't believe I never noticed this place before." Thankfully she didn't hear of the incident that morning. After what happened with Toon Link, she was better off not knowing.

Hesitantly, he wrapped an arm around her, deciding the touch would be safe. She blushed and hid her face against his shoulder pad, and he chuckled softly. The forest was a lush green, the trail perfectly tidied, nothing to trip over. Varieties of beautiful flowers blossomed among the edges of the immaculate clearing.

Meta Knight paused for a moment to pick a vivant lily and walked back to Jigglypuff, placing it on her curl. She forgot to breathe for a moment, but one glance into his alluring eyes reminded her of the lack of oxygen she inhaled in the last minute. For the next few minutes, she relaxed her breathing to a comfortable pace. The trail led to a steep hill which she admitted, tired her out quite a bit.

He noticed her exhaustion and stopped. "Jigglypuff, are you all right?"

"Yeah," she replied, panting slightly. "Just tired."

Before she knew it, she was in Meta Knight's arms. He assisted lifting her onto his back. She was initially surprised that he was allowing that, but snuggled in at the top of his cape all the same. He had outstanding endurance but the whole way there, he never seemed to tire. They made it to the top in a comfortable silence.

Meta Knight gently placed Jigglypuff back on the ground and she happily obliged to sit next to him. Below the cliff was a high drop, but the view was gorgeous; the sunset and beach easily could be seen, yet from such a breathtaking view they seemed so small. Sunset...did Meta Knight choose this time and place to be romantic?

"Jigglypuff," he spoke. "I am glad you came. I appreciate it."

"Oh ... it was nothing really. I was more than happy to!" She gazed at the glistening waters below. "Wow, this is beautiful ..."

"Like someone else I know," Meta Knight spoke softly under his breath.

"Who would that be?" Jigglypuff asked, smiling to herself.

Meta Knight bit his lip. She heard? He glanced at her and back to the sunset. "You..." he admitted, face red.

"Really? You mean that?"

"Yes." He held her hands tenderly in his own. "You are excessively gorgeous, more than anything I've seen in my lifetime and ever will see. One look at your eyes and ..." He stopped speaking, blushing. "I'm amazed."

Jigglypuff blushed too. No one ever complimented her like that. Could Meta Knight really feel that way? It had to be impossible. She had to find out how he felt; maybe more about him. He interested her; the past he experienced was intriguing. "Meta Knight?"

"Yes?" He looked at her, eyes shimmering against the sunset in the background. He never looked more handsome.

"How did you first react when we first met four months ago?" Jigglypuff figured that would be the most important question to ask without seeming suspicious.

"Hmmm," he thought for a moment. "Honestly speaking, I trusted you. Mmhm, you fascinated me so Jigglypuff. You were the only one who reached out, showed you cared. It shocked me."

"Why would that be shocking? Has anyone ever cared for you before you came here, besides Kirby?" The question threw him off guard. He looked down, wrapped tightly in his cape.

"Not really. The ones who did exist no longer."

Jigglypuff gasped, a reaction she couldn't control. "How? They died?!"

"A long time ago, in the war."

"What war?"

"The one against Nightmare."

"The one Kirby defeated with the Star Rod?" Jigglypuff asked. Meta Knight's eyes widened at the unexpected knowledge she possessed.

"Kirby told you about that?"

"Yeah ... You were in that war? A long time ago? You fought alongside the Star Warriors?"

"Yes," he replied. "I've seen things, experienced numerous hardships you cannot begin to imagine. Never would I voice what happened to anyone. I've learned to let go."

"Meta Knight, are you really 'letting go' or internalizing?" He looked away, confirming she was correct. "Why do you let yourself suffer so? It doesn't seem fair."

"Life isn't fair Jigglypuff, unfortunately. That's the way everything has always been and always will be." His eyes seemed clouded, changing to the depressing grey colour she once had witnessed before. "My life in the war ... I wish I could forget it all and be free. I never can do whatever I strived for back then. My destiny, so to say, had been decided since I was..."

"Since ...?" Jigglypuff leaned forward, intently gazing into his eyes. She still held his hands, and once in while, he would give a gentle squeeze. "What happened?"

"If I told you, do you swear not to tell anyone? No matter what?" It was like truth or dare as he starred into her eyes.

Jigglypuff nodded. "I promise. You have my word."

Meta Knight shifted uncomfortably before sighing. "Nightmare created me. He created me for the sole purpose of being his successful demon; the demon he would use at his disposal to eliminate the Star Warriors. He made a mistake. I possessed a soul which provided me with a free will to rebel against as my fate as Nightmare's demon. I joined the Galaxy Soldier's Army. Despite that, he was determined to eliminate me. I was cared about, but to see everyone you know die and escape as the only survivor ... it was traumatizing."

"Oh," Jigglypuff's eyes filled with tears. "I never knew."

"My best friend had become a demon and I was left with no other choice but to kill him. The memories, I never will forget. Nightmare's goal was to anger me. He knew he could use this to his advantage. I still possess my demon side, even with the war long over. It worries me. Remember that time when I nearly hurt Toon Link yesterday?"

"Yes, I do ... Wait, was that your demon side ...?"

"Exactly ... this brought one particular thought to my mind. What if the next time, should I ever be provoked, instead of Toon Link being my intended target, what if it was you?" Jigglypuff gasped.

"You wouldn't hurt me."

"I would not ... but my demon side may overcome my free will and in the process. I do not want to hurt anyone, not even Toon Link despite the way he's treated you. No one deserves to be hurt in my wrath. I often wonder ... if I should leave the Tournament. Everyone would be safer, especially you."

Jigglypuff couldn't speak for a moment. Her response stuck in her throat but she forced herself to respond. "Y-You're planning on l-leaving? T-That's ... Please don't go, M-Meta Knight, you mean a lot to me! Y-You can't leave now."

"It may be for the best. I don't belong here in this tournament." His eyes shined dark grey.

"M-Meta Knight, d-don't say that...we all care..." She burst into tears. "I told everyone about therapy ... it wasn't Ike. I was the one who discussed how stressed you were to the Master Hand. You went to therapy because of me! It caused such a commotion with Ike this morning. I felt so terrible. I-If I told the truth..." Tears streamed down her cheeks and she buried her face in her hands.

Seeing Jigglypuff upset broke Meta Knight's heart. What kind of failure was he? He didn't belong anywhere, he made Jigglypuff cry. He felt guilty. With no hesitation, he leaned closer and hugged her.

"Jigglypuff, I am sorry..." He dried the tears with his gloved hand. "I won't leave the Tournament. I'll stay."

She sighed with relief, the tears still coming but from happiness. "All that has been bothering you all this time... It is emotional."

"That is not all. Something else has been on my mind for a while now." He wiped the last of her tears away and she smiled at him sweetly. "I have grown attached to you...You are the most important one to me, ever. I never knew what this meant. I would die for you, to ensure you would be happy...it all led to one conclusion."

He placed both hands on her shoulders, staring into Jigglypuff's eyes. "I love you."

Her eyes widened. "Y-You do? Meta Knight ... I love you too."

Meta Knight lifted his mask slightly. "May I tell you a secret?" She nodded, eyes brightening with joy. His face was only an inch away from hers. "You have beautiful sparkling eyes." His lips pressed against her cheek for two full seconds. He waited her reaction to see how she took it. Her smile told him she enjoyed it. His shyness faded away. He felt like he could be himself.

"Your name is beautiful ... Purin really suits you." His lips softly touched her face, travelling along her cheek. She smiled and leaned against him. It was time. Shyness temporarily nonexistent, he removed the mask completely and placed it on the ground beside him. Jigglypuff gasped. He was adorable! Meta Knight's lips met hers at last; she instantly accepted the kiss and pulled him in a tender grasp.

They spent the next hour expressing their inner feelings. And Meta Knight was proud he didn't use any research to assist him with confessing his true feelings. The sunset faded, stars lightening the night sky. As a shooting star passed, they both vowed no matter what happens, they would stay together, even after the tournament.