Paper Luigi X

Chapter 27: Roles of Utmost Importance

The first day of the play was a hectic one. The cast was all jittery about the roles they wanted, and though some had it in the bag, some had no talent at all; everyone was bound to get something truly meant for them. Meta Knight was going over his main role lines, a bit bored to be frank, Malon was doing some reciting, and Tails was praying that he wouldn't get a part. Luigi was saying some "Layle" lines rather terribly, The Crazee Trio was in perfect harmony singing, Bunia was chaotically ramming into spare props out of pure nervousness, Conroy was watching Jackson be smacked around by Bow, and Prickle was off in the corner mumbling to himself.

"This part shall be mine!" Luigi said confidently.

"No part shall be mine!" wailed Tails.

"I wonder what we'll end up doing…" pondered Jerry to the partners. "I mean, we're not even trying out for parts really…"

"Hayzee told me that I'll be helping whoever's stage crew, Blooey has some singing duet, and you, Jerry, are in charge of costumes, props, paint, scripts, and stuff like that," Torque explained.

"What?! Oooo, that's so cheap!!! How come I get all the hard labor?"

"Don't look at us! I don't like the idea of me singing!" squawked Blooey. "Who's idea was that?!"

Hayzee then entered the room, and clapped his hands to gain everyone's attention. Everyone silenced their excited ramblings about the play and was actually still and quiet.

"Okay, we don't have the time to waste, so we're going to begin the auditions right away!"

"Wow- this guy sure gets to the point!" Conroy chuckled. "I like that!"

"Who wants to go first?"

Cue loud simultaneous shout of "MMEEEEEEEE!".

"WHOA! WHOA! WOAH! Take it easy!"

"Well there are people who simply MUST get important parts!" cackled Bow, holding up her fan and glancing intently at Hayzee.

"Can I go first?" asked Bunia.

"No."

"I wasn't asking you, Tayzee!"

"Maybe I should go first!"

"We're all going to go at sometime-"

"I'll go!" cried Tails. "Then I won't audition and I'll get stage crew!"

Hayzee grabbed his head. "Ugh, maybe I should've started earlier…"

"Well who IS going first!?" complained Jackson.

"Today WOULD be nice…" added Bunia.

"Okay, you know what? Let's just go by who wants what part…of course, the main role is taken-" Meta Knight rolled his eyes. "-so anyone who wants the second leading male or female go over…there."

Luigi, Conroy, Bunia, Malon, and Bow went to designated spot.

"You want the leading female?" gawked Luigi to Malon. Malon just shrugged.

"It appealed to me."

"All right, up first we'll have…Bunia!"

Bunia started nervously looking around and sweat dropped. "M-M-Me!? First!? Oh no! Can't…handle…pressure…AUGH!"

Bunia fainted before anyone had even said anything, and Jackson awkwardly walked up and dragged him away.

"Ahem anyway…" Hayzee coughed. "So, you four want the main parts?"

"Yes! YES!" screamed Luigi.

"Well, you're up!"

Luigi eagerly skipped to the front, coughed, then took his position.

"Okay, okay! Ahem…" he began to recite some lines. "You, my friend…your Fiery Hat of Social Awareness is a rather hot topic, isn't it? ISN'T IT!? No wonder it is no longer in thy possession!"

Luigi then started copying Star Wars lines while imitating an epic light saber battle- sound effects included.

"Use the force! I AM your father…far from the tree, apple does not fall…this part, Luigi MUST get!"

Hayzee blinked his eyes, coughed into his hand, and then scribbled something onto his clipboard. "Uh, thank you Luigi…I've got a part in mind for you, anyway…"

Luigi struck a touchdown pose. "YES!"

"Uh…NEXT! Conroy!"

Conroy strutted up with pride and held up a flipper. "It's your fault…that hat made you socially aware…you are to blame for the consequences! And tomorrow…you'll never see the sunrise AGAIN! NOOOooooooo…"

Hayzee jumped up and clapped his hands. "Outstanding Conroy! I think I know what part you're going to get!"

Conroy bowed. "It's only natural, my dear director!"

Luigi just scoffed. "Yeah, good luck with that! We already know that "Layle" part is mine!"

Malon clunked her way up next. "Mememememe! Okay, all right…Oh, why…WHY did you put on that fiery hat of social awareness? You have become so self-conscious, so conflicted, and so misunderstood…you couldn't have just gotten an icy cold hood of physical isolation instead, could you?"

"It wasn't my fault…" Meta Knight recited up above, deciding to give his lines a chance. "I did not choose the hat- the hat, it chose me…"

Malon gasped as Hayzee clapped wildly. "Marvelous, Meta Knight. Malon, you're in consideration, depending on how well Bow does-"

"Which will be fantastic, gah hahahaha!" the green boo princess cackled happily.

Malon snickered. "Let's just see…"

Bow smirked behind her fan and floated dramatically up to center stage.

"Oh, my darling…no matter what becomes of this incident, I shall stand by your side til the very bitter sweet fiery end…I promise…"

Hayzee held up a hand. "Bow! Your voice flows so smoothly…so soft, so sincere! This just might be a tough decision…"

Malon's jaw dropped while Bow flat-out laughed. Hayzee made some more notes scribbled down on his clipboard before selecting the next group of auditioners. Next up was Tails, the Dayzee Trio, and Jackson. After that, Bunia would try again and Prickle would take a shot.

"Uh-huh! Tails-"

"I demand the role of stage crew!"

"Tails, that isn't a role but-"

"I can't help it! I'm a terrible actor!" he wailed dramatically, collapsing to the floor. "My heart belongs to building things!"

"Okay then…I get it…you can be stage crew…though I don't think I've ever seen someone so eager for that…"

Tails sprung back up. "YES! I got the part I wanted!"

"It's not a part-"

Tails gave his trademark grin. "But I'M still happy!"

Malon sighed, smiled, and shook her head. "Tails, Tails…"

Tails eagerly clapped his hands and ran backstage. "I'll get started on the curtains and lights- and I WILL do my best!!"

Hayzee blinked and coughed. "Um, okay…uh, Dayzee Trio?"

Mayzee and Tayzee were front and center within seconds while Layzee took his sweet time.

"Yawn…what're we doin'?"

"We're auditioning!" "Yeah, don't screw us up!"

"Ooh, okay!"

"Sooo…who are you going for?" asked Hayzee.

"We were actually going for the three random singing flowers that get to shine in Scene 5..."

"Oooh, good choice! I don't think you have much competition, so we'll just need to see if you're qualified singers…"

Mayzee smirked and snapped her fingers. "All right then! Hit it!"

Meta Knight sweat dropped from where he was perched. "Oh, this'll be interesting…"

"Do…" "Re…" "Mi!" "Fa-" "-so-" "-la-" "-ti-" "DO!"

Everyone covered their ears- flowers have REALLY high voices…

"We-"

"NO MORE! Just…uh, if no one else auditions, you guys get the part!"

The trio exchanged high-fives. "Yes! We hardly had to do anything!"

"I think they've done enough…to my eardrums!" complained Tails.

Hayzee grabbed his head and sighed. "So much pressure…maybe this was a bad idea…"

"NO! Then we'll never become stars!" wailed Conroy.

"Then these auditions need to improve!"

Conroy gave a nod and slugged Jackson in the shoulder. "Don't screw this up!"

"No pressure there!"

Jackson went for Random Mysterious Guy in the Background, and it was obvious Hayzee would end up giving him the part, Jerry attempted to audition for something but failed, and Bunia tried to give his lines, but he spoke so quietly Hayzee planned to cast him as a brown tornado. Then, Prickle was up next.

"And what part are you going for, Prickle?"

Prickle grinned evilly. "I'm going for the role of the bad guy! You know, the one who steals the hat?"

"Yes, yes…let's see what you've got."

Prickle coughed to prepare his voice, but a bright spotlight suddenly turned on and blinded him.

"Augh! My eyes! I'm going blind! The light-IT BURNS!!"

A sandbag fell down from nowhere, striking Prickle in the head and knocking him down.

"Urgh…I'm ok-"

The big blue curtain fell right on top of Prickle, and Tails' voice could be heard calling out, "Sorry! My hands slipped!"

"Oooo…"

Hayzee coughed, then turned to the other actors. "Um, okay…well, that IS what happens to the bad guy, ironically, and since Prickle will be able to face those challenges again, he'll be the bad guy of the play."

"Ignore the minors, tell us what WE got!" called Tayzee.

"All right, all right…ahem, first off, Bunia-"

Bunia instantly flipped out. "I SERIOUSLY GOT A PART!? No way! I can't believe it! Mom will be so proud-"

"-you're a tornado that has no speaking parts."

"…YES! I don't even have to speak!"

Excited, Bunia started whirling around the stage, laughing happily.

"Next, the Dayzee Trio will be the random singing flowers that get to shine in Scene 5."

Mayzee, Tayzee, and Layzee exchanged high fives.

"Jackson gets Random Mysterious Guy in the Background, of course, I'm going to be the Red Miracle, Tails is Stage Crew, Bow will be the leading lady Mary Anne-"

"What!?" cried Malon. "Meta Knight and I were in perfect sync with me as that part!"

Bow looked quite smug behind her fan. "It was clear that I was the better choice for the part…"

Malon was frantic. "Then what do I get!?"

"You've got the main female singing part, alongside Blooey…"

"M-Me!? Sing? I mean, I'm good with music, but…singing? I-I don't know…"

Hayzee smiled. "Don't worry, Malon! You'll be great! You can usually tell by the way a person speaks that they're great singers, and I definitely see it in you! You've got a beautiful voice Malon…"

Malon blushed. "Th-Thanks…"

"I'm singing with Malon?!" Blooey cried. "That's better than with a random stranger, but I might make Malon look bad!"

Malon patted Blooey. "It'll go good, I promise!"

"Conroy will get the main supporting role of Layle-"

"YES!!!" "NOOO!!!"

Everyone glanced nervously at Luigi.

"Come on! I was born for that part!" Luigi complained. "You give my golden role to some penguin and disregard my amazing talent!?"

"Luigi, your try-out was terrible."

"Way to be nice about it…"

Hayzee stood up and got dead serious. "Luigi…the part I'm going to give you just might be the most important role in the entire play, aside from Meta Knight's part…but either way, you, Luigi, weren't found by chance. It was fate. You're perfect for this role-you are wearing green after all…Luigi…you are going to get the part of…grass."

Silence.

Then, insane laughter.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!"

"Luigi's talent was weeded out!"

"Hayzee sure planted him in the right part!"

"He'll certainly grow to fame now! After all, he's on the right root!"

"Aren't these jokes getting a bit mulch?"

"Oh look- he's turning green with envy!"

"The grass IS always greener…on the other side of Luigi!"

"Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!"

The entire cast was rolling of the floor, laughing out loud, laughing their butts off, and most of them were laughing so hard they were crying. Meta Knight's expression couldn't be seen, but he was definitely suppressing laughter. Malon had to hold her mouth close to prevent from bursting out, Tails just couldn't help it and laughed anyway, and Blooey, Jerry, and Torque had plans to never let Luigi live this down.

"What…kind of a part…is THAT!?" groaned Luigi. "Shouldn't grass be a prop!?"

"But…but it suits you so WELL!" protested Hayzee. "And there's really no other part I can put you as…"

"You should DIG this role, Luigi!" cackled Blooey.

"Just be glad you made the cut!" Torque threw in.

Luigi just covered his face with his hat and waited for the half-hour of laughter to pass.

Half-an-Hour later-

Everyone was unable to laugh anymore because their stomachs and laugh boxes were killing them. Hayzee took a deep breath and continued, at last.

"Is everyone all laughed out, now?"

Everyone gave meek nods. Hayzee put on a stern look and scooped up the scripts.

"Good. Here's the official scripts; you have the rest of the day to go over them, and we'll start the real work tomorrow."

Hayzee gave everyone a script except Luigi.

"Oh what?! I don't get any lines either!?"

"Grass doesn't talk, fool…" Tayzee teased. "You've had your grassy head under a rock too long!"

"Oh, please don't make us laugh…" begged Conroy. "I think I split something…"

Luigi glanced at Bunia, who had a single piece of paper in his hands.

"How come Bunia gets a script? He's a tornado-they don't talk either!"

"Actually, it's telling me what I should do and when," Bunia explained. "Unlike grass, I actually move."

"Well, maybe I can wave in the wind or something."

"I've got a script too!" Tails called. "That means Stage Crew IS a role!"

"What!?"

"Yeah, it just tells me when to kick in the effects though. But I still get one!"

Luigi just sighed and plopped onto the floor. "I guess I'd better get into character…"

Tails just grinned in sympathy. Malon, on the other side of stage, was panicking over how much she had to sing in the play. It was making her legs tremble, and if possible, Blooey was more nervous than she was.

"HEY! How come I have to get knocked out several times!?" complained Prickle, gaping at the script. Hayzee just gave him a bright and cheery grin.

"Comic relief."

"What!? But I'm the villain!"

"The best villains are the funny ones!"

Prickle grumbled something under his breath while part number 7 started rapidly shaking. 6 and 8 did their best to keep to prevent the shaking. Everyone else didn't really have anything to say about their scripts but to just learn them and get them memorized.

"Is this all we're doing today?" asked Mayzee. Hayzee nodded.

"Yes! But there'll be plenty of work tomorrow, so be ready!"

Later that night, just before they all went to their trailers, Luigi, Malon, Tails, and their partners decided to go practice their lines with Meta Knight, rather than with the rest of the cast (besides Bow, Bunia, Mayzee, and slightly Conroy) since they were complete jerks-at least, only to Luigi. But that was besides the point.

"Hey Meta Knight!" Malon called, slightly loudly, when they headed over to Meta Knight. Meta Knight was just sitting off by himself, staring at his script. He did acknowledge their presence by turning around a bit.

"Can I help you?"

"We just wanted to know if you wanted to rehearse with us…" Tails asked shyly.

"And only the worlds know why we wouldn't want to do it with those others…" murmured Luigi with a grunt.

"I dunno-I thought those other guys were pretty funny!" Blooey exclaimed.

"I didn't…"

"You guys want to practice with me?" Meta Knight asked.

"Well yeah! You can't really get into it until you've worked with others!" Jerry put out.

"It'll be fun!" chirped Tails, flying around. "It'll also give me an idea about to manage the stage!"

"I can't believe I have to sing in this!" Malon moaned.

Luigi did a double take. "I can't believe I'm a useless, unimportant role of grass!"

Everyone struggled to suppress laughter, despite the fact Luigi noticed anyway.

"I can't believe I've gotta kiss somebody…" murmured Meta Knight. Everyone froze.

"Well, that's not a super bad thing, right?" Malon asked.

"It wouldn't be, if it wasn't Bow, who keeps constantly expressing she has a boyfriend."

Jerry gasped. "Wow! What a twist!"

"Is that why you're all cooped up over here alone?" questioned Tails. Meta Knight shook his head.

"I don't like those guys as much as you do…"

"But you like us, right?" Tails asked hopefully.

Meta Knight shrugged. "I prefer you over those guys. If that's what you mean by "liking you" then sure."

Tails made a slight face. "You're kinda like Knuckles…"

"Knuckles? Why am I like knuckles?"

"No, not like, real knuckles…my friend's name is Knuckles!"

Malon snapped his fingers. "Ooh! Was he that red porcupine thing with you?"

"Yeah! That'd be the one!"

Meta Knight seemed interested. "Oh yes…I remember him now, but he walked off before I really got to know him."

"Well, you both are tough, like to be off by yourself-"

"Not to be rude, Tails, but we came to rehearse, not chat up a storm about some guy I haven't even met…" Luigi pointed out.

Tails was okay with it though and nodded. "Right, right…I just got off topic there."

"Well, it's kinda only going to be me, Meta Knight, Blooey, and maybe Jerry practicing because we're the only ones who have real scripts," Malon began nervously. Luigi rolled his eyes and fell flat on the ground.

"I can practice too! I can just lay here! If I'm going to be grass, I'll be the best darn grass ever!"

"Dude, grass is lame…" Torque grunted.

"I know…I was trying to make myself feel better!"

"Well, it'll already be too late for that!" snorted Tayzee, strolling up confidently with Layzee, Jackson, Bunia, and Conroy. Mayzee and Bow had already retired for their trailer and Prickle was trying to stay as far away from everyone as it was. Naturally, Luigi froze with fear while the rest of Team Luigi plus Meta Knight stood up.

"What do you guys want?" Malon sighed. "You've already done enough to poor Luigi as it is!"

"Yeah, go take a hike!" added Tails. Blooey, Jerry, and Torque were torn to stay back and watch Luigi get tortured or side with their Soul Partners-and Meta Knight.

"What makes you think you can tell us what to do?" Tayzee scoffed.

"What makes you think you can just walk up here and start ripping on everyone?" Meta Knight replied darkly but calmly.

"We actually want to do a good job on this play, unlike you snobs who are only in it for the fame!" snapped Tails. Meta Knight gave him a look that said he should probably stay quiet and turned his gaze back to Tayzee and his group. Bunia was looking awfully uncomfortable, like he had been dragged into this, Layzee was half asleep, and Jackson and Conroy kept exchanging glances and wanted things to get over with.

"Yeah, but Hayzee doesn't care why any of us are here, first of all…" Tayzee started again. "…he's just so concerned about that play of his, he can hardly think straight!" he then gave Luigi a dark smirk. "That's why that sap over there was cast as a useless plant on the side of the road!"

Three seconds later-

"I'm going to tear all four of his measly blue petals off!" Luigi wailed, now being held back by the combined for of Malon, Tails, and Meta Knight.

"Violence is not the answer!" Malon tried to say.

"But it's definitely a solution…" mumbled Meta Knight. Malon gave him a look while Luigi was now fighting and wrestling to get out of their grip. Blooey, Jerry, and Torque were sitting on the side passing around popcorn.

"Ooh, this is getting good…"

"I bet Luigi loses…"

"Maybe he'll get burned…like me!"

"Get over it, Blooey…"

Blooey grumbled and made a face- everyone had started telling him that. But he cheered up when he saw the fight staring to spike.

"Oh yeah? YOUR MOM!" Luigi shouted after replying to another grass comment.

"Is that the best you can really do?"

"Maybe we should just back off," Conroy started. "They really didn't do anything to us…"

Tayzee glared over his shoulder. "I refuse to let anyone get in my way of fame! I'm just giving these guys a warning…"

"Yeah, okay Tayzee, you go and try and get all famous, fail, and me and my team will do what we can to try to make the worlds a better place, all right?" Luigi quipped right back, not missing a beat now. Tayzee leaned back.

"You guys? Make the worlds a better place? You could do that by getting out of the world!" Tayzee cackled. "Besides, how are you supposed to do that while you're trying to outdo me in a play?"

Luigi smirked and pulled out the Marvelous Compass. "Like this. Eastern Wind!"

A rapid wind violently whipped up out of nowhere, yet coming from an Eastern direction, and literally brought Tayzee up into the air with it. It started spinning into a tornado, until it suddenly vanished and Tayzee was blown into a wall-on the other side of the room. Tayzee's "gang" started at Luigi until he jabbed the compass at them, and they instantly ran away screaming.

"Good job Luigi!" Malon shrieked, giving Luigi another victory hug.

"Way to blow him off!" laughed Tails. Luigi just gave a small smile.

"Thanks, I guess…but I really don't like getting like that. It just doesn't feel like me, you know?"

"You did seem a little off, but maybe its some hidden courage you haven't discovered, or something crazy like that…"

"Maybe…Malon, you can let go of me now."

"Oh wah? S-Sorry, you know how huggy I am…" Malon muttered while hiding a light blush. Tails let out a playful groan.

"Oh, don't I know it!"

Malon gave a fake gasp and lightly hit Tails. "Oh, don't pretend you don't like hugs!"

"I'm too old for that now. That was the other Tails- I'm the new macho Tails who doesn't like hugs or being tucked in!"

"Oh really?"

"Yes, really."

"So you won't like it if I did…this?!"

"What!? No-"

Malon tackled Tails to the ground in a hug, but Tails fought back strongly. Meta Knight just watched as they rolled around on the floor, play-fighting each other and laughing all the while.

"That pounce was something I'd do if I was still a kid!"

"You are still a kid!"

"A younger kid! You know, that old Tails who likes hugs and being tucked in!"

"I thought we were going to-" Meta Knight started. Luigi just sighed and waved it off.

"Aw, let it go. We've got more than enough time to memorize the lines- the play isn't very long, after all. Let them have fun- last time they stood up like that they nearly had two tails and a ponytail ripped out!"

Meta Knight cringed inwardly.

"Not kidding."

"You would've never guessed, looking at them rolling around like that."

Luigi smiled. "No. And I think that's the good thing…"

"I'm still…unsure about those other cast members. Tayzee's obviously the main one, Prickle's definitely a shifty character, yet everyone else…just follows in Tayzee's shadow."

Luigi nodded. "We really need to end that as soon as we can…"

"Hey, where did those partners of yours end up?"

Luigi froze. "I don't know, but they plot on ways to kill me when no one is watching them…"

Meta Knight gave Luigi a look.

"They hate me. For accidents!"

"Okay."

"You believe me?"

"I don't really know…"

Luigi threw up his hands. "Well whatever! Malon! Tails! We're turning in for the night!"

"Awwwwww-"

"Now don't give me any of that!"

"You sound like my dad!" Malon huffed, placing her hair neatly back in place and clomping toward he trailer. Tails flew along behind her.

"You…uh, remind me of Sonic when he's really tired!" Tails piped up. Luigi cocked his head. "…which is actually quite rare, but it happens. "

He just carried on, and Luigi followed after, sighing. "You coming Meta Knight? I mean, I'm not in charge of you or anything but-"

"I'll be there in a few minutes…" was the reply, although a bit airily. "…there's something I'd really like to take care of first."

"Okay. See you…"

Luigi ran off, Meta Knight still pondering.

Luigi didn't even want to think about what was going on in the other trailer. Bunia had given them "top secret inside info" about the others: Tayzee was highly full of himself and hardly liked the thought of competition- let alone the actual experience. Mayzee wished she Tayzee and Layzee were completely different that what they are, Layzee was, well, lazy, Conroy was truly a good guy who just liked to show off a little, Jackson was Conroy's best friend and usually followed everything he did, Bunia himself was just a soft soul who was highly unstable at times, and he said he had no idea what Prickle was like, since he preferred to sleep outside all the time.

"Huh. So, really, it's only Tayzee that's the problem, like we thought…" Luigi pondered. Bunia shook his head.

"Not really, Mister! I mean, yeah, but…be careful of Prickle too! I always hear him whispering about you and your gang…seven times, and I've hardly been with him a day and a half!"

"That's unnerving…thank you for letting me know, Bunia."

Bunia looked proud. "Anytime, Mister! I'm glad I could be like a double agent detective spy guy!"

Luigi was satisfied with the info and at long last, climbed into bed to get away from the terrible day…especially being grass. Honestly. When he started getting comfortable in bed, he started to feel some kind of burning sensation that got worse and worse with every passing second.

"EEEEIIIIIIII!!!!!"

That loud and girly scream was enough to wake everybody up, and Luigi could hear his partners cracking up and snapshots being taken.

"What did you guys do…" Malon said sleepily but sternly, getting at least Blooey to calm down.

"We put a hot coal in Luigi's bed," Jerry stated bluntly. Luigi nearly fainted.

"What!?"

"Blooey's idea…" grunted Torque. "I'd rather steal your wallet, but there's nothing in there-"

"Which I keep telling you!"

"Torque, please don't be influenced by these bad acts, okay?" Tails asked, again half asleep.

"I'll try to restrain myself for your sake.

"All right-"

"What about my sake!? I bet there's a hole in my back!"

"The coal wasn't that hot, unfortunately…" Jerry explained. "Maybe about the same temp as a toaster. Nothing life threatening, really."

Luigi picked up the coal and chucked it out the window within he same second he'd touched it.

"Go to bed," Tails and Malon said to the partners at the same time. They grumbled amongst themselves, but obeyed anyway. Luigi scanned his bed once again, then safely climbed into it. Jerry was right- his back didn't really hurt, it was more of the shock that got him. Luigi was going to get back at them- either in revenge or a way that would at least get them to like him.

Meanwhile, Meta Knight was swooping around in the dark of the night, landing on front of the other trailer. He kicked it open gently- everyone was sleeping except for Tayzee, who was studying his lines. Excellent.

Tayzee look up and scowled when he saw Meta Knight. "Hey! This isn't your-"

Within the same moment, Meta Knight had Tayzee up against a wall and his sword up against his…stem.

"Listen to me, flower boy. If you so much as think about Luigi or any of his friends in a negative way again, it'll be me you'll have to answer to. They're good guys, and they don't need your dirty attitude staining them, got it?"

"I don't want to-"

Meta Knight pressed harder. "Say yes, and mean it. I may not have your word, but I've always got my sword…"

Tayzee closed his eyes and murmured ever so quietly, "…yes."

Meta Knight seemed satisfied and removed his threatening weapon. "Be grateful I'm giving you a second chance. I'm tired of watching you treat people like the soil you grew from. Which, obviously, must be pretty rotten dirt."

Tayzee growled and went to lunge at Meta Knight, but Meta Knight wrapped himself up with his cape and vanished in the blink of an eye before Tayzee could get to him.

When Meta Knight suddenly appeared in the trailer, Luigi, who hadn't been fully sleeping, jolted awake. Meta Knight froze. That was what he didn't want to do, that was for sure.

"Meta Knight?"

"...Yes?"

"Where, um…where were you, if it's all right to ask?"

Meta Knight shrugged and flew over to where he slept. He got completely comfortable before answering with a, "I was just taking care of a few things. If things went right, you shouldn't have to worry about it."

Now Luigi was confused, but he was too tired to even try to make sense of why he was confused in the first place.