Lucario and Meta Knight watched the sleeping women with solemn looks.

Samus hadn't had a nightmare tonight. Not yet, at least.

She had been suffering in isolation for a whole week now. Nightmares, incoherence, ignorance, refusing to eat, sleep................

Lucario was empathic, that was true. And he could not help but be disgusted at the horrible climate of the bounty hunter's emotions.

Her mind was at war with itself, emotions versus judgements versus fears versus supposed duties. A tempest that sired emotional, physical and mental pain.

But what could they do?

Lucario theorised that all her years of slaughtering and killing had formed a dark persona in her. But being here, at the Mansion, had softened her, allowed her more then murder, a warm persona, if you will. Meta Ridley's resurgence, Meta Knight's reminding of her failures and duties to whose she cared for, had triggered the dark persona, the eagerness to hunt and destroy Meta-Ridley, to resurface. Her warm persona had used Meta-Knight's logic to calm herself, but now, both her persona's were conflicting, waging war. With her very sanity as the battlefield.

That battle with Marth had proved she was slipping. Restraining herself from murdering the prince, while wanting to pummel him to the ground until all was... red. That would obviously be conflicting in battle. Lucario was surprised she had actually won the thing at all.

Of course, the Pokemon's dry humour would find it amusing that the beings with "Meta" had caused her this torment, but he restrained it. This was serious. Samus' mental health and possibly her life was in danger.

Meta-Ridley wouldn't stop till she was dead. Her mind wouldn't stop until......... he didn't know...............

Pikachu was distraught, of course. He was outside right now, as he always was when she was put in here. the sheer fanatical devotion was disturbing to the Aura Pokemon. Lucario was pretty sure that if Pikachu had found out Meta Knight's role in her declining health, the mouse would tear the knight apart.

Of course, that was why Meta Knight was here now. A combination of honour, guilt and worry had driven him to help Samus as best he could.

Lucario shook his head. The puffball had no knowledge of emotional conflict. The knight had always restrained his emotions.

"Lucario?"

The Pokemon and the knight turned to see Zelda, standing in the doorway, her brown hair bedraggled with worry for her friend.

"I may have a solution." The princess murmured.

"Meta Knight, if I could use my magic's, I could teleport you into her mind." The princess murmured, her eyes staring deep into the puffball's own, as though she could see into his very soul.

"Why me? And what do you mean, into her mind?" The knight asked, gripping his sword.

"I can't go in there." Zelda groaned, before shaking her head. "And I need Lucario to help me focus. You're the best fighter here. If anyone could get though her mind, you could."

Meta Knight shifted. "What about Pikachu?"

"I had Ganondorf drag him to bed. Pikachu needs rest." Zelda murmured.

"You're saying, you will use your magic to put Meta Knight into the mind of Samus? So, why need me?" Lucario interjected.

"I need you to keep my emotions under control." Zelda replied curtly. "I can't afford any mishap once MK is in Samus' mind."

Meta Knight sighed. "I have no choice. I will rectify this. What do I have to do?"

Zelda rolled her eyes as she sat down, Lucario coming to stand behind. Assuming a generic yoga stance, Zelda slowly chanted in ancient Hylian, while Lucario, his paws glowing blue, massaged the princesses head, removing any strong emotions.

Meta Knight was feeling lighter...... and lighter......... and then........ He was gone.

Just as Zelda gave him an answer.

"Follow her mind............"

Author's Notes: I won't say anything............