Much Ado About Puffballs

Meta Knight's POV

The Halberd is, has been and always will be Luigi's favorite place to think.

I can recount extensive details of our talks aboard the Halberd, Luigi leaning on the rails of the deck, staring out into the sky and the clouds.

The first time Luigi set foot on the Halberd, it was during the Brawl years. After a standard match between him and I, he looked like he needed somewhere to clear his head, so I invited him to stay aboard. He accepted with a smile, and we flew through the skies for a while. We got to talking, and it wasn't long before the man in green was unburdening himself. Being brainwashed the prior year and feeling jealous, helpless and inadequate, the stuff he channeled into his true power at the time. I listened, and then I gave him advice on how to handle those feelings and memories. He was visibly better after our talk, and he thanked me before disembarking. The next afternoon, after his matches were done, I looked over to find him waiting at the entrance and allowed him to come aboard. Days turned into weeks, and soon I grew used to having Luigi fly by my side on the Halberd. I'd even show him how the controls worked and give him lessons on how to fly the craft. He was like my unofficial co-pilot. We'd talk about life and its obstacles, or Luigi would vent while I listened, or I'd freely dispense advice. Sometimes, Luigi would be in contemplative silence, and I'd pilot the Halberd and allow him to think.

There was only one day when Luigi didn't visit the Halberd, which turned out to be a good thing when the Subspace Army attacked. I had faith in his fighting abilities, but I still don't think he would've stood a chance against the Primids. After the adventure had ended and the Halberd was repaired, I gave Luigi free access to the Halberd to reward him for his bravery. He didn't even have to talk to Sailor Dee in advance. Besides the Brawls, some fresh air and a wise knight to talk to seemed to cure whatever ill Luigi was feeling.

Being on the Halberd works twice as well today. Despite having his positivity boosted during the Year of Luigi and the fateful kart race on the heels of its demise, people are still, sadly, giving my green-clad amigo a hard time. It's just subtler and/or more covert than before the Year of Luigi. Last year, he managed to put those old grudges behind him, but now that his tormentors have laid eyes on his Princess—I can't bring myself to finish that sentence.

I've advised Luigi to keep a strong focus on what he wants. But after his discoveries during his travels, he tells me that he's not sure what he wants anymore. He wants the bullies to lay off of him. He wants Daisy to have the chance of showing off her trademark spunk. He wants closure over the results of the Smash Ballot—and his emerging suspicions over the thing prevents him from getting it. And most of all, he wants the Hands to understand why he reacts to his tormentors the way he does.

I do, and I see the bullies for the cowards they truly are. When a faceless cyberbully said some harsh words about Blade and Sword, I challenged the interloper to a duel. That challenge has never been replied. And Luigi may not know it yet, but I have pinpointed his remaining tormentors and challenged them all to duels. They, too, have not answered. No matter. Luigi will smoke them out sooner or later.

Upon Luigi's return, we slip back into the routine of things. Fighting our matches, and then Luigi coming to see me on the Halberd. We talk, we think, we tell stories and we laugh, and now Luigi begins to give me advice of his own as repayment for my advice to him. He talks about the welling feelings of uncertainty in his gut, that maybe the justice system will fail and Spike will get his appeal, or that Spike will break out of prison to wreak more havoc. The doubts he has in the night that he doesn't want to share with those Hands because they'll contradict him. I talk about the doubts I've carried since Kyle attacked Kirby and Pikachu and the days I've spent praying for you. I also talk about how our boy and my boyfriend Roy has begun to act strange lately.

Let's talk about that, shall we?

Since Valentine's Day, Roy and I have explored all dimensions of our newfound relationship. Maybe it was a good thing that Luigi gave me a nudge toward him. Our boy Roy is so passionate and fiery and loyal, three of the qualities I prefer in a significant other. We went to Vegas together, both for the convention and to support Luigi. Our first real date was aboard the Halberd, and we can spend whole nights on the craft, listening to our favorite tunes and making out. We've overcome our differences in anatomy to bring each other pleasure, thank you very much. On very special days, I bring a band to serenade me and Roy. He's gotten over losing Marth and seeing him for the smug and selfish royal he really was. Or at least, I think he has.

Roy and I still spend passion-filled nights aboard the Halberd, making tender love under the stars. But I've also started spending more time with Luigi. I don't want Roy to think that I'm forgetting about him, because that's not the case. But can't Roy see that Luigi needs a sounding board right now—and sometimes, Mario and Peach alone aren't enough to soothe his soul. I try to deflate the tension by inviting both Luigi and Roy onto the Halberd. We'd tell jokes and have a few drinks as my tunes play on the stereo and the craft cuts through the skies under Sailor Dee's steady hand. But Luigi's no airhead—and he's starting to catch on. He tells me that Roy's beginning to act distant and cool towards him, and I don't know what to say. Our boy Roy can't be jealous, can he? After all, it was Luigi who brought us two together as we were recovering from previous relationships (Marth for him, Lucario for me)! And Roy sought out Luigi for comfort after ending things with Marth! We're going to have to talk about this, because I've enjoyed being in love with Roy. I don't want to hurt him the way Marth did.

Sometimes, Kirby joins us. Me, Luigi, Roy and Kirby—can't get any better, right? Unfortunately, I uncover more puzzles. Kirby—he doesn't seem to like Roy very much. He's almost as curt with him as Roy is becoming with Luigi. Something I haven't quite noticed until recently is that my student gets quite aggressive with my boyfriend during matches. Kirby defends me at the drop of a hat the way I defend him, so I can't help but wonder—does he sense trouble in paradise regarding me and Roy? Or is it something more?

I don't mean to make Roy feel insecure about our relationship. I love him, and I promise to be everything Marth wasn't. But Luigi is a very good friend of mine, has been for the past eight years, and so help me God, I'm not leaving him when he needs his friends the most!


Kirby's POV

POYO!