Shades of Grey - Chapter 6
"What?!" Tuff cried at Joe's cryptic announcement. "How do you know?"
"When I was spying on Nightmare, I found that they had created some kind of device that can revive fallen monsters," Joe explained. "They were going to start the war as soon as they revived all of their strongest warriors…"
"Wolfwrath!" Meta-Knight cried, drawing a confused look from everyone. "That's right! I saw him right before I was injected with the Behemoth Serum!"
Joe nodded. "He along with Kracko were the first to be revived," The young fighter looked up towards the sky as droplets of rain began to fall on his face. "If Kracko is showing himself that means the war must have begun!"
The skies flashed as lightning streaked across the skies along with a thunderous roar. Kirby hid his face in Meta-Knight's dented mask.
"Kirby's not ready yet…" the old soldier said softly.
"I have an idea!" Tiff stated. "Listen to me. We're going to need a plan, and we're going to need Kirby and Meta-Knight at their best. Blade, give me the Behemoth Serum formula. Sword, give me the antidote. I'll make the formula and test the antidote. We'll have to lay low until then, especially if all of the old monsters have been reborn."
"Where can we go?" Tuff asked. "You gotta know the monsters are gonna be looking for Kirby and Meta-Knight!"
"How about Chef Kawasaki's?" Lololo suggested. "He's got a big basement where he stores all his food!"
"Yeah!" Lalala nodded in agreement. "He's really nice too. I know he'll help us!"
What began as light rain swiftly escalated to a steady downpour. Kirby whimpered, his face still buried in the safety of his elder's mask. Meta-Knight folded his newly healed wings around his younger brethren, shielding him from the rain. "Alright then, lets go. We can't stay out here."
"You mean the war has restarted?" Chef Kawasaki asked. He was quite surprised when the doorbell rang and upon opening it found himself horded by the group of children, Joe, a winged Meta-Knight and his two subordinates. However Tiff was quick to summarize the situation, yet even after the explanation Kawasaki was quite confused.
Blade nodded. "Sir Meta-Knight and Kirby are not in fighting condition. Please can we spend the night in your basement? The monsters can't find us here."
The tenderhearted young chef looked over to Meta-Knight. The veteran was slouched and obviously weary, his wings drooped and his eyes glowed dimly. In his arms Kirby had fallen asleep, as fatigued finally won out over his senses. "Alright. You all must be hungry. I'll make you something to eat. I also have some blankets, but I can only let you stay here one night ok?"
"Thank you…" Meta-Knight said softly. "I promise we'll be out tomorrow…"
"Here, let me take Kirby…" Kawasaki tenderly took Kirby from the old soldier and led the children downstairs. The basement was quite large, but wasn't overly well lit. The only source of light in the room was from a small hanging lamp. Many packages of food were scattered around the room, but in the center of the room there was a large empty space. Kawasaki gently placed Kirby on the floor and left to get some blankets. Meta-Knight sat down by a group of boxes with a sigh of exhaustion.
"Thank you Chef," Joe said as he rubbed his nose. "We'll make sure nothing happens to your restaurant."
"That's alright," he replied as he returned with the blankets. He wrapped one around Kirby and handed the others to each of the children. "If you need anything just call."
"Wait, um…Mr. Kawasaki?" Tiff asked. "Do you have a desk I can work on? There's a formula I have to make…"
"Sure, I even have some chemicals and lab equipment if you need some," the young chef replied. "I don't have much, I once dabbled in science but it was only a passing fancy."
"That would be great! Thank you so much!" Tiff said. With a nod, Kawasaki brought in a desk, chair and some lab equipment with the help of Tuff, Joe, Lololo and Lalala. Afterwards Kawasaki treaded back up the stairs, leaving the children to themselves.
"I say we take turns watching the restaurant," Joe suggested, rubbing his nose wearily. "Just incase the monsters do attack, we need someone to warn the others."
"I think that's a good idea," Tuff answered with a yawn. He too was tired from the day's events. Tiff sat down at the desk and began working on the formula. Suddenly, Kawasaki walked back in, holding trays of food in his arms.
"Here children, eat up," The chef ordered as he set the meals before them. "If you need anything just call."
"Thank you Mr. Kawasaki," Tuff said with a vigorous nod and began munching on the food. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was until just then. Apparently hunger spreads, as the others began inhaling their food in hordes. Even Kirby woke up and began eating his share. Fortunately, he was too tired to use his inhale or he would have eaten everything in the room. "C'mon Tiff, Meta-Knight. You two also gotta eat."
"I'm not hungry…" Meta-Knight said sleepily, "Let Kirby eat my share…"
The little creampuff happily obliged. After finishing both his and Meta-Knight's shares he fell back to sleep.
"No, I'm alright," Tiff replied as she read over the Behemoth formula and began to work on its creation. "Save some for me, I have a lot of work to do."
Upon finishing his meal, Tuff yawned loudly, "We really need to think of a plan…"
"I think we're all too tired to think right now," Sword murmured.
"He's right," Joe stood up, gathering the empty trays in his arms. "I'm going to stand watch first. After a few hours Tuff'll go next, then Sword and finally Blade." With that final word the young fighter walked up the stairs.
Tuff laid down, wrapping his blanket around himself. Lololo and Lalala laid down next to each other on one of the numerous packages, sharing a blanket. Blade and Sword sat down next to each other and leaned back against a line of packages. Meta-Knight wrapped his wings around himself and Tiff continued to work on the serum…
Tiff wiped one hand across her eyes as she finally completed the serum. She was quite tired and had no idea how long she had been working. Yet Joe sleeping a few feet away was proof that she had been working at least a few hours. Now it was time to test the antidote. She poured some of the Behemoth Serum into a heated vial and added a small amount of the antidote. There was no initial response, but Tiff decided to wait a few more hours to see if there was going to be a delayed response. If the Behemoth Serum took awhile to take effect, the antidote may work the same way. With that in mind Tiff leaned back and stretched her arms, figuring that she would just have to wait until then.
She looked over to Meta-Knight. He was facing partially away from her, towards Kirby. His eyes were glowing softly, indicating that he was still awake. Whether he had awoken some time during the night or if sleep had escaped him completely she didn't know. Despite his attempts to mask his distress, Tiff could see a slight tremor in his wings and frame. She could only imagine his internal struggle against the serum that continued to course through his veins, and wished there was something that she could do to comfort him. Suddenly, an idea came to her and she got up off her chair…
Meta-Knight sat silently watching Kirby's peaceful slumber. Despite his fatigue sleep continued to escape him. Constantly he fought against the influence of the serum, and the constant conflict left him feeling weak, ravaged. A feeling of hopelessness threatened to overwhelm him. Once again he questioned why anyone fancied him such a great warrior, a hero even. It was blasphemy. Just because he happened to survive doesn't make him any stronger, any better than the slaughtered.
Suddenly the old soldier was startled out of his thoughts when he felt a pair of hands gently touch his back.
"Relax," Tiff's soft voice came from behind as she began to rub his back, "I finished the antidote and it's being tested now. In just a few more hours we'll know whether or not it's going to work."
"What if it doesn't…?" His voice was barely audible.
"It will," she said sternly. "And if it doesn't, then I'll make one that does!" Suddenly she paused.
"What's wrong?" Meta-Knight asked as he felt the hands freeze in place.
"I never knew how soft your skin was…" Tiff giggled as she continued to rub his back. "I thought maybe because you were older, or because you're a soldier your skin would be…I don't know, more rough? Calloused maybe? But no, it feels just like Kirby's."
"Yes, well…" The veteran felt slightly awkward at that comment. "Our anatomy allows us to heal injuries more effectively, as well as flatten and expand when the situation calls for it…"
"Hey, wait a minute…" Tiff thought for a moment, "Can I ask you something? I'm not sure but it might be a personal question."
"What is it?"
"You and Kirby are one of the same, right? I mean, you're both of the same race and body structure. Does that mean you can inhale?" Tiff asked. That would explain why Meta-Knight would know so much about Kirby's abilities, yet she had never seen Meta-Knight emulate any of the capabilities shared by his younger brethren.
There was a long pause, "No. Not anymore"
"Oh…is it something that you lose with age?" Tiff inquired.
Meta-Knight sighed softly. "No. I may have survived the war but it doesn't mean that I left unscathed."
"What happened?" she asked tenderly.
"It was during the beginning of the war, I was only a mere lieutenant yet I was given command of a small group of fighters. We were to draw the fire of the enemy while the rest of the army ambushed them from behind. It was during that fight I met Wolfwrath for the first time." Meta-Knight explained. His wings twitched occasionally as Tiff kneaded between them. "I was horribly outmatched, Wolfwrath was much stronger and faster than I was. He had me cornered and had spit out one of his fireballs. Without anything available to block it, I decided to try to inhale it. It was a dreadful mistake. The fire was scalding, beyond anything I had ever tried to inhale before. My face and mouth were ablaze, and immediately I discharged the dreaded thing before fainting from the pain. But upon awakening and laying eyes upon my own visage I came to find that the damage had been done. Upon losing that ability I lost all others that came with it."
"How awful…" Tiff gasped.
"For weeks I tried to inhale, but it was to no avail and ultimately I had to give up. At that point I decided to take up the sword, as it was the ability that I was best with…" Meta-Knight finished, his voice growing soft.
"Is that…why you wear the mask?" Tiff asked. He responded with a weary nod.
"Yes…the fire left a horrific scar, and it was a constant reminder of my failure…" He replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "I couldn't bare to see it, and ever since that horrendous battle I have donned the mask."
The old soldier grew quiet, and silently Tiff rubbed his back.
"Well…" She said softly, breaking the silence, "If it's any consolation, I think the mask looks cool."
"Thank you Tiff," Meta-Knight replied softly. "But…after all this…why …how could people view me as some kind of hero?"
"What?" The young girl asked, surprised at his abrupt change of subject.
"Sorry, ignore me. I am tired and am babbling nonsense…" He said with a slight wave of his hand.
"No, please continue…" Tiff urged gently. "What did you mean by that?"
"Well…why do people view me in such high regard? Their beliefs are unfounded. If I was as great a hero as everyone fancied I would be able to fight the monsters on my own. I would be able to fight against this serum without anyone's help… I would…" A soft sigh escaped him, "…I don't know, be stronger…"
"You want to know what I think?" Tiff asked as she stopped kneading his back and hugged him around his shoulders. "I think that you have a distorted view on what it takes to be a hero. We don't expect you to be invincible, Meta-Knight. Why do you think Sword and Blade follow you? Because you had bested Wolfwrath that one time? Because they think you're invulnerable?" She rested her head on his back. "No, it was because you risked your life to save theirs even when they tried to rob you before. You're courageous, wise and benevolent. That's why they regard you so highly."
There was a long pause. "You're very intuitive."
"I'm also right," Tiff said with a soft giggle. A small sound began to emit from the old soldier, startling the young girl. Upon listening for a moment realization dawned on her; Meta-Knight was snoring. It was about time he fell asleep! She gently released her grip and picked up one of the left over blankets. Afterwards she laid down next to the slumbering Kirby and wrapped the blanket around herself. Immediately she fell asleep…
Kirby and Meta-Knight stood before an army of monsters. The slathering beasts regarded their newfound prey with a frightening eagerness. Yet the two star warriors were unafraid, for both knew that this could spell the end and yet they looked forward to this confrontation with an almost enthusiasm. Perhaps it was because they had been born and bred to be the sworn enemy of the monsters. For as long as the elder star warrior knew, all throughout the existence of his race they had fought generation after generation of monsters. It was as if their purpose was merely to ensure safety to all innocence, to balance out against evil.
Blow after blow the monsters fell, yet even more came in droves. It was if they never ended, yet this conformation only heated Meta-Knight's bloodlust. He wanted to destroy every last living monster - As that was his true and only real purpose. Yet he couldn't help but wonder - After he and Kirby finally succeeded in slaughtering all of the remaining monstrosities, what next? What would there be left for him, for Kirby? If his war for peace ever did end, what other direction could he have?
He didn't expect to live through the war, but perhaps it was for the better. Not only would death at the hands of his many antagonists bring him honor, but would ensure that throughout his life he had a purpose.
At one point in the battle, instinct began to guide his hand. The monsters came in waves and yet he annihilated them all. Blood flowed like the currents of a river, darkening the grassy terrain that served as their battlefield a shade of crimson.
Finally, the monsters were defeated and he alone stood in the battlefield. He alone…
Where is Kirby?
Terror gripped him as he realized that Kirby was among the fallen. He looked down at the fatally wounded star warrior as panic threatened to overwhelm him.
Those wounds are not the inflictions of beasts.
Only a sword could cause such damage.
A numbing dread coursed through the old soldier's veins as he realized what he had done. In his bloodlust he had become careless, and Kirby was the one who suffered for his foolishness.
What have I done?!
Suddenly large, webbed wings protruded from his back as a demonic laugh escaped him.
This is wrong!
He raised his sword into the air as the fallen monsters began to rise.
Yet Kirby remained inanimate.
Despite his mental commands to stop, Meta-Knight flapped his wings and propelled himself into the sky. His legions of monsters followed.
Why is this happening?!
Hovering in the skies Meta-Knight aimed his sword at Cappytown. In the streets below, the children he once protected gazed up at him with unrepressed terror.
Energy gathered before the cursed blade, his eyes brightening in accordance to the unholy weapon. The beam shot out of his sword and engulfed the town in flames. Agonized screams echoed through the air, but none as loud as the resonating maniacal laughter…
Meta-Knight awoke with a start. His stomached twisted in a painful knot as the dream vaguely replayed in his mind. A sudden nudge pulled him out of his shadowed thoughts and he realized that he had his wings tightly wrapped around him. The old soldier parted his wings to find Kirby standing before him, blanket in hand.
"Bad dream?" Kirby mewled softly. Meta-Knight regarded his younger brethren with confusion, but ultimately nodded. The little star warrior gave his elder a look of understanding, then sat down before him and wrapped the blanket around himself and Meta-Knight. Finally, after that was completed, Kirby nuzzled up against his mask. "Better?"
The gesture initially baffled Meta-Knight, but suddenly recognized its meaning. When Kirby had a nightmare previously, the company of his elder soothed him. The little star warrior was merely trying to return the favor. This realization touched the old veteran, and his eyes glowed softly with content. "Better." With a childish smile Kirby yawned and fell back to sleep. With a loud yawn, sleep once again overtook the old knight…
After the long night, dawn finally approached. Tuff was one of the first to rise, and out of curiosity he looked at Tiff's lab experiment. With a gasp, he ran over to Tiff and shook her to wakefulness.
"What…what's wrong?" Tiff mumbled. "What is it?"
"Does the cure work?" Tuff asked. Tiff rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"I don't know," she answered with a yawn. "Let me see…" The young girl pulled herself onto her feet and carefully examined the vial. The Behemoth Serum and the antidote had mixed to create…water? Tiff tested the contents of the vial. It was purified water, the antidote completely nullified the effects of the serum! "It works! It works!" She ran over to Meta-Knight, and was slightly surprised to see Kirby sleeping with him. With a shrug she knelt down and gently shook his shoulder. "Meta-Knight!"
The old soldier's eyes glowed, indicating his arousal. "What is it?"
"The antidote!" Tiff cheered. "It works!"
"That's great!" Meta-Knight answered. The young girl sterilized a syringe and transferred the contents of the antidote from the vial to the syringe.
"It will take a few hours to work," Tiff explained tenderly as he raised his arm and allowed her to inject the antidote into his veins.
"As long as it works…" Meta-Knight answered. His arm immediately healed after she pulled out the needle.
"Awesome!" Tuff whooped. "Now we can think of a plan and kick some monster butt!"
Lololo and Lalala stirred with all of the noise. "What's going on?"
Blade treaded down the steps, as he was the last one assigned to watch the restaurant. "What's all the commotion?"
"The cure's going to work," Tiff explained as she stood.
"That's awesome!" Joe said as he stretched. "Now we can think of a plan."
Sword, who had awakened early and had been hanging out with Blade and Chef Kawasaki, walked down the stairs along with the chef himself.
"You're not discussing plans on an empty stomach!" Kawasaki said with a hearty laugh. In his arms he carried numerous trays of food and set them before the children. "Good luck with your journey!" the young chef said sincerely as he treaded back up the stairs.
Sword sat down next to Blade as the group sat down in a circle and began to munch on their food. "Joe, you said that you had been spying on them and that's how you know about the device that revives fallen monsters. What else do you know?"
Meta-Knight gently nudged Kirby, who awoke with a hearty yawn and eagerly began to eat his meal. Joe rubbed his nose thoughtfully. "Well, that's gonna be their greatest weapon. However it does have one big weakness. The revived monsters are only soulless shells of their former selves, their life is sustained only through telepathic waves the machine emits. If the machine is ever destroyed, all of the revived monsters fall with it."
"So all we have to do is destroy the device and we'll already have the upper hand?" Tiff asked. Joe nodded.
"Where is the device located?" Lalala asked.
"At N.M.E. Base…" Joe leaned back on his elbows. "That's where this plan becomes difficult."
"It will obviously be heavily guarded…" Blade pointed out.
"It is…" Joe stated. "…against star warriors. But you see, Nightmare thinks that I am one of their own, and they have no idea about Sword, Blade and you kids."
"So if Kirby and I draw their fire, you all can sneak in and destroy the device," Meta-Knight said with a nod. "After that is done, Kirby and I can take care of the remaining monsters. They can't be that powerful if they're so desperate as to revive fallen monsters so they could have strong warriors."
"We'll go in groups so we can better avoid detection," Sword offered.
"It will also increase our chances of finding the device," Blade stated.
"There are two ways we can get in," Joe explained. "One way is through the air vents, the other is through a secret passage that connects to the underside of their fortress. Blade you, Lalala and Tuff will go through the air vents. Sword, Lololo and I will go through the secret passage. Kirby and Meta-Knight, you guys can attract their attention to the front of the fortress while we make our move. But first we're gonna have to sneak through Dedede's castle and use his monster transport system."
"Leave that to me," Tiff said with a smile, "I'll distract Dedede and Escargoon while you use the transport device."
"Sounds like a good plan." Meta-Knight said softly. His wings folded against his back as he climbed onto his feet. Finally he regarded the children. "But before we go, are you children sure you want to do this? It is very dangerous."
"We know, Meta-Knight!" Lololo nodded vigorously.
"We're ready!" Lalala said.
"This is what you trained us for!" Tuff exclaimed.
"This involves all of us," Tiff stated. "We're going to claim our own destiny, not leave it in the hands of Nightmare!"
"Ready!" Kirby cheered.
"Alright then," Meta-Knight's eyes flashed. "Lets go!"
Author's Notes: Yay! I was able to finish Chapter 6 in time! ::Does happy dance:: The next chapter will not likely come for a few weeks because the computer I'm using has to be disconnected during Christmas Break. The computer we have at home is old and slow and probably won't be able to post chapters. I am also starting my winter job soon, so I won't have any time to work on the chapter anyway. (Probably at McDonalds) I'm not sure how well I did on my tests, but I think I did well enough. Passed them at least! ::Does another happy dance:: I'm very pleased with this chapter, and decided not to end this one in a cliffhanger like I had done with the others because I know I won't be able to write the next chapter for a few weeks or so and it wouldn't be very nice to do that. LOL. What's funny is that Meta-Knight's entire dream sequence was written when I was half-asleep and stoned off Excedrin PM. I seem to write the most poetic when I'm drowsy, LOL. However I re-read the chapter and especially that scene and fixed the typos. I hope you like it! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!