Chapter 6

Preparing For Battle And Protecting The Ones You Love

Meta Knight attempted a painful escape and jumped out of the flames. Yes, he was free from torched demise but his cape was still on fire and the top of his right glove had been burned off so his little blue hand was showing.

Meta Knight plunged at the dragon stabbing it in the side and sliced down it until he reached the ground. The monster cried out with a loud screech and started shaking it's body.

Meta Knight held his hand up to sheild his face from the blood squirting form it's side.

In a rage, the dragon thrust its tail around trying to crush Meta Knight or at least send him flying.

But the Star Warrior saw it coming and jumped out of the way.

The monster continued to raise it's tail and bash it down but each time Meta Knight would jump or roll out of the way. The warrior knew this would eventually wear him out and it did. Meta Knight took the opportunity to try and talk some sence into Yamikage.

"Please Yamikage," he pleaded, "stop this madness before it is too late!"

"Never!" the evil ninja answered in a loud dark voice.

The dragon banged it's tail down again but Meta Knight jumped back.

"Stop using your hate for me to destroy everything around you! If you must, deal with me. Keep the citizens of Pop Star out of it." the warrior shouted.

Yamikage snarled, "Anybody who even knows you should be dead!"

"Revenge is never the answer my friend." Meta Knight said, hypocritly ignoring the revenge he seeked himself.

The dragon was loosing too much blood at a time so the very next second it collapsed. It was too bad Tiff's scream, "Look out!" was to late to save Meta Knight when the dragon collapsed and Meta Knight looked behind him it's tail whacked Meta Knight in the face and sent him flying.

Meta Knight went flying right into Tuggle's convienent store where he was greeted with an open mouth and a dead Tuggle lying over the counter. At least the monster is gone. He thought. Even though that was true he still had Yamikage to worry about who was all ready searching through the messy snack pile to find Meta Knight.

Everything ounce of strenghth left inside him said, "Kill that traitor!" but his heart was too worried about the children to be a hero.

So unlike himself, Meta Knight hid under millions of bags of dry noodles and tried no to make a sound.

"Where are you, you coward!" the angry ninja raged.

Meta Knight sneeked past Yamikage using bacon crispy chips as his cover.

When he was outside he hid on the side of the door.

Yamikage soon after come outside, "I'll have to take her back and get a new monster."

Then the ninja walked away.

Meta Knight watched him, "Her?" he thought out loud.

Could this be the woman he once loved? Or was it just someone else.

"No, Meta Knight," he told himself, "she's gone, you must accept that."

He still couldn't get over what Escargoon said, "..some girl with black hair," "..very pale and was wearing black and purple."

The description reminded him so much of her.

As Meta Knight searched for the kids he kept talking to himself, "It's just wishful thinking. She's not alive." here he stopped and looked around making sure the coast was clear."She's gone you'll never see here again," here he ran off, "Or could it be her?"

"Meta Knight?" said a voice.

Meta Knight turned, "Pisces?" he said under his breath.

There she was standing right in front of him just as he remembered her. But he wasn't sure if she was real. She was sort of illuminated in light. Was she an angel?

"I was so worried about you!" she said, running to him and embracing him.

Meta Knight held back a tear and began to stroke his fingers through her hair, "Where have you been?"

"I've been hiding with Kirby," she answered confusing him, "uh, what are you doing?"
Pisces pale complexion faded away as did her voice as she turned into a scared, blushing Tiff.

"I-I was just worried about you." he said letting go of her. Great. you're cracking up Meta Knight. He thought to himself.

"I'm fine, but where have you been? We've been looking for you ever since the ninja left."

"He's gone?" he asked a bit relieved.

"I think so."

The next second Kirby and Tuff appeared.

"There's a great big dragon in the street what should we do with it?" Tuff asked.

Meta Knight was about to answer him but Tuff answered himself.

"I know! We can just have Kirby suck it up and eat it!"

Kirby covered his mouth and turned green.

Tiff ignored her brother, "What are we going to do now, Meta Knight?"

"We must get away from here, they will surely return." he replied, "Tuff, go and find Sword, Blade, Escargoon and Kind Dedede and bring them back here."

"Do we really have to take those two goons with us?" Tuff refuring to Dedede and Escargoon."

"Yes."

Tuff shook his head then ran off.

"Where are we going now?" Tiff asked.

"We" are not going anywhere. You are going Ripple Star. I'm sure Ribbon can take care of you."

"Who's Ribbon?"

"A fairie."

"But what about you? You're coming to aren't you?"

"No Tiff, you'll all be safer without me."

"What do you mean?

Meta Knight looked away, "Yamikage is after me. He will not let up until he has found me and destroyed me."

"Oh no!"

"Do not worry. If I destroy him or at least make this planet safe for you to come back to you can come home."

"And if you don't?"

Meta Knight tried to curve the subject, "Ribbon is very nice. You'll like her."

"Meta Knight!"

"I'm back!" Tuff shouted, with everybody left following him.

Sword and Blade hurried over pulling Kirby's star ship behind them.

"Here it is just like we promised." Sword said.

"Good. Send Escargoon and Dedede first. Blade, you drive them."

"YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!" Tiff shouted as the Star ship took off.

"You are next Tiff."

"We can't just leave you here all by yourself!"

Meta Knight ignored her, "The star ship will be here any minute."

"Meta Knight aren't you afraid!"

"Yes! I am afraid! I'm afraid if you stay here that monster might kill you!"

"YOU might be killed!"

Meta Knight sighed, "I know and I am afraid for myself but I cannot risk your lives to save my own."

"Can't Kirby at least stay with you?"

"There's is no reason for him to stay. The citizens he protected have perished and he must go on to protect other planets for the greater good. If I die the only loss I will have is not avenging my friends I had fought with in the past." this he said under his breath, "and my love."

"I won't leave you here!" Tiff said

Tiff started running toward him but Sword grabbed her.

Meta Knight smiled under his mask and though to himself. So presistant. She is just like Pisces.

The next minute went past and the start ship land with Blade inside.

"I'm sure you can fit five more inside." Meta Knight laughed.

"No we want to stay and fight with you!" Sword said loyaly with Blade nodding in agreement.

"Maybe you all are right. Maybe we all should just go to Ripple Star and leave together."

"Right!" Sword and Blade said together.

Everyone except Sword and Meta Knight were pilled in.

"After you." Meta Knight said politaly.

Sword accepted the offer but hesitated to get in. But with one swift kick from Meta Knight he jumped right in.

Suddenly the hatch closed.

"No!" Tiff screamed, pressing her hands against the glass.

Meta Knight pulled out his sword and filled it with energy, "Start the star ship!"

"No! Come with us!" Sword urged.

"Start the Star ship or I will unleash this energy and blow it up." the warrior warned sternly.

"He won't do it Sword don't start the Star ship until he's in it!" Tiff begged.

"I mean it Sword!"

Sword was hesitant but he did as he was told and they were airborne.

"MEEEEEEEEEEEETAAAAAA KNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!" Tiff screamed at the top of her lungs.

Meta Knight watched as they disappeared, "I'm doing this for your own good."

Then he walked away.