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Some things remain secret just because we didn't find the way how to explain them.

―Nishan Panwar—

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Meta Knight sheathed his sword and wrapped his cloak tightly around his form. Opponents and friends alike continually underestimated him without his armor. Meta Knight lost track of how many times they would say his masculine voice and prowess in battle did not match his cute, cuddly round appearance at all.

Meta Knight sighed. He was embarrassed by it. Remembering all the teasing he endured during his attendance at Knight's Academy. They called him blueberry tart for Nova's sake! Hearing that dreaded nickname once again from his bumbling employer, of all people, nearly caused him to snap.

When he finally completed his training, Meta Knight was awarded a steel mask for achieving knighthood and he wore it ever since. As time passed nearly everyone has forgotten his real appearance. Now the galaxy simply knows him as Sir Meta Knight the mysterious Star Veteran.

And Meta preferred it that way, but now Kirby came into the picture.

With her appearance, he was vulnerable again. People now saw in the open what he has been trying to conceal for centuries, but forget his pride. It's Kirby who is vulnerable. He will have to protect her, even more, when the winging hits. Her next developmental stage will take place shortly following the Heatwave.

Turning away from Dedede, Meta Knight announced, "Let us go finish our discussion elsewhere."

"Aye, I agree. Let us enter my ship," Arthur suggested. "That way we will have the utmost privacy."

"No need," Meta Knight said quickly. "I know where we can go for-"

"My ship will do," Arthur repeated in a stern tone. There will be no compromises on their meeting place.

Meta Knight knew better not to push the Steward of Starlit Glade any further today. "As you wish, Sir Arthur," he conceded.

Arthur reached down to take Kirby by the paw. "Come with us, Kirby."

Kirby snatched back her paw. "I-I want to talk with Meta Knight first!"

Well, that is rather unexpected. Arthur was clearly unhappy with Kirby's request, but as to not upset the little puffling, he relented, "Alright, you may speak with Meta Knight alone, but it's still going to be on my ship."

"Okay…" she mumbled in agreement.

The other Knights wordlessly fell in line behind their leader as Arthur led them out of the party. Meta Knight motioned for his guardsmen, Sword and Blade, to remain behind. He could see and sense their disappointment, but they obeyed him without question.

Tiff was another story. "Sir Meta Knight-"

Meta Knight attempted to walk past her. "This won't take long."

"I don't like the idea of Kirby going into Arthur's ship-" she tried to protest, but Meta Knight cut her off.

"This is something you have no say in," his words cold and final to show how serious this was. Kirby was now at the helm of her fate and Meta Knight feared she may not know which way to steer.

"But what if he decides to take off with Kirby still onboard?" Tiff panicked, sounding desperate for him to understand.

That unsettling notion had passed through his mind as well. "I will do my best to make sure that does not come to pass," Meta Knight vowed.

Tiff's mouth became a hard straight line as she clenched her fists. "Pretty words," she gritted. "I just hope it's true."

Meta Knight realized right then and there that Tiff was angry with him for blindsiding her like this. If only she knew that even he couldn't have foreseen these turn of events.

Kirby was understandably overwhelmed as she sat in an oversized chair at the head of the table with only Meta Knight seated at her right. They sat in silence while Kirby's paw fidgeted with the warpstar on her head.

"Well," Meta Knight prompted her gently. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked quietly. Her eyes finally locked with his and they were full of uncertainty.

The question caught him off guard. "No. Why would you think that?"

"Because of everything that's happened..." she whispered, ducking her head in shame. "The party was ruined because of me... and people got really angry. The other knights even yelled at you. I thought being myself was the right thing to do..." she reached up and plucked the warpstar from her head. "...but it wasn't."

"No, Kirby, don't think like that!" Meta Knight gently took the warpstar out of her paws and placed it back on her forehead. "We are the ones at fault; the ones who cannot accept the truth and those who blew it completely out of proportion. We were gathered together to thank you for your service, for every bit of you. Do not think for a moment that was your doing. If any, it is mine! I should have told you about your true gender!"

Kirby couldn't keep the resentment out of her voice as she asked, "Then why didn't you? Friends don't keep secrets from one another!"

"I was going to..." Meta Knight sighed. "I just found out last night when you went through your first Heatwave. I was going to tell you after I secured your training as my squire. Unfortunately, it was in vain and I caused a lot of pain and confusion. Can you forgive me?"

"I'm not mad at you for that," Kirby said.

"Then what is it?"

"That you left me completely alone! Why didn't you tell me that you and I are the same?" her face filled with pain and betrayal. "Do you have any idea how lonely I was? I am surrounded by cappies, a penguin, and a snail thinking I was the only one!"

Meta Knight's eyes dimmed to a dull slate gray. "I never knew how strongly you felt about that, Kirby… I am truly sorry," he apologized.

Kirby sagged in her seat against the plush leather. "Why? Are you so ashamed of our kind that you always wear a helmet?"

"On the contrary, the helmet I wear is an honor, young one!" Meta Knight corrected her. "I nor any other Kiridian is ashamed of what we are; it's the Knight's code we follow! However…" his yellow irises narrowed. "...I do find the less outsiders know about us the better."

"Then show me."

"What?"

"I want to see what a Kiridian looks like," Kirby explained. "Lower your mask."

"Kirby…" Meta Knight almost seemed to whine. "…I don't think that's necessary-"

"Please," Kirby pleaded. "I need to know!"

Meta Knight sighed. His cape dropped down to his sides as he uncrossed his arms. This was the least he could do for her. "Very well."

He reached up and unclipped the locks and then slowly, almost self-consciously, lowered it. The blush on his cheeks darkened to the shade of black cherries against his midnight blue skin. His tall yellow eyes fixated on Kirby as he awaited her response.

Kirby stared at him, not saying a word, and then the blush on her rosy cheeks expanded turning her whole body red.

"Kirby?" Meta Knight worried if the aftereffects of the Heatwave were upon her. That would happen sometimes to wenches on their first wave. "Are you alright?" he reached out to feel her forehead.

Kirby flinched back from his touch. Now looking like a firecracker set to burst. "F-Fine!" she sputtered. "I am fine!"

"Then what is it?"

"Y-You…" she swallowed. Her fidgeting intensified. "…you are v-very… what was the word? Oh, handsome!"

There was no end to the surprises today. "...What?" Meta Knight asked, feeling strangely startled by her outburst.

Kirby couldn't look at him any longer. Dropping her eyes, she muttered. "T-T-Tiff would always use that word to describe someone who she found attractive…"

Meta Knight let out a laugh making Kirby's reaction even worse. "Really now?" he asked, his eyes shimmering a bright pink. He shouldn't be teasing the poor child like this. She looked as if she was about to faint, but this was too interesting.

Dames used to swoon over him in his winging years, but he didn't pay any attention to them. Not having a head for romance but for the sword and gear. He spent all his earlier years training or learning aerospace engineering. Now he was an accomplished swordsman with a doctorate in engineering under his belt thank you very much-

"Whoa, you have teeth!" she blurted next and Meta Knight mentally berated himself. He must have shown his pearly whites when he laughed.

"… …so I do," he acknowledged gnashing his fangs.

"But I don't! See!" Kirby opened her mouth and spread the corners of her lips wide to reveal pink gums. "When will my teeth grow in?" she asked excitedly.

"With any luck, never," Meta Knight deadpanned.

Kirby lost her smile. "What do you mean by that?"

Meta Knight didn't answer her. "Are you are satisfied with what you have seen?" he asked, hoping it was near its end.

Kirby stared at him. It was like she was seeing through him and Meta Knight didn't like that feeling. Gone was the airheaded and oblivious toddler she used to be. Meta Knight was itching to reach for his mask when Kirby exclaimed, "Wait, your gloves!"

Meta Knight held out his hand to her. "Here, take it off, Señorita."

Kirby pulled off the white glove to reveal a paw just like hers. A little longer and thicker, but still a numb. She then noticed the long vertical slit in each of his paws. "What are those?"

Meta Knight had half a mind to lie and say they were an old injury, but Kirby would most likely perceive his lie. "Talons," he answered carefully, watching Kirby's reaction closely. He felt a nice stretching sensation as he prompted a sickle-shaped claw on each paw to emerge from his flesh. His talons gleamed under the fluorescent lights from above.

Kirby's eyes got big. She gasped, "Wow…!" At least Kirby wasn't disgusted or afraid. Maybe she didn't know she should be horrified by his abnormalities. "Can I feel?" she asked.

"Go ahead."

He patiently endured her probing. Kirby caught on quickly how to protrude his claws at will. If she pressed just right it would prompt the claw out. Kirby grinned. She let it sink back into his flesh only to press at it again, and again it would slide out. In and out. In and out.

His muscles were really starting to ache and the last thing he needed was a cramp in his paw. "Kirby," Meta Knight said her name with strained patience. "I am not a toy."

Realizing she got carried away, Kirby withdrew. "Sorry, Meta, but I am just so happy!"

Meta Knight's eyes flashed briefly silver at her exclamation. "…may I ask why?"

"Because you are really like me!" she gushed joyfully. "That means the others are as well!"

"Yes," Meta Knight nodded. "We're all Kiridians."

Kirby giggled as she pressed her numb against his one last time. "So why do you wear these?" she asked, turning her attention back to the bulky gloves. "Is it more of your disguise?"

"Yes," Meta Knight admitted. "But it also allows me to keep a good grip on Galaxia. Go ahead and stick your paw into the glove."

Kirby stuck her numb in. Immediately the appendix shafts inside the glove latched onto her. Kirby yelped, ready to fling it away when Meta Knight intervened. "No! That's normal! Let the shafts connect with your paw!"

Kirby drew in a breath and then exhaled. "Okay…" she calmed down. The strange sensation on her paw didn't feel too weird, but it certainly wasn't natural.

"Good, now flex your new fingers," he instructed. "Like that, yes. Very good. It's now a part of you. Do not overthink. Just do."

"These are kind of cool," Kirby admitted once she got the hang of it. "Look, I actually have a thumb!" she wiggled the digit. "So this is what it's like to be like Tiff and Tuff!"

Despite himself, Meta Knight smiled. It was worth a few minutes of discomfort to make her happy.

Kirby took off the glove and handed it back to him. "Thank you for showing me! At least now I know what a Kiridian is supposed to look like."

"Er…yes..." Meta Knight hesitated. He paused as he tried to word it just right and then gave up with a shrug. "…I'm not like the others," he confessed quietly.

Kirby tilted her head feeling confused by his answer. "But you're Kiridian, right?"

"… Mostly," he answered vaguely. "But features like mine are not natural. Fangs and claws do not belong on a Kiridian…" he tried to cover them up as quickly as he could. Placing back on his gloves and locking his mask back into place. Meta Knight felt a rush of relief to be back in his garb. "…I just wanted you to be aware of that."

Kirby frowned with concern. "Meta-"

"This is no longer about me, Kirby," Meta Knight cut her off firmly yet gently. "I have answered all of your questions. Now, are you ready for me to bring in Sir Arthur and the rest of the Star Veterans? They have a lot of things they wish to discuss with you."

"Umm..." Kirby suddenly seemed unsure of herself.

"Whatever you decide, I will support you," Meta Knight promised. "Do not be afraid. Be brave as you always were."

Kirby nodded. "Right! And I'll be there for you too, Meta Knight," she patted his paw with a huge smile. "It's okay to be different. You're fine just the way you are!"

Meta Knight felt slightly uncomfortable again. At times like this, he missed her sweet, simple-minded naivety. "Kirby, you're growing up," he observed.

"POY-Oooh, I-I mean yes! Finally, somebody has noticed!" Kirby cheered.

"Are we done?" Meta Knight asked, ready to get up and call the others to join them in the conference hall.

With a glint in her eye, Kirby agreed. "For now."

Meta Knight felt the corners of his lips curl up above his fangs. For the first time since coming here, Meta Knight felt a twinge of hope. If Kirby was anything like Princess Stella then he may get his squire after all.

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Next Chapter: Farewell to Dreamland

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