Haha, chapter five~! I'm glad everyone is enjoying it so far. These two puffballs are just too great to write, so I should hope they're just as fun to read.
Quick thing before you start reading, though. I put up a poll on my profile, since I really want to know the way readers imagine this fanfiction. Just to know if there's a preferred method. I've been writing it neutrally since I know people tend to visualize different things. It'll help plenty for later chapters, so go on and vote, please!
That said, enjoy this chapter~!
Sailor hummed in concentration as she looked over the checklist for the knights' trip to shiver Star. She looked at the polished silver star ship carefully. It seemed just fine, really, although Sword and Blade were the experts on this.
She sighed. Why did they have to be the ground troops instead of those traitors...
A small purple robot hovered up to her, its lower body slowly rotating. "anything the matter ?" it asked a bit choppily.
"No. Just looking over the ship, Javelin. Uh, it hasn't been used in a long time and Meta Knight is going to use to make the trip to Shiver Star today. I just hope it makes it."
"nothing wrong then ." the hovering droid confirmed after a short delay.
"...I gotta get around to upgrading you..." Sailor muttered, "Maybe after the two leave today. There will be plenty of time then..."
The door to the hangar opened, and Sailor looked over at the entrance. She greeted the Captain with a salute.
"At ease," he mumbled, clearly not in the mood. "What's the report?"
She dropped the gesture and looked him over carefully. His cape was wrapped around himself in a guarded manner, and he was speaking quieter than usual.
Right, no jokes.
Sailor cleared her throat. "I was checking over the ship...it's a bit past its prime, but it should get you to Shiver Star. Uh, I don't know about getting back though. I'll pack spare parts and tools just in case, but other than that you'll be on your own."
"It's fine. If need be, we'll fly home, but we need to get rid of any remains of Haltmann's takeover.
"From four planets away? Heh, uh, you're not a robot-" Sailor stopped short, eyes widening at her slip-up. "I-I meant-"
Meta Knight sighed, ignoring that part. "Popstar isn't completely out of Haltmann's reign. Kirby chased him off, but I'll sweep up the remains."
Sailor contemplated. "I guess you're right. But just don't overdo it. Uh...you've done so a few times before." She held her breath, feeling she stepped just a bit too far.
"...I suppose so," Meta Knight said after a long pause. "But I've improved since then, of course."
Sailor sighed audibly in relief. "Yeah, you have. It's easy to forget though, since you've been the greatest for a long time now."
Meta Knight smiled slightly under his mask before clearing his throat. "So, we're set to head out now?"
"You should be," Sailor looked up, "If Galacta were here already."
Oh, right. Him. "...He might be a bit late to rise..." Meta Knight commented with a twinge of amusement in his voice.
Sailor looked at him. "What did you do...?"
Meta Knight shrugged. "Nothing he didn't deserve."
"Oh my gosh," Sailor groaned. "I hope you didn't hurt him too much. You two need to get Shiver Star."
"He can walk." Meta Knight assured her.
Sailor reddened a bit, "Er, I mean, at least try and control yourselves."
"He starts it...I wouldn't finish if he weren't so wild."
"Okay," Sailor said quickly, "That's too much information."
"...What?" Meta Knight asked.
"What?"
The door slammed open. Galacta had his shield gripped tightly, and was obviously in a worse mood than plain grumpy.
Sailor blinked. Oh, that's what...She thought that...well, never mind that. Galacta's wing had a burnt patch on it. She was about to comment on it until Meta knight spoke up first.
"It's late." He scolded. "We should be leaving by now."
"I should be flying by now but nobody can get what they want." He shot back, shoving his good wing in Meta Knight's face again.
This time he did pluck a feather in spite, which offended Galacta. Cue louder arguing.
Sailor inwardly sighed as the two started up again. She just wanted to work on Javelin. "Uh, didn't you just say it was late?"
Meta Knight paused and blinked, having one of Galacta's horns gripped tightly. "Yes, it is." he seemed to realize they were just wasting time now. He looked a bit embarrassed and yanked his cape from Galacta's hands. "Stop fooling around, Galacta Knight."
Said warrior scoffed and muttered, "If I had my lance..."
The Bat ignored the half threat and headed to the star ship. "Follow me."
As Galacta trailed behind with Sailor, Meta Knight began an explanation. "As I said yesterday, we'll be traveling to Shiver Star. It might take a few days, but it's a better alternative to barging in and attempting to tamper with Star Dream."
"I like the sound of that. Just destroy all of it." Galacta piped up eagerly.
"No." Meta Knight replied, expecting a suggestion like that. "I was actually considering keeping the computer core around. We'll have to fix it, and make sure it doesn't fall in the wrong hands, but it'd be a great defense for Popstar."
"I don't know..." Sailor spoke up this time. "I don't think I want anything to do with those creeps around here."
"Technological advancement is a good thing, just not the way they were going about it. It's...It can be compared to..." Meta Knight trailed off, sounding a bit sheepish. He never liked talking about his own faults...few as they were, of course.
The Knight cleared his throat, "Anyway, Galacta. We're going in this star ship." he pointed to the silver spacecraft.
Upon hearing his name, Galacta turned to pay attention. "Huh? Oh. That?" He sounded disgusted. "Isn't it a one person vehicle? I don't want to be near you."
Meta Knight blinked. "You've seen one before?"
"Of course. How old do you think I am?"
"Well, the blueprints to the Halberd did have to be updated to be rebuilt and you've never seen one..." Meta Knight coughed, looking aside.
"Isn't the ship a one-person vehicle?" Galacta repeated venomously.
"Er...No. Normally, they would be, but this one's been modified."
"Yeah," Sailor quipped, "It's a one-and-a-half person vehicle now. Cozy."
"It is a tight fit," Meta Knight admitted, "But I'm not wasting the Halberd's fuel on a two-man trip."
"And it's cold there. I refuse to go." Sailor complained.
"Nobody invited you." Galacta stated.
"Darn it, I wanted to go to the barren wasteland with you guys," Sailor sighed wistfully. "Now I'll have to stay here in the comfort of the Halberd, catching up on my hobbies and ordering everyone around."
Galacta squinted at her. "You're extremely lucky I don't have my lance."
Sailor hesitated at responding to that; She was no fighter, and also smart enough to not poke at crazy ones. Seeing the Waddle Dee's discomfort now, Meta Knight stepped forward. "Get in the ship now. I'm steering." His voice was low and warning.
The capped Dee settled down as Galacta begrudgingly made it to the ship in a few short flaps. "He's crazy," she muttered.
"Quite a bit, yes." Meta Knight agreed, but nobody was safe from his lecturing, "You, on the other hand, should know better than to be sarcastic to someone you don't know."
"But it's too easy."
"He is easy, but-" the Bat paused as Sailor let out a laugh. "What?"
"Uh, nothing. ...Just focus on your wording, will you?" She offered, grinning. "I'll stop being so sassy if you do that."
Not really following, Meta Knight decided to drop it. "Fine, yes. I'll 'watch my wording.'" he promised. "Now go open the door."
Sailor saluted, "Good luck on your trip!" she giggled uncharacteristically, and headed to the exit.
Hmn...even after several years on this planet, Waddle Dees still exhibit strange behavior, Meta Knight mused, Or maybe it's just her.
Meta Knight turned, walking the few feet to the ship. It doesn't matter. What does is getting to Shiver Star and back as quick as possible and oh, he just realized why Sailor laughed at what he said- he had called Galacta easy without realizing it.
The Bat stopped, embarrassed at that slip-up, even if only Sailor had heard it. She better not spread that around...
Hmn, she should know better really, so he wasn't too concerned.
"Hurry up, Bat!" Galacta called out impatiently from the ship, reclined comfortably over the passenger seat and wings splayed so it was partly in the driver's seat.
...The only problem would be not thinking about it much since Galacta was the person he slipped up about.
Meta Knight began walking again. Okay. Don't think about it. That should be simple. You have more important things to spend your time thinking about. Like how cold it'll be in Shiver Star. And when you get back, how you'll make a proper parfait and actually get to eat it. See? Easy enough.
He groaned aloud in annoyance right when he made it to the ship, and Galacta immediately took it as an insult.
"What?! I'm not any more thrilled about this than you are! Do you think I want to go?!"
"I think you're easy to rile up!" Meta Knight snapped, feeling frustrated at...everything.
And there's the word again!
He shook his head and climbed in, and briefly wondered if he could have said anything else recently that could be taken the wrong way. ...Eh, low possibility.
Starting up the engine of the ship as the door of the hangar was opened, Meta Knight focused on staring hard ahead. Galacta was already shifting uncomfortably in his seat and they haven't even moved.
He gets restless so easily, Meta Knight noted.
easy easy easy easy easy.
...Curse Sailor, for pointing his mistake out. This was going to be a long ride...