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Meta Knight sat up quickly, his yellow eyes scanning around the crystal room frantically. There was no doubt in his mind that he heard the strange cry of a creature. He gripped his mattress in his hands before standing up. His gaze dropped to the two sleeping bags across from him.
They were empty.
Sword and Blade were not there. Even in his current paranoia-riddled state, the knight knew his knaves would never abandon him in this place. Especially since they had begged him to return to the castle and rest until he was in good health. They wouldn't…
Part of him now wished that he had listened.
But where could his knaves have gone? He decided to make the attempt of remaining calm for the time being and wait for their return. Minutes passed, and they were still no where in sight. An uncomfortable feeling rose in Meta Knight's stomach.
"Sword…Blade?" He called softly.
There was no answer. The Star Warrior clutched his cape tightly around him, shivering at the sudden cold temperature in the cave. It must have dropped several degrees, it was so frigid Meta Knight could have thought that he was dying.
Meta Knight was beginning to feel worry, Sword and Blade must have been in trouble. They wouldn't abandon him because they had tired of dealing with his recent behavior…would they? The thought of that alone was enough to make him uneasy.
He made a silent promise to himself that when he found them, the blue puff would take their advice and rest. Meta Knight hadn't realized until then that his behavior had been affecting them too. He continued to tell himself that Sword and Blade wouldn't leave him…but the doubt still lingered.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of shuffling. He turned around, expecting to see his two knaves behind him. Nothing was there. The cave was once again quiet. The fact still remained, something had produced that noise. He was certain it was not his sleep-deprived mind.
"Sword, Blade…where are you?" He asked as he walked down the path decorated with the glowing crystals. "We are returning to the castle."
Still, no one answered him. The Star Warrior only heard the sound of his own voice echo across the walls. He frowned, his eyes glowing grey.
"If you can hear me, answer." No reply. "Please…"
He slumped against one of the many crystals protruding from the ground. Meta Knight shifted to a sitting position and buried his masked face in his gloved hands. He had never felt so alone in his life…not since the years he wandered around in space after the GSA fell against Nightmare.
The air was still cold, and his armor was doing little to provide him warmth. He tightly wrapped his cape around his blue body, feeling slightly warmer.
But he still felt cold inside.
Meta Knight cursed his ability to frequently make the few that cared about him regret it in the long run. It was him though, he was the problem. If he had listened to Sword and Blade, he would still have them by his side. He wouldn't be here in this frigid cave, and he wouldn't be suffering with so much grief in his chest.
Meta Knight closed his eyes, his heart heavy.
Drrr…shlop…shlop…
The Star Warrior's eyes shot open, widening as they heard the faint noise.
He looked to both sides, seeing nothing once again.
The sound was unlike the ones he heard earlier. The giggles sounded fairly tame compared to the disturbing noises Meta Knight had just heard.
schlop…shlop…
It was a strange, moist scraping sound that seemed to slowly get closer. It was enough to make his skin crawl in his disoriented state. Meta Knight dared to glance across the crystal room to find the producer of the unearthly noise.
And then…ITappeared.
Meta Knight had fought countless Demon Beasts in the war. He had faced some of the most intimidating beings in existence without hesitance. The Star Warrior had been one out of six survivors of his species in said war. He had been on the battlefield, fighting against Nightmare's creations, and was forced to end his best friend's life.
But the mere glimpse of IT was enough to make the veteran's heart stop.
What was IT?
The knight didn't know.
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The thing that was caught in his sights was a nightmarish creature. It's upper body had a somewhat round bulbous shape, appearing to be the head. The abomination's skin, a pale sickly white with dark red blotches of varying sizes spread on it's body.
The lower body was a mass of tentacles and limbs, the number of appendages the abhorrent monstrosity owned could not be counted. It's face consisted only of a single bulging eye larger than Meta Knight's own body, red in color with a glowing green pupil.
It's tentacles created that maddening wet, scraping noise as it slowly dragged itself across the cave floor. Every move the unholy creature made left a viscous trail behind, the fluid that dripped from it's limbs was a clear saliva-like substance.
It made the knight's stomach churn to look at it. The thing wrapped it's tentacles around a crystal, slowly scaling the gem while it's lone eye occasionally shifted in it's socket. The cephalopod-like creature gurgled, despite no mouth being present on it's horrendous body.
Meta Knight never felt such a strong desire to distance himself from anything in his entire existence. Something about that thing made his insides tremble, his vision blurry. Perhaps it was his lack of sleep that made the veteran so avoidant of the creature, but something within his body was demanding him not to attract it's attention.
But he was a knight. Certainly he could slay this disgusting abomination.
His hand went to the hilt of Galaxia as he slowly crept from behind his crystal. Stealthily, he neared the creature's backside. He unsheathed his weapon.
The sickly white being swiftly turned around with a small whine escaping it's vocal. It's large eye was staring directly into Meta Knight's yellow ones.
It stared…and stared…unblinking.
It slinked from the crystal it was perched on, then dragged it's fleshy body towards him. It's eye never left the blue Star Warrior.
Suddenly, the area below it's optic began to tear. In it's place was a mouth. A circular opened mouth with large teeth, some pointed and sharp, while others flat like a herbivore's. Upon closer inspection from the knight, it had two rows of teeth.
The veteran held Galaxia in his hand, yet he could not raise his arm to strike. He was frozen in place, helpless against the nightmarish advancing cephalopod.
The thing's mouth widened, saliva dripping from it's gaping maw. It was then that Meta Knight understood it's intentions for him.
It was going to eat him.
The Lovecraftian horror neared closer, the knight's eyes glowed white in mortification. With another lurch in his stomach, a morbid thought had entered his mind. This abomination…could it have caused his knaves' disappearance?
It warbled, the drool leaking from it's mouth. He couldn't move, only stand there locked in it's unending gaze. Meta Knight internally screamed for his body to move, to fight, to escape. Something to distance himself from this vile being.
The only movement he could manage was to tremble. Violently shake in his armor as it grew tauntingly closer. A few of it's tentacles coiled, almost in ecstasy, seeing that it's meal was making no attempts to escape it's clutches.
Meta Knight squeezed his eyes shut, waiting. Waiting for it to attack. It was all that he could do.
…
Moments passed. The sickening sounds of the abomination no longer rang through his head. Meta Knight dared to open an eye.
It was gone. Gone without a trace. Not even the slime trails were visible. Confused, the blue puff opened his glowing orange eyes and searched the room. The cave was exactly as it had been. Everything left untouched.
"I have become insane…" Meta Knight thought in horror. "Is this what I have been reduced to?"
The knight's thoughts were interrupted when he felt something dripping on his head. Baffled, he glanced up towards the ceiling.
He didn't even have time to scream.
SCREEEEEEEEE!
Sword and Blade were awoken by their lord. They quickly rose and went to his side.
"Blade, it's another nightmare!" Sword yelled.
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Whatever was occurring in the knight's dreams was far worse than the last time. He tossed and turned, struggled in his sleep and thrashed about. It looked as if Meta Knight was in actual pain from whatever he was experiencing.
Before the two brothers could react, the veteran Star Warrior had done something they had never seen him do before.
He screamed. Meta Knight tore off his mask mid-shout and tossed it to the side, as if it was sucking the breath out of him. He panted, breath uneven and his eyes white with fear. The man was trembling, eyes looking toward's the cave ceiling.
Sword and Blade were frozen in shock, looking towards each other at an absolute loss. They waited for their lord to catch his breath, his hands tightly holding onto the blankets.
"Sir Meta Knight, are you feeling better since you awoke?" Blade asked cautiously.
Meta Knight turned towards them as though he had just acknowledged they were there. His eyes widened, expression blank.
He spoke in a quiet whisper. "Both of you…are alive…"
"Sir Meta Knight, it was a nightmare." Sword reassured, feeling quite unnerved. "You're fine now."
"No…it…it couldn't have…" Meta Knight's hands held his own head. "It felt all too real…"
He could recount every single moment of his vision, every gruesome graphic detail of the abomination that slithered into his nightmare. Meta Knight could almost feel the viscous slime the creature oozed on his skin. Just thinking about it almost made him gag.
"C'mon Blade, let's get him some water." Sword suggested.
Meta Knight drank every drop, his throat dry and hoarse. Once finished, the knight remained ever silent. It was a different kind of silence though, one Sword and Blade hadn't experienced. Meta Knight stared at his own hands, realization overcoming him.
"I-I apologize…my behavior was unnecessary…" Meta Knight uttered, not daring to make eye contact.
"No…it's alright, really." Blade interjected. "We just…it just surprised us, is all."
"No, I am ashamed." He hung his head low. "My reaction was unacceptable. I will understand if any respect you held towards me is lost."
"Sir, don't be so hard on yourself!" Sword protested. "It's okay if you were scared…all of us get scared sometimes…but…just what happened in your nightmare?"
Meta Knight held his hand to his mouth, feeling ill at the moment. He clenched his eyes shut, feeling a sharp pain through his system.
"I…I would rather not discuss it at the moment." He managed to choke out.
"It's alright, sir. You can tell us when you're ready." Blade said softly, but then quickly asked. "Wait, you're not going to be sick, are you?"
"No, I should be fine. As long as I do not allow myself to think about it for the time being…" The Star Warrior answered.
"Sir Meta Knight, I know that you're going to disagree, but we need to go home. You need to rest. You're running yourself into the ground!" Blade shouted, Sword nodding furiously in agreement.
His answer surprised them.
"Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. I cannot continue like this. If I am to investigate this cave further, then I need to be in the best condition."
They breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. Let's get out of here."
Meta Knight slowly rose to his feet, his knaves about to help him with the task.
"I may not be well at the moment, but I am not a child to be coddled." Meta Knight frowned, slightly pouting.
His mask was still off, giving Sword and Blade full view of his face. They held back their chuckles at seeing his cheeks puff up.
"Aww…" Sword whispered.
"What did you say?" Meta Knight turned around, somewhat startled.
"Uh, I said…awwwful? …Yeah, this situation is awful." Sword quickly corrected.
Meta Knight seemed satisfied with his answer, much to Sword's inner relief. The blue knight picked up his discarded mask and placed it on his face, much to Sword and Blade's inner disappointment. They felt a bit closer to him, being able to tell what he was feeling when nothing hid his face.
They quickly packed up, about to leave the cave, when something caught their eye.
"What?!" Sword yelled, pointing to one of the walls of the cave. "This wasn't there before! It's blocking the way we came!"
"It wasn't here before! We're trapped…this cave can change it's own dimensions." Blade groaned.
"Then there is only one option left…" Meta Knight sighed. "We have to continue."
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Once the three knights reached the mine cart area, Meta Knight seemed noticeably much more at ease. His shoulders relaxed, and eyes returned to their yellow color. It was an though his little minor outburst had not even occurred earlier.
Instead of a dimly lit crystal cove, the knights were among a large flower garden lined with marble columns and ancient architecture. Such beauty lied underground, unseen from the eyes above. Perhaps it was a metaphor of sorts.
The cave was certainly everything Kirby said it was. The rooms changed, some leading you exactly where you started, but Meta Knight had paid close attention to Kirby's tale. He had led Sword and Blade in the right direction most of the way, something he felt relief for since he had been suffering from delusions lately.
They had been very cautious since leaving the crystal cove, looking at every turn with suspicion. Thankfully, Meta Knight heard no more unusual noises or saw anything overly disturbing. He was so very tired…he was struggling with his body to obey his commands.
It was undeniable now. He needed this to end. He needed the nightmares to leave him so he could rest in peace. The effects of the night terrors were already driving a rift between him and his knaves, not to mention Sir Arthur.
He had been in denial previously, but last night was the final straw. Seeing that…that slithering, writhing, mass of tentacles, teeth, and flesh was enough to do him in. He didn't want to think about it, that disgusting abomination…drooling on him. Staring at him like he was a sandwich.
Meta Knight shivered. "My first action when I return is to take a very long bath."
Even though it had been a dream, it had felt so real to him. The blue knight didn't want to think about what he had seen, and what seemed like he felt. But strangely enough, his mind continued to be drawn to the events of his most brutal and graphic night terror in the past few weeks- Nay, what seemed like his entire life.
"Sir Meta Knight…" Blade said slowly. "Do you feel more relaxed here?"
"If I am being honest, yes." He replied. "Though my thoughts…they continue drifting to that…that thing…"
He said the last two words so quietly, Sword and Blade had to strain themselves to hear.
"Are you ready to talk about it, sir?" Sword offered.
Meta Knight shook his head. "No. No, not now. I do not have the energy."
He was being quite honest when admitting this fact. Though it shamed him to admit. Though the pain of admitting that was quite minor compared to the sheer sickening aspect of recounting his nightmare…he felt his stomach hop again in disgust.
The Star Warrior tried to turn his attention to the surrounding flowers. Pansies, daisies, roses, daffodils, Jacob's ladder, bleeding hearts, rosemary, this garden was even more elaborate and diverse than the castle's.
"Nonsurat would enjoy this area…" Meta Knight found himself murmuring.
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"Nonsurat?" The knaves wondered aloud. "Is he the one with the hair that looks like red grass sticking up?"
The blue knight gave a light chuckle, his shoulders shaking slightly. "No, Nonsurat is the puffball with the strangely shaped mask."
"Oh, he's the quiet one." Sword remembered. "I guess he really likes flowers?"
Meta Knight nodded. "Yes, he is a gentle soul. One could not tell from a glance that he joined the army. Even in this time, Nonsurat still remained the gentle man he was then. I am grateful that he has not undergone a great deal of change."
The blue knight inwardly sighed. "I suppose that none of us have…"
"He always looks so sullen…" Blade murmured. "Was he always like that in the war?"
"No, Nonsurat has always remained a quiet man, but there was a time where he was simply shy. …During those times, he would tell all who would listen how blessed he was to be alive. How he treasured every moment life had given him. …But I can understand why he no longer feels joy."
"…What could have happened to him? That's so…awful." Sword asked.
"Nonsurat lost any happiness that resided in his heart when he realized that it had been broken." Meta Knight vaguely explained, eyeing a red rose.
Sword and Blade only felt confusion at the knight's statement Perhaps they could ask Nonsurat sometime.
As if the knight had read their thoughts, he continued.
"I ask of you not to ask Nonsurat of what occurred in the past. His emotions are fragile. Far more fragile than most of the flowers that grow here. Asking such a question from him would only break his heart further, and I daresay that he may only be a step away from shutting down. So I ask of you, do not take that step."
Sword and Blade nodded in agreement. Though they were curious, they could tell that it was certainly something they didn't need to pry in. It seemed like everyone in the GSA had something from the past that still haunted them.
Falspar was trying to prove the innocence of someone named 'Beta', Dragato was apparently waiting for 'her' all these years, Nonsurat was depressed and his heart was broken, and Sir Arthur seemed to always be living in the past.
But it made the knaves wonder, just what could their lord be hiding? What sort of trauma did he have stashed away deep within himself? His nightmares must have been reflecting his state of mind, and the blue puffball had shown all signs of post traumatic stress disorder, not to mention schizophrenia.
They wished he would open up to them, tell them all of the secrets of his past. If he did, the knaves just knew they could be closer to him. It had only occurred to them so recently just how little they knew about him.
Suddenly, Meta Knight had stopped in his tracks. The veteran's eyes were frozen on something out of their sight.
It was a lone pink rose.
The blue knight continued to stare at the flower, completely hypnotized. Something stirred within him, he extended a hand to pluck the rose from it's place.
His hand stopped at the stem of the flower, a pang went through his chest. Meta Knight withdrew his gloved hand from the pink rose, resting it at his side.
Somehow, seeing that rose all by itself had a strange effect on the knight. There were thousands of other flowers, yet this one was all alone. Isolated.
Meta Knight had decided to leave it. It was not his to take.
Just like so many other things in life were never meant to be his.
After more wandering in the cave, they finally came upon a vast room with strange symbols carved on the walls, floor, and ceiling. Meta Knight could not make out the language, especially with the passage of time taking it's toll on the legibility of the ancient writing.
"Sir Meta Knight…doesn't this room feel strange?" Sword asked. "I feel as though something is watching us."
"…Sword, I may be partially delusional at the moment, but please do not inform me that you are experiencing hallucinations as well."
Blade shook his head. "No…I feel it too."
Meta Knight turned to look around the ancient room. Nothing was visible, and Kirby had informed him that all the enemies that stood guard here were long defeated. Yet…he was beginning to have the same experience.
Suddenly, Meta Knight caught a gleam of something in the corner of his eye. He quickly turned around, then came face to face with the offender.
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A shadowy face greeted him from the darkness, three red eyes visible. Tribal jewelry hung from it's obelisk like body. It's orange lips were thick, two boar like tusks visible from it's mouth. Most eye catching was it's large hands…made entirely of diamonds. This was Wham Bam Jewel.
Meta Knight rapidly stepped backwards as one of it's hands reached to roughly grab him. He withdrew Galaxia, his knaves took out their weapons as well.
"Let's go for the eyes!" Sword shouted.
Wham Bam Jewel laughed a hog's laugh, then flicked the two knaves aside. They crashed into the wall, but quickly found their footing.
Wham Bam Jewel pointed at the blue knight, small beams firing from his finger like a pistol. With a grunt, he was knocked to the dusty ground. With another obnoxious laugh, the obelisk raised it's hand. It hovered over the blue puffball's body, about to flatten him.
Sword and Blade tried to reach their lord in a desperate scramble, but were not fast enough. The hand slammed down, only to recoil when Galaxia's blade had went directly through the diamond surface. Such a thing would be impossible for a common sword, but this was accomplished by the legendary sword Galaxia.
Wham Bam Jewel wailed, it's nostrils flared as it shook it's hand in pain. It lifted it's other hand, then successfully grabbed the knight. He struggled to free himself from his oppressor, but the obelisk merely grinned with malevolence.
"Sir Meta Knight!" Sword and Blade called in shock.
Wham Bam Jewel began to slowly tighten it's grip on it's captor, eliciting a gasp from the Star Warrior. He gasped for air, the diamond fingers restricting the air flow to his lungs. He couldn't lift his arm to stab the hand that held him, he could only wait as his vision grew blurry.
Wham bam Jewel was too occupied with taunting it's prey to realize that Sword and Blade had climbed on it's back. By the time the obelisk took notice, Sword and Blade had jumped into the air and stabbed two of it's three eyes.
Wham Bam Jewel groaned and wailed, shaking it's head wildly in shock and pain. It threw Meta Knight in it's uproar, the knight hitting the floor with a resounding thud. He breathed deeply, his chest sore from the near crushing he had received.
"Sir, are you hurt?!" Blade yelled.
"No, I can proceed to fight." Meta Knight gradually stood up, Galaxia glowing in his hands.
The legendary sword's blade glowed brighter, as the veteran Star Warrior focused his mind. He closed his eyes, blocking out all surrounding sound. Galaxia raised into the air, he swung once. A beam of light left the weapon, flying directly into Wham Bam Jewel's third eye.
With one final cry, Wham Bam Jewel began to tremble. It's hands crumbling away, and it's skin melting into nothingness. All that was left of the obelisk was a very small handful of diamonds, the rest falling into the abyss below.
"What…what just happened?" Sword breathed heavily, exhausted from climbing that colossus.
"I don't know…I thought that Kirby defeated all the enemies in this cave…there must have been one left as back up." Blade replied, just as winded.
However, Meta Knight had attended himself with scooping up the diamonds, then packing them away in the confines of his cape. Certainly, they would come to use later. If his predictions about Falspar causing massive property damage to the castle did indeed come true, he could use them to pay off King Dedede as compensation.
He turned to his knaves. "I apologize. If I was not in this current state, there would have been no need for you to come to my aid."
"Sir Meta Knight, you fought excellently for someone who hasn't slept for…well, weeks." Sword replied.
"But now we need to leave." Blade said, warily looking around. "Before something else decides to make it's presence known."
"Agreed, let us proceed." Meta Knight nodded.
They finally reached a small area with a distant light brimming from above. They were almost out of the cave, away from the origin of that horrific nightmare, away from those crystals…
"Sword, Blade, hold onto me tightly. Do not let go." Meta Knight instructed.
The brothers were confused, but nevertheless complied with his request. His cape fluttered around before stretching into bat-like wings. The knight stretched and flapped them, then suddenly took off into the air. It was mere seconds of flight before they reached the surface.
Even with their masks, the bright light of the sun stung a little, but it was a glorious stinging sensation. The three all breathed a silent sign of relief, seeing the peaceful country of Dreamland once more. Sword and Blade were filled with relief for their lord, he could finally rest and hopefully get well.
Meta Knight however, was relieved because Sword and Blade had not decided to leave him. Despite all the insanity and embarrassment he had put himself and his knaves through, they were still loyal to him.
He made a promise that he would not do anything remotely dangerous until he was at good health, and he intended to keep that promise. After all, he was a gentleman, and a gentleman always kept his word no matter how small it may be.
As they walked away from the hole, Meta Knight began to feel himself relax. It had been a dream, a figment of his sleep-deprived mind all along. Although it did disturb him to an extent to know that his mind had created such a disgusting horrendous creature.
Meta Knight abruptly stopped in his tracks, turning around towards the entrance of the cave.
He heard a small noise.
The sound of soft sobbing.
Meta Knight shook his head, then turned around to catch up with Sword and Blade.
"It's all in your mind…it's all in your mind."
Author's Note: Well, I suppose this was a…special chapter. And disturbing. Really I'm somewhat anticipating the comments for this chapter, because I know they're probably gonna be wild! So readers, when was the last time we had a really disturbing moment in the fanfiction? Last arc? I hope I've really done a good job with the descriptiveness.
Next will be an entire flashback chapter. There's really too much that goes on next chapter that can't be crammed into little sections. We might have several more like this that takes a whole chapter to get into a flashback of the GSA. So I hope that this is good news towards you readers.
Until then, keep your eyes peeled in the chapters for small hints about the future of the characters.
Leer Justice, out.