Author's Note: I know, it's been over a month since I've updated, but those of you who visit my DeviantArt know very well why I've been absent...
Also, a special message. A regular reviewer who calls themselves Indigo Puff. This reviewer has a lot of interesting theories on The After Story, so I thought I should give them a shout out. Maybe a few could reply to her(please correct me if I'm wrong) theories and reviews, because she's gotten one of them completely right.
So Indigo Puff, don't worry about how many reviews you leave here. I'm not annoyed, write pages of them if you want. It's nice that you're so zealous over his mediocre fanfiction. It makes my insides feel all warm and fuzzy and stuff.
But seriously though, why do you guys like this story so much?! Well, anyway. I'm back for now, but I'm not gonna bother making any promises of when I'll update. Just know that an update WILL come definitely, so try to be patient.
I'll shut up now.
Yamikage desperately clung to Meta Knight as he openly wept. His shoulders shook with each choked sob as tears ran freely down his cheeks. Every few seconds he would try to utter some sort of apology, only to break into another round. The ninja finally gave up on trying to finish his sentence, letting go of the knight and covering his navy blue eyes with shame.
After the initial shock had worn off, it took only moments for Meta Knight to piece together what was happening.
"Sorr...y...I...I...just..." Yamikage sniffled and stuttered.
A rumble from the ship interrupted him, along with the strong smell of smoke and gasoline. Meta Knight stood up and paused, then turned to the former soldier.
"The Halberd is falling into the ocean. We do not have much time to escape." He said with urgency.
The blue puff grabbed Yamikage's hand to help him onto his feet, only for the ninja to remain seated on the metallic flooring. He shook his head rapidly and pulled his hand away.
"I...I'm not going...I am staying here..."
"Do not say something so foolish. I have no intention of leaving you behind." Meta Knight said sternly.
He shook his head pitifully. "...leave me here...and let the void take me..."
The knight took hold of him with surprising force for someone of his size, then began leading the wounded ninja to the door. Yamikage didn't protest, but kept his head low. The pink puffball he had seen earlier ran to Meta Knight with slight panic and worry visible on his young face.
"Sir Meta Knight, the TACs led me to the control room, poyo! We tried to fly it, but then things started flashing red! The TACs escaped on their own...but we're going down!"
The blue Star Warrior's cape began to morph itself into wings, he stretched them to be certain they weren't damaged from the battle moments earlier before taking Kirby's hand.
"Hold onto me, and do not let go." Meta Knight ordered, mostly to the hesitant ninja.
Kirby glanced fearfully towards Yamikage, then to his mentor for some sort of explanation. The knight only gave a single nod to the pink puff, reassuring him somewhat. Kirby had questions, but that would have to wait until they were at a safer location.
Meta Knight had thought that maintaining flight would have been difficult with Yamikage's weight added, but the ninja felt far too light. He had lost very much of his weight from the time the knight had known him, and was now almost as light as Kirby. Without the aid of the ninja's transformation, Yamikage was suffering from malnutrition.
The blue knight spread his wings, taking flight. Kirby clung to him with a tight grip, hearing the young Star Warrior gasp at the abruptness of the takeoff. Yamikage's distant eyes refused to face either of them, but still obeyed the knight's orders and held on with the little amount of strength he had left. The ninja decided whatever Meta Knight had planned for him, he deserved.
Moments later, the crash of the Halberd was heard behind them.
-
A short flight later led them to one of the many beaches that were scattered around Dreamland. Meta Knight and Kirby carefully set Yamikage on the grass near the beach, the ninja now too weak to move. The battle had drained him far more than either had expected, most likely due to the use of his unnatural powers and the apparent loss of them.
The knight quickly set to work on treating his former comrade's injuries, using the emergency kit he had packed away in the confines of his cape. The wounds that had oozed the purple slime were now leaking seemingly normal blood, the worst of it coming from the large gash across his chest and stomach.
Yamikage made no attempts to retaliate, only uttering a grunt of pain every once in a while. Kirby stood at a distance, unsure of what was happening or what his mentor had done to the presumed traitor during their battle. Though it was obvious the ninja was no longer any threat to them, the pink hero couldn't help but be cautious.
How could he not be? This was the same person who had proudly gloated of his selfish betrayal in front of Meta Knight, Kirby's dear mentor and a soldier that had risked his life countless times for the freedom of the galaxy. This traitor spoke so brutally to someone so devoted and selfless...he tried to murder Meta Knight.
The ninja's gaze suddenly shifted towards the pink puff, navy blue eyes staring blankly at his own. Kirby shuddered, still feeling a sense of fear towards him. Yamikage's mouth moved, but no sound was audible to either puffs. The young Star Warrior then noticed the ninja's eyes were no longer glowing red as they were previously, and wet streaks were visible on his heavily scarred face.
The older Star Warrior knew that Kirby had many questions as to what was occurring, and why. Truthfully, so did the knight himself. But Yamikage was in no condition for any interrogations at the moment. He was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, also probably past the point of starvation, and had a nearly fatal wound over his chest and stomach...
And there were many things they needed to discuss without Kirby listening nearby.
Meta Knight was eternally thankful that Kirby had not been present to witness him losing his self control like that. He was eternally thankful his knaves, Sir Arthur, his other teammates, ...anyone, had not seen him acting so akin to a savage beast when provoked by the transformed Yamikage. He couldn't remember ever acting so depraved...
He silently vowed to never act in such a shameful way again.
After the knight finished bandaging Yamikage, the ninja closed his eyes from exhaustion. Soon his soft breathing was heard, accompanied by the rise and fall of his chest. Even in his sleep, he looked uncomfortable and murmured quietly before falling silent.
Once it was certain he was asleep, Meta Knight motioned for Kirby to follow him closer towards the beach and out of Yamikage's earshot should he awake. The setting sun nearly touched the ocean's waters, bathing the land in several hues of orange. The atmosphere was quiet and still, contrasting the earlier tenseness felt aboard the airship.
(watch?v=ZV1t-Gsmdt4)
"So...Yamikage never was a bad guy after all?" Kirby asked, after being given a brief rundown of the events that conspired earlier. "Even that time when I fought him, poyo?"
"It would seem so." Meta Knight nodded. "As long as his eyes have been red, Nightmare's control was over him."
"His eyes were red that time too..." He said sadly, realizing how long ago that was. "Will he be okay?"
"I have treated his wounds to the best of my ability, but his body has become very weak. Yamikage's mental state is another issue altogether. His mind may be beyond repair..."
"Yamikage must feel so terrible and scared...but it wasn't his fault, right? He didn't know what he was doing, poyo..."
"No, Kirby." Meta Knight shook his head. "He was aware of everything."
"So...he is a traitor?" Kirby asked, confused.
"No, not by choice." He answered, further confusing the young Star Warrior. "While his body and mind was under Nightmare's influence, he was still conscious throughout the entire process. Forced to watch himself commit treasonous, cruel, unspeakable acts against his will. Yamikage was completely powerless and unable to resist even the slightest amount."
Kirby's eyes widened in horror, the boy was struck speechless. He now understood just how traumatic the situation was for Yamikage, and felt a wave of empathy wash over for the ninja.
"I am unsure how Sir Arthur and the others will react to this new development..." Meta Knight continued. "They most likely think Yamikage has been deceased for many years. Possession was never thought of as a reason for his betrayal, but that's not to say it's never happened before by the hand of Nightmare..." Meta Knight sighed.
"Sir Meta Knight, it sounds like you know a lot about this, poyo..." The pink puff said quietly.
Meta Knight's eyes narrowed, briefly flashing red as he felt a low growl threaten to rise from his throat. Kirby inwardly gasped at the knight's sudden ferocity, knowing fully well underneath the mask his mentor wore an expression that was anything but endearing.
He spoke in a low whisper.
"Although Yamikage's transformation is something completely unheard of...I know that possession of the mind and body is a vile and despicable practice, one which I would never allow myself to use if I gained such ability."
A chill ran down Kirby's spine. "Sir Meta Knight really doesn't know what's going on..."
Sensing his discomfort, the knight tried to reassure his young apprentice. He spoke in a far softer tone, hoping the young puff would feel more at ease this way.
"Kirby, as of now there is nothing to worry about. Yamikage's mind has been freed and Nightmare can no longer force others to do his bidding. You made sure of that, and saved many lives from the same fate by doing so."
"...Then why do I feel like it isn't over, poyo? Dark Matter, Zero, Marx...they didn't have anything to do with Nightmare." Kirby said softly. "I guess Nightmare isn't the cause of every problem..."
"There will always be a need for Star Warriors, Kirby. Even eons before the war, our race fought against evil forces. As so, many of those forces desired our extinction above all else so that nothing opposed them. Nightmare was not the first, and he certainly will not be the last."
Meta Knight exhaled, leaning back and looking up at the orange-clad sky. "...However, he did leave the most damage..."
"What do you mean?" The young puff asked.
"Being so young, and arriving in such a normally peaceful place as Dreamland, you have not experienced the madness and brutality of war. And I am so very thankful of that... The war he created tore many lives apart and made the galaxy live in fear for a very long time..."
"But...why...?" Kirby said in a small voice. "Why would he do that, poyo? Zero couldn't feel happiness...Yamikage was possessed...and Marx...he...there must have been a reason..."
"Kirby, sometimes...there isn't a reason..." Meta Knight stood up with a long sigh, deciding that he had said enough.
"There is something I need you to do."
"What is it Sir Meta Knight?"
The knight leaned forward and whispered. "I need you to go back to the castle, and bring Sir Arthur and the other knights here. Tell them what I have told you, and be as swift as possible."
"...Is it alright to leave you both here?" He asked, uncertain and confused.
"Yamikage does not seem to be in a life threatening condition, and there is no reason to worry for my sake. Even if he was still hostile, in his condition he could not fight me." Meta Knight assured the young hero, then continued.
"He feels immense guilt for his past actions, though they were done against his will. It's likely he will begin to panic if he must face the GSA so suddenly, and the stress could further harm his body. Should he awake, I will attempt to keep him calm until they arrive. Can you do this for me?"
"Alright..." Kirby nodded. "We'll be here soon, poyo."
The pink puff took a deep breath to inflate his body, then began to drift away towards his destination while quickly flapping his arms. He was soon out of sight, leaving only the knight and ninja remaining.
-
(watch?v=Pmgb5yVroBc)
Meta Knight returned to the injured ninja's side. Yamikage would twitch as he slept, seeming very uncomfortable and almost afraid. It was understandable, he was in pain and it had been years since he was in control of his own actions. The sudden acknowledgement of freedom must have been overwhelming.
As the Star Warrior sat down next to his former comrade, the ninja's eyes began to flutter open. He slowly turned his gaze towards Meta Knight, then flinched from the sudden strain on his body. He managed to sit up after being aided by the masked puff, using one of the many palm trees scattered along the beach to rest against.
"Here, drink." The masked knight held out a bottle of water.
Yamikage gratefully took the bottle from his grasp, quenching his dry throat with several long gulps. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he had drank anything. The man downed the entire bottle within a minute's time, not leaving even the slightest drop left.
"Thank you..." He muttered quietly.
A loud growl was heard coming from the ninja's stomach. After a moment of searching through the confines of his cape, Meta Knight found a few slices of bread and more water. Yamikage would be given a proper and filling meal later, as he certainly needed it. The Star Warrior could count his now very visible ribs.
"You didn't have to do this..." Yamikage said after taking a bite. "I don't deserve this, you know. I'm a traitor."
"Yamikage, you did not turn away from us by choice. You have no reason to feel guilt. It was his doing..." The knight argued, not bothering to mention the dictator's name.
A slight chuckle came from the ninja. "Sir Meta Knight, your principles are still as strong as they were in the past...it's nice to know that's one thing that hasn't changed..."
"That is one thing you can always be certain of. I will always abide by my code of conduct. And that includes never leaving a fellow soldier behind..."
"You still consider me a soldier, your comrade?" Yamikage asked, surprise in his tone. "After all the crimes I have committed...?"
"Certainly, I still do." Meta Knight confirmed. "None of this is your fault...You know that, don't you...?"
Yamikage's lips pressed into a firm line, choosing not to respond at all. He briefly looked over the surrounding area and noticed something was missing, or rather someone. Something in the ninja's tired brain began to click. Wasn't Meta Knight accompanied by another earlier?
"Sir Meta Knight, there was a boy with you previously, correct? Where is he now?"
"He...has left." Meta Knight's voice faltered faintly. "The sun has nearly set, and today has been rather eventful. So I asked him to return home, though he was very reluctant to do so."
It wasn't the complete truth, but nothing he had said was untrue.
"He's a Star Warrior, right? The child is quite young for that. What's his name?"
"...Kirby." Meta Knight answered quietly. "...Do you not remember?"
The ninja gave a small bitter chuckle. "Only what they want me to remember..."
The masked knight felt a hint of unease, hearing that broken laugh. It sounded resigned, hopeless. He had to remind himself that this was Yamikage before him, a once proud member of the Galaxy Star Army. But now...he looked lost and alone.
"Sir Meta Knight...The words I spoke were not my own. During our battle, I was unaware and aware. I was being spoken through like a puppet." He said softly. "I can only remember so much of what was said through my lips. I know that we lost the war long ago...How many are left of us?"
"You and I...Dakonyo Cosmos, Dragato, Nonsurat, Falspar...and Sir Arthur..."
Yamikage smiled weakly. "Sir Arthur? He's still alive? And the rest of our sector? All of them are alive..."
Meta Knight nodded. Though it was a small number, the ninja felt relief to know they were spared from Nightmare's influence and wrath.
"As my body was not under my control...the voice that was not my own said terrible, vile things... But...is this all that is left? ...Six of your kind?"
"Yes...it is true..." The knight said remorsefully. "My race is numbered to six...we are all that is left. And all that will ever be."
"...Nightmare has spread deceit several times using my own voice...I was hoping that it was another horrible lie..."
"I only wish it was...Sir Arthur thoroughly searched the galaxy, and he told us we are all that remain. I only recently learned of their survival, and Kirby crashed his Starship onto this planet over a year ago. He was nearly a toddler then..."
Yamikage shook his head and chuckled lightly, though sounding more genuine. "My, he has grown. I fought him once, did I not? Attacking a small child, mind control or not, I should be ashamed...but he won. He fought me and won...and he defeated Nightmare, didn't he? That child is something incredible...he did something in less than a year that took us ages to even attempt..."
The masked veteran's eyes began to glow a vibrant blue. "He is something extraordinary..."
"Now be honest, Sir Meta Knight. You trained him, didn't you?" The ninja laughed out loud. "This is all your doing, isn't it?"
"Only a little..." A faint smile found it's way on the masked knight's unseen face.
"You care for him a great amount it seems..." The ninja suddenly grew serious. "The look in your eyes, that tone of voice..."
Meta Knight fell silent, knowing exactly where this conversation would lead towards next.
Yamikage's navy blue eyes pierced his yellow. "...You haven't told him yet...have you?"
"...No." Meta Knight said quietly.
"You can't keep the truth from him forever, Sir Meta Knight. He will be looking for answers eventually."
"I know that..." Meta Knight sighed ruefully.
"Nevertheless..." The ninja straightened up, then coughed. "I have many things to discuss with you Sir Meta Knight. Though the information I provide may be little, I pray it will answer some of your own questions."
"Are you quite sure?" Meta Knight asked. "Are you in any condition to speak of your...unpleasant experiences?"
"I must. It is the only way I can atone for what I have done." Yamikage shook his head in shame.
"You cannot continue to blame yourself when it was not you pulling the strings!" The knight argued. "Nightmare's hold is powerful, direct, and nearly impossible to break...it is a miracle that you are alive, even."
"A miracle? Or a curse?" He sniffed. "Being his puppet was worse than anything I have endured. Though I am free, what he has done with my body will forever haunt me. Just because he is deceased does not mean that his influences vanished with him, no matter how blissful it may sound."
"I am well aware of the damage he has caused..." Meta Knight frowned. "...What information do you have for me, Yamikage?"
(watch?v=vjxOCZW4so0)
"Undoubtedly, you have questions of what Nightmare had in store for me...And I assure you, I wanted no part of it." The ninja spoke gravely. "There was a laboratory established by Holy Nightmare Corporation shortly after the war ended. I am certain you know of it."
"The same where Demon Beasts were produced for purchase, correct?"
"The very same." Yamikage nodded. "Most of my time under enslavement was spent there, aiding in the creation of those wretched things. It shames me to admit this, but I too was a product for purchase. Can you imagine it? A once proud and loyal soldier being rented like some sort of tool by the enemy."
"Slavery...despicable. Disgusting..." Meta Knight's eyes briefly flashed red.
The knight wasn't at all surprised to hear this from the ninja. If the space dictator was willing to use possession of the mind and body, why would forcing soldiers into slavery be something forbidden and taboo to Nightmare? It was all just business as usual to Holy Nightmare Corporation.
"A wealthy and ignorant king was the last to order me. The ignorant king was the king of this land, if my memory serves correct. And that was when I fought with Kirby, is that right?"
"Yes, everything you have said is true." The masked knight confirmed. "Though our king has changed a great deal for the better since then."
"That is good news to hear." A tiny smile appeared on the beaten ninja's lips. "Not all changes have to be bad..."
"Yamikage, earlier it seems that you did not recognize Kirby, though you had fought with him previously. And you did not know Sir Arthur and the other knights were alive, despite saying you would kill those who remained while possessed. Why would there be such gaps in your memory?"
Yamikage's face fell. "There is much you do not know about mind control... Though I am aware of the words I say and the actions I commit, I am also unaware. My mind and body were no longer my own, so he could speak through me like a puppet if he so wished. And I am afraid that it has affected my memory as a result..."
"That certainly would explain the partial memory loss." The blue knight thought aloud. "There are still several questions left unanswered, however."
"I am sorry that I cannot be of more help. Forgive me..." He apologized with shame evident.
"Yamikage, I request that you immediately stop pushing blame onto yourself." Meta Knight demanded. "Perhaps your memory will return with time now that you are free from Nightmare's control. You have no need to worry anymore, you are safe now."
The battered ninja rapidly shook his head, then winced when he began to feel pain. "No, Sir Meta Knight. I am not safe here, nor anywhere. It is only a matter of time until they find me..."
"Are you speaking of the GSA? Yamikage, there is no reason to fear them. They will understand your predicament, and I am certain you will be welcomed." Meta Knight tried to assure him.
"No, not the GSA, though I cannot face them either..." He replied. "I know you sent the boy to get them, Sir Meta Knight. I cannot be fooled so easily."
"So, you knew this entire time...?" Meta Knight sighed. "...But if not the GSA, then whom?"
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"There are others, Sir Meta Knight. I thought you would know that." The ninja suddenly began raving. "You don't think this is over, do you?"
Before the knight could question the ninja, Yamikage spoke again in a low chilling voice. "For any war, there must be two opposing sides. Two armies, one against the other. And each side has it's supporters..."
"..." Meta Knight's eyes began to glow green in thought.
"...Nightmare had supporters, Sir Meta Knight. He still does. There are many in the galaxy that are not pleased with his defeat." Yamikage rambled. "The supporters that worked under him were enthralled with promises of wealth and power in exchange for their assistance. Once Nightmare was defeated, however, they no longer had any superiority. So...now they are taking their own steps in exacting revenge... And that includes using what Nightmare once owned..."
"Yamikage..." Meta Knight finally realized what the ninja was telling him. "Tell me this is a lie..."
"I was Nightmare's property, so they could do whatever they pleased with me. Some had gained the ability to use mind control from Nightmare...so I couldn't escape. And from there, they tried to create new Demon Beasts. And they used my body for the tests..." A small sob escaped his throat on the last sentence.
The knight nearly felt sick being presented with this knowledge. It was almost to much to take in. The ninja looked so broken now, so pained, compared to his past self. What sort of torture had they put them through...?
"...This is why I was so beast-like...they made me into a hybrid! One of their experiments! They turned me into a monster!" The ninja shouted, thrashing until he nearly yelped in pain.
"Yamikage, you are not a monster. Look at your hands, do you see any claws? Do you still have fangs?" Meta Knight attempted to calm him.
"It may seem like the transformation has faded. But it's effect is still there. It's still in my blood. I am no longer under Nightmare's control...but I am an outsider now. I can no longer fit into society. ...That is why I cannot face the GSA."
"The GSA may be able to help you, and remove the Demon Beast from your body. Do not lose hope!"
"It's too late for me...but there is still a chance for you to escape NightWalker." The ninja spoke quietly.
"NightWalker...? This is their organization's name?" The masked Star Warrior asked, eyes glowing green.
"Do not take them lightly, Sir Meta Knight." Yamikage's voice trembled. "They are searching for you and Kirby, and most likely the rest of the GSA. They are cruel, merciless, and take pleasure in that fact. Just like Nightmare himself. At the same time, NightWalker is gathering members and attempting to track down the location of a hidden weapon developed by Holy Nightmare Corporation..."
The ninja suddenly stood up, despite his pain. "I have to leave...I have to leave before they find us. I'll try to buy you and the others some time...tell Sir Arthur that I am sorry..."
"Yamikage, you are being far too rash about this." The knight tried to reason with the madly ranting ninja, stepping in front of him. "Certainly this cannot be that large of a threat toward us. Without you under their control-"
"Sir Meta Knight, you haven't seen them! This isn't just a small group of ten! This is several hundred! And they've already begun! They're going to come here!"
The ninja took a shaky, trembling breath after his sudden outburst, then said in a small voice...
"...They're starting another war..."
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A sudden rumble of thunder filled the silence between the two veterans. Neither said a word for several moments.
"I must go..." Yamikage frowned. "I'm sorry..."
"You cannot leave, not like this. If it is true, if they begin searching for you. In your state of health-"
"I know that." The injured ninja sighed. "But I no longer have a future. You, however, must continue living. You, Kirby, Sir Arthur, all of you must continue to live. Please, I beg of you. Stop them...don't let them start this again..."
Yamikage stepped away from the knight, his savior, and tried not to look back.
"Yamikage!"
The area suddenly filled with a dark glow, then dissipated as quickly as it came. The ninja was nowhere to be found, and Meta Knight felt his body going numb. That sentence repeated over and over again.
"...They're starting another war..."
A quiet rustle was heard behind the knight. He slowly turned around, to find himself facing Kirby and the GSA. Another rumble of thunder sounded, as raindrops began to fall.
Their golden clad leader cautiously approached the blue Star Warrior. "...Sir Meta Knight...where is Yamikage...?"
"...Sir Arthur..." Meta Knight faced him, regaining his composure. "...May we talk...?"
Author's Note: I know. You're thinking I've done it again. I've left this chapter on a cliffhanger. Because I am an evil person.
That's right. Nightmare's political party has come into the picture. He had supporters, well HAS supporters. And it's going to get ugly for the GSA and Kirby in future chapters. There are what, six puffballs left to face an army of Nightmare fans? With Kirby or not, that's still a terrifying thought considering what the kid's been through lately.
Also, I need to confirm this: Yamikage has gone partly insane during his time under NightWalker's control.
Okay, we're going back to the past for several several chapters. So expect a lot of backstory chapters for a while. And hope that I don't wait over a month to update.
Stay fresh, readers.