Achkedljsgijl! I'm so happy! I'm going to go and cry now out of sheer joy! Sorry if there are errors, but I want to put this out before the day is done!

Important Info:

1) Meta Knight is based on the anime Hoshi no Kaabii, where he's more of a father/teacher figure to Kirby

2) Lucario is female and Greninja is male.

Disclaimer: Again, if I did MK would've been announced way earlier!

Fashionably Late

Sum: "Marth, what's wrong, what's the matter!?" But the emperor was fiddling with the window opening it only for Meta Knight to say, "Perhaps the other side without the screen would be better."

~ ~ ~ Us ~ ~ ~

As the days dragged on, the emperor became more nervous. The opening day was drawing near, and while there was another month or so, Marth felt time was running out.

Running out for Meta Knight's return.

Luckily, the Emperor of Akaneia had a constant anchor in Ike. The vanguard had an unshakable belief in their knight's return, that whenever Marth found himself seeking out comfort from the other.

A smile here. A small nudge there. A reassuring grip in his hand or shoulder.

Ike was happy to oblige, wanting nothing more than a swift return of Meta Knight. He wasn't sure how devastated the emperor would be should the puffball not attend.

Gods, he was afraid how overwhelmed he, himself, would be. So he didn't think about it, choosing to follow his 'gut' instincts.

Meta Knight would return.

~ ~ ~ Us ~ ~ ~

Ike flopped onto Marth's bed, earning a slight chuckle from his fellow swordsman. The Emperor of Akaneia followed suit, but sat on the mattress instead of collapsing. They sat in silence, Ike reviewing the day and Marth with a distant look in his eyes.

"What do you think of Robin and the others?" The vanguard turned his head so he could see the other, though only the back. Ike rolled his eyes and yanked on Marth's tunic.

"Ah!"

The mattress bounced a little at the sudden action, and the emperor found himself staring at the ceiling instead of the wall. He felt Ike's strong arm underneath his neck, creating a makeshift pillow. Marth scowled, "Ike that was unnecessary."

"Yeah it was." The other replied, curling his arm and forcing the other closer. The Emperor of Akaneia huffed, but complied relishing in the contact, the reassurance that Ike provided.

"How much longer will we have to wait…?" Before we know?

The vanguard shrugged, a little awkward considering Marth was using his shoulder as a pillow. "Don't know. Meta Knight's not known to be fashionably late…but the world is full of the unexpected. I mean, you know…your greatest descendent looks remarkably like you…expect a female."

Marth punched him. "Stop implying that just because I have a fairer look does not mea-"

Ike's laughter halted the other's tirade. "Yeah, yeah. I know, but it's kinda fun seeing you so worked up about it."

Marth rolled away and grabbed his pillow before slamming it into Ike's face.

~ ~ ~ Us ~ ~ ~

He found it very ironic that the portal dropped him off here; on the rooftop. He stood there watching the setting sun, feeling a wave of nostalgia crash into him.

How long had it been? He wondered. Memories passed through his mind like a movie cut together; each one different and each one meaningful.

Meta Knight remained on the rooftop, wrapped in his familiar cape until the sun was gone leaving the moons and stars in its wake. The Popstar resident loosened his grip on the fabric, letting his cape trail behind him. Galaxia was strapped to his side, a comforting presence; however the knight wished two other comforting presences. He was about to leave the rooftop, when two voices trickled from below.

Two voices that immediately sent Meta Knight on the hunt for them.

~ ~ ~ Us ~ ~ ~

After their tussle, Ike and Marth had readjusted so they both were sitting on the mattress, backs resting against the very wall the bed was shoved against. They were discussing the new Smashers, with the vanguard holding the other's pillow as if the Emperor of Akaneia would snatch it out of his hands and slam it into Ike's face. Again.

"I think Robin and Bubbles will be interesting to fight."

Ike nodded. "Though, that nickname is very strange."

"Yes, but we can't call them both Robin…"

"It doesn't feel right, though…"

Marth agreed, "I know. I feel the same." A pause. "There appears to be quite a few alternate others."

The vanguard groaned. "I'm still trying to make sure I keep Samus and Aran straight…Sheik and Zelda are a little easier since Sheik has blond hair regardless of her attire."

"And Robin and Bubbles are of different sex." The Emperor of Akaneia finished, but his eyes were drawn to the window at the soft sound of tapping.

"AH!" He flew off the bed, making Ike jump as well.

"Marth, what's wrong, what's the matter!?"

But the emperor was fiddling with the window opening it only for Meta Knight to say, "Perhaps the other side without the screen would be better."

The knight could see Ike's grin and it seemed to light his face up. Marth was in a similar state. The puffball didn't need to bother with stepping into the room, for once the proper side of the window was open the Emperor of Akaneia yanked him inside.

"Meta Knight! Oh Gods! You're here! I was so afraid you wouldn't be coming!" Marth babbled, holding their knight closely. The Star Warrior let the royal swordsman do so, a feeling of warmth and acceptance and calm wrap his senses like a blanket. Ike hooted and hugged them both momentarily cutting off the puffball's air supply.

But Meta Knight wouldn't chide him for it. Not this time.

The vanguard also began talking almost nearly as fast as Marth, the two talking about two different stories of what Meta Knight had missed in their time apart. He picked up a few things from the two, like Ike had continued his mercenary work and something about another war and Marth had been crowned Emperor of Akaneia. The Star Warrior had to calm them before they got too far. "I cannot follow both of your stories at the same time. It would be best to save those for tomorrow."

Eventually, their knight wormed his way out of Marth's arms. He had to placid the swordsmen seeing their smiles waver and the sudden fright in their eyes. "Be at peace. I am here, and I merely wish to suggest a different arrangement more suitable to our needs."

"They've given us separate rooms…" Ike stated.

The knight mulled it over, before slowly replying. "I see…" His familiar yellow eyes passed between the two, studying. "We have shared a bed before…I do not believe one more night will be bothersome. If that is alright for you Your Imperial Majesty."

Marth winced, giving a short laugh. "Oh dear…Um…please don't address me as such…I would much prefer 'Your Highness'."

The Star Warrior's eyes shifted to pink then blue then yellow. It put the two swordsmen at ease, seeing the familiar and dearly missed color changing eyes. "If that is your wish, then I will abide by it, Your Highness." Yellow to pink. "And thank you, for 'Your Imperial Majesty' is quite a…mouthful."

They laughed.

A bit of shuffling around, and the three were lying on the small bed. Unlike the previous time they shared a bed, this one was not dosed in melancholy and dread. This time, they were content. Marth had to admit, he wouldn't mind staying like this for the rest of the tournament.

The whole thing with 'Samus and Aran' and 'Sheik and Zelda' and 'Robin and Bubbles' will be explained.

Now I'm off to bed, since I've got to wake up early. Yay for employment! ….sort of.

Bye!

ZeroGravityDog