THWACK!! Meta Knight shot up right startled by the loud sound. Pain ran through his back before he realize that he was on the floor. In his sleep, Meta knight had rolled out of his bed and landed flat on his back. Rubbing his sore back the knight got onto his feet then reached for his mask. It looked like it was still mid day from the way it looked out the window. The door seemed off for some reason, most likely because he was still exhausted from the lack of sleep. Well at least he managed to get some sleep even though he dreamed. The dream stuck itself in his head as Meta Knight slowly walked over to the door. It was a pleasant one this time, the memories of old friends. His mind was started to slow down now that he felt calmer. The door opened with a creek to an empty hallway. It was damp and cold making the knight pull his cape around his body to keep warm. It was kinda odd that there was no Waddle Dee's running around the halls.
"Meta Knight!" Tiff was waving to him at the other end to the hall. Running over, Tiff greeted Meta Knight with a smiled.
"How was your nap? You were asleep for a long time."
"How long was I asleep?" Meta Knight looked at her curiously.
"You've been asleep for a full day..." she said little concern for him. It grew when he just stared at her in surprise. A full day he slept?
"There's some food in the kitchen for you. Sword and Blade put some lamb aside in case you woke up and you were hungry." Tiff smiled as she started to lead him to the kitchen.
"Tiff It's alright. I'm not ve-" there was a long rumble that cut him off as a protest. Meta Knight sighed as his stomach calmed down and gave into what it wanted. It wasn't a long walk to the kitchen so he bit his tongue. It was this time he noticed how big Tiff had gotten. She was no longer the small child that looked after Kirby. Meta knight watched her as he followed her to the kitchen while thinking a bought the dreams. Many of them were pieces of his past, before he became known in his ranks. Maybe thats it. Something that far in his past is effecting the present. It will take some time for him to figure out what but now he has a direction. His thoughts were interrupted by the door opening. Tiff walked in and headed straight to the fridge while Meta Knight went to sit down.
"Meta Knight... Why are the dreams keeping you up? I mean you never had dreams so severe that it disturbs you like this." She finally asked as she brought the plate over and sat it in next of him. There was silence fell to the room after she got her question out. Tiff knew he was going turn her down but she got a surprise.
"Things that have happened in my past... When I was in the lower ranks." He answered pulling the plate towards him. It was about time he opened up to someone. Tiff was the only one he felt he could trust with this information. The young girl had no intent in embarrassing him nor discredit him.
"I wasn't always the calm rational warrior I am today... I had my moments of recklessness as well." He started to eat with the mask on by lifting the bottom so he could get the fork to his mouth.
"You... Lost a lot of friends back then... Didn't you?" Tiffs voice was soft and she chose her words carefully. There were other times where his past came to haunt him when Knuckle Joe and Silica came to dreamland but he was able to handle them better than these dreams. What ever happened before he climbed in ranks must have been really bad.
"Yes I did... Some to my recklessness. You don't want to hear my live story, Tiff. There's no need for it now." he said Hoping that she would drop the issue like she normally did. However, this time was different.
"No, I do want to hear it. You never talk about anyone nor do you even tell stories about your days in the war like Captain Cosmos." she crossed her arms then leaned back. This was a valid argument that Tiff threw at Meta Knight. The less she knew the more she wanted to know. The stubborn and determination expression she had was staring Meta Knight down making him feel like she was about ready to beat it out of him.
"...I was found by a division on a star a hundred light years from this one... I was as old as Kirby is now when I was found. During that time many towns and villages were being destroyed so the commander took me in." he began while he still ate.
"At first they were just going to let woman warrior take care of me but after picking up a dagger that matched my size they wanted to train me." He continued.
"Did They just trained you?" Tiff asked.
"No, there was another the Commander trained... After he found me. You see, short after finding me the division came across a village that was in the middle of being attacked. The group picked up refugees from there. One of them... Took to me for some reason." His voice soften as the memory of that someone came to his mind.
"What was his name? Did you become good friends.?" Tiff noticed his reaction before she asked him. Never in her life did she see the Knight act this way.
"Her name Was Nina. Our Commander Brigade trained us both. Nina was trained to be quick and agile while I was trained to be strong. Because we were trained together we often did missions together along with raids. That was until the Demons ambushed out base. The division never thought the Demons would attack our base so we were caught off guard... Brigade stayed behind to slow the Beast while many of us small and younger warriors could escape... I never saw him again after that."
"So... He died so the rest of you could get out... What about Nina? If the two of were trained together than she should have been as good as you." Tiff was getting really interested and was beginning to understand why Meta Knight was acting the way he was.
"She was good in her own ways but she never was able to defeat me in a dual. Despite how quick she was she could never take a hit from me." Meta Knight sat back in his seat.
"So what happened? Did you get split up and your just assuming she's dead?" Tiff felt like there was something he need to get out but he can't do it himself. She pressed him to tell her.
"Since your not going to let this go I'll tell you the whole story. It happened several months after the hit on our base." he began. His words formed pictures in Tiffs head s he described the land. It took place in a forest thick with large tress that were so tall it seemed the tips could tickled the bellies of the clouds. It was a cold night with clear skies that made the silence of the forest a bit to creepy for the two figures that walked on its floor. One was a blue round figure with a blue cape. The only anyone could see him was his bright yellow eyes that almost glowed with the moon light hit them. His short arms swung back and forth as he walked calmly through the darkness. The companion was not as confident as he was. She was slightly taller than he was with more of an hour glass body shape. The green was light colored so it could be seen in the dark. Her skin was more of a yellowish tan while her hair was darker. The uniform was that of a roaming Samurai with chest armor. What stood out the most was her large feathered ears which showed her emotions
"Are you sure it's safe to go through here with just the two of us? Brigade always said not to -" the girl started.
"First off, Brigade isn't here and second we don't have a choice." Meat Knight almost snapped. He stopped and looked to Nina when he notice it getting quiet. She looked hurt and depressed showing it by not looking at Meta knight.
"...I'm sorry. Listen, when we get through this forest we'll be able to hook up with the others." he said softly walking to her. "Nothing is going to happen, I promise." He smiled at her when she finally looked at him. Smiling back Nina nodded then started to walk with him again. It felt like they were walking for hours before the forest started to thin out a little. Meta Knight stopped walking when he spotted a castle that was half destroyed. It was large with one wing demolished from sort of fire power.
"Why don't we rest there? It looks safe." Meta knight suggested to his friend.
"I don't think so... Something about that place makes me... Wanna run." Nina looked at the building. It gave a sense of doom and despair that just made her was to stay away.
"It's a castle thats falling apart. What's dangerous about it than it maybe collapsing?" Meta tried to brush her feelings off.
"Meta, that didn't help." Crossing her arms, Nina narrowed her eyes at him.
"Come on, we might find something we can use... Maybe even eat. I'm starving." Meta Knight began to walk to the castle with out a care in the world with Nina protesting behind him. During the time it took them to get to the building they did nothing but argue. Nina wanted to keep going while Meta Knight wanted to stop and find food.
"All I want is something to eat... " Meta said simply.
"Why don't you just inhale like always? I'm sure you'll catch a mouse..." Nina stopped and looked a the busted gate. The hair on the back of her neck went up when a cold breeze blew by her.
"Want me to hold your hand?" Meta smirked. When they first met Nina clung to him like a lost puppy but after Brigade started to train her it all but ceased. However, she was still young and a girl which made her a target for some of his pranks and teasing. He didn't hate her but respected the fact Nina tries to help her fellow warriors.
"I'm perfectly fine thank you very much." she said marching forward into the darkness. It slowed as is got darker but then lit up suddenly. Spinning around Nina looked to see what caused it.
"It would help if you took a torch." Meta Knight walked passed her with torch in hand. It was a strange looking hallway. The walls were bare with no debre from an attack. The smell of moss and dust was tickling his nose to the point where he sneezed making the particles scatter in the air. The more he walked the more curious he got about the building. The stone blocks looked brittle from age along the vines that managed to creep in.
"Meta... I don't there's food in here..." Nina moved closer to him.
"Maybe... But I don't want to leave yet. We could probably us this place as a new base." Meta Knight kept walking calmly not really reacting to Nina's growing concern. It wasn't long before they got to a large room that looked to be a throne room. Plant life made it their home making it difficult to see if there was anything else in the room. Meta Knight walked deeper into the room towards where the throne would be. He had to admit it was exciting to be in a place like this. The imagination of the young soldier began to race forming pictures in his mind of what this place would have looked like. While he was in own little word Nina was was walking around looking at the statues that were in the room. Gashes and erosion made it impossible to determine what they would have looked like. Her hand glided slowly on the surface of one of them as thoughts ran through her mind. Was this place attacked by the Demon Beast? If so wouldn't that mean that there's still Demons near by?
"Meta Knight, I think we better get going... I don't think its safe." Nina called to her friend.
"Aw come on. What could happen?" Suddenly the floor rocked violently under their feet causing Nina to fall and Meta Knight to struggle to keep his balance. With out thinking Meta ran down a hall leading out of the room to another where the incident came from. The room was dark except for a large float ball of purple light. Stopping, Meta knight pulled out his sword getting ready to fight. His childish nature vanished and the soldier in him taking over. He glance behind him as Nina caught up with her own sword drawn. The ball floated in the middle of the room not moving anywhere.
"So, there are still some one here. I have to admit you Star Warriors are like Cockroaches, you never know when to stay in that little hole of yours." said strange voice. It was dark with a pitch that was not quite high but still made the hair on the back of your neck rise. Meta Knight narrowed his eyes not letting this thing freak him out. He saw many things in his life so far that made him get to a point to expect the unexpected. The knight eyes fixated on the sphere as it began to dematerialize. The particles then came together again to form a floating hooded cape. The inside was nothing but dark matter forming an endless void. Glowing red eyes opened in the before a white toothily smile joined them. It was nothing either Star Warriors had faced before. This Demon was darker and more menacing than the ones that attacked them. It's hand floated out of the void then came together letting only the long sharp nails meet in delight.
"Meta Knight... We're in over our heads, we need to run." Nina said getting back.
"It's only one Demon, we can take him." Meta stepped forward.
"In that case I'll tell you who I am before I kill you. This way you'll remember me while you lay in your grave. I am Dark Matter. Faithful servant of Nightmare and your grim reaper." he said with a bow. This didn't phase Meta Knight at all. Reason was out the window and his wanting to kill this thing took over as he charged at the Demon. It was all or nothing as he leapt into the air with his sword up high. The Demon watched calmly as the knight came closer as gravity was pulling him back to earth. Nina gasped when sword was swung at the target but did not meet. Dark Matter at the last minute vanished then reappeared in between Nina and Meta Knight. Spinning around Meta Knight got the Demon back into his sights.
"Nina! Move!" Meta Knight drove his sword in the ground while Nina ran off to the side. She watched from behind some debre as she couldn't help but wonder where her friend learn this ability. Meta Knight open his mouth wide and suddenly a vacuum was pulling everything loose into his mouth. It was amazing that he could do this and the fact he was always hungry after inhaling every was remarkable. However, Dark Matter Simply laughed as he inched to Meta Knight.
"Such a lovely technique. Such an skilled warrior. It would be a waste to kill you or let you live as a Star Warrior." the smile grew as he pulled his hands close together. A sphere of blue light formed then was released into the vacuum. The sphere entered Meta Knight s mouth just before he closed it. At first nothing happen but suddenly he began to scream in pain while electric energy wrapped around him. Fear rushed to his heart, fear of death as memories rushed through his. The memories of when he ran from the Demon horde and from the Demon attack. With out thinking he ran to Nina and grabbed her hand as he continued to run away. He didn't hear Nina's cries for him to stop or slow down. All he heard was the laughter of Dark Matter coming closer to him as if they were being chase. The wall creaked as they started to give way to their age. Nina cried out for him to stop when she noticed the floor starting to crack under them. Dark Matters laughter stopped to a scream from behind Meta Knight. Everything seemed to into slow motion as he felt her hand slip out of his making him look behind him. Nina was falling but on to the floor but into a hole created by the floor collapsing. She was so close yet so far from him. Meta Knights hand reached out to grab hers only to brush against her finger tips. Nina's eyes met his as she fell then disappeared into the darkness.
"Nina!!" he screamed out. His head shot up when the laughter began again. Dark Matter was staring at him smiled in the hall way. There was no choice, Meta Knight had to save himself. He turned and quickly ran from the scene. The hallway walls rushed past him as he ran alone. The images of his friend staring back at him as she fell stuck in his mind with Dark Matter laughing at him. Laughing at how weak he was. How reckless he was for trying to fight the Demon. Meta Knight paid the price alright. He was now a lone and something inside him told him that he was not going to see this through. That fear drove him out of the castle and through the forest. Soon he stopped to catch his breath. It was hard with his chest hurting with every breath he took. Meta Knight eyes squinted when light reached them. It was morning and he has cleared the woods. This day was the start of his journey through the ranks of the Star Warrior army. The day where he vowed that he would never put any of his friends in danger like that again. He looked back to the forest and say his childhood friend that he would never see again. Never again will he be this reckless.
Meta Knight sat in his seat in silence after finishing his story. Tiff never seen him like this before. The sadness in his eyes was visable and clear as water. The story was proof that even the Great Sir Meta Knight wasn't always perfect nor wise. At one time he was a kid that just wanted to have fun during a time of war. It was like when N.M.E. was still around and Meta Knight would help them defeat the Demons. Tiff can now understand the other reason why he would go out of his way to help at times. He didn't want their childhood to be like his.
"You cared for her very much..." Tiff said softly.
"We were raised together... She was family." he sighed. He could feel the loss even to this day along with the loss of many of his friends. After coming to dreamland he didn't think he would be able to have comrades again until he met Sword and Blade. Then he began to serve the King and befriended the two children. He thought he had healed but it seems somethings can never be healed.
"I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to bring back those memories." Tiff got up.
"No, don't be. They were back even before you asked me to tell you." Meta Knight followed and tried to sound less down than he was before. In fact he had to admit he felt better know that he spoke to her. There was always a trust between Tiff and himself. When Tiff smiled at him, meta Knight couldn't help but smile back even though she couldn't see it. It was now late and the moon had risen up into the sky to light the darkness. Tuff and Kirby had already headed inside to continue to play and horse around like all young men do. Tiff left Meta Knight to his rounds around the castle to finish up her studies for the day. It was quiet as always but there was still something in the air. The Image of Dark Matter was stuck in Meta Knight's mind as he did his rounds. He couldn't recall the Demons demise nor have he heard anyone talk about him. Did Dark Matter perish or is he still out there? Is it possible for him to pick up where Nightmare left off? The elder knight shook his head to push the thoughts aside. He wanted sleep this night and to worry about this in the morning. The door to his room called to him at the end of his patrol. In there was the forms of his subordnits already asleep. It wasn't hard to sneak in to his bed since he was a master of being quiet. This time he left his mask on knowing that tonight he would be able to sleep. Talking to Tiff helped clear his mind of memories for once. Closing his eyes, the darkness came and pulled him to sleep. There will be no dreams tonight as a reward for him finally opening up to his friends about his past that didn't relate to a battle that kirby would have.