Rising Darkness
By: JadeDragonKnight
Chapter 2: The Dream
Meta Knight thrashed around to break free from the darkness. He could feel himself sinking deeper and deeper into who knows where. Then he felt solid ground underneath him. He opened his eyes and placed his hands flat on the ground. He looked above and saw churning purple thunder clouds.
"Where am I?"
He looked forward and saw a large vortex. He stood without taking his eyes off the swirling gateway. There was something off about this place. It seemed endless, foreboding, and he could feel as though death was sort at hand. Just then, something shifted in the upper part of the vortex. Meta Knight got into a defensive stance as he carefully watched the mass emerging from it. A creature appeared and hovered in place above him. It had a humanoid form, but it possessed claws, a long tail with a knife like end, large, tattered bat wings, and three horns protruding from its skull. It gazed down at the knight and made a wide grin, showing its razor sharp teeth. A chill went up Meta Knight's spine from its presence.
"So glad you could make it," it hissed in delight.
He thought it best not to give this thing a reply.
After a moment of silence, the creature added, "Very well. I'll get straight to the point."
It lifted an open hand toward him. It began to slowly close it. Meta Knight felt an invisible force enveloping him. Before he could react, the force squeezed him tight. As the creature lifted up its half closed hand, so did Meta Knight raise off the ground. He struggled against its hold, but it was too powerful. He was brought up to eye level with the beast.
"What do you want from me?" the knight demanded.
"I want you to run a few errands for me," it replied plainly, but with a hint of malevolence.
Its tail lifted and swayed with its point towards Meta Knight. His eyes followed it.
"And if I refuse?"
It grinned again and said, "Then you'll die."
Its tail stopped moving and pointed directly at his head. Meta Knight's eyes widened. Suddenly, it flew forward with lightning speed, pierced through his mask, and burrowed in his forehead. The air escaped his lungs from the initial shock then the overwhelming pain radiated from the spot of intrusion. He screamed in agony and struggled to break free from its hold. The creature held firm as darkness shrouded its tail and flowed into Meta Knight's head. The pain was relentless. His cries only seemed to please the creature. His vision was fading and his screams weakened. Then the shadow disappeared into the knight. The creature ripped its tail out of his head and relaxed its hand. The force that had secured Meta Knight faded and he fell out of the air. He was too weak to save himself. All he could do was watch the ground race up to meet him and hope the pain would end. Then everything went black.
Ringing broke the silence; a periodic ringing echoing in his mind. He slowly opened his eyes. He was in the clearing. The sun was shining through the trees and various animal noises filled the air. Something was still ringing. Meta Knight fished around behind him and took out his communicator. The ringing was radiating from it almost as if it was irritably waiting for someone to answer. He moaned at it. A headache was preventing him from wanting to answer. Despite this, he flipped it open and brought the device to his ear.
"Hello-"
"Where the hell are you?!"
He pulled the cell away in discomfort then held it a little farther away than normal.
"You sound well rested," the knight replied tiredly.
"Ha ha, very funny. When I told you to train somewhere else I didn't mean you could take a vacation!"
"I apologize, I just woke up," Meta Knight added, rubbing his head.
"You just woke up? Do you know what time it is?! You never sleep in this late, so don't give me that crap!"
His brows pressed together at that remark. How long was he asleep?
"Look, I don't want to know what you've been up to. Just get your butt back to the castle this instant! This is an emergency!"
He sighed to himself and replied, "Yes your majesty."
He heard an exasperated "humph" before the connection was cut. He closed the lid and rubbed his head again. Knowing Dedede, that emergency was probably exaggerated. He checked the time on the phone. It read 12:30 PM. The king was right; Meta Knight never sleeps in this late when he had a normal night's sleep. But did he? He swallowed hard, slowly brought his hand to his forehead, and felt his mask. No hole. He lifted his mask and felt the same area. Nothing unusual.
'Was it a dream? It felt so real…'
The thought of that creature being a dream gave him some relief, but it would explain the headache. He decided that he could think about it later. If he didn't get back to the castle and see what's up then he'll risk getting another call. Meta Knight stood up and quickly made his way through the forest.
Meta Knight ran through the castle halls. The sound of his metal shoes clanking echoed off the walls. He didn't see anything that needed his attention so far.
"Meta Knight!"
He skidded to a halt. He looked back at a door and raised an eyebrow.
He walked up to it and said, "Your majesty?"
"Took you long enough!" Dedede called back through the door.
"Are you alright?" the knight asked, about to enter the room.
"Don't come in!" he shouted, making him release the door handle as though it was on fire. "Go to the supply room and get some toilet paper."
He frowned and asked, "That's your emergency? Couldn't you have gotten a Waddle Dee to do that?"
"Do not question the king! Just hurry up!"
The knight shook his head and ran back down the hall.
After the bathroom disaster was avoided, Meta Knight went to the courtyard. He went up to the metal poles he was using to train with the night before. They were originally made into a cross shape, but they had bent back from their brief melting points.
He looked at his hands. He could only transform into his dark form at night and turn back during the day. It's been that way ever since the team encountered a powerful dark being bent on taking over the world. But why did it pay so much attention to him? Why give him these powers? And why mention another powerful dark being that supposedly lost its powers and memory?
He shook his head. It didn't really matter now. The monster was dead and things have been peaceful for a while. Because of this period of peace, the Brawl Tournament was able to continue as normal. It was the whole reason all of the team members came in the first place, to answer their invites and demonstrate their strength in front of an audience. Unfortunately, because of the recently acquired dark powers, Meta Knight was respectably banned from the tournament before it was his time to fight. It didn't matter that much to him anyway. If anything he only came because King Dedede and Kirby needed a ride, and Dedede figured he'd give that first intimidating impression he wanted if he came in the Halberd. However, things went crazy very fast when the Halberd was stolen and used for evil. Well, that's old news too.
Meta Knight grabbed hold of the practice dummy and wiggled it loose from the ground. He carried it to the castle wall and set it against the wall, out of sight of a particular king that might find it an eyesore. Just then, he remembered something else he had to do. He went back out into the grass and scanned the ground. When he spotted the bed post ball, he went to it and picked it up.
'Hang on. Wasn't there two here?' he thought to himself.
He looked around, expecting to see it right away. However, it seemed to have vanished. Just then, he heard someone running up to him. He would have got into a defensive state if he didn't recognize the sound of those footsteps. He heard a cheerful "piyo" before he was hugged by the little pink puff ball.
"Kirby," the knight greeted, "what brings you here?"
He smiled and showed his rival a wooden bed post ball.
"I was looking for that," he responded, but he didn't take the offering.
Taking notice of this, Kirby put the ball aside on the ground and grabbed his wrist.
"Play," he said cheerfully.
"Eh, that's ok, I'm not really in the mood."
Kirby frowned in disappointment.
"Why don't you play with someone else? Maybe Ness?"
Kirby shook his head and said, "Home."
"He went home huh? What about Lucas?"
He shook his head again.
"The Ice Climbers?"
He rubbed the back of his head and shrugged in a questioning manner.
"Don't know where they're at? Hmm… Well maybe Jade might like some company."
Kirby smiled and said "Piyo."
Meta Knight nodded. Suddenly, he had a pressing urge to leave. He looked up in the distant sky. Something seemed to be calling him…
"Poyo?"
He looked back at Kirby.
"Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind. Oh, could you do me a favor?"
He gave the knight his undivided attention.
"Sneak these back in Dedede's room," he said, giving Kirby the wooden ball he was holding, "but don't let him catch you here. He'll throw a fit."
Kirby saluted to him. Then he picked up the second ball and ran towards the castle. Meta Knight grinned under his mask. He looked back up at the clouds. That tugging wasn't going away. His eyes narrowed. He took a running start before he leaped into the air and flew off.
End of Chapter 2. The next chapter will be posted next Saturday.
Review please!