Chapter five: Meta Knight

It was December Fifth; by this time I had finally had my first fights, and won them. The schedule for the fights at this point had finally been posted, and the routine was clear for all to see. There would be seventeen days each month of continuous fighting, then seventeen days of resting and training, this would succeed another seventeen day cycle, until the year was over. This rigorous schedule kept me from looking too deep into what Jigglypuff had said nearly two months ago. I had seen nothing to raise any of my alarms; I continued to keep quiet waited still for the opportune moment to strike.

Back to the brawls, at this point everyone had had at least two. The scores had been updated that day and somewhere very happy others where quite disappointed with themselves. I couldn't have been happier myself. I was also rather proud of Jigglypuff who had won both of her matches respectively, and had nothing but thanks and gratitude for me.

She was the most endearing thing I had ever laid eyes on.

We had very little time to relish our accomplishments when Master Hand had another dreadful announcement for us.

"Housemates as you may know the weather for the next two days promises to be a warm and balmy 75 degrees. I think it would be a good idea for all of your to go camping!"

Everyone in the house looked aghast, except Falco who let out a loud whoop of approval.

"I see at least one person is excited about the proposal. This is how it's going to work I'm going to split you guys into groups of about 6 with one group of five, designate you all an area, supply you with all necessary materials, and let you have as much fun as you can possibly handle."

"Awesome! Isn't that great guys?" Falco was shaking with tremors of anticipation, happy enough for all of us to be sick with it.

"Yeah, great," Fox looked concerned for his friend's mental health.

"Well, without further ado here are the groups: group number 1 Falco, Fox, Meta Knight, Princess Peach, Jigglypuff and Sonic."

I smiled at Jigglypuff.

"I can always tell you're happy because your eyes turn pink."

"Or maybe you just know me very well Jigglypuff."

She smiled, "I like to think that helps."

Sonic and Peach looked at each other, this was the first time I had seen them both so unenthused to be spending time together. Even Sonic seemed as if someone had just given him a rapid monster to tame, he looked at Peach daunted and if I knew any better I would say fearfully.

Fox and Falco gave each other a whip like high five.

"Yeah, bitch!!"

"This is totally gonna rock!!"

"Here is your map to the camp site," he entrusted the thing to me. He recognized responsibility when he saw it. "I hope that you will make it there with little trouble. Here are your tents," He handed one to Sonic, another to Falco, and the last one to Peach. "I believe you guys are capable of picking partners on your own. Or is that asking too much?"

"We can do it!" Sonic gingerly smiled at Peach. She wasn't looking at him.

"Your fishing poles?" The Master Hand asked.

"Yea, that would be amazing!" Falco collected all the poles throwing them over his shoulder.

"How about food?" Jigglypuff asked.

"That's what the fishing poles are for."

"Yes!" Falco was ecstatic, "I love roughing it."

"That's nice," Fox replied.

"You guys are free to leave whenever you like, though I suggest you pack quickly so that you can make it to your site before nightfall."

"Who needs to pack?"

"I do but just a few things," Peach being the only human was naturally going to need products of sort, what's that stuff called? Sun block lotion, extra clothes and the like.

She was ready in plenty of time to start the extravaganza hours before sunset.

We started on our walk, through the deep misty forest around us, even deeper still in search of the lake Master Hand promised would mark when we were close. It was beautiful weather really just as had been expected. It was rather extraordinary the feeling of leaving civilization behind. To leave that monotony for a more helter and hectic plane was a sensation I was very use to. Theses were learning experiences that were priceless and indefinable. The Master Hand was rightfully trying to instill in us a sense of teamwork and success in the most demanding of terrains. Or he was just trying to get a couple of cheap laughs, either way I was glad to be going on this little adventure.

"How much further?" Fox was already complaining, we had been hiking little under an hour.

"We are on the right track, I'm sure. I mean Meta Knight has the map so we must be."

I was more then sure of myself, but just to be sure, I called to Sonic.

"Yeah?"

I asked him to run a couple of miles to the north. If he found a sign that said 'group 1' then we were on the right path.

"Yeah, no problem," he took off running creating that infamous vortex after him.

He was back seconds later, "that's it! Damn Meta Knight thank God one of us has a sense of direction."

The rest of the group nodded their heads in agreement.

I thanked him. He was no longer carrying his tent, what had happened to it?

"Oh, I set that thing up while I was there. That's what took me so long."

"Oh yeah, dude that was a ridiculously long time we had to wait for your slow ass," Falco laughed at his own sarcasm.

"Alright everyone, let's keep on or I'll leave you behind."

"Hey, I could carry some of the supplies to campsite to have them ready for you guys whenever you get there."

"Could you carry me?" Fox asked in all seriousness. "Please?"

"What? No!"

"I will pay you!" Fox had pulled out his wallet.

Sonic gave into monetary temptation, "okay whatever."

"Sick!" Fox jumped abruptly into Sonic's arms.

"Dude, get on his back," Falco said. "You're a guy not a damsel in distress."

"Why? Getting on his back would be way more gay."

"Who the hell cares?" Sonic, with those final words closed the argument taking off with Fox and the tent he was carrying.

We trekked on for another fifteen minutes or so, Jigglypuff, Peach, and Falco singing off key campfire songs as they skipped together through the woods, until we finally could feel the cool air that came as a result of moisture.

We came around a bend in a little unpaved trail and saw the lake ahead of us.

Falco and Jigglypuff both looked at each other, awe struck.

"It's beautiful!" Jigglypuff squealed.

The sun was shimmering on the lake giving it the illusion of crystal. The sky was clear as one could have hoped and the wind was light and warm.

We were welcomed at the camp by the profound smell fire. Two of the tents had already been erected, Fox sitting in his not wanting the sun to bless his skin with some dearly needed vitamin D and Sonic, we deduced, was out running laps somewhere.

The temptation to unfurl my wings and take flight was strong. I fought it, I had other duties before me.

I told Jigglypuff to go and enjoy herself, I would set up the tent I assumed we would be sharing.

"Are you sure? I'd be more then happy to help."

I assured her it was no problem.

"Yeah, Jigglypuff let your man do all that. Let's go swimming!"

"He's not my…"

Falco had already taken off his shirt and pants and was rushing to the lake eager to be the first one in.

"Ah well!" She ran after him.

The day was no less then perfect. After I set up the tent I made my way to the lake to spread my wings fully for the first time in a couple of months. I caught a gust and glided over the surface of the water, watching myself in the dark satin liquid like an old frame by frame movie, catching my movement just an instant to late reflecting them even later. I let the harsh cold air fill my lungs, so cool enough as to purify me. I did flips in the air and spirals, not to show off there was no one to see, I did it as a gesture of pure ecstasy. I let the winds carry me wherever they pleased, I did not fight them. They took me far away from the campsite, from everything. I flew so long and so low to the water that the fishes deep down by the filmy lake bottom rose up to follow me. They didn't see me as a threat anymore, now I was a trustworthy leader.

I took advantage of their naivety.

I speared several at a time, creating a collection on my sword. When I had at least ten I turned back towards camp.

Everyone was stunned.

"Right on Meta Knight you rock!"

Fox finally popped his head from the window of his tent, "what's up guys?"

"Meta Knight brought us food. Isn't he the greatest?"

"Holy crap," Fox nearly toppled his tent in his effort to exit it.

"Peach! Meta Knights gonna cook us up some fish!"

Peach was sun bathing on a foam mat out on the lake, "Huh?" She yelled.

"FOOD!!" Jigglypuff could roar like a woman twice her size.

"GO GET SONIC!" Falco added, "I haven't seen that guy all day."

"Strange," I thought. "I will go and find him. Can you cook this fish Falco?"

"Are you kidding? I'd love to."

Jigglypuff grabbed my arm, giving me the once over. Her look told me that she was perturbed, "don't do anything stupid. I know you. You like to take things into your own hands! Just be cool okay?"

I nodded my head, I knew what she meant. She had been scolding me for, as she put it, trying to be a mediator to everyone's problems. She said that I had a control issue and that is why I was always trying to take over situations that didn't call for my intervention. I understood her argument, that doesn't mean I agreed.

It didn't take me long to find the hedgehog. He was behind a tree, his head resting on one of his folded arms, he was talking to himself. I couldn't hear the words he spoke but I knew they had something to do with what he was looking at which was, of course, the sun bathing Peach.

I was really growing tried of finding him in such compromising positions.

This is one of those things Jigglypuff would tell me to walk away from. The Wario incident had been an exception to this rule seeing as he had been spying on children. This, she would reason, was not in my jurisdiction to correct. Peach was a grown woman and Sonic a grown man. They had their own issues that they would have to work through themselves without me butting in.

That is what she failed to understand. He was a grown man who should be able to control himself. But since he lacked that ability it was my responsibility to not turn the other cheek and let him go unpunished.

Jigglypuff favored a very hands-off policy, whereas I favored the opposite. Evidently so did Sonic.

I tried to come at him quickly before he heard my advancing footsteps but his acute hearing did not betray him. He spotted me and took off running. I considered indulging in a chase, but had no delusions of catching him so I simply watch as he, in his attempt to escape tumbled from the cliff he had been standing next to, hitting the water below with a surprisingly loud splash.

I stepped to the edge of the cliff to observe what happened next, Sonic sputtering and yelling for help, splashing around in a manic attempt to stay above the surface of the water.

Apparently the hedgehog couldn't swim.

"Ugh…"I would have to save him. If he expired, I would never hear the end of it from Jigglypuff.

I waited a minute, watching the perverts head bobble up and down out of the water, into the air, back under again. The bubbles were starting to steadily decrease in number and frequency.

I should aid him. I knew deep down I should. I prepared myself for the descent when who should come floating by as if by fate, but Princess Peach.

She heard the ruckus in the water next to her and as compassionate as her heart was, she dove without a second thought into the water.

"Damn," I had unintentionally brought about exactly what I had been trying to prevent.

Peach had Sonic in her arms and was dragging his dead weight back to her raft. As soon as Sonic felt it's stability he lunged forward, pulling Peach with him. He shook over her spraying a ten foot radius.

"THANK YOU PEACH!!" Sonic tackled the already downed Princess pushing his head into her chest and holding fast to her.

"You're welcome Sonic," her face was red.

I could hear chattering at the nearby camp, they had heard the noise, how could they've not?

"Sonic are you okay?" That was Jigglypuff.

"No! Your bloody boyfriend tried to kill me!"

"What are you talking about?" Jigglypuff was quick. She only barely scanned the area for me when I was spotted, "META KNIGHT!! GET DOWN HERE!!"

Her scream was at such a decibel that those in the direct line of fire were temporarily deafened.

"Ugh…," I did not have time to let the ringing from my ears fade. I had to face her wrath now or it would be magnified tenfold.

I landed next to her, "yes Jigglypuff?"

She grabbed my hand, "come here."

"OOO, someone in is trouble," Falco could be magnificently immature. He practiced the art until he was a maestro of sorts.

"Whipped!" Fox was his partner in instigation.

"Meta Knight I can't believe you! What did I tell you earlier?"

I refused to talk to her; I simply turned myself right around and began to make for the food.

"META KNIGHT DON'T YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME!!"

"Jigglypuff you are hysterical you wouldn't understand the circumstances."

'Try me!"

There was no escape, her anger was insatiable and relentless. "Fine, I found that hedgehog peeping at the Princess, just as he was that day at the poolside."

"Meta Knight," she sounded exhausted. "It's not up to you to try and right things like that."

"So I should just let the hedgehog walk away free of the consequences of voyeurism?"

"Well, you didn't make things any better by trying to. He nearly drowned."

"Yes, if I would have known such a detail I would have thrown him into a bed of water a long time ago," I said this under my breath; Jigglypuff showed no sign of having caught the remark. "I truly didn't mean to exacerbate the situation, but something had to be done."

"Sometimes it's not up to you though, I mean…was Princess Peach mad?"

"She was unaware. She was a victim."

"He was being harmless. Look!" She directed my attention to out on the water, "what do you see there?"

She was victorious, her point proven beyond a doubt. I lay my sword down in defeat of her superior debate skills. There in the water was Peach, lying on her mat in a state of utter radiating contentment. Sonic nestled next to her talking, peacefully his arm locked around her shoulders with Peach not minding in the least.

"Jigglypuff, you are right," I was not too proud to admit when I was wrong; I had an elevated sense of honor and respect, a code of ethics that told me to be a warrior even if it was hard to do so. "But I must tell Mario of this you, do realize."

Jigglypuff rolled her eyes at me, "keep out of other people's business. You don't know anything about Mario or Peach, or those two down there. Stop being such a presumptuous jerk!"

Again I couldn't argue with her.

Jigglypuff, a woman beyond her years, stood before me. Though hopelessly defeated and mortified I couldn't help but smile at her. Everyday she taught me so much.

"I will try for you Jigglypuff," I bowed.

She was beside herself, "oh, you." I had never seen her so giddy.

I preferred this look to all others. This one that was now in her eyes lighting her up, making her luminescent.

"HEY, ASSHOLES! FOOD'S READY!!"

Jigglypuff was able to muster a sarcastic reply, "nice to know chivalry isn't dead."

The food was scrumptious. Falco had done an excellent job at cooking and was a gracious host.

"Everyone like it? C'mon give me my props!"

Fox and Sonic who both had their mouths filled, lifted their fist in unison giving the boasting Falco air props.

"Thank you! Thank you! Would anyone like seconds?"

The same couple as before raised their hands.

"How about we thank Meta Knight for catching the fish in the first place?"

"Thank you!"

"Thanks."

"Righteous you are!"

"Uh-huh."

"You are all very welcome."

Darkness was leaking from the east, reaching its claws across the horizon, extinguishing lights and bringing unbridled cold in its wake. It wasn't before long we were engulfed in almost perfect pitch. The creatures of the night came out from hiding lusting to wreak their mischief on such unsuspecting day dwellers as ourselves cocky enough to be in their domain past the time where the light form the sun could provide sanctuary. We were theirs to devour.

We all had gathered around the campfire. Everyone, save me, was wrapped in some sort of fabric. Jigglypuff looked twice her size, tightly coiled in her massive wool blanket, she still manage to shiver. Sonic had his arms wrapped firmly around Peach who was returning the favor. I could tell by the look on the hedgehog's face that if he had died right then, he would have died at the peek of his existence. They were draped in at least four thick voluptuous blankets. Fox and Falco were also fully adorned.

"Yeah, a balmy 75 during the day and a freaking 50 below at night. Asshole kinda forgot to warn us about that."

"Thank goodness Peach packed all these blankets. She's so smart," Sonic heaved a sigh of adoration.

"Oh, it's not a problem!"

"Where were you able to hold all these though?"

"That's right I never showed you guys!" She pulled from her person a small little pouch. "It's my bad of infinite holding! Well sort of. It holds a lot I know that."

"Hey, can I try that?" Fox was too eager.

"Uh, sure," Peach handed the pouch to Fox, who smiled evilly at Falco.

"Dude whatever you are planning just think it…AHHH!"

Fox dove at Falco and with one quick motion was able to trap the bird's entire body into the thing.

"IT WORKS!! Can I have it?"

"No you can't have it," Peach snatched it back from Fox inverting it, shaking out Falco, "It was an engage-engagement present." The way she had hesitated to say the word made me suspicious. I looked to Sonic who visibly cringed, not from the cold I could see that something else had taken him off guard.

"Hey let me back in there it was warm!" Falco protested, trying in futility to jump back into the pouch.

After the initial excitement of all that had worn away we were left with boredom and silence.

"This is lame," Sonic spoke first.

"Totally. Someone should tell a ghost story."

"Hey yeah, dude that sounds awesome!" Falco looked around at the group, "anyone know any good ones?"

"I do," Jigglypuff spoke in such a hushed voice. One could tell the story plagued her.

"Alright let's hear it."

"My mother use to tell me a story about a woman. This woman was very sad and alone, no one wanted to be around her because everyone unfortunate enough to be in her path fell ill with disease, the disease called despair."

'This is gonna be good," Fox put his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.

"They called her a witch, but she really wasn't she was just so sad and alone that she had forgotten how to smile, they just were compassionate these people that felt disease. So all those in the village cast out of their heart all love and left the woman to die of sadness. She was lost and helpless until a strange man came into town. This woman found love in this man, love that no one else had ever shown her. Then one day this man left."

"Where'd he go?" Sonic's eyes were wide and unblinking.

"To war, war that her village had created with a far off land. He was killed in that war the man she loved. It was then that this woman went crazy. She secluded herself to the night, when she would come out, it would be to search for her love, convinced that he was somehow still alive. If you listen carefully you can hear her in the trees…howling."

Jigglypuff, proving herself to be a master story teller, halted then allowing everyone to her the moaning we were now so aware of.

"Spooky," Peach said.

"This is when the story takes a dark turn. People started to go missing," Jigglypuff spoke so suddenly that everyone jumped, save me.

"When they found the missing they would only find bits and pieces of them. Torn apart and mutilated. They searched high and low for the Lake Witch they called her, because they would always find the remains near a lake."

"Oh, ha. No shit!" Fox was nearly crying with fear, but laughing too. His panic nearly to a crescendo.

"One day a man happened upon a seemingly abandoned shed. But inside he found traces of murder. A body composed of several all of them crudely sewn together with thick river reeds to form a person of sorts. Nearly finished save for the eyes, heart and hands. From what the local authorities could figure, the witch had been stealing body parts from the living in attempts to create for herself a new lover one that resembled the man she had had and lost. She had not yet found eyes that made her weak, hands that made her tremble, or a heart that could love only her."

"Holy crap," Sonic spoke for the group.

"They say that since then she has roamed places like these, looking for some fresh new bodies to help her complete what she never was able to finish! Don't ever roam these places at night, for the Lake Witch will find you and tear you to pieces! BOO!" Jigglypuff added that last bit with a laugh, no one else was laughing.

"So, who wants to sleep all in one tent tonight?"

"I do!"

"Sounds awesome," Fox and Falco both simultaneously got up, nearly sprinting to their tent.

"Yeah, I think I'm gonna bunk up with them, what do you think Peach?"

"Sounds great," she was noticeably shaking.

Jigglypuff and I were left alone.

"That was quite a story you told."

"Yeah, it used to really freak me out as a kid. It kept me from straying to far from my mother which helped me not get caught by a trainer. So for that I'm kinda thankful."

"Is it based in any truth?"

"Oh I doubt it. Still…scary, huh?"

"They seem to think so", I could hear the foursome in the tent.

"Sorry guys I roll around a lot in my sleep so if you wake up and I'm on top of you, just kick me off," Sonic said this. He was lying looking for an excuse to get near to the Princess.

"Yeah, I have this habit of jizzing in people's ears when I'm sleeping so I hope someone brought Q-tips."

"Nice!" A sound of a high-five ensued.

"Ugh…," I was not looking forward to spending the night with such company.

"That's gross you guys, seriously!" Peach was just as unappreciative of their crass manners.

"I do not want to stay with them," I looked at Jigglypuff to see if she shared my feelings.

"They are kinda loud aren't they?"

"Very. What say we just wander around the lake for a bit, I mean at least until they go to sleep?"

"Even after that story you still want to go wonder around the lake?"

"Why not? You said so yourself that the story is not based in any truth."

"As far as we know," Jigglypuff whispered anxiously before, "sure, why not?"

"Excellent. Let's start this way and work our way around what do you say?"

"Okay!"

We took off; the night was beautiful as the day is succeeded, lovely calm and ever so quiet. The stars were infinitely spread over us, the moon was full and the water was eerily still. There was not a creature to be seen or heard, even so Jigglypuff stayed close to me mumbling to herself nervously. She seemed to take no comfort in the fact that her story was no more then that and even my close presence was not enough to calm her rising fears. Building with every step we took further and further away from the safety of our small lighted camp. Little did she know that nothing out there in that deep dark could be half as disturbing, or half as terrifying as me.

I was the thing to fear in the night.

"Meta Knight, did you hear that?" Jigglypuff instinctually grabbed for my hand, squeezing it. I can really hear something. "I'm not joking."

I listened carefully, "I cannot hear anything." I did take into consideration that her ears were much more acute then mine, "tell me what you hear."

"It sounds like howling or a siren maybe, I'm not sure. It's coming from around that tree."

There was a dense oak in front of us old and gnarled.

She was trying to scare me, pull a 'prank'. I decided not to spoil her fun, "okay I will go and check for you, stay here."

"Be careful, please!"

As I walked I thought about what to expect. When I turned from behind the tree to let her know that everything was well she would try to spook me with maybe a loud sound or maybe even a funny face. I made my round around the tree and discovering nothing turned back.

"Jigglypuff there's nothing back here," I braced myself for her scare tactic.

Nothing came.

"Jigglypuff?" I looked around in the darkness. I ran quickly down the shore looking behind dunes, in crevices, behind trees, up trees. I searched for ten minutes.

Jigglypuff was nowhere, she had disappeared.

"Jigglypuff if you are trying to scare me you are just making me extremely angry. I demand you cease this foolish game!"

A strange howl and the sound of lapping waves was the only thing that answered.

I couldn't help but think of jigglypuff's story and the woman it centered.

Surly it was not her who had taken Jigglypuff but fairy tale ghost do have basis in reality, whatever had inspired such a story could truly be lurking around corners or near trees ready to snatch and kill any small thing left to itself, any small thing like Jigglypuff.

"NO!" I opened my wings and flew with all my speed to the campsite. I would have liked to have set off in search of her myself but I knew that five people all with extraordinary abilities would be far better then one in a state of blind rage.

I tore into the tent, "wake up! All of you!"

I could see in the dim Sonic resting on top of Peach, breathing too quickly to be asleep and Fox snoozing.

Falco was gone.

"WAKE UP!!" My voice was like a low frequency bomb.

"WHAAA!!" Fox jumped out of his sleeping bag reaching for and nearly firing his Blaster.

Peach jolted out of her spot toppling Sonic, "Huh, what's going on?"

Fox noticed me first his eyes adjusting before the others, "damn Meta Knight you scared the hell outta me. What's up?" He started to put away his blaster.

"Don't put that away just yet, Fox."

"What's wrong? Why are your eyes red?"

"Jigglypuff is missing and Falco is also," I pointed to his abandoned sleeping bag.

"The Lake Witch!" Fox jumped to the conclusion, hugging his blaster for protection.

"When did she go missing?" Peach began to put proper clothes on.

"Not but fifteen minutes ago."

"Where?" Peach asked.

"Near the Lake…"

"The freaking Lake Witch!"

"Put your clothes on Fox! We all need to help find her," Peach admirably took control of the situation. "Sonic we need you too."

"Okay Peach, anything you guys need."

"We need to head out immediately we're wasting time even as we speak."

"What should I bring?" Fox had a heavily equipped utility belt.

"Everything!"

Sonic had put on his sneakers, "ready boss."

It was then we heard the scream, piercing and blood-curdling. Everyone listened as it faded from the night swallowed by darkness. There was an instant full of blind fear were no one was too paralyzed to speak. I broke this,

"GO!"

We all rushed from the tent, scattering in different directions all of us sure we were going towards the sound, but it surrounded us now, having echoed through a thousand trees the sound was unrecoverable, lost.

"Wait!" Fox was standing perfectly rigid. The ears on the top of his head were twitching widely like radar, "can you hear that?"

"Yeah," Sonic had now picked up the sound, his ears were also uncontrollable. "She's over there!" He took off running. In moments he was sucked silently and effectively into the depths of the forest.

I yelled out for him to stop! He had to stay together if we were to beat this thing.

It was no good, he was gone. It wasn't long before we heard a struggle.

"SONIC!"

I grasped Peach before she could rush blindly, "wait Princess. Fox, where is it coming from?"

He was composed, as scared as he had been before, he was putting up a rather convincing front. Utterly in control of himself, his eyes stern and calculating, "over there." He motioned with his head towards the path to follow.

We moved quietly, swiftly through the still, making our way towards our target. We could see it so close ahead of us moving just out of reach. The dark figure rushed further and further away until it was barely recognizable from the trees. We picked up speed not wanting to loose the trail. Just before we lunged to reach it, it disappeared into the air, as if into the sky a fuzzy blurred outline disappearing into the stars. It was a trap, I noticed only too late.

"STOP!"

"Whaa…" Fox tumbled firstly from the cliff. I heard his groans and yelps as bones broke and he fell into the open darkness.

"NO!" I dropped next trying to open my wings to cushion the impact. It only backfired as my wings tore and snapped like twigs. The excruciating pain put me into that low state of being, closing my mind to nothing but agony as rocks tore my skin and thorns pierced or cut me open.

I could vaguely hear someone falling beside me, rolling over tree roots and rocks. Princess Peach had fallen for the rouse as well. I could hear her delicate grunts and moans as she was scrapped along the rocky cliffs edge.

We hit the bottom, having fell what seemed like miles, landing with a tremendous thump.

I heard Fox moan as he tired to move and failed. He was whimpering slightly as he crawled in vain from an unknown force. I could hear heavy footsteps and the scraping of leaves as Fox scrambled desperately to get away from his pursuer.

"NO! S-stop!" Fox didn't have a chance. His arm broke, he wasn't able to even draw his blaster. I heard Fox scream as someone or the thing stepped down on his fracture. The sound of splitting bone and tearing flesh invaded my ears. I heard Fox through gritted teeth curse his captor then spit on it.

Whatever it was swooped him up, more followed suit from the shadows. I could hear them next to me by the Princess. She was not putting up a fight, she was unconscious.

Then they were on me, hands and fingers grasping under my broken wing. I stabbed in all angles catching the slick mush of skin and knew I had at least one. Next was a gargantuan pain, unrivaled by all others resulting in a blinding light and lastly unconsciousness.

When I awoke I was in a dimly light room, constrained by the wrist to a cold table, an autopsy table.

I tried to lie still and listen to my surroundings, I listened for nearly ten minutes. I recognized heavy breathing, someone next to me was either hurt badly or deeply scared. This person was battling against chains that bound them. Sonic, he was bawling fighting for escape. Other then him there was no noise, no sign of movement.

I allowed myself to take a quick look around. Not moving my head but rather straining my fine eye muscles to get a sufficient glance about the tomb.

It was all wood, where we in a cabin? No something else entirely, this was no place for people to thrive. The ceiling was high and slanted with many rafters crisscrossing, large hooks hung from each one, rusty and dripping with a foul mess. At the highest peak and where the timbers met there was a small oval window, large enough for an owl to fly into. A Barn Owl.

I was in a barn.

Next to me on a similar table was Sonic and to my other side Fox. I saw no clue as to where the girls could be.

Sonic eyes were staring into the slight light, completely terror-stricken.

I made an intrepid move, "Sonic can you hear me?"

"Meta Knight?" He was shaking with trepidation.

"Yes, Sonic. Do you know where we are exactly?"

"Yes," he was so hushed it was hard to interpret what he said. "They're…ill…Peach."

"Sonic you must speak louder!"

A door opened somewhere. I shut my eyes tight and controlled my breathing, to the untrained eye I would appear to be asleep.

Sonic panicked.

"Oh, shit it's you!" I could hear the shutting of a door.

"Happy? Did you miss me?" It was a female's voice.

"About as much as you missed choking on me I'm sure!"

"Oh, ouch." I followed the clicking of heels to Sonic's side, "then you must have missed me a lot."

"I think you've misunderstood disgust for something else."

I heard the clatter of chains, the scratch of metal pulling against metal, and then a scream which was cut abruptly as Sonic began to choke and wheeze. I heard the squeak of rubber soles against metal as Sonic thrashed.

"Not so smart now are we?" she was calm, her voice so tranquil for someone inflicting torture that I couldn't prevent the agitation that shook my spine.

I heard the slackening of chains as the thick metal hit the ground.

Sonic inhaled loudly, rasping, he spoke, "you pathetic *cough* bitch!! You never take me on unless *cough* I'm tied up, huh? You know I'd kill you!!"

She wasn't listening to him, her heels where making their way to me.

"I think your friend's awake. The one that caused us so much trouble. He destroyed one of our puppets. The naughty boy." I felt her hands on me, against my wings. She had absurdly thick nails which she employed, dragging them down my injuries.

The pain was causing blindness. I remained stoic, meditating to transcend this temporary discomfort. I had to; if I failed the consequences would be dire.

She started to peel off large portions of my wings, tearing it from the bone. When that wasn't enough to satisfy her, she grabbed the wing tight in her fist snapping it like a twig with strength that was surprising and agonizing.

She waited a couple minutes, twisting the fragmented bone as if attempting to pull it from my shoulder.

"It seems I was wrong," her breath was alkaline, ammonia. "Oh, well I still have you to play with." She said with glee.

"Fuck you! You hag! This is the only way you can get guys huh? If you force them."

Sonic was not helping his situation.

I heard the clanging of metal, "what to use though?" The woman's voice was behind me.

"Sonic!" I whispered astounded at how shaky my voice was. Keeping my eyes shut tight I told him that he had to distract her while I looked for a way to escape.

"I'll try, but she's evil. I remember it I remember everything!"

"Just stay calm, Sonic. This may be our only chance..!"

I heard the sound of metal being unsheathed.

"This one will do I think," she rounded again on the hedgehog. "I think you'll be able to fit this."

"Why are you doing this?" Sonic started in just as I had asked. He was braver then he gave himself credit for.

I tried to slip my arms from the restraint, no good they were fit tight. I searched around them for a release or a lock. It had the latter. My good wing I dared not move, for fear of giving my cover away. I twitched my foot, it was free.

"I do it for master. He promises great things for me so I long as I obey."

"Who the hell is your master? Who would want you to use people like this?"

I turned to Fox. He was out cold; he had lost so much blood his color was frail. His broken arm was twisted into the lock to fit clumsily. It was an open fracture that I could see bone protruding from. I twitched the foot nearest to him, it too was unsecured.

"Why are we so full of questions this time around? Last time I guess you were too aroused."

I used my left foot to carefully and in minuscule movements loosen the shoe on my right.

"Let's see what we can do with this, shall we? Open up dearie."

"If you take one step towards me with that, I swear to God lady…"

"We're scared aren't we? I don't think it's that big." She scrapped the thing across Sonics table; the screech was like the grinding of teeth. Sonic's acute ears must have been ringing. "I think with some coaxing we can get it all in."

"Fuck you!" Sonic was not going easily. I heard rubber against metal, metal against metal and lastly rubber against flesh.

He had made contact.

"OW!! Feisty, I like that. It will be so much more of a challenge to break you. Oh, an orifice!" Sonic's breath caught. She mused, "does it want to be fucked with steel?" the most awful slicing sound tore through the barn Sonic began to emit such noises as to haunt me to the grave. Dreadful growls and such screams of such furious anguish, I had to save him. But how? Even if I were to shout out to redirect her attention she would just mutilate me. She would move down the line then to Fox, to Falco, and when she got bored of our sounds she would upgrade to Peach and ultimately Jigglypuff. If she already hadn't.

I kicked my shoe off into Fox's face. He twitched and then opened his eyes.

I said his name twice before he noticed the sound over the screams.

"Meta Knight?" he was weak, so weak, "What's going on?"

I told him not to ask any questions, he would have to get one of his hands out of his restraints to access his blaster.

"Who…who's screaming? ... Meta knight…?"

I told him that Sonic was going to be killed if we didn't do anything very quickly, did he understand?

Fox looked up at his arm and moaned, "nooo…." He said sadly.

He could pull that arm out I knew he could if he tried! Sonic would die if he didn't I said once more.

Fox looked at me with meek determination. Sonic's howls could have mentally damaged anyone who laid witness to them. They sounded of a terrible mixture, pain but something else as well, as the woman drove her instrument deeper and harder.

Fox closed his eyes, as if he could will the suffering he felt and heard away. He turned his broken arm slowly in its' shackle, he let out a low growl.

I told him that he could do it. The thing was already deformed enough, he only need move it a bit more…

I could see the arm slipping in small increments out of the lock. The bone was shifting in and out of place as Fox fought against his own torture to end another's.

He opened the gash in his arm into bigger and bigger, blood gushed out onto the table and soaked Fox's clothes. I could hear the blood leaking off the table and the slow dripping it made, like clockwork onto the floor.

"Just a little more!" I coached. He was down to the first knuckles of his hand when his strength betrayed him.

"I can't…" I spat as he talked, he gagged when we looked at his arm.

If sonic had not let out a superbly loud cry at that very second, Fox and I would have been discovered.

"Yes and you have to! Can't you hear that poor boy?"

Sonic was whining and moaning out slurred profanities that were loosing gusto as he endured more and more of the woman.

I begged Fox to stay awake he was so close!

Foxes eyes rolled deep into the back of his head as he drifted into unconsciousness.

"Fox!" I all but shouted.

When he didn't wake, I felt real hopelessness. I was not able to get myself, or anyone, out of this. We were all at the mercy of this woman who had so little to spare.

"NO!!" I yelled foolhardily. I couldn't let that happen to anyone. I would be the scapegoat. I was the most worthy of inhumane tortures. Not these innocents.

"Hello," the nurse stepped towards me, leaving the whimpering Sonic out of breath and delirious. "Jealous?" her tongue was wet against me.

"If you want something to kill occupy your time with me!" I could feel the sharp steel dagger gliding over my already torn wings. It was dripping; the aroma of blood was infiltrating my nostrils.

"It will be so good, I promise! You will never know such pleasure again. Like your lucky friend over there…he will die happy."

Then a destructive force ripped through the barn. Dark light over took us as purple entered my vision. I saw the nurse hanging, a powerful set of hands around her, and a beautiful waif entering the fray, bypassing it for Sonic. It was then an overwhelming feeling of calm lulled me into an easy and restful sleep.

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