Episode 2,
Learning Curve

Cappy Town square. A lively little place within the country village so aptly named, probably because of its people being predominantly Cappies with very little diversity in between. Fumu and Bun along with Kirby, abiding by Sir Meta Knight's request, guided the new girl, Myra along. She walked with a sense of relaxation, her hands clasped gently behind her back with her sword bouncing against her hip.

Fumu studied her movements almost suspiciously, the girl seemed far too relaxed to be a knight and she seemed to have an air about her that portrayed her general mood as someone who was carefree. What was Sir Meta Knight thinking by bringing this girl along? Even after five years had passed, it seemed like he was just as much of an enigma as ever.

"Do you intend to stare until a hole forms in my head?" Myra's voice suddenly cut through Fumu's thoughts like a blade. The other girl jumped, had she just been that engrossed with her thoughts that Myra took notice or…? She was sure that the blue colored D'nno was looking away at something else.

"Er…" Fumu started, caught completely off guard.
"You know, if you find my appearance weird you can just say so." Myra snickered, her bright eyes flashing in amusement.

"I- uh…No! I don't find you strange looking at all, it's just…how…?"

"Am I related to Meta Knight?" Myra finished quirking her eyebrow. If she was offended she sure didn't show it. "Well, I guess it would be a logical thing to question considering he and I are entirely different species, but hey I guess that's just how it is. All you need to know is that I am and it's rude to pry."

Fumu's cheeks lit up in a pink blush, realizing what she had done. Her brother and Kirby on the other hand cackled. "Heh, yeah Fumu, it's rude to pry into other people's business." Bun teased, chuckling at his sister's embarrassment. His elder sister growled and crossed her arms in annoyance.

"I wasn't trying to pry, nor was I even going to ask that in the first place." Fumu huffed in annoyance. Myra didn't seem to mind but only let out a surprisingly cute giggle. "I didn't think you were, but I couldn't help but mess with you. You've got that kind of face, you know?"

"And what's that supposed to mean?!" Fumu retorted rounding on the girl, but she seemed to be more interested in Gangu's toyshop now. Myra examined the posters for little minifigures and trading cards, Bun and Kirby right beside her as she was reading the labels on the posters plastered onto the glass.

"Oh…this is neat!" Myra gasped in glee, "Grampa didn't tell me this village had a toyshop that sold GSA Minifigures! Oh! And it's the Legacy Series 3! We don't have these ones at home just yet!"

"You like Minifigures? That's a weird hobby for a girl…" Bun replied, sounding somewhat shocked at the very idea. The small curly tail at Myra's backside was wagging in delight as she took a gander at the poster display of the minifigures of various warriors.

Kirby was copying Myra's movements, having his little arm nubs on the glass though he wasn't nearly as tall as the D'nno girl and stood on the very tips of his reddish pink feet to see just barely into the window.

"More like a weird hobby for a knight-in-training to have in general." Fumu tapped her foot impatiently. "Don't you have better things to do than fawn over cheap plastic toys?"

Myra shooed her hand in a dismissive way. "It's not weird if it's something I genuinely enjoy and it's not hurting anyone. Besides," the blue D'nno looked over her shoulder and stared at Fumu with those deep violet eyes, "My mentor says that it's good to have a hobby outside of training and the path to knighthood. It isn't all I am, you know?"

"That's….a good point." Fumu relented, slowly dropping her arms to her side. "I'm sorry I said that." She looked regretful, then let out a startled yelp when Myra playfully jabbed her elbow into her side.

"No sweat!" Myra winked, "We all say stupid stuff every now and again and assumption is just something I'm used to. No hard feelings! Now…I think if I stepped in here then we'd lose a bunch of daylight for you to show me around!"

"Oh…I suppose you are right. Um…Well there's honestly not all that much here." Fumu replied, placing her hand to her chin in thought. "Cappy Town is just a peaceful little village tucked away here. And nothing is really of interest for tourists."

"Yeah," Bun added, crossing his arms behind his head. "Nothing ever goes on around here anymore. Ever since Kirby chased off all the Demon Beasts it's been nothing but peace and quiet. It's almost boring." He nearly yawned as if to accentuate his point. Myra snickered slightly, picking up Kirby as if he were a ball.

Not that the pink boy minded, in fact he snuggled into Myra's chest fur which spilled out of the necklining of her tunic. "Peaceful days are nice." Myra began walking along again with Fumu and Bun at her sides. "I think it would be better than having your town destroyed all the time. Besides, while it may not be a tourist attraction, this land has something else to offer. The nature here is beautiful. The sea scent is heavy in the air and flowers are all around. I bet this land is perfect for cultivating all sorts of crops!"

Her fellow D'nno girl blinked in amazement at such an observation. "Wow…I'm impressed that you took notice of that. But you are right. This place is full of farmers who grow all kinds of things, fruits, veggies. There's also the mayor with his sheep and then there's also plenty of fishermen who catch and sell them at the market."

Myra plugged her nose and gagged. "Yes, I can tell. They must have caught some right reekers too." She looked slightly ill, which confused the two siblings. Neither of them could smell anything fishy nor were they that close to the butchery to smell anything remotely like meat or fish.

Fumu side-eyed Myra for a moment but decided not to question it. As they walked they passed the many shops and houses that lined the streets, Fumu pointed out the various locals and explained them to Myra in short detail.

They eventually stopped by in the middle of the square where a large oak tree was growing in the very center. "And this is the town square. It's where we hold all our important meetings and—" a loud snore interrupted the D'nno girl. The teens looked up and saw that perched within the green branches was what looked like a yellow bird that was asleep on his back.

Myra frowned. "I assume that's not part of the tour."

"No, that's Tokkori." Bun groaned with an annoyed tone. "He'd been here for a long time, and he's really mean and cranky."

"I mean…Tokkori is nice…sometimes!" Kirby nervously interjected. Somehow this irritated Fumu.

"Is not! Kirby, he kicked you out of your bed and house! You don't have to keep defending that guy if you don't want to!" She shouted practically, making Kirby quail slightly behind Myra's leg. "When are you going to stand up for yourself and give him what for?"

The blue D'nno scratched her head in confusion. All this over a little bird? She stared up at the yellow thing as if sizing him up when Tokkori's eyes popped wide open. "Whazzut?! What's with all the racket!?" The bird screeched in a high pitched voice. Myra reeled slightly as if being pierced as he flapped his little wings rapidly, descending from his perch to investigate the noise. "What are you brats doing out here? Can't a bird get a little shut eye?...Hah?"

He immediately took notice of the new girl standing there and flapped towards her face. "Who're you? I ain't never seen your mug around here!"

"Uh…I just arrived into town with Sir Meta Knight, and Fumu and Bun were just showing me around…" Myra raised her hand slightly as if to calm him. "Could you please tone it down, my ears…"

"Huuuuuhhhhh?" Tokkori shouted even louder, as if taking pleasure in the girl's disdain. "What are you, some kind of bat? What, you can't take a little birdie's tweeting?" He began laughing in an almost jeering, landing on Kirby's head. "Say you girlie, you look like one of them there knights just without the metal bits, are you cosplaying or something?"

"Um…"
"Myra's apparently Sir Meta Knight's granddaughter, Tokkori." Bun explained quickly as Myra seemed too dazed by the irritatingly high pitched voice by the yellow bird. "She's also a knight-in-training!"

"Say what?! This girl?" Flying in Myra's face once more. She learned back and resisted the urge to place her hands to her ears. "She don't look anything like that metal wearing freak if you ask me!"

"That's because nobody did-H-Hey!" Myra gasped suddenly as Tokkori began fluttering around her like an overly excited gnat. Feathers loosened and they brushed her fur.

"I didn't know they let little shrimpy kids into the knights." The bird humphed and flew a little too close to Myra's face. He flew around her once while sizing her up, stopping once more just inches from her nose. "Humph! If you ask me she doesn't look like much, especially if she hangs around Kirby. In fact she's kind of got that same empty look about her too!" He jeered loudly much to Fumu and Bun's annoyance.

"Hey now! That's not nice!" Fumu scolded but Tokkori was too busy laughing about his own joke. Kirby flapped his little tiny nubs as if pleading for his housemate to stop picking on his friend. It went unnoticed as Tokkori was more interested in jeering and squawking as loudly as possible.

Myra on the other hand looked as if her head was about to split wide open. She squeezed her eyes shut and as if trying to drown out the squawking of Tokkori's noise but once more he was in her face it was like violin strings being purposefully played out of tune.

"I think Meta Knight's lost his touch if you ask me, who brings little kids here anyways? Ahahahahaha!" Tokkori's laugh echoed throughout the air and Myra growled a tiny bit. Fumu immediately snapped her attention to the other girl as she seemed to mutter something under her breath.

A moment later a strong gust of wind blew, rustling the leaves and their hair as if it were part of a strange storm. Tokorri cut his laughing and looked around, "What-What? What's with this weird wind?!" It gusted again, more strongly than before taking the bird and flinging him away somewhere. His screeches could be heard fading in the distance…along with the wind that shortly died afterward.

Myra relaxed her shoulders and breathed outward as if a huge weight had been removed from her chest. "That was strange…I guess the wind must have taken him." She said looking unbothered by the whole ordeal. Kirby glanced at Myra worriedly. "Um…Myra…?"

"Well, come on. Let's get moving shall we? Grampa will expect me back before sundown I'm sure and I'd like to get used to the surrounding area while I can!" She turned on her heel, while grabbing Kirby along and dragging him with her as Fumu and Bun stayed behind watching her retreating back.

"Sis…did you feel that wind?" Bun asked, looking up at his sister with worry. Fumu didn't answer right away, rather she kept her eye on Myra who had stopped to look at another store window with Kirby. Their words were too far away to be heard so it was impossible to guess what they were saying.

"Yeah…It was weird, it wasn't that breezy a moment ago." Fumu thoughtfully wondered as she looked on. "I wonder…."

Myra turned towards them and waved with a smile. It seemed friendly enough but the moment when the second wind gusted, Fumu could have sworn for only a second…maybe it was a trick of the light but…Fumu could have sworn that Myra's cheeks lit up faintly.

"Hey! You guys! Why didn't you tell me there was a convenience store around here?" Myra flounced over to them with a grin and grabbed both the D'nno siblings' hands. "Let's go inside and get some snacks! My treat!"

"Oh…hey wait!" Fumu was suddenly pulled along by Myra, and was left to who and what was this girl exactly? And more importantly was she actually dangerous? There wasn't exactly something normal about her at all but maybe…it was also Fumu's imagination as well even now as Myra pulled them both into Tago's store to browse for snacks and yummy treats.

Sunset over DreamLand was a rich red color, the deepest of vermilion that ran with streaks of orange and yellow like amber and gold. The clouds that framed the setting sun blotted the brightly dying light with inky traces of purples and blacks. Myra, Fumu, Bun and Kirby walked up the long dirt path back to the castle.

With bags from Tago's store in their hands, Myra smiled softly. "Today was lots of fun! Even though there's not a lot to do in your little hamlet, it still was packed with many new sights and sounds."

"Ah…you are welcome?" Bun said, while sucking on a lollipop he had brought from the store. "Though you didn't have to go to the trouble of buying everything for us."
Kirby contently listened to the conversation, mostly not having a lot to say due to having his own lollipop shoved into his gullet that he was happily working on.

"Yeah seriously…and all this food too." Fumu denoted, seeing how fat Myra's shopping bags were. They were near full to near bursting to the point where she needed to double bag everything. A few ingredients were sticking out, like leeks or bread. "Are you sure you should be spending your money so frivolously?"

"Oh really it was no issue." Myra waved her hand, while a bunch of crows flapped their wings overhead. "There's not really much I need to spend my money on. Most of the time I don't buy my food, I hunt it. Plus you know, my Grampa can't cook very well." The young woman lifted the bag slightly with an amused, almost motherly grin. "I can't subject poor Blade Knight and Sword Knight to his awful cooking during our stay."

"Wow…He really is that bad of a cook huh?" Bun asked, amazed with Myra's blatant insult towards Meta Knight. "But you know how to cook?"
"And hunt? Who'd need to hunt in this day and age?" Fumu huffed, looking impatient with the girl. Myra rolled her eyes and simply kept walking.

"My mentor taught me how to hunt. She's a knight of a code even older than the Star Warriors and taught me basic survival skills. Sometimes there are times where you can't buy your own food and you are forced to survive off the land itself." Myra said, almost bored as if this were nothing new for her.

She turned back to them and placed her hands behind her back and leaned off to the side, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "As for my cooking, I've learned a thing or two from my Gramma. So as long as I'm around, Grampa, Sword and Blade won't be dining on space food."

"I can think of one time where we were forced to hunt for our own dinner." Bun shivered as if caught by a chill, making the blue colored D'nno raise her curly eyebrows in curiosity. Fumu sighed, placing a head to her forehead. "Oh yeah, how could I forget? The drills still give me nightmares."

To their surprise Myra laughed. "Sounds like your typical boot camp. Though I feel for you both." Something about her tone caught Fumu's attention as if it were almost sarcastic in nature. The other D'nno frowned and glared at Myra much to her surprise though, Myra didn't care and pulled something out of her tunic pocket.

It was a cellphone with a pink case, the button was star-shaped and the home screen was a light with pure white light. It bounced off Myra's fur and eyes reflecting onto them as she read the screen. "Well…this has been fun, but it seems Grampa is calling me back already."

"Aren't we all going to the same place though?" Kirby asked, as Myra blinked stupidly for a moment then grinned toothily.
"True…but maybe I just want escape for a while just like Grampa does." She snickered in reply and ran ahead a little bit. "Catch me if you can!"

"...And she's supposed to be a knight in training?" Fumu huffed watching Myra run further ahead of them without somehow breaking any of her bags. It was almost impressive. "What a weird girl."
"Yeah, she might be a bit weird. But she sure is fun! Come on Sis! She's gonna leave us behind!" Bun called running after Myra as well, with Kirby calling his usual, "Poyo!" in response while chasing Myra's curly short tail.

"Ugh….Wait for me!" And she too started off as a break neck run, as the two went back to the castle as the sun was setting over an ocean scene.

= = = = = = = = = =

"I'm back." Myra called, opening the door to the tiny apartment that she was going to be sharing with Meta Knight and his two vassals. Sword Knight poked his armored head from around the corner to one of the other bedrooms as the sound of a vacuum cleaner shut off.

"Welcome back, Your Ladyship. Did you have fun while out?" Sword Knight replied watching Myra set the bags on the small table in the room while she pulled off her boots.

"Plenty! Fumu, Bun and Kirby showed me all around the village and I was able to grab some ingredients for dinner later tonight!" The young D'nno smiled with satisfaction. She looked around the apartment, noticing it was far less dusty than before, in fact it almost looked clean. "You've been busy since I was gone…been cleaning up?"

"Yes, your grandfather's orders of course."

"Huh…speaking of which where is he anyways? Is Blade with you?" Myra looked around, her nose twitching slightly. "I don't smell either of them around here…"

"That is because Blade is currently washing our sheets in order to prepare them for sleeping. As for Lord Meta Knight….He went to go and speak with the king about something but he should have returned a while ago." Sword Knight crossed his arms, leaning on the vacuum slightly.

"I guess he just must be busy. He'll be back when he's back I'm sure." Myra flapped her hand dismissively, setting the bags down on the small counter near the door. "Man…I'm kind of tired. I think I might just save exploring the castle for some other day…I'm weirdly exhausted."

"I'd imagine so, after using such a powerful spell today." A new voice came from the front door. The poor girl jumped in fear, hackles raised and hand flying to the hilt of her sword. Though she immediately relaxed when the door creaked open to reveal Meta Knight's armored form.

"Don't scare me like that!" Myra snarled, crossing her arms grumpily. "How long were you even standing there and…wait…" She put her hands to her mouth and backed away from the door as Meta Knight entered smoothly. He still was burritoed up in his cape, glowing yellow eyes shining with their usual mysterious luster.

"Welcome back, Lord Meta Knight." Sword greeted, appearing unphased by his master's appearance, though his tone suggested amusement. Most likely at Myra's expense to be sure. Meta Knight chuckled softly, "That was quite good, your reflexes are getting sharper though your alertness seems to be lacking."
"I didn't expect you to be outside of the door, Old man…" Myra huffed angrily, wondering briefly why she didn't pick up on his scent just now.

Meta Knight glanced over his shoulder. "'Tis to be expected I suppose, your mana has quite a chunk missing from it…and your energy seems lower than this morning." Now his voice gained a very acute edge to it as if he were staring a hole into the young D'nno's head. "Would you care to explain your actions down in town square today?"

She looked away, rubbing the tops of her arms as if caught with a chill. "I…well…I didn't know what else to do. That bird's squawk was so annoying and grating not to mention he kept making fun of me." Myra turned to her grandfather, not bothering to question how he knew what she did today, "It took nearly everything I had not to just snap him up right then and there!"

"Ah…Well I doubt anyone would have missed him…Tokkori is a right nuisance to anyone and you ate him, you might have made Dream Land a better place for everyone." Sword Knight commented softly with a light chuckle. Meta Knight closed his eyes and bowed his head, walking past Myra.

He kept his back to the young D'nno, "Be that as it may, you almost ruined your cover. Fumu and her brother, Bun will see right through it, Mija. They will undoubtedly begin asking troublesome questions, questions we cannot provide them with answers to quite yet." Meta Knight glanced back over his shoulder. "You must be careful from now on. Anymore of that and you will be in grave danger. Do not make me regret leaving your magic unsealed." Meta Knight growled lowly, the hard tone in his voice clear.

"...Yes Sir…" Myra withered, hanging her head lowly feeling the deepest shame for her actions. Her grandfather's disappointment and worry were clear to her. She needed to do better if she was going to do well for her training here. She sighed and started to walk towards the food bag to get started on dinner when she felt herself being swept up into Meta Knight's cape.

The soft warmness of the cloak wrapped around her fur and she found herself face to face with Meta Knight's armored face. "Do not look so dour, Myra. The reason for my hardness is so you understand the danger you put yourself in today. I do not want you to be the target of any more unneeded suffering."

"...I understand." Myra sniffled and hesitantly hugged him, while Sword Knight kindly looked away to allow them their moment. "I'll do better to watch myself next time then."

"That is all I ask of you, child." Meta Knight appeared satisfied with her answer and let go. "Now then…I am aware you are taking care of dinner for us tonight. But before you set off for that task, I would like for you to know that the king has kindly arranged for you to have your own separate bedroom to use while we stay here."

"Wait…really?" Myra appeared shocked. "But…why can I stay in here with you, Sword and Blade?"

"Well for one it's highly inappropriate for a teenage girl to stay in here with a bunch of grown men." Sword Knight started. "It might send the wrong message."

"But Blade Knight is a woman." Myra argued, crossing her arms. "I don't get why she can stay here with Grampa and you and you'd just kick me out of the apartment!"

"Blade also has her own room in the apartment." Sword Knight interjected pointing to the other bedroom that he had just finished vacuuming. "Not only that but she's a highly trained warrior who has served your grandfather for a long time. She has the right to stay here."

Myra opened her mouth to argue more but this time Meta Knight interjected. "Mija, the points that Sword Knight brought up are all good ones, however the main reason why I have arranged it this way is because there is not much room in this apartment. As you can see it is already cramped enough with the three of us here. I'd much rather you be more comfortable in your own space and privacy than crammed in this tiny room, especially given that you like to shift forms while asleep."

The young woman relaxed slightly, dropping her shoulders and sighing. It looked like she didn't have a leg to stand on in this race and just accepted it. "Fiiinnnneeee…."

Meta Knight chuckled softly and patted her shoulder. " Do not fret. You won't be too far away from us. This castle is quite large and accommodating and it took quite a bit of…persuading to get the king to give up one of his nicer guest rooms near this apartment. You'll be just down the hall."

"...Why do I get the impression that it wasn't as simple as you made it sound?" Myra muttered to herself, noticing how her grandfather's speech took quite a bit of a darkly amused tone. She didn't bother prying for more information, but rather instead grabbed the bags off the counter. "I'm going to go start dinner now, after we eat I think I'll excuse myself for a bath then bed."

Meta Knight nodded his head, and watched her go, as soon as she left the room Sword Knight asked bluntly, "You blackmailed Dedede, didn't you?"

"Sword Knight…never be so forward with me like that ever." Meta Knight merely replied and sat down on his old favorite chair in front of the TV which was currently playing a news broadcast of tomorrow's weather headed by none other than Escargoon.