Reply To Reviewer: Believe it or not, I actually write the stories as I go! I have a lot of time on my hands this week and I have so many ideas for this story that it's a pleasure to write more chapters for it!
It was that Saturday, four A.M, Meta Knight was still up and not showing any sign of tiredness in the slightest. It was very unlikely that he, of all people, would worry about something so much, but he was quite unnerved by the things he was contemplating. What would happen if the effect went on so long to the point where it was already really irreversible? What if he couldn't hibernate anymore? As long as he was still capable of fighting and training Kirby, he did not want to die. There was still so much he needed to learn. He tried to clear his head with other thoughts, but that one lingering possibility kept him thinking. He was searching for some way to keep his mind off of the worries, but how?...he decided since he could not sleep, he would try to clear his conscience by going out for a while, and enjoying nature. He put on his mask and grabbed Galaxia, which was in its bronze case engraved with his insignia, before leaving. "It's just to be safe." he murmured, he told himself he'd return home before the sunrise. As he left, the thoughts seemed to be overpowered by less important stuff already, the main thing on his mind was " After yesterday, I think I would like another parfait." Empty thoughts like that one made him feel a little better, the fresh air and vibrant nature also contributed. He figured that if he couldn't have a full-blown adventure, he'd just have a nice walk instead, cause what harm could that do? For once in a while, he actually felt, content. He always knew he was happier by himself at times, doing what he likes to do without anyone wanting to tag along. This, you see, this is what made him feel relaxed.
It all felt fine until he started to feel dizzy and lightheaded. He supposed this was a sign he should head back to Kirby's house now. He tried to move, but he found himself paralyzed. He started seeing flashes of pitch black at random intervals, the world around him was a blur, and he started to hear ringing that reminisced a concussion's. This wasn't his first time having this reaction, he's been going through it for two weeks, but it had never gotten this bad to where he couldn't even move. He knew it usually would pass if a few minutes went by without him passing out, so he resisted the urge to faint. But unlike very other time, he couldn't do it for long. He lost his balance and fell over, afterwards, there wasn't another thought, just pitch black.
Four hours after he fainted, he woke up, back in his own apartment. Confused, he sat up with only three questions in his mind: "What happened?", "Why am I back home?", and "Why the hell is there toilet paper wrapped around my head?"
"Sailor Dee...?" he called groggily. Immediately afterward, he heard the sound of not only her rushing footsteps, but seemingly someone else's moving more slow paced steps as well. The door flew open as his excited sailor cried out "Commander!"
She jumped on the bed and gave him a big hug. being too confused for words, he just awkwardly patted her back. Trudging in behind was his tired student. Kirby at the time looked like he only wanted to do two things; eat and sleep. But somehow, he had made his way all the way over to the castle in search for him. Meta Knight was alarmed that he was even awake today. Kirby just quietly stood there, giving a sad pout. Not even remembering he had taken a walk, but remembering that he promised he would stay the weekend with Kirby, the explanation as to why he was even out of his house to begin with was going to be really confusing.
"Mena, say he stay, but...Mena...no stay..." Kirby drawled, "Why?"
At a loss of words, he stared quietly, waiting for the question to be dismissed or for something to happen that distracts him from that question, giving him a reason to not answer it. But to no avail did that happen. He never wanted to admit he genuinely didn't know what happened in a situation like this, as back in a time he lived in that was more merciless, that could get you slaughtered.
The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop.
"Sir?" the sailor meekly said. As Meta Knight seemed very distant.
The knight gave a delayed response, "Hm?"
"Kirby asked a questio—"
"Noted." Meta Knight irritably interrupted. "I...I don't exactly have an answer to his inquiry."
"So...you don't remember passing out in the plaza or anything? I noticed you didn't come home, and it was almost five in the morning so—"
"Why were you up at five in the morning?"
"Cause you trained me to stay up until five all the time I was on the Halberd, and I'm also not the one with some kind of crazy hibernation schedule that I kept hidden from you for year—"
"Sailor Dee, focus." Meta Knight said calmly, "We can have a further discussion about that later."
Sailor Dee knew she was getting out of line, so she dismissed that out of due respect. But above all though, she was not just a bit salty, but very salty that her own commander hid this from her for pretty much the entirety of the time they worked together. She knew it was because he knew that if he told her any earlier, she would've pleaded him to not go out and 'risk his life' for the thrill of it every single weekend. In matter of fact, she would've thought he should've been too tired to do so all those weekends. But since she was quickly losing her place she continued.
"...Right! Uh...I suspected you were still at Kirby's house, so I decided to take the route you'd usually go to get to his house!" she explained, "Well, could you imagine my surprise when I found you unconscious in the middle of the plaza. I was shocked! Heartbroken almost! I was hoping that the training you and Kirby did would've worked—"
She stopped herself again and looked at the child's glum expression. "Oh, dear."
"Mee tu." Kirby let off in a disappointed tone. Meta Knight might've seemed mysterious and apathetic to others, but he was definitely not heartless, he felt bad for Kirby. He was only trying his best being a toddler.
"It's alright, Kirby." Meta Knight assured, "After all, it was only a few hours. Nothing like this happens overnight. It takes time and patience. So much so, that maybe I'll even...extend the period we do this...will that make it better?"
Kirby let out the quietest squeal. He gave a bright smile, even in his exhaustion.
As Kirby's smile never failed to warm the knight's heart, his eyes shone blue in happiness. "Though, you seem tired today. Why don't we rest here instead?" the knight suggested, Kirby nodded and murmured "Okey." he climbed up on Meta Knight's bed and closed his eyes.
With Kirby out the way for the time, Meta Knight looked at his crew mate, "As for the unconscious part, you know I told you things like that had been happening recently."
"Right, but, I've never seen you passed out from the occurrence before."
"This means things must be getting worse," Meta Knight solemnly said, "I have to be extremely serious about this now, I sense that if I continue on like this, the end could be drawing much closer than you think."
Sailor Dee gasped, "I-is there anything we can do...?"
"In the end, this will all draw back to the one solution, I must be idle and, as everyone here as ever told me, "loosen up a bit". Everyone else in Dreamland finds it so very easy to be lazy, so why can't I?"
"Cause it's...kinda...just not naturally who you are...?" she said sheepishly, "And who could forget the time you—"
"Yes, yes, I know, tried to take over the entirety of Dreamland to end the people's lazy lifestyle, blah, blah, blah." Meta sighed, "But this isn't the time to focus on the past, for this is becoming bigger than just "for a weekend" kind of thing. Because even if I do pick it up quickly, I could be sleep for months, or on a more pessimistic perspective, years. You're talking centuries of sleep I've missed."
"And you didn't bother to tell me any of this before you left out yesterday?!"
"I did not want to worry you with a bunch of things so quickly!"
"Well, I was just really concerned yesterday, but now when you tell me all this today, now I'm just, you know, casually FREAKING OUT!"
"And rightfully so," Meta Knight sighed, "But you must pull it together while there is still hope."
"You're right..." she said as she began to calm down, "So...allow me to ask again...what can I do to help here, if anything?"
"I'll still be active, yet idle for, hopefully only a week or shorter. You play the most important role here, you take charge of the apartment. Don't worry about me for the most part, once I get the ability of hibernation back, the most you'll need to get for me is food."
"Food? But...you don't eat a lot?"
"Every creature has some sort of craving, but Kirdian cravings are by far the hardest cravings to resist. During the time, I'll wake up for food a lot of times during the day, if I call your name, I only want something to eat and nothing else."
"That is crystal clear, sir, but...what about the king if he needs you to do something about...whatever?"
"Let him know that due to profound health problems, I must be AWOL for an indefinite period of time."
"Okay, as for Kirby? You said you would let him "teach" you for a while longer?"
"As for Kirby, he will stay until I get my ability back. Afterwards, I wish you escort him home and tell him he's done a great job at teaching me and his training regarding swordfighting is delayed until further notice."
"Understood!" Sailor Dee chirped, "I'm going to let the king know what's going on before anything else, but before I go, is there anything you need?"
"Yes, give me a book from my shelf, I'm in for a long week and there's many new additions in there, so, surprise me."
Sailor Dee climbed the ladder and got a book out of the bookshelf. She skimmed through the pages and giggled before giving it to Meta Knight, as if she's already read it before.
"I think you'll enjoy this one, the girl falls in love with a vampire." she winked.
Meta Knight read the title and analyzed the familiar summary, "Wait a minute! This is that weird romance novel you like, isn't it?!"
Sailor Dee started crying laughing, "Sorry, sorry, I just wanted your reaction...you want me to get another one?"
Meta Knight snickered a little, "You know what, I'll read this one just for a quick laugh."
"Okay, then, I'll be back soon." she said,
"Wonderful. See you in a while. Be careful with the king. If he knows Kirby's here, he might try to clobber him." Meta Knight deadpanned.
"Alright, I won't say a word about him."
"Oh! And one more thing."
"Yes commander?"
"Why in the world did you wrap toilet paper on my head?"
"Uhh, closest thing we had to bandage paper, I honestly didn't know..."
"You're fine, just don't...don't do that again..."
Woohoo! This is the longest one yet! I hope you guys are enjoying it so far! :D
