Sailor nearly collapsed from exhaustion by the time she returned to the apartment. She closed the door shut quietly and slumped down near the entrance. Besides the open window that let in plenty of light from the full moon, it was as quiet and dark as she'd left it hours earlier. Albeit also being rather eerie, it had a calming energy to it. Maybe that's exactly what she needed at the time: a nice opportunity to settle down. With a yawn, she prepared to venture off into sleep...

...Suddenly, she was awakened by a loud squeal.

"Poyo!"

Her eyes jolted open and she looked around in alert, seeming to glance in every direction except the one the noise came from until eventually a pink stubby hand waved in her vision.

"Poy?..."

"...Oh, K-Kirby!" she sighed in relief, "You're, uh...still up?"

The puffball nodded and pointed to the fridge. "Mena wake up! He eat!"

Sailor blinked, nearly knocked back by the rush of relief that washed over her—-he was awake! And consuming actual food! She had so much she wanted to tell him. All of her words were practically ready to burst out.

She attempted to gather her giddiness, her eyes reflecting the smile that would've been on her face right then.

"Oh, that's great! Is he feeling alright?"

"Poy...he reaaaally hungry," Kirby affirmed again, "Ya, Mena good-okay!"

"Would he mind if I came in for a moment? I'll be sure not bother him too much."

Kirby didn't respond. He seemed preoccupied with preparing something.

She observed as he staggered over to the side with some of the heavy grocery bags she'd forgotten to put away earlier.

But the thing was, the others were scattered across the floor. Empty.

It truly surprised her that it seemed half of the food was already gone, especially considering how much she had gotten. It was mostly filled with sweets and other junk food that she knew Meta Knight liked on occasion. It was well known that her commander couldn't really...cook that well and was somewhat impatient, so he preferred foods that didn't require much preparation.

But for him to eat this much in one go?...if this seemed like a vicious appetite now...she could only think of what it would be during hibernation...

The girl...tried not to let her mind go there given the mental breakdown the sailor had just had earlier regarding his sleep. Kirby proceeded to drag the bags down the hallway, prompting the Waddle Dee to follow him. Maybe she'd get a little peek before walking in fully.

The door lammed shut as Kirby entered and she skulked up to it a tad too late. Shaking her head, Sailor looked through the slit of dim light in the cracks.

Even if I can't see him...hearing him should be enough.

She honestly expected to hear nothing if not the sounds of his usual savory enjoyment of the rare treat. She'd be relieved to know that, despite eating a lot, he was enjoying himself a little, as evidenced by the quiet "mmm" he would usually draw out with each bite.

...It seemed as if he was enjoying his meals to a much fuller extent alright.

She could barely hear a few squeals from the puff, which were quickly drowned out by the loud sound of inhaling. Something that echoed the force of a strong vacuum. She was no stranger to this sound; it was obviously a natural Kiridian thing to use the ability. But...it didn't sit right with her, especially knowing Meta Knight wouldn't resort so early on to using his natural abilities for something as trivial as a snack.

Beginning to grow concerned, she figured it was the best time to make her presence known. As she reached for the door, it seemed someone else opened it quicker.

"Hi!" Kirby greeted, "Come in!"

Before she could react, the door suddenly flew open.

To her surprise...no one else was there.

...Y'know, other than the obvious big lump under the sheet. The room was practically filled with a variety of different cups and bowls all around the place. Every dish ranged from dirty to completely cleaned out, and each one seemed to tell its own story. In one, you could tell there were at least four different flavors of ice cream in the bowl. In another, a parfait glass with nothing but its' whipped cream remaining at the bottom teetered uncomfortably at the edge of a nightstand. Five plates were upside down on the floor, one of them miserably in pieces.

It was a mess, sure, but...she just couldn't help but wonder why he was hiding now. Apparently, Kirby had the same question. He ran up to the bed and started pulling on Meta Knight's blanket, which...wasn't budging as the elder was clutching onto them tightly.

"Mena!" Kirby strained, trying to pull it off, "Lesson, lesson!-"

"No-Kirby, let go!-"

Sailor quickly moved over to where Kirby was, trying to calm whatever was happening here.

"Hey, hey, no worries, sir—It's just me!" she attempted to reassure.

With that said, the blanket suddenly flew off of him as Meta had lost his nerve for a second. Kirby fell off the bed and was sent tumbling back gently into the wall, all wrapped up in the sheet.

"Ah, Sailor...it...seems we've met in rather misfortunate circumstances."

The crumbs all around his mouth really explained enough. In the rare instances where she saw his full face uncovered, she could very clearly see how he was feeling without the mood ring eyes. That would usually be the case, but at the moment Meta just...seemed dazed. He usually thinks things through at least thrice before doing them, but...did he do that in this case?

She knew this would be a Kiridian thing. After many centuries, he had finally given in to his desires. She was surprised by how quickly it had happened, but it was obvious that it would eventually happen. However, she was aware deep down that wasn't what bothered her the most. It was that stare. That...gone look in his eyes.

But at least it was fairly easy to disregard for then. Meta was still awake and well at least, and of course Sailor would at least be able to talk to him! It was just a...small hurdle.

"Commander..." she began nervously, "...I'm...uh...glad you're awake!..."

There was a brief period of silence before Meta Knight finally looked at her with softened eyes that seemed to be expressing regret. He sighed as he gradually turned his head away.

"Sailor Dee," he addressed, "I herein grant you permission to mock me as you wish."

"Wh—I'd never do something like that, sir!" she exclaimed, "I get that this is just apart of the hibernation process, I don't see anything to be ashamed of-"

"Even so, it does not matter. I can no longer control my own behavior." Meta Knight pathetically shoved a spoonful of jello into his mouth,"I'm becoming less and less myself by the minute. I am not like this."

"Oh, don't be so hard on yourself...you're doing the right thing for your health and that's what matters."

"More than all of my virtues? Everything I've worked so diligently to maintain for centuries...I'm sacrificing it before my eyes."

As the conversation went on, Kirby struggled for a good few minutes to escape the blanket but eventually succeeded. He climbed back onto the bed and tucked the blanket over Meta once more. Although he was hoping for a warm response from his 'student', Meta didn't seem to be paying much attention to him. Kirby, being a dissatisfied toddler, hugged his arm as he curled up next to him under the blanket.

"Mena..." Kirby squeaked with concern.

"I am not meant to be destroying myself with my own sweet tooth..." he said as he put two scoops of jello in his mouth this time, therein finishing it. He threw it to the side of the bed carelessly.

"Sir... the others will always have respect for you! You're the Meta Knight for Nova's sake! Do you really think something as small as an extra appetite will change that?"

"Yes."

"...No!—Look...listen...you're the best knight I know; your reputation shouldn't be tarnished by such a small thing..."

"Not everyone thinks that way, Sailor," Meta reminded coldly, "The townsfolk see me as their defender and nothing more, if that were to change, who's to say their respect for I wouldn't fluctuate? Hell, I won't even have the energy to defend sooner or later!"

"Please-"

"And they'll believe I've voluntarily become weak and lazy, just like them."

Meta Knight's normally stoic expression started to show signs of anger as his hands started to tremble. He wasn't one to get angry...he just...wasn't. Seeing this sudden onslaught of emotions was...unusual, but it was best to leave it as unprovoked as possible.

The little of Meta's speech that Kirby could make out only left him more perplexed. He did want to be more at ease because of his own wants, didn't he? The child momentarily questioned whether his lessons were good enough—maybe that had something to do with it? Regardless, the knight was displaying distress, and the puff absolutely did not want that.

Kirby threw off his part of the covers and waddled over to the edge of the bed, eyeing what was left. Other than the jello, all that seemed to be left of the bags he'd gotten were these cinnamon buns with strange looking packaging. It almost screamed familiar. But...not quite being able to interpret it, he opened the box and pulled two out, starting to carry them over to Meta Knight.

"Here!" Kirby chirped, "Feel better?..."

Finally acknowledging the baby, he forced himself to calm down while in front of him...letting his temper get the best of him would only further be proving his point.

"...Haha..." Meta Knight chuckled in exasperation, shaking his head again in disbelief of himself as he took the delicacies from his mentor. Sailor regarded him in concern.

"...I suppose this really is my worst nightmare come true, hm?"

He took a small bite of the first cinnamon bun, smiling a little.

"Well, even if it is...no matter what happens from here, you'll always be Sir Meta Knight to me...and Kirby, too. That's what really matters at the end of the day, right?"


Meta couldn't fathom it. No matter how much over the years he'd told himself this is what he'd have to do eventually, no preparation could ready him for this level of regret. He wondered how often he'd find himself thinking back to what he could've done before it came to this...or if he had truly done everything he wanted to do. He could only think about how much different things would be when he finally awakened. Everything he knew would change and there was no controlling the course of time from there.

Just like the time of fear from when the galaxy was still young, would he awaken into a new world with only what previous awareness of reality he possessed?

Hatred for it worsened the more he had to think about the choice.

...But, perhaps he didn't need to think of it at all.

What if he were to just...let go? To stop caring about the thoughts of others for but a moment.

Kirby was carefree and rarely ever worried. Sure, he was a baby, but Meta could recall a time where that was the same case scenario for himself. Truly, what's stopping him from being that way too? What borders were there other than his own stubbornness?

...What if complete conformity could be utilized, just this once...?

Perhaps listening to the bloodline wasn't a terrible idea. He could only think how much different he would be had he been born into a time where war wasn't an issue. Now that it was long over...wasn't it time to return to what the species did best anyhow?

Not to mention that he would want to make the most of the opportunity if this was the last time he saw his favored ones for a very, very long time.

Though he was set on the path of resting for his health...he'd might as well go out with a bang.


...Would you look at that. Again, he was lost in thought. That appeared to be occurring more frequently. After another long yet expected bout of silence, Meta Knight nodded to Sailor Dee. She perked up by instinct.

"Take heed, sailor. I have made a decision."

"Yes, sir! Lay it on me!"

"We are going to reunite the Halberd crew."

"Wait, really?! That's...surprising! Only because it's been so long since..."

"I know. However, be aware that this time, we'll need them for a very different plan."

Kirby blinked confusedly, staring at Meta.

"Oh, well I'll gladly see if I can make a few arrangements, then! If I might ask, though...what's the occasion?"

"...If I will be asleep for many centuries fairly soon after this, sparing the last of my free will beyond compulsion, let us have one last adventure." Meta said, a half grin forming, "In regards to all the food in the king's pantry...I declare that it shall soon be ours."


AN: PANTRY RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAID PANTRY RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAID

I figured I wanted to steer back to the more comedic and lighthearted tone of this fic, so do expect that in Chapter 9. =)