Castle Dedede was surrounded by a rather quaint yet bustling town. The friendly residents waved to each other and spoke about benign business with kind smiles. Vibrant signs and draping decorations welcomed all into the businesses surrounding the main square of the town. A caped man strode from the castle to patrol the streets. A sparse guard wasn't uncommon in Cappy Town. Often, Meta Knight found himself alone in the town while his men took to the borders. The people greeted him as they did any of their neighbors, with wide grins and sweet words. Meta Knight turned his gaze to the clear, bright sky and smirked beneath the mask. He paused a moment and studied the few clouds crawling along the vast blue expanse.
"Good morning, Sir Meta Knight." A voice snapped him from his thoughts. His cape wrapped around him as he turned to the civilian and nodded a silent greeting. Meta Knight continued his rounds as usual. No delay, no fuss. It wasn't long before he was finished and returned to the castle to report no abnormalities.
The castle was strangely empty that evening. Meta Knight glanced around the grand hall. Potted plants, few servants passing through with equal confusion. His brow furrowed. The heavy doors to King Dedede's throne room groaned open as Meta Knight stepped through. King Dedede, the rotund king to this corner of Dreamland, sat on the throne shouting at his sniveling advisor. Meta Knight rolled his eyes at the familiar sight before bowing his head to his employer.
"King Dedede." He addressed them, awaiting a pause in their fight and permission to continue.
"There you are! You had me waiting long enough!" Dedede chastised.
"Where have your shadows run off to?" Escargoon asked, raising one brow over the other quizzically.
"They have been on the perimeter since last night," Meta Knight answered, "they still haven't returned. I am beginning to worry." King Dedede laughed, about to reply when he was interrupted by Escargoon's devious whispers. He grumbled under his breath to him with a growing sinister grin. Meta Knight was a statue in waiting. Used to the long stretches between speaking in a direct conversation with the king. He politely coughed to remind them of his presence, but it was unnecessary.
"Meta Knight!" A young voice cried, dripping in panic. Meta Knight stopped idling and raced to the living hall, hand on his hilt. As he approached, Claihd raised his head. He was accompanied by a pair of nurses too busy to face the commander. The source of the voice, the young lady of the castle, held Claihd's hand in the most caring manner. She beckoned Meta Knight over while keeping his weak hand in hers.
"What happened?" Meta Knight asked. Claihd's brows arched and furrowed, fear, surprise, worry. He had no breath to vocalize his issue. Sweat poured from his face turning his hair to string clinging to his brow and he panted heavily with a faint wheeze. Meta Knight turned his gaze to Claihd's partner but found no other soldier in the hall. He frowned and set his hands on the table.
"Where's Lann?"
Claihd's face paled and his eyes fell to the floor. He refused to meet Meta Knight's stern scowl as tears welled in him. Meta Knight stepped away, allowing the soldier some time to breathe.
"Let me know when he is fit t-"
"Lann told me to get you," Claihd finally spoke, though his head was still heavy and downcast, "I can't give you more with children present…" He shifted sight from the floor to young lady Tiff. It took a moment, but she understood and slipped out of the living hall without a word. Claihd watched her leave, ensuring the door was shut before he met his commander's gaze. Tears streamed down his face, but he forced himself to remain composed. He cleared his throat and sniffed, closing his eyes to focus.
"We heard Geola's horn from a distance and ran there as fast as we could. Geola was already dead, so was the rest of his squad. Cepel was the last one fighting this… well it looked like a knight? A knight of your caliber more than ours. We got there while Cepel was still fighting but he didn't make it. Lann sent me to get you right after. Y-you need to hurry. The battle is in the plains, just outside Whispy Woods. Please help them, Sir Meta Knight." As Claihd explained he became more and more frantic, standing as he passionately pleaded, losing his grip and spilling more tears. Meta Knight clasped his shoulder, bringing some ease and sitting him back down. Silence took the room, Claihd needed to calm down and Meta Knight needed to finalize a plan. He nodded sharply and marched to the doors.
The second he opened the door, Tiff and Tuff got under his feet.
"What's going on?" Tuff buzzed.
"Let us go with you!" Tiff demanded.
"No. This is a serious matter." Meta Knight grimaced at the rowdy pair and attempted to step past them. They crowded him as he left the castle. He stopped at the fountain in the town square and attempted to detach the children from his cape.
"You two need to stay here." He said.
"If it's a monster, you know we can handle it! We'll bring Kirby and we'll beat it in no time!" The pair clamored over each other. Meta Knight sighed and crouched to their level.
"This isn't like the monsters Kirby deals with. I need you two to stay in town. I'm serious." He was grim, his voice lowered and calm. Tuff stepped back, seeming spooked. Tiff folded her arms and glared at him. They stared each other down for a while, the fountain trickling in the silence. Finally, Tiff threw her arms and gave in. She was entirely reluctant to stay behind, but even she couldn't ignore the severity with which Meta Knight warned them away.
"Please stay safe." She said, arms folded as she waited beside her brother.
"I will, my lady."