Chapter 39: A Duel with Sir Meta Knight
Kirby decreased the Warp Star's speed as they approached a group of clouds. Sora was amazed to see that many of them contained block shaped platforms, candy cane coated columns with stars on top, white metal trees with multicolor bells hanging on the edges, and small castle towers.
This whimsical place reminded him of a board game he and Riku played when they were younger – it involved moving pieces across a world made of delicious sweets. Sora thought the board game sprung to life right in front of him; and they were the pieces that would meander through the clouds, taking in the fantastic sights as they searched for the exit.
Yoshi was in awe, too. Luigi, however, was too busy catching his breath from the ride.
"See, was that so bad?" Sora asked.
"The day has only begun, my friend," Luigi said, keeping that pessimism clipped to his moustache.
Sora rolled his eyes with a smile as the Warp Star stopped next to a cloud. He asked Kirby, "So, where do we disembark?"
Kirby stepped onto the cloud as if were concrete. Sora gaped; the laws of science and nature just had a collective meltdown from being defied
"Ah, walkable clouds," Luigi said, nonchalant. "C'mon, Yoshi."
He watched as they stepped onto them, too. Another one for the list of strange things he's seen on this adventure. He could write a whole novel, at this point.
"Is Sora coming?" Yoshi asked.
Sora shook his head, recovering from the shock. "Erm, yeah." He muttered to himself, somewhat irked, "Clouds are made of water, Sora. They are not supposed to be solid. I'm beginning to think science class was a complete waste of time."
With a careful step, Sora touched the surface with one of his feet. For a moment, he felt it start to sink. His heart started pounding; was it safe? The others didn't seem to have an issue. Taking a deep, courageous breath, he stepped onto the cloud; his soles touch solid ground. He exhaled, letting the nervous tension drift into the calm air.
Sora caught up with everyone, and they made their way through the beauteous area, sometimes taking a moment to soak in every vibrant detail. During their travels, they climbed rainbow-colored stairs to other clouds, ascending higher into the stratosphere. They wouldn't be surprised if they found themselves out in the familiar void of space soon.
The group arrived on a massive, wide cloud. Above them were more clouds, connected by the rainbow stairs. Kirby noticed the signal getting strong when he pointed in that direction. They were close. Before they continued, a floating orange head with rosy cheeks and a cheerful smile flew over to greet the group.
"Hi there," Luigi said. "Well aren't you a cute little fella." He extended his hand to pet the creature.
And he would soon be reliving the usual sensation of regret.
The creature morphed into a twisted, grotesque visage of its former self. Its mouth widened, revealing sharp fangs; the eyes merged into a singularity; and its skin became dark orange. The creature bit down on Luigi's hand, making him yelp in pain.
"Get if off, get it off!" Luigi said, frantically waving the creature around. But it would not yield.
Luigi noticed a nearby pillar and started slamming the creature against it. Still, the stubborn fangs refused to release their sharp grip. The other would've helped, if Heartless hadn't intercepted them. Some other strange creatures also joined the battle. One was an oval shaped individual lacking facial features; it carried a broom and wore a witch's hat.
Another was a pink spherical creature with small wings, and was followed by a being of similar shape; this one had white skin, lacked hands, had a single yellow horn on its head, and perpetually stuck out its tongue. And Sora thought the Heartless were bizarre. Still, these creatures seemed to be fighting alongside the Heartless, but the group wouldn't be daunted by the numbers. Teamwork mattered, and they were experts in that field.
While Sora and Kirby fought, Yoshi rammed his head into the creature biting Luigi's hand. Dazed from the rough impact, the creature loosened its grip. Luigi freed his salvia filled hand, and knocked the creature away with a hammer strike. He and Yoshi then joined the fight. Although the group managed to whittle the numbers down, their opposition was still a nuisance.
More enemies appeared. Their strength would lose traction like debilitated wheels if they continued at this pace. Kirby leaped back from an enemy's attack, and landed next to a creature that took the form of a microphone. Inspiration launched itself from Kirby's cranium. He inhaled the microphone, and earphones materialized on his head.
A wireless microphone appeared in front of him. After grabbing it, he tapped the diaphragm, to make sure the sound was functional.
"We could really use your help right about now, Kirby!" Luigi said, struggling against some enemies.
Kirby opened his mouth wide, producing noise that was supposed to be singing. Instead, it was loud, off-key screeching that induced migraines. Everyone else covered their ears from the strangulation of music. It was the worse singing known to man. But Kirby uttered each grueling note with a burning passion. He leaned forward, extracting every vocal cord into the microphone.
"The gloves, they do nothing!" Luigi said, wincing in pain. It was like a drill had spun against his ear drums.
Sora buried his head in the clouds. "My brain is trying to escape through my ears!"
Kirby's voice was so powerful that it made sound barrier quiver in agony. In fact, it managed to eradicate the remaining Heartless, while the other enemies fled to salvage the remaining hairs in their cochlea. Finally, Kirby put everyone out of their misery by ceasing his performance. He hopped up and down, proud of his accomplishment.
The others took a moment to regain their senses. Their ears rang with the power of a chapel bell. Kirby noticed his friends looking distressed, and ran over to check on them.
"We're fine," Sora said with an uncomfortable grunt. He noticed how much Kirby enjoyed singing earlier, despite it being at their expense, and didn't want to hurt his feelings. So, being as considerate as possible, he said, "Must say: your song was a real killer."
Luigi scowled. "You're lucky my ears are ringing right now."
"What? I wasn't trying to be funny this time." Sora said in an innocent tone. He noticed Kirby tilting his head at him, confused. "It's nothing. Don't worry about it. You go on ahead. We'll catch up."
With a shrug, Kirby strolled over to a set of stairs, still pleased with his singing.
"Guess no one's perfect, huh?" Sora said, once Kirby was a good distance from them.
Yoshi puffed his chest in confidence. "Ha! You see? Yoshi a way better singer than Kirby. Watch! Or, erm, listen!" He started to sing, "Swim this way, we'll laugh and we'll pl—"
Luigi stuffed a cloud into the dinosaur's mouth before he could finish that sentence, averting another mangled mess of vocals.
"That was a little harsh, don'tchya think?" Sora said, frowning.
"Are your ears still ringing?"
"Yes."
"Then you'll thank me for stopping him."
Sora and Luigi left to catch up with Kirby. Yoshi followed them with the cloud still in his mouth, speaking in muffled gibberish.
After climbing more stairs, Sora noticed the beam from the star piece growing wider. "We close?"
Kirby examined the star piece and replied with a nod.
"Alright!" Sora said, cracking his knuckles in excitement. "After our encounter with that tree, I'm positive we're going to have a fight on our hands."
"Us with a fight on our hands?" Luigi said in sarcasm. "You don't say!"
Yoshi trailed behind them, stuck in a massive ditch of envy. Despite his best efforts, Kirby took the glory. He allured the others with his incredible eating abilities and adorable disposition. Yoshi thought only he had those qualities. And now, he had to share them. No, Kirby seemed to surpass them.
He looked to Sora. They had become close. His only friends had been adults. The two of them had a strong connection that grown-ups couldn't comprehend. Yoshi was afraid Kirby would snatch that bond away from him. And maybe Luigi would never see him in the same light again. His childlike mind struggled to bring these extreme thoughts down to earth.
Yoshi's wasn't going to give up yet. He needed to stay one step ahead of Kirby. And the only way to achieve that goal was to reach the star piece first.
"Never fear!" Yoshi said, running over to the group with bravery in his eyes. "Yoshi get star piece for friends! Me be back before you can say dinner!" He made a dash for the stairs ahead of them
"Not again!" Luigi said, exasperated. "T. Yoshisaur Munchakoopas, get back here this instant!"
"Wait, did I hear that right?" Sora asked. "I-Is that his actual name?"
"Yes," Luigi said, in all seriousness. He was met with a disbelieving stare from Sora. "It was the princess' idea, okay?"
"Well, either way," Sora said, resuming the subject. He felt a drip of concern in his throat. "We should hurry up before something bad happens."
Before they could move, Heartless barricaded their path.
"Impeccable timing as always!" Luigi said.
They fought the Heartless again. Sora struggled to focus; his mind rocked between the fight and Yoshi's behavior. He wasn't himself. Why was he thrusting himself into dangerous situations? But questions would have to wait; he needed to catch up with Yoshi first. Sora focused his attention back on the Heartless.
However, the fight was interrupted moments later by the sound of Yoshi screaming for help.
Everyone was zapped by a bolt of fear. More anxious drops rained down Sora's throat, growing faster and harder. His heart rate accelerated. He would not let the Heartless prevent him from rescuing his friend. The others concurred. They fought harder, delivering fierce blows to each Heartless that blocked their path.
Sora, Luigi, and Kirby hurried up the stairs, fighting more Heartless, refusing to concede until Yoshi was in their sights.
Sora could never forgive himself if Yoshi ended up meeting the same fate as Kairi.
Sparks rubbed against Yoshi's cheeks as he blocked a ball of electricity with his shield. It was tough to deflect; the weight pressed against his chest bone, crushing it like a press machine. His opponent took the form of mother nature's nurturing fluids: a cloud. The creature had a single eye, and twelve golden spikes surrounding its white, fluffy body.
It rammed straight into Yoshi's shield, knocking him into a nearby column; he caught himself upon hitting the ground. Fatigue started squeezing energy out of his body like a lemon, but he refused to quit.
"Bring…it…on," Yoshi said, panting. He rose to his feet. "That…only…tickled. Me ready for more."
The cloud creature was more than happy to oblige, but it didn't get a chance – a Gravity spell forced it onto the ground. Yoshi heard the others approach him, and didn't give them eye contact. He was in trouble. It was like he could sense the heat of their anger slap against his nose. With reluctance, he turned to face them, and was greeted by Luigi, who placed both hands on his shoulders.
"Are you alright!?' Luigi asked, with overwhelming worry protruding from his eyes.
Yoshi nodded in silent guilt. Sora exhaled in relief, but his heart continued pounding hard, like it had been injected with a shot of anger and confusion. He wanted to throw a heap of questions at him, but only after the battle. Sora and Kirby ran straight for the cloud creature.
Luigi's relieved expression morphed into displeasure, making the dinosaur's spirit shrink into a bottle of guilt. "You better believe we're going to have a talk after this! Consider yourself lucky for the moment. Can you still fight?"
"Yes," Yoshi said, timid.
"Good! Get yourself in motion, then!"
Yoshi followed Luigi to the battle, head hung low, preparing himself for the inevitable scolding. Sora leaped into the air, preparing to bring the Keyblade down on the creature. It split itself in half, making him miss. Upon reforming, it flew over Kirby, raining down lightning bolts upon him; he leaped away from being showered with electricity.
Luigi and Yoshi tried attacking next, but the cloud emitted two energy beams that rotated around its body. Next, a Waddle Dee-like creature dropped out of the cloud's body. The only difference this creature had to a Waddle Dee was a single eye made up its face. It lunged at the two, firing an energy beam. They leapt away from each other to dodge the attack.
Kirby inhaled the creature into his mouth. A jester's hat with two branches materialized on his head; one was orange with white stars, and the other was red.
Kirby summoned a golden wand to his hand, and pointed it straight at the cloud creature. He fired a giant ball of energy; the creature ducked underneath the blast, and retaliated with an electric beam from its eye. Sora hopped in front of Kirby, catching the attack. The puff ball leaped off Sora, pointed the staff at the creature, and fired a smaller beam.
Once again, the cloud dodged it by flying into the sky. Sora gritted his teeth in aggravation; the creature's cloud-like body made it nimble. They had to hinder its movements. And Sora had just the spell to make that thought a reality. He launched Blizzard, which hit the cloud, turning it into an oval shaped ice sculpture.
Yoshi leaped into the air, used his flutter kick to hover above it, and delivered a butt stomp, slamming the cloud into the ground. Sora and Kirby tapped the edge of their weapons together; they unleashed two giant beam that spiraled around each other, hit the cloud, and caused it to shatter into cold pieces that glisten in the sunlight like sparkling water. Those pieces then fell into the clouds below them.
In the creature's wake was another star piece. Overjoyed, Kirby ran over, picked it up, and started dancing in victory. They were so close to restoring the Star Rod. People would be able to crawl into bed without dreading nightmares. Their minds would settle into a small, peaceful dome surrounded by pleasant images; nightmares would fail to claw away at the safe spot with their elongated nails.
And honestly, Kirby couldn't wait to experience the same euphoria. He would jump into bed, rest his head on the pillow, and fall into a deep, well-deserved sleep. Kirby finished his celebration by breakdancing, holding the star piece up for everyone to see. But another cloud had appeared over the trio's heads; it was dark and filled with uncomfortable, contorted crystals.
The group had their own issues right now.
Sora grabbed Yoshi by the shoulders. The dinosaur saw an amalgamation of emotions spinning through Sora's pupils, and that just made him feel worse.
"What the heck were you thinking!?" Sora asked, his voice trembling with ire. "Why did you run off like that?! You know it's dangerous! Do you know how worried I was!?"
"But…Yoshi….could've handled it…" Yoshi said in a small, meek voice.
Sora frowned. "Not what from I saw! I got scared. I…I..didn't…want to lose you."
"He's right," Luigi said, lowering his brow. "You had us worried sick. What would compel you to do something like that? Are you trying to prove something?"
Yoshi, at first, didn't know how to respond. He was ashamed by his petty resentment towards Kirby. It was a waste of time, and only perturbed everyone. Especially Sora. He was taking it the hardest.
"Well…it…just…" Yoshi said, feeling akward.
"Just what?" Sora asked. "Don't try hiding something from us. Nothing good can come from it!"
Yoshi couldn't deal with the pressure of guilt building up in his stomach. He shouted, "Me jealous of Kirby!"
Everyone went silent with surprise. Yoshi heard the sky echo his own words. He had unleashed the painful truth, and covered his mouth, not proud of carrying that disgusting emotion. Because he made a horrible realization upon replaying the sentence in his head:
This was how Riku had been acting towards Sora.
Yoshi felt his stomach retreat into a cavern of dejection. He just wanted to be supportive of Sora in his time of need. Especially after Riku had smashed Sora's cheerful demeanor into forlorn shards. But instead, Yoshi succumbed to the venomous emotion that slithered through his chest, and excavated the pain Sora tried burying. The dinosaur never wanted that for him. He didn't want to meet the same fate as Riku.
And, maybe, there was only way to prevent this outcome.
"Me should go," Yoshi said, crestfallen. "Yoshi never wanted to hurt you. And he will never do so again."
And he started running away without uttering another word. This was his choice.
"Yoshi, wait!" Sora said.
But Yoshi didn't look back…not until someone grabbed his hand. He turned to see, of all people, Kirby refusing to let him leave.
"No go!" Kirby said, distraught. "Yoshi…friend!"
Yoshi felt worse. "Kirby no mean that. Especially after the way Yoshi treated him."
Kirby shook his head with sincerity. Sora placed a gentle hand on Yoshi's shoulders. He didn't expect Yoshi to be this upset over something trivial like envy. Perhaps his reaction was too overblown. Granted, it was justified, but Sora never wanted to come across like he resented Yoshi for his action. It just showed how much he cared for the dinosaur.
"Buddy," Sora said, in a calmer tone. "You didn't hurt me. I was just…scared, that's all. Wouldn't you be if the roles were reversed?"
"That not it," Yoshi said, plaintive. "Isn't jealousy what Riku feeling right now?"
"Oh." Sora finally understood. "You're worried you'll end up like him, huh?"
Tears streamed down Yoshi eyes. Sora pulled him into a hug, and heard him cry into his chest. Yoshi let the pain pour along with his tears. Sora rubbed his upper back, gliding the fingers along the dinosaur's scales. Alleviation started to siphon out the negative emotions.
"That's ridiculous," Sora said in reassurance. "Don't think like that. That'd never happen."
Yoshi took a few deep breaths to find his voice. "H-How is Sora sure?"
Sora pulled him away from his arms. Their eyes met each other. Yoshi could see serious glow in them.
"Let me ask you something," Sora said. "How did you feel once you admitted to being jealous?"
Yoshi's eyes drifted away from him. "Guilty. It made Yoshi feel so sad."
"And did you notice Riku feeling the same way?"
Yoshi turned back to him. "No."
"Then there's your answer," Sora said, making his famous grin. "Those feelings bothered you too much. I know you'd never try to hurt anyone."
Yoshi formed a small smile. He hadn't considered that point of view. True friends acknowledge their mistakes and strive to make things right. Sometimes forgetting the past is impossible, but, instead of lingering, we move forward, trying to become better. And that's when Yoshi knew he'd never have to worry about ending up like Riku.
Sora tickled under his chin, making him giggle. "Come on. You're the one always trying to cheer us up, right? So just get rid of that crazy idea because it's simply not true."
"Yeah," Yoshi said, wiping away his tears. "Sora right. I sorry."
"Just don't do that again!" Luigi said, stern. "Next time you'll be dropping down to three meals a day."
Yoshi clutched his head in panic. "No, not that! Me like having five meals! Yoshi be a good boy! Promise!"
The dark cloud had vanished. Balance had been restored between the three. Yoshi was glad to have both Luigi and Sora. After all, he was young, and sometimes needed guidance. He never needed to feel afraid in speaking his mind. Especially to Sora – their bond continued to solidify.
"Best friends forever," Sora said, extending his pinky.
Yoshi grabbed it with his own, smiling. "Best!" But there was still a thread left hanging, swaying back and forth at an uncomfortable pace. He turned to Kirby with an apologetic look. "I was a real jerk to Kirby. Me understand if you never want to talk about Spanish chicken to Yoshi again."
But Kirby's smile widened; in fact, it was glowing against the jovial sunlight.
"So, we can start over and be friends?" Yoshi asked.
Kirby nodded. The two shook hands, squeezing out the residuals of their rivalry. It had been replaced by respect for one another. Excited for their new friendship, the two hopped up and down, laughing with each other.
Sora gave a half-hearted smile. If only forgiveness was that easy. It seemed natural for little kids. They were not burdened with a morass of thoughts and feelings. Sometimes Sora wished he and Riku had that simple outlook. But trying to be wistful about an impossible outcome was futile. All he could do was focus on the future.
Yoshi noticed something out of his peripheral vision, and turned to get a better view. He gasped in alarm. "Everyone, duck!"
The group turned to see a giant cannonball flying right towards them. They dove onto their stomachs just in time. Their time of reconciliation ended abruptly with the pull of a trigger.
"Alright!" Sora said, hurrying to his feet, peeved. "Who's the mood killer?"
"Poyo!" Kirby said, pointing ahead of him.
Sora looked to see a giant blimp approaching them. The envelope's fabric and wings were colored orange. Under the pink nose was a face that had a wide, menacing grin, as if pleased to have cornered its prey. Underneath the envelope was a long, wide gondola that could house an entire army. Below the gondola was a massive cannon; its pitch-black maw was pointed at the group, preparing to expectorate another cannonball.
Luigi gulped. "Well, one thing's for sure: that blimp is going to kill more than the mood."
The blimp soon came to a halt in front of the group. Sora and his friends hefted trepidation onto their shoulders, unsure if the cannon was planning to blow them out of the sky. Inside the control area, the Meta-Knights gathered to take a gander at their targets; right now, they were in control of the group's fate.
Axe knight grabbed a nearby microphone. "Kirby! You and your acquaintances are to hereby concede in the name of the king."
"Sorry!" Sora said, cupping his hands, shouting. "With such a ridiculous name as Dedede, I'd rather be shot down on site!"
Sora, Kirby, and Yoshi made silly faces at the knights, undeterred by the massive ship of oppression. Luigi just shook his head at them, embarrassed by their mature retort.
"Little pests!" Javelin Knight said, insulted. "How dare they mock us! If I had feet, I'd deliver one right in the backside!"
"Compose yourself, my friend," Meta Knight said. "Childish gestures are the only form of comfort that have, because they know their end is imminent." He took a hold of the microphone, clearing his throat. "We are noble warriors, and do not wish to take extreme measures. It's too inhumane, even amidst battle. Board our vessel, and we can resolve this conflict through our blades."
Luigi almost hated to ask, but temptation shoved the question forward. "And if we refuse?"
Two more cannons emerged from each side of the blimp, pointing straight at the group. The others glared at Luigi, as if he gave the order. At that moment, he wanted to dive into the clouds and burry himself from inadvertently provoking the knights.
"You know what? I'm not really keen on learning the outcome," Luigi said, shaking with fear.
"A wise choice," Meta Knight said. He pressed a few buttons, and a long, silver ramp descended from the gondola.
Sora summoned his Keyblade, squeezing the hilt, trying to release the nervous tension. He didn't know what to expect. Meta Knight sounded sincere in wanting a fair fight, but, given their past battles against the denizens of the dark, Sora kept a skeptical eye taped open. As always, he wasn't alone; the others would be there for support. He was never discouraged in the face of danger.
"Okay, guys," Sora said with a serious glow in his eyes. "Let's stay alert."
Once on board the gondola, the group's eyes darted back and forth, watching for any sign of movement. So far, they were greeted by the low hum of the engine. To their left was the entrance to the control room. The door was wide open; nobody was inside. Turning to their right, they noticed a set of stairs leading downward; it led to the rest of the gondola. To their surprise, it was empty. No chairs, no equipment. An eerie chill swept underneath their feet.
Before they could move any further, Axe Knight and Trident Knight landed right in front of the group, startling them.
"Well, well," Axe Knight said, patting the handle of his weapon. "What have we got here? A couple of unwelcome visitors who don't know any better."
"You're lucky our boss wants to meetchya," Trident Knight said. "I'd turn you boys into shish kabob in seconds."
Sora prepared for battle. "Sorry. Your boss is gonna have to wait. Our fight is with the king."
Sora and Kirby heard a loud thud behind them, and turned to see the other two knights had their weapons pressed against Luigi and Yoshi's backs. The two were petrified their hearts pounded against their chest, wanting to escape in desperation. They didn't dare move a muscle. A slight flinch could be fatal.
"B-But a few minutes wouldn't hurt," Luigi said, feeling the nervous jitter in his throat. "I'm sure your boss is a stand-up guy."
"I concur. What's the rush?" Everyone turned to see Meat Knight standing towards the opposite end of the room. In front of him was a sword stuck in the ground. "It's inconsiderate of you to leave without meeting your capture."
Kirby had never seen Meat Knight before in Dream Land. Something about his presence seemed unusual. The other citizens were always bright, cheerful, and outgoing; they were never afraid to be open about their thoughts and feelings. But this mysterious warrior was the antithesis of Dream Land's pleasant atmosphere, like a dull crayon amongst the vibrant ones. He was reserved, in both senses of the word. Kirby became puzzled by his mere existence.
But Sora didn't share the same intrigue. He was more concerned about saving his friends. And he didn't care how intimidating Meta Knight appeared; he would fight him until his last breath.
"Well, go on," Axe Knight said. "It's rude to stare!"
Sora and Kirby nodded to each other, knowing what must be done. They rushed down the stairs, ran over to Meta Knight, and got into their battle positions.
"Kirby, we finally meet," Meta Knight said. "I'd say face to face if my mask didn't obscure it. You have earned quite the reputation as a hero of Dream Land, foiling the king's schemes. But a hero is nothing more than a title. Do you have the skills to back up a bold statement?"
Sora's eyes widened. He had no idea Kirby was a hero. Then again, given his incredible inhaling abilities, he didn't seem surprised by this news.
Kirby titled his head in confusion. "Poyo?"
"What do you want from him?" Sora asked.
"The King has told me to eliminate all of you," Meta Knight said. "I will respect his wishes, but my appetite for a worthy opponent has intensified. After all I've heard about Kirby, I wish to test my skills against him." An ominous gaze managed to manifest behind his mask. "But I must also rid this world of you and your Keyblade."
Sora was taken aback. "Huh? How do you know about the Keyblade?"
"Therefore, I challenge both of you two a duel," Meta Knight said. "Kirby, are you willing to rely on the strength of someone who has deceived you?"
The pages of bewilderment continued to pile on Kirby's head. Sora felt a nervous pinch in his neck. He didn't like where this question was heading.
"Wh-What do you mean?" Sora asked, trying to feign innocence.
"It's obvious," Meta Knight said. "You and your friends hail from another world."
Kirby's bewilderment collapsed beneath the pages, reemerging as shock. He turned to his new friends. They wouldn't lie to him about such a significant detail. Why would they? It'd undo the foundation of trust he had built with them. Friendship is about confiding with each other. Sora and his friends were cordial. He accepted their trust a flicker of doubt.
For a moment, Kirby was dubious. But then Yoshi gasped, saying, "How he know? Must be the nose. Yoshi need to lose a few lbs from it."
The truth revealed itself from behind a grotesque frame. Kirby turned to Sora, unable to believe his new friend had deceived him. After all they've been through together. He didn't know how to process this news. Meanwhile, guilt started to wilt from within Sora's stomach like a flower – one after another, peddles of sadness sprinkled on top of his mood.
Meta Knight crossed his arms with contempt. "Your trickery may have worked on Kirby, but I'm not so easily deluded. My companions and I have also traversed the many worlds in our universe."
Sora gasped in surprise. "No way!"
"And during my travels, I have heard tales of what the key and its master can accomplish," Meta Knight said. "While I too am not originally from here, I understand that one must not meddle in the affair of other worlds. Unlike the key bearer, who disrupts the very order of each world."
"I don't try to meddle!" Sora said, defensive. "But…. circumstances kinda pull us into trouble."
Meta Knight closed his eyes, skeptical. "You honestly expect me to believe that. Especially after lying to your new friend. The Keyblade wielder shatters peace and brings ruin."
"That not true," Yoshi said. "Sora try to save worlds!"
"It's too late now," Meta Knight said, drawing his blade. "You must face me in battle if you wish to escape with your lives."
Normally Sora would be ecstatic for a good fight, but, right now, he was dispirited. He turned to Kirby, who was struggling to believe what happened. Sora wondered if he believed their entire friendship was a lie. He didn't want to break Kirby's heart.
"Kirby, I'm sorry," Sora said. "I only did it so this world stays safe. But things spiraled out of control. Believe what you want. Just know that I'll always consider you a friend."
Kirby didn't respond. His eyes focused on the ground, pensive. Perhaps he wouldn't make amends. Sora didn't blame him. Dishonesty fractured credibility. You could try wrapping it in a bandage of forgiveness, but the pain would always be a memory.
"Take this sword, Kirby," Meta Knight said, "so that our battle may commence."
Kirby still didn't answer. He was a prisoner of his thoughts.
"I understand," Meta Knight said in a sympathetic tone. "The shock over having someone betray your trust is devastating. Perhaps I'll let you take some time to heal while I face the Keyblade wielder." He focused on Sora. "Unless you have any objections."
Sora's sadness was fumigated by sudden indignation. Meta Knight just had to intervene and complicate matters. And for what? To keep his king happy, and let everyone else suffer? This just made the fumes of his anger rise into the ceiling.
"Oh, I don't!" Sora said, furious. "You'll pay for running our friendship!"
"Me pay?" Meta Knight asked, sarcastic. He removed his cape, throwing it aside. "For exposing you and your friends as frauds? How dare I."
Sora was tired of hearing that cold, unfeeling voice buzz in his ear. He ran straight at Meta Knight and swung his blade inward. Meta Knight held his blade upward, catching the strike, and pushed Sora backwards. He went on the offense with a trust; Sora brought the Keyblade up to his chest at a diagonal angle, blocking the attack.
Meta Knight then spun around, delivering a horizontal strike. Sora brought the Keyblade up to his cheek, catching the knight's weapon. Then, Meta Knight tried swinging from the other side, and Sora ducked underneath the attack. The warrior swung downward, and Sora countered by swinging upward.
Meta Knight's moves were quick. Sora couldn't find an opening no matter how many times he blocked. This was going to be a challenge. Meta Knight swept his blade at Sora's feet; the boy hopped over it, and tried bringing the Keybalde straight down on the warrior. Meta Knight caught the attack, and kicked Sora in the side, making him stumble backwards.
The boy gripped his side to suppress the pain. But Meta Knight wasn't going to wait, not until Sora had fallen before his feet. The warrior thrusted again. Sora swung his blade inward to knock it away from him; then, he tried swinging it from the opposite direction, only for Meta Knight to slam the Keyblade onto the ground.
Before Sora could react, Meta Knight kicked him in the stomach with both feet, sending him sliding backwards. Fight through the pain, Sora thought. He wouldn't give Meta Knight the satisfaction of victory. Not after splitting their friendship in half with his sharp tongue. Meta Knight fired a horizontal sword beam right at the boy.
Sora side stepped left, just missing the green beam. He felt the attack's heat sweep across his cheek. A small piece of his hair fell onto the ground. Sora started to sweat. Stay focused. Put your resentment aside for now. Leaving this battle with your limbs intact was far more important. Sora threw the Keyblade at Meta Knight, who rolled underneath it.
The warrior leaped into the air, pointed his blade at Sora, and flew at him like a loose drill, preparing to strike. Sora held the Keyblade over his head to catch it. He pushed Meta Knight upward, forcing him to perform a back flip in midair. Once he was right side up, Meta Knight brought his blade down on the boy again. Sora caught the attack with the Keyblade.
The two were locked in a struggle. Summoning all his upper body strength, Sora pushed Meta Knight to the right, who landed in a roll, stood up, turned around, and launched a horizontal sword beam. The boy dove over the attack, landed on his feet, and unleashed a fire spell from the tip of the Keyblade. Meta Knight deflected it with little effort.
The two clashed their blades again. Meta Knight slid his blade downward, spun it around, and knocked Sora's Keyblade upward. This gave him the chance to elbow the boy in the chest, and deliver a spinning kick to the shoulder.
Sora winced. Was there no weakness to expose? Meta Knight seemed untouchable. No, don't be drenched in doubt. He still breathes like you; still experiences pain like you. There has to be a weakness.
Kirby felt himself stumbling through an array of mixed emotions. Each one just spun him around in a different direction. He still couldn't believe Sora would lie to him. Was every pleasant moment they shared a fabrication – a ruse used to take advantage of him? He took a hard look at each memory as if it were a painting, searching for even a small piece of bristle that would ruin the authenticity.
But none could be found. Their time together felt legitimate. There was never a dull moment with them. He never had so much fun on an adventure in his life. Being with friends made the experience even better – how could that feel fake? Why would they waste their time and energy? Especially helping him find the star pieces. Kirby realized that every person is an imperfect diamond – they had flaws, but it radiated with life.
Kirby didn't care if they lied to him. He valued his friendship with them over anything else. To Kirby, it was real, and he wouldn't let Meta Knight take something invaluable away from him. He turned his attention to the sword stuck in the ground, knowing what must be done.
Sora's back collided into a wall; his bones clamored like wind chimes during a violent storm. He slid to the ground, and caught himself with the Keyblade. Meta Knight's speed outpaced his own. His chances of winning were on a steady decline. But, as always, his will refused to crumble before staggering odds.
Meta Knight gained a hint of respect for Sora's resilience. But nothing lasts forever. Not even the human spirit. He could hear Sora's breath from across the room. Time was ticking away at his stamina. Sora stood up, holding the Keyblade with both hands.
"And now," Meta Knight said in a dark tone, "I shall silence your life."
He dashed towards Sora; blade held high. Luigi and Yoshi tried to wiggle themselves free from the other knights, but their grip was too strong. All they could do was watch in helpless agony as Meta Knight sped over like a hungry cheetah. Sora prepared for the inevitable when Kirby leaped in front of him, using his blade to block Meta Knight's.
"What!?" Meta Knight asked; shock managed to slip past his usual aloof tone.
Kirby pushed Meta Knight back across the room. The warrior's eyes lit up in surprise.
"Y-You saved me," Sora said, staring in disbelief.
Kirby turned to him with a warm smile. "Sora…always friend."
Tears started forming in the boy's eyes. Any other person would've left them behind in a dust cloud of ill-will. But Kirby stopped, peered through the cloud, and saw their good nature shine through – that they didn't mean any harm. Kirby's loyalty and kindness were absolute.
He was shaped like a friend.
But they couldn't savor their reunion now. Not when Meta Knight planned to shred them apart like tissue paper.
"Right," Sora said, regaining his focus. "Thanks."
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" Meta Knight asked, displeased. "Siding with such a dangerous person will only expedite the destruction of this world."
Kirby glared at Meta Knight; if anyone fit the description of dangerous, it would be him. He was siding with the king, contributing to the restless sleep that plagued the hapless citizens of Dream Land. Meta Knight was just one more obstacle to overcome. Kirby swallowed the sword whole – a new one with a blue hilt appeared in his hand. He donned a green cap like Link's, although there was a yellow cotton ball on the tip.
Luigi raised an eyebrow over Kirby's transformation. "Was swallowing the sword really necessary?"
"Well, me can't answer that," Yoshi said, shrugging. "Yoshi's never tried one before."
With a fierce swing, Kirby pointed it at Meta Knight, accepting the previously offered duel. Sora's confidence cackled like a raging flame; with Kirby by his side, they could win. He had faith.
Meta Knight lowered his gaze at the two. "Fine. You side with the Keyblade wielder, you've become part of the problem! Know my power!"
He launched another sword beam at the two. Sora leaped in front of Kirby and deflected the attack. The boy outstretched both arms to the side; Kirby hopped onto his shoulders, leaped off them, and spun around like an out of control saw blade, flying straight for Meta Knight. The warrior placed his blade overhead, catching the attack. He then pushed Kirby backwards.
Sora clashed with Meta Knight, who pushed him to the side. Kirby swung at him next, and Meta Knight grabbed his arm. The warrior noticed Sora preparing to strike; he pulled Kirby's arm towards him, placing the puff ball's blade in front of his face. Meta Knight used it to block Sora's strike.
He then delivered a kick to Kirby's face, making him stumble backwards, and turned around with a thrust for Sora. With the tip pointed downward, Sora brought the Keyblade up at a diagonal angle to block. Sora repositioned his blade and tried bringing it down from overhead. Meta Knight knocked the Keyblade aside, spun around, and brought his blade inward to deflect a strike from Kirby.
The warrior swung his blade upward, forcing Kirby to take a step backwards. Kirby responded by swinging for Meta Knight's forehead. The warrior knocked Kirby's blade aside, spun around, and brought his sword in low to block another strike from Sora. They then locked their blades together.
Meta Knight's speed was impressive; he was able to prevent even a scratch from ruining his immaculate mask.
Well, they just needed to try harder. Sora pushed Meta Knight towards Kirby, who slashed him in the back. He exclaimed in both pain and astonishment. A minor misstep, he thought. No one was perfect. But that only meant he'd be untouchable the rest of the fight. They'd never experience gratification again.
Meta Knight refocused himself faster than lightning and blocked another attack from Sora. Kirby swept in from below, but the warrior lifted his foot to dodge. The three clashed their blades together. Sora and Kirby combined their strength and pushed Meta Knight into a wall. The other knights gave incredulous stares, unable to believe what just transpired. Perhaps they had succumbed to the nightmares like everyone else in Dream Land.
Luigi and Yoshi continued shouting words of encouragement to keep Sora and Kirby's spirits elevated. Meta Knight was becoming vexed; how were these two at an advantage? They were children. The inexperience falter within seconds. Yet, their raw strength kept them rigid like a tower. He wouldn't let them win. His past was rife with devastation.
He didn't want those awful memories to come alive again.
Meta Knight unleashed bat-like wings from behind, and gave them furious flaps, pushing the two back from the burst of wind. He flew into the air, delivering a kick to the two, knocking them onto the floor. As Sora and Kirby stood up, they watched with dropped jaws as Meta Knight circled around the room, preparing to attack.
"I-Is he a vampire?" Sora asked. "Because that'd honestly be the most mundane thing I've seen on this adventure."
Sora and Kirby tried attacking him, but he evaded their strikes. At one point, Meta Knight clashed with Kirby, pushed off him, and delivered a spinning kick to Sora's face. While in midair, he turned to Kirby, launching a blade beam straight at him. The puff ball hopped to the left, unaware that that Meta Knight used the beam as a diversion; he rammed his head straight into Kirby, sending him crashing onto the floor.
Meta Knight spun his body around until it transformed into a miniature tornado, and flew straight for a defenseless Kirby.
Sora leaped in front of him, shouting, "Force!"
A Gravity spell caused Meta Knight to plummet straight onto the ground. He was quick to recover, but saw Sora launch his spiral attack. Meta Knight started flying away, and noticed the beams pursuing him. A strain of sweat dripped onto the inside of his mask. They were stronger than he imagined. But he wouldn't lose. He wouldn't let a spec of doubt enter his conscience; otherwise, his focus would be grinded into small, fragile grains.
He flew around the area, avoiding some beams, and destroyed others with his blade. Sora took the opportunity while Meta Knight was distracted to launch a Blizzard spell, freezing one of his wings. As Meta Knight fell, Kirby leaped into the air, delivering a double kick to the face. The warrior crashed into the wall. Before he could fall over, Kirby appeared underneath him, performing an upward slash. The force was so strong that Meta Knight flew into the air.
Once again, the warrior was quick to recover; he kicked against the ceiling, and flew right for Kirby, blade pointed straight at him. Kirby leaped back to avoid the strike. After landing, Meta Knight noticed the two closing in on him. He looked behind him to see a wall opposing his efforts for escape.
Meta Knight felt his chest move up and down, like on a bumpy train ride. He never expected to exert himself so much. These two were somehow his toughest challenge. For the first time in years, he was uncertain of a battle's outcome – a notion he hated to indulge. Soon, he found himself start to fall, but caught himself with his free hand. His endurance would soon shatter into weary pieces.
This was there chance to act! Kirby gripped the hilt of his blade with both hands, feeling a surge of triumphant pulsate through them; he ran for the knight, raising his blade for the final strike. Time became lethargic for Meta Knight; the loud thumps of Kirby's feet pounded in his ears. He closed his eyes, prepared to accept defeat like any noble warrior.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you!" Trident Knight said.
Kirby stopped inches from Meta Knight; he and Sora looked up to see the knights have their weapons pointed at Luigi and Yoshi's necks. The duo's hearts rattled around in panic, unable to cease rapid motion.
"Things may not end well for your friends if you end the boss," Axe Knight said. "Catch my drift?"
Sora huffed in anger. "No fair!"
Kirby's decision was clear; he would never let someone harm his friends. It didn't matter if Dream Land was in danger; every life mattered to him. And he would not allow regret to haunt his every waking hour. With a defeated sigh, Kirby dropped his sword onto the ground. His hat vanished from existence.
Regaining strength, Meta Knight walked over to Kirby, placed an arm around him, and pointed his sword at the puff ball's face.
"Kirby!" Sora said.
"I regret to inform you that this victory comes at a price, boy," Meta Knight said. "You and your friends are free to leave. But Kirby's fate will be for the king to decide."
Sora was deflated. He hated being in this predicament. Someone had to suffer. There was no happy ending; and he wouldn't let any of his friends be the ones to experience it. He made the Keyblade vanish from his hand.
"Take me instead," Sora said, in a dreary tone. "Just let my friends go."
Meta Knight considered his request. He then released Kirby. "A noble choice. I will gladly comply."
"No!" Yoshi said, aghast. "Sora, don't do it!"
Meta Knight rushed for the boy, pointing his blade straight at him. Sora closed his eyes, hearing the panicked protests of his friends. He didn't listen. Nothing would change his mind. The heat of Meta Knight's presence became closer, like an aggressive bull that wouldn't cease until fragile bones collided with its iron-like skull.
But then, everything was lackadaisical. The heat was so close; Sora thought his skin would wither away from the arid air. He opened his eyes to see Meta Knight's staring back at him. His entire demeanor was relaxed, as if the hostility had been wiped away by a content cloth, in an instant.
"It's over," Meta Knight said. "You've passed the test."
Sora gave a slow blink, believing he misheard him. "Huh? Test? As in actually testing me? A-Are you serious?"
"I am," Meta Knight said, sheathing his sword. He turned to the other knights. "Release the hostages."
The knights retracted their weapons from Luigi and Yoshi; their bodies plunged into a small, tranquil lake of relief. However, their minds remained afloat, perplexed by this sudden development. Kirby, however, didn't question anything right now; he was glad no harm came to Sora. He hurried over, greeting him with a big hug.
"Whoa!" Sora said, startled. He noticed Kirby scanning him faster than a computer, searching for even the most minute of wounds. Sora laughed. "It's okay, buddy! I'm fine! Honest." He turned back to Meta Knight, still peppered with confusion. "I don't understand. You were testing us this whole time?"
"Indeed," Meta Knight said. "It's true that the legends I heard painted you in a negative light. But I am not one to judge a person from word of mouth alone. You see, I was sent to spy on Kirby. And in doing so, I saw you in battle with him. I didn't want to believe that this was the same person I heard about."
"So why the test?" Luigi asked with a suspicious expression.
"I needed to see the Keyblade Master's true colors," Meta Knight said. "You have proven the rumor to be nothing more than a fallacy." He lowered his head. "My apologies for the extreme measures I took."
Sora struggled with the thought of forgiving him. Why put them through so much physical toil? Did his test need to induce so much unneeded drama? Especially exposing their true identity to Kirby? Why not reveal their intent from the start? This whole ordeal left a sour taste in his mouth.
But he stared into Meta Knight's eyes. They were no longer intense, roaring flames; instead, they rested on a candle stick, flickering with anguish over the past. Sora sensed that Meta Knight had faced many hardships in his life, which manifested through bloodshed. And he perhaps learned that, through battle, a person's true intentions peered out from behind their mask. Which was why he chose to forgo words in favor of actions.
Sora noticed a carefree smile on Kirby's face. He seemed to have put the past behind him, like it was a simple misunderstanding. Was Kirby being naive, or did he understand that Meta Knight's convictions weren't hateful? Either way, if Kirby was happy, Sora didn't see a reason to show contempt.
Sora placed both hands behind his head. "No problem. I guess I can see your point of view. Even if it involved swinging a sword near my face."
"You, too, were also tested," Meta Knight said, focusing his gaze on Kirby. "I wanted to see if you truly lived up to the title of hero. And now I know why you've earned it. Your strength, along with the Keyblade wielder's, is needed."
"How come?" Sora asked.
"It's true that the King stole the Star Rod for his own selfish gain," Meta Knight said, sounding grim, "but he's been manipulated by an unseen force. A power that is unfathomable."
Luigi gulped in fear. Heartless gave them enough trouble already. They didn't need something else to tug at their feet while they trudged through endless conflict.
Luigi turned to Axe Knight with a pleading smile. "Say, would you like to hold me hostage again? Must get lonely for a guy that wears a skeleton mask."
"Please get out of my face," Axe Knight said, firm.
Luigi lowered his head in sadness.
"Is it the Heartless?" Sora asked.
"Those strange creatures? No." Meta Knight looked away from him, troubled. "That's why I needed to test you – to see if you have the strength to challenge whatever it is. And you easily exceed my power. There's no doubt that you'll be able to stop this menace."
"Well, if we're fighting on the same side, then come with us!" Sora said, thrilled at the prospect of his team becoming unstoppable.
Meta Knight shook his head. "Those creatures you mentioned grow restless. My crew and I are heading back to town, to keep a watchful eye on the citizens while you complete your task. We shall also be ridding ourselves of this ship. I have no intentions of serving the king any longer. The only reason we did so was because he gave us shelter after we arrived in this world. He's nothing but an irresponsible fool."
"Aw, stop being so polite, sir," Mace Knight said. "Just call him a big ninny already."
Meta Knight chuckled. "I'll work at it. For now, I am glad to be rid of him."
Sora was somewhat disappointed that Meta Knight wasn't joining them. But he understood why. Not a day goes by where he doesn't think about the man in Traverse Town – the one that lost his heart. That image was stuck in his head like rusty nail; it continued bothering him to no end. He never wanted anyone else to experience that sensation of helpless terror. The Meta Knights were perfect for defending the denizens of Dream Land.
"If you're looking for one of the star pieces," Meta Knight said, "the king has it."
Sora grinned. "Okay! Then we'll just have to pay him a visit. Leave it to us. We'll take care of both the king and this other guy, right, Kirby?"
"Poyo," Kirby said with a serious expression. He wasn't afraid of the challenge – not with his world on the line. The only thing Kirby feared was losing everything, and he never wanted it to become a reality.
"Good," Meta Knight said, content with their determination. "I knew I could count on you. Then this is where we part ways, my friends. You must make haste to the castle while time still permits it."
"Okay," Sora said. "Hope we meet again. Next time on better terms."
"I hope so too." Meta Knight pulled out a piece of paper. "Before you go, take this. I found it one day. Its appearance isn't of this world. Perhaps you may find use for it."
Sora recognized the paper as one of the torn pages. They were making great progress in finding them. The precious lives that faded out of the Paper World may soon be redrawn to life.
"I think we will," Sora said, pleased. "Thanks. Come on, guys. We've kept the king waiting long enough."
Everyone walked outside of the blimp. Kirby called for his Warp Star, and the group boarded it in a hurry. They took off for the King's castle at incredible speeds. Meta Knight walked outside the gondola, watching them fade into the distance. The warrior's long cape flew in the wind, rustling against his shoulders like leaves.
For the first time in years, he saw hope sitting atop the clouds, praying it didn't sink into them, becoming a dark mass that swallowed this entire world.
"Good luck," Meta Knight said. "Please save this world. My heart already suffers from witnessing the loss of many."
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