Correspondence from the remaining former opponents came quickly after Dark's video call. They would be arriving soon. Meta Knight was thankful they were so willing to meet with him, even if they wouldn't be joining him on the journey itself. He had his reservations about Dark's cooperation, but the danger that rogue posed was too great to let it worry him for too long.
His encounter with Arcta Knight played in his head again. Every moment of silence was plagued with her cutting tone and the smell of blood. Meta Knight tried to shake it off, but it wasn't easy. There was too much he didn't know and it stuck to him.
Who was she? And who did she work for? Getting rid of her was first in his mind, but the anxious pricking behind his temple couldn't drop the concern of her employer. He wasn't sure what was the higher priority. Surely something he could sort out once Magolor arrived. And, though he didn't have much trust in Marx, he at least knew where they could find the Galactic Nova for another Knight to assist them.
He would have to await the Lor Starcutter before he could do anything off planet, assuming Arcta Knight wasn't simply hiding out on Popstar. In the meantime, Meta would travel to the sky to free Dark from the Dimensional Mirror. It still rested in that odd, dreamlike place high above Dreamland. Left as an abandoned prison for the warrior that dared to challenge him in the name of a master long since defeated.
Meta Knight returned to the balcony, casting one last glance at the land ahead before turning his gaze to the pinkish cotton in the sky. His cape was, once more, replaced by his wings The wings of a Knight were powerful and agile. Capable in battle for both offense and defense.
He took off into the sky, barreling towards the Central Circle where the Dimensional Mirror stood. He flew fast, his wings tearing through the wind as he climbed high through the clouds. Finally, he burst through the ground and rose above the grand mirror, dropping down onto the platform before it.
Abandoned. Covered in the dust and damage of their scuffle from long ago with no one bothering to care for it. The Dimensional Mirror's surface was empty despite the figure standing before it. Meta froze.
How did she get here without his knowledge? So close to the castle and completely under his radar.
Arcta tilted her head at the empty glass. Without a word, she reached out to it and lightly touched her gloved fingertips to the surface. The glass shimmered, gradually reflecting her, Meta, and the heavenly surroundings.
"Strange… I don't recognize you." Arcta muttered. Meta Knight grimaced, his expression hidden to her. The lights behind her mask shifted, catching him in the mirror. Though his reflection was uncanny. De-saturated. She squinted at it, curious.
"Nor you."
"How did you know about this place?" Meta narrowed his eyes. The mirror was merely a fable to the people of Popstar. Though those in Dreamland knew of it and the miracles it once could accomplish, surely someone outside wouldn't know it's existence. A part of Meta refused to believe a monster could come from his planet.
"It's odd. Though I know it's me, it's hard to believe it." She said, choosing to ignore his question. He studied her, carefully stepping forward. His wings remained exposed, folded behind him.
"Becoming a Knight is like warping a reflection… surely it's you, but there's something small. Something wrong. Do you ever notice it? How you've changed to be some… noble hero," Arcta tilted her head ever so slightly, "do you ever recall the past you left behind? When we weren't Knights?"
"You're no Knight."
A tense silence fell over them. Arcta's hand never left the glass. She never turned to him. Meta kept his sword sheathed. It seemed she knew he'd never cut someone down while their back was turned.
A sharp crack broke the silence. Smaller, grittier clicks following close on the sound's heels. A break split up the middle of the Dimensional Mirror from where Arcta's hand pressed on the glass. She subtly increased the force in her touch making more gritty clicks, more cracks in the surface. The reflection of Meta Knight split between each of the, now separated, mirrors. But one of them was that off, uncanny ghost she kept her eyes on. He seemed panicked, but no voice escaped the glass.
Meta swiftly drew Galaxia and leaped over her to put himself between her and the mirror. Arcta simply stepped back from it, drawing her own blade in return.
"I'm not letting you escape this time." Meta said. He slashed at her, catching her blade and putting all the force he could muster behind his push. Arcta's arm shook, struggling to handle his attempt to subdue her.
He beat his wings, adding to his push. She never opened hers. That only solidified Meta's assertion. A true Knight would have wings bestowed upon them once they finished their training and achieved the coveted title.
As if to show his own pair off, he beat them harder, casting wisps of clouds to whip up around them. Meta grit his teeth.
"Do you ever think about the past?" Arcta grunted, using both hands to face his force.
"Shut up!"
Arcta's eyes glinted and she growled. The violet lights appeared to burn as her arms steadied. From her fur-lined cape spread a set of white, feathered wings. The force of their appearance knocked Meta off balance and she shoved him back.
Meta was stunned, blinking in incredulity at the feathers that floated down around them.
"Wh—"
"You seem surprised," Arcta's voice darkened, her wings shuddering as she rolled her shoulders. She unclasped her cape, tossing it aside and out of the way. Meta found that unusual. Wings, but they're not related to her cape.
"Illegitimate. Just like your title." Meta said, steadying himself.
"That's all you care about." She huffed. The frustration in her voice traveled down her arm and to her sword, gripped tight and sturdy. She launched at him, her wings pulled close to her body. He braced for her attack. Her wings snapped open and she leaped over him, aiming for the cracked glass.
Meta darted into the way. Their slashes glanced off of each other's blades and sent sparks flying. Arcta flew up again to bring her weight crashing down on him. He followed her into the air, climbing high above the land of clouds.
Their wings beat in unison as they climbed. Arcta attempted to deter him with infrequent arctic attacks. Blocks and daggers of ice sent hurtling down at him as he followed her. He was agile, weaving and dodging the magic projectiles without breaking a sweat. She grimaced, bringing down her sword once he finally reached her.
Their swords met with every strike. No matter where Meta aimed, she was there to deflect him and for her the same. She was formidable. At any distance he attempted to put between them, she would send sharpened spears of ice after him and the mirror. Protecting both himself and the fragile glass was difficult.
Luckily, Meta had some magic of his own.
He sliced at her, keeping close to discourage her magic. She was quick to catch his blade. Closing his wings around himself, he vanished from her sight. Arcta blinked and searched for him with her wing beats becoming more frantic.
Meta appeared behind her, slamming the hilt of Galaxia into her and sending her careening for the ground below. She snapped her wings open, catching herself before she could crash and landing with some difficulty.
"Damn you." She growled through grit teeth.
Meta glared at her from his position far above. The sun at his back blinded Arcta, forcing her to squint against the assault on her sense. She would have this ability herself, if she were worthy.
She straightened, her wings opening wide. Arcta raised her hand overhead, holding a palm out to Meta. The air chilled instantly, his breath coming out in white fog. His eyes widened and he turned just in time, breaking one large shard of ice before it could reach him. Two more formed from the freezing air and hurtled straight for him.
The ice exacerbated the light. She couldn't aim as well as she had hoped. But the projectiles were large enough that they should manage fine a little off target. Close enough that his warp trick would take too long. While he was distracted with those, she approached the mirror.
The ice shattered high above, crashing into each other and scattering debris across the ground. Arcta Knight took her blade in both hands and drove her blade into the glass.
As the tip of the sword approached the cracked glass, the space warped in between her and the mirror. Meta materialized in the path of her strike, grabbing the base of the metal with his gauntlet, stopping the sword from progressing further.
The remaining length of her weapon found itself nestled into his torso where the armor was regretfully absent. A slight darkening in the cloth gave way to a welling of red blood that spilled over the sharpened edge.
Arcta paused.
They stood silently for a moment before she retrieved her sword and stepped away from him, staring at it. Her gaze flickered from the stain on her weapon to the wound in his body. There was a tremble in her wings as she retreated from him, gathering up her cape and stepping off of the clouds, vanishing beneath the heavenly ground.