Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The stars above Towara shone brightly, its moon even brighter.

Below, two blue Poppy Bros Junior stood at their post, outside of a shifting tower. Though the tower was short compared to the skyscrapers on other parts of the planet, it was no less important to the surrounding town, which mostly consisted of cubical houses and was laid out in a very neat grid despite its size. The vegetation was sparse, mostly consisting of grass and a few trees. Along one end, not too far from its center, a river ran, bringing water to a nearby city.

The patterns cast onto the trees from the moon reflecting on the water distracted one of the Bros, the Watch Captain for the night. He stared at the dancing lights, bored out of his mind and lost in directionless thought before his partner, a regular scout, interrupted him.

“Hey…” he said. “What if...do you ever think about...what if the Grand Mam is actually just still alive somewhere? What would happen then?”

“...What?” The captain asked, snapping out of his mini-trance. “What do you mean ‘what if she’s alive somewhere?’ We all know that the Yellows killed her.”

“Well, yeah,” the scout countered, “But...I mean...I dunno, I just think about it sometimes. Like, if all this fighting between us and the Yellows is because of her dying, would it just...stop if she was actually found alive somewhere?”

The captain didn’t quite know what to make of this idea. It seemed, to him, like his partner was beginning to overtire, or perhaps, like many other Blues, he was just exhausted from the fighting amongst their neighboring tribes. He wasn’t entirely sure how to address the latter thought, given that they were both on duty, so instead he opted to dismiss it entirely.

“I think you’ve been listening to too many conspiracy theories.”

Before the other Poppy Bro could respond, they were both silenced by a rustling from behind them.

Immediately they turned, detached hands prepared to shape the bombs for which they were known. Of course, once a bomb was created, the only method of destruction was its own explosion. Historically, this had proven to be a disadvantage against non-Poppy foes, and made it difficult to adopt a “shoot first, ask questions later” mentality-- a mentality which the two found themselves very tempted to employ as they met the magenta eyes of some...creature, somehow almost completely obscured by the thin tree flanking one side of the building.

“Who are you? State your business.” Said the captain, stepping closer in an attempt to intimidate despite his species’ cutesy appearance.

The eyes responded by going dark. 

For a brief moment, the Bros were confused. The scout even began to question whether or not what they had seen was real. The question was quickly answered when, slowly emerging beside the tree, a black mass made of material that could very loosely be described as “gooey” began to take form. It stepped out, bit by bit, with something that one could much more loosely described as a “limb”-- “limbs” that were unnaturally long and rounded at the points where extremities would normally be. The creature dwarfed the Poppy Bros in height and was, strangely, much wider than the tree behind which it had just been hiding.

Once again, its magenta eyes opened, staring at its inquisitors. They were just as glowy and indistinct as when they’d first seen them.  After a moment, the creature shrunk to size more comparable to the Bros, though the transformation didn’t make them feel much more comforted.

“I-I asked you a question!” The captain called out again, embarrassed by a slight, fearful stutter. “Why are you here? What do you want?”

The head of the creature, more of a round nub with eyes, tilted to the side, not breaking its gaze on the Bros.

“This...this is your final warning!” The scout spoke up, bringing his hands closer together. “State your business or we’ll...we’ll…!”

As the second Bro’s threat started to stutter and fade out, the creature tilted its head to the other side, then, slowly, a hole began to open up beneath its eyes. A dark hole. A dark hole filled with sharp, white teeth. A dark hole filled with sharp, white teeth, out of which rolled a long, thin, pink tongue.

The captain froze, barely able to comprehend what he was seeing. “Wh- what in Nova’s na-!” He started to sputter, cut off by a shriek and a familiar hiss, though he found himself too paralyzed to look over.

Beside him, his partner was screaming in terror, shaky hands preparing to lob a newly-formed bomb at the thing “smiling” before them. Sensing movement, said thing released a screech of its own, extending one of its limbs past its would-be attacker and hitting him in the chest with a hard thud , sending the hapless Poppy Bro backwards into a perimeter fence, which in turn sent him face-down onto the ground, coughing from the impacts. Above him, the bomb that had been thrown from his hand exploded harmlessly.

“Hah!” The still-standing Poppy Bro cried out in shock and, admittedly, terror. This noise attracted the attention of the creature, but rather than simply batting him away, it tackled him to the ground, using its surprisingly immense weight and unsurprisingly gloopy body to surround him and keep him pinned.

The captain turned his head to the side, watching his still-recovering partner struggle to get to any state resembling standing. For a moment, their eyes met, and while it would be quite the story to say that the moment gave said partner a burst of courage that would lead him to save the day, in reality he just burst into tears. The pinned Bro sighed shakily and turned his head skyward, trying his hardest to look past the creature’s widening maw, up at the moon and stars. As he came to accept his fate, he pondered how things so beautiful could preside over something so horrible, perhaps horrors even worse than this. Even if, as inanimate objects, they couldn’t do anything, he concluded as he closed his eyes, at least they made for a pleasant last sight.

If only my last feeling could be better , he thought, reacting to what was unmistakably the tongue of his assailant grazing his cheeks. He scrunched up his face and tried to fight back tears of his own as he heard the shallow, clicking growl of an inhuman predator about to strike.

Then it stopped.

For a moment, there was absolute silence, and the captain honestly thought that he had died. But then he realized that if he were dead, he wouldn’t be able to think that he was dead. It wasn’t until he felt the hands of his partner shaking him awake that he opened his eyes.

“Are you okay?” The scout asked, panic still lingering in his voice.

“Uh…” The first Bro trailed off, fixated on the sight directly above him. The head of the creature was twisted completely around, tongue frozen in a swirling position in the air. In fact, the thing’s whole body seemed to be frozen-- not even the goop that had cascaded about its form seconds ago was in motion. If either of the Bros had to guess, it had something to do with the small, somewhat-indistinct figure perched on top of it. Said figure seemed to be withdrawing something from the creature, causing it to emit what were definitely sounds, but were impossible to describe.

With a grunt and a final yank, the figure extracted something from the creature, causing it to disintegrate before the Poppy Bros’ eyes. As it did so, it flailed a multitude of limbs outward, desperately latching onto anything it could grab. Though it easily caught the Bros, causing their panic to ignite once more, the appendages simply shrank and receded, releasing them without incident as the creature finally disappeared. All that remained was a magenta crystal, impaled on the end of a thick silver épée that glinted in the moonlight. Through the cracks in the crystal, tiny black tentacles tried to slither out, but none got very far before receding again.

As the scout helped the captain to his feet, the captain looked at the figure holding the sword. He was, surprisingly, a bit shorter than they were. His back was to them, only allowing them to see a blue cape and a white glove gripping the sword’s hilt.

Before either Bro could say anything, the stranger spoke.

“Are you all right?” He asked in a deep voice, speaking in an accent neither of the other two recognized.

The guards exchanged glances, then looked back at the figure. “Who...are you?” The captain asked, standing up fully now.

“I believe that I asked you a question first.” The figure replied curtly.

“...We’re...fine, I guess.” The scout answered. “Now who-”

“Good.” The figure interrupted. He brought the sword in front of him, inspecting the impaled crystal. “Clearly much has happened here. I imagine your Senior will be very interested to hear of this.”

“W-well, yeah, of course, but-”

“I am glad that you agree. Certainly you two would be able to afford me such an audience?”

“Probably, but who-”

“Very good. Thank you. We should be going, then.” With that, the figure began to stride toward the building.

The two exchanged glances once again, silently concluding that they were not going to get any answers. They sighed and ran to catch up to the stranger. 

/*|*\

Inside the building at the center of the town, a Poppy Bro Senior paced through his office. He looked much the same as the Juniors who lived in the town under his watch, but a bit bigger, and with a pointy, multicolored, bejeweled hat. Normally he would have left long before that hour, but he was expecting news, news he wasn’t sure whether or not he was excited to receive.

On one hand, hearing that an entire battalion of Yellows were wiped out would be welcome to their cause. It’d boost the morale of the Blue forces, surely, and give them a definite advantage in the conflict. Perhaps the spirit of the Grand Mam would be proud.

On the other, there was no doubt that the retaliation would be swift and fierce. Such a concern was the reason for the extra protection throughout the town that night. Who knew what the extent of their rage would be? Would it be an aggressive assault, an outburst of angry forces? Or would it be a calculated revenge, meant to slowly and strategically return what had been done to them? Aside from that, the Senior had to admit, the prospect of being the cause of several deaths weighed heavy on his conscience. Regardless of whether or not they were enemies, they were still living things, sentient, and of course, fellow Poppy Bros.

The official stopped abruptly and took a deep, shaky breath, looking over at his desk. Beside the computer monitor and keyboard, amongst all the paperwork and little decorative trinkets, a red book laid, the gold logo on its front seeming to glare back at him. He was never really sure what the logo was supposed to represent. It looked almost like a tall semi-human figure, or maybe a ridiculously fancy letter T? With...horns? He wasn’t quite sure. All it seemed to resemble right then was a Rorschach blob, and he didn’t like what it was telling him.

When he had gotten it, he was certain that it was going to be the key to victory, an advantage that the other side certainly wouldn’t have. The architecture of the building allowed for easy construction and easier concealment of the equipment, given the built-in ability for the place to shift walls and floors, and their technology was plenty advanced enough to handle the power of the Internet. While utilizing this service was a great expense, the returns in terms of what it would do for them were much greater.

Or, at least, they seemed much greater at the time.

Now, standing in his office, having ordered a killer from Nova-knows-where and siccing it on a group of people, the Poppy Bro Senior began to reconsider.

He turned sharply to his desk and didn’t bother to sit down as he flipped open the cover of the book to find the contact information just inside. With one eye on the book, he used the computer to connect to the support line.

Almost immediately, a video feed sprang to life on the monitor, taking up the whole screen. On it, a man with gray skin, green hair, and an impeccable sense of style greeted him, adjusting his orange-lensed sunglasses.

“Thank you for contacting the Night Mare Enterprises Customer Service line, where your satisfaction is our top priority!” the Customer Service rep took a brief pause, as if to discern who he was talking to. Once he did, opened his hands in a welcoming gesture. “Well, well! Senior B! Didn’t expect you to call back so soon. Is there something I can do for you?”

The jaunty, suave voice of Customer Service contrasted sharply with the anxious mood of his client. It didn’t even occur to said client to question why it was that the salesman who’d processed his order was the same person on the customer support line.

“U-uh...I need...I have...I have concerns about...the monster.”

“Do you? Please, allow me to address them.” Answered a voice from beyond the monitor.

“Is there...someone else in the room with you?” Customer Service asked.

“I…” The Poppy Bro Senior shifted his gaze away from his call, seeing that the front wall had opened. How had he missed that…?

The two Poppy Bros Junior who’d been on guard patrol in the back of the building rushed in, but he knew that the voice couldn’t belong to either of them. They each tried to stammer something out, it sounded almost as if they were relaying an event, but they were disorganized and shaken, and couldn’t seem to put a sentence together, so eventually they quieted and looked back at the figure behind them. Said figure stepped into the light filtering into the room from the window across from him. 

There didn’t seem to be much to him. He was the shortest one in the room, blue-skinned with white gloves, purple shoes (or were those his feet…?), a navy cape with a white lining and, curiously, a turquoise collar. The cape was secured to his shoulders by silver-and-gold pauldrons. It was difficult to distinguish much more about him, as he was nearly completely covered by a silver-colored mask, save for a pair of glowing yellow eyes. Of course, as he had a...thingy...impaled on a brandished sword, he commanded the attention of the room.

“Distinguished Senior,” he addressed in an accent nobody in the room recognized, holding part of his cape against himself with his non-sword hand and bowing. “It is a privilege to have this audience with you. I understand you must have several questions, as I do for you.” He straightened.

“...B, your skill in wall decor is excellent , but if you wouldn’t mind coming back to our conversation…” The Senior’s computer said.

“Who is that?” The caped figure asked.

“Oh, it’s, uh, it’s...I don’t…” The Poppy Bro Senior, despite having expected something to happen all night, did not expect this.

“If you believe that you are hiding something, there is no need.” The masked swordsman spoke again, waving his weapon slightly. “I am well aware of where this came from. And I believe I may have an idea of who it is you are talking to. It would be rude to exclude them, no?”

Sheepish, and a bit ashamed, the official turned the screen toward the other three. He had no idea why he was listening to this...person, when any bomb he could make would likely be more powerful than his weapon. Perhaps it was something about his confidence? His commanding tone? His unsettling, unblinking stare? Regardless, the Senior felt compelled to comply.

“Ah, I didn’t realize this was going to be a group meeting! I’d have dressed better.” Customer Service said nonchalantly. Though, tellingly, his gaze became set on the impaled crystal.

“You are new.” The swordsman said flatly.

“Now I wouldn’t say that. I’ve been here for the better part of-”

“So they’ve diversified the sales force.”

“Nope! Just me! No need to replace what’s already perfect.” The wink was audible.

“...Hm.” The masked figure shrugged. “So you are Customer Service.”

“That’s what they call me.” The agent adjusted his glasses again. “Now, B, about that monster-”

“Ah, yes, MSR-46767867. Impo. Indeed, we should be discussing it.”

The normally-confident salesman almost seemed to falter at this. While information like the name and serial number of a monster were listed in customer catalogues, he knew for a fact that he’d never sold to this...person.

“Impo is a versatile monster.” The...person...continued. “Its entire body can form into any shape necessary to complete its mission. Once it is assigned, it will not stop until its objective is complete...or it is forced. While very useful for certain outings, its orders must be very specific, or else you risk something going wrong. Perhaps something such as...losing your own men.”

There was a brief, oppressive silence as the Poppy Bros Junior looked down, refusing to meet the questioning, guilty gaze of their Senior.

“...It’s getting a little heavy in here, isn’t it?” Customer Service finally chimed in. “This information was available in Impo’s manual, Senior B. And of course Night Mare Enterprises always recommends the full understanding of the proper function of a monster before its use.”

“As we can see, that manual has proved quite effective against impending disaster.” The swordsman retorted. “At any rate, you are very lucky. Aside from its over-reliance on proper instruction, Impo has another, physical weakness.” He pointed the blade forward, placing the crystal in full view. “Its heart, which, as you may also know from your manual, is quite fragile.”

With that, he flicked the sword upward, sending the crystal into the air. When it fell to his eye level, he sliced it easily in half, causing it to disintegrate into shards, then dust.

“Impressive,” The salesman commented, sounding less than impressed. “You sure seem to know your stuff.”

“It is something of my life’s work.” The other man answered, taking out a small cloth to polish his barely-marked blade.

It was then that Customer Service noticed the golden star badge on his left shoulder. “Ah, you’re one of those Star Warriors , huh?”

“Indeed I am.”

“You know, it’s interesting. Usually there’s more than one of you.”

“If you are trying to discern the location of an army, there is no point. I am working alone.”

“Are you, now?”

“I am.”

“Okay, so,” The scout spoke up, “This banter, it’s all really cool-sounding and stuff, and I’m sure there’s a lot of...I dunno...exposition going on right now. But...I think I speak for everyone when I say that we’re all really confused, and would really appreciate an explanation that’s not veiled in…” he gestured broadly, “Whatever you guys have got going on here.”

“Of course.” Customer Service clasped his hands together. “Please allow me to help you guys out. As always, your satisfaction is our highest pri-”

“Distinguished Senior, I would like to ask respectfully that you end this communication with Night Mare Enterprises before we proceed.”

“With all due respect, B, we have a working relationship, and this guy just showed up out of nowhere and destroyed your monster in front of you. We don’t even know his name.”

“Ah, yes, how rude of me.” The swordsman bowed again. “I am Meta Knight. It is an honor to meet you.” He straightened. “And I would like to respectfully ask that you end this communication, as I have saved your men’s lives, and this representative put on this planet the thing that almost ended them.”

“B, I had no intention of leaving you high and dry with this monster. You called me because you needed my help, didn’t you? And who would be able to help better than the guys who know these things inside and-”

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Everyone in the room turned their attention to the Watch Captain, who’d struck the keyboard repeatedly in such a way that it ended the transmission.

Before anybody could say anything, he bowed, barely missing the desk with his head. “My Senior, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to act out, it’s just...I almost lost my life today, and...I couldn’t listen to that anymore. I can’t bring myself to trust anybody who’d make something like that... thing .”

“Indeed,” Meta Knight chimed in. “That company, Night Mare Enterprises, is not to be trusted. They deal in death and destruction, and even if that is something you desire...though I cannot imagine why...it will not be long before you find it turned back onto you, as in the case of the monster you ordered, which I discovered attacking these guards.”

“You seem to know...a lot about them.” The Poppy Bro Senior said.

“As I said before, knowing and defeating their monsters is my life’s work, as it is for many Star Warriors. NME manipulates customers into using their services, which in turn allows them to station their forces throughout the universe. Every purchase, every beast brought into existence directly leads to their growth, and with their growth comes a further risk of being subjugated. They do not care who they scam, they do not care who they endanger.” Meta Knight pointed the tip of his sword at the Senior, causing all three of the Poppy Bros to assume a defensive position. “If you value your planet, if you value your people, if you value your freedom, you will destroy whatever it is that you used to bring Impo here.” 

At this, he glanced around the room and sheathed the blade at his side.

The Senior did not appreciate being threatened, especially by someone who had made an incredibly compelling point that was very difficult to refute. “If I do…” he said, “then we’re going to be fighting for some time.”

“Even so, your battles are best fought on your own.” Meta Knight, satisfied that he had made his point, turned on his heel and began to walk away. He’d just reached the entrance of the building when the Watch Captain approached him.

“Hey!” He called. “Hey, wait!”

The Star Warrior stopped and sighed, turning to face his pursuer.

“Hey, uh, hi.” The captain cleared his throat and straightened. “I wanted to thank you for saving us. I had a duty to protect the patrol, and I failed. Very hard. And if it weren’t for you, we’d be dead.”

“This is correct.”

“Oh, uh…” The Poppy Bro Junior wasn’t quite expecting such a...response.

“Of course,” Meta Knight continued, turning back away from him, “I would not blame you for the events of tonight. Your superior gave in to a dark impulse for the sake of a victory. In a way, it is understandable. It would appear that he believed he was doing what was best for your tribe, but such desires are easily corrupted. You are all very lucky that you did not face the full consequences.”

“Yeah, uh, for sure, which is why I’m thanking you.”

“I see.”

There was a short, awkward silence. The knight used this opportunity to start to leave again, but he was once again halted by the captain.

“One more thing...I’ve been curious. Why did you come here, anyway?”

“I travel many places for many reasons.”

“... Okay. What’s the reason for here?”

“I simply needed to stop at a place, as sometimes occurs when one travels.”

The Poppy Bro was surprised. “So this was just...a coincidence?”

“Perhaps...but also not quite. Star Warriors have ways of determining where it is that monsters appear.”

“So wait, you looked for a place where monsters were to stop at?”

“No.”

“So it was a coincidence?”

“As I said, not quite.”

The captain was beginning to see why maybe this...person...traveled alone. He sighed and asked one last question. “Will we see you again?”

Meta Knight glanced up at the sky, yellow eyes briefly flashing green. “Nothing can be said for certain. Although, if we do meet again, it will likely be under much worse circumstances.”

“Do you mean...if Our Senior gets ahold of another monster from that place?”

“Perhaps, or perhaps not.”

“...Guess we’ll see, then.”

“Indeed.”

There was another pause.

“...Until then, I guess,” the captain said, clearly restraining some sort of emotion in his voice, “Good-bye, Meta Knight.”

“Farewell.”

Once again, the Star Warrior departed, this time uninhibited, leaving the Watch Captain and, eventually, Towara-- with its shining moon-- behind.

Chapter Text

A spring breeze lightly lifted Meta Knight’s cape as he stood before the entrance to the chambers of the Knuckle Chieftain. 

It was a small building, only slightly bigger and more decorative than the houses around it. If he had to guess, the culture here was of a hardier, more grounded type, and while that came with some light jeering and sarcasm as he’d asked for directions to this place, it was somehow the least hostile area he’d encountered in travelling through the Kingdom of Veridan. The area, a small town called Prima, if the sign he’d read was accurate, was much smaller than the bustling city out of which he’d been practically shoved-- more walkable, too.

As far as he could understand, through those who’d bothered to answer his questions beyond “please show me to the nearest person of authority,” or who were not a child attempting to practice their fighting technique on the nearest ball-shaped passerby, Prima was mostly populated by and at least partially under the sovereignty of the Knuckle Tribe and its chieftain. While this was very useful to know, it did not provide an adequate explanation as to how exactly he was supposed to interact with said chieftain-- at least, not without the convenience of a monster attack.

Despite this, he casually entered the building.

Beyond the door was a room with little more than a small desk, at which sat a broad-shouldered, fairly bored-looking receptionist. They wore a gray shirt and a black jacket, both seeming to be made of sturdy material, their voluminous auburn hair held back from their face by a silver headpiece that seemed to be a common accessory among the people of the town. Upon seeing someone enter the room, they straightened immediately and flashed a cheery grin, giving no indication that just a second ago they’d been absentmindedly rolling a pencil back and forth across the desk.

“Good afternoon...si-...ma-...visitor!” They greeted in a high-pitched voice. “How can I help ya today?”

“I would like an audience with the Knuckle Chieftain, please.” The knight replied, attempting to be as formal and straightforward as possible.

The receptionist tried not to look too off-put by the stiffness of this stranger, masking it with a slightly-less cheery and slightly-more bewildered smile. “Do ya have an appointment?”

“No.”

“...I see. What exactly is it that ya need? Maybe I can help ya out!”

“You cannot.”

The abrupt shut-down was unexpected, and frankly was putting this rando on a fast-track to getting a less-than-stellar front desk experience. “Are ya sure about that? Ya nevah know.”

“...I would like to meet with the king of Veridan. If what I have heard is correct, he has information that will be very helpful to me.”

“...Okay, so, uh, Guy...I ain’t the front desk for that.” The receptionist was no longer hiding their bewilderment. “I could prolly direct ya to someone who would help ya more.”

“...Perchance, would that include the Knuckle Chieftain?”

“... I guess. But ya gotta make an appointment.”

“Very good.” Meta Knight nodded, then asked, “Is there an open appointment for right now?”

“For-!”

Who is this guy? The receptionist thought, instinctively checking the schedule before them in response to the question, then closing their eyes and sighing.

“Yes. There’s an appointment for right now. But ya know, it’s really bad practice to-”

“Thank you very much, my friend. I will await his presence when he is ready to receive me.” At this, he walked over to a chair and hopped up onto it, standing with his arms crossed in front of him, wrapping him in his cape.

They sighed with a passive-aggressive heaviness as they penciled in the appointment, somewhat resenting that their common sense was so heavily outweighed by their desire to get this guy out of their sight without incurring criminal charges. It was not long before the receptionist returned to inform Meta Knight that his audience was ready.

The inner chamber of the building was a bit more decorated than the front, adorned in what were likely symbols and historical moments of the town and tribe. The person who was presumably the Chief of the Knuckle Tribe sat in a chair that looked much fancier than the receptionist’s, and the man himself seemed to be bigger, and certainly older. The headpiece he wore had the same purpose and effect of holding back his greying, slightly-less-voluminous hair, but it was bronze-colored and more ornate, featuring green gems. On either side of his similarly-fancy-looking desk were two attendants, both dressed in black, wearing light, grey capes. Both of them had a sword sheathed on their back, both of them wore metal masks that obscured all but their eyes, and both of them...were slouching.

Even the Chief himself was leaning back in his chair when he folded his hands in response to his visitor.

“I gotta say, Guy,” he greeted, “I’m pretty impressed at how much guts ya gotta have to try somethin’ like this.”

“...Thank you. I...do indeed have...organs.” Meta Knight replied, giving it his best go at trying to interpret this foreign expression.

Apparently it’d worked, as the Chief released a hearty laugh, as did his attendants.

“You’re pretty funny!” He remarked.

“...Yes, thank you, Honorable Knuckle Chief.” The knight decided to roll with this.

“Oh please, Honorable Knuckle Chief was my father. You can just call me Chief Jonah.”

“...Okay...Chief Jonah…”

“Now what can I do for ya, Guy?” Jonah asked in a calmer, but still genial tone. “Gotta be important, huh?”

Finally, business.

“I am aware that you have a working relationship with the monarch of this kingdom, no? I require his presence.”

“...Wait...huh?” The Chief straightened. “Ya wanna try n’ talk with King Max? What, are ya silly? That guy don’t try to make time for nobody who ain’t caught his attention. And lemme tell ya, even as someone who’s gotta meet with ‘im on the regular, it is a trouble to keep his attention.”

“Unfortunately, Chief Jonah, Sir, I do not have the privilege to come away without such a meeting.” Meta Knight explained. “It is to my understanding that he has information that is quite vital to me.”

“What kind?”

“...The sort that is relevant to the safety of the people of this planet.”

Jonah suppressed another laugh. “Ol’ King Max? Carin’ about any place outside of Cast-...Veridan? I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“In such a case, I would greatly appreciate any assistance that you can lend me, so that I could, indeed, allow you to see its benefit.”

“...You know what, Guy?” The Chief leaned back once more, scrutinizing his caller briefly before continuing, “Ya caught me in a good mood, and frankly, I like ya. Tell ya what, I’ll send ya with an escort. Make it look more like ya got important business n’ such. See if ya can’t finagle your way into seein’ the king.”

“Thank you, Chief Jonah, I am endlessly grateful.” The knight bowed.

“Okay, okay, sort yourself, Guy. It ain’t that big.” The Chief waved his hand dismissively, then looked at the blond, maroon-skinned attendant to his right. “Jecra!” He said authoritatively.

The attendant straightened immediately, seeming almost surprised to be called. “Sir!” He replied.

“Would ya mind escorting our new friend here to the palace in Castle Square? Maybe try n’ get ‘im a meeting with the king inside?”

“‘Course, Sir.” The attendant-- Jecra-- replied. “I’d be happy to.”

The Chief nodded. “All righty, then. Good luck.” He chuckled. “Lemme know how it went, yeah?”

“You got it, Sir.” Jecra replied, nodding, before turning to his newly-appointed charge. “Alright, Guy. You’re comin’ with me! All ready?”

“At no point was I unprepared.” Came the reply.

“...Okay, then. Cool.” Jecra shook off his light unease and started out of the office. “C’mon, then.”

“Hey, try not to get in too much trouble, yeah?” Jonah called after them, causing his attendant to sigh and lightly chuckle.

“I’ll do my best, Sir.” He replied.

The receptionist, who’d returned to their bored state after Meta Knight had entered the inner chamber, perked up again as the two left.

“Have a good one!” They said, their smile seeming even more cheery than before as they waved goodbye.

Outside, the people and streets were as they had been before Meta Knight entered, though with an attendant to the Chief at his side, the people seemed friendlier and more curious about their errand. 

“What’s goin’ on? Somethin’ important?” One person asked.

“Just bringin’ this guy to do a thing, ya know. Business.” Jecra answered.

“I hear ya!” The person responded, seeming satisfied with this response.

“Jecraaaaaaaa!” A high-pitched voice called. The child who’d been practicing their skills earlier ran toward them, the skirt on her simple, dirty red dress flying out behind her. “Jecra, Jecra!”

“Hey, Ciraco. What’s goin’ on?” Jecra stopped walking to greet the child.

“I’m learnin’ Smash Punch! Wanna see? Wanna see, huh!?”

The attendant chuckled. “Alright, kid. Just make it quick, okay? I gotta do a thing with this guy.”

Ciraco looked at Meta Knight then laughed. “Oh yeah, that guy. He was so scared he wouldn’t even LOOK at me earlier! Watch this, Guy, you’re gonna SHAKE!”

“I was ignoring you.” The knight remarked.

Ignoring him, Jecra crouched down and looked intently at her. 

“Go for it!”

Ciraco nodded and got into a ready position. “Smash Punch!” She shouted as loud as she could, punching forward. As she struck, a small lick of blue flame emerged from her gloved fist, flickering out a short distance from her hand once the move was complete. Her look of intense concentration faded almost immediately into a look of anticipation as she turned to face Jecra.

“Did ya see it? Did ya? I can make it glow now! Did ya see?” She asked, bouncing up and down on her toes.

“I saw!” Jecra replied, clapping. “Ya even got it to fly! That can be real hard.” He stood up. “At this rate, I bet you’ll be tryin at a Risin’ Break in no time. Keep it up, kid!”

There were practically stars in Ciraco’s eyes as she watched the attendant start to leave again.

“Yeah! It’s gonna be awesome!” She turned to Meta Knight, a mischievous grin on her face. “You watch out, Guy! I’m gonna be the strongest fighter in the whole world!” She punched forward again, this time without a flame. “Boom!”

“...Okay.” Meta Knight replied, turning away from her to follow his escort.

“Seeya later, Ciraco!” Jecra called behind him as the child bounced off.

As they headed toward the town border, the attendant looked down at his companion. “Not really the talkative type, are ya?”

“No.” The knight replied flatly.

“Not the eager type, either, huh?”

“It depends on the situation.”

“Mm-hm…” Jecra trailed off and stared forward. 

Doesn’t really seem to be the friendly type, either. He thought.

As they approached the bridge over the river-barrier between Prima and the city of Castle Square, the attendant stopped and lifted his mask onto his head, humorously flattening his hair. The action revealed his face-- young, somewhat-sharp, certainly not bearing the serious demeanor that Meta Knight would expect from someone in his position. His dark orchid eyes squeezed shut as he yawned, then opened to half-lid as he rubbed his nose. He looked back down at his charge.

“Okay, Guy, we’re ‘boutta enter the city. You’re prolly gonna wanna take off your mask.”

“No, thank you.” Meta Knight replied.

“I mean, ya don’t got much of a choice. People in the city get real weird when they see someone who won’t show their face. Makes ‘em nervous.”

“That is very unfortunate for them.”

“Yo, Guy,” Jecra was beginning to get impatient. “Look, I’m sorry if ya got, like...I dunno, I don’t wanna be insensitive or whatevah...like if there’s a thing...with your face...but if ya go into a big ol’ crowded area with a mask on, you’re gonna look kinda sus. Let alone what the king ya wanna see so bad’s gonna think. He don’t take too kindly to that kinda thing.”

“As I said before, that is very unfortunate for them.” Meta Knight replied. “I am not willing to compromise, but if this is indeed the case, then I am thankful that you will be at my side to explain, Knuckle Jecra.”

“Just Jecra’s fi- wait! I’m gonna explain?”

“As I said, thank you.”

“Whoa, hey, pal. I’m just your escort. I’m not here to cover for ya or whatevah!”

“I can cover for myself quite well, but with your help-”

“Yo.” The attendant stopped himself and took a deep breath, rubbing his nose with irritation. “Listen, okay? You’re the one bein’ done a favor here. The least you can do is as the Castle folks do, if ya catch my drift.”

“If I catch...?” The knight cocked his head to the side, still not moving from his arms-crossed position.

“...Okay. Okay. O-kay. Ya know what?” Jecra faced forward again. “Fine. Have it your way. We’re gonna go ahead. You see how far ya get. It ain’t my problem if we get turned away, anyway.”

“Of course.” Meta Knight nodded as they proceeded across the bridge.

The two proceeded through the city. The knight had to admit that it was much, much easier to deal with a bustling crowd with someone their size at his side. The people in the city did, indeed, seem to regard the two with some form of suspicion, keeping their distance.

Despite the noise of the city, filled with vehicles and a rainbow of voices, Jecra couldn’t quite shake the feeling that it was too quiet, so again, he attempted conversation with his charge.

“So, uh...where ya from?” He asked.

“Somewhere quite far from here.”

“Oh yeah? Like...where? Another kingdom? Or are you one of those guys from those towns in the places where the weather’s all crazy?”

Hearing about the weather patterns brought back memories of how difficult it had been to get there. The planet they were on, Floria, had a climate that could be so volatile that it would seem to change entire seasons within hours. Such conditions made landing incredibly difficult, and he was grateful that the person he needed to see was in a rare pocket of stable weather, where it seemed to always be spring.

“...I...would prefer not to speak much of home.”

“Ah, crazy weather, got it.”

“...”

“Anyway,” Jecra continued, as if not noticing his charge’s silence, “It’s pretty nice here, you could prolly stay awhile. Ya gotta loosen up to fit in in Prima, but I’m sure if we worked on it and got ya over that mask thing, you’d settle in real nice.”

“I do not plan on doing such a thing. Once I have what I need, I will depart.”

“Oh. In a hurry?”

“You could say that.”

The attendant was once again off-put by the knight’s curtness, but he did not let this deter him. “...What is it ya wanna hear from King Max, anyway? I hear he’s kind of a...ya know...a guy with a couple screws loose.”

“Regardless of his mechanical state, I am looking for somebody, and that man will have information that will lead me to them.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yes. Are you listening to my responses properly, Knuckle Jecra? You ask for confirmation quite a bit.”

“Just Jecra’s fine, Guy, and...I’m just talkin’. I don’t get on ya for your weird short answers, do I?”

“No. I suppose not.”

Jecra nodded. As they passed through a marketplace in front of a large, imposing castle, he gasped and jumped with surprise to hear the knight ask a question for a change...from the top of a streetlight.

“Your town, Prima, it has its own ruler. Why is it that you answer to the king?” He asked, staring at the castle.

The attendant took a second to recover before answering. “W-well, uh...we share a space, guy, and he has more of it.” He shrugged. “Prima’s part of Veridan. When the place is surrounded by the kind’a conditions ya find on Floria, ya gotta...ya know...compromise and play nice with your partners. Accept that ya get what ya get.” He glanced at the castle with an unreadable look before snapping out of it and continuing. “Uh, and besides, we leave each other alone for the most part. It’s kind of a good deal, ya know...when ya think about it...”

“I suppose…” Meta Knight replied thoughtfully.

“...Hey, so, uh, how did ya...why did ya…?” Jecra wasn’t able to finish his question before the knight began another one.

“This is our destination?”

“Uh...yeah.”

Meta Knight nodded and hopped to the ground, walking forward as if he knew where he was going.

“Yo, Guy! For the love of-” The attendant caught up to his charge.

/*|*\

Just inside the palace, the two found themselves in a large corridor that seemed to encircle the whole building, from what Meta Knight could guess. Its ornate decoration and the presence of displays and crowds indicated that this was a place meant to show off to the public. Directly in front of them, they were met with two fully-armored guards, their face plates up on their foreheads, their expressions serious. Behind them was a heavy wooden double-door.

“Hey, there, fellas.” Jecra approached them, his casual greeting a contrast to his rigid posture and salute. “I got someone where who needs to see His Majesty. Says it’s important to safety. Any chance that could happen?”

“His Royal Highness is not accepting visitors today.” The guard to the left of the door said, flatly and with authority.

“Come back when a proper appointment can be made.” The guard to the right of the door added in a similar tone.

“Okey doke, keep on keepin’ on.” The attendant replied no less casually, walking away and turning to face the knight. “Sorry, Guy, we tried but-” As his eyes locked with the space in which Meta Knight used to be standing, he found to his horror that the knight had vanished.

A quick scan of the corridor led him to spot the masked figure walking down it, and then turning the corner.

In order to keep from alerting the guards-- guards who had apparently somehow missed the moment at which their would-be visitor disappeared-- Jecra remained calm and walked as quickly and non-suspiciously as he could in the direction of his charge. It wasn’t long before he found said charge staring at another heavy wooden door, holding the large, heavy padlock attached to it.

“Guy!” Jecra hissed as he approached him. “Are ya silly? Cracked? What in the fresh...ugh, damnit, what do ya think you’re doing , Guy? Ya wanna get arrested? Cuz this is how ya get arrested!”

“Does this door lead further inside of the palace?” Meta Knight asked once the rant was finished.

At this, the attendant was so dumbfounded that he saw himself fall back on the actual answer to the question. “Y-yeah. To the mezzanines of the inner palace.” Once he’d said that, he realized something and scanned the area once again. “Kinda weird, though, it’s usually guarded…”

Several clicks and a loud metallic CHUNK drew his attention back to to the door, or rather, to the knight shoving a sword into its lock.

The first thing Jecra thought to do was hide that this was happening, something that was very easy given their comparative sizes. The second thing he thought to do was try to grab at the...person...attempting to break into the chambers of his monarch.

“Yo, Guy!” He practically snarled, “What the f-”

Three pieces of a broken lock hit the floor, interrupting the attendant and freezing him mid-grab. Slowly, with pupils shrunk in shock, he looked from the ruined security device on the floor to the knight opening the now-unlocked door.

“How...did ya... do ...that…?” He asked, his voice shaking a bit.

Meta Knight did not answer as he passed through the door to ascend the narrow steps behind it.

Jecra straightened and looked around. A few people stared at him holding the open door. 

“...Don’t mind me…” He said, subtly kicking the lock inside. “Just...maintenance.” He rubbed his nose with irritation and entered, closing the door behind him to continue chasing a knight.

“Hm, it seem to be quite dark in here.” Said knight’s voice came from ahead.

“Yeah, ya know, they only really light it when there’re events on the mezzanine. Ya know, things they invite people to and that the door is unlocked for because people are supposed to be there. ” The attendant replied.

“Interesting.” Meta Knight reached the top of the steps and glanced around, either not noticing or ignoring the passive-aggressive tone of his escort’s comment.

The mezzanine stretched all around the main chamber of the inner palace, high off the ground, holding many white-and-pink-tableclothed tables with antique-looking wooden chairs stacked upside-down on top of them. The area was lit dimly from the large skylight in the main chamber. Meta Knight looked down from the stone guard rail that formed the outer border of the mezzanine.

Jecra, just arriving at the top of the stairs, saw this and approached him.

“There are guards.” The knight remarked quietly.

“Gee, it’s almost like we’re in a restricted area of a royal palace or somethin’.” The attendant answered, rolling his eyes and rubbing his nose. When he looked down, however, he noticed something strange. “Ya know, though, there are...kinda a lot of ‘em…”

Below, one of the members of the Veridan Royal Guard thought he’d heard something and glanced upwards, only to see nothing. He shrugged and turned his attention back to his commander.

“Are the proper munitions prepared for the expansion effort, captain?”

“Yes sir,” another guard, presumably the captain, answered.

The commander nodded. “Good. Report to the courtyard for briefing and training. Heavy resistance is expected from Prima.”

“Yes sir!” Came the response from the other guards, following their commander through a door out of the side of the inner palace.

Above, each behind adjacent support columns, Jecra and Meta Knight waited for the sounds of footsteps to fade. Once they did, Meta Knight peered out to ensure that the main chamber was empty.

“It seems our situation has become somewhat...complicated.” He said.

There was no response.

He turned to look at his escort, who seemed to once again be frozen in place, staring at the ground.

The amount of thoughts and emotions swelling in Jecra’s throat and chest was almost unbearable. It was frankly a miracle that he wasn’t screaming and swinging. But what would he even be swinging at? What was he going to do? Why was this happening? Was a kingdom not enough? Was compromise really too much work? What? Why? How? Wh-

The attendant inhaled deeply, suddenly feeling possessed by an eerie calm, or at least an eerily-hyper focus. He exhaled and made a definitive swipe against his nose.

Meta Knight was unsure what to make of the state of his escort. 

“...Knuckle Jecra?”

“Ya still want that audience with the king?” Jecra pulled his mask down over his face, pushing his hair back into its original, spiky shape.

“My objectives have not changed.”

“Good.” At this, Jecra grabbed onto the banister beside him with one hand and used it to launch himself off of the mezzanine, seeming unaffected by his impact on the floor. If anything, given the fact that he landed with his other fist facing downward, a new crack in the floor indicated that it was more injured than he was. “Keep up.”

The knight followed suit, using the air filling his cape to land almost noiselessly. Admittedly, it was difficult to follow the command he’d just been issued, as Jecra’s walking speed was now more suited to a different definition of charge.

The two went down a hallway perpendicular to the one which led to the courtyard. It, like most of the palace, had much decor-- most of it gold, white and blue. The longer they travelled without encountering resistance, the more upset Jecra became. Were there really so many people gearing up to invade his home that there was nobody to guard the throne room?

His suspicions were confirmed when they came to the end of the hall, at which sat an unreasonably tall, heavy-looking set of red double doors trimmed with gold. Jecra wordlessly reached for a handle, then pulled the door open with such force that the sound of the metal handle hitting the polished-stone wall reverberated throughout the whole inner palace.

Meta Knight glanced at the damage, not seeming very concerned as he entered the throne room with his escort, pulling the door closed behind them with surprisingly little effort.

The throne room was a large square room, one wall made up entirely of full bookshelves, the opposite plain except a TV screen, and the wall across from the doors ornately decorated, as if to herald the blue throne that sat in the middle of it. The floors were marble, decorated only by a gold-trimmed plush red carpet and a white-clothed, set table.

“He ain’t even here…” Jecra uttered, fists clenched at his sides. “Coward can’t even be bothered to be where he’s supposed to be when he’s gonna-” He took another breath, walking over to the throne and throwing it aside. “Whatevah. I’ll just wait for ‘im. He’s gotta come back sometime. I’ll keep ‘im conscious, ‘cuz I know you wanna talk to ‘im or somethin’. You’re lucky I’m bein’ good to ya, Guy, otherwise...” He trailed off as he saw the other’s slow, wordless approach to the bookshelves.

“Surely…” he mumbled, causing his escort to cock his head to the side in confusion, “If they trusted him...he would not…”

“...Guy…?” The attendant called, some of his rage subsiding to be replaced by puzzlement. “What’s the matter? Never seen books before or somethin’?”

In response, Meta Knight placed his hands on either side of three red-spined books and took them all off the shelf at once, turning them cover up and opening one.

Jecra was about to call after him again, but was cut off before he could do so.

“Knuckle Jecra.” 

“Just Jecra’s fine...are you?”

“No.” The knight accentuated his reply by firmly flipping the book closed. “There is something we must address prior to the king’s return. It is likely that the scale of destruction to your home will be much greater if we do not.”

“What? Ya mean...greater than a whole army could do?” The attendant turned to face him.

“Indeed. Quickly, we must search for-”

“Oh ho?” Came a chillingly unfamiliar voice from behind them. “Two strangers? In my throne room? I suppose it’s more likely than I’d think…”

The two slowly turned to face the man closing the door behind him. He was slightly shorter than Jecra, though no less broad, and with red hair significantly less voluminous, matched to a thick handlebar moustache. He was adorned in a blue fuzzy robe that extended in a train far behind him on the floor, and a tall, red-and-gold crown sat on his head.

The man, presumably King Max, looked over his callers with a sneer. “I do not recall sending for business with Prima’s chieftain...nor do I recall inviting a...whatever creature you are...to have a chat. And I see that neither of you desire to show your faces…” He suddenly took up what could vaguely be called an offensive position. “Aha! Assassins! I knew this day would come!”

“...Ya know how I said...that King Max...was maybe not the most reliable guy…?” Jecra mumbled, slowly showing his hands.

“You said something about screws…” Meta Knight replied, holding the books slightly farther away from the king.

“...Ah...screws, eh? Automaton assassins! Ha, and here I thought your kind would be averse to that sort of thing. Color me impressed.” He nodded at Jecra.

Under his mask, the corner of Jecra’s mouth twitched.

“Your Majesty.” The knight addressed the king evenly. “I came here to ask something of you.”

The king looked down and then, himself, froze. “...Nothing you aren’t intending to steal already, eh?? Return those to me at once, you...robot...assassin...what-have-you!”

“This has little to do with that, although... I am being honest, I did not expect this of you, given what I have heard.”

“Yo, Guy,” Jecra pleaded softly. “I kinda respect ya, not gonna lie, but please shut u-”

“Oh ho , that will not be the only unexpected thing that you will see of me!” From behind him, in a sheath very well-hidden by his robe, King Max drew a silver longsword. “En garde, assassin!”

Instinctively, Jecra reached behind him to draw his own weapon, but was halted by Meta Knight walking in front of him.

“Knuckle Jecra, it is vital that you do not draw. I am his target, and I will remain that way.”

“ What? You’re startin’ to sound just as cracked as ‘im!”

“I understand what it is that I am requesting of you. Certainly this encounter is of great importance to you, but I am afraid…” The knight shifted the books onto one arm, using the other to draw his own weapon. “...That I must ask you to trust me.”

The attendant hesitated, then, gradually, dropped his arms back to his sides, clearly not happy to do so. 

“Fine. I guess.”

His charge nodded his thanks, just in time to be rushed by a shouting king. The jab was very simple and, due to the shouting, very well-broadcast. Meta Knight easily side-stepped the blow as it dug into the ground just in front of Jecra, who jumped back in surprise. As the king reared back to attempt to strike at the knight, the attendant remembered that their objective had been to search.

Of course, there was the issue of what it was he was searching for .

Immediately, Jecra’s eyes fell on the table, set elegantly for one. There was nothing inherently suspicious about it, but something about it seemed to stick out. King Max famously gave the impression that he would prefer to eat in a grander, more elegant dining setting. He walked over to it, flipping the cover up on the side with the least glassware. It was no table he had ever seen, looking more like a powered-off electronic pad.

“Hey, Guy. Is this what you were gonna tell me to look for…?” He asked, exposing it further.

Both fighters stopped in their tracks and immediately turned their gazes to Jecra, swords still connected.

“Unhand that!” King Max cried, moving his blade to point it at the attendant. “That is my property! You’re going to get it dirty, and I tell you that thing was expensive . Can you even visualize the amount of money I spent on that? It’s big. It’s a large  amount. More than your whole town could ever see, like, it’s truly-”

The king was interrupted by the point of an épée crossing dangerously close to his face, having passed through the shoulder of his robe. Too shocked to move, the monarch was helpless as he was pulled to the ground and pinned by that shoulder, coming face-to-face with his assailant.

“Your Majesty,” Meta Knight greeted in a perfectly even tone of voice, placing the books down. “Please, I must ask you a few questions.”

“You fiend!” Max replied uncooperatively. “You will get nothing! Gua- ”

His call for help was cut off by the knight’s free hand covering his mouth.

“Sir, Your Majesty, this does not need to escalate. Once you answer me we will depart, and you will never see me again.”

“That’s kind of a bold promise, don’cha think?” Jecra remarked from across the room, letting go of the table cloth and crossing his arms.

“Do you understand?” Meta Knight asked, ignoring his escort’s comment. “If you call for help, you will be silenced again. I wish only to cooperate with you, please allow me to do so.”

Max mulled his options over. If, indeed, the assassin was agreeing not to kill him or put up a fight, then it could benefit him to cooperate. On the other hand, that was admitting a kind of defeat, and he really wasn’t a fan of that prospect. Eventually, he shot both of the strangers a glare and nodded, grunting his discontent with the decision.

The knight removed his hand and, as promised, the king did not call out, though he did proceed to make grumbling sounds until he was asked a question.

“Now, Your Majesty, I received word that a warrior with a golden mask had taken up residence here. When did this happen, and where did he go?”

“...As if I would invite someone so nondescript to live in my city.” Max answered, rolling his eyes.

“...I urge you to recall, Your Majesty. This information is very important.”

“...Ugh. Fine. I suppose that there was someone with something like that, all tiny and such, with a bunch of other little tinies.” He sighed. “They were interesting at first, but when they spoke it was just so boring, and it sounded like something I wanted nothing to do with. So I ousted them.” He made a waving motion with his hand. “Let them get the full experience of Floria. My treat.”

“You…”

“Where they went after that was their own business.” Max shrugged.

“...I see.” Meta Knight was in slight disbelief. If he could not rely on the information he had, it would render the whole trip useless. Well, perhaps not quite…

“One more question.” He said flatly, something in his demeanor becoming more stern. “Why did you enter this place alone?”

“...I had private business. You know, the private kind. With no strange men or robot assassins involved.”

“Did that business involve this?” The knight took one of the red books off of the top of the stack beside him, holding it before the king and exposing a tell-tale golden logo on the front.

“No.” Max snarked, assuming a nasally, mocking tone of voice. “I already knew what I wanted out of that. Do I look like an amateur?”

There was a silence as the two of them realized what exactly had been revealed in the exchange.

“...Hey, uh...what does that mean…?” Jecra asked, not particularly enjoying being out of the loop.

“...His Majesty King Max has sent for a monster to enter the kingdom.” Meta Knight answered in a particularly gruff tone. “It is likely meant to assist in his efforts to subjugate your people, and what you have uncovered is his means of doing that.”

“This…?” The attendant looked down at the electronic pad, sending glass crashing onto the floor as he revealed it in its entirety.

“...You are not very bright, are you?” The knight remarked, looking from the poorly-disguised transporter down to his captive.

“My china…” Was all the captive uttered, sounding incredibly distressed.

“So...lemme get this straight. On top of whatevah the soldiers were gonna do...the king was gonna use this thing to…do it worse?” The thoughts and emotions were swelling again.

“Indeed.” Meta Knight nodded. “It may sound strange, but that device is capable of delivering beings capable of great destruction wherever it is placed.”

“Honestly,” Max seemed to have just tuned in after recovering from the trauma of seeing his dishware broken. “It’s very rude that you’ve seen to it to air my private business and say all of these nasty things. Obviously you wish to upend my glorious kingdom, and I will not stand for that. We are done here. Gua- ”

The king was once again interrupted, this time by the great crash that resulted from the large blue flame of a punch driving itself straight into the center of the transporter, breaking it apart. Wordlessly, Jecra lifted his hand and shook the flame off.

This sent King Max over the edge. “You...you...you…! How dare you? What makes you think you have the right to even touch that device??” His face was red, his frame shaking. “Have you ever stopped to consider why it might be that nobody wants your kind around? The aggression, the unpleasantness? When you come across something you don’t understand you burn it! Maybe if you were more civilized the people of the kingdom would be more keen on keeping you around, but as it is it’s clear that you and yours are just a load of-”

WHAM!

Meta Knight used the book in his hand to strike King Max with such force that it created an echo that reverberated throughout the room and rendered the monarch unconscious.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” He said, placing the book back on top of the stack. “Your aid is no longer required.”

Jecra advanced and reached behind him, ready to finish what seemed to have been started.

“Jecra,” The knight addressed him, stopping him in his tracks. “You did not draw your weapon, did you?”

“...N-nah, I didn’t. Did ya just…?”

“Very good. I appreciate that you have given me your trust, and in return...I offer you my own.” Meta Knight picked up the stack of books and turned to face his companion. “These are for you.”

“...Uh...thanks…” The attendant replied, walking toward the knight and taking the stack from him. He flipped through the book on top. “What...are these…?”

“They are evidence of the crime that your monarch was about to commit. It is a catalogue from Night Mare Enterprises, an organization that deals in many things, but mostly monsters. There is one for whatever purpose their customers may wish to serve, but to order one will bring death and misfortune upon the customer as well as their enemies.”

Jecra nodded along as he looked through the catalogue, full of monsters, serial numbers, descriptions. He almost couldn’t comprehend what it was he was reading, it was beyond anything he’d ever seen. “And, uh…” he muttered, “you’re giving these...to me…?”

“Indeed.” Meta Knight nodded. “This place is your home. Your people do not know who I am, but they know you. They trust you, just as I am doing now, to do what is right. Whatever that is is for you to decide.”

“...Guy...I…”

“I will remind you of one thing that you may find helpful.”

Jecra lifted his gaze from the catalogue to look his companion.

“I will remind you that an outsider entered your town, demanded that your chieftain send me with an escort, broke into a castle and assaulted your monarch. You could not have known that this would happen, you did not even raise your weapon.”

“...Yeah, uh. I don’t think...I don’t think I really needed that. I was there.”

“So you were.” The knight glanced toward the door. “And perhaps the time has come where you should not be.”

“...What, ya mean, just...go? Like...leave?”

“Of course. What more can you do here? You have a job to complete, do you not?”

“...To be honest, Guy, I kinda thought we were gonna…”

“That would not be in our best interest. At least, it would not be in yours. Certainly you can understand why.”

Indeed, the attendant understood well what his companion meant. He wasn’t happy about it, but nonetheless he nodded, flipping his cape over his shoulder to conceal the catalogues.

Meta Knight nodded. “Good luck, Jecra.”

Jecra cocked his head to the side. “Not comin’?”

“Why would I? I am a criminal.”

“...Oh... oh!... oh.” Many more things now made sense to the attendant as he lifted his mask and turned toward the door. “I guess...I guess I’ll be seein’ ya, then.”

“Perhaps.”

Jecra took a deep breath and pushed open one of the doors with his unoccupied hand. To his surprise, there were two guards outside, guards who seemed equally as surprised to see him.

“A Knuckle tribesman...?” One asked in disbelief.

“The king didn’t have any appointments scheduled for today…” The second one added, leaning in closer to the attendant’s hidden arm.

“Yeah, it’s, uh...I got a special delivery…” Jecra lied, wondering if chaos was so normal here that him walking out of a room was more suspicious than the noises that had surely been coming from it before.

Tink!

The distinct sound of metal hitting marble interrupted the impromptu interrogation, and as the guards inspected the source, their attention was immediately drawn completely away from their target, as they identified the king’s crown on the floor, having casually been tossed by a sword-wielding masked...person.

Both guards rushed into the room, slamming the door behind them and the attendant. Suddenly feeling as though he were on some sort of time limit, Jecra sped-walked toward the other side of the inner palace, exiting through the front doors. The guards on that end, whom he had almost completely forgotten about encountering before, gave him less trouble as he left.

“The king said he wasn’t taking appointments…” The guard on the left said.

“He changed his mind.” Jecra replied briskly, not stopping.

Stepping into the evening air felt a bit colder than usual. Maybe it was the shade of the castle against the setting sun, or perhaps it was the life-altering experience. It was hard to say. Nevertheless, the chill and the loneliness weighed on Jecra almost as much as the books in his arm as he walked through Castle Square, feeling much lonelier in the crowd on his second pass-through.

/*|*\

Evening turning to night as Jecra closed the door of the Chief’s chambers behind him. The air was colder, and somehow just as oppressive even now that he was empty-handed. The conversation had been long and painful, and while a plan was reached...he wasn’t entirely sure how it was that he would be able to manage it.

He walked forward a bit, then leaned back onto a light pole, sliding down into a sitting position, exhaling and closing his eyes as he went. It was the first real break he’d had all day.

“I trust that your meeting went well?”

Jecra’s eyes flew open, the back of his head hitting the pole as he jumped and cried out in shock (and pain).

Above him, standing perfectly-balanced on an adjacent pole, Meta Knight was looking down at him.

“Guy!” The attendant said, rubbing the back of his head. “Man...ya gotta...ya can’t keep doin’ that…”

“You seem troubled…”

“I mean...yeah, kinda.” Once the post-smack haze cleared from Jecra’s eyes, he looked up. “...Hey, wait, how did ya...actually, ya know what?” He shook his head. “I’m not even gonna ask. I got enough to deal with.”

“I can imagine.”

Standing up to start home, another, much less physical thing struck Jecra. He turned and looked up. “Hey, Guy. Ya got a name?”

“I am Meta Knight.”

“...That’s a fun one.”

Meta Knight shrugged. “As much as a name can be fun, I suppose.”

“So, uh, Guy...Meta Knight...ya got any place to be?”

“I will be departing soon, yes.”

“Is it a big rush?”

Meta Knight looked upward, carefully considering his answer. “I...suppose not.”

Jecra, too, had looked up, the slowly-appearing stars seeming to reflect in his eyes. They were particularly transfixing this evening, and he wasn’t sure whether it was because of the events of the day or if he was just more prone to being distracted from the results of those events.

“Uh...nice.” He said, snapping out of his trance. “Ya wanna come over for dinner, then?”

“...To eat with you…?”

“Nah, to set fires.” Jecra looked back and, seeing absolutely no sign of recognition of his sarcasm, sighed and clarified. “Yeh, to eat.”

The knight was hesitant. “I...am not sure that I should…”

“Nonsense, MK. We always make enough for leftovers, we’ll have plenty for you. And, uh, besides…” The attendant awkwardly rubbed his nose. “It’s the least I can do.”

“...If you...insist.” Meta Knight conceded, caught off-guard somewhat by the nickname. He leaped off the light pole and landed softly, once again following an escort.

/*|*\

“Jacky! You’re late!” The ginger-haired woman called when the front door opened. She wasn’t facing it when she heard it, much more occupied with keeping the child strapped to her front from grabbing at the platter in her hands. As she turned to place it, she caught a glance at the door, where her partner stood with an unfamiliar...person. “And ya brought a friend…”

“Yeah, uh, sorry, Nami. I know it’s all late notice n’ stuff.” Jecra said sheepishly, closing the door behind him. “Trust me, it’s all a real long story.”

“Can’t wait to hear it.” Nami replied, kissing his cheek.

“Oh...ya prolly can…” He rubbed his nose anxiously before continuing. “A-anyway, Nami, this here’s Meta Knight. I met ‘im on the job. MK, Nami. My main squeeze.”

“His only squeeze. As if he could get any more.” She laughed. “Nice to meet ya.”

Nami reached down to shake the knight’s hand. He took it and was nearly yanked to the ground by the unexpected strength of her handshake. The child strapped to her front cooed and tried to reach for the visitor.

“Oh quit your fussin’...” She muttered, straightening. She looked to her partner, taking the child out of his harness. “Someone’s been impatient all evenin’. Ya got some makin’ up to do.”

“Oh yeah I do!” Jecra exclaimed, eagerly taking the child and bringing them face-to-face. “MK, I dunno how I could’a gone this long without introducin’ the strongest li’l guy in the whole world.” He swaddled the baby and carefully knelt down to show him off to his guest. “This here is Joe.”

“...I am not sure that he is the strongest person on this planet.” Meta Knight replied, scrutinizing the child. “In fact, I am almost certain that he is an infant.”

“...Yeah.” Jecra said, uncertain of how to reply. “Yeah, uh, he is.” He stood up and cleared his throat. “Maybe if I’m feelin’ nice tonight, I’ll let ya hold ‘im.”

“...Mm.”

“Jeez, Jack, where’d ya say ya found this guy?” Nami asked as she served herself, sounding less than amused.

“Ya know…” Her partner trailed off, gently bouncing the fidgety baby. “Work…”

“Speakin’ of…” She said, sitting down and gesturing across from her. “Seems like ya got a lot to say about your day that ya haven’t said yet.”

“Oh, well, uh, ya know.” Jecra placed Joe in a high chair, serving him a small amount of soft food. “It was long...and, ya know...a lot happened…” He made a plate for his guest and put it in front of a chair. “And ya know, uh...we sure do gotta talk about it…” He served himself and sat down next to his guest, across from his partner and child. “...Anyway, how was your day?”

“Fine.” Nami replied, narrowing her eyes. “Went real good. Didn’t meet any weirdos. Simple ‘n sweet. Yours sounds more interestin’.” She took a bite of food and a sip of water, then added. “Maybe even a bit shady.”

“Ah, whaaaat? Shady? Nah, just...just weird…” Jecra rubbed his nose anxiously and looked down at the table. “Ya know, escorted a guy into the city. Found some stuff out. Ya know, conspiracy stuff.”

“Conspiracy stuff…?”

“Man, MK, I just realized, I never even asked. What do ya do for a livin’, anyway?”

Meta Knight, standing wrapped-up on his chair, looked up. “I am a Star Warrior. My duty is to defend the universe and its people against forces of oppression and darkness.”

“...Okay, uh, that’s...that’s nice…”

“What conspiracy stuff, Jecra?” Nami snapped.

“Oh! Uh, turns out, ya know, there are some tensions and, uh...don’t worry. Everything’s gonna be fine. We’re all gonna be safe. I just gotta...ya know...skip town for a while.” With this, he reached for his own cup and tried to take a sip of what was inside. Unfortunately, there was nothing inside of it, so in the nervous frenzy that had begun to overtake him, he imitated slurping sounds to make this buffer between him and his stunned partner more believable.

“Ya...you...you what ?” Nami exclaimed, not deterred at all by the manufactured barrier. “Jecra, what in the name of them Guys in the Sky did ya do ?”

He sighed and put down the cup. “Listen, it’s not...ya know...I...King Max was gonna do somethin’ real bad and we found out and...it’s all real wild, okay? The Chief’s gonna brief ya on it-”

“ You better be briefin’ me on it before he does, Jecra!”

As the argument continued, Meta Knight caught notice of the agitated sounds coming from the baby sitting across from him. Joe was discontented, and his food was everywhere. The knight felt compelled to rectify this somehow-- perhaps out of kindness, or perhaps due to some aversion to the presence of a mess.

He walked to the other side of the table, bringing a napkin with him, and wiped away the food that was in front of the child. Intrigued, the child threw yet more food onto the table.

“...Joe…” Meta Knight mumbled, placing a hand on top of the child’s fluffy white hair. “Stop that.”

Joe said nothing, but took hold of the hand on his head, eyes wide with curiosity. Meta Knight cautiously allowed the child to do so as he held it in front of his face...then promptly stuck it in his mouth.

This greatly alarmed the knight.

“Little...little child, Joe!” Meta Knight tried to pull his hand away carefully, but the baby yanked it back toward himself with surprising strength. 

The adult was growing steadily more dissatisfied with this situation. With slightly more force, he wrested his hand away from the child, who put up no small fight in keeping his new teething implement. Once the knight’s hand was safely away, being scrubbed furiously with an extra napkin, Joe promptly began crying.

This greatly alarmed his parents.

“What in the damn are ya doin’ with our kid?” Nami demanded harshly, emotions still raging from the current situation.

“Miss, I assure you that-”

“Nami, MK wouldn’t-”

“And what would any of us know about what he’d do? You just met ‘im today and he thinks he’s some kinda space knight!”

The scene quieted as Joe did, happily finding a replacement for the knight’s hand in his cape, on which he enjoyed yanking and chewing in a similar fashion.

Jecra took a deep breath and smiled tiredly “Uh, MK...we’re, uh, real sorry about all this. Ya prolly didn’t expect food to be so wild.”

“I have come...to expect...many things…” Meta Knight muttered, grimacing under his mask as he gently pulled his cape away from the baby.

Nami took a breath of her own, picking up Joe before he could start crying again. “Yeah...maybe we should...talk about this later. In private. When there aren’t guests.” She lightly bounced the child, staring at him. “My bad.”

“...Maybe...we should...finish eating…” Jecra said sheepishly.

“Maybe…” Nami agreed, sounding distracted.

Meta Knight shrugged and went back to standing on his chair.

/*|*\

The rest of the night had been quiet, Jecra’s good-bye to his guest hesitant. While the food hadn’t been exactly what Meta Knight tended to like, and lukewarm by the time everyone had calmed down, it was better than anything he’d gotten in some time, and he was grateful. This was not a place he saw himself forgetting anytime soon.

Outside the borders of the kingdom, where the night air was chillier than before thanks to the residual winds from a winter storm not too far away, the Star Warrior stood by his silver ship, one hand wrapped in his cape, the other holding a stick, drawing into a patch of bare dirt. The symbols he drew resembled many circles and lines. A few of the circles had an “x” drawn over them, and he marked one more the same way, sighing.

It was unreasonable to expect that the fairies on Ripple Star would know exactly how to find what he was looking for, it was true, but that their account was the most detailed and, apparently, accurate-- at least to the extent that those warriors had, at one point, been there-- made for a biting disappointment. Meta Knight stared up at the sky, stick dragging on the ground. The stars looked different on every planet, though they were all the same ones. It made it difficult, but not impossible, to navigate, and it would appear that they were once again going to determine his fate.

Not that he was able to discern what that fate would be.

“There ya are.”

Meta Knight jumped and turned, poised to attack with the stick pointed in front of him. On the receiving end of the stick, Jecra put his hands up. As the shorter knight lowered his weapon, he noted several changes in the newcomer’s appearance.

In addition to the uniform he’d worn before, he gained a black chestplate with silver accents that covered most of his body and a grey cowl that matched his cape and covered his shoulders, over which rested the chain of a green and brass-colored locket with a blue gem in its center. On his right arm he held a shield bearing an insignia and gem matching that of the locket. He lifted his mask, once again pressing down his hair, and rubbed his nose.

“I’ve been looking for ya, Guy. Didn’t think you’d go out so far.”

“I see that you have changed…” Meta Knight planted the stick into the ground.

“Haha, yeah...I did…” Jecra rubbed the back of his head. “Hope I don’t look too silly.”

“I suppose that I have seen worse.” Meta Knight folded his other arm into his cape. “What has brought you here, my friend?”

“Oh, uh, well, actually it’s...a couple things.” The attendant looked down and rubbed his nose, then looked back up at his companion. “I...wanted to say...thanks, ya know, for all the stuff you did. It was all real stressful and illegal, but...if ya hadn’t, then...ya know, if I can admit something, I’m kinda scared to think about what would’ve happened.”

“That is understandable. What you have seen must be quite horrific to you.”

“...It...yeah, uh...yeah.” Jecra sighed. “Anyway, uh, another thing...that whole...warrior thing that you do. I think you said...Star Warrior?”

“I did.”

“Yeah, uh, is there...an application process for that? Like a boss Star Warrior man-- or woman, or whatevah, ya know-- who I gotta talk to?”

Meta Knight was silent for a moment, turning slightly away from his companion. “A Star Warrior is not ordained by a living being...or rather, not one that you would traditionally consider to be a living being.” He gestured upward. 

“...So, like, the Sky Guys do it?”

“The...what? No.” The knight cleared his throat and continued. “A Star Warrior is called to his duty by the very stars themselves. They are chosen for their strength, and their dedication to preserving light and freedom across the universe. Where despair rears its head, we are called to bring hope.” He withdrew his arm into his cape, then looked toward the other man. “I take it that you are curious for a reason?”

“...Yeah. I mean...yeah.” Jecra looked at the sky. “I been...havin’...feelings. Ya know, those…lookin’ at the sky feelings. It kinda makes me think that...you and I got somethin’ in common. And that maybe ya aren’t as...out of it...as some of us might’ve thought before.”

“It is very possible. There are many of us, and you seem quite dedicated to protecting what is precious to you.” Meta Knight looked back ahead. “Many Star Warriors become sworn protectors of their home planets, and it would seem that you are needed here.”

“Yeah, well, about that.” Jecra looked down, took a breath, and looked up. “I’ve been thinkin’ that I wanna go with ya.”

“Of course, that- wait. What? ” For the second time in as many minutes, Meta Knight was shocked, indicated by the very brief flash of white in his eyes. He turned fully to face Jecra. “I...am not certain that you realize what it is you are saying.”

“Nah, I do. Listen...I get it. Ya seem like the kind’a guy who keeps to himself.” Jecra once again turned his gaze skyward. “But...I just know that I gotta do somethin’ bigger than what I got here. A guy we all trusted was gonna use things that we ain’t even ever heard of to hurt us, and if there are other people like that out there, like us ...then I know, MK. I know that what I gotta do is go out there n’ make sure those guys have a real fightin’ chance of keepin’ what’s theirs.”

For a moment, Meta Knight was speechless. It wasn’t the speech that had rendered him that way, but rather the intense reflection of the stars in Jecra’s eyes as he’d made it. It was clear that the man was chosen and determined, and perhaps...could he have been directed here, somehow? He found it impossible to tell as he, himself, looked up. The stars’ reflection in his eyes looked different on every planet, which could make it very difficult to navigate.

But not impossible.

“...Do you understand, Jecra, what it is that you are asking?” He looked back down, staring intently at the other Star Warrior. “If you get what you desire, do you understand that this journey will be long and difficult, that you may not see the comforts of home, or comforts at all, for some time?”

“I dunno if ya heard, MK,” Jecra met his fellow warrior’s gaze, his eyes more tired. “But even if I stay, that’s already how it’s gonna be.” He looked beyond the knight, into the storm on the horizon. It had gotten much more severe since he’d arrived there. “Me bein’ here ain’t safe for anyone. There are people who saw that I was there when everything went down, and they’re not all that friendly. If I disappear for a while, it’ll be easier for everyone I love to be protected. I mean...that was the idea when I mentioned it, anyway.”

Meta Knight turned to face the storm himself, eyes green with thought for a moment before he turned his head slightly, the attendant barely in view. “Tell me, Jecra, did you assume that this would happen when you proposed that idea?”

“I dunno, really. It just kinda...felt right. I guess that I already knew you were leavin’ once all was said n’ done, and somehow it didn’t feel completely silly to think you’d have room for one more.”

“...You will have to find your own way off of this planet.”

“...Yeah, that can be arranged. Maybe not...all that ethically or whatevah, but...arranged.”

“Hm. Very good.” Meta Knight turned back away. “Return, then. When you are prepared, we will depart. Do not take too long.”

Jecra nodded, eyes now shining with determination. “You got it! You’re not gonna regret this, Meta Knight!”

With that, he turned and ran home, embraced by the warmth of a spring breeze that filled his cape, billowing it behind him as he went.

Chapter Text

Jecra was thankful to be alive, less so to be surviving in heat for which living in eternal spring did not prepare him. The sparse shade offered by the tree he’d found did little to relieve him, but it was better than being in the sun, and certainly better than being Meta Knight.

A few feet away, the smaller Star Warrior was completely obscured by a banged-up Floran spacecraft. Various clanks and clunks could be heard from the ship, every so often interspersed with the knight’s mumblings. Jecra considered calling out to him, but every time he’d tried up to that point, all he’d gotten was a grunt and a pointed turn of a wrench in response.

Something told him that his companion might be upset.

Suddenly, a loud hiss and surprised cry caused Jecra to jump, and Meta Knight to rapidly wiggle out from under the ship. The hissing gave way to the sounds of metal hitting the ground. Neither warrior moved until it was quiet once again.

“...So, MK...uh...how’s it goin’...?” Jecra asked sheepishly.

Meta Knight was silent for several seconds. He did not look at his companion when he spoke. “Jecra, I would like to ask you something.”

“...Yeah, uh, go ahead. Shoot.”

“At what point were you going to inform me that you did not know how to fly?”

“...MK, listen. In my defense...I thought it was gonna be a lot easier. Like a li’l air flyer, ya know? It had that same vibe...and hey! I got off the ground and up didn’t I?”

“Ah, of course. You did do that. Which brings me to another question.”

“...Yeah…?”

“When you hear that we are approaching Rock Star, a planet whose force of gravity is so unstable that it exists in pieces , is it this expertise which had driven you to approach it more closely ?”

“Listen, okay, it looked so cool ! How was I not supposed to look more at it?”

“I would have hoped your sense of self-preservation would outweigh your curiosity.” Meta Knight sighed and placed down his wrench, then stood and thoroughly dusted himself off. “At any rate, I am afraid that your craft is missing vital parts and needs others replaced. We will have to see if we can find proper replacements nearby.”

“Wow, that bad?” Jecra replied, also standing. “But I thought I landed okay…”

“I am not sure what you were expecting from a crash.” The knight folded himself into his cape, mumbling. “In some galaxies you would need a license to pilot. I now see why.”

“Alright, alright, I get it. I suck.” The Florian stood beside his companion. “Anyway, what if we can’t find what we’re lookin’ for here? Ya got a Plan B?”

“Of course. If, indeed, there is no way to repair your ship, I will have no choice but to leave you here.” Meta Knight, spotting something reflecting sunlight in the distance, began to walk forward.

“...Haha, ha. Yeah. That’s...that’s real funny, MK. You’re a real side-splitter.” Jecra watched the knight walk for a few seconds. “Y-you are jokin’, right?”

Hearing no answer, the taller Star Warrior anxiously pursued the shorter one. “H-hey, wait up!”

The two approached the reflective object, a set of silver parallel bars running along the ground. They were fairly wide-set, with duller-metal plates intermittently placed in-between them.

“...Ya know...I’m no globe trotter or nothin’...” Jecra commented, rubbing his nose contemplatively. “But that set-up looks kinda like…”

He trailed off as he heard a distant rumbling. Both of them looked down the line to see a black-and-white vehicle racing along the bars. It was slim with wide front windows and was, as the duo noted from the breeze as it passed, very fast.

“Yep!” Jecra shouted over the rumble and whistle of the passing train, pulling down his mask to help brace against the dust and rocks being kicked at his face. “That’s what I was gonna say!” 

As he braced, the Florian looked down and noted something interesting about the design of the train. “Hm,” he said as it continued into the distance, only slightly less loudly than when it was roaring beside them. “Huh, ya know, I think that train was floatin’, like it was on a magnet or somethin’.”

“Mm.” Meta Knight replied, having not moved an inch when the train passed. He seemed fixated on something in front of him. Jecra turned to look.

Before them, on the other side of the tracks, stood a short, black, orb-shaped stranger. His face was mostly covered by a yellow-and-orange patterned bandana, which reached down to blue, spurred shoes. He was tipping down a red, brown-banded hat, and as the dust settled he opened one yellow eye to look at the Star Warriors.

“Well well, lookie who we have here.” He said with a distinct accent. “Can’t say I ever seen your faces ‘round these parts.”

“Maybe ya have, maybe ya haven’t. What of it?” Jecra said, crossing his arms in front of him.

The orb laughed, shaking his head. “Now now, son, you don’t need to go on tryin’ to be all tough-like. I been roamin’ this here land for more moons than I can count, I know when we got a newbie or two.” He glanced at them again. “‘Sides, your lot’s got a couple faces I’d certainly remember.”

“...Yo, MK, did this guy just make fun of us?” Jecra asked quietly, leaning over and covering one side of his mouth.

“I am not sure why you expect me to know.” Meta Knight replied flatly. He cleared his throat and spoke up to their caller. “Sir, we do not desire to engage in combat. All we wish to know is whether there is a town or village nearby which we may visit for necessities.”

“A town, eh?” The stranger looked up and closed his eyes, then nodded and chuckled. “Yeah, I think I can lead you in the right direction. I was headed to one, anyway.” He gestured for the two to follow with one hand, then stopped briefly to look back at them. “By the way, y’all can call me Wester.”

/*|*\

The walk to the town wasn’t particularly long. It had felt that way to Jecra, who had lifted his mask in order to get some sort of relief from the heat. He fanned himself, silently cursing that he had brought all of his armor and gear with him. Sure, it was safer on him, less likely to get stolen or damaged, but was it worth the price? He was beginning to doubt it.

The townsfolk of Pluto’s Edge were varied-- many had visible mechanical limbs or seemed, themselves, to be mechanical. Despite this diversity, the trio entering the town still elicited stares. Neither Meta Knight nor Jecra could discern why. Wester looked back and chuckled.

“Ya know, you two really do stick out like a green in a cowpoke’s kitchen. Ya know what they say, when in town…” He reached to his side, where a tightly-coiled whip had been strapped. He unfurled it, spun it, and then cracked it at two random denizens, snatching the hats right off their heads. His new prizes in hand, he turned and held them out toward his guests. “...Ya do as the townies do.”

“Thank you.” Meta Knight replied, taking his hat and donning it.

Jecra was a bit more hesitant. “So...are ya gonna...repay those guys…?”

“Who, them?” Wester looked at the denizens, who were staring at each other in confusion. “...Aw, ya know, you’re right, Partner. I’ll go handle it.”

“Yeah, okay. My name is-” Jecra was interrupted by the necessity to catch the hat that had been tossed toward him. He grunted in frustration as their escort approached the two strangers.

“‘Scuse me, Partners.” Wester said, genially placing each of his hands on one of their shoulders. “I happened to take notice that yer caps blew right off. Real tragedy, that. Please do allow me to compensate for your mis-for-tune.” With this, he reached into a pouch on his other side and took out a small sack of coins which he placed into one of the bewildered cyborgs’ hands. “Y’all take care now.”

The whip-totin’ gentleman returned to his posse, gesturing widely. “There now, ya see, Partner? That was quite the li’l gold nugget of an idea ya had there.”

As much as he tried, Jecra was unable to hide his irked expression as he put the hat on. “So...uh...couldn’t ya’ve just...bought the hats...for us ?”

“No I could not.” Wester turned to face forward again. “But I do appreciate ya askin’.”

Jecra leaned over to his fellow Star Warrior. “MK.” He whispered. “Does somethin’ seem a little... off about this guy to ya?”

“Of course.” Meta Knight answered at a normal speaking volume, promptly being shushed.

“Now...what’d ya fellas need from this li’l ol’ town, anyway?” Wester asked, looking behind him as he walked.

Neither of them were quite sure how to answer. On one hand, he was their only resource in finding materials in this town. On the other, there was something about confessing that they were there in a desperate bid to find materials that would prevent them from being completely stranded on this foreign planet that just seemed like a bad idea.

“Well...uh...ya know. We’re here…” Jecra started.

“...To shop.” Meta Knight finished.

“‘Bit of a strange place to try ‘n do that, I will admit.” Wester replied, chuckling. “But I do suppose I can help you out with that.”

“Can ya, now?” The Florian asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Sure can! We just gotta stop at the good ol’ bank and I will happily serve ya’s.”

“Wow. You have an account here. That’s...so convenient.”

“‘Course. Dunno where you fellas hail from but ‘round these parts we got electronic systems for all your financial needs. Y’all can get yourself access to money most anywhere.”

“Very. Convenient.”

“That’s what they say.” Wester tipped his had at the door to the very non-high-tech looking building, plainly labelled “BANK.”

“...Wow.” Jecra commented, exhaling heavily.

“If ya fellas want, you can enter too. Ain’t no establishment gonna kick ya out just cuz ya don’t got as much metal on yer bones.” Wester let out a hearty laugh.

“...We will remain outside, thank you.” Meta Knight replied.

“Suit yerselves. I’ll be out in two turns of a moo’s tail.” The red-clad orb entered the building.

“...So I take it,” Jecra said once they were alone. “That you’re pickin’ up what I am?”

“I have not lifted anything, no, but I do suspect that this man is not to be trusted, and that we are about to fall victim to a trap.”

“That’s what I…” Jecra sighed. “Know what? Whatevah. You thinkin’ that maybe we should dip?”

“...That we should…?” Meta Knight cocked his head to the side.

“Leave! I’m suggestin’ we should leave !”

“Ah, yes, of course. Quickly, before-”

The knight was cut off by two satchels hitting the ground in front of them with distinct clanks from the coins inside. The duo stared at these bags with disbelief as Wester casually exited the bank and gestured at them. “And there ya go!”

There was silence between the three of them before Meta Knight spoke up. “These are stolen, no?”

“...’Scuse me?”

“Yeah, ya totally robbed this bank, didn’t ya?” Jecra added, crossing his arms. “And now someone’s gonna come out screaming about it and see us?”

“Frankly, Partner, I am o-ffended that you would accuse me of such debauchery.” Wester replied, tipping his hat and shaking his head. “I have been nothin’ but sweet and kind to the both of y’all, and would encourage y’all to have a little trust.”

Despite the pleading nature of the speech, neither of the Star Warriors were entirely convinced of their traveling companion’s good intentions. Although, the lack of screaming and panic from the bank was, itself, a compelling argument.

Sensing their hesitation, the whip-toter glanced across the way and nodded at a General Store in that direction. “Lookie see! I even spotted a place where you can do all the shoppin’ yer li’l hearts desire. I’ll stay right here, n’ if there’s any flack comin’ our way, it’ll all fall on me, ya hear?”

The other two exchanged doubtful glances with each other. 

Wester reached into each of the bags and handed them a handful of coins from each. “That’ll get ya most anythin’ ‘round these parts. Don’t even gotta take the whole loads. Ain’t nobody gon’ know if ya don’t got big ol’ satchels.”

“I mean…” Jecra muttered. “I guess…whaddya think, MK?”

Meta Knight stared at the offer before him. He did not trust this cowboy in the slightest. Everything about him oozed suspicion, even his admittedly smooth way of talking. He had the feeling that if they were to take him up on this, they would come to regret it. And yet, in order to leave this planet and find the Warrior with the Golden Mask...they would, unfortunately, need to concede to the forces of capitalism for the parts that they needed, if they could even be found here. As much as this was something that the knight particularly wanted to avoid, it was growing more apparent that it would simply not be possible.

At least, not without risk.

“I accept your offer.” He said.

“...Ya... do …?” Jecra said, trying to keep his jaw from dropping.

“Indeed.” Meta Knight replied, taking the handful that was offered to him. “Certainly, we will find this useful.”

“MK…”

“We want to go shopping, no?”

“I mean, yeah, but…”

Wester cut Jecra off, sounding genuinely flattered. “My good buddy, I cannot possibly de-scribe just how much of a happy li’l cowpoke you have made me. I don’t make much of a tight bond from place to place, so to have your ever-beloved trust- Partner…?”

Meta Knight had walked off before his escort was finished speaking.

“...Bit of a steely type, ain’t he?” Wester asked, cocking his head to the side.

“That’s a word for it.” Jecra replied, taking his own allowance and following the knight.

Despite his irritation with everything that had happened so far, the Florian found himself relaxing in the cool temperatures in the building, which provided a relief from the sweltering heat. After taking a moment to feel this relief, he walked up to his companion and looked around.

“So, MK, I suspect ya got a plan? Seems real unlike ya to take that guy up without one.”

“We have been placed in a...difficult position.” Meta Knight admitted. “Without accepting what we have been offered, I cannot imagine how we would be able to leave this place without staying any longer than we need to, or resorting to petty thievery.”

“...I...didn’t realize that’d be a problem for ya.”

“It is not the way I would prefer to do this. I suspect that whatever consequences we face for cooperating with Wester will make things much more challenging for us.” The knight sighed. “I believe that it would be best if we carried ourselves as discreetly as possible here.”

“Now that might be a problem…” Jecra chuckled.

“Mm.” Meta Knight approached a shelf of parts that certainly looked like they would be proper for a ship of some sort.

“...Guess we’re lucky this is a robot rail town, eh, MK?”

“I suppose.” The knight replied, taking a part that Jecra didn’t recognize off the shelf. 

As the Florian examined the shelves, he realized that “unrecognizable” described pretty much everything there for him. He took what he was fairly certain was called a “gasket” off of a shelf and examined it. He had no clue whether or not this was a part that they needed, but certainly appraising something looked less suspicious than staring blankly around the shop. Once he was satisfied that he’d stared at it long enough, he put the gasket (?) down and went to grab another part before being interrupted by Meta Knight.

“Jecra,” he whispered urgently, holding out yet another unfamiliar part against the edge of a shelf.

Jecra squinted at the label next to the part, an incomprehensible set of symbols that he assumed was a price tag. He rubbed his nose confusedly. “Yeah, MK, I can’t make heads or tails of that stuff neither…”

“ Heads...tails...? What are you talking about?” Meta Knight looked up at his companion, utterly bewildered, then pointed out the matter at hand: a small, ominous logo imprinted onto the part he was holding. “We must be even further on our guard. We may be among enemies.”

Jecra nodded as the knight replaced the part on the shelf and took another one, checking its branding before turning and quickly making his way to the register. Standing on tip-toe, he deposited the parts and the money onto the counter, the taller warrior doing the same. 

“We would like these things and nothing more, please.” Meta Knight said.

The person standing behind the counter, one eye either replaced or augmented with a red lens, seemed perplexed. They picked up a coin, examined it thoroughly with the lens, then placed it down. “Ya know...this is way more than what this stuff costs...you two new in town?”

“No. We have lived here our entire lives. Keep everything. Goodbye.” At this, Meta Knight gathered the parts in his arms and hastily left.

Jecra, caught just as off-guard as the clerk, shrugged and laughed sheepishly, rubbing his nose. “S-sorry about him. Thanks and, uh, ya know. Have a...rootin’ tootin’ day...?” There was an awkward pause before he shuffled out behind his friend.

“Okay, so,” he said once he’d caught up to the knight. “Ya remember that thing ya said about bein’ discreet? I’m not tryn’a be rude or nothin’ but...ya do know what discreet means, right? Cuz that wasn’t it.”

“While generally I am quite skilled in matters in stealth, I can easily explain what happened.”

“Uh-huh…?”

“You see, Jecra,” Meta Knight cleared his throat, not looking at his companion. “...I got nervous.”

Jecra couldn’t help but chuckle. “Aww, MK, ya know-”

“No, I do not. We have what we need. It is time for us to depart.”

“...Okay, uh, cool.” Jecra looked about the square, trying to remember which way they’d entered, then froze in shock. “That...that might be easier said than done, my guy…”

“Why is that?” Meta Knight asked.

“...Oh...ya know…” The Florian replied, trailing off and pointing, wide-eyed, at two newly-placed posters next to the door through which they’d just left.

“WANTED” they read, “DEAD OR ALIVE, for the crime of CHECKING FRAUD and COUNTERFEITING. REWARD:” What followed the last word was yet more incomprehensible symbols. Of course, it was not the text of the posters that concerned the duo so much as the fact that they were emblazoned with crude sketches of their faces.

“Wow, these guys work quick, huh…?” Jecra asked, dumbfounded, before coming to his senses. “Wait, when did we do any of that stuff? We barely been here an hour, or whatever crummy time system this place uses.”

“That does not matter. We need to get out of sight. Now. ” Meta Knight grabbed the edge of his friend’s cape and dragged him into an alleyway. “Just as I suspected, we are not safe here.”

“We-heh-hell! Gotta say, I was beginnin’ to wonder how long you fellers would take in there!” Came a voice from above.

Casually sitting on top of a building in front of them, Wester reclined sideways onto one arm, using the other to tip down his hat, whip in hand. “Hope you been treated nicely, I know these towns can be a li’l rough-”

“I am assuming that our situation is your fault.” Meta Knight cut him off flatly.

“Wh- I do declare, Partner, I got no idea what you-”

“Kinda a roundabout crime to frame us for, don’cha think?” Jecra chimed in.

Wester paused, then sighed and chuckled. “Well, I guess this li’l tango’s comin’ to an end. Frankly, I’d be a li’l bit more appre-shyah-tive. I gotta lotta respect for y’all bein’ on a mission. Why else would I help ya out so much? Be so hospitable? I swear y’all read me wrong the second I appeared-”

“You framed us for a crime!” Jecra shouted, pointing an accusing finger upward.

“Maybe so. Howwwwww-ever,” The outlaw wagged a finger at the Star Warriors. “The crime wa’nt all that big. Y’all ain’t bein’ hunted like some filthy bank-strikers. Ya even got yer shoppin’ all in order. I did a series o’ little favors for ya, and it’s all thanks to the hand-sleights o’ yer good buddy Wester.”

“...We are leaving now.” Meta Knight replied, unimpressed.

“By all means you go ahead n’ leave ol’ Pluto’s Edge behind. HOWWWWWWW-ever,” Wester pushed himself to his feet. “I will need a li’l somethin’-somethin’ in return. Ya see, I’m a bit of a treasure hunter by nature. Always lookin’ for the things that’ll pique the interest of me n’ any collector friends I should encounter. It’s been a good moonrise or two since I got a hold o’ anythin’ truly all that rare, even with my impressive dealin’.”

“...In fakes?” Meta Knight asked, the events of the past hour falling into place.

“Are they fake if they’re convincin’? Aaaaaanywhom, I do think that I will be takin’ my fee, and then ridin’ off to greener pastures, as I’m supposin’ you two will be.”

At this, Wester spun up his whip and cracked it straight at Meta Knight, the end wrapping around the star badge on his shoulder. Before the knight could properly react, the outlaw yanked his weapon back, bringing the badge into his unoccupied hand.

“I do declare,” he mumbled, looking at the shine on the badge. “This is quite the curiosity.”

“Yo, Guy !” Jecra shouted, stepping forward and putting up a fist. “Yer nuts if ya really think ya can just-”

“Return that. At once.” Meta Knight’s eyes were not visible, and he was unmoving, wrapped in his cape. Yet, something in the quality of his voice caused the Florian to shudder.

“Sincerest apologies, Partner, but I do not think I’ll oblige.” Wester held his whip aloft and spun it, going airborne as he jumped away from the two.

“Hey, get back he-!” Jecra was about to pursue the outlaw, but was beaten to it.

In the split-second that nobody had been looking at him, Meta Knight had somehow cleared the space between himself and the thief. He grabbed at the outlaw’s foot, barely being repelled as the startled Wester kicked his hand away. Once the opportunity to escape had opened, Wester proceeded to another rooftop, the knight in hot pursuit.

The chase eventually ended in a full tavern. The sudden darkness and transition to the ground caused Meta Knight to lose track of the bandit. Realizing this, he sighed and walked to the bar in the back of the building, hopping onto a stool.

The bartender had two impressive metal arms, which seemed perfectly suited to the rough-and-tumble crowd around him-- a crowd that did not particularly faze Meta Knight. The second their gazes met, there was a palpable tension. This tension kept the two from speaking for some time, until the bartender picked up a glass and polished it.

“Whaddya want?” He grunted.

“I am looking for someone.” Meta Knight replied, tipping up the hat that was beginning to fall over his eyes. “He dresses in red and carries a whip, and he has taken something important from me.”

“Mm-hm. Never heard of ‘im.” The bartender briefly looked down at something outside of Meta Knight’s line of sight, then subtly nodded. “But you, my friend...yer a bit notorious yerself, ain’t ya?”

At first the Star Warrior was bewildered, but it didn’t take long to remember why the bartender was suspicious.

They really do work fast. He thought, then cleared his throat.

“Yes, of course, I recognize your confusion. But, you understand, I cannot be the man you are thinking of,” he pointed at his hat. “For you see, I am wearing a-”

BANG .

Before Meta Knight could finish his sentence, the bartender had taken a some sort of laser gun from behind the bar and fired a shot that sent his hat flying. The unexpected reaction and noise caused the knight to freeze in his pointing position, though the patrons around him only briefly glanced upward before resuming their normal activity.

“...Ah.” Was all he could say as he put his arm down.

“Now, my friend, you’re gonna stay right there all quiet-like. I ain’t gonna stand accused of harborin’ no fugitives in this town.” The bartender chuckled and cocked his gun. “Don’t wanna end up like you sorry lot.”

“May I ask what it is you mean by that?”

“No need. You’ll be findin’ out.” The bartender picked up the receiver for some sort of telephonic device, holding it between his ear and shoulder as he manipulated a disk on its base.

With an active weapon trained on him, Meta Knight knew that it would be unwise to move his hands out of its wielder's sight. Without shifting too much, he glanced about the room for a solution to his predicament, his eyes eventually landing on a half-full glass belonging to the dozing patron next to him.

Yes, that would do.

/*|*\

Jecra sunk to the ground, huffing for air. He had tried to follow Meta Knight and Wester, but between jumping from rooftops over a semi-crowded street and then taking the chase to the ground where they couldn’t be seen over most of the denizens, he’d just as quickly lost them. As the adrenaline from the pursuit was wearing off, the heat had caught up to him, causing him to duck into an alley and lift his mask in a vain attempt to get some relief.

As he sat, he tried to formulate a plan. Meta Knight had the parts they needed to repair his ship, so he couldn’t use that to help them escape. He also seemed nearly-impervious to the conditions around them, so any plan that involved being fast or effective would also need to involve him. It occurred to Jecra that pretty much any plan meant to get them away would need to involve his friend to work. He was armed, but that would probably do little to help them, as they were already wanted criminals. Unless, of course, he could intimidate the townspeople into telling him where his friend was and letting them get away…

Just as Jecra was about to carry out his well-thought-out plan, he heard shouting from a few buildings down. He peeked around the corner, where a crowd slowly began to spill out of what he guessed was some kind of tavern, a crowd that did not seem to be on good terms with each other. Those who weren’t hitting each other were running away with varying amounts of agility.

“Huh. Wonder what happened there?” He wondered aloud.

“Jecra.” Came a voice from behind him.

Jecra jumped and turned, reaching for his sword with the wrong hand, then dropped his arm and sighed.

“MK. We’ve talked about this.”

The Star Warrior, perched on a pile of crates against one of the walls of the alley, looked down at his companion. “Ah yes, we have. But we do not have time to talk much longer.”

The Florian looked back over his shoulder. “...That bar fight wouldn’t happen to have anythin’ to do with ya, would it?”

“The exact circumstances under which that fight began are a mystery.”

“Are they, now?”

“Indeed. Though I did hear somebody complain of broken glass in their cheek. That sounds quite painful.”

“...MK…”

Meta Knight looked toward the alley by which Jecra sat. “As much as I desire to have back what is mine…” he paused. “...Perhaps it is best that we take our leave as quickly as possible.”

“Now you’re speakin’ sense, my guy.” Jecra stood. “And, uh, ya know...I’m real sorry about the badge-thingy. It seemed like it meant a lot to ya.”

“...We should depart at the other end of this alley. It leads away from the most crowded part of the town.” Meta Knight jumped off of the boxes and walked toward his desired exit.

Jecra sighed, following his friend.

Just as the two were about to leave the alley, a motorbike roared into their path, blocking them. The bike had a sort of chassis on it that gave it the appearance of a black horse, with a matching pony sidecar. While the design was, they believed, a bit silly, what was decidedly not silly was the fully-robotic figure sitting on the bike. Its thin, brass-colored frame was covered by a dirty white shirt under a long, brown leather jacket. A wide-brimmed brown hat covered its eyes, but the electric green glow that they emitted simply could not be hidden. It drew a long, thin pistol from the holster at its side, its body giving off a low whirr as it raised its head to look at them properly and aim.

“You boys the newcomers?” It asked them with a voice that, despite being completely electronic, had a gruff, gravelly quality.

“U-uh...guess that depends on who’s askin’...” Jecra replied, hoping his gulp wasn’t as audible as it felt.

“I’m the local bounty hunter. They call me SLIM.”

“...We been wanted for, what, two hours? And they sent a bounty hunter after us?” The Florian couldn’t help but reflect on the life decisions that had led him to this point.

“The law works swift n’ comes down hard.” SLIM replied, cocking its weapon. “It’s how we keep things workin’ smoothly ‘round these parts.”

“MSR-H-66819696.” Meta Knight breathed.

“...Is that...code for somethin’...?” Jecra furrowed his brow at the knight.

“No.” Meta Knight put his hands up. “It is the serial number of this machine. SLIM. It is from a line of robots who are made for a variety of purposes, some as deceptively harmless as yo-yo tricks, while others...well, certainly you now understand what others can do.”

“...They’re...real good at their jobs, huh?” The taller Star Warrior raised his hands. “Not a lot we can do?”

“Unfortunately.”

/*|*\

Meta Knight was, once again, furiously swiping at himself. After having their weapons and parts confiscated they had been tossed into a cell, the impact on the dirt floor coating them in dust.

“Kinda crazy to me that they got jail on other planets.” Jecra commented, fanning himself in the corner of the room. “Guess I was kinda hopin’ that somewhere out there there might be somethin’ better.”

In response, Meta Knight, content with the amount of dirt he could get off of him, wrapped himself in his cape.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Jecra cleared his throat. “So, uh, MK...what’s the plan now?”

“...The plan…”

“Yeah, ya know. The plan to escape or somethin’. Get outta here, get back to our business?” The Florian shrugged. “I mean, ya seem to have kinda a knack for gettin’ outta tight situations.”

“Do I? Hm.”

“...Is...somethin’ up? You’re quiet.”

“Am I not normally?”

“I mean, yeah, but...more than usual, I think.”

“Hm. Odd.”

Jecra sighed, pointedly rubbing his nose. “Look, if ya don’t wanna talk or whatevah it’s fine, but right now we’re in a real bad spot, and if we wanna get out ya gotta-”

“I am very aware of what I must do, and you are hardly in a position to tell me.” Meta Knight glanced back over his shoulder.

“Oh c’mon, seriously?” Jecra said indignantly. “You’re still hung up about the crash thing? We’re wayyyyy past that, my guy.”

“Yes, but had we flown past as planned, we would not have crashed, we would not have found ourselves in a strange town with connections to our enemy, we would not have been framed by a conman, and I would not have been robbed.” The knight flared out the right side of his cape, exposing his empty sheath. “Twice.”

“...Listen-”

“And now, we are imprisoned, trapped in a filthy cell with only cement walls and metal bars, not even spared a window, and you come to me and you ask me- again you ask me- of a plan before anything else?” Meta Knight faced forward, crossing his arm back in front of him. “...I will see what I can do.”

“...L-look, I’m sorry, okay? I know I really messed up, ya don’t gotta remind me.” Jecra looked down and rubbed his nose. “I’m...tryin’ my best, even if it...ain’t always obvious. I promise, we’ll get outta here, n’ it’ll all be okay.”

The knight turned completely to face his friend, about to say something before being cut off by the jail’s entrance slamming open. The two immediately directed their gazes toward the door, watching as a guard easily tossed a familiar figure into the cell across from them. As the guard walked away, the prisoner sat himself up and lightly brushed off his kerchief, then acknowledged his fellow prisoners with a tip of his hat.

“Well,” Wester said, his voice betraying a sheepish chuckle, “fancy meetin’ you fellers here.”

Jecra and Meta Knight stared wordlessly at him.

“...It, er, seems like you two have fallen on some hard times. Guess that’s just what happens in life. ‘Least we’re in it together, eh?”

Once again, he was met with silence.

“...You’d...you’d never guess what got me. There I was, mindin’ my own business, just about’ta take my leave, and they nab me n’ say they got me on...” the outlaw pointed to the golden star badge displayed prominently on his kerchief. “...Impersonatin’ the sheriff…”

After another bit of silence, Meta Knight finally nodded and answered. “You deserve this.”

At the other end of the corridor of cells, another door opened. The man who walked out of it looked much the same as many of the residents-- brown jacket, dirty pants, black hat, spurred shoes. Unlike the residents, he seemed completely organic, and prominently bore golden star on his chest with the word “SHERIFF” etched into it.

The sheriff looked down at Wester and scoffed. “Well, well.” His voice was deep and clear. “Must think yer real funny, don’cha?” Before he could receive a response, he took a key off his side and shoved it into the lock of the cell’s door. “C’mon now, ya little whatever-ya-are, ‘s time for yer trial.”

“We get a trial?” Jecra asked, his interest suddenly piqued.

He received no response as Wester was cuffed and led into the room from which the Sheriff had emerged. The outlaw winked at his fellow prisoners.

“...I ever mention stuff works fast here?” The Florian said once they were alone.

“It may have come up.” Meta Knight replied, staring at the door. “I wonder if we are thinking the same thing.”

“I gotta feelin’ we are.”

The knight nodded, silently planning, a process which was quickly interrupted by the sound of heavy thuds echoing down the corridor. Not long after the echoes settled into quiet, the door opened once again. The Sheriff walked out, stopped in front of the duo’s cell, and pointed at Meta Knight.

“‘S yer turn now, pal. Let’s get to yer trial.”

The Star Warrior stared at the Sheriff’s hand, then looked to his face. “Tell me, what were the results of the previous trial?”

The lawman sneered, inserting the key into the cell door’s lock. “‘Fraid that’s confidential.”

“Is it? My apologies. Allow me to adjust my question.” As the lock released, he met eyes with the Sheriff. “Where is your suspect?”

The door opened, and their gazes were locked. Jecra readied himself to charge forward, but was halted when his companion raised a hand, signaling him to remain. He followed the signal, albeit with confusion.

“MK…?”

Meta Knight held out his hands, allowing himself to be cuffed. “Do not be concerned, Jecra. I believe that justice will prevail.”

“Ya know, somehow, that don’t really help.”

Despite his hesitation, Jecra once again allowed himself to be separated from Meta Knight, the latter calmly being led through the door.

On the other side of the door was a large, plain room. It consisted of two wooden benches facing a judge’s bench against the back wall, the front of which bore what appeared to be the town’s seal. Along the walls were four tall windows, all shuttered, all framed by a set of red curtains. Meta Knight noticed almost none of this detail. Instead, he was struck by three things: a gold-colored set of scales on the judge’s bench, the close-eyed, black-robed, stone-looking feminine figure with a brightly-colored feather behind her ear standing behind it, and a familiar red hat lying on the ground in front of them.

“Now, ya little-what’s-yer-face.” The Sheriff said, walking to the side of the figure and removing the feather. “Ya stand accused o’ crimes against Pluto’s Edge. What is yer defense?”

Meta Knight stared at the hat, then looked up at the two. “I did not commit a crime.”

“That’s what they all say.” The man said with a chuckle. “But I do suppose that we’ll be the judge o’ that.” He poised the feather over one of the scales.

“You are being deceived, and are making a grave mistake.”

The Sheriff stopped and squinted at the knight. “‘Scuse me?”

“Your method of justice does not come from this planet. You ordered it, perhaps out of the belief that it will allow you to hold power. Or perhaps you believe this is what justice entails.” Meta Knight looked at the scales. “And each time you activate it is a risk to your life.”

“‘Scuse me, son ,” The Sheriff growled, “but I don’t believe it’s yer job to be handin’ out accusations.”

“I am doing no such thing. Although if you feel that way, perhaps there is a reason.”

“Ain’t yer time to moralize, neither.” The lawman sneered, dropping the feather onto the scale, causing the eyes of the figure behind the bench to open and glow a bright blue. “I heard yer defense, and it’s baloney, just like the lot o’ them’s are.” He placed his hand on the other scale. “N’ just like all o’ them’s…” He spat onto the ground. “Yer guilty as sin.”

The Sheriff slammed his hand onto the other scale, abruptly tipping it and launching the feather into the air. At that moment, the glow in the figure’s eyes intensified, and her arms opened from the robe to reveal large, white-and-blue feathers with golden-taloned hands. Her body was covered by yet another black robe, one that billowed as the figure stood taller and stretched one of her arms above her.

Meta Knight slowly stepped back, catching the Sheriff’s rush to lock the door behind him out of the corner of his eye. The monster brought her arm down, sending her sword-like feathers at him in a line. He concentrated and jumped back, getting the distance just right for a feather to break the chain on his handcuffs.

“Ya think that’ll help ya, boy?” The Sheriff said, smirking. “Yer tiny li’l criminal arms ain’t gonna be enough to save ya from the hand o’ the law.”

The knight ignored the taunt, instead focusing his energy on not being impaled. He took note of the hat nearby, something he assumed to be all that was left of someone he didn’t particularly like but found himself pitying. He grabbed it as he narrowly dodged another volley of attacks, making his way to the judge’s bench.

Without a weapon, this will be a losing battle. He thought, leaping onto the bench and beside the scales. But that does not mean it cannot be balanced in my favor. He chuckled. He would have to use that line when telling Jecra about this.

The feather to be placed on the scales had landed a short distance away, and both lawman and monster watched as he retrieved it, waved it once in the air, and held it over a scale.

“MSR-48476118. Juris.” Meta Knight said. “She is made to be judge, jury, and executioner. She will faithfully serve her duty, but there will come a time when you have called upon her too often, the scales will not balance the way you intend, and you will find you are not immune from judgement.”

“...G-girl, whatcha doin’!?” The Sheriff cried. “Put that ne’er-do-well into the dirt!”

Juris raised both arms, crossing them over her head, as Meta Knight dropped the feather onto one scale, and the hat on the other. Juris froze as the scale with the feather sank.

“How interesting.” Meta Knight commented as the monster’s eyes flashed toward the Sheriff. “It would appear that there are worse crimes than being a thief, no?”

The knight, for a reason he couldn’t quite explain, donned the hat as Juris brought one arm down directly onto the Sheriff, who very, very narrowly escaped with a gash to his leg. Acting quickly, he drew his weapon and pointed it at the scales.

“Do not-!” Was all the Star Warrior could exclaim before several rounds struck the object, with another grazing his arm. Instinctively, he folded his arm into his cape, softly gasping in pain. The scales flew back and, in pieces, hit the wall before falling to the ground. 

“You...should not have done that.” He uttered.

The arm the Juris still held up trembled. Then she threw her head back, flinging her arm in an arc around her, firing feathers which destroyed much of the room, including its entrance. Meta Knight leapt behind the bench, just barely escaping the attack. The Sheriff, who’d made a similar dive for one of the seats, was not as lucky, finding himself pinned to the ground.

The monster moved to finish off the two, but was interrupted by a ball of energy striking her in the side of the head. She whirled to face her attacker, widening the doorway in the process.

“Man,” Jecra called into the room, shaking flame-like energy off of one hand and pulling down his mask with the other. “Ya sure do know how to make a weird day weirder, huh, MK?”

“Certainly you were aware that we would be dealing with monsters?” Meta Knight replied, standing behind his friend atop the twisted end of the one of the broken bars of their former jail cell. The Florian jolted slightly, then exhaled and straightened.

“Yeah, ya know, guess I can’t be too surprised. Gotta say I nevah met one before. Real honor.”

“If we are being honest, it will be much less impressive in very little time.”

Their banter was cut off by a barrage of feathers from the enraged monster, which destroyed the surrounding cells and put a tear into Jecra’s cape as he ran down the hall alongside Meta Knight.

“If I recall correctly, there is a room at the end of this passage where our weapons are being held.” The knight said. “We will need them if we are to survive.”

“Kinda figured.” Jecra replied, spotting the door coming up on his right. “Should be easy to bust in n’-”

“I wouldn’t try n’ act so quickly, fellas.”

The duo were halted by the barrel of a familiar pistol pointed at their faces. SLIM, having emerged from the door directly in front of them, stared them down, weapon cocked.

“G-guy, c’mon.” Jecra stammered. “We’re all gonna get real got if ya don’t-”

“Ain’t in my programmin’ to care.”

As the sounds of crashing drew closer, Meta Knight took a breath.

“Jecra.” He said.

“...Y-yeah…?”

Meta Knight threw himself into SLIM’s legs, taking the robot to the ground and issuing a simple command: “Go.”

Jecra nodded, wasting no time in bashing the door beside them open and rushing inside. The room was full of various weapons and belongings, from guns to knives to toys. Shoving back nausea, he quickly located his own sword and shield, took them, then glanced around to locate his friend’s weapon.

Meta Knight, still wrestling with SLIM to avoid being shot, noticed that Jecra hadn’t re-emerged, and quickly reasoned why.

“Your shield will be much more useful than my sword, my friend!” He called. “I will manage if you cannot find it, but you need to return before Juris-”

As if to finish his sentence, two lines of feathers trapped Meta Knight and SLIM between them. Thinking quickly, the knight flipped the bounty hunter on top of him, just in time for the latter to be decapitated by a final feather, one which pinned the Star Warrior to the ground by the collar. The robot’s lifeless body sparked, then fell on top of him. He squirmed to escape as Juris leered over him, preparing a final blow…

...Which struck against Jecra’s shield.

With a grunt, the Florian shoved the monster’s arm back, pushing her somewhat off-balance, but not enough for her to be unable to strike again with her other arm. The second strike was easily debuffed by the shield, but in defending himself, Jecra had given Juris the opportunity to regain her balance and come down much harder with both arms, resulting in a crushing lock that held him in place as he pushed against her.

Meta Knight, having finally escaped his pin, knew that he had to act quickly. He looked to the ground and discovered SLIM’s weapon, then picked it up and turned it in his hands, managing to slide a finger onto the trigger, and formulated a plan.

“Jecra,” he commanded. “Stay still.”

Jecra very briefly looked back. “Oh, wow, MK, ya never told me ya could shoot. Woulda been nice to know.”

“Ah, you misunderstand. I have never used this type of weapon.” Meta Knight replied, taking aim.

“...Y-ya…n-nev…?” The taller Star Warrior felt himself pale. “M-MK, w-whatevah ya do, don’t. Fire. That- ”

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Jecra tensed as he heard the laser projectiles whizz past him, striking against the wings that were pressing down on him. He then felt the pressure lessen as Juris recoiled, requiring much more time to steady herself.

“Now, Jecra! You have an opening!” Meta Knight shouted.

Jecra, partially fueled by the adrenaline of being shot at, charged forward, running his sword through Juris’ chest. He couldn’t help but be surprised at the lack of resistance, as if there were very little matter in the monster’s body. The monster stilled, a bright white light emerging from the wound and encompassing her midsection. Blue sparks shot along her body.

The knight raised a hand. “Ah, my friend, something that you should know about monsters. When they are slain, they have a tendency to-”

Juris exploded, sending the Florian backwards to his friend’s feet.

“...Well, certainly you are now aware.” Meta Knight said, casually dropping SLIM’s gun and wrapping himself in his cape.

“Yeah, thanks for the heads-up.”

In the place of the defeated monster, a familiar orb coughed and sat up unsteadily, rubbing his head as he spotted the Star Warriors. His eyes brightened.

“We-heh-hell! I gotta say, you fellers sure are a sight for ailin’ eyes!” Wester said, waving.

Once again, he was met with wordless stares.

“...Now, I bet y’all‘re wonderin’ how it is I came to be alive n’ well.” The outlaw sat back, gesturing with one hand. “Well, ya see, there I was, facin’ the feathers of unfair judgement. I knew them crooked officials wouldn’t let me come outta this hole breathin’, so I pretended that I’d give ‘em just as they wanted. I do believe that at that strange moment, I may have been eaten. Hard to tell. Great deal o’ white light tryna take me down. But everybody knows you can count on ol’ Wester to stick out the greedy claws o’- aw c’mon, Partner, ya can at least pretend to be curious.”

Meta Knight had walked away, finding his epée on the floor in the room of belongings, and the ship parts half-spilled in a corner. He searched for another moment as Wester appeared in the doorway, about to speak before having his weapon held out toward him.

“This is yours.” The knight said.

Wester stared for a moment, then looked down and chuckled. “Ya know somethin’ Partner? I owe ya a lot. Even though we weren’t on the best o’ terms, ya still came through n’ saved this li’l cowpoke’s hide. As I was gonna say ‘fore ya stepped away...even a fast-talkin’ feller like me can see when someone else deserves a bit o’ spotlight.” He took the star badge off his chest and extended it toward Meta Knight. “Ya declawed death, Partner, n’ in return all I want’s my ten-gallon. Consider the other thing a present, a memento from your ol’ pal Wester.”

Meta Knight took his badge, then looked up at the outlaw. “What is a ten-?”

“The hat, pal. Makes for a real imposin’ silhouette I ain’t willin’ to compromise.”

Meta Knight nodded and returned the article to its owner, then placed his star back onto his shoulder and coiled the whip.

Satisfied, Wester nodded and turned, marching through the exit of the jail. “Guess we better be high-tailin’ it to greener pastures, eh?”

“Guess so.” Jecra said. He was tempted to comment on the fact that Wester hadn’t really apologized or given them a reason to think they were now friends, but he was distracted by Meta Knight, who still remained in the room, occasionally glancing at various sections.

“...I won’t lie, MK.” He said with a sigh. “This place...what it means...it made me feel kinda punchy. All those people…n’ a lot of ‘em prolly didn’t do anythin’ wrong. It kinda reminds me of…”

“Take note, Jecra.” Meta Knight interrupted the Florian’s thought, walking by him to follow Wester, but stopping briefly at his side. “In fighting injustice, there will be occasions when we simply do not act in time. That we acted at all means that we have prevented much tragedy. However...” He looked back. “...There are times we must accept that we cannot prevent all of it.” 

He pulled the door closed and left the corridor.

/*|*\

Outside, a curious crowd had gathered in front of the entrance to the building, murmuring amongst each other first about the unusual commotion that’d come from it, then about the three criminals who were exiting it. Initially, the trio were content to wade through the crowd, not answering any of the barrage of questions, but the sound of doors flying open and the clearing of a throat behind them made them reconsider.

“Ladies n’ Gentlefolk, please do remain calm.” A tattered Sheriff said, barely disguising the panic and exhaustion in his voice. “After a, uh, long, tough riot-turned-discussion, we have decided to, er, release these men and, uh, do a bit o’ change on our method of treatin’ criminals. And I think that these fine men will agree that this has been a time comin’, n’ will help answer all yer questions.”

“We did not.” Meta Knight said flatly.

The Sheriff’s voice lowered to a his. “Ya broke the darn thing, least ya can do for freedom is-”

“Just in case ya guys wanna know,” Jecra shouted. “This guy is prolly only scary cuz he had a monster hurt or kill people that ya knew who went against the things he wanted. He don’t got it anymore. He’s just a guy now. Go ham. We’re out.”

“Yer a regular poet laurel, Partner.” Wester said, tipping his hat as the trio rushed away from the slowly-angering crowd.

Nearby, a train whistled to signal its departure. Wester looked to his companions and pointed. “Don’t suppose y’all might wanna lift?”

“...Are we gonna get kicked off and thrown on the tracks or somethin’?” Jecra asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Nah, nah, I hop ‘em all the time. Figure after the day you folks’ve had ya might wanna get on back where yer goin’ in style.”

Jecra looked to his friend. “Whatcha think?”

Meta Knight paused, then sighed. “Fine, but at the first sign of a trick I will slaughter you.”

“You sure are a knee-slapper, Partner!” Wester chuckled, hopping onto the back platform of the train as it pulled away. 

The Star Warriors followed suit, Meta Knight balancing easily on the handrail even as the speed of the train increased.

After a few moments of silence, Jecra held out his fist toward Meta Knight. “Hey, we did a pretty good job back there, huh?”

The knight stared, unmoving, at his friend’s hand.

The Florian sighed. “Ya pound your fist on my fist. It’s a buddy kinda thing.”

Meta Knight nodded, punching his friend's hand straight-on.

Jecra recoiled and shook out his hand. “We’ll...we’ll get there.” He mumbled. As he was recovering, he noticed the now-scabbing wound that the Sheriff had left on his friend. “Yo, MK...your arm…”

“Ah, yes. Quite an inconvenience. The stains will be difficult to remove.” Meta Knight held out part of his cape, black splotches standing out on the white lining, and grunted with annoyance before folding his arm back in.

“Ya didn’t tell me.”

“It was not important.”

“‘Course it is. That can get real bad if ya aren’t careful. You’ll patch it up, right?”

“Of course, I am not stupid.”

“I didn’t say ya were, I just…” Jecra sighed and stared at the rapidly-receding town. “Listen, I’m a little worried, okay? It ain’t a small thing.”

Neither of them said anything for several seconds.

Jecra fidgeted, then spoke again. “I didn’t wanna get sappy or anythin’ neither, I…”

“Had you not intervened, Juris would have destroyed me.” Meta Knight said. “You saved my life. Thank you.”

“U-uh…” the other Star Warrior rubbed his nose, gaze pointed downward. “No problem. What are buds for?”

There was more silence.

Jecra looked at his friend, then sat back against the train’s back exit, hands laced behind his head. “As a bud, though, can I ask a favor?”

“...It depends.”

Jecra smirked, but his tone was genuine.

“Nevah shoot at me again.”

Chapter Text

“Ya know, I’m totally okay to stop whenevah ya want.”

Jecra flipped up his mask, hoping that maybe the person across from him would take it as a cue, and rubbed his nose. 

“Or, at least...we don’t gotta be so...hand-to-hand…?”

Meta Knight, recovering from the impact of being thrown into the tree behind him, pushed himself somewhat-unsteadily to his feet. The chilly wind for which Earthfall was known blew his cape out to the side as he looked up at his opponent.

“Absolutely not.” He said, taking up a wide stance. “If we are to be able to face whatever comes our way, we must overcome our weaknesses in combat, and I do not want to rest until I have made progress.”

“...Man, you’re really somethin’ else.” Jecra replied, sighing and taking up a similar stance. “I just, ya know, feel bad. I don’t wanna hurt ya or nothin’.”

“I trust that you are skilled enough at your craft to avoid this, just as you trusted me to do the same before.”

The Florian thought back to not long before, when he had lost count of the amount of times the point of an epée had been thrust against his chest.

“...Yeah. I guess.”

“Very good. Now... en garde! ” Meta Knight cried, rushing directly at Jecra.

Jecra pulled his mask down and watched his friend carefully. He always opened this way, it was his next move that changed. His short stature made it fairly easy to throw him. In fact, several of their sparring matches had ended in tosses. Of course, his guy was a fast learner, and easily dodged any attempts at a grab.

Typically, when dodging, the knight had attempted to jump onto his friend in order to gain height, a style that made him more comfortable, but which also, he’d learned the hard way, put him in ideal striking range.

This time, he used that move to put distance between himself and his opponent, who charged forward a short distance to land a (soft) blow.

Meta Knight landed and ran directly into the path of the punch, launching himself into a slide at the last second, allowing him to pass under Jecra’s arm and gain access to his torso.

In one fluid motion, he rolled to his feet and took hold of his opponent’s waist,  allowing him to lift the Florian and toss him behind him.

Jecra, dropped face-first in the dirt, grunted as the position of his body forced him to somersault onto his back.

“A’ight, MK, good job. I think...I think ya really...overcame your weaknesses...or whatevah.”

“Do you think so?” Meta Knight watched his friend pick himself up. “I am not certain. In fact, I am suspicious that you are holding back.”

“Nah, nope, uh, not at all.” Jecra sat up and lifted his mask, wiping dirt off his face. “I just think it’s...it’s a good time to be done.”

“As you wish.” The knight conceded, looking toward the horizon. “Perhaps that is for the best. It will be dark soon.”

“No kiddin’.” The other Star Warrior said, standing. “Guess we better set up n’ settle in.”

The two set up camp, and once the sky had darkened and they finally had the opportunity to sit down, a thought struck Jecra. 

“Hey...I know I should’ve asked this a long time ago…” he said, looking across to his friend. “But...what are we doin’ here, anyway? Somethin’ cool? Starry?”

Meta Knight met his gaze, then lifted his face to the sky. “Our goal is to find the Warrior with the Golden Mask, a powerful figure who heads a legendary faction of Star Warriors called the Galaxy Soldier Army. I believe that joining forces with them is pivotal to ending the reign of NME.”

“...And that guy...they’re here?”

“...It is possible.” Meta Knight looked back down to his friend. “In my travels I have heard tell of various places he has been. However…” he rubbed the back of his head. “This information has varied in how specific it is from place to place. In this place, Earthfall, there is tell of a ‘Warrior with a Golden Helm .’ This fits the description...and if it is not, then perhaps the warrior here will know where we can look.”

“So...we’ve just been...goin’ places n’ prayin’?” Jecra took his turn to look up at the sky. “Guess it’s...not the worst thing…? ‘S’long as we keep takin’ out monsters along the way?”

“Whether independent or allied with others, any effort is better than none.”

Suddenly, the two were caught off-guard by hissing from a group of trees nearby. They drew their blades and readied themselves as a formless shape shot into the air above them. During its flight, the creature took the form of a dark-colored cube, with horns, hollow yellow eyes, and a fanged smile illuminated by the firelight from the camp.

“How strange…” Meta Knight commented. “It looks like a...Kookler?”

“...That’s not what it’s called. You’re nevah gonna convince me that that’s what that thing’s called.” Jecra said, pointing his sword toward it.

The Kookler dove at Jecra, who slashed at it. With a visible cut, the monster bounced back into the air and hissed again.

“I have never seen one in-person. I was under the impression that they had been retired…” The knight mused, casually running his blade through the Kookler.

The Kookler sparked and exploded, its dying hiss quickly giving away to another, louder hiss from the trees. A second, larger Kookler bounded into view, acting much more quickly in coming down onto the duo.

They dove out of the way, but before they could launch a counterattack, the creature’s grin morphed into a grimace as it jolted three times. This was followed by a loud cry from behind the monster, which drew the attention of all three of them toward its source: a lavender-skinned woman dressed in blue with orchid shoulder plates, completing an impressive leap toward the Kookler. At the jump’s peak, a gold, crown-like helm with an embedded triangular sapphire glistened, and the light from her golden sword shone distinctly in the moonlight above. As the Kookler turned to face its fate, it revealed three crossbow bolts in its back, likely fired by the weapon kept on a belt at the warrior’s side. Her blade easily passed through the monster as she landed, causing it to spark and explode as its predecessor had.

The warrior landed in a crouch. As she stood, the wind picked up, blowing her armor-matching cape to the side as she shrugged her purple ponytail behind her. A few fallen leaves framed her face.

“Yo, MK…” Jecra muttered. “Ya got a sign with, like, the number 10 written on it?”

“...Do I have... what …?” Meta Knight answered, looking to his friend with bewilderment.

“I’ve never seen you two.” The third warrior spoke, narrowing her magenta eyes and pointing her sword forward. “State your business.”

“We are searching for someone, a warrior with a golden helm…” Meta Knight’s explanation trailed off as he got a more detailed look at the woman.

“...Hey, uh…” Jecra picked up on his friend’s unspoken observation. “Ya wouldn’t happen to know of any, uh...Galaxy Soldiers or anythin’...would ya…?”

The Warrior with the Golden Helm raised an eyebrow.

The Florian laughed sheepishly. “I guess...I guess that’s a no…”

The woman sighed, grimacing at them. “You two aren’t part of that group of weirdos that goes around trying to harvest monster parts, are you?” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Listen, I’ve told you so many times before, monsters explode when they’re defeated. All you’re doing is putting yourself in unnecessary danger. Again. ”

“If we are being honest,” Meta Knight interrupted. “Kooklers are not particularly  difficult to defeat. We are hardly unprotected.”

“...What...did you...just call them?”

“I know, right?” Jecra exclaimed. “What kinda name-”

The warrior sighed loudly. “Listen, I don’t have time for this. As the Hero of the Midori, it’s my duty to protect this place, and you two are making that more difficult by doing...whatever kind of late-night tryst this is.”

“U-uh, Miss...I think ya maybe got a weird idea here…” Jecra rubbed his nose uncomfortably.

“Certainly, I understand that our meeting must make things quite difficult for you, but it is not our intention.” Meta Knight added.

“That’s not what I was tryna say, MK…”

“Certainly, Miss Hero of the Midori, you can guide us somewhere more appropriate.” The knight continued.

“We’re...stayin’...?” The Florian cocked his head to the side.

“Of course, if we are welcome.”

The Hero squinted at them, then sighed. “I guess I can’t just leave you two out here. Not tonight.”

“What’s so special about tonight?” Jecra asked as he began to pack up.

“Hm. You two really are foreign.” She replied, directing her gaze skyward. “It’s long been a curse in the Midori that on nights where the moon is full, any monsters that had been slain will once again rise to plague the land.”

“Is that so?” Meta Knight finished bundling his necessities for the evening and looked at the woman. “How...curious.”

“That’s certainly a word for it.” The Warrior with the Golden Helm said, turning to lead the newcomers to safety.

/*|*\

The path was, indeed, treacherous. More threatening monsters had been cleared before the Hero encountered the Star Warriors, but smaller creatures proved dangerous when they would appear in great numbers. 

Finally, the trio arrived in the capital city of Medoh.

Of course, “capital city” implied something grander than the place into which they walked. Medoh was more of a large village, lit by glass-and-fire lanterns mounted on top of poles and strung between various buildings and empty stalls.

A couple villagers milled about, making conversation or conducting late-night business, though they quieted when they caught sight of the trio, staring curiously.

The Hero nodded to them, prompting them to nod in return and, when she had passed with her guests, whisper amongst each other.

She eventually stopped in front of a building that was slightly taller and wider than those around it, one of the few with lights shining out its windows.

“You’ll be staying here for the night. If you can’t afford it, that’s fine, we’re hospitable enough and I’m certain I can convince the innkeeper to allow a couple strange guests so long as you don’t make any trouble.”

“Ya know, sorry to say, ya may be askin’ a lot there.” Jecra said, rubbing his nose with a tired smile.

Before the woman could say anything, a loud cry resounded through the square.

“Lady Garlude!”

The man who made the call looked similar to the Hero, Garlude, but with hair and skin that were a pale green, a smaller, silver circlet on his shoulder-length hair, and a dark green floor-length robe embroidered with a gold pattern that vaguely resembled a humanoid shape with no features save a blank pair of eyes.

He all-but stumbled when he stopped in front of his Hero, out-of-breath as he looked up at her.

Garlude, eyes wide, placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Fero, what are you doing here? Has something happened?”

“I-I wanted to wait for your route, but so much time had passed. I thought that something may have happened…”

The Hero hung her head slightly. “Ah, yes. I’m late. I apologize. I had an...unexpected encounter.”

Jecra shifted uncomfortably.

“Our temple is overrun.” Fero continued. “I sense that on this night the Great Iron Guardian will return.”

Garlude snapped her head back into a forward-facing position, eyes once again wide before she closed them and nodded, straightening and drawing her sword.

“I understand.” She said. “I’ll see to it that we are protected. Stay here.” She looked over her shoulder. “All of you can check in together. You should be offered space easily.”

At this, Garlude rushed off.

“Wow. Sounds heavy.” Jecra commented, rubbing his nose pensively. “Pretty glad we don’t have to deal with that, eh, MK?” He looked down toward his friend, crying out at the realization that said friend was not there. His shock subsided and he sighed. “I’m gonna look up, n’ he’s gonna be followin’ her, ain’t he?”

The Florian looked up, just in time to catch the movement of the knight’s cape as he ran in the direction of the Hero.

“Lady Garlude commanded that we remain here!” Fero called.

There came no answer.

“...Uh, yeah. Don’t worry, uh, I’ll...I’ll get ‘im.” Jecra mumbled, taking off after his friend.

/*|*\

The entrance to the temple had no door, and the exterior was stout, adorned around the entrance with smooth white pillars and around the walls with intricate green-and-gold-painted patterns.

Garlude stood before the entrance, bowed her head, then vanished inside.

From their short distance away, Jecra and Meta Knight watched, the latter standing on a tree limb.

“Fascinating.” Meta Knight mused.

“I guess…” Jecra replied, rubbing his nose before sighing loudly. “MK, listen, I get that you’re all curious n’ devoted, n’ bein’ a Star Warrior n’ all I don’t mean to complain but...I’m so tired, MK. Can we look at this place tomorrow or somethin’?”

“We cannot.” Meta Knight jumped from his perch. “You may not be aware, but the monsters we have encountered tonight are NME monsters that have long been retired, and it is very strange that they should regenerate themselves. Most are not built in such a way.”

“Man...maybe it’s a thing about Earthfall? Maybe they just got a place that’s real nice for monstahs n’ they all settle down here n’-”

“And what of this Great Iron Guardian? Perhaps it is the key to this mystery.”

“MK...please...it’s too late for mysteries…”

In response, Meta Knight crossed his arms and entered the temple, prompting his companion to follow with a groan.

/*|*\

The inside of the temple was far more intricate than the outside had led the Star Warriors to believe. The entrance hall in which the two stood contained much more intricate artwork, much of it resembling the figure that had been on Fero’s robes. There were large support pillars on either side of the room, each framed in gold.

From the doorway to the next room, they heard a familiar battle cry and the clanging of a weapon. They exchanged glances and ran through into the next room, where they encountered the Hero of the Midori engaging with a creature covered mostly in a round, rock-like shell. The creature took a piece of its shell-- which regenerated as soon as it was taken-- and hurled it at the warrior, who, with expert timing, smacked the piece back at it, knocking it down and rendering it dazed.

“Rolling Turtle Junior.” Meta Knight blurted, finally recognizing the creature.

“Eh?” The sudden comment caused Garlude to divert her attention toward them, giving Rolling Turtle Jr. ample time to curl up and ram itself into her.

She was thrown to the ground with a grunt.

The monster stood, once again readying itself to strike at the Hero, until it was caught in the abdomen by Jecra’s thrown shield, once again rendering it vulnerable.

Garlude seized the opportunity to effortlessly load her crossbow, landing one bolt, then another, then another into the monster, causing it to explode.

Nearby, another doorway revealed itself.

“Heh, uh, nice teamwork there, uh...Garlude, right? Yeah, nice teamwork, Gar-”

“I told you two to stay in the village.” The woman picked up Jecra’s shield with impressive ease and roughly tossed it back toward him.

“Y-yeah, uh, ya sure did.” Jecra replied, awkwardly catching the shield. “We just, uh, wanted to…”

“It is of personal interest to us to investigate this problem alongside you.” Meta Knight interjected before bowing his head slightly. “I apologize for distracting you.”

“You should be sorry.” Garlude said flatly. “It’s unwise to interfere in these affairs. What personal interest could you two possibly have here?” She raised an eyebrow. “Were you lying about the monster parts earlier?”

“Okay, I gotta ask, is that seriously a thing?” Jecra cocked his head to the side.

“If we are able to accomplish our goal, it is possible that this land will be permanently free of monsters.” The knight continued. 

An incredulous laugh forced its way out of the Hero. “You? You’re going break the ages-old Curse of the Midori? Something generations of heroes couldn’t accomplish?” She looked them over, and couldn’t help but chuckle again. “And all I, one of those very heroes, has to do, is allow you to follow me into this incredibly sacred landmark?”

“Yes, exactly.” Meta Knight nodded.

“...Do you think I’m a fool?” There was no more laughter from Garlude. “You’re not funny, you’re not clever.” She turned to face the new exit. “...But you’re not leaving, either, are you?”

“No, certainly not.”

“I-I mean, we could…” Jecra mumbled, rubbing his nose and turning his gaze to the ground.

Garlude paused, looking down in thought, then glanced back over her shoulder. “...You two seem well-armed. If you’re following, you’re aiding me. If you’re going to hold me back, I can and will remove you by force.”

“You will find us to be quite skilled, I assure you.” The knight drew his blade, holding it vertically in front of him.

“Yeah, you can count on us.” The attendant affirmed, sounding less than enthused.

The Star Warriors, led by the Hero, proceeded deeper into the temple. Along the route, they encountered more herds of monsters that needed to be cleared before they could proceed. Some, like the “Blopper,” as Meta Knight called them, posed little threat, while others, such as one Meta Knight called “Yuki,” did things like throw parts of its body at the trio, leaving parts of the ground frozen.

Between the struggles there was silent walking, something Jecra eventually found himself unable to stand.

“So, uh, Gar...sounds like you’re real important ‘round here.” He said.

“What did you just call me…?” The Hero asked, glancing back over her shoulder.

“Oh, uh, ya know. Gar. Like, short for Garlude. ‘S a nickname, ya know?”

Garlude squinted. “As far as I recall, you two haven’t even given me your actual names, I don’t think a nickname is really in ord-”

“Oh, shoot, yeah, you’re right!” Jecra face-palmed. “Oh man, what a blunduh.”

“Indeed, how rude. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Meta Knight said. “I am-”

“This here’s MK. He’s real smart about monstahs n’ stuff, n’ I’m Jecra, but you can call me Jec or Jack or whatevah, I’m real cool with nicknames.” The Florian rubbed his nose nonchalantly.

“...Meta Knight.” The knight finished.

“...Mmm-hm.” Garlude faced forward again. “It’s...quite the experience to meet you.”

“Uh...thanks, I think, Gar.” Jecra raised an eyebrow.

“I never said you could call me that.”

“Lady Garlude, then?” Said Meta Knight, perched on a pedestal directly next to the Hero.

Garlude cried out, drawing her sword and pointing it at the knight before quickly regaining her composure, putting a hand on her hip. “You were just behind me.”

“Yeah, ya get used to it.” Jecra said, shrugging.

Meta Knight, staring at the wall beside him, pointed toward a deep purple splotch. “What is that?”

Garlude looked solemnly at the splotch. “Toxic, is what it is. As we get closer to the center of the temple you’ll begin to see it more frequently. It’s said that coming into direct contact with it will either turn one’s heart to darkness...or stop it entirely.”

“...Oh. Uh, wow.” Jecra said, paling slightly. “Gotta say, real glad we came out tonight, MK.”

“I would agree.” Meta Knight said, leaping from his perch and walking onward. “This continues to get more...interesting.”

“You don’t know where you’re going.” Garlude remarked, crossing her arms.

“No.” He replied, continuing ahead.

The woman sighed heavily, rapidly catching up and getting back in front of the knight while the attendant struggled to keep up.

“You have mentioned before,” Meta Knight said, “that there was a curse on your land? Tell me, is that about the monsters coming back to life?”

“...Yes.” Garlude answered. “It’s been this way for generations.”

“Do you think you know what may be responsible?” Meta Knight asked.

“We do have some idea. In ancient times, a dark mage named Madoo arrived from a desolate kingdom and, jealous of its bounty, sought to dominate and destroy the Midori.” She stopped in the middle of the room, taking down a small monster with a single bolt, and gestured to an illustration on the wall-- a simplified human figure holding a sword aloft beneath a larger portrait of the recurring expressionless figure. “In response, the First Hero of the Midori was picked by the Fierce Deity themselves. Some say they even forged the blade he carried.”

“Hey…” Jecra said, squinting at the picture. “Speakin’ of the sword, it kinda looks like…”

Meta Knight looked at the blade in Garlude’s hand. “It has been passed down since then?”

Garlude gently placed the flat of the blade in her other hand, holding the weapon horizontally. Even in the torchlight that dimly lit the temple, it shone. “With how well it’s held up, it’s hard not to believe that it’s divinely-crafted.” She held it back out at her side. “Since then, the selection of a Hero is more of a process, a birthright taken by one who’s proven themselves worthy of the title.”

“And nowadays...ya guys are on monstah patrol?” Jecra rubbed his nose curiously.

“It’s much more than that.” Garlude said pointedly. “Don’t make it sound so easy. Not only do I have to protect against the beasts who revive themselves every full moon, but I have to ensure the safety of the masters of these temples and, when the time comes, strike down Madoo myself.”

Meta Knight cocked his head to the side. “Did you not say that this mage was defeated?”

“I didn’t, and for a reason.” Garlude faced the door, opened by the monster’s defeat. “Even after being struck down by the First Hero, Madoo returned, and has been returning for generations. For every Hero, once all of his strongest resurrected guardians are defeated, he will reappear, his fortress rebuilt, and challenge us once again. Once he’s defeated, we’ll know...temporary peace.”

“...Ya know, Gar-” Jecra spoke up.

“I never said you could call me that.”

“...It’s a lot to take on by yourself, was all I was gonna say.”

“I didn’t always.” Garlude said, stiffening immediately after doing so.

“No?” Meta Knight asked.

“No.” The Hero advanced to the next room.

/*|*\

The trio stood in front of the ornately-decorated door to the center of the temple. On the corner of the doorway, and throughout the room, were larger splotches of the strange purple substance, intimidating despite the lack of many other notable characteristics.

“There’s still time for you to turn back.” Garlude said.

“I don’t wanna sound like a cliché or nothin’.” Jecra replied, pulling down his mask. “But we went all this way, seems kinda silly to quit here n’ now.”

“I would agree.” Meta Knight nodded.

“Do you understand you could die?” The Hero asked, a strange quality to her voice.

“Coulda happened a few times by now.” The Florian shrugged. “Ain’t nothin’ we’re not used to.”

“...Fine.” The woman pushed open the door.

The room at the heart of the temple was much larger than any through which the trio had previously gone. The torches were much brighter, the illustrations on the walls more brilliant. The floor had what appeared to be a rich pattern, obscured partially by an altar with a green cloth resembling the robe worn by Faro, and obscured mostly by a giant mass of the purple substance spread out from its center, its solid, glassy surface reflecting the improved light.

“Wow.” Jecra muttered. “Ya weren’t kiddin’.”

“I’m not really the type.” Garlude said, scanning the room with her sword at the ready.

Meta Knight poked the mass on the floor with his sword. “Yes…” he mused. “This must be where it is coming from…”

“I know you heard me warn you about that stuff.” The Hero said, placing the flat of her blade against the knight. “Don’t do anything foolish.”

“I gotta say, I’m a little confused.” Jecra said, looking around the room. “Didn’t that guy say there was gonna be some big monstah in here?”

Garlude looked to him. “It’s difficult to tell when a guardian of any kind will resurrect itself. If it’s happening tonight, it may take some time...to…” She took notice of the shocked look in Jecra’s eyes, following his gaze...and then making the same expression.

Meta Knight had run onto the mass.

“What are you doing? You can’t-” Instinctively, the Hero began to pursue the knight, but the second she set foot on the substance a blunt, painful jolt shot through her body, causing her to stumble back and cry out. “You idiot! Get back here right now or I’ll-...” She took a breath, gripping her sword tightly.

“MK! When ya got plans ya gotta talk ‘em through first!” Jecra called, stopping short of the edge of the mass.

As he approached the center of the room, Meta Knight’s movements became more and more uneasy. With every step, he received a similar jolt to Garlude, but any pain was outweighed by intense disorientation. He tried to make his strides as wide as possible to reduce this, practically hopping in order to do so.

It was kind of fun, the hopping. He could hop for hours. Days even. Hopping was euphoric. The shouting Garlude was not. Heroes don’t yell. Why was she telling him what to do? Ohhh jail for Garlude. Jail for Garlude for One-Thousand years! He was going to put Garlude in jail.

Meta Knight shook his head furiously, a desperate attempt to clear the mania that was clouding his mind. He had to focus.

The knight stared straight ahead, putting all of his concentration into the goal of reaching the center, the voices of his traveling companions indistinct. When he reached it, he knelt, the jolt evolving into a steady, motion-seizing barrage as he remained in one place.

He had to find it. The thing. The thing. He was looking for it. It was there. That thing. The thing for Garlude. The thing meant specifically to solve the problem for Garlude. Garlude’s thing. That thing. He could hardly hear his thoughts over his erratic breathing, much less the words of Jecra and Garlude. Some breaths were shallow, some light, some heavy gasps. He could control it, probably, maybe, but why? Because he couldn’t.

Meta Knight slapped the ground. “Where-it??” He shouted, words slurred.

“Oh man...oh man, oh man, ohhhhh man. ” Jecra fretted. “Gar, we gotta do somethin’.”

“I never said you could call me that! And...do you think I wouldn’t if I could?” Garlude said, desperately scanning the room once more before closing her hands around the hilt of her sword and bringing it to her chest. She closed her eyes. “Fierce Deity, hear my plea. I beg of you, show me the way spare this poor stranger a terrible fate!”

At that moment, a small circle lit up in the center of the room, beneath the purple material. Its magenta glow began to diffuse through the substance, causing the entire mass to appear as if it were glowing.

Meta Knight gasped, smacking at the magenta ring.

“Cirgle!” He shouted.

“Wow, guess that worked out, huh…?” Jecra said, looking to the rapidly-paling hero.

“No…” she mumbled. “Not now.”

“...N-no…?”

“This is it.” Garlude pointed her sword in front of her. “The Great Iron Guardian. It’s about to appear.”

“Wait, ya mean…?” Jecra pointed his sword in front of him.

From the light, a shape began to emerge, forming into a metallic blue shell, out of which emerged a fin-like structure that jutted out of its back. It formed two silver arms, one appearing to be some sort of cannon, a silver face with two black panels just beneath the shell, and two blue feet. When it had fully formed, rusted on the tips of its fin and limbs, the black panels glowed yellow, giving it the appearance of opening its eyes.

Jecra held his shield between himself and Garlude. “...Holy...holy sh-”

“Wowwwwww!” Meta Knight shouted, twitching in place and pointing at the monster. “Mmmm-M-Metal Gennnnerall??? Ooooo, oh, hold on...yesssss...MSR-...MSRRRRR-”

“M-MK, man, y-ya gotta be quiet, okay?” Jecra pleaded.

“Its weakness is behind it.” Garlude said. “We have to aim for the boosters-”

“H-76262686!” The knight announced. “It is soooo fascinating, I must...no, no I must...I must...the circle…”

The Great Iron Guardian-- Metal General-- took aim at the two warriors before it, firing small rockets from its arm that arced outward before closing in on them.

Jecra looked up, pupils shrunk. “G-Gar…?”

“All you can do is dodge or block them.” The Hero replied, running just ahead of the rockets’ impacts as they attempted to follow her.

The Florian bore a few strikes against his shield, but even for him, the impact was proving to be painful, so he eventually darted in the opposite direction of Garlude.

Once the rockets stopped falling, Garlude rushed forward, grunting as she slashed at the front of Metal General, which caused one yellow eye to glitch about its damaged face panel. 

The automaton reeled back slightly and jumped into the air, the boosters on its back keeping it aloft as it swooped toward its opponents.

Meta Knight, still struggling to keep focus, stared at the scratch marks Metal General had left behind during takeoff. There were many like it pocking the mound of material, something which stuck out to the knight for reasons he had to concentrate intensely on to discover. Once he’d solved the puzzle, he grunted and nodded, taking out his sword and turning toward the glowing circle.

“Welcome to die, cirgle…” He muttered, bringing his blade down on the substance, which caused it to crack and chip.

Above him, Metal General flinched slightly at the barrage of blue energy hitting it in the face, turning its attention to the Smash-Punching Knuckle Tribesman below. It dove once again, preparing to fire more missiles on its ascent.

Garlude dove to the side and rolled to her feet, nodding as she watched Jecra just barely jump out of the way in time. If the Guardian was focused on him…

“You said your name was Jecra?” She said, loading a bolt into her crossbow.

“Aww, haha, ya remembered…” Jecra replied, unable to hide the shake in his voice as the robot fired down at him.

Garlude nodded, taking aim. “Keep doing what you’re doing, Jecra…”

“Well, what I’m doin’ is tryin’ not to get got,” The Florian ran from the rockets, not bothering with his shield this time. “I can sure do that for ya, Gar!”

“I never said you could call me that.” The Hero muttered, watching as Metal General turned to strike down directly at Jecra. She fired into one of its boosters, causing it to spiral out of the air and land in-between them.

Steeling his resolve, Jecra rushed forward and bashed his shield into the guardian’s face, causing its second eye to distort as the first one had.

Metal General fell backward, then fired into the air, missiles scattering throughout the room. While the lack of aim made it such that Jecra and Garlude didn’t have to assume a particular defensive position, it was still more than enough to keep them from preventing the robot from standing up properly, swinging its non-cannon arm into the ground, leaving a sizable crack in the floor.

“Ya know, Gar, that thing...I think...I think maybe we made it mad.” Jecra said, getting to the Hero’s side.

“That does tend to happen when it’s blinded.” Garlude replied, crouching slightly. “And I still don’t recall saying you could call me that.”

Metal General spun blindly, sending small, blinking discs onto the floor. At the completion of its spins, its non-cannon arm held a katana, which cracked with energy.

Nearby, Meta Knight-- now standing before a mostly-exposed glowing circle-- picked up a disc that had landed near him, squinting at it.

“Ahhhh...this is a bomb. I have never used a bomb before…” He muttered, waving it in front of his own face.

One by one, the discs exploded, the relatively small blasts scattering chips of the floor’s surface at and around the warriors. Undeterred by its own attacks, Metal General advanced, swinging the sword at a breakneck pace.

“Put it down!” Garlude cried at the knight, shuffling partially behind Jecra’s shield.

“Do not telllll me what-do!” The knight answered, throwing the disc into the air. It bounced off the gashes he’d made in the substance, landing in the center of the exposed circle before exploding, sending chunks of the floor, chunks of the strange material, and Meta Knight himself onto the ground.

Its shape disrupted by the breaking of the floor, the circle’s light faded.

As if sensing this disruption, Metal General froze and turned slowly, its steps heavy. It charged forward, blade moving even faster to strike down anything before it.

“Quickly! Take out its right booster! I’ll take the left.” Garlude commanded, rushing ahead.

Jecra nodded, following suit. He slammed his sword down onto a booster, just as Garlude did the same. Frantically, the guardian turned and struck at Garlude, but she spun easily out of the way, rolling beneath the automaton and then, in one fluid motion, getting to her feet and leaping upward, making a deep upward slash in its back.

The monster tried to stand, its armor shaking as it became less stable, and finally fell completely off, revealing a black orb in a headset, quivering just as badly as the armor had.

“Whaaaaaat? This one still has a Haltworker in ittttt…” Meta Knight shouted, struggling to push himself to his feet as his arms twitched  “MSRRRR-ah, rrrrr...MSR-H-76262686 a ! It is…” he paused.

“...It’s retired, ain’t it?” Jecra cut in, admittedly tiring of this bit.

The knight grunted and slid face-first back onto the ground.

The Haltworker reached to its side, drawing a small gun, but was promptly impaled by Garlude before it could shoot, causing it and the whole apparatus to spark and explode.

Garlude sheathed her sword, taking a deep breath. “That was a hard-fought battle, and your assistance made it much easier.” She extended a hand toward Jecra. “Thank you.”

Jecra lifted his mask and flashed a friendly grin, rubbing his nose with one hand and shaking the Hero’s hand with the other. “Hey, Gar, don’t worry about it. Always happy to help.”

“I never said…” she sighed, a small smile crossing her face. “...Anyway.” She turned toward the mound on the floor, her tone much more serious. “Now we need to figure out how...to…”

To the duo’s shock, the mound was beginning to disintegrate, deep purple specks coming off of the mass and into the air like disturbed ash before breaking down into nothing. They turned their heads, slowly surveying the area, slowly becoming surrounded by thousands of purple flecks which were vanishing almost as quickly as they’d appeared.

“...Whoa…” Jecra breathed. “Does this...always happen…?

“...No.” Garlude replied, her tone once again unreadable. She turned to Meta Knight, walking safely along the floor to reach him through the flurry.

The knight had just barely raised his head from the floor when he was lifted into the air by his collar, coming face-to-face with the Hero.

“How are you still alive?” Garlude asked gruffly. “Why is this happening?”

Meta Knight was shaken by one final jolt. “The answer...may shock you~” he said.

The glare he was given in response was, admittedly, very effective in helping him recover his senses. He cleared his throat.

“I have been dealing with monsters for some time.” He said. “It is something of my life’s work.” He stuck his arm into a swirl of purple, the flakes dissolving against his hand. “I thought perhaps I had built up an immunity to this substance. It seems I was mostly correct.”

“And what is ‘this substance?’” Garlude struggled not to lose her patience.

“I was not certain before, but now I believe that it is a waste material from the process of monster transportation. Little is known of it, as it typically has a very short half-life.” The clouds of purple were slowly dissipating as the knight looked about the room. “Were I to guess, it is composed of an imprint of the monster being transported, and perhaps energy from its creator. It is common to all of them.”

“But MK, we seen our fair share of monstahs, there wasn’t a hint of any of this stuff.” Jecra said, rubbing his nose confusedly.

“It is unheard of in electric systems, where it is easily destroyed by the current. The system used here is magic, which is much older.” The knight redirected his gaze to his companions. “Whoever is responsible for summoning monsters here has kept this material here as well, and apparently put it to some use. It would be interesting to study...but of course we cannot do so now.”

Garlude slowly lowered the orb to the ground, lost in thought.

“An imprint of monsters...activated by magic…” she muttered.

“...You okay, Gar…?” Jecra asked, reaching for her shoulder.

His effort was interrupted when the Hero straightened and stiffly turned around, making her way to the exit. “It’s time to go.” She said. “There’s something I must do.”

The Star Warriors exchanged glances and followed.

/*|*\

Outside the temple, the forest was much quieter than it had been before. As Garlude strode through, her mind on a single goal, she started to become more and more agitated with every monster she didn’t encounter. Any that she suspected were alive cowered in the corners of her vision.

Before long, trees became sparser, but somehow the environment became darker, colder. There was an ethereal quality about the ruins the trio were beginning to pass, one that was quickly outweighed by the intimidation of the black tower materializing in their center. Despite the moonlight above, the tower still appeared more as a silhouette than a structure, save for the distinctive reflection of a familiar purple substance splotched about it, increasing in frequency the higher up it was.

The trio were stopped in the center of four torches directly in front of the blocked entrance. Jecra, far more consumed by the event he just witnessed than the things around him, pointed upward at the tower.

“Huh.” He said.

“...I knew I was forgetting something.” Garlude said, sighing and looking behind her. “This is Madoo’s Fortress, summoned by the defeat of the Great Iron Guardian. Your journey ends here. Your help up to now has been...enlightening, but I must undertake this alone.”

“The mark on this torch looks familiar.” Meta Knight said, standing atop one unlit torch to stare at an adjacent one.

“You would have seen it earlier, it’s the emblem for Medoh.” Garlude said, crossing her arms. “I have to say, your habit of not listening is wearing on my patience.”

“Ha, sorry, Gar, MK’s just a curious guy, ya know? He sees somethin’ interestin’ n’ he’s all one-track.” Jecra sheepishly explained, rubbing the back of his head nervously. He looked over to where his friend was standing. “I hope that thing ain’t important or nothin’...”

“It is. The masters of the temples in each region of the Midori light them, which opens the door.” Garlude said matter-of-factly.

“...Lady Garlude...when are these people...coming?” Meta Knight cocked his head to the side.

The Hero stiffened. She’d bypassed the town, which meant she had also bypassed the opportunity to inform Fero of what had happened. She was, frankly, shocked that she had been so impulsive. She chastised herself as she uttered the dreaded response.

“They’re not.”

“They’re…” The knight echoed.

“...So, uh, Gar…” Jecra said. “How are we...uh...you...gonna…?”

Garlude did not answer, consumed with the very same question, in disbelief that she was bungling her one job. Despite the perilous events from before, being stopped by a closed door somehow felt like the crowning moment of disaster for that night.

“...Hey, uh, ya know, maybe we can go back…?” The Florian chuckled uneasily. “I mean, yeah it ain’t fun we got out here this far, but…”

He trailed off as the Hero drew her sword, lifting it skyward.

“Fierce Deity!” She called, her voice full and powerful. “At the threshold of evil, I ask of you: lend me your strength! ”

As she shouted, she focused intensely on what she needed to accomplish. It was a simple task, really. Surely the Fierce Deity knew what had to be done. She did. Her concentration was such that it was all that was on her mind.

Devotion. Loyalty. Determination.

The blade of the sword glowed.

Using her whole body, she swung it downward, sending a crescent-shaped wave of energy into the door that broke it apart.

Garlude, hunched from her efforts, took a deep breath and straightened.

“I’m going now.” She said, advancing into the fortress.

Jecra waited a moment, then exhaled. “Alright, MK, guess the party’s over for us. Better head back and get some shut-eye-”

“Incredible.” Meta Knight said reverently, his eyes briefly a pale blue.

“...That’s the most emotion I ever heard ya use.” Jecra said suspiciously, then smirked. “Ya got a little crush, don’t ya, MK? I won’t tell, don’t worry-”

“A sword beam . I have scarcely seen one performed so effortlessly...” Meta Knight turned to Jecra. “...I apologize, did you say something?”

“...Wait...are ya crushin’...on her sword skills …?”

“I would certainly be unable to crush her or her sword.”

“That’s not…”

Meta Knight leapt across the unlit torches, alighting on the wreckage in the doorway. “I sense that there is much that can be learned from her.”

“I don’t like where you’re goin’ with that. Can we just do like she said n’ go back…” Jecra pleaded.

The knight responded by going through the doorway.

The Florian groaned and, with a resigned sigh, followed.

The inside of the tower was not as ornate as the two would expect from its exterior. Each room was small, made of black brick, dotted with purple substance, lit solely by any moonlight filtering through neat rectangular holes in the outer walls, and decorated only by the occasional wine red banner. Any room that did have objects had them arranged strangely, as if meant to be in a specific position to achieve an objective-- perhaps opening the door? At various points, the two could swear that they heard faint music, but if either of them tried to focus on listening to it, it was gone, leaving them unsure if it was some sort of illusion. Otherwise, they were settled upon by an intimidating silence, one that felt less like an absence of sound and more like a presence of something beyond it.

At a point on every floor, there was a set of stairs along an outer wall, forming a disconnected spiral. As they ascended, the atmosphere became palpably heavier.

Jecra looked at an empty, open circle of rooms and said. “Wow, she must be real determined to be bowlin’ through this place so fast. I wonder what’s up.”

Neither of them spoke again for some time.

Finally, as they climbed toward what they believed to be the final floor of the building, they heard a cry, then a loud grunt. When they got to the singular room, they saw Garlude, slightly hunched, sword straight out at her side. Behind her, a large figure-- unable to be properly identified before its silhouette was consumed by sparks-- exploded, blowing bits of her hair in front of her. She looked up at them, the glint in her eye more exhausted than angry as she said, “I told you two to stay back.”

“W-well...yeah, yeah ya did, but, uh…” Jecra stammered.

He was interrupted by a thunk , as a stair suddenly emerged from a wall, followed quickly by others, which led out one of the windows, around the outside of the tower and to the roof.

Garlude glanced at the newly-formed stairway. “...This is your last chance to retreat. I suggest you take it.”

“I am not prone to such behavior.” Meta Knight replied.

“What is it with you two? Are you in some hurry to die?” Her gaze did not leave the stairs.

“I am not prone to that behavior, either.”

“...I don’t want to be responsible for the exception.”

“Well, uh…” Jecra chimed in. “Guess if we follow you n’ somethin’ happens...ya don’t gotta be. It’ll be our choice.”

“That’s not as comforting as you think.” The Hero sighed.

“Then we simply will not die.” Meta Knight said, shrugging. “I do not see how that is difficult.”

“You’ll find it harder than you expect.” Garlude snapped, before clearing her throat and approaching the stairway. “I offered you the chance to leave. If you don’t take it...then don’t be surprised if you find what happens next to be unpleasant.”

“Very good.” Meta Knight replied, following her alongside Jecra.

The air around the top of the tower was cold, armor-piercing. As the trio ascended, the music that they had all heard at one point or another became more and more clear. It was distinctly harp-like in tone quality-- open, haunting and parallelistic in melody.

Garlude was the first to see its source: a floating figure in a wine-red robe, its back to her, playing a silver lyre. The strings seemed long gone, replaced with glowing dark threads that appeared as soon as they were to be plucked, and disappeared after it was done.

The second she stepped onto the roof, it stopped.

“You know…” the figure said, its voice cracked, raspy, yet with a tone that somehow sounded youthful and strong. “They used to train Heroes of the Midori up to be really good at this kind of thing. Is that still true? Do you play anything? I wouldn’t know, I get to talk to you all so rarely…”

Garlude said nothing.

“...I guess not. What a pity.” In its non-occupied hand, the figure summoned a ball of black energy and touched it to the lyre, causing it to sprout glowing cracks before bursting in a small puff of smoke. “You know, I really like it when the Heroes give speeches. They’re so fun, so creative. Makes for great mocking material. You got one?”

“Neither of us are here for a speech, Madoo.” She replied calmly.

“Oh?” The figure-- The Dark Wizard Madoo-- replied, turning its head slightly to look at the hero with a glowing yellow eye. Before she could properly register his movements, he flew to her side, floating pensively around her as he spoke again. “You know, stop me if you’ve heard this before, but…” He flicked at her ponytail, causing the corner of her mouth to twitch. “I can’t say I’ve seen a Hero quite like you.”

Madoo looked directly at you-- the reader-- and winked. “Talk about a diversity win.”

Garlude took a deep breath, maintaining her composure as she elbowed the wizard in the chest and stepped away, shoving the tip of her sword in his face.

“You know,” she said, “you aren’t the first person to tell me that.”

“Gar...is this the guy?” Came a voice from beside them.

On the stairs, Jecra and Meta Knight were crouched, watching the encounter with blades drawn.

“...You brought friends ?” Madoo exclaimed, gesturing at the duo with bewilderment. “That’s not how this works!”

“We’re not friends.” Garlude replied flatly. “They just don’t know their limits.”

“Okay, kinda rude.” Jecra said, crossing his arms.

“Or perhaps they have a death wish .” The wizard said, using both hands to summon a large ball of dark energy.

“If they do,” the Hero said, stepping between the duo and the wizard. “You won’t be the one to fulfill it.”

Madoo cackled, lobbing the ball at Garlude. She slashed against it, the ghosts of dark cracks forming on her blade before a flash of light dispelled them, and sent it back toward the wizard. He caught it and sent it back to her, this time larger.

After another volley, the wizard felt something attempt to pierce his robe from behind. He turned, just in time to watch Meta Knight leap off of him.

“Where did you-” was all he could sputter before being stunned with his own magic.

Garlude took this opportunity to set in on Madoo, slashing at any part exposed by his newfound vulnerability.

“It would appear his robes cannot be damaged.” Meta Knight said nonchalantly.

“I already knew that.” Garlude replied, jumping back as her opponent began to recover.

“Everybody who has business here knows that!” Madoo cried, brown-gloved hands crackling with power. “If we’re going to be violating tradition, Hero , then perhaps you wouldn’t mind me being a little less kind with our battle arrangements.”

Two balls appeared in his hands, slowly growing and extending until they formed two broadswords, their blades curved slightly, which he bore with ease despite it dwarfing him and his opponents.

“No banter,” he hissed, swiping at Garlude, who had to backflip in order to properly clear the strike. “No phases,” The second strike was braced against Jecra’s shield, the proximity of the energy to his face causing his hair to stand straight toward it. “And perhaps...I may play a bit unfair, myself.”

With this, he turned, allowing him to use his other hand to strike behind him. According to the trajectory of his movement, Meta Knight recognized that he would not be hit.

Upon seeing the intended target, he dodged anyway.

The second sword came in contact with a mass of the waste material on the edge of the roof, causing it to glow, shatter, and fly in bits cross the area, sticking wherever it landed.

“Wow, ya weren’t kiddin, that is unfair.” Jecra grunted, staring down at the bits of toxic material that had landed in front of him.

As an opening presented itself, Garlude readied her crossbow, firing at the exposed center of the wizard. Unfortunately, in addition to having unnatural strength, he seemed to have unnatural reflexes as well, crossing his swords in front of him to block the bolt.

The failed strike allowed Jecra to move from his precarious position, an opportunity he used to attempt to rush Madoo from the side. Even with Meta Knight attempting the same, they were both deflected.

“Perhaps I overreacted to the presence of these friends of yours…” Madoo mused, darting forward to meet Garlude blade-to-blade.

Out of the corner of her eye, Garlude saw the two come together, Meta Knight leaping toward Jecra. What were they…?

“For it to be unfair, you’d all have to be competent. ” The wizard hissed, abruptly uncrossing his swords to take advantage of the smallest opening on the Hero’s midsection. She was thrown back, an X-shaped wound on her middle that cut slightly into her belt.

He turned immediately to slash at Jecra, who had just thrown Meta Knight full-force at their opponent. The move, a last resort, proved to be strangely advantageous, as the blade meant to cleave the Florian in half left a gash in his face instead, knocking his mask sideways and causing him to stumble.

Meta Knight’s first instinct was to cling as tightly as he could with one arm to Madoo’s hood, using his sword to aim between his robes.

Sensing this, Madoo threw one of his swords blade-first into the ground, causing it to shatter. The energy that comprised it flew into a ball in his hand, one he promptly applied to the knight’s arm. Meta Knight grunted as glowing cracks began to spread from the affected area, sharp, burning pain following as they went. Only when the hand holding his blade started shaking did he, regretfully, relent, leaping backwards and landing unsteadily on the ground.

“What a shame.” The wizard taunted, pointing his sword down the knight. “Much longer and you would have lost it, maybe then you’d actually have to try when you fight.”

Before he could strike again, Madoo was hit directly in the core by a bright, flaming ball of blue energy, one which burned more than he’d anticipated.

“Try it, bud!” Jecra shouted, sword sheathed and hand alight. “I’ll take yer kneecaps.”

The wizard couldn’t respond properly without using his blade to deflect another crossbow bolt, one which allowed Garlude the opportunity to leap toward him and bring her sword down his front, nearly grounding him. She straightened, then landed numerous successive hits at once. Just as it seemed she was about to land a final blow, Madoo shattered his second sword, using its energy to create another, larger ball of darkness.

This one he allowed to grow, engulfing almost the entire arena.

“Enough, enough, enough! ” The wizard screeched. “If you want to kill me so badly, I’m going to make you work for it . I want this to be valiant and hard-won, and you’re going to give that to me.” 

At this, he threw the ball into the ground beneath him, narrowly missing his opponents, and causing the ground to crack and explode into smoke. Beneath him, another floor to the tower was revealed. It was windowless, decorated exclusively in banners, barely tall enough to fit one of them...and absolutely coated in waste material, which glowed as it was exposed.

Garlude lost her breath, staring down into the gap with wide eyes before turning her attention back to her opponent.

“What solution do you have now, Hero of the Midori? What risks will you take to ensure I’m dead?” Madoo chuckled. “And does it even matter when I’ll just return for your successor?”

“Don’t let ‘im get to ya, Gar!” Jecra called from across the way. “Ya got it!”

The Hero sighed, blocking out any further commentary as she scanned the area. She knew that she had to strike perfectly if she was going to come out of this encounter with all three of them alive. She knew that she had a limited ability to do so. She knew that if she were able to figure this out, there would be peace...until a successor for her was chosen. A successor who could very well be…

She shook her head, then looked down, staring intently at the glowing mass as a theory came to mind.

At the center of the mass was a circular shape, glowing only slightly brighter than the substance around it.

“I think that you were right before.” Garlude said plainly, holding her sword skyward, the blade once again glowing as she focused on her goal, her devotion, her determination, mentally appealing to the Fierce Deity. “Enough is enough.”

At this, she swung her sword down and in an arc in front of her, sending a crescent-shaped beam of energy into the middle of the mass, breaking it and portions of the floor below it apart.

“...Ha...haha…” Madoo’s laugh was less than convincing. “What...so...you can touch some of the floor now. Do you think you’ve done something…? Do you think that…” his voice cracked into silence, which was broken by him dropping a ball of energy on the chunks of material on the ground, causing them to fly upwards and stick to themselves, forming a primitive, sharp weapon that he pointed at the hero. “What are you thinking, Garlude? ”

The wizard lobbed the weapon at full speed toward the Hero, who rolled out of its way and jumped out over the pit.

Meta Knight and Jecra looked to each other and nodded, Jecra running to the edge and leaning over it with his shield while Meta Knight held his arm and cape to keep him sturdy.

Garlude landed on the shield, turning herself around with a single movement at the same time as her opponent, their eyes meeting as her cape flared behind her. With a small boost from Jecra, she leaped into the air, moonlight glinting in her helm as which she buried her sword into the wizard’s forehead.

On impact, a pulse radiated from the wizard, pushing the two Star Warriors back slightly, before he and the Hero slowly descended into the pit, a swirling torrent of purple flecks rising to engulf them.

Garlude found felt her feet hit the ground, followed by Madoo’s body.

They were alone now, and she found herself moved to say one final thing to her age-old nemesis.

“You...are never coming back. ” She whispered harshly.

“No…” he rasped in return. “Ha...haha... whatever will you do …?”

A violet flame erupted from the bottom of the wizard’s body, consuming him quickly before burning itself out, leaving the tip of Garlude’s sword, then her knees, to hit the ground. The force of the continued burst of specks blew her hair upward as she gently leaned her head against the hilt of her sword. She felt the heat of tears streaming down her face. She didn’t stop them. She was thankful to be covered.

As the flecks began to dissipate, Garlude heard a light thud , feeling the presence of two people beside her.

“...Ya okay, Gar?” Jecra asked, reaching to place a hand on her shoulder before reconsidering.

“...We’ve been fighting the same enemies for as long as we can remember.” Garlude replied, fighting to keep her voice even. “I’ve just single-handedly ended centuries of tradition. And all for a villain...who was able to resurrect himself and his monsters, using a material nobody understood.” She paused and took a breath. “Is this...is this what those who came before me...sacrificed themselves for…?”

“We cannot answer these questions.” The knight replied.

“No...no you can’t.” The Hero sighed. She looked up at the sky, the newly-re-exposed stars reflecting brightly in her eyes. There was something about them in that moment, something that urged her forward. She squinted, as if trying to decipher some sort of message, before the floor collapsed beneath her, sending her and her companions onto the level below.

When they came to their senses, Meta Knight was quick to point out the cause, the flecks of purple drifting away from a wall, causing it to fall apart.

“This material, it is part of this place’s structural integrity.” He said.

“So this towah...is goin’ down??” Jecra replied.

“Let’s go.” Garlude commanded, dusting herself off as she stood. “I mean it this time.”

For once, the duo listened, running for the stairs, the Hero just behind them.

The escape from the crumbling tower was perilous, even with the protection Jecra offered by lifting his shield over them. At various points one or more of them would slip, or get caught on debris, or nearly be struck. The situation became so dire that when they got to the bottom, they had to spring forward in order to make it out of the front entrance before the entire structure collapsed behind them.

Outside, they were met with a small crowd, the multicolored light of four torches illuminating their shocked expressions.

“Lady Garlude!” Faro called, nudging the other two out of the way as he approached. “Are you all right? The tower collapsed, it’s never done that before. What happened? Is Madoo…?”

“I...he...he’s...gone. Yes. And...isn’t returning.” Even after hissing it at her enemy, it still felt surreal to say.

“He isn’t…?” The temple master struggled to comprehend what he’d just heard.

“Excuse me!” A stern, somewhat-aged-sounding voice raised over the din of the crowd. The villagers stepped aside, making way for a hunched, simply-dressed woman with white skin and hair, a sleeping infant strapped to her chest with the same color scheme.

“...Mother…” Garlude breathed. “I...you should be resting-”

“Not when you’re coming home so late.” The woman laughed. “And besides, with this little squirt around, it’d be a challenge to try.” She lifted the baby out of her carrier, handing her to the Hero.

The infant stirred, beginning to cry. Garlude smiled and gently shushed her. “Sirica, it’s all right now. I’m here. Mother’s here…”

“No way!” Jecra exclaimed, rushing to her side. “Ya got a kid?? That’s so wild, I got a kid! I got pictures. NO, wait, what’s ‘er name? Or, uh, his. Kinda hard to tell. How old? Gar, we gotta share stories. MK, MK c’mere, lookit the little guyyyy-!”

Garlude used her free hand to push Jecra away. “Sirica.” She said pointedly. “Her name is Sirica. And I’d like it if you left us to our time.”

“No prob, Gar.” The Florian shot her a thumbs-up, accepting the push. “But we gotta connect-”

“We’ll see.”

The woman, Garlude’s mother, chuckled. “It seems you’ve made friends.”

“That’s...a word for it, I suppose.” The Hero replied.

The older woman smiled...then grimaced at her daughter’s appearance. “You’re hurt.”

“I’m…?” Garlude, still gently bouncing a calming Sirica, looked down at herself, taking notice of a deep violet stain over her midsection for the first time. It was then that she felt the pain from the blow she took, as if the sight of the wound were causing it rather than the wound itself. “So I am.”

The woman nodded. “We should get you and your friends back to Medoh. You’ll all be well-taken care of.”

“I know.” Garlude smiled.

As she set off to follow the others, she felt a tug on her back. She looked behind her, seeing that the bottom of her cape was caught in the rubble of the tower. She looked further back, the ruins well-illuminated by moon-and-torchlight. Some indescribable feeling overtook her as she stared, that she had somehow achieved an incredible victory, yet was also suffering profound loss.

In her arms, Sirica began to stir again, gripping at her dress. Garlude looked to her child, soothing her as she decisively yanked her cape out from the wreckage and proceeded forward. As she went, trying to ignore the monsters hiding in the corners of her vision, she glanced upward, stars reflecting in her eyes, relaying a message that she found much more clear.

/*|*\

Meta Knight, arm cleanly bandaged, put away the rest of his camp supplies. He stood with his bundle and faced the rising sun as he called to his friend.

“Jecra, you should prepare to depart.”

Jecra, his unmasked face patched with gauze, dozed against a tree. “I’m not doin’ that…” he replied blearily. “I wanted to say at the inn...a few more hours...n’ even though ya dragged me out...I’m still gettin’ those hours…”

The knight sighed heavily, sitting beside the fire that had long been snuffed. He contemplated starting a new one when he became aware of a presence at the edge of their camp.

“I suppose I should ask you to state your business?” He asked without looking up.

“Very funny.” Garlude replied. 

As she stood before the Star Warriors, her appearance had small, notable changes. Her dress and cape were no longer battle-worn, her hair and face much cleaner, and, most conspicuously, there was a small, circular white shield decorated with a pink outer edge and the emblem of a gold four-pointed star in its center strapped to her left arm.

“Gar...can ya...grab a blanket...from town…?” Jecra asked, barely conscious of any of this.

“...Meta Knight and Jecra, correct?” She asked, ignoring the request. “Listen, I...I greatly appreciated your help last night, and...I don’t think it’s an accident that we met.”

“Oh?” Meta Knight asked, finally glancing at her.

“No. It’s...difficult to explain, but I think we were meant to encounter each other, and...I think...I think that I was meant to go with you.”

“Hrngh?” Jecra opened his eyes, rubbing one as he looked to her. “Ya wanna...join us…?”

“...I guess...I guess that is what I’m saying, yes.”

“Oh sweet, woo, I got room…” Jecra said, slowly drifting back to sleep against the tree.

“...It is the Stars, no?” Meta Knight asked, looking back down to poke at the ashes. “They have called you to us?”

“...You understand, then.” Garlude said. “You two are the same way?”

“You are called to be a Star Warrior, and there is much you will be sacrificing by making a decision to follow that call.” Meta Knight said. “Your time, comfort, opportunities to see those you may care about…” He met her gaze. “Is this something for which you are prepared?”

“...It’s not much different from what I do now.” Garlude said, then looked down. “Or rather...what I did before.”

“...I see.” Meta Knight folded himself in his cape and looked up, then closed one eye, looking to her with the other. “Personally, Lady Garlude, I would be honored.”

Garlude seemed surprised, then smiled and nodded. “I’ll need to recover before I go.”

“Do so.”

“You won’t be disappointed.”

Garlude turned, the chilly winds for which Earthfall was known blowing her cape to the side. Fallen leaves framed her figure, and that of the town she once protected.

Chapter Text

The sun on Aqualiss was much nicer than the sun on Rock Star, which was strange, because Jecra was almost certain that they were one and the same. He didn’t think much more about it as he laid back on the sand, shielded from its heat by the cape he’d spread over it. His cowl made for a suitable pillow.

“Ya know, MK, I was thinkin’ we been overdue for a break. Ya sure do know a nice vacation spot.” He said, sighing contentedly.

“Speak for yourself.” Garlude righted herself, leaning heavily against a palm tree. The hair around her pale face was messy. She tried awkwardly to fix it with one hand, the other holding her stomach.

Meta Knight, standing with arms crossed atop the leaves of another palm, glanced over his shoulder at her. “Perhaps a pause was in order, although I would have preferred that you warned me of your motion sickness in advance, Lady Garlude.”

“I don’t get motion sick.” Garlude grunted, planting a hand against the tree and looking over her shoulder at him. “I’ve glided effortlessly through windstorms, careened down the deadliest peaks, been aboard ships that threw the most hardened sailors overboard. I just- hrk - I didn’t know you guys were aliens! ”

“Ya know, to us, you’re the alien.” Jecra said. He felt the glare from where he laid, and cleared his throat. “It’s okay, Gar, lotsa places don’t got space travel. You’ll get used to it.”

“Indeed, Lady Garlude, you will find in our travels that despite Jecra’s piloting skill, navigating an interstellar craft is a simple matter. At least, compared to what else we will be facing. I trust you will rise to the challenge.” Meta Knight faced forward.

“You can just call me Garlude, you know.” She said, wiping her mouth and pushing away from the tree. “You may as well if you’re going to see me like this.”

Jecra opened one eye, looking in her direction. “Nah, ya shoulda got woikin’ at that when ya met. He’s gonna do that ‘til some big dramatic moment when it’s all meaningful to call ya by yer casual name. Trust me on that one.”

Garlude sighed.

“Yer gonna be waitin’ a long time, prolly. I mean, can’t imagine there’s gonna be a dramatic moment during a vacation-”

“I did not intend this solely as an opportunity for rest.” Meta Knight interjected.

“...Ya what?”

“I am aware that there is a small NME stronghold not very far from here. While we are grounded I would like visit it.”

“So you had an ulterior motive for stopping here?” Garlude asked, crossing her arms. “Somehow, I’m not surprised.”

“If you are no longer ill, I trust you are satisfied enough.” Meta Knight replied, jumping from his perch.

“I think I’d be more satisfied if we were here for vacation.” Jecra mumbled, sitting up.

“We cannot have true peace while there remains a threat to the universe.”

“...MK, the universe is really big! ” 

“Perhaps if we can at least clear the galaxy-”

Jecra threw his arms out in exasperation. “Galaxies are also really big.”

“When you agreed to follow me you agreed to sacrifice some comfort.”

“Well yeah, but yer not gonna stand there n’ tell me that ya nevah rest or take a break sometimes...right?”

The knight was silent.

“If there’s a stronghold nearby, we should move quickly.” Garlude said. “I don’t like the idea that we could be ambushed.”

Jecra sighed, pulling himself to his feet. He gathered his cape and cowl under one arm. “Fine, but I’m gonna complain the whole time.”

“That is a given.” Meta Knight said, walking ahead.

The trio walked along the coastline, the sound of waves calming their nerves even with the prospect of a battle on the horizon. On their route, shadows of sea creatures drifted near the surface, as if curious about the newcomers on their shore. The sand got rougher as they went, until eventually they reached a sandstone peninsula, extending toward a tiny island made of the same material, topped with grass and a single palm tree.

The trio leapt one-by-one from the point to the island. From there, they got a full view of the surrounding underwater environment. Various structures made out of stone mottled in various shades of blue extended out from the island, and the clear water allowed the three to see the creatures beneath the surface.

“Wow.” Garlude breathed.

“Sure is somethin’.” Jecra remarked.

“If I am correct, and I suspect that I am,” Meta Knight said, “then we will need to traverse these tunnels to find the stronghold.” He pointed directly ahead of them at a small range of massive sandstone mountains. “It should be on the other side of this atoll.”

“Yer sayin’ we gotta swim under those things?” Jecra rubbed his nose apprehensively.

“I guess, if the only other option is climbing, or going around and possibly being seen,” Garlude mused, “it should be much easier. Although...I have to wonder if underwater cave systems are as complex here as they are on Earthfall.”

“It is likely.” Meta Knight replied. “A difficult means of entry and a strong land boundary make for an ideal location. And though the Isle of Nanalan is its kingdom’s capital, its population is small enough that little resistance would be encountered in a takeover.”

“So we should expect the woist?” Jecra asked.

“Indeed.”

There was a brief pause before Meta Knight unceremoniously jumped into the ocean.

The other two looked on with wide eyes before squeezing them shut, inhaling deeply, and following suit.

It did not take Garlude long to realize that keeping her eyes closed was going to make it infinitely harder to navigate, and that her armor and weapons would only make it worse. However, she found that she wasn’t sinking with the speed she expected. She was so confounded by this that she didn’t think twice about opening her eyes to inspect the situation. The water didn’t sting. Whatever sediment floated in this ocean was gentle on the eyes. She looked to Jecra, who seemed to be coming to the same conclusions.

In front of them, Meta Knight tread water, looking around the mouth of the cave. He spotted a small group of red and yellow fish and swam up to them.

Jecra couldn’t help but notice that the fish were wearing snorkels. He swam to Meta Knight’s side, trying to figure out how to ask him about this without opening his mouth.

Meta Knight didn’t seem to notice him, crossing his hands over the bottom half of his visor. At specific intervals, he slightly lifted his hands to allow bubbles to escape. The fish responded in kind, occasionally conferring with each other before answering him.

Once he was satisfied with the conversation, he swam toward another entrance, Jecra in tow. Garlude, closer to the entrance, waited for them to meet her as the current leading into it tugged lightly at her cape. 

As they entered the cave system, the light from the outside world began to give way to the dimmer yet more distinctive glow of turquoise crystals about the walls. It was their only means of navigating the twisting passages, a hefty task as they encountered abrupt turns and seemingly endless caverns with no clear exit. Jecra tried to focus on Meta Knight, who seemed to have the easiest time maneuvering it. This focus also helped take attention off of the burning sensation in his chest. He wanted to ask how much longer they’d be swimming, but wasn’t so stupid as to try, which was almost as irritating as not being able to breathe.

Every stroke made him more aware of exactly how much energy it took to propel himself through the water, and just how painful it was to have that energy depleted. He was in a strange state of mind-- he wanted to go faster, because it meant that they’d be out of there faster, but he also wanted to take it easier, because it meant that he wouldn’t get as tired.

Garlude noticed the symptoms immediately. She was aware that in places like this there were often pockets of air or bubbling cracks that could supply it. She saw none. Jecra could see that her face was getting a bit darker. He couldn’t imagine what his looked like. He chose not to think about it.

Meta Knight didn’t slow nor look back. Not that he could do much if he did.

They finally came to an opening where the light was brighter. Distinct beams of sunlight diffused through the water ahead. This was when Jecra opted to swim faster.

He was patently aware that he was staring at the sun, causing his eyes to burn now, too, but while it was up there he knew there was a way to get to the surface and he knew that the surface had to be up there because the sun was there and so he had to keep staring at the sun because where there’s the sun there’s air wow it was so bright man this stuff was DEEP man man MAN-

The second he felt a bare part of his arm hit air, he inhaled. Water directly filled his lungs before his face broke the surface, causing him to choke.

He felt a few hard thuds against his back, sending warm, now-slightly-acidic water back to into the ocean. He gasped and, coughing and gulping air, turned to see Garlude, gasping herself and staring at him with concern.

“Th-thanks.” Jecra croaked. “I-I needed that…”

“D-don’t mention it.” Garlude replied. “Y-you probably would’ve been fine. I j-just know from experience that that...process can be slow and un-plea-sant.”

In front of them, Meta Knight bobbed to the surface, facing them. “You two have done well. I am impressed.” He said, no hint of struggle or breathlessness in his voice. “I was concerned I would have to pull someone to the surface.”

“...That was an easy time for ya, huh?” Jecra asked.

“Of course.” Meta Knight replied, turning to face the island a short distance away, one dotted with palms and small, stilted houses.

“There is the Isle of Nanalan.” He said. “It does not seem armed, but we should proceed with caution.” He swam forward.

Jecra and Garlude exchanged tired glances before following suit.

The three arrived on the island to little fanfare. A person with smooth, somewhat-shiny skin and short hair that looked almost like tentacles stared at them, a crab struggling in his hand. 

“Excuse me,” Garlude called. “Are there, uh, monsters here?”

He said nothing and shrugged.

“Can he...understand us?” Jecra asked, rubbing his nose.

“He is of no help. Let us proceed.” Meta Knight said, continuing on.

The person stared as they walked past, returning to his task when the crab pinched his hand.

It wasn’t long before the trio encountered more people conducting their business through a bustling town. Some spared aside glances at the newcomers, but didn’t interact much further and went about their day. Others paused a bit longer, staring, squinting at Meta Knight.

This made sense to him. If they were overtaken by NME, it would be no shock that the townspeople would react strangely to the presence of a Star Warrior.

“So, uh…MK.” Jecra shifted uncomfortably, “Any idea where those monstahs might be? We prolly gotta be fast, seein’ as we’re drawin’ so much attention n’ all.”

“Indeed, I suppose that this was inevitable.”

“It’ll happen when three people who don’t look like anyone else randomly emerge from the ocean.” Garlude said.

“...I suppose there is that, too, yes.” Meta Knight nodded thoughtfully.

“Anyway,” Jecra cut back in. “Can we get where we’re goin’?”

“We may.” Meta Knight nodded. “...As soon as we find the post.”

“...So no. Ya don’t have any idea where it is

“If I did not have an idea, we would not be here. It has been some time, this place looks much different than it did when I first became aware of it.”

“We’re gonna have to ask for directions, then?” Jecra looked around. “...I don’t think that’s gonna be easy.”

“Excuse me!” Garlude hailed a resident with several books in her arms.

The long tailfins that made up the resident’s hair flared in surprise as she was startled out of her thoughts.

“O-oh!” The Islander said, looking Garlude up and down.

“Hi, I’m sorry to bother you, I know our appearance must be very strange to you. We mean no harm, we’re just looking for the monsters who’ve probably been roaming around here.”

“Monsters…?” The Islander asked, a strange look on her face, one that was quickly replaced with an awkward smile. “Ah, right, of course I understand what you mean! They’re probably, uh…” She looked around, spotting a side street nearby. “Down that way!” She beamed and pointed.

“Very good, thank you.” Meta Knight said, nodding and turning toward the street.

As he turned, the light from his badge glinted, catching the attention of the Islander.

“Oh, uh, hold on a second…” She said.

Meta Knight looked back toward her.

“Would you happen to know…?” She squinted, cocked her head to the side, then sighed. “Nevermind, probably not.”

“...Very well.” Meta Knight said, some suspicion in his voice.

In the distance, a bell sounded with a dull tone.

The Islander’s fins straightened again, her eyes wide. “Oh, sorry, I have to go. Good luck with the, uh, monsters!”

“...Thanks.” Garlude replied, watching her run off.

“...Huh.” Jecra said, cocking his head to the side and rubbing his nose. “That was...kinda...helpful…?”

“It is more than we had before.” Meta Knight said, starting down the street. “But we should be wary of a trap.”

Partway down the lane, as if on cue, Meta Knight shot his arm out to the side, catching a small object that had flown at him from between a small cluster of houses. He upturned his hand, revealing a brightly-banded marble.

“Hey, Weirdos!” Came a high-pitched voice from the space.

“Yeah, you guys are the Weirdos, right?”

“ Of course they’re the Weirdos, Port. You can tell by looking at them!”

“Oh yeah, Nacre, guess ya can…”

The trio turned to face their callers, two girls, one with white-tentacled hair and one with black, wearing wrinkled white blouses, cream-colored vests, and plaid skirts that had traces of wet sand stuck to them.

“Okay, Blippy!” The girl with white tentacles called over her shoulder. “We got the Weirdos’ attention!”

“Good job, guys!” A slightly lower voice answered back. From behind the girls stepped a boy wearing similar clothes, with rolled-up navy blue pants instead of a skirt. The short red and yellow fins about his head waved curiously as he looked them over.

“Yep, that’s gotta be them.”

“You know, if you had called our attention normally, we would have answered you.” Garlude said, crossing her arms.

“How’re we s’posed to know?” The boy-- Blippy-- asked, shrugging with a telltale smirk. “It’s not like we know ya. You’re Weirdos, ya know? We just had to make sure.”

“Ya know,” Jecra said, rubbing his nose in irritation. “Where I’m from, you guys are the w-”

A marble hit him in the forehead.

The black-tentacled girl snickered, taking another marble from the pocket of her skirt, tossing it in the air, and catching it.

“H-hey, lemme see ‘em!” Another voice called. A taller boy with larger white tentacles on his head pushed in-between Blippy and the black-tentacled girl. The suction cups on the undersides of his tentacles popped against, but did not stick to, his skin as he shook his head. “Man, yeah, those are Weirdos if I ever seen any.”

“Did you seriously just call our attention so that you could mock us?” Garlude asked, scowling.

“Whaaat? No, nothing like that!” Blippy said, still smirking. “We just wanted to talk, ya know? We heard you guys’ conversation with Miss Marine.”

“Yeah! She, uh, she totally sent you guys on a...aw man...oh yeah!” The white-tentacled boy said, snapping his fingers. “A wild gull chase!”

“...A what?” Meta Knight asked, his tone betraying impatience that his face didn’t.

“Ya know!” The white-tentacled girl cut in. “When someone lies cuz they wanna get rid of you!”

“She’s a real nice teacher,” the black-tentacled girl said, shrugging. “But I guess being accosted by Weirdos freaked her out a little too much.”

“What, n’ we’re s’posed to believe you guys?” Jecra asked, rubbing his nose a little harder.

“Well yeah.” Blippy said. “Duh.”

“And why should we do that?” Garlude’s patience was running thin.

“Cuz we know where the monsters come from!” The white-tentacled girl said. “But, ya know, for real.”

“Where is it, then?” Meta Knight asked.

“Oh, ya wanna know, huh?” Blippy’s smirk grew into a full grin. “What’ll ya do for it?”

“Find it ourselves.” Meta Knight answered. He turned on his heel and began to walk away, his companions in tow.

“Hold on, wait, wait!” Blippy ran into the street.

“Y-yeah hold on, uh, wait!” The white-tentacled boy followed.

“We’ll tell ya, it’ll be real easy, promise!” The white-tentacled girl waved her arms

“It won’t take long! Seriously!” The black-tentacled girl called.

“All ya need to do is beat us at a game, and you’ll get all the info ya need!” Blippy shouted.

Meta Knight stopped in his tracks, causing Jecra to walk into him.

“ Oof , MK…?” He asked. “What’s up, my guy?”

“...A...game?” Meta Knight looked back over his shoulder.

“...No, no you’re not seriously considering- ” Garlude started.

“Yeah, a game.” Blippy replied, his smug demeanor returning. “Ya know, a thing you play, and you either win or lose? One of those.”

“I...am aware.” Meta Knight’s tone was curt.

“MK, what? ” Jecra threw his arms up. “Are ya seriously considerin’ takin’ these guys up?”

“It is...crossing my mind. Perhaps...if we are victorious…”

“...Oh my g-! No! No, why are you even considering this? Why is this taking up any space in your mind!?” Garlude threw her hands to the side.

“There is a possibility it could be useful. Perhaps they have more, better information. We could obtain this if we best them.”

“...Hold on... hold on… ” Jecra smirked. “MK...hold on...you, a stoic kinda guy who don’t let anything get to ya...MK.” He couldn’t help but laugh. “But ya can’t turn down a challenge , can ya?”

Meta Knight did not reply, instead turning to walk back toward the children.

“You can’t be serious!” Garlude shouted. “They’re probably lying!”

“Sea’s honor, Ma’am.” The black-tentacled girl, beaming, put one hand on her chest and other in the air. “We’re not lying at all! Promise!”

“Ya know, I hate this as much as the next guy, but this’s gotta be the funniest thing evah.” Jecra wiped a tear from his eye. “MK’s one weakness: kids playin’ a game.”

“What is it we are playing?” Meta Knight asked flatly.

“Well, ya see, we’ve been trying to organize this tournament for a little bit, and we need some extra players to fill in the bracket-” Blippy said.

“Why do you want us to play in your tournament so badly?” Garlude cut him off. “You should be in school! ”

“W-well, uh, ya know, uh, if you ask our parents...we are!” The white-tentacled boy said, laughing sheepishly.

“Nacre,” Blippy said, looking to the black-tentacled girl. “Tell ‘em about optics.”

“Really,” Nacre said, not leaving space for Garlude to interject. “A school day is the only reasonable day to hold an independently-run event. There’s little supervision, allowing for maximum flexibility, and any deadlines you’re pushing off by planning and playing get moved by default, with no blame pushed onto the students.”

“Also, day-offs are great because school kinda sucks.” The white-tentacled girl added, nodding.

“What is your game?” Meta Knight asked with more insistence.

“Ah, my fine Weirdo, I’m glad you asked.” Blippy clapped his webbed hands together, then gestured down the gap between houses. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll be happy to explain.”

“Meta Knight, don’t- ” Garlude didn’t finish before Meta Knight followed the group through the gap.

“Somethin’ ya might’ve guessed by now, Gar, but MK can be kinda...set in his mind once he’s decided to do stuff.” Jecra sighed.

“I’m. Noticing.”

“I mean, ya know, you can always go off n’ search by yourself.”

“No. If this is part of a trap, I’m not leaving you guys behind.”

“...Ya think these kids...are a trap…?”

“Maybe not by themselves, but if they’re keeping one of us in one place, it could play into one.”

Jecra blinked several times. “Gar…”

“Come on, let’s get this over with.” Garlude followed the group down the path, Jecra not far behind.

/*|*\

The group finally arrived at a small cul-de-sac, at the center of which three circles were drawn in the dense sand. Against one of the houses, a tall boy in the same school uniform as the others leaned, sunglasses on his face and a dorsal fin extending from the top of his head.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” Blippy shouted, extending his arms as if he were greeting an audience that was much bigger than the one he had. “It is my joy and honor and distinguishment and whatever to welcome you to the first ever Nanalan Tippy Top Tops Tournament!”

The children around him erupted in applause, the sunglass-wearing boy clapping much more slowly than the others.

“I’m your founder, competitor, and beloved host, Blippy!” Blippy continued to yet more applause. “And here are our players for today!”

“In this corner, quick with a quip and cold as ice in the ocean! She knows all your secrets and how to use ‘em, it’s Port!”

Port stepped forward and posed, holding the top stem of a purple-striped top between her fingers while the others clapped, though Nacre made it a point to shake her head firmly as she did so.

Blippy picked up on the action. “Oh, wow, looks like the competition’s heating up!” He said, gesturing toward her. “In this other corner, we’ve got a girl who’s wise beyond her years. She’s been best friends with Port forever, and she’d say she’s her better half! She wanted to play marbles but got outvoted, it’sssss Nacre!”

Nacre stepped forward and took a marble from her pocket, then sighed, reached back into it, and replaced the marble with a magenta-striped top, which she tossed up and down in her hand.

“Standin’ over there, we’ve got the burliest, chillest fella this side of the sea. They say nobody’s ever seen his eyes! Never scared and totally not scary, it’s our boy Megalo-John!”

The boy with the dorsal fin, Megalo-John, adjusted his sunglasses, then crossed his arms and continued to lean against the house.

“And finally, last but actually the most,” Blippy said, throwing an arm around the lanky, white-tentacled boy. “He can barely get through a sentence without stuttering, he’s got a heart of gold and a stomach of dried seaweed. But nobody better mess with him, cuz he’s always gonna come out on top. My best bud ever, Squish!”

Squish chuckled nervously, fiddling with the green-and-yellow top in his hand.

“Th-thanks, Blippy.” He mumbled. “I’m gonna do my best.”

“I know, man, I know.” Blippy replied quietly before clearing his throat and raising his voice again. “Then, of course, we have the Weirdos, our lovely volunteers!”

He gestured toward the Star Warriors, none of whom seemed particularly pleased. Megalo-John finally stood and approached the group as Blippy continued.

“Please, oh gracious Weirdos, kindly introduce yourselves to this grand competition.”

Meta Knight sighed. “Fine. My name is M-’

“Marshmallow.” Megalo-John said, his voice deep and relaxed. He nodded to Blippy, who snickered and nodded in return.

“...I beg your pardon?” Meta Knight asked, tensing.

“Our first player on the Weirdo team, we have Marshmallow! He’s small, dark, and puffy!”

“That is not my name.”

“According to our bracket, it is!” Blippy shrugged, his smug grin staying on. “Sorry, Marshie, them’s the rules.”

Me- er, Marshmallow, unfolded his arm from his cape and began to make a move, one that was promptly stopped by Jecra grabbing his arm.

“Don’t.” He hissed.

“Onto the next Weirdo, he’s got the height, he’s got the might, but can he keep it tight?”

“...Uh...yeah. My name’s-”

“Carrot Head.” Megalo-John said, nodding.

“Iiiiit’s Carrot Heaaaaad!” Blippy concurred.

“Aw, c’mon, kid.” Carrot Head grumbled.

“Aaaand finally, we have…!”

Garlude stared at the children, arms crossed, refusing to utter a word.

“...Finalllyyyyyy...we haaaaaave…!!!” Blippy urged.

Garlude continued to hold her ground.

“...Man, you’re no fun at ALL. Know what? You’re Girl. That’s you. You’re Girl now.” 

“I won’t be answering to that name.” Girl replied.

“I introduce to you all, Girl.” Blippy announced flatly. “Who is she? She’s Girl. She’s purple. She’s got a crown. Isn’t that cool? Yeah. She’s Girl. Woohoo.”

Girl rolled her eyes.

“Aaaanyway,” Blippy cleared his throat and instantly regained his showmanlike demeanor. “The players are here, the bracket’s filled, ladies and gentlemen... it’s time to play some Tops!”

The children exploded into cheers, all gathering around their leader before quieting into murmurs and whispers. Squish knelt on the ground and took a stick from a pocket, drawing a bracket in the sand. The Weirdos couldn’t quite read the markings being inscribed beneath the lines.

Once he was finished, Squish looked up and nodded to his friends. Blippy clapped his hands together.

“It’s decided!” He announced. “The first round will pit Megalo-John and Marshmallow against each other!”

Megalo-John stared down at Marshmallow taking an unpainted top out of his pocket with one hand and extending the other stiffly toward his opponent.

Marshmallow stared back at Megalo-John, then at his hand, and reached to shake it.

“Oh, yeah, hold on, we’re fair here.” Blippy cut in. “Here.” He shoved a black top and launcher into Marshmallow’s hand. Marshmallow fiddled with the setup, figuring out how it worked within seconds.

“Now we want a good clean fight out here!” Nacre said, crossing her arms. “Hands to yourself, only tops in the circle, first to stop spinning or get rung out loses. Got it?”

“I understand.” Marshmallow replied, loading the top into its launcher.

“Three, two, one, go! ” Nacre called, making a downward chopping motion with her hand.

Megalo-John and Marshmallow released their tops into the ring, both spinning at blinding speeds and moving directly toward each other.

Yes, collision was imminent.

Chook!

The second the tops made contact, Marshmallow’s was struck and flew into the air, landing outside the ring.

Marshmallow froze, almost not seeming to comprehend what had just happened.

Carrot Head fought valiantly to suppress the laughter trying to escape his throat.

Girl pinched the bridge of her nose.

Marshmallow tried to form words as Megalo-John extended his hand once more.

“I would like...to go again…” Marshmallow uttered, his voice strained.

“Nope, sorry! It’s one round!” Nacre replied.

Marshmallow was silent for a long while before he shot his hand into Megalo-John’s, shook, and stiffly walked away.

“A crushing defeat for Marshmallow! In all my years as a tops officialinator, I haven’t seen a shorter game!” Blippy bellowed, Nacre trying stifling laughter nearby.

“Didn’t ya say this was the first game ya ever hosted?” Carrot Head asked, rubbing his nose and raising an eyebrow.

“AAAaaanyway,” Blippy continued, “Since he so graciously volunteered, our next round’s the battle of the chatterboxes! Carrot Head, Port, get over here!”

Carrot Head rolled his eyes as he and Port approached the ring. Blippy shoved a maroon-capped top and launcher into his hand. Carrot Head fiddled a bit longer than Marshmallow, trying to remember how exactly his friend had loaded it before. Once he got it sorted, he extended his hand over the ring, prompting Port to shake it.

“Okay!” Nacre called, arm poised. “Do we need a refresher on the rules?”

“Only if it means telling my rival that there’s no sore losers allowed~” Port said with a smirk.

“Yer a riot.” Carrot Head replied, readying himself.

“Ya got that right!” Port readied herself.

Nacre counted down and sliced the air, and the two launched their tops.

This time, the tops made much more contact with each other, tapping and circling about the ring. At one point, Port’s top struck Carrot Head’s and pushed it dangerously close to the edge.

“That’s a big shove!” Blippy cried. “Could this be the end for Carrot Head? Is he goin’ the way of Marshmallow!?”

“Jecra,” Marshmallow said, his tone flat as it usually was, “I urge you, you must succeed where I have so calamitously failed.”

“Jeez, my guy, chill out. It’s not that serious.” Carrot Head replied, his tone betraying more tension than it usually did.

Slowly, Carrot Head’s top began to make its way back toward the center, its motion obviously slowing. Port’s top circled back to his. In one last strike, Carrot Head’s top began to wobble, tipping its edge toward Port’s, and launching it out of the ring on contact.

The crowd went wild.

Carrot Head let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.

“A breakout win for up-and-coming Weirdo Carrot Head!” Blippy shouted, throwing his hands in the air.

Port glared at the ground, pulling back her foot as if to kick at it, before Nacre took her by the shoulder and led her away, muttering to her and patting her on the back as she escorted her to another circle, where Marshmallow waited.

“A stunning upset!” Blippy announced. “What fight’s gonna follow that one up!?”

“W-well, uh…by the looks of it…” Squish muttered, walking toward the bracket from the third ring, meant for practice. He stared down at it before the tentacles on his head flared out in shock. “O-oh, it’s you!”

“Oh, me, huh?” Blippy walked to the bracket and stared. “Yep, that’s what it says! Looks like it’s me n’ Girl, ready to tear it up in an epic battle for the chance at the championship! Will I take one for the team, or will Girl stick it out for the Weirdos? We’re gonna find out!”

“No, we won’t.” Girl replied flatly.

“...Yeah, we totally will!” Blippy said, trying not to grit his teeth.

“I never agreed to be part of this, and I don’t want to keep wasting our time. The person who did want to do this lost immediately. Do we really have to keep going?”

“... Ugh. You’re such a grown-up, it hurts!” Blippy cried, roughly running his hands through his fins. “Fine, Girl, whatever. I’ll figure something out for our round. In the meantime: Squish, Nacre, go ahead. Let’s do this.”

The three children surrounded the main ring as Girl approached her companions.

“Are we ready to leave?” She asked.

“Ya sure ya weren’t a lil hard on ‘em, Gar?” Carrot Head glanced at the kids, whose mood seemed dampened even as the tops clashed in their ring.

“She was soooo totally the bad guy.” Port chimed in, smirking as her top smacked Marshmallow’s out of their ring.

“...Do ya mind?” Carrot Head sighed.

“Yep.”

Marshmallow cleared his throat, gathering his top and loading it again. “Lady Garlude, we are here for a reason-”

“Yes, for information, and because you can’t turn down a challenge no matter who poses it.”

“Have we received that information?”

“No, but this island is small enough where we can just as easily seek out that stronghold for ourselves. I can’t imagine the benefit to wasting more time than we already have.”

“Uh, not to be the normal guy here…” Carrot Head said. “But…maybe it’s just kinda…fun?”

“...For you, maybe.” Girl crossed her arms.

“Aw, c’mon, Gar.” Carrot Head rubbed his nose, gesturing with his other arm. “You ain’t even played a round yet. It’ll be faster than tryin’ to search, n’ besides…” He paused, looking around as if the environment would give him the right words. “...We all almost died not too long ago, like for real d-e-a-d, and these kids, man…they just wanna play a game. That’s all they’re troublin’ us for in the first place. Is there really anythin’ wrong with tryin’a kick back for a second before we fight another batch of monstahs?”

“Jecra raises a good point,” Marshmallow said, launching his top. He sighed as, moments later, it was once again knocked out of bounds. “I am as eager to eliminate the threat as you are, perhaps more so, but if the obstacles we face can be made simpler, it is reasonable to take such an option.”

“I think maybe Marshie might just be tryin’ to get a win.” Port snickered.

“Yeah, maybe.” Carrot Head replied, “But the point’s solid, so we’ll take it.”

Girl glanced back at the ring, where Nacre was pumping her fist in the air with one hand and shaking Squish’s hand with the other. She sighed, then nodded, approaching the main ring.

“Oh. Girl. There you are. You don’t have to give a lecture or anything, I heard ya loud and clear.” Blippy waved his hand at her as if to shoo her.

“...I want to compete.”

Blippy’s face lit up, first with shock, then with excitement. “Oh…oh yeah?? Not a trick or anything, right?”

“No, this isn’t really the kind of trick I play.”

“I gotta ask about those , then.” Blippy retrieved a gold top, its paint chipping, and handed it to Girl, grinning with determination. “But maybe after I beat you.”

“I guess we’ll have to see.” Girl effortlessly loaded her top into its launcher.

“Squish!” Blippy called. “Your turn!”

Squish approached the ring alongside Nacre, wringing his hands. “Y-yeah, um…this is an epic fight! Because it’s between Blippy and G-Girl! Blippy’s a big champion but, uh…Girl…she’s a little scary! So, uh, really, I guess…it’s anyone’s game. Tops is democratic like that.” After finishing his speech, he chastised himself under his breath.

“Yeah, I’m pumped! ” Blippy said, readying his top.

“Let’s get it going!” Nacre cried, raising her arm. “Three, two, one, go! ”

At the signal, the two launched their tops. They struck once, twice, three times, all grand collisions…

Chack!

The children watched, slack-jawed, as on the fourth strike, Blippy’s top was knocked off-balance, wobbling itself out of the ring.

“... Whoa. ” Squish said. “She, uh…she won.”

“...Good game, Girl.” Blippy said, extending his hand with a grin. “Guess maybe I shouldn’t have pushed ya to compete after all.”

“It was…a valiant effort. I’m…glad I participated.” Girl replied, shaking his hand. “Regardless of whether or not I’d won.”

“Th-the Weirdos are, uh, making good ground and stuff!” Squish said, making jazz hands to add effect.

“They sure are, buddy!” Blippy replied, throwing his arm around his shoulders.

“I wish you’d won, but I’m kinda glad you lost.” Squish admitted. “That means I don’t have to try to announce again…”

“You’ll get used to it! You’re an ol’ rising star-fish.” Blippy patted him roughly on the shoulder. He cleared his throat and raised his voice. “Alright, folks, we’re headed into the semi-finals! It’s gonna get real rough from here on out, so make sure to fasten your belts and hold on to your pearls!”

The kids (and Carrot Head) cheered.

“For our first match-up, let’s get Carrot Head and Megalo-John back here!”

As requested, the two competitors got to either side of the circle. Nacre stood between them, a serious expression on her face as she raised her arm. “I know we’re near the finals, but I still want this to be all good and sportsmanlike, okay?”

They both nodded.

All eyes were on the ring as she counted down and dropped her arm.

Chook!

Carrot Head watched with wide-eyed shock as his top flew out of the ring with one hit.

The kids cheered as Megalo-John extended his hand. Carrot Head sighed, but politely shook. “Good run, big guy.”

Megalo-John nodded and walked away.

“There goes Megalo-John, proving to be the fella to beat today!” Blippy said. “For our next round, we’ve got a battle of the girls! Welcome back to the ring, Girl and Nacrrrrre!”

Girl and Nacre stood on either side of the circle, Squish and Blippy between them. Port, casually sending her opponent’s top flying out of its ring one last time, stood behind Nacre.

“C-clean fights, and all.” Squish muttered, raising his arm. “No sh-shoving, you’ll know when you lose, so please do it gracefully.”

“Naturally.” Nacre replied, focusing carefully on the position of her launcher.

At the signal, they both launched, Nacre’s top just below Girl’s, causing Girl’s top to tip out of balance.

“Oh man!” Blippy cried. “Nacre comes right out of the gate with a strategy! Guess that’s what you’d expect from our resident genius!”

“Oh-hohohohoho!” Nacre chortled. “The game’s all in the aim. It’s really not too different from marbles after all, is it?”

Her top struck Girl’s once more, giving it more spin but with even less stability.

“Oooo, looks like beneath those smiley smarts, Nacre’s got a mean competitive streak!” Blippy said.

“I’m so proud!” Port added, pretending to wipe away a tear.

“Wow, this really does mean a lot to you, huh?” Girl asked, her tone flat as she balled a fist at her side.

“It’s the passion that gets the victory!” Nacre said, staring with a wide-eyed, earnest grin at the ring. Her top got closer to Girl’s ever-slowing one.

“Good bye, my brave Weirdo opponent!”

Chack-a!

Nacre froze in place as her top, bouncing off the flat end of Girl’s, spun out of the ring, less than a second before Girl’s rolled on the ground and stopped.

“...It was close, but…Girl definitely won.” Squish mumbled, Blippy nodding in agreement.

“...I guess all the strategy in the world can’t counter luck. You come to learn that with experience.” Girl shrugged, extending a hand to the still-frozen Nacre.

Port nudged Nacre, prompting her to clear her throat and shake Girl’s hand, her eyes beginning to wetten.

“G-good game. I’m…I’m glad that…I made it this far.”

“You sounded like a cartoon villain.” Port chuckled, putting her arm around her friend’s shoulders and leading her away. “And it was kinda awesome. Next time.”

“Whaaat an upset!” Blippy cried, clapping several times before calming down and clearing his throat. “It all comes down to this, folks! Megalo-John, our local tops hero, versus our skilled Weirdo, Girl. Two worlds coming together, competing for allll the marb- tops!”

Megalo-John walked to the other side of the ring, shaking Girl’s hand and wordlessly aiming his launcher at the ground.

Nacre took her place back as referee, still sniffling. “I-it’s all down to this. M-my call is final. P-please don’t be upset if you lose. There’s always next year.”

“Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind.” Girl replied, aiming her launcher.

“It’s the final round. One-hit wonder M-J and three-hit ace Girl. One may be smaller than three, but we never know where the cards will land.” Blippy said, his tone hushed.

Nacre raised her arm. “Three…two…o-o-o- one! ”

The tops flew and landed, circling briefly before making one strike…and launching each other to the edges of the arena.

“She passed one hit!” Blippy whispered loudly, gripping Squish.

Behind Girl, free of any distractions, Marshmallow and Carrot Head stared intently at the ring.

“Gar…you’re doin’ amazing!” Carrot Head said, watching as the tops struck and threw each other again.

“The speed and angles seem perfect.” Marshmallow mused. “Our fate is in your hands, and I sense it will be hard won.”

“Are ya still talkin’ like that?” Port said, putting her hands on her hips.

The tops struck once more, each beginning to wobble.

“They’re not giving up!” Blippy cried, gripping Squish harder.

“I-I didn’t think a game could be s-so exciting…” Squish mumbled.

The wobbles got more intense as the tops struck again.

Girl and Megalo-John stared wordlessly but intently at the ring. Carrot Head gripped her shoulder, releasing it with an aside glance from Girl. In lieu of being able to hold her shoulder, he gripped both of Marshmallow’s. Marshmallow sighed.

In three quick strikes, the tops collided, wobbling more and more, until finally the dust settled. The tops rolled along the ground, and finally came to a stop.

Blippy, Nacre, Port and Squish remained still for a moment before hastily turning away and huddling up. There was a hushed, heated discussion for several minutes.

“It’s real close, Gar…” Carrot Head mumbled.

“Hm.” Marshmallow added pensively. “It is difficult to see who stopped moving first, although, if I were to make such a decision, based on my observations rather than preferences, it would be-”

“Girl!” Blippy shouted. “By split decision and intense rock paper scissors, the winner is the underdog, the unlikely, the ponytailed-Weirdo who could, GIRRLLLLLLLL!”

Carrot Head immediately proceeded to whoop and holler, shaking Girl’s shoulders.

Megalo-John nodded and extended his hand once more. “Good game. Best game.” He said, the traces of a smile on his face.

 Girl appeared perplexed…then smiled.

“Wow, I don’t know what to say.” She shook his hand. “You weren’t too bad yourself.”

He nodded, then let go of her hand and gave her a hi-five before turning and joining his group of friends.

“Next year, buddy!” Blippy said.

“Yeah, you’ll smoke the next gang of Weirdos that comes through here!” Port added.

“The odds are in your favor, for the most part!” Nacre nodded.

“A-and maybe…we could…invite the old Weirdos…to, uh, officialate?”

“Yeah, maybe…” Blippy mused, looking over the trio.

“We have great pride in our teammate.” Marshmallow said, wrapping himself in his cape and nodding.

“Wooooo Garrrrr real MVP!” Carrot Head cried.

“Thanks, but let’s remember why we’re here?” Girl said, clearing her throat. “It’s an…honor, to claim victory. With the title of champion, we were promised the location of a monster outpost.”

“Ah, yes.” Marshmallow concurred, clearing his own throat. “That is vital to our mission here.”

“Wow, you guys really do just talk like that all the time.” Blippy chuckled. “I won’t like, I kinda didn’t believe someone with a star sign didn’t know where it was.”

“...A…star…sign?” Marshmallow asked, cocking his head to the side. “Should I have known?”

“Well yeah! All the star sign people know where it is. But if you’re lost, it’s whatever. It’s just outside town over that way.” Blippy pointed in the distance behind him.

“It shouldn’t take you long to get there.” Nacre added. “The route’s a little winding because of houses, but if you keep in that direction you can’t miss it.”

“Whatever ya wanna do there, hope ya have fun or whatever!” Port said, waving. “It’s pretty boring honestly, but by the way you Weirdos act you can prolly make a day out of it.”

The trio nodded, slightly off-put by the tone the children used regarding the very dangerous monster outpost.

“Let us proceed.” Marshmallow said, nodding and starting off. The other two followed.

“Oh, hey, one more thing!” Blippy called.

They hesitated, then turned back.

“...Thanks.” He said.

Carrot Head and Girl smiled.

“Hey…don’t mention it.” Girl replied, waving.

/*|*\

The way to the outpost was calm, if unnerving. As the trio went, they happened upon fewer and fewer islanders. At first, they were beginning to suspect that the information they had was faulty.

Then they saw the splotches.

As they got closer to their destination, faded splotches that seemed to have once been bright green and pink became apparent on the gradually-more-dilapidated houses along the route. The farther along they traveled, the more varied the colors became.

Instinctively, Marsh- er, Meta Knight, drew his weapon, the other two doing the same.

“It’s quiet…” Jecra muttered.

“Disturbingly so.” Garlude replied.

“...You’re supposed to say…nevermind.” Jecra sighed.

They recognized the stronghold when they saw it, a stout building, only slightly taller than the houses around it, made of pure concrete, with a single, wide entrance. Two metal doors were smashed in on either side of the doorway. Though the structure seemed plain, the massive rainbow-smattered coat on the outside lent it an intimidating air.

“It is possible that we will be ambushed.” Meta Knight said, inspecting the area before leading the way inside. “Proceed with caution.”

The trio crept into the outpost, their collective apprehension settling on top of them. The inside of the building looked similar to the outside: slightly ruined, mostly stone, splats of color everywhere. Not too far in, they found a hallway lined with open rooms and proceeded down it.

“From my experience in infiltrating strongholds,” Meta Knight said, “I assume that the room containing the monster transporter will be at the end of this passage. Prepare for resistance.”

The other two nodded and, once they reached the end of the hallway, crouched. On Meta Knight’s cue, they jumped into the room at the end, prepared to strike. It would have been a half-decent surprise attack…were there anything to attack.

Indeed, the room at the end of the hall did contain a monster transporter, illuminated by the sunlight filtering through a hole in the ceiling. However, it was half-crushed, a young palm sprouting through a massive crack its center. The monitor where an NME service contact may have appeared was cracked, connected to the wall by one wire. Pieces of the control panel were scattered about the room. The debris and the room itself were almost entirely covered in purple.

Garlude and Jecra lowered their weapons, looking about the room in awe.

“Looks like there was a fight before we got here.” Jecra said. “Whaddya think, MK?”

He looked to his side and found that Meta Knight was no longer with them, instead walking toward the tree.

“Meta Knight, did you find something?” Garlude asked.

In response, Meta Knight reached behind the tree and pulled sideways, revealing a light blue flag with a coral-colored sea star emblazoned on it.

“I agree with your assessment, Jecra. This battle is old.” He said.

Garlude stared in amazement. “Do you think the people who planted that were…?”

“I have no doubt.” Meta Knight replied, nodding. “We are so varied, we tend to make it easy to identify ourselves when we fight enemies with equal diversity in their ranks.”

“Looks like they beat us to the punch, huh?” Jecra added, crossing his arms.

“You make it sound like a bad thing.” Garlude said, raising an eyebrow at Jecra.

“So, it looks like you found your way here, after all.” Came a voice from behind them.

The trio turned around, weapons raised, only to meet the now-panicked gaze of Miss Marine, holding a large messenger bag in front of her.

“I-I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t interrupt.” She said, slowly lowering the bag. “I’d been trying to find you since class got out today. I realized that I must have seemed very rude and wanted to help you find what you were looking for.”

“Well, uh, I guess…mission accomplished?” Jecra shrugged as he and the others sheathed their weapons.

“I guess so.” Marine chuckled. “I have to assume by the badge that you’re aware of what this place used to be.”

“What we assumed it still was.” Meta Knight replied.

“I suppose word doesn’t travel fast amongst your ranks.” Marine paused, then sighed, looking at the ground with a blush. “If you’re aware of all that, then maybe you’ll understand if I explain myself.”

“There’s no need. I can’t imagine you were expecting visitors like us.” Garlude assured her.

“No, please, I insist. It’s only right.” Marine looked back up. “As you can imagine, this place is something of a…grim reminder to the town. The events that took place here are still fresh in many of our minds. Please understand, the last time that creatures who looked so radically different from us arrived unannounced, it was a catastrophe.”

“...I understand.” Garlude said, her voice soft, her nod slight.

“It became clear that you didn’t intend harm, but when I saw that badge…” Marine paused, took a breath, and continued. “I became…worried. I thought that something like that was going to happen again, and that’s why you were here. I just wanted you as far from me as possible.” She put a sheepish hand behind her head. “I know it sounds irrational, but I have a very…personal connection to this ordeal.”

“The person you were going to ask me about.” Meta Knight said.

“...Yeah.” Marine stared past them, her gaze fixed on the flag. “When things started to look bleak, a group of people from our kingdom came together. They said that the stars guided them here, like ships to shore, and they all unified around that idea. As you can imagine, a few hailed from here themselves. And among them…was my sister.”

“Whoa, that’s…kinda heavy.” Jecra said, fighting the urge to hug her.

Marine chuckled again. “It’s all old news now. As you can see, things turned out well for us, all thanks to them. We owe them…everything, but they didn’t ask for anything. They said it was just their duty. And then…they left.”

“They left?” Garlude asked.

“They left. They said there was more work to be done. Luna…she asked me to come with her…but…” Marine looked back down at the ground, clutching the strap of her bag. “I’m not…a fighter. I wasn’t then, I’m not now. I didn’t have the drive that they did. If the stars in the sky really said something to them…they didn’t to me. And besides…I had my own work to do here.”

“Oh yeah, those kids said you were a teacher.” Jecra said.

“Kids…?” Marine looked back up, perplexed. “Classes just got out…although there was a small group of students who were absent…did you see some of them today?”

“...We met in passing.” Garlude said.

“...I hope they’re well.” Marine sighed. “They better not have been playing around here. It’s dangerous for them. Not that you can ever tell kids that. It’s exasperating but…it also means that even without whatever destiny those fighters had…mine serves just as well.”

“I suppose education is important.” Meta Knight chimed in.

“Even beyond that…this fight, it happened years and years ago. Those children…they wouldn’t remember it at all. They’ve only heard stories.” Marine beamed. “And really…that’s how it should be. All that matters is that they never have to see the things that we did.” Her smile softened. “Despite its dangers, it’s better that they see this place as somewhere to explore rather than somewhere to fear. People like me…we’re meant to foster that curiosity and courage. That’s my destiny.”

“...MK.” Jecra said, his voice wavering. “Gar…hold on a second. I gotta- I’m gonna- jeez, lady, that’s-”

Garlude sighed and put an arm around his shoulders.

“Did…did I say something wrong…?” Marine asked, putting a hand over her mouth.

“No.” Garlude replied, her voice gentle. “I think it just…resonates.”

Jecra sniffled, putting one hand around Garlude’s shoulders and the other on his pendant.

Meta Knight looked back and forth at his companions, then at Marine. “Do you need anything else?”

“N-no, I guess not. I hope I wasn’t too much of a nuisance earlier. You understand…right?”

“You were, but it is understandable, yes.”

“MK!” Jecra cried.

“...R-right, uh…I suppose…I’ll take my leave now. I hope whatever you’re looking for, you find it.” Marine turned to leave, then stopped and looked over her shoulder. “Oh, and…if you ever hear from someone named Luna, or anyone else from the Splat Platoon…please send them my best. Make sure they know it’s from Marine.”

“Of course.” Meta Knight said, nodding.

Marine smiled and turned back.

“Thank you.”

Once they were alone, Jecra took the time to regain his composure. “That…that was a lot.” He said, his nose rub doubling as a nose wipe.

“It was, but…I appreciate it, personally.” Garlude said, shrugging with a small smile. “It’s good to remember that wars end, and…that there are purposes outside of fighting them.”

“...Perhaps.” Meta Knight replied, turning to stare back at the tree and flag with deep green eyes.

There was a long pause, which Jecra interrupted.

“So, MK, where to next? Got a route all plotted out or what?”

“Mm.” Meta Knight mused. “I do. But…for now…I am considering briefly extending our stay.”

“...Eh?” Jecra cocked his head to the side. “Why?”

“...I have been thinking…that perhaps we could do with a bit more rest.”

“Yooooo!” Jecra bellowed, shaking Garlude’s shoulders before being shoved off of her. “MK says vacation rights! I knew you’d come around!”

“I said brief. Do not expect anything grand or expansive.”

“From you? Never.” Garlude chuckled. She turned to Jecra. “Are there many beaches where you’re from?”

“Nah, not really, but, uh, if I’m bein’ honest, the ocean kinda gave me a bad foist impression.”

“You’ll get used to it, promise.”

“If ya say so, Gar. I’m holdin’ ya to it.”

Meta Knight sighed, his mask obscuring a half-smile, which quickly faded as he turned back toward the flag and tree. He folded himself into his cape, his grip on the fabric unusually tight.

“C’mon, MK, let’s get goin’!” Jecra grabbed his shoulder and pulled him along, unfurling his arm to grab that instead.

“Mm?” Meta Knight mumbled, only half aware of what was happening.

“If we’re only here for a short time, we may as well make the most of it.” Garlude said, following Jecra’s charge.

Outside, sunlight diffused through the sky, painting it orange. Jecra’s whoops complimented that of the seagulls flying above. The breeze lifted Garlude’s hair in a wave behind her.

The second he felt open air on his skin, Meta Knight inhaled, sea air filling his lungs. He looked to the hidden Stars above, then, feeling his friends’ pull, to the golden horizon ahead.

Chapter Text

Garlude was going to do it. She was going to get engaged with Jecra’s playful banter.

The whole time that the trio had been walking along the craggy paths common to Planet Caverna, Jecra had been talking. They weren’t sure how long they were going to be hiking through this place, and apparently where he was from it was tradition that stories are told on long trips.

After their previous venture, Garlude began to get the impression that she’d be better suited to the team if she could meet his easy-going demeanor, and at any rate, if she was going to be traveling with them for an indefinite amount of time, then it would be wise to be more on a level of “friend” than “teammate who had to be given a pep talk to play a children’s game.”

“N’ ya wouldn’t believe, we found the cat in the freezer! ”

Now was her chance.

“Ah, so you could say it was…fur-eezing?”

Jecra burst into laughter so loud that it echoed through the mountains and caverns around them.

Oh yes, she was succeeding in friendship. She smiled.

Meta Knight nodded in appreciation of her skill, then, after a flash of green crossed his eyes, he looked to Jecra. “...What is a cat, again?”

“...Ya know what, MK? Don’t worry about it.” Jecra replied, still giggling. He cleared his throat to steady his voice. “When’ll we know we’ve found the guys you’re lookin for, anyway?”

“Caverna has been subject to many invasions, NME’s perhaps being the strongest. It is likely that any warriors that are strong enough to remain here share camps.”

“Where you suspect we may find your Golden-Masked Warrior.” Garlude affirmed, nodding. “Do you know where they might be?”

“I do have an idea of where they could have settled, yes.”

Jecra sighed. “We’re just walkin’ along ‘til one of ‘em comes up, ain’t we?”

Meta Knight did not answer.

“It doesn’t look like that should be too long.” Garlude said, pointing skyward.

Above them, smoke stood out against the evening sky.

“...Huh. Whaddya know.” Jecra said, rubbing his nose with one hand and putting the other on his hip.

“Such was to be expected.” Meta Knight said, wrapping himself back into his cape.

“Mm. I’m sure.” Garlude replied, crossing her arms.

As the three followed the smoke, Garlude couldn’t help but feel unsettled. Though taking this path was, in a way, her idea, she found herself questioning whether or not to trust the signal. Monsters were more than able to set fires, after all, and if they were walking into an ambush unaware…

“Stand down a little, Gar, you’re all right.” Jecra said, patting her shoulder. 

“I-I know.” Garlude said, taking a breath and straightening. “I just have a bad feeling about this.”

“This is understandable.” Meta Knight said. “One can never be certain of the presence of monsters.”

“...Thanks MK, you’re a real light in the dark.” Jecra rolled his eyes.

“I do not give off light, but you are welcome.” Meta Knight replied, bounding up several tall rocks in their path to scout ahead.

“...Don’t listen to ‘im, Gar.” Jecra sighed.

“I try to make a habit of that.” Garlude replied, smiling wearily.

Jecra laughed at a much more reasonable volume. “You’re full of ‘em today!”

The two found their way through the rocks, awaiting the return of their companion with bated breath, though neither would show it.

“...S-so, uh, Gar…” Jecra started. “Do ya wanna play…a game or somethin’?”

“I think I’ve had my fill of games, honestly.”

“Nah, nah, this one’s easy.” Jecra waved his hand. “I say that I spy somethin’, n’ ya figure out what I’m spyin’ based on what I say about it. Make sense?”

“...I guess so.”

Jecra nodded. “Aight, cool. I spy…” He looked around for a moment and clapped his hands together. “Somethin’ gray.”

“...Jecra.”

“...Yeah, Gar?”

“...It’s a rock, isn’t it?”

“...M-maybe.”

“The way is clear.”

Jecra and Garlude jumped at the voice behind them.

“ Must you tell us like that?” Garlude asked, hand at the hilt of her blade.

“...I suppose I will make an attempt to change my choice of words.” Meta Knight said, jumping from the ledge on which he’d been standing.

It wasn’t long before the trio reached a large gap between the caverns, its flat expanse dotted with tents of varying quality. In the center, a small group circled a large fire. The group was made up of stout creatures, covered head-to-toe in thick fur with wide variations in coloration, from pure white to orange-and-black striped, and various patterns in-between. The triangular ears on their head twitched as the trio began to approach. 

“Awww, look at ‘em. They look like big ol’ cats!” Jecra exclaimed.

“Ah,” Meta Knight said, nodding sagely. “So that is a cat. They are bigger than I imagined.”

The creatures’ eyes glowed a solid green against the firelight as, in unison, they all turned toward the three.

“A-ah.” Jecra said, his voice shrinking. “...H-hi, fellas…what’s…uh…happenin’?”

The creatures turned to look at each other, whispered, then nodded, turning back to the group as one of them, orange with darker orange stripes, stepped in front, now-brown eyes a bit more welcoming.

“Greetings, travelers. It’s been some time since we’ve seen an unfamiliar face.” He said, a rolling purr beneath his voice. “I am called Gato. Welcome to our settlement.” He bowed his head.

“We are honored.” Meta Knight replied, bowing slightly along with his companions.

“Huh, ya guys’re friendly!” Jecra said with a smile.

“Of course. Surely you have heard the adage about flies and honey.” Gato nodded to his companions, who began to crush leaves at their sides and pour water into a clay teapot next to the fire.

“...I have not.” Meta Knight replied.

“It means you get people to your side better through kindness than aggression.” Garlude said.

“Ah.” Meta Knight said, shrugging. “I have not found this to be true. Any camaraderie I have gained has been through great violence.”

“...I mean… sorta .” Jecra said, one hand on the back of his head while he rubbed his nose with the other, a perplexed look on his face.

“Well I assure you,” Gato said with a chuckle, “no violence will take place here.” He gestured to a small line of well-rounded stones on the ground. “Please, rest.”

The trio sat on the stones.

“Ah!” Another one of the creatures, with gray fur, darker gray stripes and a black spot over one eye, spoke up from behind Gato, his voice something of a yowl. “You bear the emblem of one who’s been called by the Stars!”

“Jeez, that badge o’ yours is a one-way ticket to fame, eh?” Jecra said, smirking and nudging Meta Knight.

“Not all of them have such wide recognition.” Meta Knight replied. “Star Warriors are certainly great enough in number that one of their many emblems would be recognized.”

“I suppose there’re only so many reasons that one would wear a large star on their armor.” Garlude mused.

“Or their shield.” Jecra added, flicking the four-pointed star on Garlude’s shield. His smile dropped to a more pensive look. “Oh, wait, that means I’m all left out…”

“Ah, just a bit too late.” Gato said, turning to place the teapot on a small, makeshift stone platform over the fire. “The invasions you may have heard about here are over. We remain.”

“I am aware. Actually, we are searching for somebody specific.” Meta Knight replied.

“And who is that?” Gato asked. 

“I know them only as the Warrior with the Golden Mask.” Meta Knight replied. “They are said to lead the Galaxy Soldier Army.”

“Any other Star Warriors have long left.” The gray creature murmured.

“Especially those who traveled to the Village.” The third creature, black fur with white-tipped hands and a white muzzle absently chimed in.

The other two hissed at her as she clamped a paw over her mouth.

The trio perked up.

“A village?” Meta Knight asked.

The three creatures mumbled and looked between each other and the ground. After a few moments of this, Gato cleared his throat.

“...Yes, up ahead, there is a village. It had a name once. It no longer does.”

“Why is that?” Garlude asked.

“Its people have been lost.” The gray creature mumbled, placing newly-crumbled leaves into a thin cloth and dipping it into the now-boiling water.

“...Oh. Ya mean they….?” Jecra shifted uncomfortably, rubbing his nose with one hand and making a flighty gesture with the other.

“No.” Gato said, shaking his head and uncovering bits of meat ensconced in the stones by the fire. “They are breathing, but they have shunned our way. They are no longer of us.”

“That seems a li’l harsh, don’cha think?” Jecra asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Not in the slightest.” Gato’s tone was grimmer, flatter, as he passed some of the food to his companions and one piece each to their guests.

Noticing the trio’s stares, the black-and-white creature spoke up. “It’s blowfish, from the shores of Aqua Star. When interplanetary travel was still frequent here, visitors from that star would stop by.” She popped a piece of the fish into her mouth and did not stop chewing as she lamented. “Ah, of course, the fish from Aqualiss taste much better.”

“No they don’t. She’s just homesick.” The gray creature jeered, chuckling and tossing a piece into his mouth.

“You’ve never lived there, Maomi.” Gato said, the purr returning to his voice as his tone grew playful.

“But unlike here, the fish don’t have rock-hard scales! Besides, is it not enough to want to be in the same section of the galaxy again?” The black-and-white creature, Maomi, pouted. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen anything close to home…”

“And we never will again.” The gray cat said gruffly. “May as well get used to it. No sense in crying over it. Again.”

“It makes you just as sad as it makes anyone else here, Katze! You’re just meaner about it because you think it makes you look stronger!” Maomi replied indignantly.

“You’re free to your opinion.” Katze snarled, aggressively shoving two pieces of fish into his mouth.

“Please. Let’s not quarrel in front of our guests.” Gato said, moving the teapot off of the fire.

“...We just came from there.” Garlude said, her tone sincere but her enunciation stiff. “Aqualiss.” She ate her piece of fish. “It’s a beautiful place. I see why you’d miss it.”

“Ohhhh, really? So you have been traveling the stars!” Maomi cried. “Tell me, is it beautiful? Are the sands silky soft? Are there even more fish? ”

“Yeah, tons.” Jecra replied. “N’ they like to mess with ya n’ trick ya into playin’ sidewalk games.”

“...What?”

Meta Knight cleared his throat. “Pardon me, but if I may return to our earlier talk,” he waited for the nod from the creatures before continuing. “Why is it that the residents of this…Village…are lost? What has caused you to shun them, and what does it have to do with the other Star Warriors?” 

Maomi grabbed clay cups from nearby, passing them to her companions.

“You see,” Gato said, taking his cup. “We are the remaining pure adherents of the Way of Chameleo Arm.”

“Chameleo Arm…?” Jecra asked. “Sounds kinda like a fairy tale guy I might’a heard of.”

“It’s possible. Are you from an interior planet of the Gamble Galaxy?” Maomi asked, her ear twitching.

“Uh, I’m from Floria.”

“Oh, you are! Distant, but still neighbors!!” Maomi mewled as she poured a tea for herself.

“...Cool?” Jecra shrugged.

“We’re displaced residents of Hotbeat.” Katze grunted. “Far from Floria or Aqualiss, but still an interior planet.”

“And what does this Chameleo Arm have to do with the Village and Star Warriors?” Garlude asked, raising a hand.

“Chameleo Arm is the legendary guardian of Hotbeat’s most sacred relic.” Gato replied. “His way is one of stealth, of striking one’s opponent from a distance, obfuscating one’s actions until the moment of impact.” He sipped his tea.

“Sounds intense.” Jecra commented.

“If you’re a clawless whelp, maybe.” Katze scoffed.

“Or perhaps if you’re somebody who gives themselves away by complaining.” Maomi said, smirking and narrowing her eyes at him.

“You can never stop talking whether you’re complaining or not!” Katze snarled.

“At any rate,” Gato cut in, putting a hand up, then lowering it. “As the legends tell, many have sought to best Chameleo Arm in order to take the relic. Only two have succeeded, the greatest warriors the galaxy has ever seen, but they repented, and returned it to its place. Since then, it has been left untouched, though not for lack of trying.” He put his cup down.

“What is it about this relic that would make one want to steal it?” Meta Knight asked, eyes flashing green for a moment.

“Rudeness!” Maomi interjected.

“Saps think just cuz it’s so important to us that it’s gotta have great power.” Katze said. “Stories say it’s true, and the warriors who stole it had exactly that, but that’s only if you believe the stories. And even the stories say they were idiots.”

Gato loudly cleared his throat. “Yes, the legends tell that its disappearance caused great chaos until it was returned.” He took a breath before continuing. “Of course, as Katze alluded, much of this is legend. Neither hide nor scale of Chameleo Arm has been found with any certainty in recent times. However, his duty and style live on through his disciples, passed down through centuries of tradition.”

“Not perfectly, though, I assume.” Garlude said.  

There was a stony silence from the creatures.

“Yes.” Gato said. “Some have gone astray from their sacred duty. There are practitioners who used their mastery against their peers. Thieves. They splintered from us and were banished to another star. And then…there’s the Village.” Gato paused thoughtfully. “The inhabitants of the Villaged practiced as we did. But after the most recent  invasion…they have substantially changed their practice. It’s difficult to even truly call them disciples alongside us.”

“They must have fought alongside the Star Warriors there.” Meta Knight said. 

“Yes.” Gato nodded. “We cannot be certain that the one you are looking for is there. However, if there is one thing we can say for certain…” Each creature looked one of the warriors directly in the eyes.

“Nobody is to go to the Village.” They said in unison.

Jecra and Garlude blinked, taken aback by the gesture.

“Ah, but we must.” Meta Knight replied, unaffected. 

“MK…” Jecra said. “They seem…pretty serious about this.”

“If there is a chance that the Warrior with the Golden Mask is there, then we have no choice.”

Meta Knight and Gato locked eyes for what seemed to the others like an eternity, before Gato sighed.

“If we cannot stop you…at least have some tea before you go.” He shook out his hands, seeming to be disgruntled, and poured three cups of tea. “It may very well be the last we’ll see each other, and you all seem very pleasant and genuine.”

Maomi shuffled over to take the cups and hand them to her guests, turning to empty the remainder of the pot into three more cups for her companions.

“I hope anybody who comes again decides to stay with us.” She pouted as she raised her cup, the others following suit.

The tea had a bitterness, as many teas do. Meta Knight recognized the taste as an herb that grew around the base of many of Caverna’s mountains. He held it in his mouth.

Garlude recognized a similar taste from her own planet. She hid her homesickness.

Jecra recognized the taste was gross, and poorly stifled a gag.

“Best of luck on your journey.” Gato said as the trio got up.

They made it a few steps before Jecra spoke up.

“Man…that was not good…” He said.

“Jecra, they’re right there.” Garlude said, turning her head. “Can’t you wait until we’re at least out of earshot before-!”

Thud.

Before she could finish lecturing him, Jecra fell backward to the ground, unconscious.

Garlude whirled around, kneeling beside him and gripping his wrist. He still had a pulse, frightfully slow as it was. It didn’t take long for her to put together what had happened.

“You!” She cried, the sound guttural.

“Eeeee…!!!” Maomi squeaked, her ears sticking straight out to the sides as she placed her hands on her head.

Katze reached to his side and donned something on one hand, taking aim and firing almost exactly in time as Garlude did the same with her crossbow. The projectile that came from the device was in the shape of a clawed paw, bound to the device by a chain.

Garlude strafed, grabbing hold of the chain and using it to throw Katze far over her shoulder, slamming him into the ground.

She turned, took aim at Maomi, and fired.

Maomi squeaked, smoothly dodging all shots fired at her. She bounded noiselessly over the stone seats, leaping toward Garlude as Garlude dropped her crossbow and rushed to meet her with her blade.

Maomi’s acrobatics became more advanced, using cartwheels and handsprings to dodge Garlude’s attempts to slash at her. Each time the blade got too close, she mewed fearfully.

Maomi tumbled to Garlude’s side and, as Garlude turned to strike her, took three purple balls from behind her and threw them into her face.

The balls burst on contact, covering Garlude’s face, hair and top armor with magenta paint.

Garlude grunted and squeezed her stinging eyes shut, unable to defend herself from being batted across the face and kicked in the stomach.

She stumbled back, taking up a defensive stance. Fighting to open one eye, she saw another strike coming and clumsily deflected it with her shield.

On a ledge above, Gato crept, observing the action below as he unsheathed his claws. He was ready to pounce, but hesitated. His friends were holding their own just fine, but there was something amiss…

He heard the distinct sound of liquid spat onto the ground.

“You know,” came a voice from behind him. “I, too, prefer stealth.”

Gato sighed heavily, remaining perfectly still for several seconds before turning to lash out at Meta Knight. His claws clanged against the broad side of an epeé.

“It was clever to brew a tea strong enough to mask the taste of poison.” Meta Knight said, blocking another attempt to slash at him. “Obfuscating your actions, indeed.”

He ducked beneath another strike and threw himself into Gato, sending them off of the ledge.

Once they hit the ground, Meta Knight straightened and pointed his sword directly at the throat of a dazed Gato.

Maomi, out of the corner of her eye, saw this and gasped. “Oh no, wait, please don’t-!”

Garlude hit Maomi in the back of the head with her shield, downing her as well.

Katze, somewhat recovered, began to sneak behind Garlude, but was halted by Meta Knight.

“Do not take another step.” He said, eyes trained solely on Gato. “This is your only warning.”

Kazte grunted, but did not move.

Maomi raised her head. “Please, wait-”

“If you have a poison on your person the way you do, surely you must have a treatment for it as well.” Meta Knight said.

“And just what makes you think that?” Katze snarled.

“Your life depends on it.” Meta Knight replied, gently pressing down his sword.

“Meta Knight.” Garlude said, glaring. “Don’t.”

“We are at war, Lady Garlude, you must understand this-”

“Not against them.”

“They have poisoned one of our own.”

“And if they do have an antidote for it, they’ll be more likely to give it to us if we don’t kill their friend. ”

“Which is why nobody will be harmed if we are given a clear, concise answer.”

“We don’t take hostages!”

“Who decided such a thing? Have you somehow forgotten the situation we are in?”

“I assumed we’d be better than that! ”

“We are not heroes, Lady Garlude.”

“Then what are we even doing!?”

There was a short, dense silence.

Gato, surprisingly calm, cleared his throat. “There is a cavern just beyond the firelight.” He twitched one ear in the direction of a small opening in the mountains, its distance from the light making it appear as a jagged, pitch-black shape. “It grows naturally there. A red, wide-petaled flower that gives off no light.”

“Very good.” Meta Knight replied, withdrawing his blade and stepping off of Gato.

Katze and Maomi immediately flocked to their leader’s side as Garlude hoisted Jecra onto her back.

Meta Knight walked to her side, but paused before proceeding to the cave. “I should warn you,” he said without turning around, “that if you are relying on whatever resides in this cave to strike us down, you are making a fool’s bet.”

“The state of your party should indicate to you that we do not make bets.” Gato replied. “If, by the end of your journey, you should still feel compelled to go to the Village, do not return to us.”

“We have no such plans.” Garlude mumbled, moving forward.

/*|*\

The cave, as expected, was dank, dimly lit by various types of bioluminescent flowers and vines. Around the opening, several small creatures dashed along black veins in the walls into other openings, some bigger, some smaller. With as little direction as they’d received, Meta Knight and Garlude were unsure of how to proceed.

“One would hope that a flower that doesn’t give off light would be closer to the entrance.” Garlude remarked.

“I am hardly surprised.” Meta Knight replied. “If we are to assume that our attackers have told the truth, then we cannot assume that their antidote would be easy to find.”

“Mm.” Garlude said.

There was a moment of silence.

“...Any entrance will be as helpful as any other.” Meta Knight said, starting to walk forward.

Garlude hoisted Jecra a bit higher, allowing her to walk with relative ease about the entrances, then stopped in front of one to the right of Meta Knight. 

“No. We should use this one.”

“Why-”

“It’s the only one that doesn’t sound like it has running water through it. The last time we swam through a cave network, we nearly drowned. Jecra’s barely breathing as it is.”

“If it is running, can we be certain that the caves would be submerged?”

“We can’t be certain that they aren’t. We can’t be certain that running water wouldn’t make for unstable walls. And I don’t like to take chances. We’re going this way.” Garlude strode as best she could through the entrance of her choice.

Meta Knight stood dumbfounded for a moment before following her.

Many more small creatures darted out of the way as the duo went through the passage. They scanned every surface the best they could with the nigh-complete lack of light, but still, with several false alarms, found nothing.

“Lady Garlude,” Meta Knight spoke up.

“Yes?” Garlude replied tersely.

“We are not making very much progress-”

“I’m aware.”

“Perhaps we should develop a more focused plan-”

“Find a place that’s brighter. If the plant doesn’t give light, it needs more of it.”

“...Indeed.” Meta Knight paused. “You are…quite focused. It is helpful, and yet…”

“...And yet…?”

“...I am not sure how to explain.”

Before Garlude could reply, they turned down a twisted passage to find the cave starting to fill with light. At the end of the way, the cave opened up to a large cavern, stretching endlessly above, open to the moonlit sky. From an opening in the wall of the cavern, a waterfall partially filled the area below, the dark water making it difficult to distinguish its depth. About the jagged walls were numerous openings of various shapes and sizes, some trickling smaller amounts of water, along with more glowing flowers of varying colors, sizes and intensities and varying types of rock that reflected the light from above into the cavern.

“...Wow…” Garlude breathed.

“This area certainly seems brighter.” Meta Knight said, looking around. “Although…I do not see a flower matching the description we were given.” He folded himself into his cape and looked down, the angle of his visor obscuring his eyes. “I am beginning to suspect that we were deceived…”

“It could just be somewhere else.” Garlude snapped. “They were serious about stopping us, why would they give us a cure that’s easy to find?”

“They could have easily sent us here to-”

“Let me be blunt, Meta Knight.” Garlude pointedly adjusted Jecra on her shoulders. “We’re searching this cave to the best of our ability, and whether or not we find the flower in this place, we’re not going back to them. I won’t let you.”

“...Ah, so that is it.” Meta Knight looked back up at her, one green eye visible. “You still hold…reservations…about what I had said before.”

“I’m not sure what gave you the impression that I wouldn’t.”

“...I suppose I can understand. I had left your question unanswered.”

“That’s a big part of it, yeah.” Garlude spotted a roughly-hewn ledge nearby, crouched slightly, and climbed out onto it. “But I’m not sure that I’d agree that you understand.”

Meta Knight stepped out onto the ledge behind her, traversing it with much more ease. He felt along the wall, finding the jagged surface sufficient to scale it and leap ahead of Garlude.

“What are you-?” She began to sputter, before Meta Knight’s landing caused a small section of the ledge’s edge to collapse into the water below.

“You had mentioned before,” Meta Knight said, continuing to inch along with heavy steps. “That the stability of the structures here may be suspect. You carry added weight. It would be better that I scout, to assure our safe passage.”

“...You could have said something.”

“I…did.”

“No, you just…” Garlude sighed. “You act before you warn.”

“Action…must often be taken swiftly.”

Garlude closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath before continuing to follow behind him.

The duo traversed to another cave entrance, this one much bigger than the one from which they’d emerged.

Garlude started forward.

“...Have I come closer to understanding?”

She stopped.

“...What?” She asked, looking over her shoulder.

“You had said before that you were not sure that I would understand your reservations. But I have taken into account what you said previously, which I then used to inform my actions. It is working as a team.”

“...No, that wasn’t what I was talking about, but…thanks for that, I guess.”

“Ah, yes, you had mentioned that I acted without speaking of it first. This, admittedly, is something that will be more difficult to correct. I hope that this will not severely disrupt our ability to work together.”

“So it’s about working together? And how effectively we can do that?” Garlude asked, starting again down the passage.

“...Should it be about something else?” Meta Knight asked, going to her side.

“...Maybe? I’ll be honest, if we’re talking about things we said before…” Garlude paused for a moment, then sighed. “I’m not sure how to explain.”

Thud.

The ground vibrated.

The duo snapped their focus to the interior of the cave. It offered far fewer sources of light, but just enough to reveal the source of the disturbance. 

Under the light of a large golden flower in the ceiling, the face of a hulking, furry creature made itself known. It was pale yellow, with darker yellow stripes down its back, round ears on its head, and, curiously, a red ribbon tied around its head. Its black eyes were hazy, as if it had just woken up.

“Ah, of course.” Meta Knight muttered. “These caves remain infested with monsters, ones well-suited to such an environment. I should have expected this.”

“What does it do?” Garlude asked, blinking hard.

“This monster is MSR-31732317, Grizzo. Its primary asset is its high endurance and brute strength. Despite its simplicity of design, entering combat with it is not, itself, a simple endeavor.”

Grizzo’s head turned to Meta Knight and Garlude, an ear twitching, and bared its teeth.

Jecra shivered.

“...Its senses are also finely tuned…perhaps I should have said as much before anything else.” Meta Knight said, drawing his sword.

“Cover me.” Garlude uttered sharply, crouching and stepping back.

Meta Knight nodded, readying himself as Grizzo charged at him.

He charged forward at equal speed, slashing at the monster at the point of contact. Grizzo was knocked back, backside and paws scraping against the ground.

Grizzo recovered and roared, getting back to its feet.

Ah, its fur is slash-proof. Meta Knight thought, unsure of how he would forget such a critical detail.

As Meta Knight prepared a parry for the next attack, a capeless Garlude rushed in front of him, deflecting Grizzo’s claws off her shield before thrusting her sword at its midsection.

Grizzo went back a shorter ways, a small cut just barely visible on its stomach.

“Our blows must be piercing.” Meta Knight said.

“Got it.” Garlude replied, planting the tip of her blade into the ground, bracing herself on the hilt, and drawing her crossbow.

She aimed and drew, waiting for Grizzo to get back to its feet so that she could get a clear shot at the headband, the easiest method of targeting in the low light.

She rested her finger on the trigger.

“Wait!” Meta Knight cried, grabbing her arm and jerking it in another direction.

Garlude cried out and fired, but before she could shriek “What were you thinking?” , Grizzo flew back and sparked from the bolt in its forehead.

A perfect hit…? Garlude thought. But how…?

“I cannot imagine,” Meta Knight explained, folding an arm into his cape, “that you were intending to fire upon a stone.”

“No, but…” Garlude trailed off as she looked around. Grizzo’s sparks flew about the cave, the light of flowers snaked every which way, and somehow there seemed to be twice as many rocks as usual. “I…”

Meta Knight could see the confusion and fear on Garlude’s face. Evidently something was wrong. He wasn’t certain what, though he had a very good guess. Of course, assuming he was correct, they were nowhere close to fixing the problem.

…What was it, exactly, that they were looking for again? A flower…?

For a reason he couldn’t explain, he began to reach for her, despite a lack of prompt, ready to say…something…

…Before Grizzo rushed at them and exploded.

The strike against the cave wall wasn’t the harshest impact Meta Knight had ever endured, but it was far from pleasant. He bounced off of it to the ground, his sword clattering inches from his hand. He heard a crack and a distant, heavy splash as he pushed himself up, exhaling sharply.

He turned his head, coming almost face-to-face with Jecra, still unconscious, but shivering more intensely. As he stood, he took note of Garlude’s cape, folded beneath his head, as well as Jecra’s, wrapped about his person.

He found the sight almost confounding. Of course there was value in keeping their companion comfortable, but in the middle of a fight? And why wrap Jecra in such a way, taking more time, when a touch confirmed that the shivering was a result of his poisoning rather than his body temperature?

He found himself being drawn in by his own contemplation, which was interrupted by another loud cracking sound, this one accompanied by a light rumble. Physically, he was unshaken, but he suddenly found himself at a loss. Where was…?

Garlude was consumed by the chill of the water. Though hardly the coldest she’d endured, it was nonetheless a shock, and she found herself desperately fighting the instinct to seize up so that she could flail to the surface and take in air. She thought she felt vibration as she surfaced, but her movements made it difficult to say for sure.

She opened her eyes, and the sights that greeted her left her wondering if her eyes were stinging a bit too much, or if she were suffering from the effects of something worse. Light was sparser around the water; there were fewer light-emitting flowers near the surface, certainly none beneath it, and the moonlight above struggled to penetrate the area, with little to amplify it. What little light there was broke into a spectrum before Garlude’s eyes, doubling, tripling, blurring, doing little to illuminate the blurring, tripling, doubling rock formations around her.

A low, echoing rumble sounded through the grotto, making barely-visible patterns on the water’s surface. As she looked down to examine these patterns, questioning if they were real or a bizarre distortion of her own movements, she caught sight of a dull, bronze glow from below and gasped.

Even like this, she knew the aura of the Fierce Deity’s Sword when she saw it. Surely it was a sign, or at least a very important item to retrieve as quickly as possible.

She dove.

Garlude had been standing in the cave. She was no longer standing in the cave. In-between her standing in the cave and…a…flash of light, yes? Yes, somewhere between Garlude standing in the cave and a flash of light, perhaps before Meta Knight had hit the wall, Garlude had exited the cave.

Meta Knight retrieved his sword and stared at the ground.

It wasn’t exactly astrophysics, she had to have been thrown, because…the flash…was an explosion! From Grizzo. The monster. That they had fought. Yes.

“I sense something is amiss.” He said to the unconscious Jecra, who replied with shaky breaths.

She hit the water! The thought struck him. She must have.

Yes, of course! She hit the water, and that was where she was now. Nothing else happened in-between, he was sure of it. With that, he reasoned, it was time to get her out of the water.

“Lady Garlude!” He called, but heard no response. Strange. “Lady Garlude…?”

There was still no response. Strangeness turned to concern.

He ran toward the edge, about to call her name again when he was hit with another recollection, timed perfectly with a particularly loud crack , one that fractured beneath his foot.

He jumped back as the ledge came away and slid along a diagonal cleave, revealing a slab of opalescent rock that cast light toward the pool below.

The concern grew in a way with which Meta Knight was…unfamiliar. And uneasy.

Were Garlude less grounded, she would have believed that grabbing the hilt of her sword caused the tremor in the water. A believer in the sacred power she held, she reasoned that she’d been divinely protected from the true cause: a mass of rock that had slid down from above.

Almost immediately, light flooded the area, revealing sparse, small fauna and various dull flora, all in incomprehensible patterns around her.

Despite the lack of clarity, she did note one very distinct color: a striking red, one which she knew gave no light. Nothing beneath the surface did. 

Called by her new mission, she swam toward where the red seemed more concentrated.

The movement in the water was a promising sign for Meta Knight, and once the dust settled, giving him a better view of the water, he found himself releasing a breath he wasn’t aware he’d been holding.

Of course, he was immediately able to spot the flowers they’d been searching for-- bright red, wide petals waving gently with the motion in the water. However, it did not take him long to realize that Garlude had no such ability. He watched her thrust her hand or slash at various other types of plants nearby, when she reached plants at all, and toss the scraps aside in frustration. He imagined that the growing amount of clippings rising to the surface was not helping matters.

Meta Knight knew that to call to her was futile, he was too far away and she was too underwater. The increasing weight of Jecra’s breaths indicated to him that time was of the essence, but he couldn’t go down himself, as the smooth surface of the reflective slab offered little in the way of climbing back up.

He grunted lightly as he struggled to formulate a plan, mentally gripping each step as it slid into place, only for them to begin slipping out of order, what steps that remained at all.

He sighed, falling back on his strength: acting with speed.

He pulled his arm back and lobbed his sword into the water.

The second he did so, he uncoiled the whip at his side, using the other hand to plant himself against the wall, and snapped it over the ledge, allowing it length to settle along it, the tip just barely touching the recently-dropped rock.

Garlude tried to calm herself down. It seemed that no matter where she went, it was impossible to find that stupid red flower. Was her friend seriously going to die because she drank tea?

No, she resolved. No matter what it took, she was going to find that flower. Even if what it took was her dragging the Fierce Deity out of the sky-

She heard a splash and felt movement. She snapped her head toward it, becoming aware of the silver entering her vision. Huh, guess he’d sent a sign instead.

She followed the direction of the disturbance, pulling a sample of plants she encountered along the way, until her hand struck metal. Though her vision was unreliable, she knew well the feeling of a sword. She followed the blade down, taking hold of what was at its base. It was a plant which, as she brought it closer to her face, filled her vision with red.

She nodded, taking a fair amount of what she could feel, though she did her best not to take too much. Who knew what other poor souls would fall victim to those creatures?

Once she was satisfied, she placed the petals in a pouch on her belt, took the sword, and fled to the surface. She took deep breaths, swimming forward until she made contact with a solid surface.

“Garlude.” Came a voice from above.

She looked up, not quite seeing, not quite believing, but certainly recognizing her caller.

“Meta Knight…? You-”

“Reach directly above you.”

She huffed slightly, but did as she was told, finding the tip of what felt like a tightly-braided rope. The second she gripped it, she was being pulled along a smooth surface, a white, ethereal haze filling her vision, an ether, until she was dragged onto a much rougher, much duller ground.

Once the pulling stopped, Garlude let go and stood, futilely batting at the dirt which stuck to her wet skin and clothes. The smaller sword was taken from her hand.

“I was wondering where that had gone.” Meta Knight mumbled.

“Hm.” She chuckled. “I thought that was a bit small for a Deity.”

“...Excuse me?” he replied.

“...Nothing.” Garlude sighed, then paused for a moment before speaking again. “I noticed…that you-”

“Forgive me, there is something I must ask of you.” Meta Knight said.

“...Okay.”

“Perhaps you are not in such a position, but it is unfortunately necessary.” He guided her hand to Jecra, allowing her to lift him back onto her shoulders before continuing. “You must lead us from this place.”

“...Excuse me? ” Garlude raised an eyebrow. “Are you telling me that you can’t see, either? Or…is this another one of those ‘working better together by keeping you in mind…or something’ things?”

He wrapped himself in his cape, tip of his blade sticking out the front.

“...Meta Knight?”

“...I cannot recall how we came to this place.”

Garlude was taken aback. “You…you don’t…remember?”

“I do not.”

“...How…?” She asked, the answer beginning to dawn as she did so. “Was it…?”

“I took precautions.” Meta Knight said. “It would appear that they were not sufficient.”

“...I…I see.” She paused to consider. “This is going to be…complex. You’ve probably put it together…”

“You cannot see clearly. I am aware of this.”

“...You’ll have to be my eyes.”

“I may forget every turn.”

“Then I’m the compass.”

“Very good.”

Garlude turned toward the entrance of the cave. “There was a ledge that led out of here back to the entrance. Is it still there?”

Meta Knight turned to look. On either side of the entrance, any possible ledge was replaced by smooth or broken rock.

“...No.”

Jecra twitched.

“...I guess we’ll have to forge a new path.” Garlude said, rising apprehension in her voice.

“It seems we have no choice.” Meta Knight replied, his voice somewhat flatter. He turned back inward, scanning the passage before spotting a small opening to the side. He pulled Garlude’s hand to the wall. “There is an exit this way.”

Garlude nodded and walked along. She was a bit more wary for sounds of water, though as they traveled through the passage, an upward slope, she heard none. In fact, the distant trickling from the grotto steadily became more distant. She did not doubt, however, that there would be other hazards, or even other sections of-

“There is water here.” Meta Knight said, pointing at a small stream running across their path that Garlude could not see nor hear. “Perhaps we should see where it leads…” He started to follow the stream.

“We know where it leads. We were there.”

He stopped. “Ah…of course.”

“...But…it may be coming from somewhere else. We’re going to go in the opposite direction.”

“Very good.”

Garlude nodded, a small smile crossing her face as she turned down the new passage. As they ventured on, the slope of the cave gradually steepening, she could feel the rock beginning to soften.

“Meta Knight…” she said, “are there any major signs of wear or erosion?”

“...Perhaps…there was? I see a rut now, but little else. I…cannot recall what I had seen before.”

Garlude sighed.

Meta Knight said nothing more.

As the two proceeded up the passage, there was unspoken apprehension. Garlude’s ears filled with Jecra’s labored breathing, his tremors filled her hands. Her other ear perked up to louder sounds of water, which, as they climbed, began to cascade around her feet. She crouched again.

“Is there anything?” She grunted.

“There are few hazards you would not see. However, just ahead, there is light.” Meta Knight pointed, fully aware that Garlude wouldn’t be able to make it out.

Garlude tilted her head upward, and multiple bits of moon flooded her vision, along with criss-crossing jagged exitways.

“Great!” She breathed. “How far? Is it solid at the top?”

“It is-!” There was a cry, followed by a scrape.

Garlude knew immediately what had happened, and just as instantly knew that she had that instant to act.

There was no time to think or plan or fret over how risky it would be to attempt to hold Jecra while attempting a rescue.

She had to act first.

She slashed the straps on her shield against the roughest rock she could feel, and as she trailed it behind her she felt herself lose her balance.

Pinning Jecra’s arm between her ear and shoulder plate, shield trailing by a strap behind her, Garlude leapt into the haze before her, reaching up.

“Grab it!” She cried to one she could only hope would hear her.

A jagged plane. She felt her fingers make contact with a jagged plane. She curled them, straining them against what little texture was offered, just barely enough to keep her from flowing down the passage. Weight bore on her back and from her shield. Was that Meta Knight or the stream?

“Meta!” She called, struggling to drag herself up along the eroded rock.

Meta Knight, grasping the strap of the shield against the current rolling against him, lifted his head. “I am here.” He replied.

He saw Garlude grunt and nod, and for a moment, he reached over the shield, perhaps to climb onto the rock, perhaps to climb onto the Garlude, but paused.

The rock beneath the water was slick, perhaps too slick for a proper hold, and Garlude was struggling to pull them all up to the surface. It was possible, he theorized, to get to the top quickly, and pull Garlude and Jecra to safety. But the risk that he would destabilize Garlude and send all three of them tumbling back down into the system felt too great. He could have let go himself, reducing her strain, but, he realized with frustration, he could not guarantee that he would remember how to get back there.

He retracted his hand, continuing to cling to the strap. He would trust her to act.

“Pull us to the right. There appears to be drier land there.” He said.

Garlude grunted, a grunt which turned into a shout as she, with one arm and barely any traction, did as she was told. Slowly, she gained more of a hold, enough to feel water over the lip, but dryness to the side. She dug her toes in as far to the side as she could, using what stability she could find to assist in her climb. 

Eventually, she felt the chill of a breeze over her soaked form. Reaching ahead indicated that there was a body of water before them. She tried to pull them farther to the side, a desperate attempt to hit something dry. As she brought her shield to the opening, she felt the weight lighten, heard more splashing than usual.

It wasn’t a far swim to the edge of the lake. Even in his confused state, Meta Knight managed it easily, and he pulled his companions as close to the wall of the mountain as possible to get them across, too. Once they were all ashore, open to the air and on dry ground, they all rested. 

Just for a moment.

A sharp twitch from Jecra prompted them back to action.

“We are no longer in the cave.” Meta Knight said, standing. “Have we…obtained the cure?”

“Long since.” Garlude said, taking a bottle from her side and reaching about until she found the water to fill it.

“Very good.” There was a pause. “We were never told how to prepare this, were we?”

“...No.” She took the petals from the pouch. “But in my experience, most medicinal plants or parts have those properties released when they’re cooked or brewed into an elixir…though I guess in this case it’d be more of a tea.” She gestured around them. “If you can find a way to start a fire, it’s something we can try.”

Meta Knight nodded. He wandered about the cliffside, searching for dried plants and wiry trees, with stones to hold together a small pit. With each item he found, he turned to locate Garlude and Jecra, lest he’d forget what he was doing and where to go. To start a basic fire was a smaller matter. It was something that remained consistent across all planets: heat, oxygen, fuel. In…that order? Hm…

Garlude heard the sounds of struggle, then lit kindling, and the splotches of orange and yellow told her that Meta Knight had succeeded. She held the bottle and petals out for him. He took them.

Once the fire was big enough, he placed a small stone in the middle of it.

“This glass…” he mused, holding the bottle in front of his face, “it is not…delicate…is it?”

“It’s probably survived more disasters than most of the heroes that came before me.” She replied.

“Ah, very good.”

She heard a soft crunch from beside her, a pause, a tink , then the bubbling sounds of boiling water.

There was silence for some time. A dank scent mixed with the smell of smoke in the air. Garlude was thankful that a flower petal, accustomed already to water, was brewing so easily.

Meta Knight, having grown impatient with the process, continued to stab the petals in the bottle with a twig. By the firelight, he could just barely see the water turning red, a shade that grew more vibrant the more he stabbed. When he was satisfied with the hue and scent of the concoction, he took another stick, pressed them to the bottle’s neck, and lifted it from the stone, gently placing it on the ground between him and his comrades.

The bubbling settled, giving way to the much less calming sound of Jecra, exhaling just hard enough to emit whimpers as he shivered.

Meta Knight grabbed the bottle. Garlude grabbed Jecra’s hand.

Meta Knight squeezed Jecra’s cheeks together, opening his lips. He watched as Garlude squeezed his hand. He grunted as he carefully poured the contents of the bottle into Jecra’s mouth. By instinct, he swallowed, and before long the twitching started to subside.

“There is little left for you to do.” Meta Knight remarked. “You have done well, you do not need to try to do more.”

“...Excuse me?” Garlude asked, looking up at a rock pillar behind Meta Knight and raising an eyebrow.

“In the state you are in, you are still attempting to cure Jecra in whatever way you can. There is no need.”

“...Meta Knight…do you think I’m doing this…out of a desperate need to contribute?”

Meta Knight waited until the bottle was halfway empty before pulling it away from Jecra’s lips. “Is there…another reason that you would?”

“...Oh wow. This…this explains so much about you.”

“How so?” Meta Knight asked, putting the bottle in her hand.

Garlude took a long sip of the bottle. She recognized that it tasted gross. She gagged before continuing. “The way I see it, sometimes you do things because…they’re just nice things to do. They make another person feel…cared about. Comfortable.”

“...I…see.”

“And I think…that maybe…that’s the thing that you don’t understand.” She held out the bottle. “The things that we do to…what was it you said? Fight darkness? Bring hope?”

“Preserve freedom in the face of oppression.”

“Yeah, all of that…it means different things to us.” She paused, thoughtfully swirling the still-untaken bottle. “...I come from a place where service to others is a way of life. What we can do to alleviate suffering is expected of us. And I stand very strongly by those values.”

“...And this stand…it means that the way I act is…odd to you.”

“...That’s a word for it, yeah.” She shook the bottle. “I left some for you, you know.”

“Ah, there is no need.” Meta Knight nudged the bottle back toward her. “I ate a petal to ensure that we would not be poisoned again. From what I can tell it seems as effective as drinking its essence.”

Garlude took the bottle incredulously. “Why…didn’t you say anything?”

“The petals are tough. I am not certain you could bite through it, and Jecra is not in such a position himself.”

“...So it seems like you might understand the concept a little better than you think.”

“If it were poisoned or inedible, then it would be much more difficult if I had given it to you first.” He paused. “Although…I can see what it is you may be trying to say.”

“Then maybe now…we can explain.” She put the bottle down, satisfied with what she had already drunk.

“Yes. Perhaps.” Meta Knight sat beside her.

Garlude stared up at the moon, its light slowly coalescing into a familiar circle.

“...My profession is a Hero, Meta Knight. Hope, freedom, those things are embodied by the people we meet. I slay monsters, yeah, but that’s all to protect people, from danger, from fear, maybe sometimes from themselves, and doing that is in how you act outside of combat as much as it is inside.” She paused, looking at him closer to eye level. “Does that make sense to you?”

Meta Knight stared the sky, cocking his head to the side in consideration before answering.

“...No.”

“...Ah.”

“You have certainly noticed that I am not quite so…”

“Empathetic?”

“...Perhaps.” He cleared his throat. “I have been a warrior for some time, and strive for a warrior’s ideals. To protect light is to banish darkness, to protect hope is to fight against despair, to protect freedom is to destroy oppression. Even civility, cooperation, they are all, in their own fashion, manners of fighting. Ends, doing what must be done to attain victory.”

“Kinda…heartless, don’t ya think?”

“I do not think in such terms. The conflicts in which we find ourselves are touched by war, if not caused by it. There is little room for heart in such conditions.”

“I don’t think that’s true. In fact…” Garlude did her best to look into Meta Knight’s eyes, “I’m going to tell you: you’re wrong.”

He met her unfocused gaze for several moments before turning away. “You are free to think so.”

“I will.” Garlude’s voice was cold as she faced forward. There was a moment of silence. “...Ya know…I don’t want this to be a problem…and I don’t think it will.”

“No?”

“No. There is …common ground here.”

“...Yes, perhaps you are right.”

She nodded. “Even if for different reasons…we know that in some way we have to support each other…and at least to some extent the people we meet.”

“Perhaps.”

“We can work with that, I think. At least to start. It’ll probably work itself out the longer we work together…however long this goes on.”

“Indeed. We must.”

“Exactly. But if we don’t want things to fall apart, you need to understand something, no matter how hard it may be.” The circle of the moon sharpened in Garlude’s vision. “If your pragmatism starts to turn to brutality, I will stop you.”

“ Will you?”

She looked at him, gaze focused and steely. “Yes. I will. It’s a fact. If you try to, let’s say, kill a civilian when they’re already down? You won’t succeed.”

Meta Knight studied her a moment, then grunted. “You, then, must also understand that there will be times in which we must do what we must to succeed, or perhaps even to survive.”

They stared at each other for some time. Above, clouds obscured the moon, leaving the landscape lit by the much dimmer starlight.

“...Fine.” Garlude said, staring forward.

“Likewise.” Meta Knight said, doing the same.

Beside them, Jecra stirred, groaning in a much softer, less pained way before stilling again.

Garlude pushed herself up, removing her cape again.

“Leave it by the fire.” Meta Knight said.

“I know how to dry a cape, don’t worry, but I want to-”

“I know. Leave it by the fire. Or perhaps use it for yourself. We must rest.”

Meta Knight stepped in-between Jecra and Garlude, bunching his cape to one side and sitting, placing the fabric beneath Jecra’s head before laying back.

Garlude smirked, but knew better than to say anything smug. “Whatever you say.” She said, leaving the cape by the slowly-dying fire before laying down herself.

After a moment, Meta Knight began to say something, but the words fell back into him before he could make a sound. He sat up and stared out.

Far below, farther in the distance, the soft lights of the Village beckoned.

Chapter Text

 “So we gotta come in, arms up! No guard droppin’! N’ if they try’n give us tea, we bop ‘em!” Jecra bounced on his toes along the rocky mountain pass.

“You’re recovering pretty well.” Garlude said, not helping but to chuckle.

“Ha! It’ll take more than a lil poison to take down ol’ Jec!”

“Were it not for our efforts, you likely would have perished.” Meta Knight said.

“...W-well…ya don’t know that!” Jecra stopped bouncing and crossed his arms. “I mean, like…maybe I would’ve gotten better.”

“You had lost control of your movement.”

“...Maybe I just wanted ‘em to think that.”

“You were-”

“A’ight MK enough I get it.”

“Anyway…” Garlude cut in. “Jecra actually has a good point. If the people in the Village turn out to be as hostile as those in the camp, it could present a real problem for us. We’re not exactly in the best shape for a fight.” She held up her shield, dangling from her hand by a broken strap, as if to illustrate her point.

“It is my hope that the enemy of our enemy will be our friend.” Meta Knight replied. “And if not, at least we may find a Star Warrior to aid us. Creatures of many disciplines have come here prior to and during its invasions. Surely there is one among them.”

“And if there isn’t?”

“...If you must escape, I will understand.”

“And you won’t?”

“Of course not. I am not known to run from conflict.”

“It’s okay, Gar.” Jecra chimed in. “I’ll hold ‘im under my arm. He’s about the right size.”

“You will do no such thing.”

“Only if ya don’t make it so I gotta~”

Garlude couldn’t help but snicker, then added. “Whatever happens, we’re all going to get out safely. We won’t have another incident like that one, I’ll make sure of it.”

It wasn’t long before they were greeted by the tall wooden gate of the Village. It was a simple gate, two vertical posts, one horizontal on top of them, and attached to the upright posts were wooden doors, open and immaculately kept- even the hinges showed no sign of wear.

The three stepped through the gate. The second they did so, two figures twirled into view. They were of the same species as the creatures at the camp, though unlike their counterparts, they were both dressed in white robes, held closed by black cloth belts.

“Welcome!” They both chanted, bowing.

“It’s been so long since we’ve seen unfamiliar faces!” One of them, a rotund creature with black fur smeared with stripes of orange and brown and the occasional white puff, exclaimed.

“I was beginning to worry that I would pass before I saw any.” The other, a slimmer creature with gray fur, faint black stripes and white paws added.

They both righted themselves and extended their paws to their visitors.

The black-furred one spoke again. “Here, we hope that you are able to find peace and enlightenment-”

“Are there any Star Warriors here?” Meta Knight asked.

“...” The two looked at each other, then back to the trio, cocking their heads to the side in opposite directions.

“You are looking for…a Star Warrior?” The gray-furred one asked.

“‘S what he said.” Jecra replied, crossing his arms.

“Your offer sounds nice, but truthfully that’s all we’re looking for.” Garlude affirmed.

The two creatures straightened their heads. The black-furred one cleared her throat. “Most who dwell here are practitioners of the Way of the One Soul. When they assume this practice, they shed the labels that they once bore.”

“Perhaps some of those who are here were once Star Warriors. If they are who you seek, we can bring you to them.” The gray-furred one finished.

“...Could ya…could ya maybe bring them to us?” Jecra asked, rubbing his nose. “Save us all some time?”

“You are so hesitant to enter! And wish to avoid hospitality? What strange travelers…” The black-furred one commented.

“And in your state…” The gray-furred one said, looking them over with curious green eyes. “If I may, what has happened to instill such a demeanor?”

“We were poisoned and had to drag our way through a flooded cave for a cure.” Garlude replied flatly. “Strangely, it seemed to be because we were planning on coming here.”

 “You will not encounter hostility here, but it is true that some may seek to do us harm because of our practices.” The black-furred one said.

“Who could have gone to such an extreme?” The gray-furred one asked.

“There were some other cat guys over around another mountain.” Jecra replied.

“There were others?” The duo asked, eyes wide as they leaned forward with interest.

“It is unlikely that they are in the same place as before.” Meta Knight said with a dismissive wave. “Now, if indeed there are former Star Warriors in your midst…”

“Ah, of course.” The gray-furred one purred. “Please, do come with us.”

Meta Knight sighed heavily. “Very well.”

The trio followed their hosts, guards up.

The Village was a fairly well-kept settlement, situated at the peak of a low mountain. What ground was not neatly-cut trail was taken up by gardens, and what was left over was taken up by small springs, all surrounded by wooden enclosures a small log or two high. As they passed through, they noticed several denizens of the Village, mostly cat-creatures in white robes but some of other species, standing about. It could be presumed that they were socializing, but they rarely seemed to say much aloud to each other. 

Around and above the ground towered the structures that housed the creatures. Supported by the careful placement of red-painted wooden posts, equally red-painted stairs led to multi-level platforms holding buildings of various sizes, all connected by systems of bridges. From the bridges hung brightly-colored flags, standing out against the solid red of the posts. Unlike most of the architecture, the flags seemed worn, tattered, ragged ends flowing in the gentle mountain breeze.

“...So, uh…either of you guys got names…?” Jecra asked, interrupting the silence that the environment inspired in the group.

The two creatures turned to him, almost seeming confused, before giggling.

“Ah, of course.” The gray-furred one said. “How rude. I sincerely apologize.” She stopped and bowed toward the group. “I am called Minni.”

“Yes,” the brown-furred one said, doing the same. “And I am called Canva.”

“Nice to meet ya…” Jecra replied, something about their introduction striking him.

Minni stared at the trio as she straightened, nodding thoughtfully. “You all seem quite weary. If you would like, many of the springs you see around you are perfectly fine to wash off in-”

“No.” Meta Knight said.

“We’re fairly set on our goal. As we’ve already said, hospitality so far hasn’t exactly been…hospitable.” Garlude explained.

“Of course.” Canva said, nodding. “But surely, when you meet your companions, it would be better for them to see you free of the mud and dirt that currently cover you all.”

“Any Star Warrior has seen much worse.” Meta Knight said.

“Be that as it may,” Minni said, “they will already be clean and presentable, and we would love for your reunion to be as harmonious and free of worry as possible.”

“Please just take us where we need to go.” Garlude urged gently.

“‘Sides, we don’t know where that water’s been.” Jecra chimed in.

“On a mountain, of course.” Canva giggled. “Although, I suppose that it did once reside in the sky…”

“Huh, ya know, I mean…” Jecra said thoughtfully before shaking his head and sighing. “I GUESS.”

“You’re awfully insistent on this.” Garlude noted, suspicion clear in her voice. 

“And you’re so wary, almost as much as you are weary.” Minni said with a chuckle.

“Your wordplay is admirable.” Meta Knight said. “However, we are content with our current state and wish for nothing more than to see who it is we have come to see.”

“Are you…certain?” Canva replied, head cocked to the side with a confused paw on her chin.

If the trio were being honest, the sensation of dried mud and grime on their bodies, hair and clothes did little for their physical comfort, especially considering the cuts and scrapes they had suffered while accumulating it.

"Yes." Meta Knight replied, powering through the discomfort.

Jecra and Garlude, however, were slower to respond.

"...Yes, we should be fine." Garlude finally said.

"...Yeh, what they said." Jecra also eventually said.

Their hosts did not move. 

…Meta Knight sighed. "If we were to accept your generosity, you would bring us to those we seek, yes?"

"Of course, promptly." Minni purred.

"Very. Well." Meta Knight said begrudgingly. "You will be held to this promise."

"We'd expect nothing less!" Canva replied cheerfully.

The trio hesitantly followed the creatures to a spring where others socialized. The creatures present immediately turned their gazes toward them, a move that was disturbingly familiar.

"...H-how do ya do, fellow guys?" Jecra spoke up sheepishly with a small wave.

"Ah, adventurers!" One of them, an orange creature, exclaimed, yellow eyes sparkling. "It's been so long-"

"Adventurers!? From another place!?" Another cat, with a similar orange pattern and green eyes leapt out from behind the first. "Oh wow, Kielba, you're right. They aren't one of us."

"I…didn't quite say that, Shumai." She said, shifting uncomfortably.

"We're adventurers!" Shumai continued. "Or, uh, Kielba is an adventurer. I'm an adventurer in training."

Meta Knight did not acknowledge the duo, dispassionately splashing water onto his arms and some of the light, dirt-filled scratches on his mask.

"MK, wouldn't it be easier if ya, ya know…took that off? Just to wash up?" Jecra asked, doing exactly that and throwing water onto his own face.

"Mm." Was all he said.

"...Alllllright then, I guess."

"Adventuring is a worthy calling." Garlude said, nodding to Kielba and Shumai as she tossed water over her hair. "It teaches you a lot. Many things you never would have learned otherwise."

“Wowww, really? I’m so excited! I can’t wait to do it on my own!!” Shumai said, bouncing lightly in place.

Garlude chuckled as she rinsed a scrape on the underside of her arm. “There’s hardly a need to rush. I’m sure that your mentor can show you much more than you’d find going out right now.”

 Her thoughts drifted briefly back to Sirica. When she came to be his age, would she have the same thirst for adventure? Perhaps even for heroism? The thought made her smile, though at the same time she felt a small hope that she’d elect to pursue a calmer, safer path, especially now that she’d have a choice to do so without fear.

“Ahhh, we’re speaking of adventures, eh?” Said a creature with pure white fur, save for a darker spot or two on his ears. He sauntered toward the spring as if on cue, a cane strapped to his back by a large red sash. From under the tufts of fur that grew long and fluffy over his face, the shine of interested red eyes peeked through.

“Yeah, guess so.” Jecra replied.

“I suppose it’s more that we’re talking about the prospect of adventuring.” Garlude said thoughtfully.

Meta Knight continued to pointedly not engage with anybody else at the spring.

“I’ve seen many in my time.” The white cat said, sitting slowly on the wooden barrier. 

“Really!?” Shumai asked, his energy unwavering.

“Now Shumai,” Kielba chastised, “let the Master rest.”

“Did ya stop cuz ya got old?”

“Shumai!”

The Master chuckled. “At a certain time, young one, we all find that we are more content with rest. It comes to us all differently.”

Meta Knight peered into the surface of the water, struggling slightly to discern his image as it rippled. He could make out a stubborn spot of mud in one of the deeper scratches on his mask. He grunted, placing his hand into the water and rubbing at it intently.

“I sense that you three have seen many adventures of your own.” The Master said, nodding at the trio.

“More than a few.” Garlude replied, peeling a piece of dried flora from her shoulder armor.

The Master nodded sagely. “It is evident in the symbols that you bear.”

“Not in the fact that we’re covered in bumps and dirt n’ got broken stuff…?” Jecra asked, cocking his head to the side.

“Hm.” Meta Knight finally grunted, not looking away from the stubborn dirt speck. “What, I must ask, does such a symbol mean to you?”

“I have seen it and others like it many times.” The Master said wistfully. “Warriors from beyond the stars, battle-weary, with many memories to share.”

“Where are they?” Meta Knight asked.

“This is a good place for rest. They will come on their own time.”

Meta Knight, not quite satisfied, but not feeling quite as inconvenienced, nodded with a short sigh.

“Space adventures…” Shumai murmured, staring at the sky with sparkling eyes.

“They ain’t all they’re cracked up to be.” Jecra chuckled. 

“Whaddya mean?”

“Are you…also from beyond the stars…?” Kielba asked.

“Ah…” The Master said, his wistful gaze becoming focused. “So you are distant visitors. This is most interesting indeed. Not since those other Star Warriors arrived here have we seen such a sight.”

“Why is that?” Meta Knight asked.

“We find ourselves on quite the distant planet from many of them, and though the landscape and beasts within the caves and mountains of this world would certainly make for a fine way of skill-sharpening, we continue to find this place strangely barren. Perhaps it is because there are few true enemies for them to fight.”

“It is reasonable.” Meta Knight replied. “It would be better for them to keep the enemy from this place. After their previous interventions here, it seems…peaceful.” He paused, then with a tone of annoyance added, “mostly.”

“Ah, that they would be drawn for the love to learn.” The Master mused. “I believe that they would find enrichment and peace were they to know and understand the Way of One Soul.”

“...But wait, hold up.” Jecra said, cocking his head to the side. “Those guys we met before said somethin’ about a…it was a…Igua- no. Chameleo Arm? Ain’t that the style the guys from around your old planet use?”

The Master was silent for several seconds. “...Things have…changed. They have changed much. Much has changed since the arrival of our convoy from Hotbeat. Our decisions in how to practice our ways have diverged. Would that those who disagreed would return, they would be welcomed with open arms. They know this, but…”

“...Those with such strong discipline are often difficult to turn toward new ways.” Kielba finished the thought, absently pawing the water.

“...But!” The Master interjected, his energy almost seeming to be an attempt to lighten the mood. “What we have here is enough. The struggles we have already faced were not in vain. They have given us many stories and memories to share.”

“Lands seen, monsters slain…” Keilba mused.

“Finding treasure and the power of friendship!” Shumai added, bouncing in place.

“I trust someday our comrades will rejoin us to do the same.” The Master said wistfully.

“I presume most of your own sights have involved a great deal of monster slaying, haven’t they, Star Warriors?” Kielba remarked with a small edge.

Garlude and Meta Knight nodded. Jecra nodded too, but slowed when he realized that he had, in fact, only bested one monster on his own in his entire career as a Star Warrior. Or in his entire life, really. He hadn’t even known they’d existed until fairly recently.

He would have had no idea what book to look for had Meta Knight not been by his side when he stormed the palace that day, and if he hadn’t found it, then…

He cleared his thoughts with a splash of water to his face.

“But, more than that…” Garlude replied, “just as you ‘d said, there were a lot of new places. Where I’m from there’s a whole host of climates and structures that I never dreamed I’d have seen as a child. I didn’t even think there was life on other planets…”

“To travel among the stars simply a task after a time.’ Meta Knight commented gruffly.

Garlude rolled her eyes.

“How many stars are there!?” Shumai asked.

“I’m not sure that even the most seasoned traveler could answer such a question.” Kielba chuckled.

Jecra had known that other habitable planets existed, it was common knowledge on his, but space travel wasn't exactly an accessible mode of transit where he was from, and in his area, there was little need to see resources or trade from beyond the stars. Veridan was perfect the way it was.

At least, that was the popular view.

And he was a populist kinda guy.

The chatter continued around him, spacefaring and adventures and stars. Huh, ya know he still didn't have one of those…

"Hey, uh I'm gonna find a…little guy's room." It was a bad idea. He knew it was a bad idea. They had already discussed why they were not going to split up. 

But it was okay, he reasoned. He wouldn't go far. Just far enough to be able to recover from the embarrassment that was starting to weigh on him faster than any amount of water could wash it away. If anyone tried to pull one over on them, he would be right on standby to knock them back.

Garlude, now beset upon by a chatty Shumai, had not heard her friend's departure. Meta Knight, trying to strike a balance between his impatience and the necessity to be receptive toward someone who may know who he was looking for, loosely noted his departure.

No sooner had he glanced in that direction than he’d heard Garlude call out.

“Hey!” She cried, taking off after Shumai, who was running with her shield aloft, giggling as he went.

Meta Knight, annoyed at how easily he’d still somehow been had, glanced at the seemingly-distressed Kielba and put his hand to the hilt of his sword.

/*|*\

Admittedly, the place was pretty. In the relative silence of the Village, Jecra could hear the wind whistle through the supports of the structures- a unique, hollow noise. The rustle of the thin grass followed, in perfect harmony with the creaking of the bridges. Close by, he could hear the faint sound of a waterfall, probably coming from a cliffside cave exit.

It was the ideal place to have a mindfulness moment and dwell in deep thought about his status as a hero, really. Calming, too. He could see why the people who lived there were the way that they were.

He leaned against a support beam and sighed.

It was silly, he knew, with all that they had been through, to start doubting himself. He was pivotal in keeping Meta Knight from being decapitated by a rogue monster, after all, to say nothing of his…killer(ly moderate) tops skills…? Oh, but, of course, he helped Gar beat that wizard! The one that she’d ultimately bested, and against whom they would have certainly perished were Meta Knight not there…

At home, Jecra was a respected member of his community, a father, a dutiful attendee. But there were places much larger than home, which was just as well considering he wasn’t sure when it would be safe for him to go back. He’d saved them, but there was also a high chance that in doing so, he’d plunged them into civil war. One he wouldn’t be able to fight. And immediately upon leaving he’d crashed onto some cowboy planet and nearly gotten him and his friend killed. A couple times.

Then of course there was the poison. The thought that he could not have woken up, or that if he did that one or both of his friends could have been hurt or worse in their attempt to cure him was one he’d tried to hold at bay, but it was rushing to the surface of his mind like the wind that pushed itself over his skin.

The Sky Guys, the Stars, whatever was up there, had called him for a reason. He knew it. But in that moment, he couldn’t help but wonder what that reason could possibly have been.

He exhaled a heavy, deflating breath.

“You seem…troubled.” Came a voice from behind him.

Jecra jumped, startled, and whirled to face The Master, leaning forward against his cane.

“...I excused myself to the little guy’s room…” Jecra said.

“It is not often that such intentions are announced unless there is a deeper reason that one wishes to step away.”

“Maybe I was just bein’ polite.”

The Master chuckled. “Perhaps. Yet, at any rate, we are here, and we speak.”

“...Yeah, I guess that is what’s happenin’ right now, huh?”

He nodded. “Now, if I may intrude, I would like to help ease your troubled mind.”

“Eh…” Jecra put a hand behind his head, rubbing his nose and looking away. “It’s nothin’ you’d really be able to help with or nothin’, and it’s…kinda silly anyway.”

“Everything is a foolish concern to somebody, but can often be a catastrophe to others.”

“...I guess…?”

“Please, if you would have me, I’d like to lessen your struggle.”

“...But we, like, barely know each other…”

“Then I will be perfectly impartial.”

Jecra considered for a moment, then sighed.

“Like I said, it’s nothin’ really. I’m just not…I’m kinda the odd one out of my pals. They’ve got all these adventures n’ won battles n’ whatevah, but I…don’t. Not like them, anyway.”

“I see, I see.” The Master nodded sagely. “There is no need to feel disheartened. It is not how much you have seen, but what it is that you have seen, and what it means to you.”

“Well…yeah. But we see monstahs n’ gotta fight crazy stuff, n’ I’ve never done any of that before MK showed up. My home ain’t… a particularly excitin’ place.”

“Oh, no? From our perspective you’ve come from the very stars, some distant planet, bearing a strange name like…erm, pardon me, I’m not particularly imaginative…”

The Master’s thoughtful pause went on for some time before Jecra, not helping but to laugh, gave him an answer.

“I’m from a place called Floria. I guess it ain’t too far from you guy-”

“Floria?” The cat’s eyes went wide, their red color markedly more visible through his fur. He leaned forward, going so far over his cane that Jecra was becoming a bit concerned that he’d fall over.

“...Y-yeah…?” He replied uneasily. 

“...Fascinating…” The Master leaned back into a more stable position. “I’d hardly call such a place un-exciting. I do understand that the environment can be quite aggressive.”

“...Okay…well…yeah, but I ain’t never had to deal with it.”

Mostly cuz MK saved my bacon by lettin’ me be exiled with ‘im.

“It’s still quite the remarkable place. And you…tell me, are you among the ranks that are able to project energy with a single strike?”

“Oh, well, yeah. It’s a tradition of ours. It used to be that everyone had to learn, but now it’s kinda more of a choice.”

“Amazing…”

“...Yeah, it kinda is, huh?” Jecra looked at his hand with a half-smile.

“There are precious few who preserve the sacred ways of the inner planets, and yours are among them!”

“Yeah, I dunno nothin’ about that. It just means a lot to us and is pretty cool.” Jecra crossed his arms. “Ya know, I won’t lie, thinkin’ about the stuff that makes me cool helps with the whole hero crisis thing. Ya sure do know how to cheer a guy-”

“You don’t seem to understand.”

“...Understand what?”

“The name…Twin Woods. Does that mean anything to you?” The Master asked, leaning forward again.

Jecra furrowed his brow. “I mean…yeah. It's a sacred place near our town. There's some fairy tale about wishes gettin' granted there but-"

"And that is the key." The Master interrupted yet again. "Your wishes will indeed come true, and your very ways of defense spring from there. From the guardians who give that place its name. The Twin Woods!"

"...Uh huh." Jecra was getting steadily less convinced that he was receiving a pep talk.

"...You are similar to us. We all protect something very sacred." The Master paused a moment. "...Do come with me. We should discuss more. It is quite the honor to know someone like you."

He turned and started away. Jecra followed uneasily, keeping along for only a few moments before stealing away toward a cliff edge, just beyond the last set of beams.

The cliffs offered more wind, a sweeping view of the surrounding landscape, and, as he could hear, a waterfall just beneath the edge.

He took a second to breathe, regroup, take advantage of a second of solitude. He wasn't exactly unfamiliar with strange old men, he'd worked for one for years. But even by those standards, he had to admit that this particular encounter was a bit out there. It was all right, though. He would group back with MK and Gar- who were prolly pretty wound up by now, oops- they'd find whatever Star Warriors or leads they could find, and…and…

Tup…tup…

…Jecra was drawn from his planning by the distinct sound of water dripping onto metal. It was a strange sound to hear in what had seemed like a haven of natural beauty.

He looked down into the cascade below, quickly making out a reflective surface, rusted in spots where a small stream from the falls dripped onto it. It appeared to be hollow, two differently-shaped openings visible on either side of the piece. Yep, that sure was metal, but for what? It certainly wasn't to divert water, frankly he doubted it'd be good for any kind of construction at all. It had small decorative details, gold lining about one of the exits, a small engraving…was it for aesthetic purposes…? To be rusted away in a little waterfall…?

As Jecra stared and pondered, another piece of metal, this one submerged and covered in much more rust, caught his eye. It, too, had holes and an odd shape. He noticed another one, this one a much more distinct shape, a grate over a bridge, sort of like…

…Sort of like a visor.

Just like the largely rusted piece was sort of like a chest plate.

Or the still-shiny piece a pauldron. 

With each realization, his stomach sank more and more. He knew that the planet had been subject to multiple invasions, but why would anybody leave the remains there? Surely someone would want to clean it up…? And then he saw the brightly-colored scraps, stuck against rocks, waving wildly under the water.

Jecra stumbled back, a hand over his mouth. He couldn’t quite describe what this all meant, but he knew that he needed to go to Meta Knight and Garlude, and they needed to leave immediately.

He turned and ran, and as he emerged from under the platforms, he heard a call behind him.

“Jecra.”

He turned, spotting Meta Knight and Garlude on a bridge behind him, looking down at him with concern.

“We have been searching for you, my friend.” Meta Knight continued.

“We were worried.” Garlude added.

“Guys, we gotta go. Like, now.” Jecra said, beckoning them.

“Why?” Garlude asked.

“What happened?” Meta Knight asked.

“I-I, man, can I explain that stuff later?? Somethin’ real weird is goin’ on n’ we gotta be away from it!”

“I see…” Meta Knight said with a nod. “Troubling indeed…”

“Yes!” Jecra exclaimed. “So let’s go!”

“Ah, off on another journey…?” The Master’s voice from behind him sent a shiver down Jecra’s spine. “Such a shame. I was so eager to introduce you to your old comrades.”

“Well, there’s no guarantee that we actually would have known them.” Garlude corrected.

“Finally.” Meta Knight grunted, leaping off of the bridge and landing not-quite-noiselessly on the ground.

“M. K.” Jecra said through gritted teeth, gripping his own face in frustration. “C’mon, guy, there’s gotta be somethin’ better somewhere else. We been here long enough.”

Garlude sighed and took a set of stairs to the ground. “Meta…”

Meta Knight wordlessly followed behind The Master. As he passed by, Jecra considered remaining where he was, feeling very strongly that there was a trap wherever they were about to go. He crouched behind him.

“It’s the tea, MK. There’s tea down there.”

Meta Knight glanced over his shoulder, and their eyes met for several seconds.

“...If they are expecting guests, I suppose this should not be a surprise.”

Jecra deflated once more, staying in place as Garlude passed silently in front of him. Even after he straightened, it took him a moment to move after his friends. The suspicion that something was wrong ran so deeply within him that he was hardly fazed by the steps leading to a neat, well-lit subterranean passage at another edge of the Village.

At that point, it was no longer the wrongest thing he had ever seen.

As the four descended, Jecra was unable to shake Meta Knight’s gaze from his mind. It was normal for him to be expressionless, he was just a stoic kinda guy, but pure flatness he’d witnessed in that glance, a flatness that almost seemed to resist reflecting light, was enough to tip him off that something was even less right than he’d thought.

What was more, though Garlude did not share such a gaze, she wasn’t the kind to let things get by her. She would have noticed. Done something. At the very least, she certainly wouldn’t let her shield drag along the stairs as she walked.

Out of the corner of his eye Jecra sensed movement. He looked, seeing the wide, curious green eyes of Shumai, crouched behind one of the fixtures that lit the passage. What was he doing there…?

Though Jecra couldn’t be sure that the young cat creature would be any help, the other presence was at least almost comforting. 

He moved his focus back to trying to figure out what to do. He was now completely certain that he was being led into a trap, and every step they took was another step less that he had to evade it. He got the distinct feeling that if he tried to make a break for it, all three of the people in front of him would turn on him, and while he figured it would at least be possible to overcome the decrepit-looking Master, Meta Knight and Garlude would be far more difficult to subdue. Charging into them would likely yield a similar result, and he couldn’t risk whatever would come from trying to break things in the underground environment to buffer them.

Hesitantly, he came to the conclusion that the only way he’d be able to make a move was to incapacitate one of them while he was still out of their sight, and the closest people to him were his friends, leaving him with an incredibly difficult decision. It would be okay, he reasoned, if he just…made it so that they couldn’t get him right away. 

Maybe a gentle push…uh…down…the stairs…right. Maybe just a bop? A lil bop to catch ‘em by surprise? A grab? A grab might be good, but it’d take his hands…a grab and gentle shove but sideways? Yeah, maybe that could work…

…But who would be on the receiving end? Neither was ideal, of course, they were his friends, but desperate times…? He guessed…? Even so, neither of them were all that vulnerable. Both were seasoned fighters, much more seasoned than he was (he tried not to think too hard about it). Meta Knight was smaller and faster and was no joke with a sword, but Garlude could pack a hard punch and had more weapons. 

What ultimately drove his decision was one simple truth: He had sparred with Meta Knight before, but had never gone up against Garlude. He raised his arm and scrunched his face, mentally apologizing, before advancing on Garlude…

…Who promptly caught his arm.

They all stopped moving.

“...Wh…” Jecra muttered, eyes wide.

“Jecra…” Meta Knight said, continuing to face forward. “Is something the matter? It is not very honorable to attack a friend.”

Jecra looked back toward Shumai, or at least, where Shumai had been . He couldn’t have expected him to help. He was just a child.

…Or maybe he was more like a signal. A sneaky…completely silent…signal…?

“I’m not sure what’s upsetting you so much.” Garlude said, still facing forward herself. “But if it’s so overbearing that it’s making you lash out against your allies, maybe you should be sitting this one out.”

“...Why are you guys talkin’ like that?” Jecra exclaimed, fruitlessly attempting to pull himself from Garlude’s grip.

“I’m not sure what you-”

“Yes ya do!” He reached back for his shield. “Somethin’ weird is goin’ on, I’ve been tryin’ to tell ya! But I guess the stuff I was sayin’ wouldn’t get to you, cuz whatever’s happening already has, hasn’t it?”

“...Are you…feeling all right, my friend?” Meta Knight asked, looking over his shoulder.

“Ya keep tossin’ around the word ‘friend’...”

“We’re just worried, Jecra.” Garlude said, looking back over hers.

“Ya didn’t even argue when MK followed that guy down a tunnel in a place where all the houses are on sticks in the air.”

“You seem quite troubled, indeed.” The Master added, turning completely to face Jecra. “Perhaps, if indeed, there is tea brewed by our hosts, it may serve to ease your nerves.”

Jecra ceased his struggle, sliding his arm through the straps of his shield. He glared down at the cat, informing him through gritted teeth: “I didn’t say that to you.”

There was a pause. A heavy, telling pause.

Suddenly, Garlude crouched, throwing her shoulder into Jecra’s gut and tossing him over her shoulder.

Jecra was only just barely able to prevent himself from falling down the stairs, stumbling toward The Master, who easily jabbed him into facing the opposite direction and braced his cane over his chest, pinning them together and giving the other two a captive audience.

“I suppose it does appear that I’ve gotten a bit complacent. I do apologize.” Garlude said, putting her hands on her hips and shaking her head in disappointment.

“You must understand,” Meta Knight added, wrapping himself in his cape. “It has been so long since foreigners have arrived, and it is more difficult than you may imagine to operate in this way.”

“...Wh…what are you…talkin’ about? No…just…” Jecra, out of breath, awash in confusion, struggled weakly against the cane. “...What…are you?”

“Something more than you can comprehend on your own.” Garlude replied, looking down on him.

“I am all that you have seen.” Meta Knight added.

“All of the adventurers, the heroes here. Memories, feats, styles…” At this, Garlude pulled her cape in front of her, obscuring her front, as Meta Knight opened his and took on Garlude’s wider stance.

“I am many…” Meta Knight said.

“I am one.” Said Garlude.

“ I am the true master.” The Master said.

“I am the One Soul!” Garlude exclaimed.

Then, Meta Knight and Garlude dropped their demonstrative stances. Jecra was acutely aware of three intense stares boring into him as they all bellowed in unison.

“I. AM. HIVE.”

“...A.” Jecra squeaked. He cleared his throat and, meekly, tried to speak. “O-oh, uh…h-hi…ve.”

There was no response.

“...Y-ya get it? L-like, ya know…like…like your name…but also I’m…sayin’...a greetin’...”

“Your arrival truly is a blessing.” Garlude said.

“The knowledge that you hold is a true gift. I am not aware of anybody who has obtained information on Floria’s guardian.” Meta Knight added.

“Please, do not be afraid.” The Master said, pressing his staff tighter against him. “To contribute your body, your power, your very memories and being to a single, tangible cause is a greater calling than many could hope to achieve.”

“I understand that this is something quite important to you.” Garlude chuckled.

Jecra grunted, finding his aggression with his footing.

“It ain’t happenin’.” He said, gripping the staff.  “No matter what ya say, you’re not gonna get me. Now if ya know what’s good for ya, you’re gonna let my friends g-!”

He cried out as The Master abruptly turned, using the momentum to lift the staff and send him tumbling down the stairs.

Jecra did his best to lessen the impact, throwing himself onto his shield to turn the tumble into more of a slide. It didn’t help as much as he’d hoped, and it left him with a sore arm, but by the time he reached the room at the bottom, he was at least able to breathe and had sustained only minor injury.

The room in which he now found himself was lit warmly, a bit brighter than the passage that had led to it from the light of other entrances nearby. He shook his head to clear his impact-blurred vision, and no sooner had he done so than he’d heard the footsteps of his friends come up on either side of him.

They stood slightly ahead of him as he witnessed, between them, what he could guess was the true form of the monster: An insect with black and yellow stripes. Six black, fuzzy arms and shimmery wings were folded in front of it, its eyes were closed and its head facing downward.

“Today will be a momentous day.” The Master said. “There is passage from this distant planet, passage that can be taken back to the interior planets. Take comfort.”

“Beyond the miracle of being One Soul, you will see the miracle of the Clockwork Star.” Meta Knight said, raising his arms as if in reverence.

“...I dunno…what any of that means…” Jecra wheezed, trying to push himself up.

“Shh…” Garlude said softly. “Don’t worry. Enlightenment will come soon.”

Before Jecra could make another protest, the insect began to hum, its wings vibrating.

The sound filled the room, and before long it felt as though it were filling Jecra as well. As it went on, each segment of the creature’s wings slowly began to open, buzzing louder as they extended horizontally from its back. The noise became so loud that it began to drown out his thoughts. He covered his ears, but it did nothing to lower the volume.

He grunted as he fought against the growing fuzz in his mind, buzzing accompanied by the faint sounds of overlapping thoughts that were not his, flashes of people he did not recognize. He needed a plan, a plan that worked better than the last plan. He needed to think, to walk. But if he tried to walk, he wouldn’t get very far. He was being blocked from behind by…uh…w-well, he was barred from the monster by…! By…

He shook his head furiously. The other two weren’t turning to help him. Nobody was going to. He had to handle this by himself. The thing he had historically been a bit bad at.

Of course, a thought hit him like brick against reinforced glass, once this was done he wouldn’t have to do anything alone anymore. There would be no feeling of uselessness, no need to beg for the assistance of others. It would be intuitive, instinctual, a basic facet of living as one.

“...And once you have become a part of this…” Garlude said, as if continuing.

He squeezed his eyes shut.

“We shall adventure once more, together.” Meta Knight finished. “My friend , it will be thanks to you that we will bask in the light…”

“O-of…the…th-the Clockwork…Star…!” Jecra finished, his mouth moving on its own.

He ran his hands down over his face, opening his eyes to reveal a blue glow. This was bad. It was neutral. This was really bad-neutral. It was a natural process that felt very unnatural to him.

Slowly, the river of thoughts running through his mind began to include his own recollections, ones that he hadn’t seen in some time.

“ Let the energy that burns within you be released. Let it be focused, in focus it is powerful.” An old voice echoed. An instructor he’d had years and years ago, telling him the first things he would need to know. He could almost feel the spring breeze around him, the memory was so clear.

Were these things that he was giving up now? He certainly wasn’t trying to. He would never have. To take something so culturally significant and assimilate it felt…almost like a violation. Who would do such a thing?

…Oh, well, wait…anyway.

“It is a punch before a punch. Let it protect you. If it cannot, if you must stand tall like the trees that surround us.”

The words were helpful in theory, but the only thing he could fight was guarded by his friends, friends who kept whispering platitudes to take him down without throwing a punch. And even then, any move he could make would be energy that took away from his resistance, and that resistance needed all the help it could get.

A tear fell from his eye. The faint images of a forest passed him by, the breeze through the leaves, the soreness of knuckles hitting wooden posts that they were not yet able to scorch nor break. These images no longer belonged to him. He felt them slip into the static.

He choked, desperately searching for something, some way to keep Knuckle Jecra in that room, out of the clutches of a giant loud bug.

But nothing came.

“Remain sturdy. Not even in defeat will they see you fall.”

…Right. If nothing else…he would keep standing. That bug wasn’t going to get the satisfaction of a big dramatic collapse. It was lucky it got a tear.

He slid his hands off of his face, one of them striking a familiar object. One so familiar that it felt more like a part of him than than an accessory.

His breath hitched as he closed his hand around his locket.

He thought about what an idiot he was. 

How could he get into such a self-pitying slump that he could start assuming that he was ever alone? Even if Meta Knight and Garlude were gone, there was still someone who was waiting on him to fulfill his duty, and he was now clutching proof that he had never left his side.

That person, those people , needed him to make a plan right now.

And him, he was a dependable guy.

As best he could, he took new stock of the situation before him. Meta Knight and Garlude in front of him, flanking him, and between them, across the room, Hive. He couldn’t run. (He didn’t want to.) He couldn’t rush the bug (and really, why would he?) Even if he tried to incapacitate one of his friends, he wouldn’t be able to hold focus for any kind of extended conflict, and frankly he didn’t want to resort to that anyway. So what was he going to do? (Sit back and relax.)

Whatever it was, it needed to be from here, and it needed to be one hit. As his memories passed one-by-one through his vision and into Hive’s, the image passed of something so amazing that it even earned Meta Knight’s admiration. 

Of course. That was it. The solution he desperately needed.

But…could he do it?

Did he really have it in him to do what he needed to to break the hold?

He’d already left his friends to be absorbed, after all, and he was way more of a brawler than swordsman. He couldn’t have that sort of skill.

He struggled against himself to draw his sword. Garlude and Meta Knight glanced dangerously over their shoulders.

None of that stuff matters. He thought before the buzz overtook his ability to think in sentences.

The stupid thoughts and complications weren’t what were going to save him. With a shaking arm, he lifted his sword into air over the opposite shoulder.

Garlude and Meta Knight brought their hands to their hilts.

All that mattered was instinct. What he knew he needed to do. What he was going to do.

He released a guttural yell, among the last things he felt he could do on his own.

What mattered was the yell.

The locket.

MK and Gar.

Nami.

Joe.

Light overtook his blade as he slammed it diagonally downward, sending a bright, crescent-shaped beam of energy in front of him.

The energy it took to make the swing sent him onto one knee. He heaved his shield in front of him, just in time to take what felt like very heavy strikes from Meta Knight and Garlude’s weapons.

Head hanging toward the ground, supporting himself on one hand, Jecra could only barely register the sound of sparks, a sound which increased in volume and intensity until he felt the shockwave of an explosion beneath his hand and the impact of the bodies that it bounced off his shield.

And then there was silence.

After several seconds, Jecra weakly, uneasily pulled his shield aside.

The only things in the room were Meta Knight and Garlude in a heap on the floor. Where Hive had once stood there was a large, scorched line in the wall.

The heap groaned.

Meta Knight rolled away from Garlude, making his way uneasily to his feet. He looked about the room, gripping his sword tightly.

Though Hive had evidently been defeated, Jecra remained tense. If something was about to happen, there was absolutely no way he would be able to defend against it.

“M…MK…?” He called, his voice shaking.

Meta Knight turned to him, eyes alert. “Jecra.” He said. “...Why are you on the floor?”

Garlude sat up, massaging a temple with one hand.

“We’re back down here…?” She asked. “How long has it been…?” She suddenly tensed and looked down, searching along the ground. Her eyes locked on her shield, and she sighed, loosening her muscles but tightening her grip on the strap.

“I cannot be certain.” Meta Knight replied. “It is difficult to comprehend the passage of time in such a state as we were.”

“Guess so.” Garlude pushed herself up, stumbling a bit. She looked to Jecra. “...Hey, Jecra…are you okay?”

“...D-depends…” He replied. “A-are you…?”

“...Sort of…?” She said. “Something…really strange happened. I only sort of remember it.”

“I would agree.” Meta Knight said with a nod. “Strange is perhaps the best word to describe it. Although, it would appear that you have seen an ordeal yourself, Jecra.”

“Well…to be fair…” A look of horror was beginning to overtake Garlude’s face. “...I’m pretty sure…that we did attack him.”

“Hm...so we did.”

With one more look around the room, they both sheathed their weapons.

“...Sorry…about that.” Garlude said sheepishly.

“I take it you have encountered the cause.” Meta Knight said, looking back at the mark on the wall.

“...Y-yeah…” Jecra said, his voice almost inaudible. “Some bug…called itself Hive…”

“Ah,  yes, Hive!” Meta Knight turned back toward Jecra. “MSR-44545876. It-”

“I-it’s alright, MK. I got the gist.”

“...Ah. Very good, then.”

“We should…go, I think.” Garlude said. She walked to Jecra’s side. “If this monster got to everyone who lives here, who knows what could be happening right now?”

Meta Knight nodded, coming to his other side. As they started to lift him, however, they found themselves closed in a tight, tearful hug.

“C-can I just…” He wept, already doing it. “I…I’m just so glad you guys are okay!”

Garlude chuckled, patting him on the back as she returned the embrace. “It’s all thanks to you.”

“I-I guess so, huh…?”

“Yes.” Meta Knight said, squirming. “We are very grateful. Perhaps we can discuss this when we have gone to the surface?”

Neither of them moved.

He sighed and stopped moving.

/*|*\

The Village was louder than it ever had been. Various creatures spoke amongst each other in tones of confusion, horror, excitement, all emotional, many conflicting, some loud.

The Trio emerged into the din, The Master trailing wordlessly behind them. They looked out among the people, the uncertainty worming its way into them.

“You!” A high-pitched voice rang out from the crowd, the Shumai it belonged to bounding toward them. “You guys! I know you guys! You’re…you’re guys. That I know!” He took a shaky breath, clearly trying to swallow fear. “D-do you know what’s going on? Nobody else does. It’s like we all just woke up from a long nap or something…but like also that while we were napping we were awake…?”

“Don’t worry, Kiddo.” Jecra started to reassure. “You guys are okay, ya just-”

“For a time, you were assimilated into the hivemind of a monster who had invaded this planet in order to obtain the secrets of your home.” Meta Knight answered.

“M- monster!?” Shumai cried, his eyes becoming wet.

“Well, sort of.” Garlude replied, grabbing the cuff of Meta Knight’s cape and yanking him back. “But it’s not here anymore. You’re all safe.”

“O-okay…?” the child sniffed.

“Master Nekoro!” Two more voices called, Minni and Canva rushing toward the group.

“Something has…happened!” Canva exclaimed.

“It’s hard to say what, but certainly something has.” Minni said with a nod. “It’s as if this is the first thing we’ve done on our own in some time…”

“Yes…” Nekoro murmured. “I can understand why…”

“You can?” Canva asked.

“Do you know what happened…?” Minni asked.

“...Even my recollection is unclear, but I will discuss what I know with the others once we have calmed.”

“You see,” Meta Knight began to say, “for a time-”

“Meta Knight.” Garlude snapped.

“...Another time, then, I suppose.”

Nokoro nudged by them solemnly. “Come along,” he said, nodding toward Minni and Canva, “let us regroup. There is much to discuss.”

/*|*\

The news of what had happened was much easier to comprehend when discussed in a group. With so many denizens together, able to sort out the memories that had been flowing through their minds for years, conversation carried on much more smoothly. Meta Knight, Garlude and Jecra remained for the discussion.

The realization and recovery from Hive’s influence struck the villagers differently, now that they were able to feel differently about things, and as a result it was only a matter of time before they splintered into smaller groups to process.

Once this had happened, Meta Knight turned to his comrades.

“We should depart.” He said. “We have done what we have come to do.”

“I guess you could say that, depending on your point of view.” Garlude said. “But I’m not sure that we should leave so quickly. Not without at least answering everyone’s questions.”

“I dunno, Gar.” Jecra said, sitting in the one place he’d sat throughout the whole meeting. “I kinda wanna take off ASAP.”

“And to conduct ourselves the way you would like would take more time than we have…” Meta Knight added.

“Would you at least be willing to wait to receive the thanks of an old warrior?” 

The trio’s eyes turned to Nokoro, who made his way toward the group and sat beside Jecra.

“Hey, ya know, don’t worry about it.” Jecra replied with a shrug. “This is kinda what we do…”

“Perhaps but…it was once my profession as well.” Nokoro’s shoulders sagged. “I recall the invasion that brought us that monster. I recall the fighters who gave their lives against the power it possessed, before that same power possessed us.”

“M-Mr. Nokoro…” Garlude said softly, not sure what to say.

“I taught many of the way of our guardian, and then played a large role in wiping that practice away.” The grip on his cane tightened. “I’m not sure how it is that I remained when others did not, and why it is that those who share my fortune have not turned against me.” He paused. “...A-at any rate…I thank you for freeing us, for succeeding where I could not.”

“...Ya know, guy, it’s okay.” Jecra said, patting him on the shoulder. “Sometimes bad stuff happens, and ya end up swept up in it, no matter how hard ya try. When that happens…it ain’t your fault, and it’s got nothin’ to do with the kinda guy you are. Besides…you guys are okay now. You’re all still here. Maybe nobody’s gettin’ on ya cuz they get that, and they’re just happy to have you, too.”

Nokoro chuckled, lowering his face into his arms. “Truly, you all must have seen much to be so wise. Thank you for taking all of this in grace, your arrivals were a blessing.”

“Haha…yeah…” Jecra said, shrugging off the discomfort the phrase brought him. As he let his thoughts drift, he remembered something that occupied his mind for a different reason. “Hey, though, Mr. Noke, I got a question.”

“I will do my best to answer.”

“All the stuff that Hive guy said, he talked about the planets ‘round our part of the galaxy, and that they had somethin’ to do with somethin’ called a ‘Clockwork Star.’ Do ya…know anythin’ about that?”

“My apologies, but aside from vague recollections of the monster’s own memories, I have very little to offer for an answer. All I can conclude is that it relates to the interior planets of our star system, and the precious artifact that we train to protect.”

“The ‘interior planets’ came up a lot in all those thoughts…” Garlude mused. “What are those, exactly?”

“Floria, Aqualiss, Skyhigh, Hotbeat, Cavios, Mecheye, and Halfmoon.” Meta Knight answered. “All surrounding a shimmering planetary star known as Popstar.”

“Aqualiss?” Garlude said. “But we were just there, and this didn’t come up at all.”

“No…” Meta Knight said, his eyes a deep green. “...But there was an outpost there for a time.”

“N’ Floria…Prima…” Jecra muttered, his eyes wide, his fists clenched.

“These planets all seem to be closely linked.” Meta Knight said. “Perhaps this…Clockwork Star is part of that relationship.”

“Perhaps the warriors you seek may have thought the same way. Those who survived have long departed.” Nokoro said, looking skyward.

The weight of Meta Knight’s silence was such that Jecra and Garlude physically felt a pull toward him.

He sighed. “I see. Very good, then.”

“I guess…we have a new destination.” Garlude said with a nod.

“It would appear so.” Meta Knight agreed.

“Must you depart so soon?” Nokoro asked, rising. “We appreciate the opportunity to assist you however we can. Food, rest, repair.”

The trio stared at him for some time.

“...Being free from the influence of a monster should…hopefully convince you more?”

“...We’ll think about it.” Jecra replied.

“I await your response.” Master Nekoro walked away, leaving them to their devices.

“...Jecra.” Meta Knight said, not turning to look at him.

“...Yeah, MK?”

“...I, too, have yet to thank you."

“...I-I mean, yeah, but ya don’t gotta-”

“Thank you.”

“I would’a done it anyway, ya know.”

Meta Knight paused a moment, then sighed. “When a warrior has lost all else, they are left only with their minds, their will. When I…we, were stripped of even that…” Jecra was unsure whether he was hearing things, or if his friend’s voice sounded particularly affected, “...you were there. You came for us.”

“...MK…”

“He has a point.” Garlude chimed in, putting a hand on Jecra’s shoulder. “I don’t want to think about where we’d be without you.”

“J-jeeze, guys, c’mon.” Jecra said, his cheeks reddening as he bashfully rubbed his nose.

“...Excuse me…?”

All three Star Warriors turned to see Kielba, an unreadable expression on her face.

“Uh, hey…” Jecra greeted.

“Where’s your apprentice? He seemed pretty lost after…” Garlude trailed off, not sure how to finish her sentence without making her feel worse than she already must have.

“I left him with a couple of the others. He’s been a bit clingy, I guess somebody told him exactly what had happened and it left him more confused and frightened, but some time with others will do him well, now that he can actually get to know them…” Kielba squeezed her eyes shut and took a heavy breath.

“Mm, interesting.” Garlude said, shooting Meta Knight a look.

“...A-at any rate…” she continued, “I wanted to apologize, for acting as an instrument that led you directly to the monster.”

“You were unable to control yourself.” Meta Knight said.

“I know, but nevertheless…I felt it was necessary to say. At the time, it felt very willing. It’s hard to say that it was completely out of my control.”

“It’s okay.” Garlude said. “It all turned out, try not to feel too guilty. We know what it’s like, after all.”

“I suppose…” Kielba muttered, looking down. After a bit, she raised her head and spoke again. “There is…another reason that I’ve come to you. I have a request.”

“And what is that?” Meta Knight asked, not bothering to hide the note of suspicion in his tone.

“Whenever you descend from this mountain…I want you to take me with you.”

“...U-uh, like, to space…?” Jecra asked, cocking his head to the side.

She shook her head. “No. Only to the mountain’s base. I’d feel better descending with a group. That much remains of what we’ve been through.” She looked off into the distance. “Now that we’re free, there’s somebody I need to find.”

…They nodded in tacit understanding.

“We will do so as long as we are on the same path.” Meta Knight said. “We have our own business that we must see to.”

“I understand. That’s all I ask for.”

“And uh, when ya find ‘em…be careful.” Jecra said, pointedly rubbing his nose. “They don’t always take too kindly to the people they meet.”

“I…I can’t blame them.” Kielba replied, her voice strained. “I’ll be sure to take caution.”

“I hope…that you succeed.” Garlude said. “In whatever it is that you need to do.”

“Thank you. It won’t be easy, I know, but nothing worth doing ever is.”

The mountain wind brushed against them, sweeping into the valley where the cat sought an answer.

Above, in the slowly darkening sky, stars began to gleam, lighting the way to the trio’s next destination.

Chapter Text

Neither Jecra nor Garlude could quite understand what it was they were walking on. 

The ground was cold and wispy, one could reason that it was supposed to be made of clouds, but they were both fairly certain that if that were the case, anything heavier than a tiny ice crystal- like, say, an entire person- would fall right through. Yet they stood perfectly fine on the surface of Skyhigh. Above them were yet more clouds. 

What differentiated the two types was a mystery to them, one that they had unfortunately little time for. 

Yet another mystery was why they'd been able to land on what appeared to be a paved lot that seemed built to serve as a landing pad, and what kind of concrete came in light blue.

Of course, they had no time for that, either.

Once Jecra and Garlude were finished pondering the ground, they joined Meta Knight in observing what appeared to be a sleek, thriving metropolis in the middle distance, the spires of skyscrapers cutting cleanly into the evening sky.

"Hm." Meta Knight mused, folded into his cape. "I did not expect a planet with such a strong signal to be so…intact."

"A signal, huh. Is that what you call that?" Garlude asked, ears still ringing from the volume of the alarm that had gone off in their craft on its approach to the planet.

"Yeah, what was that, anyway? What are we signalin' for, n' how do ya turn it down?" Jecra asked, one hand over his ear.

"It is a vital feature to have in the spacecraft of any Star Warrior." Meta Knight replied. "It reacts to the presence of monsters and, in addition to warning you, directs you toward their location."

"Oh ho, we were warned, all right." Jecra muttered before something dawned on him. "Hey, wait, when did I get somethin' like that? We ain't heard of monstahs back at home, so we definitely didn't already have it."

"I installed it when I repaired your ship."

"N' ya didn't think to tell me?"

"You did not ask."

"...You're really somethin' else, MK."

"...Indeed, I...suppose...?"

Jecra sighed.

"If that signal reacts to the presence of monsters," Garlude said, raising an eyebrow. "Then why didn't it alert us to the monster on Caverna? Or the lack thereof on Aqualiss?"

"Operating a censor from beyond the atmosphere of most planets is…difficult, and imprecise. It is likely that we would only receive signals from large numbers of monsters, or ones that are particularly powerful."

“Yer sayin’ that bug wasn’t powerful!?” Jecra exclaimed.

"...Hm. With a system like that, we could miss…a lot of them." Garlude remarked, crossing her arms uneasily.

"We could, but that is why there are other Star Warriors. When we find them, we will be better able to defend the galaxy."

"...But for now?"

"For now, we are here."

"With some big monstah, or lotsa little ones." Jecra grumbled, crossing his arms as well.

"Ah, so my explanation was clear. Very good." Meta Knight nodded. 

"MK, I didn't-"

"And it is likely that we will find these creatures in the place before us."

"A city of monsters…" Garlude said, tensing.

"Perhaps." Meta Knight said with a shrug, starting along the path.

The lot was actually a fairly convenient route to the city- a straight road with no traffic that led directly to a welcome center, at which they got their first view of an inhabitant.

He was fluorescent yellow skinned, with a slightly yellower shade of messy hair. Dressed casually. Every hair on the trio stood on end as they approached him for a reason they couldn’t quite understand.

The second they were within eyeshot of him, his bored expression immediately flipped into an excited smile. 

“Greetings, fair travelers!” He said in an overly-gregarious tone. “Welcome to the city of Neveah! The premiere location for business, pleasure, and, of course, culture.”

“Oh, thanks-” Jecra started.

“There is a wide variety of populations represented here, and we accept currencies from various planets. If you’re ever unsure, just ask!”

“Right…” Garlude said. “Really, we’re just here for-”

“Anything you can think of is just a block away from wherever you are! If you need a guide, the friendly Capsule J pilots around the city can guide you wherever you need to go. Here!”

The greeter shoved three neatly fanned pamphlets toward the trio.

“Please, take these! They contain a map and outline major events in the area, provisions for a stay, must-see locations and experiences, everything you’ll need as a newly-arrived guest of our beautiful city.”

They wordlessly took the pamphlets.

“Honestly, you’ve come on the perfect night. Maybe you know that, but in case you don’t, you should do your best to grab a seat for the Divine Ballet. They’re the crown jewel of this place, and the prima ballerina is really hot-! On. Her feet. Some say they can perform an entire routine without touching the ground once!”

There was silence for a second. Two. Three.

Meta Knight cleared his throat. “We-”

“Any questions?”

Meta Knight, squinting, waited a moment before speaking. “Have you heard of any…monsters in this city?”

“...Mon…sters? Whatcha mean?”

Meta Knight sighed heavily and walked away.

Jecra raised his hand as if to speak, then lowered it and sighed. “Nah, we’re good.”

“Thanks for the…warm welcome.” Garlude said, waving as she followed the other two.

Once they were far enough away, the greeter settled back in his chair, bored expression returning immediately, and pulled out a magazine.

The sky was growing black, but one would be hard-pressed to notice. Neveah was lit from every angle, as if making up for the receding sun. The streets bustled with other technicolor people, all bearing a similar hair-raising quality.

Amongst them, shorter, rounder people, all with a single large, green eye and rocket packs on their backs, also bustled. Occasionally, these shorter people would don masks, step into the street and take off into the air, joining others who traversed what appeared to be airborne marked routes. Those that did not use the street to take off used it to land smoothly and blend back into the crowds.

These two were the most common type of person that they witnessed, though many others that seemed to be from someplace beyond the city also occasionally passed, eyes shining in wonder.

“Man, what a place…” Jecra breathed. “I thought Castle Town was somethin’, but that guy was not kiddin’, this place sure can big.”

“I agree. I’ve been a lot of places, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen one so expansive.” Garlude said, eyes wandering about the scenery. “That’s the wonder that other planets bring, I guess.”

“Mm.” Meta Knight mumbled, unimpressed, his face buried in the map within his now-unfolded pamphlet. “There is nothing of interest here…perhaps they are concealed within the buildings…? It would take some time to inspect all of them…”

“...You know, Meta Knight, if you’re going to be focused on our mission here, I’m not sure that that’s the way you should be thinking.” Garlude commented.

“Oh no? Do you think that our targets may be underground…?”

“...Does this planet even have an underground…?” Jecra asked, staring at the cloudy ground with a furrowed brow.

“The person we met didn’t seem to have any idea what a monster was.” Garlude continued. “And with how many people there are, I doubt that any would be able to escape notice for long. There doesn’t seem to be much mass panic or evil plaguing the land around here.”

“Perhaps.” Meta Knight looked down in thought. “It could be, then, that any monsters that are here hide in plain sight among the people, or, even more devious, that the people have simply become accustomed to their presence.”

“...Do ya think…?” Jecra trailed off nervously.

“Indeed, it is possible that, like on Rock Star, this place has already been infiltrated by the forces of Nightmare.”

“But this place looks so…normal. Prosperous, even.” Garlude said, looking incredulously back at Meta Knight.

“Yeah, so’d that other place.” Jecra said. “...Well, I mean, ‘cept for the totalitarian criminal justice system, anyway.”

“...What?”

“In such a case, of course, we would have no way of knowing by simple observation. We must stumble upon our own evidence.” Meta Knight said. “It makes things…difficult, to be certain.”

Garlude raised an eyebrow. “So…we’re just meant to hope that whenever we find out what that sensor detected, we’re at an advantage?”

“Precisely. You pick things up quickly, it is admirable.”

“...I don’t like that.” She mumbled, playing nervously with the new stitching on the strap of her shield.

“I-it’s okay, Gar.” Jecra said, reaching as if to put a hand on her shoulder but stopping short. “It just means we gotta be careful, n’ hey! With all the experience we got, we can totally be prepared for anythin’!”

“Thanks, Jecra. I appreciate it.” She replied, sounding no more reassured than she had before.

“...Anytime.”

There was a moment of silence.

“...So what are we doing, then?” She asked. “Just…wandering?”

“Uh…I dunno.” Jecra replied.

“Perhaps…” Meta Knight started, then sighed. “Perhaps we need to search for an event to attend.”

“Oh, yeah, that could be fun!” Jecra said, promptly opening his pamphlet to find the schedule. 

“We are not here for fun…”

“Can’t we have fun n’ beat monstahs at the same time?”

“You may serve a good point.” Meta Knight put a hand under his chin. “There are few things more enjoyable than combat…”

"...Right, yeah. That's what I meant."

"The headlining event seems to be that ballet, but if I'm reading the clocks around here right, and I hope I am, then that's not for a while." Said Garlude.

"Hmph. Not a weapons demonstration in sight…" Meta Knight grumbled.

"They got a lotta artsy stuff, though." Jecra commented. "Seems kinda like their big sell…"

“I see that.” Garlude said, squinting at her pamphlet. “A lot of it seems to center around this strange figure…”

She pointed to an image in the corner of the map- a golden circle with a border of blue, orange and yellow triangles. It had what appeared to be an exposed gear on its face, beneath one of its two half-closed, serene looking eyes, paired with a mouth curiously shaped like a sideways number 3. On the upper left side of the face was what appeared to be a red shooting star with a yellow tail, and on the lower right a pair of white clock hands. Extending from the face was a series of miscellany- a ring, piano keys, vacuum tubes, a weather vane, a lightbulb, a telescope, a winding key, more gears. It gave the impression of a corona, if coronas were made of the remains of junk shops.

“It’s kinda cute…” Jecra said. “I’d make a lotta art of it, too.”

Meta Knight squinted. “It seems…familiar…”

“Oh hey.” Jecra looked up and pointed across the street at a loose crowd. “Wonder what’s goin’ on over there?”

The other two looked, just in time to see a neon green man with messy green hair, dressed in a cap that read “GUIDE” and a t-shirt that read “HIGH FYLING TOURS,” sprint out of the crowd and gesture widely.

“Welcome, everybody, to our VIP experience tour! Today, you’re going to be getting a premium tour around our beautiful city, a perfect shopping trip, and an exclusive look at one of our most celebrated cultural traditions! Please, line up to receive your passes. Orderly fashion, please!”

“...We should do it.” Jecra said with a nod.

“And how, I must ask, does participating in activities meant for tourists help us to find monsters in our midst?” Meta Knight asked.

“It helps us get to know the place.” He answered, then sheepishly added: “...N’ to be honest, I kinda wanna know that the VIP experience thing is. I ain’t nevah been a VIP before!”

“It gets boring after a while.” Garlude said with a shrug.

“...What is a VIP?” Meta Knight asked.

“Very Important Guy.” Jecra replied.

“...But would that not be-”

“Aaaaanyway,” Jecra cut him off, “it means that they get to see stuff that we won’t if we aren’t one of ‘em. So if we can see it, maybe it’ll give us somethin’.”

“I guess that it’s a good way to get an overview of this place…” Garlude muttered. “But they’re giving passes, likely to patrons who have already paid. How would we be able to do that? Would they…even take our money?” 

“Hm, ya know, that’s a good question, Gar…” Jecra said, looking down with a thoughtful nose rub. Eventually, he nodded. “But I think I got an idea. Follow me.”

“Lead the way.” Garlude said with a shrug.

Meta Knight started to protest, then sighed as he was, for once, forced to tag along with the group.

The trio nudged their way into the crowd, catching a glimpse of one of the one-eyed jetpack pilots going down the line, interacting with the people they met before putting bands on their wrists.

When he finally got to the trio, he looked up at them.

“Name?” He asked gruffly.

Jecra cleared his throat. “Presenting…Lady Garham.” He gestured to Garlude. “And her child, the young Duke Mettaton Garham.”

“...Charmed.” Garlude said, curtseying.

“...Mm.” The pilot grunted in reply, pulling down a visor with information on it. “...I don’t see your names…”

“Ah ha…right…” Jecra said. “Here, lemme just…” He crouched down, putting an open hand next to his face. “Listen, guy. That lady’s from Floria, okay? King Max’s. I was so, so dumb, man, I forgot to get her on the list. But she was promised, okay? I know, I know you got a job to do, but that gal? You know about Floria? King Max? Cracked. Off the wall silly. I forgot to make a res n' if she gets turned away it'll be my head AND he'll throw a tantrum so wild you guys won't even get peace on some other planet." He shook, the tone of his voice becoming more pleading as he grabbed the pilot's hand. "C'mon, guy, please guy ya gotta-!"

"Okay." The pilot finally cried, exasperated. "Fine, whatever, just…stop touching me, man."

“You’re a life-saver, guy.” Jecra said, vigorously shaking the pilot’s hand.

The pilot grumbled to himself, slapping bracelets onto the trio before moving on.

Garlude stared intently at him. 

Jecra ignored her with equal intent.

Meta Knight neither spoke nor looked at him, but he got the distinct impression that he was dangerously close to being cut to his height.

As one pilot finished going down the line, several more arrived and began to place harnesses and helmets on the attendees.

“Hey.” Garlude said. “What are these for?”

“Safety.” The pilot replied.

“...From…from what do we need to be made safe…?”

“Okay everybody!” The tour guide called. “Here comes the exciting part! Right now we’re strapping you up for the ‘high-flying’ part of our High Flying Tour! Please make sure to keep your arms and legs to yourself. It may be difficult, but flailing on the way up could hurt our Capsule J pilots!”

“... What?” Jecra exclaimed.

“Shouldn’t be much harder than riding a spaceship beside you.” Garlude replied, a small bite to her tone.

“Guess I’m glad I didn’t call ya the lady of bein’ funny.” Jecra sniped.

Several more pilots approached from behind, clipping the harnesses to their fronts.

“Oooookay, everyone! Let’s get set for liftoff!” The guide called, secured by his own pilot. “Three…two…oooooone! GO!”

At this, the crowd was whisked into the sky, granting them an admittedly dazzling view of Neveah and the modernist architecture that made up its literally-glittering skyline.

Together, narrated by the crackled voice of their guide coming through speakers in their helmets, they landed atop and observed several different buildings- museums, a university, an elegant skyscraper ("Man, MK, I think I get why ya do that thing now.").

As the tour progressed, Meta Knight grew steadily more irritated. Even in the town hall- decorated in gorgeous, vivid colors and towering white pillars that would certainly house a leader ripe for manipulation- he couldn't detect even the slightest hint of a lurking monster.

"You seem unimpressed, Meta." Garlude eventually commented.

"I dunno, this is kinda fun." Jecra said with a shrug. "A bit schticky, yeah, but-"

"As I have said, we are not here to be tourists." Meta Knight struggled to wrap himself in the cape with the restraint of the harness. "We are here in search of monsters, and this search is proving…vexing. If they are not in the landmarks of this place, they are not among the crowds or the workers nor even the powerful, then where could they possibly be?"

As the group left the building, the Capsule Js removed the harnesses and helmets, chatting amongst themselves. The tour guide gestured toward them.

“Let’s give a hearty thanks to our pilots this evening, who…!” He looked up, watching them fly wordlessly away. “Ah…okay…good bye…” He gestured across the street, where a building labeled in bright lights that read “HEAVENLY GIFTS” stood. “Right this way, then…”

The group carried on across the street, entering the shop behind him.

Even for a place that seemed pretty large on the outside, the inside felt somehow larger. It was two stories, both visible from the massive foyer, the ceiling of which featured a large chandelier made up of white lights contained within prismatic bulbs, sending scattered colors about the ceiling and, to a lesser extent, the floor. Photographs, some black and white, some in color, all framed in orange and blue, adorned the foyer’s walls, featuring what appeared to be lineups of ballet dancers, presumably over several generations.

While there were other decorative details, many of them were obscured by the people crowded into the store, some looking, some considering purchases, others simply draped over the railing separating the second floor from the foyer, talking to each other.

“Alllllllright, friends!” The guide exclaimed, regaining his pep. “Before we get to the excluuuuusive VIP experience, let’s take a little break! Feel free to shop around, eat, drink, do whatever you need to.” He said, one hand on his hip, the other stretched out toward the room. “We’ll reconvene in about half an hour!”

“...A gift shop…” Garlude murmured. “Not much more help, I imagine.”

“Nah, maybe not.” Jecra shrugged. “But we still more left after this one, n’ who knows? Maybe we’ll find a clue in here.”

“I suppose that it is not impossible…” Meta Knight muttered, eyes green. “Monsters have appeared in stranger places…”

The three made their way into the shopping area, looking for anything at all that could be considered “a clue.”

What they found, predominantly, were trinkets- toys, faux jewelry, cheaply-printed shirts of various shapes, stuffies, little ballet costumes and such. The most notable thing about them was that they all seemed to feature one of two images: One the figure from the pamphlet, another a cloud with a yellow spikes.

Meta Knight picked up various objects bearing both images, searching each for a Night Mare Enterprises logo, but was finding with growing confusion that there seemed to be none. In an already settled and developed planet, the first step in an invasion was almost always infiltration into that planet’s market. The power of capitalism was so easy to harness, and it would be doubly so in a place as heavily commercialized as the city in which they were traveling. So why…?

Beyond that, he could confirm there was indeed something familiar to him about the circular figure, and to a lesser extent the cloud, but he found himself unable to identify precisely what. The circle’s silly-looking expression mocked him.

He was not having a good time at the gift shop.

“Oh, hey, Gar.” Jecra chuckled. He reached into a box on a shelf and took out a paper mask resembling the circle. “Maybe it’s about time ya join us in the mask gang, huh?”

“I’m sure you’d love that.” Garlude replied, rolling her eyes but smiling a bit. “It’s never been my style to hide my face, and I won’t start now.” She looked back at the mask. “And especially not with that.”

“Aw, but Gar, it’s so cute!” He said, holding it over his face. The uncanny juxtaposition between his real eyes and the cartoonish face of the mask, she found, proved the exact opposite point.

“...Mm.”

Jecra laughed again, then turned to Meta Knight. “Whaddya think, MK? Ya think Gar…should…uh, whatcha doin’?”

Meta Knight had found the tallest point he could, a sign on top of a shelf, and surveyed the area, perched perfectly on top of it. 

“I do not understand…” He murmured. “There is…nothing. Nothing anywhere. Not even the slightest hint of NME involvement in this place.”

“I mean, didn’t you say that it wasn’t always obvious? That we’d have to know it when we saw it?” Garlude asked.

“Yes, but there is almost always something in a place like this. A symbol, a hint at the very least…”

“Maybe they wanted to be more inconspicuous.” She said with a shrug.

“But why?” Now uninhibited, he folded himself in his cape and looked down pensively. “If they are this powerful, there would be no need to hide. It could be to confuse any Star Warriors who may come, but…their presence is so easily detectable. No well-informed warrior would abandon this planet, surely anybody who commands an army would know that…”

“Maybe…the censor thing was just broken?” Jecra suggested.

“Both of them? It is…unlikely.”

“Maybe you were mistaken before, and they actually haven’t quite invaded this area yet.” Garlude said.

“The most horrifying possibility…” Meta Knight sighed.

“Let’s hope that ain’t it…” Jecra said, dropping the novelty mask back from where he’d taken it.

“Alllllright!” The guide called, clapping his hands together. “Are we all back? Rested? Accounted for? Most importantly, are we ready?”

The crowd around the trio stirred and clapped. Steadily, they all converged back around him.

“Now, in our culture, dance is higher than any other art!” He announced. “To be a dancer, especially one who presents in our Divine Ballet, is an immense honor, perhaps even more prestigious than some political holds. Though perhaps that was a given.”

He chuckled, and so did several other guests.

He turned and gestured to the door a short distance in front of him, above which a brass sign read “ALTERNATE THEATER ENTRANCE- UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY PROHIBITED.”

“If you’ll all just follow me, you’ll get an exclusive look at the skill required to be one of our ballerinas- and the chance to try for yourself!” He announced, unlocking and pushing open the door.

The group was led over a pedestrian bridge with glass walls, which sloped upward until it overlooked the expanse of the city below. Around them, Capsule Js flew by, most with a friendly wave, some others with joking expressions and gestures.

As the door closed behind them, the tour director continued.

“Ahead of us is the alternate entrance of our beautiful City Theater, where we host only the finest of performances, the greatest representations of Neveah’s amazing culture.” The others murmured amongst themselves. He smiled, satisfied in knowing he’d gripped an audience. “This entrance is separate from most of the public, but very close indeed to the backstage and performer practice areas!”

The murmuring grew more excited.

He chuckled as he approached the door on the other side of the bridge. “Certainly, now, you see why this experience is so exclusive, so once-in-a-lifetime.”

“This guy’s havin’ a weird amount of fun.” Jecra murmured, answered with a sharp elbow from Garlude.

The guide pushed open the door, leading the group to a wide, enclosed hallway. 

"This, my friends, is part of the backstage area of the theater! It’s here where one would find the dressing and preparation areas of the many acts that we host year-round, and, of course, the practice area for our prestigious Divine Ballet, the crown jewel of this city’s rich culture!”

The group murmured, several taking pictures of the area.

The guide waited patiently, perfectly comfortable with interstellar travelers taking pictures that they would only be able to show their loved ones lightyears away.

Once the excitement died down, he cleared his throat loudly.

“Now, here’s our little cultural tidbit for you all: as young performers, all dancers learn one specific routine. It’s something of a rite of passage, perhaps the oldest tradition we have. Simple, yet elegant. Profound. It’s said that in ancient days, this routine was used to gain favor from a powerful being of the sky capable of performing miracles.” He said with a wide gesture. “We call it the Dance of Storms!”

The group “ooo”ed.

“Of course,” the guide said, shrugging and placing the back of one hand on his head. “I’m hardly skilled enough to teach it myself, but oh, I’d want nothing more than to introduce you to such an important part of our culture. What to do…”

As if on a miraculous cue, a light pink woman with hot pink hair in a tight bun, dressed in a shimmering black leotard and matching soft-soled shoes happened by, walking in such a way that certainly nobody would guess that she was about to be called upon.

“Ah, what a happy coincidence!” The guide said convincingly, clapping his hands together with excitement. “It seems we’ve found the most qualified person to help teach us this sacred tradition!”

“Who, me~?” The woman asked, tossing a non-existent piece of hair over her shoulder.

“Indeed!” The guide called back. “Who better than the prima ballerina of our Divine Ballet?”

The crowd murmured with excitement, some nudging past others to get a look.

The ballerina giggled coquettishly. “You flatter me.” She looked toward the crowd. “My name is Magdalena, and that’s all anybody ever needs to call me~”

“Humble as always.” The guide chuckled.

“Natch~” Magdalena said with a wink. She turned toward the crowd. “Now, if I heard correctly, you’re looking to teach all of these fine people the Dance of Storms! How sweet, I do so love when we open our culture up to others! Especially something so central, so integral to understanding our people!”

“Yes!” The guide replied, his enthusiasm becoming a bit oppressive. “Would you be so kind, my dear Magdalena, as to give us a little lesson?”

Magalena looked up in mock thought. Garlude noticed a small hint of nervousness on the tour guide’s face. Finally, Magdalena gave a dazzling smile.

“Well, for these fine people? Anything~” She said, positioning herself into a three-quarter stance.

She danced, narrating her technique as she did so. The routine was short and relatively simple. A few steps, bent knees (“A little bit of plié… ), straightened knees (“ Relevé like a cloud…”), a leg bent in the air, a leg lengthened into the air (“...to the pirouette , of COURSE there’s an arabesque… ”), a step and three leaps, the last one on two feet, on which she came down much harder than she had before.

“And that little souté represents thunder after lightning strikes the ground~” She explained.

“...Guys…what is she talkin’ about?” Jecra whispered. “What was the foist thing she said…?”

“I’ll be honest, I’m not familiar with any of that, myself. It must be…a language barrier…?” Garlude replied.

“A spectacular demonstration, Magdalena!” The tour guide exclaimed.

“I know~” She chortled.

“Now, if you’d like, let’s all get in neat rows and try this for ourselves.” The guide said.

Most members of the group did as requested. The trio, stuck by then in the middle, saw little choice but to follow suit.

The group was taught each individual step, and though the earnestness was high and the laughs many, the overall grace was low.

Jecra, though more than happy to slam his feet onto the ground, struggled to balance on one foot for the- what did she call it? Arabelle?

Garlude, pushing past the queasy feeling of knowing she was going to humiliate herself, did well at first, but found it difficult to execute the leaps the way they were demonstrated, landing noisily and flat-footed on each one, to say nothing of the occasional stumbling.

At one point, someone nearby stumbled and fell directly onto Jecra’s back. Jecra, on one foot and unable to pivot, fell headlong into Garlude.

Meta Knight, seemingly unaware of the struggles of the people around him, leapt forward, effortlessly landing on the point of one foot, then another, then both.

“Aw, c’mon, MK.” Jecra complained amid the growing din of his fellow fallen dancers. “No fair. Ya don’t even got knees, how’re you stayin’ up?”

 “Oh, goodness, perhaps that’s enough dancing for now, hm?” The tour guide said, helping tourists up and mentally thanking the legal department for liability waivers.

“Mm, yeah, maybe…” Magdalena replied half-heartedly, eyes trained on an unaware Meta Knight.

Gradually, a new bright light began to settle over the people, breaking Magdalena’s trance and causing her to gasp as she looked up in shock.

“Th-the Resplendent! Oh!” She said, curtseying.

“Ah!” The tour guide exclaimed, nearly dropping the last tourist. “Truly, what a surprise! We weren’t expecting you, Resplendent, otherwise we would have…erm…been fancier? U-uh, everybody, it is an honor to introduce to you all our Minister of Culture, the lovely Resplendent!”

The source of the light, the Resplendent, gave a smile that felt as warm as it looked. They stood tall above everybody present, pixie cut hair a yellow-gold, skin a yellow-white, eyes pure gold and shining. Their short, sleeveless gold dress puffed out at the skirt, and the ribbons that twirled up their calves, extending from two yellow hard-soled slippers, were tied behind her legs in large bows.

The aura that surrounded them left no doubt as to the origin of their name.

"Please, don't mind me." They chuckled. "I was just happening by and noticed this class." They put their delicate hands together. "I applaud all of your efforts, it's truly a pleasure to see our culture celebrated with such joy."

"R-Resplendent, would you mind?" The guide asked. "I'm sure these people would love to get to know Skyhigh, amd especially our Neveah, that much better, and nobody is more of an expert than you are."

The Resplendent sighed, then chuckled.

"Well, I suppose that I have a bit of time before my next engagement. Please, ask away."

As the crowd gathered around the Resplendent to ask them questions they seemed more than happy to answer, Jecra and Garlude felt a yank on their wrists, pulling them back.

“Jeez-!” Jecra exclaimed. “MK? What-”

“Shh.” Meta Knight hissed.

“What’s wrong?” Garlude whispered, crouching slightly.

“We should retreat from this place immediately.” Meta Knight said, still holding their wrists.

“Huh?” Jecra whispered. “Whaddya mean? Is something up?”

“We have found the monster.” He said.

“We have? Do you mean…?” Garlude asked, glancing at the Resplendent.

“Indeed.”

“Ya serious…?” Jecra muttered. “Why don’t we just go for it now, then? Or, ya know, when they leave. Why do we gotta run?”

“Despite their demeanor now, I assure you that they care not for non-combatants. Even if those people were to rise in betrayal as some have in our past journeys, they would not fare well. Truthfully…I am not certain that we would, either.”

“You’re not?” Garlude asked, her voice grave.

“That monster…” Meta Knight murmured. “Certainly, you must notice that they are different from others that we have seen. They are eloquent, independent, sentient. They do not have a customer in command of them, and it is possible that they never did. They are not acting at the temporary behest of a leader, or even manipulating one- they have become one themselves.”

“That…that is pretty different from any monster any of us have seen…” Garlude said, clenching a fist at her side.

“S-so what is it, then?” Jecra asked. “What’s their deal? Ya gotta know somethin’ , right?”

Meta Knight looked down, his visor blocking his eyes.

“They are a being made purely of light and its energy, feasting upon starshine as their primary means of sustenance. Amongst the ranks of monsters, they are…a general. They answer to their creator, and to their creator alone. I am not aware of their serial number, if they ever had one. I know only their name.” He looked up, gaze hard as it connected with the form before them. “They are called…Stari.”

“I…see.” Garlude said, her hair obscuring her eyes.

“So…what do we do?” Jecra asked, his tone softer still.

Meta Knight did not answer.

“I would love to speak with you all.” The Resplendent laughed. “But unfortunately I have to return to my work. I hope to see you all at the Divine Ballet, it’s the pride and joy of all of us here in Neveah.”

“Indeed.” The guide chimed in. “All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately this visit is no different. We must be getting along to the auditorium where, if we’re fortunate, we may get some exclusive details from our prima ballerina!”

Magdalena giggled. “Mayyybe~!”

The guide chuckled. “Okay, all. Orderly line, please.”

The group filed together into a loose line, the trio trailing toward the back.

“Maybe in the auditorium we can split? Make a plan n’ stuff?” Jecra suggested.

The other two nodded. They proceeded toward the auditorium, but didn’t get very far before Jecra and Garlude noticed that Meta Knight was no longer between them. Garlude closed her eyes and took a breath before they both turned.

Meta Knight stood behind them, visor dark. The Resplendent was just after him, the edge of his cape pinned barely under the toe of their shoe.

“I happened to take notice of your technique earlier.” They said, their gaze bearing down on him. “I was quite impressed. I've hardly seen such grace in some time. I would just love to speak with you a bit more. Would that be all right?”

They looked up at Jecra and Garlude, giving them a blinding smile. “Is he your friend? Don’t worry. I promise we won’t be long.”

They all remained frozen in place before Meta Knight heavily, wordlessly, pivoted to face toward the Resplendent.

“Ah, wonderful!” They said cheerfully, releasing his cape as they stepped to the side. 

“Please, do come with me.”

Chapter Text

The first thing with which Meta Knight acquainted himself was a sense of how to escape. It was what he tended to do when confronted with a dangerous situation, and in this one especially it would be foolhardy not to do so.

The office of the Resplendent had walls that seemed to be completely made of glass, giving a view that confirmed that they were at least two stories above the ground.

He reasoned that it would be difficult to abscond if things became troublesome, but by no means impossible. Very good.

He heard the door close behind him as he walked in, aware of the blazing eyes on him even without turning around.

The Resplendent- the monstrous General Stari- chuckled as they walked past him, stopping in the light that filtered through the glass.

“The Stars are so talkative when the sun sets, wouldn’t you agree?” They asked. “I can’t always understand what they’re saying, but I suppose it’s only fair when they’re not trying to talk to me. I wonder if they know how frequently I eavesdrop on them.” She chuckled. “I wonder how they would react if they knew. Would they feel frightened, do you think? Violated, perhaps?”

Meta Knight said nothing.

“...Mm.” They turned toward him. “You know, if anything, I must commend you on your grace. Rarely does anybody pick up on the demanding movements of ballet as quickly as you have, as I’m sure you’d noticed. From what I can gather, it’s matched only by your bravery.”

Meta Knight glanced up at them wordlessly, his gaze stoic.

Stari stepped toward him.

“Unfortunately, it would appear that both are more prominent than your wits.” They bent over him, towering above him even at a 90-degree angle. “At least, it’s the only reason I can think of as to why you would wear this here.”

They reached down to the star on his shoulder, very close to touching it before Meta Knight pivoted backward, clamping his hand over it.

For a moment they seemed surprised, pulling their arm back slightly, then smiled and straightened.

“So attached…” they tutted. “Even, it seems, when it isn’t yours.”

Meta Knight did not move, his grip on the star tightening ever so slightly.

“Oh come now. Did you think I wouldn’t realize? I imagine you knew well enough that there was a monster here, and certainly you couldn’t have come to this area of the star system in search of monsters without hearing of the Galaxy Star Army and recognizing their symbol.” They peered down at him. “And if you’re aware of my personal identity, then certainly you could understand why I wouldn’t believe that Sir Arthur would send to me a paltry three warriors of no note.”

Meta Knight looked away as a flash of white crossed his eyes. 

Sir Arthur? Could that possibly be…?

 “Out of courtesy, and perhaps in no small part an appreciation for your grace, I will refrain from striking you down for your foolishness, leaving your misguided little friends to wonder at your disappearance.” They said, their warm smile making his blood run cold. “In fact, out of my kindness and a good temperament owing to excitement for a performance tonight, please allow me to illustrate the situation in which you find yourself.”

Meta Knight huffed, refusing to appear intimidated.

Then they grabbed his arm, and he froze.

He could feel that he was not being burnt, yet still found himself unable to resist as he was guided to a window. They crouched beside him and gestured broadly.

“Impressive, no? “ They said. “This planet, this city, all true marvels in this dinky little star system. Wouldn’t you agree? It’s especially nice when you can make a convincing argument to keep it so nicely lit in the night time. Hardly as fulfilling as starlight, but it’s extra nutrition all the same.”

Meta Knight continued staring out the window. In his mind, he was doing so to make a point, but truthfully he wasn’t sure he’d be able to face them if he wanted to.

They pointed toward the center of the scene, ensuring that their arm was in his view. “And there we see the crown jewel.”

Said “crown jewel” appeared to be little more than a fountain— three-tiered, white marble in thick circles, with the topmost tier lifted above the others by a stone wall, adorned across its flat top by a golden five-pointed star. The whole ensemble appeared to be illuminated by turquoise lights in the basin, though what exactly produced their glow was unclear.

It was little more than a fountain, yet Meta Knight found himself once again hit with a wave of dejá vu. What was it about this place…?

“Somehow you don’t seem as awestruck as I expected.” Stari said, pretending to pout. They dropped the face and chuckled. “But how could I expect such a thing? You almost certainly have no idea at what you’re gazing.”

Meta Knight squinted. Indeed, he had seen something like this before…

“Within that structure is a tool. One of seven, to be precise.” They continued. “Difficult as it may be to believe, that tool is a star. It’s far smaller and cooler than the ones in the sky, and it has very little to say, but it is truly invaluable, for you see, it’s a Wishing Star.”

A Wishing Star… Meta Knight glanced to the ground, remembering a conversation from not so long ago.

“Much like its companions in the sky, a Wishing Star has a call, but it’s not for the painfully average denizens of this world. Rather, it’s used to summon something else entirely. A beautiful construction, known only to those silly little mortals as-”

“The Clockwork Star.” Meta Knight blurted.

“Ah, finally in a speaking mood, are we?” Stari purred. “Perhaps you’re smarter than I gave you credit for. That legend is awfully old.”

Meta Knight yanked his arm from their grasp and stepped back. “I understand now.” He said, struggling to keep his tone soft.

“So certain, yet not so keen to speak up…”

“You, Hive, the monsters who have tried to worm their way onto Floria and Aqualiss, the clock face depicted in so much of the merchandise here…Nightmare is attempting to use his forces to gather the Wishing Stars and summon Galactic Nova.”

“You know the CEO…” Stari said, squinting.

Meta Knight paused for a moment, then scoffed. “I have been doing this for some time. It is only natural that at some point I would learn of him.” He looked up at them. “But if I am correct, you cannot retrieve the Wishing Star without besting the guardian of this place, and I see no sign that anybody knows of them here.”

“Wrong.” They bellowed, pointing down at him. “You’ve seen the visage of Skyhigh’s guardian here, I’m certain of it. It’s in their architecture, their traditions, one company even makes stuffed figures of it, if I remember correctly.”

“...The…cloud…?” he mused. Then, he had another epiphany. “No, a storm cloud. Perhaps even…no. That would be impossible…”

“Where there is sky, little warrior, there is Kracko.” Stari said, raising their arms over their head. “And its most powerful iteration would certainly prefer a planet that is completely sky. “

“And its disciples…are your dancers.”

“You really are intelligent when it counts~” Stari began to circle Meta Knight. “It’s all orchestrated so beautifully. The culture of these people is isolated from their origins, you see. Though they may play a part in summoning Kracko, there will be no hard feelings when I destroy it, especially when they see the eventual result, the grand finale. The appearance of their latest and greatest idol.” They stopped in front of him and turned toward the windows, arms outstretched. “They will be in awe, reverence, and with the right spin, they will welcome their subjugation.”

Meta Knight grabbed the hilt of his blade.

Stari glanced back over their shoulder and put a hand in front of their mouth, stifling a laugh.

“And just what do you intend to do with that?” They chortled before turning to face him. ”Have I upset you? Please, do allow me to make it up to you.” They opened their arms. “I will give you the opportunity to strike out at me."

He did not move.

"Hm. You seem…hesitant. Here, as a show of good faith, I'll make it easier for you." They crouched, staring him in the eyes. "Go on. Take your chance."

Slowly, deliberately, Meta Knight moved his hand back to his side.

Stari nodded, their smile smug. "Very good. I didn't want to have to worry your friends."

He turned on his heel and strode toward the door.

“You know…I may not always understand the Stars perfectly, but I know that they’ve been calling for some time. Is it fate, I wonder, that multiple Star Warriors should arrive on the night of the ballet…?”

At once, Meta Knight felt Stari’s presence close behind him. “I’m hoping so. I watch every performance.”

As he pushed through the doors, he felt warmth, and the distinct sensation of one of his pauldrons beginning to warp.

He hastened his exit, the door closing gently behind him.

The second he was free, Jecra and Garlude were there.

“MK! Yer alive!” Jecra cried, throwing his arms around him.

“Not that we thought you were going to die.” Garlude said, gently pulling him back. She put a hand on Meta Knight’s shoulder and grimaced. “Your armor’s bent. Are you okay?”

“The state of my armor is…irritating, but I am well.” Meta Knight replied, shaking off her hand.

“What happened?” Jecra asked, hands fidgeting.

“The situation is…more complex than we thought.”

“How do you mean?” Garlude asked, eyeing the door behind him.

“It would appear that the conquests, attempted or otherwise, that we have encountered surrounding these planets are part of an attempt to summon…” Meta Knight paused. “ ... Galactic Nova.”

Jecra and Garlude stared at him.

“...O-...oh noooo…” Jecra said, looking uncertainly at Garlude. “Galactic Nova? Not…not that guy. That’s, uh, that’s…that’s real bad.”

“Indeed. The consequences of such an act could be…cataclysmic.”

“...Y-yeah, totally, yeah. Sounds real bad.”

Garlude rolled her eyes and sighed. “Right. Who, exactly, is Galactic Nova?”

Meta Knight gestured upward. “Galactic Nova is a very powerful being. Some call it a comet, some call it a type of mechanical star.” He took hold of his tourism map, pointing at the circular figure in the corner. “It is called by seven Wishing Stars hidden in gates on the interior planets of this galaxy. When summoned, Nova grants one wish. It does not matter who the summoner is or their intentions; through its power, the wish will be granted. It is said that Nova has never encountered a wish that it cannot grant, even if it must reach through space and time to do so.”

Jecra and Garlude’s eyes widened.

"So they could just…wish that they ruled every planet ever…" Jecra muttered.

"Or that every Star Warrior is destroyed…" Garlude added.

"...B-but…it's all just stories…ain't it?" Jecra looked at Meta Knight. "It don't seem like anybody's seen hide or hair of this guy, or any of the stuff they'd need to bring it around."

"This is true." Meta Knight said, wrapping himself in his cape. "But…I harbor doubts that the owner of Night Mare Enterprises would devote such powerful monsters to this search if he thought that it was based only on stories."

"...So. What do we do, then?" Garlude asked, standing straight and crossing her arms. "We're facing down a powerful monster- the most powerful we've seen yet, according to you- who wants to summon an even more powerful star. We're not sure if any other Star Warriors are nearby, or if they'd make it in a timely fashion even if they are. Knowing all that…what's the plan?"

Meta Knight looked down, his eyes deep green. “I…-”

“Why do you always show up with the BIGGEST of klutzes?” Came a voice down the hall. “They looked tooootes ridic.”

The trio turned, spotting Magdalena and the tour guide turning the corner by the alternate entrance. 

The tour guide sighed. “Could you please not air your complaints so loudly? Someone might hear them, it’ll be bad for business.”

“Mhm, whaaaaatever.” Magdalena replied with a shrug and dismissive gesture.

The tour guide rolled his eyes. “You can be pretty incorrigible sometimes, you know that, Magdalena?”

“Save the big words for the crowd, bestie.” She said.

“Mm.” The guide huffed as he opened the door to the alternative entrance (exit…?) “Do break a leg tonight.”

“Right back at ya~”

The tour guide shook his head as he left.

“Huh.” Garlude muttered. “I feel like she wasn’t this abrasive when she was helping out with the tour…”

Magdalena proceeded around the corner, stopping in her tracks when she saw the trio.

“Oh, you’re still here?” She asked, moving a non-existent strand of hair back in place. “That’s soooo cool. What’d the Resplendent talk to you about?”

“Er, well…” Meta Knight began.

“Somethin’, uh, supah artsy-” Jecra started to carry on.

“Ya know, they and me are toooootes besties.” Magdalena said, gesturing toward the office door.

“You are…friends…?” Meta Knight asked, taking a step back.

“Ya. They’re like ‘oh Magdalena you’re soooo the best dancer ever and so cool and stuff,’ and I’m like ‘yaaaa I know. Thanks, Respie.’” Magdalena replied before noticing Meta Knight’s stance. “...I mean, like, ya know. Business besties. Respectable besties. Ya know the deal.”

“...I do not.”

“You’re business acquaintances, then?” Garlude said, raising an eyebrow. “But you call them…by a nickname?”

“...It’s the culture and stuff.” Magdalena said quickly before waving her hand dismissively. “Anywayyyyyyy , are you, like, coming to the show tonight?”

“We’re, uh, not sure.” Jecra replied, crossing his arms awkwardly. “We ain’t got tickets or nothin’, and uh, ya know, we’ve got other stuff on our plate-”

“Well you should totes come around.” She said, not sparing a glance at him. “Ev erybody goes, and I’m the star, so like, ya know, it’s the best thing here.”

“...Right.” Meta Knight said.

“We’ll, um, consider it.” Garlude replied, looking between him and the ballerina with a look of slight suspicion.

"O-oh, Magdalena! There you are!"

The trio turned to see an electric blue figure in a black shirt and khaki slacks, short darker blue hair tossed into a messy ponytail, bangs slightly in her eyes. She rushed up to them from behind a sighing Magdalena and buried her face into a clipboard.

"You should be in dress by now. Hair, makeup and the director are all looking for you, too."

"Marguer-ITE." Magdalena snapped, "puh-lease, I know how to prep for a show. I'm just trying to chill with my new besties first." She looked to Meta Knight. "Stage managers, amirite?"

"...Perhaps…?"

"Your new besties…" the other woman murmured, turning toward the trio. "Um…okay, cool. Hi, Magdalena’s besties. I'm, uh, Marguerite. The stage manager. And uh, also her sister. So your, um…bestie…in law…?” She cleared her throat. “A-anyway, it really is nice to meet you all, and I’m glad you’re becoming friends, but Magdalena really has to go get ready for the show tonight.”

“Well we certainly wouldn’t want to hold her up.” Garlude said flatly.

Magdalena sighed and rolled her eyes. “Being a star is soooo tough. Anywayssss I guess I gotta go. See you tonight~” She winked at Meta Knight as she turned to leave.

Once the two were gone, Jecra whistled.

“Man,” he said. “She has got it BAD for you, MK.”

“What do you mean?” Meta Knight asked, looking up at him.

“C’mon, even YOU gotta see it. She’s got a crush to end all crushes.”

“...Does the word ‘crush’ mean something different on Floria? You frequently use it to describe things that cannot crush or be crushed.”

“I’m not sure how much more I could take of that.” Garlude sighed. “I just hope we don’t have to cross paths too much more.”

“...I wonder if we may have to.” Meta Knight mused.

“Oh? And why’s that?”

“I have a…feeling, one that we must be present at the event this evening.”

“I hope your reasoning is a little better than that.” Garlude replied, hands closed into fists on her hips.

“Stari will be there, and they seem quite enthusiastic about it.” Meta Knight said. “They can hear the Stars, and they seem to believe it is fate that we should be here this night, and if they are so drawn to such an idea, then I anticipate that they may attempt an attack of some sort, or worse, attempt to summon the guardian of this planet’s Wishing Star.”

“...I suppose that that isn’t an…unreasonable thought.” Garlude conceded. “But you said yourself that we had no chance against them.”

“I have been wrong before.” Meta Knight said, turning sharply away from her. “And we cannot let that general have even one hand in summoning Nova.”

“You’re…oddly determined all of a sudden.” Garlude crouched slightly, concern on her face. “What else happened during that talk…?”

“...Hey MK.” Jecra spoke up. “Hold still, will ya?”

He reached for the knight’s shoulder and grabbed a piece of paper stuck to his undamaged pauldron. It made a staticky sound as he peeled it away.

“What is that?” Meta Knight asked, touching his armor piece.

Jecra examined the paper and chuckled. “I’m thinkin’...if we’re changin’ our mind about showin’ up tonight…it might just be a ticket.”

“How so?” Meta Knight took the paper from his hand and examined it.

7 on the dial

On the roof

But not, like, the high roof

It slopes, yaknow? Toward the back.

You can, like, climb onto it from the dressing room.

But, like, you can’t come into the dressing room. 

So, like, find another window or bribe some Capsule J or smth.

But like anyway meet me there ♡

“I…see…” Meta Knight murmured.

Garlude, reading over his shoulder, raised an eyebrow. “Jecra…are you suggesting what I think you are?”

“...Listen.” Jecra said. “I know it seems kinda out there, but a lil’ schmoozin’ ain’t… that bad. It’s for the greater good n’ stuff, ain’t it?”

“That’s not really up to you.” Garlude said, glancing at Meta Knight.

“...I am not certain what a ‘schmooze’ is, but this is certainly a good opportunity to ask about this…ballet.” Meta Knight said with a nod. “I get the sense that whoever this mystery author is, they seem to have known of our desire to investigate this event.”

“MK, it’s obviously-”

“Hm!” Meta Knight grunted with a nod, sharply closing himself and the note into his cape. “I shall proceed with caution!”

“Of course, Meta.” Garlude replied, sighing and crossing her arms. “We’re…relying on you.”

“Yeah.” Jecra muttered, half his face covered with one hand. “Go get ‘em.”

/*|*\

Magdalena was sooooooo ready.

In her costume, sleeveless dress made of beauuuuutiful leaf-shaped copper plating, with gooooorgeous wire mesh petticoats, hair done in the most VOLUMINOUS updo, accented by the copper-and-(...fake) gem tiara? ComPLETE with the dull brass slippers? Oh, that guy stood NO chance, she knew it. She was irreSISTable.

She laid out the scene in her head as she reclined back. The small, dark and handsome stranger approaching her from behind, asking why she wanted to meet, her telling him allllll about the struggle of stardom and how his dancing was some of the most graceful she’d ever seen. About how she was sooooo totes feeling, like, a legit connection, and the guy being all “oh, well actually Magdalena you are the most beautiful person I ever saw in the whole universe so really it works out.”

And then…well, like, mind your business, lol.

She closed her eyes and envisioned the moment, waiting for her paramour and her inevitable whisking away. She sat like this for several minutes, ever-expectant of the whoosh -y sound of his arrival.

Distantly, she heard the sound of glass shattering.

Her face scrunched. Huh. Weird. Prolly just some vandals or smth.

After yet more minutes she huffed. Could that guy read? What part of seven did he NOT understand? Was she SERIOUSLY expected to make this totes romantic moment HERSELF?

Ughhh.

"I bet this is why Marg doesn’t date…" she muttered, opening her eyes and starting to stand.

Suddenly, she felt static dancing along her skin before-

"Hello."

Magdalena cried out, stumbling back into a sitting position as she whirled around toward the voice that came from behind her.

She was met with the masked face of the visitor she'd been expecting, wrapped up in his lil cape thing.

"Wh- what the- how- when…" she sputtered. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. "Did you, like, have to do that?"

Meta Knight cocked his head to the side. "Are you not the one who asked me to come here?"

Magdalena blinked. "Okay, like, I did , but you were supposed to be all like…mysterious. And smooth and stuff."

"I…see…" He took out the note for review. "...You did not specify this."

Magdalena watched as a few small shards of glass fell from his cape.

"...Ohmigod." She said, scrunching her nose. 

"At any rate," he said, putting the note away, "you wanted to meet with me?"

"Uhmmm…yah." She cleared her throat and patted her hair and tiara to keep them neat. "I just wanted to, like, tell you that your dancing during that tour was sooo good. Like all those other guys were bad, and like T-B-H all of them are usually bad. But you weren't, and that's, like, sooooo cool."

"Ah. Er, thank you." Meta Knight replied. "I am known for things such as…balance. And skill in movement."

"Wowwwww." Magdalena said, straightening and scooting toward him. "That sounds, like, super nifty. I bet you worked sooo hard on that."

"Indeed…" Meta Knight said, glancing back over his shoulder.

Magdalena took the knight's pause as an opportunity to launch into…The Speech.

"You know," she began, "being a big star is, like, soooo hard. Everybody thinks that just because you're famous and the best and prettier than everyone that life is easy. But it's sooooo not." She put the back of one hand on her forehead. "It's, like, soooo lonely n' stuff. Cuz like, people get jealous, and people who don't get jealous are just like, suuuper annoying." She looked toward him. "Ya know?"

"Mm…hmm…" Meta Knight mumbled, staring back forward.

Magdalena exhaled sharply through her nose, scowling as she turned to look up to the sky. "And like there are so many people, you know, from all around the galaxy that come here. N' they're all jealous or annoying. So it's like…am I all alone in the whole universe? And stuff?" She waited a moment for a response.

Hearing nothing, she grunted and spoke again. "And like SOMEtimes ya just gotta look up at the stars and wonder stuff like that, when you're the best and prettiest, cuz at least they're just like you. Being all shiny and pretty and stuff." After a second she squeezed her eyes shut, sticking a pinky into her ear and twisting it. "Not, like, too much though. Looking at the stars gives me tinnitusssss."

Meta Knight looked up toward her. "It gives you…what?"

"Tinnitus." She replied with a shrug. "It's like when your ears go 'eeeeeeee' n' stuff, even if there's nothing around making an 'eeeeeeee' sound. Ya know?"

"I…think so?"

She gestured upward. "And the stars are, like, always out. So it's like, what am I supposed to do when I go outside? Never look at the sky? Ughhhh it's sooo dumb."

"Your ears…ring, it seems, when you…look at the stars…?"

"Yah."

"...How long?" His voice was more interested than it had been his entire visit.

Which, like, kinda weird, but okay, she could totes work with that.

"It was, like, when I got promoted." She placed the back of her hand on her forehead again. "It's, like, suuuuch an affliction n' stuff. It's sorta like…uh…they know I'm a star too, yah, n' they're-"

"Calling you, perhaps?"

"Uhhhh…" she looked at him and, seeing that he was now looking directly at her, cleared her throat and got back into her pose. "Yaaaaah, totes. They're like yoooo Mags whassup? It's your besties. The stars. Hitting you up on the phone. N' stuff."

“Of course…” Meta Knight murmured, swiftly looking to the sky with his arms at his sides. “This is why you are wearing armor. I should have known…”

“Wait...wut?” Magdalena asked, cocking her head to the side. “You mean, like, what I’m wearing…? That’s just, like, the costume…”

“As I was told…this dance…it derives from a style of combat.” He folded himself back into his cape, dark green eyes staring at the ground. “Yes…it is all beginning to make sense…”

Magdalena blinked. “...N-no…like…we’re not fighting anyone…” She gestured out over the city. “We’re made of electricity. All our clothes have metal in ‘em, it’s the only way they stay up. It’s just that most people have, like, wiring or foil in fabric instead of straight-up plates.” She stared at the guy for any trace of understanding. “...But, like, I mean, if you’re into plates, it’s totes vintage-retro-chic so you could prolly find them somewhere if you really wanted to. Or whatever. Maybe, like, ya knowwwww, we could like, shop-”

“Magdalena.”

She stopped mid-sentence. Wow, this guy was, like, for realsies, sooooo weird, but like also the way he said her name was, like, soooooo heart-stopping.

It was, like, so heart-stopping that when he was like “That is your name, right?” She could only nod all stupefied n’ stuff.

“Hm!” He nodded, oblivious to her stun. “Is it possible that that my compatriots and I could have access to your event tonight? You may be…in danger.”

“Wowwww, um…okay, yah, totally…you can, like, chill backstage and whatever…” Magdalena replied, seemingly oblivious to anything else he’d said.

“Very good. When shall we meet?”

“...Uh…like uh…in like…fifteen? Minutes?” She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts.

“Magdalena!” Called a distant voice. “Are you posing dramatically on the roof again? I know it’s your, uh, pre-show ritual, but we need you down here for last looks! ^{And also that’s, um, pretty dangerous!”}

Magdalena sighed. “Okayyyy I’m comingggggg.” She stood, dusted herself off and patted her already-perfectly-placed hair into place. “But yah, like, meet me at the wing where the tour was at, fifteen minutes.”

“Indeed…” Meta Knight replied, looking up at the sky to see if maybe its movements could tell him what ‘fifteen minutes’ meant on this planet.

“Laterrrrrrrs~” Magdalena wiggled her fingers to give him a dainty wave before prancing off.

/*|*\

“No, I’m sorry, I can’t really let that happen.” Marguerite said to the three Star Warriors standing by the stage door. 

She stepped aside to let a gaggle of dancers by as she continued. “I’m sure that Magdalena really made it sound like this was something she could allow you to do, but um…she can’t. She’s not the stage manager. Sorry.”

“...Yeah, guess we shoulda expected that one.” Jecra said.

“I understand what you mean, Miss Marguerite,” Garlude said, “but it’s very important that we gain access to the backstage area, because…um…”

“You and everybody else in that auditorium may be in grave danger.” Meta Knight said.

Marguerite blinked. “Uh…huh…”

“Do you see why maybe I didn’t want to say that?” Garlude muttered.

“What, uh, my com-patri-guy meant to say…” Jecra began, stepping forward, “is that uh…the fly cables! They’re, uh, past due for replacin’, n’ we gotta make sure that you got a ‘splash’ on yer hands n’ not a ‘splat’, if ya know what I mean.”

“Mm.” Marguerite sighed, placing a hand on her forehead. “We don’t have fly cables. The electrical current that runs naturally through our bodies lifts performers off of the metal stage if it’s needed in a show. And even if that weren’t true…I know the inspectors and repair people. It’s my job. Do you know what a stage manager is?”

“...Kinda…” Jecra replied sheepishly.

“...Look.” Marguerite held her clipboard in front of her. “I really am sorry, but this isn’t something I can do with a few random tourists. I’d recommend that you buy a ticket for entry to the venue. I, uh, appreciate your understanding.”

“MarguerITE!” The voice of Magdalena called down the hallway. “What’re you doingggg?”

Marguerite jumped and turned to face her sister. “Magdalena, hi! Um…we’ve talked about this before. I can’t just let people backstage because you told them I can.”

“But Marggggg!” Magdalena whined. “It would be, like, soooo cool if you let him in. You’d be soooo cool.”

“Magdalena, there are three people here. Who are you talking about?”

“The HOT one, du-!” Magdalena looked over at the three people there and blinked. “...Oh, you other guys are still here?”

“...Usually.” Garlude said.

“We’re kinda a package deal.” Jecra added.

“...Okay…ummmmm…the hot one, then. Like. Just that guy.”

Marguerite glanced at Garlude. “...I…see…” She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. “I-I really need to send all of them away. It’s not fair and could really disrupt the show. Come on, I’ll escort all of you-!” She glanced down at a watch on her wrist and gasped, then threw open the stage door.

“Ready five!” She cried.

“Thank you fiiiiive~!” Came the gaggle of voices in response.

“You gotta go.” Magdalena said. “Don’t worry, bestie, I’ll toooootally escort them to-”

“Mags, I know you’re just going to take them back stage anyway.” Marguerite sighed discontentedly and fidgeted before looking into her sister’s eyes. “You have to promise me that they’re not going to get in the way of anything.”

Jecra chuckled. “Heh, we can’t really guarantee- ow!”

Garlude retracted her elbow as Jecra rubbed his shoulder.

“I prommy. It’s, like, the queeeeen of all prommies.” Magdalena said with a nod.

Marguerite glanced at her watch and grimaced.

“...Fine.” She said.

“Thank you, five.” Magdalena said, a hint of affection in her voice as she briefly touched her head to her sister’s shoulder.

Marguerite smiled tiredly. “Anything to make you happy.” Her expression hardened as she pushed open the stage door. “Now go. You were supposed to be in there before everybody else.”

“Yeah yeahhhhh.” Magdalena said, nonchalantly walking through the door with the trio in tow.

“Places!” Marguerite bellowed from behind them, closing the door.

Before them, the dancers scurried, each looking to the floor and then to each other, murmuring and adjusting all the while.

Magdalena stepped away from her guests and looked back over her shoulder.

“Okay, so, like, I gotta go. Stay put n’ don’t make Marg mad, ‘kayyy?” She looked to Meta Knight and winked. “Hope you like the show.”

With that, she took her own place among the dancers, close to the edge of the wing, looking to the floor and then to her fellow performers only once before nodding and assuming her starting position.

“...Okay.” Garlude half-whispered over the drone of a tuning orchestra. “We’re here now. There’s no turning back. Meta Knight,” she looked to him. “I expect an answer this time. What do we do now?”

“It is simple. We wait for the dance to begin.” Meta Knight replied.

“...Oooo-kay.” Jecra said. “But uh… then what?”

The lights overhead slowly dimmed to black. The heavy flap-ing of opening curtains drifted over the people behind them.

“That is simpler still.” Meta Knight said, taking a deep, slow breath.

“After that…will come the performance.”

Chapter Text

The trio had to admit, they were impressed.

The synchronized motions of the ballerinas created dazzling visual flourishes as they pranced across the stage, each leap ending in noiseless touchdowns, each wave of the arms purposeful yet appearing effortless, the timing with the music making it almost appear as if the dancers were controlled directly by the orchestra— and that was before anybody took to the air. The ascents were subtle, the fliers propelling themselves off the ground behind the backs of the dancers in front of them until they formed a seamless, graduated wall.

Naturally, the crowed was in awe.

“Hm,” Garlude muttered, “I can see why people would come to watch this.”

Hmph, Magdalena thought, pushing herself onto her toes in anticipation of her cue, could’a been better.

She darted out behind the first line of dancers as the music dissolved into upward scales. Anytime she was visible between two of her fellow performers she was practically a blur, her face obscured by rapid spins and the reflection of the stage lights off of her costume. She repeated this technique behind every row until she got to the top, where the nearby dancers bunched together to obscure her for a moment before pulling away in various poses, revealing the smiling Magdalena with one leg up in a position that Jecra recognized as the “airin-bess.”

It was met with great applause.

Jecra whistled. “Man, wonder how long it took ‘em to get that one right?”

“Mm.” Meta Knight murmured, looking away from the performance to peek around the curtain. 

He assumed that if Stari was in the audience, they would be quite conspicuous. He knew of no way that they could hide their glowing form. Yet, from what he could see, there was no indication of their presence in the crowd. Could it be that they’d been lying to lure him there? But to what end? It would make little sense. Perhaps he just needed to get a different vantage point…

“So, Meta,” Garlude said, “it didn’t escape me that you didn’t actually give us any indication of what we’re doing next. Do you have some sort of pl-?”

She looked down at the spot where he’d been standing, then sighed as she saw he was no longer there.

“Huh. He hasn’t done that in a while…” Jecra said, rubbing his nose.

“Can’t say this was the greatest time to start again.” She replied, squinting to try and look across the stage. 

Having successfully made it across the stage, Meta Knight skittered by Marguerite, narrowly escaping her field of vision as she looked over her shoulder. Though he was far more focused on finding Stari than on evading her, he knew well that he was only here by her permission and got the distinct sense that losing her goodwill would have disastrous consequences.

He peered around the curtain once more, scanning the audience with growing confusion. They didn’t seem to be on the other side, either…

Were they, indeed, lying? If they believed so heavily in the power of the Way of Kracko, it felt unlikely. What benefit would they get from tricking them into coming to the ballet? Was there some sort of trap somewhere? Certainly not, the risk of collateral damage to the people that they planned to have as servants felt too high.

Meta Knight wracked his brain for a solution to this puzzle until his gaze drifted upward toward something he’d not yet considered.

The balcony seats. He thought. Of course!

Now it was just a matter of finding the right position…

As if on cue, he heard the groan of ropes moving behind him. Or, perhaps more accurately, behind the background that was giving way to a new scene.

Perfect.

Meta Knight dashed toward a rising cloud setpiece, leaping to grab it before it could leave him behind. The thud of a timpani accentuated Marguerite’s gaze as she snapped it toward the irregular shape in the corner of her eye.

In that moment, she vowed never to do her sister a favor again.

“Gar…?” Jecra said, pointing at their ascending companion.

“Yeah, I see him.” Garlude sighed, looking for her own way up. It didn’t take long to find a mostly-retracted ladder leading to a catwalk above the stage. With a running start, she was able to grab the bottom rung and begin her own clumsy ascent.

The trilling of woodwinds accompanied Meta Knight as he reached the catwalk, where several stagehands stared at him in shock.

“Are you…part of the crew…?” One of them asked.

He did not answer them, perching on the handrail as he scanned the audience once more. As he did so, he became vaguely aware of a familiar presence at his side.

“...Why?” Garlude asked.

“Our enemy is here.” Meta Knight murmured. “But it is difficult to see where…”

“Well that is a helpful explanation, but it wasn’t quite what I was asking about. I’m asking more…broadly.” She rested her hands on the railing, looking out alongside him. “It’s not super unexpected of you to be spontaneous or vague with your plans, but the way things have gone tonight strikes me as more…scattered.”

He did not reply.

“...I know you like to appear as though you’re always ahead, that even if it seems strange you’ll always end up with the advantage somehow, but sometimes it just really isn’t possible.”

He continued to say nothing.

“...Do you even know, for example, what you’ll actually do if you end up spotting that monster?”

Silence.

She sighed. “Look, Meta Knight, I know I’m about to seriously risk your pride by saying this, but whatever happens, we’re here for you, and it’s really, truly, earnestly okay if you’re…well, you know…sca-”

“Hmph.” He grunted. “It is impossible to see the entire crowd even from here.”

“Come on, Meta Knight, are you seriously going to ignore-”

“Hey.” Marguerite hissed from the other side of Meta Knight, pulling herself over the ladder on the opposite end. “Listen. I’m really, really trying to be nice, but you cannot be up here. You are now ACTIVELY interfering with the show!”

“Right.” Garlude said. “Sorry, we’ll be-! META-!”

Garlude and Marguerite lunged forward but were unable to stop Meta Knight as he leapt from handrail to the stage below, holding his cape open to slow his fall over the dancers making their way offstage.

By the time he alighted, only Magdalena remained— poised in the air, lit by a single golden spotlight directly above her.

Meta Knight stared up at her, just barely obscured from hundreds of eyes by the edge of an interior curtain. To peer out and expose himself would incur a truly massive risk, in terms of the integrity of the show, yes, but also in terms of the potential wrath of the person who oversaw them. If Stari were out in that audience, that audience would be placed in grave danger. Yet, it was clear that there was no other way to find them.

As Magdalena’s solo continued, Meta Knight ran through his options, of which there were two. One was to deftly sneak behind some scenery and take advantage of the low light to cover him. Unfortunately, there was no scenery on the stage, so only the second, more desperate option remained.

The music settled into a single, repetitive phrase.

If Meta Knight were to be honest, he knew very little about ballet as a performance art. There seemed to be a narrative element to it, one he knew nothing about, and acrobatics, which were feasible but seemed to include feats for which he was simply not built.

The repeated phrase began to grow louder.

If he failed, everybody there would certainly die, and knowing little about what was happening in front of him increased the chances that he would fail.

The phrase began to hasten, its volume and speed rising with the tension that was growing within him.

Now that he thought of it, he really didn’t know much about art in general. Except for the art of combat, of course, but at this point it hardly applied.

Magdalena’s pirouettes, increasing in height as well as speed, caused the plates that made up her skirt to flare outward, the reflections of the spotlight sending dazzling flashes of gold across the audience and stage.

 Meta Knight took a deep breath, one hand tightly gripping the edge of the curtain. He knew little about ballet as a performance art, but what he could tell for sure was that there was continuous music and continuous movement. 

That, he reasoned, would have to be good enough.

He took one more breath, released the curtain, and took position. Third, to be exact.

With every show in which Magdalena finished that solo, a burst of music accompanying one final, full, two-footed leap, she was reassured that the crowd loooooves a good souté.

Her next thought was on her descent, careful and slow, en pointe, as delicate as it could possibly be. As she descended, her focus was broken by a disturbance in the magnetic field holding her up, causing her to wobble. Ohhh, whoever did that was SOOOO DEAD!

When she looked toward the disturbance, her anger dissipated immediately, replaced with awe for the twirling form of her mysterious stranger, his cape billowing out behind him. He was surrounded by a navy sea of…um…pretty cape fabric as he extended a hand toward her.

1. M. G.

This was SOOOOO ro-man-TIIIIIQUE! The pas de deux came later and was supposed to be with an actual member of the company, but Magdalena did not care, like, at all. She was caught up in the pure charm of a handsome, skilled stranger surprising her on stage with a dance, which could not be more perfect than literally anything at all ever. She took his hand in hers, an encounter bathed in gold light and music full of flourishes.

She moved her other hand in a rapid circle, attempting to cue the orchestra to skip to the good part that was actually written for two dancers. Chop-chop.

With a few confused trills and runs, the orchestra eventually did just that, transitioning to the pas de deux that was apparently happening now…? Stranger things had happened, they supposed. And they didn’t really get paid enough to risk a dock from stopping in the middle of a show.

Magdalena passed elegantly in front of her paramour, looking down at him and whispering “Grab my waist n’ spin me, ‘kayyyy?”

Meta Knight wasn’t entirely certain of the purpose of assisting someone who could generate a near-frictionless condition with the ground in performing a pirouette, but he obeyed nonetheless. He had no other choice, really. 

He peered out from behind her to get a glimpse at the crowd, but still, he did not see Stari. Where could they possibly be…?

“Arms up.” Magdalena said.

He obliged as she spun about him, then lunged into a front walkover, his hands apparently acting as the surface for hers.

Upon landing, she took a couple of skipping steps, looking to him to do the same.

He repeated after her and, as she used his hands for another walkover, he found himself growing more vexed. Certainly, by now, he had checked everywhere, right? So where could they possibly be? From where could they possibly be watching??

In desperation, he looked to Magdalena. She was a Star Warrior after all. 

…Apparently, anyway.

“Magdalena,” he whispered. “Do you-”

“Shh.” She cut him off, subtly putting her finger against where she guessed his lips probably were. “Talkie talkie after the variations, ‘kayyyy?”

“...The what?”

His question went unanswered as he watched Magdalena rehash the moves that they had just performed with a bit more flourish. Bafflingly, part of this reprise included executing two consecutive front walkovers, leaving him once again wondering why exactly he’d needed to assist her the first time.

She finished by facing herself toward him, toe pointed in front of her, a bit of smugness leaking into her expression.

Oh. Hm. That meant it was his turn, wasn’t it?

Meta Knight wasn’t sure that he could do these things artfully, it wasn’t really what he was trained for…

…But if everybody was looking for a show …

It was a simple matter for Meta Knight to stand on the points of his toes, something that continued to confound Jecra as almost as much as what his plan could possibly be.

Admittedly, Meta Knight did not remember the names for any of the techniques that had been taught to them earlier, but it was easy to stand on one leg, easier still to spin in place. It was trivial to leap, hardly a thought to have his legs (feet…?) at an angle of 180 degrees, and truly laughable that he would struggle to do not one, but two back walkovers. His cape, naturally, framed the circular motion with an elegant corona.

Magdalena, trying desperately to stay in character while also being more enamored with this guy than she had ever been with anybody in her entire life, pranced forward and tumbled smoothly onto her back in front of Meta Knight, one leg sticking straight up.

“Hey,” she whispered, “you, like, can’t lift yourself off the ground or anything like the stuff we do, right?”

“Erm…” he murmured, “no, not qui-”

“Okay gotcha hang onnnnn~”

“...Hang on to wh-!?”

There were few ways that Meta Knight could describe the feeling of being tugged into the air via his armor that were not some variation of unpleasant or uneasy or the repeated questions of “WHAT?” and “WHY?” that raced through his mind.

Magdalena couldn’t help but chuckle at his struggle to adjust. He was soooo adorable. Propelling herself into the air allowed her to easily “stand” upright, something with which Meta Knight struggled. She strutted and leapt around him, one hand always in one of his to keep him upright. 

Meta Knight, for his part, he largely found himself gesturing and spinning. He theorized that, were he suspended in almost any other way, he would have less trouble. As one would have it, being tugged upward by his shoulders and feet made mobility nearly impossible.

Important data, to be sure.

“Arms forward, bestie~” she whispered. At this, she fell forward, just barely being caught in Meta Knight’s arms. She extended one leg outward and bent the other toward herself, posing as if she were diving. He couldn’t help but notice that the lowest point of her pose extended beneath him.

In their moment of stillness, he suddenly remembered the reason he was there to start with. From this new place above the stage, Meta Knight looked out over the crowed, which was now fully within his view. Amongst them, he found…nobody of any particular importance. 

Impossible… he thought, hardly aware of Magdalena flipping forward to right herself.

This can’t be… he thought, even less aware of their slow descent. He put up little fight as Magdalena led the remainder of their mid-air pas de deux.

What is happening?

Are they not here? 

Is there something I have missed?

He became vaguely aware that they had touched down onto the stage.

Where could they possibly be?

He wasn’t particularly paying attention to Magdalena’s routine as he scanned the audience again and again. He was only pulled out of his haze– quite literally– by Magdalena yanking one of his arms outward, then, with a twirl, falling backward toward him, forcing him to catch her low to the ground. A single, drawn-out note from a violin accompanied their pose.

They stood in the glow of the spotlight, her in his arms, their eyes locked, their faces closer than they ever had been. Meta Knight couldn’t help but notice the impressive glint of the light off of the metal of their clothes.

And then, suddenly, they both knew.

Magdalena knew that this was totes her moment. Totes the moment.

Meta Knight knew that Stari was there. And they had seen everything.

Magdalena craned her neck forward, eyes closing, lips ever so slightly puckered. Admittedly she had no idea where this guy’s mouth was. She had an image in her head of the guy, like, lifting his mask and completing The Moment, which would be soooo totes PERFEC-TIONNNN. 

So consumed was she by this image that she didn’t really consider the possibility that he would not remove his mask. She considered much less that he would come out of his thoughts, eyes suddenly white with confusion and shock, and heave her upright into a hasty spin. She considered, like, a whole ton less that, upon completing the spin, he would let go of her , effectively and haphazardly tossing her sideways toward the wings.

Magdalena, herself now stunned and confused, did her best to make her stumbling into a series of chaines turns, sloppy as they were.

Once she was behind a curtain, she definitively lost her balance, falling backward into some other guy, who instinctively put his arms around her.

“Don’t worry, lady.” Jecra said in his best impression of a dashing hero. “I’ve got ya.”

Magdalena blew a piece of her slowly-falling updo out of her face.

“Do me a favor and stop having me.” She sniped.

“Jeez, okay.” He said, letting her go.

She dusted herself off, quickly deciding that actually, that guy was soooo not even cute at all. For serious.

Meta Knight was now alone on the stage, a fact that settled on him alongside the silence of a desperately confused orchestra. In that moment, standing there in front of a spectrum of curious eyes, he realized that he had been acting purely on impulse, divulging almost nothing to the companions who were, quite literally, waiting in the wings for him. Suddenly, the light shining on him felt uncomfortably warm.

He took a breath and moved his hand in the same circular motion that Magdalena had earlier, wholly unfamiliar with any of the music, but knowing that it was better than nothing. The show had to go on. 

There was no other choice.

Miraculously, and with several confused and sharp whispers, the orchestra settled on a song to play. Meta Knight responded by getting en pointe once more. Continuous music, continuous movement– it was all that he needed to know.

His head emptied of nearly all of the names of the moves that he was performing, but curiously he found that this did not cause him any alarm. In fact, as he settled into the rhythm of the music that was not written for him but nonetheless urged him forward, his mind began to clear.

No, Jecra, no, Garlude, he did not have a plan. He never had. But he had a goal, and there was no chance that he would not reach it.

Under cover of his cape, he grabbed the hilt of his sword. Then, with a deep breath, he dashed across the stage, leaping into the air and tucking in. As he flipped forward, he couldn't help but feel like he was flying. As he drew his blade, he took another breath, sharpening his focus.

Determination.

Victory.

The people.

His sword shone brighter than the lights above it as, in one fluid motion, he righted himself and swung it overhead, sending a glowing crescent into the stage lights.

Heh. He even stuck the landing.

For a moment, the only sounds in the theater were the resounding CRASH from the impact, the krackl -ing of destroyed electrical equipment, bewildered whispers and, if one listened closely, the anguished cry of a truly vexed stage manager.

“...Wow, okay.” Magdalena said. “So he’s, like… crazy crazy.”

Jecra tried to respond, but was only able to make wordless, stunned vocalizations.

Garlude found herself braced against the rail behind her, arms wrapped tightly around Marguerite after pulling them both away from the impact. She let go of her and absently pat her shoulder as the latter began bopping her head against her clipboard.

Garlude righted herself and got back across the catwalk, staring below at the scene of falling sparks around a knight who had serious explaining to do. She was about to call down to him to say something to that effect, but then stopped short and furrowed her brow, eyes tracing back up to the broken lights.

“Wait…” she muttered. “Are these things... still on?”

As if on cue, the glow of the supposedly-destroyed lights intensified, causing Garlude to step back again with an arm extended over Marguerite. 

The sparks falling to the stage began to coalesce into a distinct form, appearing to Meta Knight for a moment as the beloved Resplendent, perfectly en pointe, arms open, beaming down at him with a smile that wasn’t so much warm as it was burning. In an instant this form dissolved, sparks swirling upward to create a new one.

A bright circle expanded from the point at which the Resplendent had touched down, its light extending upward as if forming the base of a garment. At the peak of this light’s expansion, a head, neck, and two long, slender arms became visible. At the back of the head, flamelike light that could probably be described as “hair” radiated outward, bearing a striking resemblance to a halo. Two featureless white eyes opened to look down at Meta Knight as a red, flaming ribbon gradually appeared, starting by one hand, weaving around their arm, behind their neck, and weaving the same way to their other hand.

As the remaining sparks from the broken lights died around him, he heard a distinct whisper.

“Well, well, well…” it said, “so you’ve decided to take up my offer, hm? You never did tell me how you intended to use that blade of yours…”

Meta Knight released a long breath, wordlessly pointing his epée at the true form of the monstrous General Stari.

They extended one of their arms toward the orchestra, once again making the circular hand motion that signaled them to skip ahead.

There were no grumbles this time as they shuffled their pages and coordinated, eventually settling on and beginning to play a much more grandiose-sounding section of the ballet.

“Wh…wh-what…is that…?” Marguerite stammered.

“A monster.” Garlude replied, drawing her sword. “You and the others need to leave. Now.”

She was about to escort Marguerite to the other cowering stage workers when she suddenly grabbed her arm.

“My sister.” She said, her voice much less shaky. “Where is she? Is she safe?”

“Well, one of us was by the side of the stage where she…eh…exited, so I would say so, yes.”

Marguerite nodded. “Good. I-I’m sorry to ask this of you, but please escort the crew offstage. I have to evacuate the theater.”

“Whoa.” Garlude said, pulling away. “I can appreciate your initiative, but you shouldn’t be going out there.”

“Somebody has to, and I don’t think it’s going to be any of you. Besides…” she looked over the scene below, “it…sort of seems like that thing wants the show to continue, and I have a bad feeling that something, um, well, bad, will happen if it stops.”

Garlude watched as Stari surged forward, moving more like a trail of energy than a person as they rushed around Meta Knight, prompting him to flip backward over the comet-like tail.

Hm.

“...Fine, I guess, but the second this starts moving beyond the stage-”

“Ohhh don’t worry.” Marguerite said, already starting to run off. “I’ll be the first to get scared off.”

She mounted the ladder and slid down, magnetically suspending her hands over the bars to reach the bottom more quickly.

Garlude uneasily turned away, escorting the remaining crew off of the catwalk. Once she was certain it was empty, she focused her attention back to the “performance” below.

It was difficult to parse exactly what was going on. It seemed much more like a dance than a fight, which didn’t exactly mesh with the image that Meta Knight had painted of a bloodthirsty general. They moved and gestured around each other, sights that were admittedly impressive but left her to question what exactly the goal was. Certainly, she got the impression that being touched would burn him, but what did it mean to flip over their surges toward him? What was the purpose of sending their fiery ribbon out toward him beyond forcing him to leap elegantly through its curves?

Was it, as she could see by the way he yanked it out of the way of the ribbon, burning his cape? Was it burning him? Did they know that the other two were there…?

For Meta Knight’s part, he was perfectly aware that he was entwined in a game, and far too tightly. At this point, the only way to exit would be destruction or dancing until the song’s conclusion.

The choice was easy. The blow to his pride was much more difficult.

He knew only enough to dodge the flaming ribbon that threatened to touch him, looking to the spectators as though it were carefully planned. How, he wondered, had this gone so horrifically out of control? Granted, knowing who was involved…was there ever a way that it wouldn’t? It felt as though the only way he was keeping these thoughts from overtaking him was an intense focus on not getting burned, a position he loathed just as much as being forced to be so close to the fire in the first place.

Finally, in his periphery, he discovered a sign of hope: The crowd was thinning. He had no idea how, he had no idea why, but there was now a time limit on this performance, a clear sign that it would end and the fight would begin. And he was far more than confident in his ability to command a fight than a dance.

“Yes,” Marguerite said quietly, “I apologize, but due to a recently-discovered safety concern with the lights over the orchestra seating, we will need to ask that you stand and walk calmly toward the exit of the theater. I do promise that your money will be refunded, or you can have tickets to a later showing. Whichever you prefer.”

“I don’t under stand.” A tourist grumbled. “The dancers are still dancing! Why don’t we get to watch ‘em?”

“Well, they insisted.” She sighed. “They’re very dedicated to their craft. I promise, you’ll be able to see all of this beauty the next time you come.”

Eventually, she began to find success in coaxing attendees out of their hard-earned seats. There was grumbling, even vitriol, but she reasoned it was easy enough to handle when lives could be on the line. As long as she stayed calm and took it step by step…she could keep everybody safe.

…P-probably, anyway.

Sometimes there was a safety issue with the lighting, sometimes there was a structural fault found with the balcony, sometimes a pipe had burst behind a wall and they needed to clear the area for repairs. Every incident required those informed to get up very carefully and quietly and exit the auditorium into a darkened great hall. 

Why was it darkened?

Er…the techs! The darned techs! They must have forgotten to turn them on. She would have words with them. Have a good night, now!

As Marguerite closed and locked the last main entrance, desperately trying not to think about the fact that she was slowly sealing herself in with some unknown terror, she looked back toward the stage. Yep, they were still fighting. Had the crew escaped? The cast? Her…her sister? She had no choice but to trust that the answer was yes. Now, she thought, her last challenge was before her. 

From in front of the stage, the orchestra continued to play.

A good conductor always has their score memorized. This was just as well, as the conductor of the City Theatre’s Symphony Orchestra had not turned his page once since the battle raging above him began. 

There was, of course, a battle scripted to take place during this section, but this was quite a bit more extreme than rehearsals had prepared them for. He got the sense, perhaps melodramatically, that they were all playing for their lives. But, of course, his facial expressions had to be quite controlled, for he was not just a conductor, but a maestro. Therefore, while his players were wide-eyed and short-breathed, he remained composed, gesturing and making fierce expressions to emphasize the mood that they were meant to create.

He hardly even glanced away when the stage manager approached him, tapping hard and fast at a specific measure, soon marked with an X, in his periphery.

Wow. A half-cadence? How dissatisfying. But fine, if she said so.

Ohhhh please let this work. Marguerite internally prayed to…someone, probably. Please please pleaaaaase let this work.

The orchestra, as directed, built to a grand, tension-filled half-cadence…and promptly set to work on leaving as soon as possible. Despite the urgency of the situation, Marguerite observed with slight annoyance that the musicians were attempting to scurry out with their instruments, even ones that were particularly large. She allowed this to settle to the bottom of her priorities, turning anxiously over her shoulder to check the result of her work.

There they were, the monster looming tall and menacing over the knight, his own imposing nature doing little to make him seem like a threat. Even as the music ended, the monster’s gaze remained trained on him, their burning eyes smiling even in the absence of a mouth.

“Very impressive.” They purred. “A performance to open the heavens. Little Star Warrior, you've proven yourself worthy of the honor…” their hand glinted, the glare itself seeming to take the shape of a spear, “of being their first sacrifice!”

“Ha ha!” Jecra cried, rushing onto the stage shield-first. “You’ll have to get through me foist! Ya wasted yer time with that little SPEE-”

Jecra had never felt a stronger hit against his shield than he did taking the impact of that spear-thingy. Such was the force of its thrust that it threw him off his feet, causing him to land hard on his back a short distance away.

For Meta Knight’s part, he took careful note of the delayed whoosh that accompanied the throwing of the weapon, almost as if it had outpaced the sound itself. Hardly ideal for evasion. The only advantage he could note was that it split on contact, briefly flashing a spectrum of colors before disappearing. Yes, if this was to be the offensive of choice, then his only real option was evasion.

He dashed around the side of the creature, feeling a slight pull on his cape from displaced air around the spear as it was thrown toward him once again. Indeed, his only chance would be to remain in motion for the duration of his offensive defense.

“Alllllright!” Jecra cried, righting himself and pulling a glowing fist back. “How ‘bout a little of this?” He launched a series of rapid-fire vulcan jabs at the monster, passion in every punch.

This passion dropped considerably as he watched each shot disappear into the general’s shimmering form, not affecting them at all.

“...Aw d-!” Jecra had no time to utter dejectedly, raising his shield only just in time to block a number of spears lobbed at him, matching the amount of times he’d jabbed at his opponent. The speed of their movement made it impossible to tell, but he could swear that each bolt was tinted blue.

Jecra avoided being thrown back this time, but felt the cost of doing so through the pain in his arm.

“Are you beginning to understand now?” Stari asked, extending one arm and allowing the fiery ribbon around it to unfurl on its own. “You were doomed the second you set foot on this planet!”

The ribbon burst into a roaring flame, the loose end flaring behind them. Meta Knight jumped back in shock and rolled messily over his shoulder, throwing his cape over himself to avoid a burn. He felt intense heat through the fabric, but suffered no injury.

The other end of the ribbon, creating an additional corona around them with the size of the flame, twisted easily around their arm as it shot in a straight line toward Jecra.

For Jecra, time slowed. If that thing was like fabric or whatevah, it would probably bunch up over him, or maybe even around him if that star guy really wanted it to. The fire was red, so it prolly wouldn’t destroy his shield, cuz it was made outta good stuff.

Him, tho, he wasn’t made outta good stuff.

And he was covered in other stuff that made heat travel real good.

…Uh oh. Did he have time for a profound last thought…? 

Joe…

His mildly-panicked thought spiral was interrupted by a fearsome cry from above.

Leaping from the rail of the catwalk was, admittedly, one of the more impulsive things that Garlude had done in her work as a hero. She held a rope that had once been attached to a sandbag in one hand, her sword over her head in the other, both as though her life depended on it.

As she descended, she swung her blade downward, watching as the bronze of the blade was almost (but not quite!) consumed by the raging red of the flame. It passed through the blaze, meeting minimal but palpable resistance as it did. 

Her arms tensed against the intense heat, but relaxed with even more intense relief at the sight of the mass of fire splitting in two. The halves curled in on themselves, flashing the brightest they had before dissipating just as quickly.

When Garlude felt her feet touch the stage, she released the rope, resisting the urge to investigate whatever it was she’d mistakenly caused to crash to the ground nearby.

“Heh, jeez, Gar, ya sure do know how to make an entrance.” Jecra said, unable to completely hide the quiver in his voice.

“Ha,” Garlude replied, her own voice uneasy, “it’s the first thing they teach you when you’re training to become a hero.”

“Aw,” Jecra cooed. “Look’it ya, gettin’ the hang of jokey bant-!”

He didn’t have time to finish his words of pride before another spear of light was flung toward them. 

Garlude only barely had time to raise her own shield, hoping to direct the strike away from the ground, before it made impact. She was not spared the pain that came with taking the blow, and found that the weapon was only barely deflected and had, much to her horror, torn a thin, clean line across the emblem on her shield.

For a moment, she assessed the risks properly. Treating the bolts being lobbed at them as though they were simply spears was not an effective strategy. However, it would at least appear that the fiery ribbon that she’d cut through was gone and would, perhaps, need to regenerate. The spears, however seemingly immaterial they were, were affected by physics, though they moved too quickly for that to be useful.

And then came the rage.

A wordless scream erupted from Garlude’s throat as her sword glowed.

“...G-Gar…?” Jecra piped up, before waving his hands in front of him with palms out, alternately crying “GarGarGarGarGar!” and “Nonononono!”

The only non-deafened ears upon which his cries fell was the smug General Stari, who welcomed the ensuing sword beam in all of its massive, brilliant, and borderline-shapeless glory.

The blow was so intense that Stari bent over where the beam struck, but it did not pass through them; instead, as with the Vulcan Jabs, it seemed to absorb into them.

“G-Gar…” Jecra stammered incredulously, “are ya cracked!? Why would ya-!”

He didn’t have time to finish his inquiry before, once more, the energy that had been hurled at Stari was hurled back at them.

The two barely had time to jump back before the now-rogue sword beam smashed into the floor, leaving a wide gash where it struck. The force from the impact sent them flying onto their backs. Jecra scrambled to his feet and hefted his shield in front of them just in time for both he and Garlude to be knocked down again by two more spears.

“Ah,” Meta Knight said, suddenly at their side. “You two have survived that onslaught. Very g- hup!” He leapt into the air and slashed, splitting the fiery ribbon flying at them in half once more.

“Very good.” He finished, landing beside his braced companions.

“Speak for yerself…” Jecra said breathlessly.

“Mm. In all fairness, it was very unwise to lob a sword beam at this enemy.”

Jecra scoffed. “I picked that up real good already. Go tell her that.” He jerked his thumb at Garlude, who kept her eyes trained firmly over the top of the shield, one hand braced against the back of it.

“Ah…” Meta Knight murmured. “Fascinating…”

Two more spears shoved them farther backwards, Garlude and then Meta Knight’s brace keeping Jecra from being tossed off the ground.

“MK…” he grunted. “This is bad, real bad. We’re gonna be cooked if we stick around much longuh…”

“Ah, but we cannot surrender now, lest our demise be certain. We must persist.”

“Ya know, that’s real easy for you to say!”

“Indeed.” Meta Knight nodded. “This is because I have a suspicion as to what will move us forward.”

“...Ya couldn’t’ve led with that?”

“Garlude!” 

Meta Knight’s call pulled Garlude out of the haze of thoughts and feelings sparked by her damaged shield. She squeezed her eyes shut and exhaled sharply, then glanced over at him.

“Meta Knight? When did you get here?”

“When you attacked Stari, did you notice anything…odd?”

Garlude furrowed her brow. “Oh, uh…wait, you mean besides the fact that they shot my sword beam back at us?”

“Of course.” 

Meta Knight peered around the side of the shield, hardly seeming fazed when he immediately had to duck back behind it in order to avoid being impaled.

“Hm…” he murmured. “Garlude…may I ask you a…favor?”

“That…depends.”

He pointed over the top of the shield. “Could you please fire a bolt into Stari’s stomach?”

Garlude blinked. Then blinked again. “...Can you tell me…why?”

“I would like to confirm…a suspicion.”

“Oh yeah, Gar, a suspicion, that’s all. Ya don’t mind riskin’ yer neck for a suspicion?” Jecra snarked, cocking one eyebrow.

“Hm, It would be quite worthless to elaborate if I am incorrect.” Meta Knight replied with a shrug.

“And if it disintegrates instantly…?” Garlude asked.

“Then I suppose you will have to fire another sword beam at them.”

Garlude paused a moment, then took a deep breath, readying her crossbow.

“You know what…? Fine. Let’s go on three.”

“Nuts.” Jecra muttered, rolling his eyes but nonetheless readying himself. “You guys are nuts.”

“You’re free to raise any better idea.” Garlude retorted. “It’s not like I’m enthusiastic about this, either.”

Jecra grunted, but otherwise remained silent.

The trio braced as they were shoved back by three more spears.

“O-one!” Garlude cried.

“Two.” Meta Knight said.

“This is my cue.” She chided. “...but anyway…”

Jecra and Garlude tensed as she called, as if uttering a command:

“Three!”

As quickly as she could, Garlude leaned just outside the coverage of Jecra’s shield, firing a single bolt at Stari’s apparent midriff before ducking back in, her bangs flying over her face from the displaced air following the spear that was launched at her.

“Ah!” Meta Knight exclaimed. “Did you see that?”

“...No?” Garlude replied as she did her best to catch her breath. “Why would I have stayed out there long enough to see anything?”

“Didja get what ya wanted, MK?” Jecra asked, grunting against the pain caused by the absorbed shock of two simultaneous spears. “D-do we got a plan?”

“Indeed.” Meta Knight said, the evenness of his tone making the other two realize that his tone was not quite as even before. “When Garlude unleashed that sword beam upon Stari, I noticed that they had doubled over, in a way that they certainly would not have if they were attacked normally.”

“Hmmm, MK…” Jecra murmured, starting to piece together his companion’s theory. “Are you sayin’ that maybe this monstah boss…has a weak spot?”

“Indeed.” Meta Knight replied with a nod. “Stari’s build is similar to that of a star in the sky-- plasma-like, ephemeral, and blisteringly hot. Most projectiles would phase through them or be destroyed by the heat. However, every star has a core that is integral to its structure, denser than the body, and, as we now know, able to be struck.” He pointed over the shield again. “If we are able to compromise Stari’s core…it will be the key to their defeat.”

“Ah sweet-!”

“Meta Knight…” Garlude chimed in, furrowing her brow. “I can’t confess to being an expert in astronomy, but in my past experiences, the cores of large structures tend to be…very hot. Wouldn’t this be true for Stari, as well? I can’t imagine my crossbow bolt lasted even a second after it made contact, or that it hurt them all that much when it did.”

“This is true.” He mused. “We must, then, attack Stari’s core with weapons that are more…heat-resistant.”

He looked down at his sword.

“...Nope. No.” Jecra said. “I’m not doin’ that. Can’t we just hit ‘em with a fire extinguisher or somethin’?”

“A fire extinguisher that can smother a star?” Garlude asked with a raised eyebrow.

“YeR fReE tO rAiSe AnY bEtTeR iDeA~” Jecra replied in a high-pitched tone.

“If we are able to keep Stari in from striking us until we close the distance between us,” Meta Knight cut in, “we may, indeed, gain the opportunity to pierce their core and defeat them.”

“So your sayin’ we should be keepin’ ‘em on their back foot…” Jecra murmured. “M’kay, so how do ya think we should-”

FWOOM!

A burst of fire erupted in front of Jecra’s shield, flowing over the edges and converging onto the trio, who were only just barely able to throw their capes over themselves to prevent truly debilitating burns. The light stench of burnt hair, fabrics of different kinds, and skin quickly made itself known. 

Garlude cried out and threw her shielded arm over her face as smoke stung her unprotected eyes.

In the pained darkness, she felt herself get shoved backwards, accompanied by the distinct sound of multiple spears hitting Jecra’s shield, and the thud of his body hitting the ground beside hers.

“Alright, little Star Warriors…” She heard Stari coo. “That’s enough dawdling, don’t you think?”

Garlude heard a high-pitched hum that could only come from a particularly intense spear of light.

“Let us bring this performance to an end. Please, do continue to look just as pathetic as you do now when you draw your final breath~”

Garlude felt her breathing quicken as she began blinking hard and fast. Through the brief, blurry glimpses she caught from beyond the cover of her arm, she could make out the form of Jecra attempting to regroup.

This couldn’t be it, this couldn’t be the end. Even if it was, she was the Hero of the Midori. It was her calling to fight until her last breath!

…If only she could see properly to do that.

…She did look pretty pathetic, didn’t she?

Before she could fall victim to any heroic panic spirals, she felt a hard weight push against and then lift itself from her shield.

Against her better judgement, she took her arm away from her face and looked up.

A dark, hazy form swirled into the air, the distinct shape and glow of what could only be a sword beam shooting away from it and toward Stari.

“Meta Knight!?” She exclaimed, furiously rubbing her eyes. “What are you doing? You know that they’re going to-!”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash so bright that she knew it would blind her again if she’d been looking straight at it. An intense heat blasted against her back before dissipating just as quickly.

Was that…the spear that had been in their hand? But it didn’t even come close to hitting either of them…

…Oh. Oh!

“I get it!” She cried, taking her own turn to tackle the slowly-rising Jecra out of the way to avoid the retaliatory sword beam that once again cut through the floor of the stage.

“Glad someone does.” He grunted, not sounding particularly appreciative.

“It’s just as Meta Knight said! We haven’t been hurting them at all because we haven’t been aiming for the right spot. If we hit their center, we’re actually hitting them!” She explained, helping him off the ground. “The harder we hit, the more time they need to recover, and if we hit them with energy…” she pointed toward the new gash in the floor. “At some point they have to let it out!”

She scanned the stage area for a moment, then nodded and loaded a bolt into her crossbow. “Cover me, and follow my lead.”

“I’ll uh…do my best.” He said, positioning himself shield-first in front of her.

“You all make this so hard on yourselves…” Stari said, a subtle but audible irritation underscoring their otherwise honeyed tone. “Surely the little one has told you who I am? Entire armies have fallen before me. Eviscerated. Scorched beyond recognition.”

They winced nearly imperceptibly as a bolt struck their core.

“Comparatively…you three are little more than insects…”

The ribbon formed quickly, burning much brighter than before, quickly looping itself around their arms and back.

“Insignificant…”

Another bolt flew into their core. Little more than a light sting, really.

“Unglamorous…”

They manifested a shining bolt of their own into each hand.

“I n s e c t s !”

Such was the intensity of the ball of flame and light that even they could not see their targets through the impact. Nor could they see them when all had cleared, leaving only a deep dent in the metal floor of the stage as evidence that they had struck at anything at all.

They smiled to themselves. As much fun as it could be to render an opponent a terrified corpse, there was just something so satisfying about vaporizing them.

And then there was one.

“Small oneeee~” they cooed, glancing around the stage area. “I’ve annihilated your friends, you can come out now~”

After a beat of silence, they increased their form’s height to scan the catwalk and light grid. “I’ve grown quite amused with you, so I promise I’ll make your demise as quick and painless as possible~” She let out a chuckle. “Though I can’t guarantee it won’t be a performance...”

 Near the other end of the catwalk, they heard a faint whoosh , and from its origin they saw a suspiciously-shaped object underneath a cover of dark fabric. Part of one of the stage aprons, perhaps? It didn’t really matter. There was only one thing that did.

“I’ve found you…” they purred, the fabric burning away as they brushed their fingers along it.

The first sign was that the light grew brighter as the cover dissolved. The second sign was the brass full-plate armor and distinct lack of cape. The third was the full-throated scream, pitched a bit too high. The last sign was, of course, the full reveal of the hidden figure: shaking, bright sparking tears streaming down their face, hair disheveled.

“M-Magdalena…?” Stari said, cocking their head to the side before laughing uncomfortably. “Oh, Darling, I hate that you needed to see this. Please don’t worry about a thing, all will be well if you can just tell me where your little guest has run off to…”

As if on cue, they were struck in the back by a sword beam. It was painless, but immensely irritating.

They whirled in a blaze to face who they knew to be the culprit, suddenly present and balancing perfectly on the rail of the catwalk. He wordlessly pointed his sword at them.

The gesture was so ridiculous to them that they could not help but release a most un-demure cackle.

“Now just what do you intend to do with that!?” They leaned forward, the heat that radiated off of them seeping through Meta Knight’s visor. “They’re gone, Star Warrior. You’re the only one left.” 

Meta Knight continued to remain silent, unflinching, even as the heat began to dry out his eyes.

“I must admit, you’ve done well to last so long, but it was always going to end this way. But you knew that.” They hovered a hand over him, the heat and light intensifying. “Any final words to memorialize your little platoon?”

Meta Knight stood in silence for another moment before giving them his answer:

“No.”

“...Oh…?” Stari said, admittedly surprised. “...Very well, then.” They raised their hand. “Burn and fade awa-A-AH!!”

Stari recoiled backward as they felt a sharp, massive pain from behind them.

Jecra pushed hard against his blade, driving it into the core of Stari until he risked burning himself.

“Y-you…!” Stari cried. They glanced over the stage, immediately spotting where they’d gone wrong.

Had they really been so haughty, so consumed with rage and fire, that they’d forgotten…?

Great pain coursed through them once more as another blade pierced their core.

“In a sense…” the voice of Meta Knight mused slightly above them, “it could be said that you orchestrated your own downfall.” He moved his blade slightly, pointing it at the gash in the floor. “Had you not struck at us so fiercely, so devoted to our grisly end, they would have been unable to take shelter beneath a hollow stage.”

“Nice timin’ on that, by the way, Gar.” Jecra remarked with a quick laugh.

“Heh, we’d be a lot worse off without your protection.” Garlude grunted against Stari’s attempts to break free.

“No…NO!” Stari roared, summoning their fire around their still-shining hand. “I won’t fall to the LIKES OF YOU!”

They swept their hand in an upward arc toward Meta Knight, returning the sword beam he’d lobbed at them and an additional fiery edge, its force blowing a hole in the ceiling.

Through the dust and debris, Meta Knight surged from the edge of the broken catwalk.

“Just as I suspected it would be,” he said through the matter rapidly trying to make its way into his throat, “your pride precedes your fall. Now, it is your time…”

Meta Knight spread his cape open, gliding with his sword pointed down at his target.

“To fade aw-”

Plip!

Meta Knight watched a drop of water strike the blade of his epeé.

…What…?

Another plopped against his arm, then the back of his head.

Were there…clouds in the sky before this…?

Drops began falling heavier, more frequently, drumming against the stage.

…N-no…it couldn’t be…they were so close to victory…so close to finally defeating them…!

A peal of thunder ripped through the auditorium.

Damnit!  

They could deny it no longer…

…They were too late.

Jecra and Garlude, quickly becoming soaked by the rain, looked up in confusion as their enemy began to laugh. Stari was quiet at first, but was quickly overtaken by a manic cackle.

“What’s…going on…?” Garlude asked, her stomach dropping.

“Water’s real bad for fire, ain’t it?” Jecra squinted against the rain that fell into the openings of his mask. “Shouldn’t they be…” his stomach, too, began to drop, “...gettin’ weaker…?”

“Jecra! Garlude!” Meta Knight cried, rushing at them with arms outstretched. “GET BACK!”

The two rapidly withdrew their swords, and no sooner did Meta Knight make contact with the two of them than they were all forced backwards by a new blast of heat and light.

They tumbled and slid across the floor, just barely able to grab one of the busted-in edges of the stage to keep themselves from falling back into it. It was fortunate that Jecra’s shield was attached to his arm, allowing for a small but vital amount of shelter from the downpour above them, threatening to loosen their collective grip.

“What…just happened?” Garlude grunted, coughing. “They were half-dead just a second ago, the stage is covered with water…!”

“Yes…indeed it is.” Meta Knight said, his voice carrying an odd tone. “This storm came upon us quite suddenly. It is as though it has… manifested above us.”

“...I guess…?” Garlude said. “Meta Knight…are you implying that this change in weather might have been caused by…”

“Kracko.” Meta Knight said gravely. “It is exactly as Stari desired.”

“Nah…no way…” Jecra said. “That thing…ain’t real! It’s…just…”

“Denial does nothing to help us.” Meta Knight cut him off.

“...Well, we can’t just hang here. We need to stop them now more than ever.” Garlude resolved. “If we can coordinate another attack while they’re distracted by the onset of the storm, maybe we can-”

“No. That is a foolish idea. We do not have such a window of time.”

“What?” Garlude scoffed. “What are you talking about? That ‘window of time’ is right now!”

“Perhaps, but your blades…they are still hot from your previous strike.”

Meta Knight nodded up toward Jecra and Garlude’s swords, both just barely covered by the shield, both glowing brightly.

“...So??” Jecra said. “What’s that gotta do with anythin’?”

“At your blades’ current temperature, they must not come into extended contact with the rain.” Meta Knight said. “They may crack.”

“...What?? Seriously!?” Jecra exclaimed. “From water??  C-c’mon, even if that’s true, ain’t Garlude’s sword magic or somethin’?”

“Perhaps. Garlude, is the strength of this magic against internal damage to your sword something you are willing to test?”

Garlude remained silent.

“...I see. I understand quite well.” Meta Knight took a deep breath, exhaling harder than usual to keep the threat of shaking at bay. “But it is true that we must seize on this time. If only to devise a strategy around what has changed.”

“Meta Knight…” Garlude called.

He said nothing as he pulled himself over the edge of the hole, climbing atop Jecra’s shield as he surveyed the scene before him.

Stari had doubled in height, reaching out and extending through the opening that they’d created. The rain that fell around them refracted golden light across the stage. The base of their form had expanded outward, bearing an odd resemblance to a formal gown. Their core could no longer be seen.

Nearby, puddles formed on the floor around warped pieces of stone and metal from the ceiling and catwalk, the debris field stopping just in front of Meta Knight.

For a moment, Meta Knight was frozen in place. He could not understand why. There was no better time than now to act, after all.

Small one…

Their name for him briefly reverberated in his mind.

He shook his head and took another breath, this time not bothering to hide the tremble in his exhale. He recalled a point that Jecra had made earlier.

In theory, this was an opportunity they could use to slip away. It would, perhaps, even increase their chance of survival.

But this was not truly an option. It was never going to be.

Meta Knight threw open his cape, the storm wind filling and lifting it behind him as he tightened his grip on his sword.

With one more breath, he raised his blade toward the first bolts of lightning as they cracked across the sky.