Magolor's POV:

It's a rainy, stormy day. Well, a rainy evening, now, I guess. I hate rainy days/evenings. Hate 'em, with a capital 'Hay.' We're all stuck inside, and when you have so many of us together, that's not exactly a great thing. Especially when we've been stuck here all. Day.

We're all sitting in a sitting room in the castle, the whole group of us. And currently, 'the whole group of us' means Rose, me, Thdwee, Falspar, Dragato, Nonsurat, Kirby, Bandana Dee, Shadow Kirby, Sailor Dee, Meta Knight, Sakura, Dark Meta Knight, and Dark Sakura. Yeesh, is our group getting big or what? I kinda feel sorry for the author, having to try to keep up with so many characters at once...

Stop breaking the fourth wall, Magolor.

Or what? I'm not scared of you, author lady. I'm too awesome to be scared of you.

Stop it, or I'll write the Lor Starcutter into an explosion. Don't think I won't.

You wouldn't.

Try me.

Fiiiiiiiine. Anyway... Where was I? Oh, yes. So we're all sitting in a sitting room, all fourteen of us. Dragato and Meta Knight are playing chess; Dark Meta Knight is seated in a corner, glaring at the wall, probably plotting how to destroy us all; Dark Sakura is stretched out on top of a bookshelf, having leapt deftly up there awhile ago, now napping; Bandana, Shadow, Kirby, Sailor Dee, Thdwee and Sakura are all reading with each other, curled up all together in a window seat; Nonsurat and Falspar are playing some sort of card game I've never heard of called 'Warrior's Duel,' which seems to be some sorta version of 'War;' and Rose is just kind of watching all of us, while I sit next to her.

"You know, I think Thdwee might like Sakura almost as much as he likes me," she suddenly comments with a laugh. "He has told me before that when he was really little, he got really sick, but Sakura helped him with her Light. That was actually the first time she ever used her Light, according to Sakura."

Yawning, I reply, "That's kind of cool."

Out of nowhere, she asks, "You know how to play the violin, don't you?"

"Um, yeah, I do," I agree with a shrug. "But what does that have to do with anything about anything?"

Smiling, she explains, "It has to do with the fact that some music is exactly what we need right now." I kind of have to agree with her. The bad weather isn't the only thing that's causing the tension in here. Meta Knight and Sakura seem pretty stressed out, and they're both acting kind of distant toward poor Falspar, Dragato, and Nonsurat. Not in a rude way, just kind of like the way you act toward someone you don't know all that well who makes you nervous. It makes me wonder if Princess and Meta-Not know something that we don't, or something. To be perfectly honest, (and you can trust me, I am named Trustworthy Hero, after all,) I wouldn't be at all surprised if they do know something we don't, and that's what's making them so stress-y. They should be like me, happy, somewhat ignorant, and worry-freeeeeeee!

"Music sounds like a brrrrrrrrilliant plan, your Highness," I agree, rolling the 'r' just 'cause it sounds cool. "Let's see if I can't get somebody to join me."

"I doubt Thdwee will, he doesn't like performing in front of people he doesn't know well," Rose laughs with a shake of her head.

Shrugging, I admit politely, "I wasn't really thinking of Thdwee. I was thinking of Meta-Not and Princess. Well, Sakura, I mean."

Smirking, she points at her head and teases, "I know what you meant, Mr. Magolor. Mind-reader, remember?"

Shuddering, I mutter back, "And that's supposed to be reassuring? I don't know how I feel about people knowing what I'm thinking."

"It does have a tendency to make people uncomfortable, and I can understand that," she nods with a smile. "Well, go get your violin and see if you can't get somebody to join you."

Well, I float off to my room and grab my violin, then return to the sitting room. Nothing's changed since I left, nothing at all. I guess I'm not surprised.

"Hey, Princess," I say, glancing over at the window seat as I pull my violin out, rosin the bow, and make sure it's in tune. "Would you join me in a duet?"

"You can play the violin?" she inquires in surprise, seeming impressed. "That's awesome, Mags. Of course. I'm assuming you want me to sing?"

"Well, yeah. Unless you can play an instrument and I just didn't know," I shrug back. "You know 'Scarborough Fair?'"

Grinning, she marks her spot in the book she's reading to the kids and hops up. "'Course I know it. Like I know my own name." Suddenly, she turns to Meta-Not. "Hey, Meta. You should join us. I know you know how to play that one."

"You should join us," I agree with a grin. "It won't be a duet, it'll be a trio. Heck, we could go on the road with that sort of an act."

"No," he disagrees, glaring over at me from his chess game. Whether he's saying 'no' to taking the show on the road, or to playing, I guess we'll never know. Another forever unsolvable mystery of the Meta-Not.

Glancing back at Dragato, he moves a single piece and then crosses his arms, leaning back in his chair, quite smug. "Check."

"What?" Dragato groans. "How did you- oh, wait a second." He skips several moves ahead in his head, like the strategist he is, and calmly proceeds to move his king out of check. "This is still going to be my game, you just wait and see."

Well, I decide to watch them for a minute. Meta-Not puts him in check again, but Dragato just moves calmly out again. And then, next move, a smug-as-the-cat-who-ate-the-mouse Dragato moves a knight piece into place. "Checkmate. I win, my friend."

"What?" Meta-Not groans, just like his opponent did just a moment ago. "How did you...?" Meta-Not goes back over the moves silently, then sighs. "Like always when we play chess, you were distracting me. By putting your king in places where I could easily put you in check, you could then set everything up just right over here."

Sakura gives Meta Knight a concerned glance, and his eyes turn orange in deep thought as he narrows his eyes at Dragato. "Yes, you are quite good at that, are you not?"

Confused, Dragato wonders, "What?"

"What?" I agree, then shrug it off. "Meta-Not's just being a sore loser, Drags. Don't let him get to you."

Shaking his head, Dragato laughs, "Never call me that again."

Well, of course, now that has to be my permanent name for him. "Whatever ya say, Drags," I giggle at him, then turn back to Meta-Not. "Come on, Meta-Not. Just one song. Pleeeease?" Yes. I really am begging Meta Knight to play the piano. Don't laugh at me for it, I already feel embarrassed enough.

Shaking his head and glaring at me again, he sighs, "No. I am far too busy thinking about other things to concentrate on playing the piano. My apologies."

"Aw, come on, Meta. Just one song?" Sakura pleads. "Please?"

He doesn't glare at her, but still answers, "No."

"It's for the Princess. Come on, do your duty as a subject of Rose's and play the stupid piano," I huff at him and float up on top of the chessboard so he can't start another game, now growing impatient.

A smirk in his voice, Dark Meta-Not enters the conversation, not deigning to turn around and actually look at any of the rest of us. I'm not surprised, we 'poor mortals' are simply 'not worthy.' "He probably does not even really know how to play. I, however, do."

"Well, then you could join us," Sakura shrugs, winking at me while no one else is looking. I can't help it, I giggle a bit. We both know that now, Meta-Not will just have to play. He can't let his dark side show him up, after all. Sometimes pride trumps stubbornness, y'know?

"Fine. I will play the piano," Meta Knight sighs. "Stop 'standing' on the chessboard, Magolor. It is impolite."

"But effective!" I laugh, floating back down and taking a spot near the piano. Meta Knight walks over and sits down at it, playing a couple of scales while I do the same on my instrument. Princess just sits down right next to Meta-Not on the piano bench. I somehow restrain myself from teasing them about how cute they look together. Yes, I know that if I ever said that to Meta-Not, I'd probably end up dead. But it's true, anyway.

Finally, we actually begin to play, and it's awesome. Princess's voice is really nice, and goes well with both of our instruments, which both Meta-Not and I play very well.

"Are you going to Scarborough Fair? Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. Remember me to one who lives there, for once he was a true love of mine," Princess sings, trying to sound sad, but failing. It is kind of a sad song, cause the rest of the verses are about this guy who's a complete and total jerk saying that the only way he'll be in the love with the poor girly again is if she completes these impossible tasks. "Have her make me a cambric shirt, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme; without a seam or fine needlework, and then she'll be a true love of mine."

When we're done, Rose applauds. "That was lovely. You all three sound beautiful together."

"Yeah, but I think Princess is the star, though," I tease her with a wink.

Rolling her eyes good-naturedly, she disagrees, "No, I wasn't."

"Would you like to play "The River" next?" I ask them both. "And yes, I do know that song. I learned it during my time hiding on the Squeak Squad's ship."

Confused, Princess wonders, "What's the Squeak Squad?"

"'Who,' not 'what.' They are a long story, that must be saved for another time. Right now, I am going," Meta Knight announces, then closes the piano and walks away. A couple minutes later, Princess excuses herself, too.

Where are they headed off to? I wonder to myself with a frown. Maybe this has something to do with how stressed they've been today. Well, I guess it's not really any of my business. I'm still kinda worried about the two of 'em, though.

Turning to the kids, I suggest, "Anybody up for a trip to the kitchen?" And, of course, several people eagerly take me up on the idea, and not just the ones who are under eighteen.

*************************************************************

Meta Knight's POV:

"Will he be arriving soon?" I demand as I pace back and forth through the empty street.

Nodding, she says, "He said he'd be here at the same time as yesterday. It was late, then, just like it is now. So, anytime, now."

"All right," I reply. "Do you remember our plan?"

She nods again. "You'll stay behind a ways, since he doesn't want anyone else to know he's here. I'll talk to him, try to figure out some more. And, if for whatever strange reason, things get ugly, you'll give me backup."

"Very good," I nod at her in return. "Be careful, Flower."

"'Careful' is my middle name," she grins at me. "Sakura Careful Dee."

"A lovely name it is, too," I tease her lightly, then walk off to wait in an alleyway.

Minutes later, General Solar appears, and begins to speak to Sakura. I cannot quite hear them, the rain is too loud, but I think I catch the words 'help,' 'spell,' 'stop,' and 'Arthur.' Leaning out a bit, I strain to try to discern what they are discussing. But then, suddenly, I instead hear breathing behind me.

Silently and subtly, I close my eyes and prepare to draw my sword, waiting for whoever it is to give me some other clue as to their identity. They have a malevolent air about them, whoever they are, and I have definitely felt their presence before.

Suddenly, they laugh, and I know who they are, now. "Watching over your little lady friend, eh, Meta Knight?" a voice I would know anywhere growls.

"Yamikage," I murmur, still neither opening my eyes nor actually drawing my sword. In a fight against a Ninja, sight will often fail you. You must learn to rely on your other senses. "You finally return, for your precious revenge. It certainly has taken you long enough."

"I wanted to leave you in suspense," he laughs again, still waiting several feet behind me. "Well, now. General Solar promised me my revenge if I brought him the girl. I did bring him the girl, even if he did just let her go right after. Now, now, it is finally time for me to end you. Then, once you are gone, Star Warrior, I will go after Kirby."

"Age before beauty, eh?" I mutter back to him sarcastically, then inquire somewhat nonchalantly, "Why does General Solar have such an interest in her, do you know?"

"He needs her assistance with a spell, that's all he told me. So, he asked me to bring her to him. So I did. That's all I know, that's all I needed to know. Now," he laughs yet again. Each of his laughs chills me more than the last, and the pouring rain is not helping matters any.

I am still keeping an ear on Sakura and Solar even while I listen for any movement of the Ninja. (I will never call him General again, he has lost all of my respect. He is no General to me, any longer.) His voice sounds frightened, but I have a feeling that it is simply an act. Now, I am convinced that Solar is indeed the lying party, but the question remains, why did Sir Arthur never tell anyone about the 'evacuation?' Why in Dreamland would he keep that a secret?

"Well, Yamikage," I say to the Ninja, still not moving from my place. "How much longer are you going to keep me waiting? I do have other things I need to do tonight."

Growling, he draws a sword, and my grip tightens on Galaxia's hilt. Cautiously, I prepare to draw it, knowing that the sparks from the blade's appearance are going to conduct the rain and make a probably-quite-spectacular light show around me. My plan is to use this to knock Yamikage out, since I do not really have time to fight him right now.

Thankfully, Sakura and Solar are still talking. I have a feeling that Sakura has somehow sensed that I am in trouble, and is trying to stall for me, without raising anybody's suspicions. That seems to be something we have had to do a lot today- avoid raising anybody's suspicions.

Finally, Yamikage dashes at me, and I spin around and draw my sword, trying to direct the lightning towards him. If Sakura did not know I had something going on over here, she certainly does now.

"I was expecting that," he laughs, leaping away from all of the resulting bolts of electricity with his typical skill. I should have known better than to hope that he would fall for that sort of trick. He vanishes, reappearing out of nowhere behind me and kicking me forward onto my face. "You've grown shabby, Meta Knight. I was hoping you'd at least give me a bit of a fight, my old rival."

"I beg to differ," I disagree, leaping back up and running straight at him, knowing that he will vanish before I reach him. But that is exactly what I want him to do. For he cannot really turn invisible, he can only make it seem so. He is really always still there, there is just the matter of finding him.

As soon as he disappears, I close my eyes again and allow my hearing to guide my actions. Swinging out at a tiny noise, my sword meets metal and an annoyed grunt. "Maybe it is you who has become shabby, old friend," I smirk to myself.

Growling, he leaps at me again, and once again, my sword meets his. This goes on for several minutes, when suddenly, he starts to laugh.

"What is it?" I demand, opening my eyes and narrowing them at him.

"Same old Meta Knight," he chuckles darkly, fingering the blade of his sword while looking coolly over at me. "Good with a sword, but easily distracted."

Growing nervous, I leap at him again, and he easily dodges. "You've walked right into my trap, little hero," he chortles.

"What little trap?" I snort, only to have another voice reply,

"Why, the one I sent Yamikage here to set up, my little knight. Come, thy maiden friend is waiting for thee."

"Solar," I whisper, spinning around, only to be met with a Dark spell and a chilling laugh.

As the spell begins to make my eyes drift closed and my feet grow weak under me, Solar murmurs in an almost fond-sounding fashion, "Sleep, little knight. Sleep. Try not to have any... Nightmares."

The last thing I hear is another freezing-cold laugh, and a shout of "No!" from Sakura.

********************************************************

Solar's POV:

"So, ye thought thee and thy little knight friend could get one up on me, did ye, my dear?" I sigh in faux-hurt, then smirk at the girl. She is following me, being forced to by Yamikage, who is behind her. Meta Knight is floating along behind us, being dragged along in midair by a spell of mine. "Now will ye cooperate, or do I have to get rid of him first?"

"Why do you need my help, anyway? If you're actually so big and bad, why can't you do it yourself?!?" she demands, as angry as a mother bear who has been separated from her cubs.

"Because, love, it's a two-person spell. And this spell must be done by two Star Warriors, and not just any two Star Warriors. This spell is a prophetic spell, it can only be cast by the ones it was written for. And all evidence shows that it was written for thee and I. 'The one who shone brighter than a hundred suns, but fell into Darkness blacker than night,' and 'the one whose hands bring healing and peace, who will help to fight Darkness with magic of Light.' That's ye, is it not? 'Tis a pity ye asked too many questions, we could have just done the spell together in the name of stopping Arthur's 'evils,' and that would have been that."

Weary and frightened, she acquiesces, "That does sound like you and me, although I have no idea why whoever wrote it chose us. What sort of spell is it, exactly?"

Dramatically spreading my hands out in front of me and casting a spell that will demonstrate, I begin to explain, "It will tear a hole in the very fabric of space and time. Now, Nightmare will not just be able to send monstrous soldiers wherever in the Galaxy he wants, but whenever, too. We wilt be able to rewrite history, make sure none of ye were ever born- if we want to. Which, if ye are willing to cooperate with us, I do not see why that would be necessary. Except for Kirby, of course. He must be dealt with, no matter what ye choose to do, my dear. We can't have him coming along and stopping Nightmare, now can we?"

Shaking her head fiercely, she disagrees, "I'm never going to help you with that. Never."

"Yamikage," I grin darkly at him, then gesture at Meta Knight. Eagerly, he points his sword at the little knight and leaps.

"No! Stop! Don't hurt him. What does he have to do with any of this?" she pleads, jumping between the Ninja and her friend. Adorable, really. "Why can't we just leave Meta out of this?"

Shaking my head sadly, I sigh, "I could ask thee the same thing, my dear. Ye are the one who brought him into this. Ye promised that ye would not tell him I was the one who told thee of Arthur's scheming, and I trusted thee. I see now that I should not have. And let me tell ye, when I was the one in control of the army, falsehood-tellers were never treated kindly."

"Probably because the only 'falsehoods' being told were things that made you look bad," she growls at me, looking ready to kill me. If only I hadn't put a spell on her that renders her hands frozen, only temporarily, of course. She cannot draw her sword, she cannot use magic or Light, and I tied up her cape, so no warping or flying. All she can do is run, like the frightened little girl she really is. But, keeping up this pretense of bravery, she hasn't yet. Pity, it would be so very entertaining.

"Well, a general must keep up his reputation, love," I shrug at her, smiling pityingly at her. "Now, will ye help, or not?"

"Oh, so it's all right for you to completely lie to me, telling me that Sir Arthur and his protégés, possibly including Meta, were all badguys? But it's not okay for me to bring along backup?" she mutters at me, narrowing those pretty chestnut-colored eyes even more at me.

"All's fair in love and war, my dear," I remind her with a cold laugh. "Now, last chance. Help me, or your knight friend meets an untimely end."

She hesitates a second, then narrows her eyes at me thoughtfully. "And what's in it for me?"

Now we're getting somewhere. "Well, when we have magic on our side, ye can have practically whatever ye want, my dear. What would ye like to be in it for thee?"

"What does everyone want?" she snorts, rolling her eyes. "Power, and perfection. That's what I want, Solar."

"I can definitely grant thee that, love," I grin at her. "And maybe I could throw in immortality, on the side?"

"Mm," she murmurs thoughtfully, then smirks. "That does sweeten the deal quite a bit. Tell you what, let my hands go and I'll seriously consider it."

"Very well," I smirk right back at her, throwing a spell at her hands and making them usable again.

Closing her eyes, she begins to concentrate. Of course, I assume that she is just fighting back her conscience, but I underestimate her. Out of nowhere, a thread of pink Light comes shooting out of her hands and goes over to our little knight friend, waking him up. Instantly, he jumps up and takes flight, drawing his sword.

"Little help here?" Sakura asks him. "My cape's tied up, and a couple of badguys need to be dealt with."

"Of course. I am not late, am I?" he questions, a grin in his voice.

Smiling up at him and drawing her sword, she reassures him, "Only fashionably."

"Very good," he laughs, flying past her and severing the rope holding her cape, then soaring straight for the Ninja.

Angrily, I roar at her, "Ye have betrayed me again! Ye wilt pay for this!"

Grinning wickedly, she replies, "All's fair, remember? You said it yourself, bozo!"

"I did not wish to be forced to do this, but ye leave me no choice!" I growl, then throw a dark cloud at her. It knocks her into a corner and makes her sword fly away from her. Meta Knight is too busy fighting Yamikage to offer her assistance.

Stomping over to her, I point the tip of my sword right at her face. "It would be so sad if I had to harm you," I murmur to her, eyes narrowed. "Now. You will cooperate, my dear."

She continues to glare at me, refusing to budge, but then there is a yelp from Meta Knight. Yamikage has trapped him in a corner, also without his sword and with his opponent's pointed at his mask.

"Whatever the spell is, Sakura, do not help him!" he shouts out to her, while Yamikage looks at me excitedly, waiting for my signal.

Still looking at her, I begin to raise my hand, but finally, she breaks. "All right. I'll do it. I'll help you. Just don't hurt him," she begs.

"Sakura! Do not!" he shouts at her again, more desperate, but Yamikage claps a hand over his mouth, shoving the mask out of the way in the process.

After glaring at him, I order her, "That's better, my dear. Now, come along." Politely, I help her up like the gentleman I am. As long as she cooperates, I will be kind.

"What should I do with him, Master Solar?" Yamikage demands.

Smirking over at them, I shrug, "Throw him out. He has no idea where he is, let him try to find his way back."

"You said you wouldn't hurt him," she yells at me, voice full of borderline hatred.

"And I'm not hurting him, my dear. He will remain completely unharmed, at least until after he has left the fortress," I laugh coldly. "All's fair, love. You trust too easily, and that is your downfall."

"I should have listened to the Princess. But I looked up to you, because you used Light, even when no one else did. Why did you leave that behind?" she questions, voice full of sadness now. "Just let me say goodbye."

"Very well," I sigh in agreement.

Walking over to him, she gently takes his hands in hers and kisses the top of his head. "Be careful, Meta. Do whatever is needed to help Kirby stop Nightmare." Out of her hands, which are still holding his, comes another pink thread, which floats gently around his head. I would try to stop it, but a spell made from love cannot be stopped with Darkness. "It will lead you back to the others. Tell Kirby, Bandana, and Shadow that I love them. And Meta... I love you. It took me awhile to figure it out, but I do, very much."

Taking one of his hands away from hers, he reaches up and places it on her cheek, unable to answer because of Yamikage. His eyes glow a mix of pink and deep blue at her for a moment, and then she forces herself to turn away. Silently, she leaves him behind and follows me to her destiny.