Dark Meta Knight's POV:

"No. Stop that!" I glare at one of the brainless creatures known as Waddle Dee as we all stand here in the castle courtyard. "I told you to put that metal plating there, not there, you imbecile!"

Shivering, its face crumples and it runs off. "Worthless, pathetic beings. Just like all the other Dreamlanders," I murmur, thoroughly disgusted. Dedede's slave labor force is highly unintelligent, completely unmotivated, and lazy, as far as I can tell. They always take forever to accomplish the simplest tasks, find simple four-step instructions too difficult to understand, and always get things wrong.

While here in this castle, I discovered my copy has, several times, built a battleship. If he built it better, it would actually be quite a useful tool. So, I have made some adjustments of my own, and am building one for myself.

Continuing to observe the Waddle Dee, I see several using a drill on the wrong part of the ship. "Idiots! You are doing it all wrong!" I shout, sweeping my sword through the group in my rage. Of course, I intentionally miss all of them, but maybe fear will help motivate them.

Or maybe not, as instead of working harder, that whole group just panics and runs away. Pfft, miserable creatures.

"Scaring off the slaves again, I see, nya," Dark Sakura laughs as she appears. To tell the truth, I find her quite annoying. She is always giggling and chattering, like some giddy schoolgirl. Yet, I need her magic, otherwise I would have run her off a long time ago.

Glaring at her, I reply, "If they would do as they were told, I would not have to quote-unquote 'scare them off.' Now, how is my mimic doing in his pitiable little 'quest?'"

"He's managed to collect six of the eight shards, nya. But he still doesn't know where one is, and there's no way he'll be able to get to Nintendo City. He has no way to know where it is, after all, nya," she reassures me. "So, basically, he's stuck now. It'll be fun watching him go crazy trying to find the last two, don't you think so, nya?"

Shaking my head, I disagree, "As much as it pains me to say it, I think you underestimate him. If it were not for the fact that he so shamelessly impersonates me, I would think of him as a nearly-worthy opponent."

"Nearly-worthy, nya? Then he's better than my mimic. Our duel hardly lasted five minutes," she yawns, stretching out on top of the skeleton of a ship and closing her eyes, about to take another one of her stupid 'catnaps.'

"If you are going to just lay around and be lazy, go do it somewhere else," I snort, throwing a rolled-up blueprint at her.

Lazily, she opens one eye and catches it, then pitches it back at me, actually managing to get it to bonk against my mask, bouncing right off. "Keep it down, down there. I need my afternoon nap. And the sun has warmed all this metal so nicely, so I think I'll be staying here."

Eyes narrowed, I insult her, "Vain, silly creature."

Both eyes closed again, she counterattacks, "Self-absorbed egghead."

Rolling my eyes in irritation, I return to supervising the Waddle Dee that have not run off yet. This is quite boring, actually.

Thankfully, a squawk-ish yellow bird appears (Tokkori, I believe his name is,) and begins insulting Dark Sakura, so she gets up, annoyed, and starts playing a game of cat-and-mouse with him around the courtyard. Watching the bird squeal in terror and she making a fool herself helps relieve the tedium around here, some.

"Hold still, nya, so I can eat you," she grins wickedly at him, pouncing at him, intentionally missing, yet again.

"Kirby! Kirby! Where are you, boy?!? Where the heck is that stupid pink marshmallow when you need him?!?" Tokkori squawks, ducking another swipe of her claws. "Heck, even having grumpy, quiet old Meta Knight here would work! At least he could chase ya off!"

Giggling, she disagrees, "Nobody chases me off, sweetheart, nya." There is something else I do not like about her, her sarcastically calling everyone 'sweetheart.' It just drives me insane. That, and her 'nya' tic.

"You know, I don't like you either, nya," she glares at me, letting the bird fly away, still squawking and squealing.

"Can you read minds?" I ask, keeping my voice stoic and disinterested.

"To a limited extent, nya," she shrugs. "I can't hear what you're actually thinking, just sort of get an idea of the gist of your thoughts. Like, your mimic is always thinking about bringing my mimic back, nya, whenever I talk to him. It's funny, we hate each other, but they actually seem to be good friends, nya."

"Only weak people have need of 'friends," I laugh mirthlessly. "Truly strong people only need themselves."

"Well, then I guess you're not truly strong, nya, if you need me," she snarks with a smirk.

That was the wrong thing to say. My sword is out and flying towards her, but she draws hers quickly enough to meet mine with a 'clang!'

"You will regret insulting me, I promise you that," I hiss at her, eyes a deep, dark red, most likely.

Rolling her eyes, she shoves my sword off with hers and then sheaths it. "All right, Dracula, nya. Whether you want to admit it or not, you need my help. We both know this, nya. You can't get rid of me yet, even if you want to, so for now you're just going to have to deal with me. Get used to it, nya."

Unfortunately, she is right. I still need her help, because I have not achieved perfection yet. My mimic is still out there, but as soon as he is foolish enough to return, I will destroy him. If he takes too long to come back, I will go find him myself. Soon, very, very soon, perfection will be mine. And then, I will no longer have need of any others. Then, I will be able to get rid of this annoyance, and the one she was copied from.

"Where is the eighth shard, anyway?" I demand from her, sheathing Foramen Nigra again and letting my wings out, just for the sake of feeling the warm sun on them. I may be a creature of darkness, but I can still appreciate the sun's warmth, even if I do prefer the shady-black of night.

"A raven, a flamingo, and two bats, nya," she laughs out of nowhere, making me look at her like she is insane. "Sorry about that. I mean our wings, nya. You're a raven, the fake Meta Knight is a bat, I'm a bat, and my copy's a flamingo."

Disagreeing, I reply, "I think she is supposed to be an angel, not a flamingo."

Rolling her eyes, she scoffs, "I know that, nya. But angels are all pretty and graceful, while flamingos are all awkward-looking. So I'm calling her a flamingo on purpose, as an insult, nya."

"I see," I mutter in reply, growing bored again.

"It's on the ship he's on, well-hidden," she tells me suddenly, as she lets her wings out and turns to leave, headed off to who-knows-where. "He'll never find it, don't worry, nya. I've hidden it very, very well." She flies away.

"Hmph," I shrug back, then stick my foot out and trip a Waddle Dee just for the sake of amusing myself. "Watch where you are going, worthless failure," I snap at it, chuckling darkly to myself when it, too, runs off looking like it is about to cry. Torturing beings weaker than myself is just so entertaining.

And then, I turn my attention back to the ship. When I have finished building it, it will be magnificent, far more glorious than my mimic has ever managed to make it. Additionally, mine will last far longer than any of his have. I promise you that.

Quietly, I give a chilling, evil laugh. Soon, all will be powerless against me. The era of Dark Meta Knight is fast approaching. Say goodbye to your lazy lifestyle, Dreamland.

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

Magolor's POV:

"Well, where could he have gone?" I squawk to the AI. "He's completely disappoofed off of the whole planet! Meta-Nots can't just disappoof off of the whole planet! It's impossible!"

"Meta Knight's biological signature has vanished from the planet's surface," the AI repeats in its calm, soothing, feminine way. "Shall we leave?"

"NO! We have to wait for him to come back!" I shout back at it, crossing my arms in irritation. "Why would you even want to leave him, anyway?"

"He insults me," it answers, a shrug in its voice. "I do not appreciate being insulted, and to make things worse, he is always comparing me to that pathetic ship of his. I hate that other ship. If only it was intelligent, I would trade a few choice words with it."

"Jeez. You're getting too sentient, self-aware, all that," I shudder a bit at it, then apologize, "I'm sorry he insults you, you and I both know that you're the bestest, most beautifulest ship in the universe, Lor. Just ignore him. Haters gonna hate, y'know?"

Sighing, it agrees, "I suppose so."

Frowning to myself and switching the speech interface off so I'm not being listened to by the AI anymore, I lean back against a control panel and think. Really, where could Meta-Not have gone? I mean, it's not like he could be catapulted off-planet by a talking star. I snort at the idea. Soooooo realistic, Magnificent Mister Magolor. That's just plain ridiculous.

"Well, Meta-Not, wherever you are, just don't get yourself blown up, okay?" I roll my eyes at the air. "A lot of people kinda need you in one piece, even if you are a self-absorbed, paranoid soldier guy. At least you're a decent, self-absorbed, paranoid soldier guy."

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

Meta Knight's POV:

Well, here I am, having been catapulted off-planet by a talking star. This is ridiculous.

Disgusted, I glare at said talking star and huff, "How are we going to get to Nintendo City this way? I cannot breathe in space-"

"You seem to breathing just fine, if you're talking!" Lulu disagrees happily.

Shotzo. She is right. I need to conserve my oxygen, so I shut my mouth and quit breathing. Thank goodness for Star Warrior respiratory systems that can go for hours without refilling on air.

Giggling slightly crazily, she laughs at me, "Oh, don't be a silly-dilly! With a Luma around, you can still breathe! 'Cause Lumas are awesome!"

"I beg to differ," I mutter, then begin again, "How are we going to get to Nintendo City this way? Flying through space like this will take years!"

Giggling again, she disagrees, "Not when you're traveling with an awesome-possum Luma! Lulu is an awesome-possum Luma!"

"For the love of all things peaceful," I groan. "Does the universe just love torturing me by making me be stuck with over-the-top, annoying people?"

"Guess so, Mister Grumpy Cloak!" Lulu happily squeals back. "Oh, look! Star Bits! I love Star Bits!"

"What are Star Bits?" I demand, only to have several colorful chunks of a giant, rock candy-like substance start pelting me. "Ouch! Shotzo!" Thankfully, at least I have a mask to protect my face.

"Oh, don't be a grump-bucket! I love Star Bits! They taste like honey! Yum!" Lulu squeals, eating one as we fly.

"I would never eat something that is just floating in space. You have no idea where that thing has been," I disagree, disgusted.

After grabbing another and then yet another piece and eating them, she giggles, "But that's part of the fun! Imagining where it came from!"

Heaving a great sigh, I close my eyes, begin to try to tune her out, and attempt to ignore the continued assault of Star Bits. "Is there no justice in this universe?"

"What's justice? Is it fun? I love fun! I love everything!" Lulu nearly screams in excitement.

I am going to go absolutely insane.

That is when I slam into something. "Ow! What was that?!?" I huff, standing up and opening my eyes.

Giggling her head off, Lulu tells me, "That's why you aren't supposed to close your eyes, silly! Or else you'll crash into the docks when we land!"

"Thank you for telling me this now," I glare at her as I try to ignore the pitying stares of the surrounding townspeople.

Unsurprisingly, my sarcasm is completely lost on her. "No problem, Mister Grumpy Cloak! It was fun flying with you! Have fun going to the castle and talking to Princess Bara! I'll wait here and help you get back later on!" Waving goodbye, she flies off to go keep herself busy somewhere else. Probably eating more of those Star Bits, I will wager.

With a sigh, I spread my wings and fly as quickly as I can to the castle. There, waiting for me, is one of the Elvin guards. "Took you long enough," he mutters. "Come along, then. The Princess is waiting."

Nodding once, I follow him into the castle and am led to an outdoors area within the walls. There, Rose is practicing her swordsmanship with an Elvin guard or two, being observed by little Thdwee, who keeps calling out encouraging shouts of "Dwee dee dwee!" and "Dee! Dee-dee!"

"Your Highness," I say respectfully, giving a little bow.

"Mister Knight! There you are!" she laughs, using a Light spell on her sword, turning it into a pen. Nodding at the two guards, who bow to her and then walk off, she continues, "Good to see you again. How have things been, the past five-ish years?"

Replying warmly, I tell her, "Fairly good, actually. Some Darkness came to Dreamland about a year ago, but we were able to banish it. However, things are not going so well right now. A copy of my dark side and a copy of my friend Sakura's dark side are trying to take over the planet, and have banished Sakura, Kirby, a Waddle Dee named Bandana Dee, and myself."

"I already know that. I'm the Princess, remember?" she reminds me with a laugh, sitting down in the dust next to me.

"If you would rather go inside, your Highness, we can," I offer. Princesses should not have to sit in the dust.

"No, it's fine. Just 'cause I'm Princess doesn't mean I've stopped being Rose," she laughs, picking an eager Thdwee up and placing a kiss on top of his head.

Thdwee turns to me and pats my head affectionately. I put up with it, since he is so small. Children are about the only people I accept such ridiculousness from. "Dwee! Dee dwee?" he asks, sounding happy.

"He wants to know how Sakura is doing. He's told me all about her, she sounds like a sweetheart. I hope I get the chance to meet her, someday soon," Rose translates for him and then informs me.

Nodding, I tell her, "She is not doing too excellently, herself. She has trapped herself in a mirror, and I actually need to find a shard here in Nintendo City in order to free her. Do you have any idea where it might be?"

"Actually, I know exactly where it is. It appeared here several days ago, just like all the prophecies said it would. Also along with it came a rather large fish-monster-"

"That would most likely be Fatty Puffer," I interrupt without thinking, then feel guilty. "My apologies."

Laughing, she shakes her head, "Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you're willing to still talk to me like you used to. Most people treat me differently, since to them I'm Princess Bara." Growing thoughtful, she looks away and murmurs, "Fatty Puffer, huh? I'm gonna do some research on him later. Sounds like an interesting character for my next novel. Anyway," she goes on, coming back to the present, "The Elvin guards dealt with it quickly. The shard it was guarding was given to me, and now I'm giving it to you." Out of her pocket (she is wearing a red blouse and dark blue pants, jeans, I think they are called,) she pulls the shard and hands it to me. "I was careful to make sure nothing happened to it, I knew it had something to do with you and that it was important."

"Thank you," I answer, accepting it with another bow, (I have not sat down,) and then putting it safely into my cloak. "I only need one more, and then I will be able to bring her out of the mirror."

"Y'know, one of the most interesting things about Sakura is that this is the only universe she's in. Nearly everyone exists in at least two universes, sometimes more, but she only exists here," Rose muses as Thdwee wraps his arms around her neck (he can actually reach, now,) and falls asleep on her shoulder, making even me smile.

I do not question how she knows this, she is the Princess. Just like myself and Baika, she seems, to everyone else, to know everything. Agreeing, I say, "That is similar to something I, myself, find fascinating about her. The Ancients' code books- do they have those here?"

Shrugging, Rose replies, "Yeah, we have them here, for each point, actually. And I know what you're going to say. She's not in any of them, so the Ancients weren't expecting her to exist here, either. But at some point someone wrote a prophecy or two about her, so someone knew she was coming."

"I just wonder who," I murmur thoughtfully. "Never expected to exist, only exists here and nowhere else. She is quite a puzzle, that is for certain."

"She's a paradox," she agrees with a smile, but it suddenly fades. "I actually brought you here for another reason, although it was a convenient time to give you the shard."

"And what is that?" I frown. She has become so serious without warning, and it worries me.

"I can't explain just yet, but once you've brought Sakura back I need you to lead the Lor Starcutter and all of its passengers back here. It's of the utmost importance that you don't go back to Dreamland, just yet," she answers, no jest in her voice. She means every word she says.

"But if we wait too long to return, Dark Meta Knight and Dark Sakura will completely destroy the whole land," I disagree with a frown.

"I know, but I need you to come back here. Please. As your Princess, and as your friend, I'm asking you to trust that I know what I'm talking about. Can you do that, Meta Knight?" she questions, looking at me studiously, almost like I'm an arithmetic problem that she's trying to solve.

Hesitantly, I agree, "Very well. But how will I find this place again?"

She pauses a second, then jumps up, waking up poor Thdwee. "Sorry, Thdwee," she mutters to him apologetically, then beckons me to follow. "Come."

I do so, and she leads me down to the conference room where the non-heroes received their tools several years ago. Out of the trophy case she pulls what appears to be a ruby. Then, much to my horror, she grabs Galaxia from me and pries its ruby out as soon as the blade appears, pushing this other one in in its place. She is one of the few people who could this without meeting a shocking end. Lucky for her.

Flustered and still a bit horrified, I panic, "What are you doing? Galaxia is a sacred star sword, you cannot just-"

"Calm down, I know what I'm doing. You should keep the original ruby in your cloak, in case you ever need it again. Now, with this ruby..." As I tuck the old ruby safely away, she stands the sword on its point in the middle of the table, and somehow it stays balanced. Then, she touches the ruby, and it begins to glow. Peering at it closely, I then jump when, all of a sudden, a sphere-shaped star-map appears around us, almost as big as the room. "You have a map of the galaxy where you can easily access it any time."

In amazement, I climb up on the table. "Here is Popstar," I muse, touching the planet. Instantly, it zooms up on it, giving me a printed description of the planet and whether the inhabitants are friendly, in the language of the Ancients. Touching it again, it zooms out again, back to showing the whole galaxy. "This is amazing! I have wished for something like this for over a century!" I tell Rose, almost excited, still not taking my eyes off of the map. It is so intricately detailed, there are even comets making their centuries-long journeys around the galaxy, in real time.

Laughing at me, she points to Star World but doesn't actually touch it. "Here's where your friends are, as you already know." Then, she traces her finger through the air, all the way to the center of the galaxy. "And here's where we are. The other points are all in other parts of the Galaxy. See, for example, here's Hyrule, all the way over there. Now," she continues, growing more serious, "be very careful to not let this map fall into the wrong hands. Think how terrible that could be, if someone evil knew how to get anywhere they wanted to in our galaxy."

"Hm," I agree quietly, reaching out and touching the ruby. Instantaneously, the map vanishes back into the ruby, as if the ruby was inhaling it right up. A second later, Galaxia falls off its point sideways onto the table with a clang. "I should return to the others."

"I will expect your second arrival, along with all of the others, within the next few days," she tells me, then out of nowhere gives me a hug.

"I do not appreciate it when you do that," I mutter, shrugging her off.

"I know you don't, but even grumpy, stoic, intimidating, two-foot tall Star Warriors need hugs sometimes," she laughs, flicking the piece of my cloak that sticks up above my head with her index finger, making me narrow my eyes at her.

"This is why I do not like it when people are taller than me. They seem to think that I am someone they can take lightly, and tease," I huff as I pick Galaxia back up and sheath it, then draw my cloak around myself and turn away from her indignantly.

"They don't take you lightly, they just don't take you quite as seriously as you take yourself," she disagrees with a fond smile. "Well, I'm sure Lulu is eager to help you get back."

"Save me," I wisecrack grumpily, making her laugh at me yet again. "Well, I should probably hurry and go. The others are most likely a bit worried about me."

"Stay safe," she says, and Thdwee gives me a Waddle Dee 'smile' and a friendly wave goodbye.

"I will do my best to do so," I promise, then spread my wings and take off, flying quickly back to the city docks.

Sure enough, there is Lulu, quite a bit bigger than when I left her. With a snort, I recall the time Kirby consumed a bunch of potato chips that contained the dangerous ingredient 'Pufferzene' and inflated himself like a beach ball. Lulu here has done a similar thing to herself, scarfing down far too many Star Bits.

"Come on, Mister Grumpy Cloak! Let's get you back to you friends!" she squeals (growing bigger has not deepened her voice any, she is still just as high-pitched as before.) With a resigned sigh, I allow her to call another Luma, which also 'TRANSFOOOOORMS' and launches us both into the air and off of the planet.

Several minutes and hundreds of hail-like Star Bits later, we are back on Star World, in the River Village area this time. "Well, see ya later, Mister Knight!" Lulu gleefully waves farewell, and I quickly turn and walk into the Lor Starcutter.

Seven-eighths of the way done. Only one more shard to find, and then Sakura will be back. Only, instead of going back to Dreamland, we are going to Nintendo City, apparently.

I cannot believe myself, but Dreamland's lazy lifestyle, as dull as it can be, sounds absolutely lovely at the moment. I only hope it is still lazy and laidback when I return.

Dark Meta Knight and Dark Sakura, you can trust me when I say this: If you have destroyed my second home, I will make you very sorry for it.