Jiyuu's POV:

"Gotcha," I smirk to myself in triumph as I manage to herd some more Dark Matter into a mirror prison I carefully carried down into Dreamland, and then cast a spell to temporarily seal it until I have some more of the gross goo to stuff in it. Of course I know that I could never get rid of all the Dark Matter around this way, but at least I've got a good piece of Cappy Town cleared out and have put a shield spell around it so people have a safe place to go to- for now.

Once the mirror is sealed, I sit down in front of it to catch a breath. Ever since talking to Dark Meta Knight day before yesterday night, I've been working on this- well, almost ever since. First I fixed his cloak for him like I said I would, but when I went to look for him so I could return it, I couldn't find him anywhere.

Honestly, I'm not too awful surprised. He sort of had the humiliation of a lifetime that night, although truth be told, he pretty much deserved it. I just hope he learns a lesson from all this. After all, I never would have believed there was a chance for me, and now just look at what I'm doing. I'm practically to hero status already! (That was an intentional exaggeration there, children. I can hardly call myself a hero for trying to clean up the mess I made myself.) Maybe there's hope for him too, although it definitely seems unlikely.

As soon as I've caught my second wind, I look up at the dreary, cloudy sky with a grayish rising sun in the east. It's sad, really, the way all the color is fading out of everything, and so quickly too... 

Obviously I know what's causing all the color to disappear; everyone's heard about it by now. Someone destroyed the Fountain of Dreams at some point in the past couple of days, and, well, everyone figured it out really fast. After a couple of nights of strange dreams had already been going on, the last two nights, people all over Dreamland, every world of it, have been waking up from awful nightmares. I guess the saddest part is that for some of the woodland animals, the youngest Cappy children, and the Waddle Dee, this was the first time they'd ever had to have nightmares. Most of the grownups have experienced them before during times when the Fountain was under the weather, whether because of the Monstrous Lightning's storms or the time when Dedede made a mess of things in an effort to stop Nightmare (who he later ended up actually buying stuff from anyway.) And of course, the older kids had run into nightmares when those Noddy-filled pillows came around some time back. (Where do I know these things? Meta Knight's carefully written 'Histories of Modern Dreamland.' Really interesting and informative volumes, those.)

Since I've been working so hard, I haven't dozed off once and therefore haven't had to deal with the nightmare effect yet, but it's easy to see how much is going wrong without the Fountain anyway. The Dark Matter seems to be multiplying at least twice as fast as it was before, and like I said earlier, the color is disappearing from everything, just like in the Mirror World... Unfortunately, all of that world's color is gone. Everything's gray or black, and something tells me that if something big doesn't happen soon, that's the way it's going to stay forever after.

With a yawn, I stand up again and dust myself off, ready and determined to go herd some more Dark Matter out of everyone's way, but I pause and look mournfully around myself again before spreading my wings and moving on.

Dreamland used to be so beautiful- and I hated it, I know. Nothing in the world disgusted me more than how bright and garish everything was around here. But now... now that it's all fading... I miss it, more than I'd ever have imagined I could. Maybe what they say about never knowing just how much you've been given until it's all gone is really true.

That's enough moping around, I chide myself and take off. No use crying over spilled milk; a cat knows that better than anyone else. 

For awhile, I fly in silence, trying to find a patch of Dark Matter that looks small enough for me to handle on my own, but a flicker in the corner of my eye makes me stop mid-flight and look over at the castle.

Castle Dedede has been dark all day today, so I've been assuming that Dedede jumped ship by some way or another and ran away before things could get any worse or blame could get slapped on him. But now, it looks almost like someone's using a mirror and the first dim rays of the dawning sun to try and send an SOS.

Slightly worried, I look around myself, wondering where the heroes went and why I haven't seen them since I saw Magolor's boat-ship outside of Tick-Tock Clock. Shouldn't they be helping me and everyone else? Why in Dreamland would they choose to disappear at a time like this? Finally, I sigh in exhaustion and and start to head toward the castle instead of the general area of Cappy Town that I've been working on. If there's someone in trouble, I suppose it's the least I can do to try and help out.

The sun disappears behind the thick clouds before I can figure out the exact location of the mirror signal, but as soon as I land in one of the open castle corridors, I can immediately sense that something is very wrong. Well, that, and the spiderwebs all over the place help just a tiny bit to tip me off that things aren't all okie-dokie as well.

Cautious, I leave my wings out and take hold of the hilt of my sword, wondering what's going on, when out of nowhere someone taps me on the shoulder. With a small squeak of surprise, I draw my sword and spin around to meet them-

Only to see that it's just a group of my extra-cute little dark-colored Waddle Dee, all wide-eyed and scared-looking. 

"Oh, it's you guys," I sigh in relief, but then frown again. "What's with all the spiderwebs around here? What's going on?"

Rather than answering, they all five shake their heads in terror, and one of them grabs my paw-glove and drags me off with a shudder. Within a couple of minutes, they've led me to the dungeons under the castle, where in one cell Dedede and Escargoon are seated against opposite walls, tossing and turning and snoring. Rolling my eyes, I go to let them out, but then notice that someone really tall seems to be sitting, afraid, in the deepest, darkest shadows of one of the other cells. 

"Who's that?" I whisper in mild fear, but none of the Waddle Dee can answer, of course. After just a minute I turn around to see that they've left again, leaving me alone in this place with the giant-looking stranger. (And Dedede and Escargoon too, I guess, but they really don't make for good allies or serious enemies, even when they're not busy snoring the roof off like this.)

Not a surprise that my waddly little cuties left, really... Waddle Dee don't like the dark, and if it weren't for my cat's eyes, I probably wouldn't be able to see in here at all. As it is, I can barely see anymore than the outlines of the people in the cells and where the walls are.

Finally feline curiosity wins out over terror, and I creep slowly toward the jail cell with the stranger in it. "Who are you, nya? Why are you here?"

Whoever it is seems to grow tense before they look up at me. They're far enough back in the shadows that all I can see of them is that their eyes are a hard blue-gray that makes me feel like I've done something wrong for some reason. "Uh, sorry if I've bothered you. I can just leave if you're comfy, and everything. I mean, of course you're not comfy, but, I, uh, don't want to be bothering you, nya. Sorry."

"You're a strange-looking Star Warrior," they suddenly comment in a cold female voice. "But then, so was the other one, what with the six extra little eyes and all. Maybe most Star Warriors look weird; I certainly don't know one way or the other."

"Six extra eyes?" I repeat, dumbfounded. "Well, ma'am," (for some reason I feel like she outranks me, whatever she is,) "I can tell you that I've never seen a Star Warrior like that, nya. I've seen a scarred Star Warrior, a Waddle Dee-colored Star Warrior, a Star Warrior with a mustache (which was weird, especially since I'm like 90% sure it was a fake, but that was in Nintendo City,) and a Star Warrior with an eyepatch, (also in Nintendo City,) but I've never seen one with eight eyes, all told."

She seems to laugh a little bit, sounding rather weak and weary. "Well, this one had eight eyes, and a power complex, too, or so it seemed. According to him, he's kidnapping me to try and take Hyrule's life force, while also trying to bribe Hyrule into declaring him their new ruler." Seeming chilly, she curls into a still-seated ball and turns her eyes away from me again. "I'm not too worried about it. Link'll come like he always does, even if I am on the other side of the Galaxy."

Tilting my head to one side in thought as I sit down outside the cell, I murmur, "Hyrule? So you're an Elf, right? How long have you been here?"

"A few hours, more or less. I only know where I am and how I got here because the creepy little servant told me. Castle Dedede in Dreamland, and apparently I was brought here via Dark magic," she sighs blearily and shakes her head slowly. "I'm so tired... Whatever the monstrous puff is doing to 'drain Hyrule's life force,' it's working. I don't understand, though... The Triforces are the land's life force, not me. Maybe he hasn't studied Hyrule that well yet, or something. All I know is that at least Hyrule's safe... for now." With a groan, she seems to shift her hands so they hold her head. "And I wasn't even able to promise aid fast enough... Who am I jesting? No one will ever guess that I'm here."

Nervous, I flick my tail a couple of times. "What else did the freak look like, besides the eight eyes? And who are you, nya?"

With another tiny laugh, she looks up at me again. "I am Princess Zelda of Hyrule. If you're wondering who he is, I'm almost positive that he's the Dark Solar who Miss Sakura and Mister Clip were trying to warn me and Link about very early this morning. He's yellow, and his eyes are all scarlet. Oh, and he has fangs, as well as a disturbing ability to make spider legs appear and use them, up to six of them at a time, I think. For all I know, he might be able to turn into a spider completely." In a barely interested voice, she asks me, "Who are you?"

"This Guy? Oh, and I'm Jiyuu, your Majesty," I murmur to myself in confusion, and then to her in a polite tone.

This Guy is the only yellow Star Warrior with scarlet eyes that I've seen around, although the last I knew, he only had two eyes. How could he be evil, though, when he seemed so friendly?... Then again, his little setup for me to kill my copy was rather spooky, not to mention that it tried to kill us both. "Well, 'Dark' Solar, you said, and This Guy did say that he was a Mirror Worlder... I could believe it, I suppose."

Mildly frustrated, I cross my paw-gloves and pout a little bit. "Why does it seem like all of the cutest guys have to be evil psychos? Rather unfair, if I do say so myself, nya." Suddenly remembering where I am and who's present, I blush and clear my throat. "By the way, your Highness, would you like me to let you out? I'm pretty sure that my sword could get you out of there..."

"I'm afraid it probably wouldn't work. He charmed the bars to be even 'star sword-proof,' whatever that means," the Princess yawns and seems to nearly fall asleep. Just then, the door to the dungeon slams open just up the little flight of rotting wooden stairs that the Waddle Dee and I descended down earlier, and on instinct, I leap onto a rafter and press against the wall to hide, somehow resisting the urge to give a frightened hiss.

Maybe a spell would work to open the cell door or break the bars?... I ponder while glancing down at the jailed Princess, but then look over at the entering Star Warrior again. Sure enough, he looks very much like This Guy, only with the creepy extra eyes that Zelda mentioned.

"Good morning, dear Princess Zelda," he chuckles pleasantly as he comes to a stop just outside her cell. "And how are ye feeling this fine, cloudy morning? I trust ye are enjoying thy stay in Dreamland thus far?"

"Someone will come for me," she growls in reply instead, but it's a very weak, forced growl. "You will not take the life force of Hyrule so easily, I can assure you." Wha?...

She just said that she wasn't the life force... oh. Leading the jerk on, g'doi. You go, girl! I think at her as loudly as I can, but then realize that if I can guess at thoughts, chances are that this loser can too. It would probably be a good idea to lay low, noisy thought-wise.

With a soft laugh, he disagrees as his eyes all glow a deeper scarlet and she seems to grow even more tired, "Oh, but I'm taking it so easily already... Really, dear, ye are far too easy to feed off of. Most beings are spry enough to put up at least a bit of a fight before my appetite proves the victor. Maybe it's just your kind that's more vulnerable to monsters of my variety. I've heard that energy vampires are more feared among Elves than many other species, because of that very fact..."

While Zelda and I both give him a stare of disgust mingled with horror, he just smirks in self-satisfaction while his eyes glow fiercer and Zelda continues to slump more and more in absolute and entire exhaustion. "The poor Star Warriors have never even heard of monsters like me, for the most part, and of course they'd never expect one of their own brethren to be one of the monstrosities, being the most trusting fools you'll ever meet anywhere in my Galaxy, which leaves them rather helpless to know to avoid me. It matters little, just so long as I have my fill of their delicious little life forces and can continue my own wondrous immortality. Thank the Mirror for extra little goodies that I got to steal from my original, hmm?"

"An energy vampire?" I growl under my breath without thinking about it, and then freeze as he turns his glowing gaze away from Zelda and towards my direction. Scared, I hold my breath, cross my claws, and hope for the best. Thankfully, he moves on after a moment, but still seems rather suspicious of my rafter.

Hardly able to move, drained of energy, Zelda lifts her eyes up at him again, and even he seems a little bit unnerved by her still-steely stare. "Immortal, my eye. Not even Nightmare was immortal. You'll meet your undoing somehow, you monster." After a second, she shivers a little bit and looks away again. "If you only feed off of energy, then why the fangs, pray tell?"

He laughs and turns away from her, obviously enjoying himself and feeling rather energized after having fed. "Oh, I don't know, self defense, perhaps? Then again, maybe I'm not just an energy vampire... I'll just leave that lovely little thought to spark fear in thy heart, love. Or maybe it's simply that Nightmare always was a fan of cliches. I can hardly complain, whichever way it is, it truly is a decadent lifestyle... constantly elongating my own life by ending or shortening others', and all. Truly enjoyable, to tell the truth. Who needs those pathetic weaklings and their life forces still around, anyway? I'm the only one who matters. The whole eternal youth thing is also wonderful, of course, and the sharpened senses, and the false auras that make most people think I'm trustworthy. Overall, as I said... simply decadent, my dear. 10 out of 10, would recommend." Chuckling, he adds to the end bit, inspecting one of his gloves in an almost-diva like manner, (Hey! Fangface is stealing my trademark! Get your own trademark or find a new book series, you- you- trademark moocher!) "And that even rhymed... I'm just too, too perfect, aren't I?"

Growling slightly, I wonder why he didn't try the energy-eating thing on me and Shadow. Maybe he thought it would be more fun to have us kill our copies first, or vice versa, and feed off of the winners? Or maybe he intended only for us to destroy all four of us altogether, since I bet that whole 'freed from the curse of the Mirror' thing was only a ruse. All I know for sure is that I definitely don't feel the flutters for him anymore. More than that, I feel only the utmost disgust for him. If I wasn't so nervous around spiders (creepy critters, every time you go to catch them with your claws, they seem like they find teleportation powers,) I'd go show him the Meowth side of my personality and treat him to some Fury Swipes.

...What? There were some books about some of the heroes from the other points in the secret library, too. And maybe I have thereby developed a teensy bit of a celebrity crush on a certain talking feline Pokemon, but I'm not admitting to anything.

Again, This Guy/Solar glares at my rafter again, this time meeting my eyes, even though I try to hide even farther back in the corner. With a cruel grin, he calls out to apparently no one in particular, "Slave, come here." When no one responds, he turns and barks out the door with a facial expression nothing like the one he wore before, furious now instead of cruelly amused, "I meant now, not next Dream Day!"

A second later, a Star Warrior-sized being wearing a black hooded cloak appears in the doorway. "Yes, Master. What are my next commands," it asks, I guess, in the flattest voice I've ever heard. No accent, no tone, just a flat, lifeless-sounding drone, like a robot. I wonder if that's what it is, a robot...

Rolling his eyes in disgust at it, Solar then grins again and glances up at me before turning to the hooded figure once more. "There is an intruder in here. Find her, and kill her. I'd feed off her myself, but I'm good and full at the moment, and I'm going to need the cell space for other inmates very soon, so keeping her as leftovers wouldn't be worth it. When ye have finished with that, I am sure I will be able to find something else to set ye to. Until next time," he adds to Zelda with a wicked laugh. Just before he leaves, he glances at me one last time, a satisfied smirk on his face. "I wonder how the little 'heroes' will react when one of them falls dead out of nowhere." And then, while I hiss at him in disgust, he leaves, slamming the dungeon door behind him.

After waiting a few minutes for Dark Solar to get far enough away and then giving the drone guy a glance, I start carefully along the rafter towards the door, only to suddenly have the thing spring up and land on the plank of wood just in front of me with a surprising level of talent and grace. Once there, they resume holding their gloves limply at their sides and staring straight ahead, right through me, it seems, with blank, white eyes.

But in the darkness, my cat's eyes just barely pick up that one of the eyes looks like it's scarred.

"Sir Dark?" I gasp in sad wonder. "Did he take your energy too?" When he doesn't respond at all, I take a single step closer. "Dark Meta Knight? Can you hear me?" Strangely, he doesn't seem like he recognizes his own name. Finally, I try in confusion and almost-unwilling sorrow, "Who are you? I guess a better question would be, nya, what have you become?"

"I am Slave," he answers in the same flat voice that doesn't sound like his at all. "Master created me. I work for Master. I am worthless beyond serving Master. I have no other purpose."

With hesitation, I wonder, "Then why don't you do what he told you to? Why are you just standing there?"

Seeming slightly confused, he pauses. "I do not know. I am Slave. I do Master's bidding. Why do I not do as Master said?"

Worried for him, even if he does have a track record of being a psychotic meatball who hates me and everything else that breathes, (and who guiltlessly shoved me in a mirror the day before yesterday, I'll happily remind everybody,) I take another step closer. "Why don't you leave with me? Maybe once we get you away from here, you'll remember yourself. And maybe you'll have learned a thing or two, too. I have your Dimensional Cloak with me; it's all fixed..."

"I have no self," he disagrees blankly, suddenly drawing a plain sword made from a dark material that I don't recognize. "Leave now. Leave now or I will do as Master said."

Slightly frightened, I do as he said and leap down, giving the now-slumbering Zelda a glance as I pass her cell. At the dungeon door, I freeze and turn back to the shell of Dark Meta Knight. "I'll be back," I tell him firmly. "I'll get you and her both out of here somehow; I promise."

Shaking his head, he orders me in a firm-yet-dead voice, "Wait. He will get more prisoners. Then, you come. I will not go, but you can take them. I will not tell Master. Slave will keep this secret."

"Why?" I wonder sadly, looking up at him in pity and a weird sense of loss. "Why won't you tell him?"

In a voice that sounds just slightly more like himself, he tells me with a suddenly hard gaze, "Because Slave hates Master." With that, he sheathes his sword and turns away from me toward the damp stone wall of the dungeon, still standing on the rafter with his gloves limp at his sides again. "Go. Now. And go quickly."

Nodding slowly, I take off and fly away as fast as I can, wondering how I'll know when to come back and how in the Mirror World I'm ever going to get the prisoners out while remaining undetected by Ye Olde Wannabe Kingy McFangface.

An energy vampire... that sounds like the monster in one of the books about recent events in the secret library, only that one fed off of imagination. Is that a coincidence, or are the two connected somehow? And while that one was defeated by an overload of imagination, would there be any way to create enough energy to overthrow an energy vampire who has weird spiderish powers? And wait... is Formally This Guy the one making the spiderwebs? If so, ew. Ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew. And I had the first flutters of a crush on him? Obviously, I do not have very good taste in guys... I wonder why that is? Is it my copy's fault? Do I get that from her? Or is that a unique thing of my own?

While I don't know the answer to any of these questions, some more pressing than others, I do know that I find myself pretty much agreeing with poor Sir Dark on one thing... 

I hate 'Master.' A lot, nya.

(I know some of my titles can be more obscure, so here I'm explaining that it's based off that old 'I've got to go see a man about a dog' cliche. Hopefully it makes sense now if it doesn't already. XP Also, I'm sorry about the lack of updates this past week... I've been feeling kinda icky, tired, and lazy, so I've basically been using all my free time to simply devour books, along with a bit of gaming ehehehehehehe. Basically I've been acting like a teenager for the first time in forever XDD except, I'm still doing as much housework as an adult. XP Hopefully this next week will have at least one more update than this last one did, if not two. I hope you guys enjoyed today's chapter! Please vote, nya!)