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Dark Meta Knight slowly opened their eyes. The world around them was brighter than Dream Land was at the moment. Where were they?
He pushed himself up. Off of the sand. He felt weak, his movements were shaky. He stumbled to his feet. He was on a beach, right next to the shoreline. There was a jungle up ahead, the only way to go.
Attempting to take a step forward sent them falling back down to the sand below. Their wing felt like it was on fire. They couldn’t move it at all.
Annoyed, Dark Meta Knight decided to look at his wing. Much to his horror, it was broken. Not in the normal way, where he could simply bandage it up and wait for it to heal, but in the Mirror World way, where it either needed to completely shatter (something he was not too keen on happening), or get healed by someone else with mirror magic (of which there were none who liked Dark enough to help him).
“Just my luck,” Dark thought, annoyance shifting into anger, “How am I meant to navigate this world now?”
He stood up. Ignoring the burning pain coming from his right wing. It was just like when his eye was first damaged: ignore it until it works again.
They walked forward, entering the jungle before them. Pushing foliage out of the way, the path was near completely overrun with plants.
He heard something, growling, coming from a nearby bush.
Dark Meta Knight was not in the mood for this right now, they summoned their sword, prepared to simply slice their way through any obstacle.
An odd, orange, dog-like creature leaped out of the bushes, landing in front of Dark Meta Knight. It growled and snarled.
Dark got an amusing idea, one that would also help them test if the life here was intelligent.
“Look. We can do this the easy way, where you run along…” He began, staring down the animal like it was nothing.
Dark lifted their sword, pointing it straight at the animal, “Or the hard way, where I ensure you never take another breath.”
Dark’s good eye glowed red, the only thing currently visible through the visor in his mask.
The animal whimpered, coiling into itself. Before scampering away, fearful of what Dark could do to it.
“How boring,” Dark thought, rolling his eyes.
Dark released their sword, allowing it to fade back into magic. It was more convenient than carrying it everywhere, since they didn’t have their cape.
Dark paused, “... what exactly was that thing?” He thought. He had never seen anything like it in Dream Land or the Mirror World before.
“Okay. This clearly is not Popstar,” Dark Meta Knight continued their way through the forest, thinking.
“Where exactly did that portal take me? There is no sign of Popstarian life, nor other Mirror Worlders…” Dark Meta Knight felt worry begin to overtake his thoughts.
“I am fine with being alone. I have been alone my whole life. The Star Allies was a fleeting moment-” Dark Meta Knight felt the world around them begin to fade as they were absorbed by their thoughts.
“- where I let my guard down…” Dark Meta Knight stopped moving.
“And it was nice. But I cannot afford that luxury now, they are not with me…”
“So why do I keep thinking about them?”
“They were not my friends,” Dark began walking, attempting to shake away the thoughts of Daroach, and Adeleine, and Ribbon, and Magolor, and-
“I am a Mirror Worlder!” Dark Meta Knight squeezed his eyes shut, as tight as he could, “I am not allowed to have friends!”
Dark Meta Knight’s thoughts fell quiet. They continued walking. They did not speak, they did not think, they just walked.
The jungle around him was gone, it was behind him now. When did he get out of there? It didn’t matter.
They looked up, “By the Mirror…”
It was giant, many, many times bigger than most buildings he’d seen. Bigger than his own home!
“What a complete waste of glass! How could they-” It took all of Dark Meta Knight’s willpower to not completely level this building (which would have killed them anyways, they do not have that much magic to spare, no matter how much they claim otherwise).
He took a deep breath, “Whatever. Clearly whoever made this complete abomination is long gone.”
“And they deserve it,” They thought, glaring at the building before them.
Wow, this place was very boring. The same (waste of space) buildings were plastered around everywhere he looked. He had been walking for a while and there had been nothing but these abominations.
“Where could I possibly be?” They looked around, their surroundings weren’t exactly giving them much to go off of.
“There’s nothing quite familiar…” He glanced at another one of those animals, it growled at him.
They looked upwards, ignoring the buildings. The sky was just like it was in Dream Land, annoyingly sunny…
It would probably be great to fly through.
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Dark Meta Knight paused in front of a warehouse. It was the first ‘new’ building they’d found. (New meaning unique, it was still just as old as the rest of them.)
He entered, curiosity overpowering common sense (yet another bit of evidence that he was never anything like his counterpart, but nobody would believe him on that anyhow.)
There were none of those animals in here, there was also an odd podium… with nothing on it.
He explored the area, investigating every miscellaneous item he found. His sights landed on an old book, it looked… out of place.
They reached out to touch it-
Meta Knight was here. Dark could feel his presence again.
He was far away, too far for Dark to home in on his precise location, (they could really only do that from around 30 metres away. Not that they’d ever come clean about that,) but here regardless.
He pulled his hand away from the book, turning towards the exit.
They had a new mission now: Find Meta Knight.
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Dark Meta Knight ran, his breathing was heavy. How many of those orange dogs were after him? Unsure, he’d counted at least fifty before he started to flee. He knew when to run from a fight, and that would be now.
They came screeching to a halt, “Dead end?!” They thought, panicking.
In front of him stood a raised drawbridge, something he’d usually just fly around or over, but without his wing that wasn’t exactly an option.
“This is the last time I ever let something live.” Dark Meta Knight turned back to the absolute hoard of- okay they can’t keep calling them dogs! They’ve decided these are Awoofies now- Awoofies, that were slowly closing in on them.
Dark Meta Knight looked around, scanning for any ideas…
Nothing. Great. For once they wanted to be as resourceful as their counterpart-
Counterpart. That’s it! The best coward he knows. What would Shadow Kirby do?
Warp Star, they’d seen both Kirbies do it before. How hard could it be?
“WARP STAR!” Dark Meta Knight called out.
It came near instantly! Their luck was (for once) actually turning around! They hopped onto the Warp Star…
Wait, how do you fly a Warp Star?
“How- How does Kirby- steer this thing! Gh-!” Dark Meta Knight managed to keep themself from being thrown off of the Warp Star as it flew in a direction they were certainly not controlling.
“Wanya! Wan-wa wanya!”
“... hm?” Dark Meta Knight looked upwards, to the source of the noise.
There were many Waddle Dees in cages, being flown off towards… well, Dark didn’t necessarily know where.
Usually, they’d be unfazed by this sort of thing. However this was the first remotely familiar thing they’d seen (other than the Warp Star), and was slightly horrified that they were being captured.
Turns out you shouldn’t be looking up while driving for the first time. Dark learned this the hard way.
The Warp Star came crashing down to the ground, and Dark went flying off of it.
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“So what do we do?” Bandee asked Elfilin. His new friend had proven to be surprisingly helpful with their knowledge of this strange world.
“I’m not sure… you said Kirby is a good help, right?” Elfilin suggested, looking a little worried.
Bandee heard the familiar sound of a Warp Star crashing. Turning towards the noise he saw, dusting off his pauldrons…
“Is that…?-” Bandee squinted, trying to make sure he was seeing this right. This couldn’t be correct.
“What’s wrong, Bandee?” Elfilin asked, shifting their worry towards him.
But it was correct, “Dark Meta Knight?!” Bandee drew his spear.
“Who?” Elfilin sounded incredibly confused.
“... great.” Dark Meta Knight looked angry (when doesn’t he).
“YOU…” Bandee pointed his spear at the Mirror Worlder. From the tales he’d heard Dark Meta Knight was violent and unstable. (Of course, he didn’t seem that unstable during Star Allies meetings… but that’s probably an act!)
To Bandee’s surprise, Dark Meta Knight raised his hands in surrender, glaring straight into Bandee’s soul.
“Bandee stop!” Elfilin got in between Bandee’s spear and Dark Meta Knight.
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Elfilin turned their attention towards the stranger, who Bandee had called ‘Dark Meta Knight’, looking him up and down… before their eyes landed on his right wing.
“You’re hurt!” They cried, floating closer.
The knight backed away, looking… afraid.
“Oh! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you at all!” Elfilin was nervous, this was not a good first impression. The knight began to summon something with a blue glow.
“Here, let’s start with introductions.” Elfilin approached again, causing the knight to lean away.
“I’m Elfilin! What’s your name?” Elfilin offered a paw out.
The knight didn’t take the paw… yet he stopped summoning whatever he was grasping for, and relaxed a little.
“My name is… Dark Meta Knight…” The fear he was giving off earlier slowly began to vanish, replaced with simple neutrality (although his voice sounded upset, he didn’t give off any anger).
“Dark Meta Knight?” Elfilin echoed, “That’s a nice name!”
Though Dark’s face remained neutral, he gave off genuine shock. Was he not usually treated with kindness?
That wasn’t any of Elfilin’s business, “It’s a pleasure to meet you!”
“Alright, that’s enough!” Bandee called, raising his spear towards Dark Meta Knight again. Elfilin remained by Dark Meta Knight’s side, not wanting Bandee to hurt him.
“Dark Meta Knight,” Bandee sounded serious, “in the name of the Great King Dedede…”
Bandee did a trick with his spear, spinning it before moving the tip closer to Dark Meta Knight, who flared his good wing out in response, clearly not appreciating being talked down to.
“I order you to explain yourself.” Bandee looked fierce, an expression Elfilin had never seen on their friend before.
“... fine.”
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Bandee was certainly terrified by Dark Meta Knight’s glare, but he wasn’t going to back down.
“Where do I begin…” Dark Meta Knight closed his eyes for a moment, thinking.
“Meta Knight and Kirby had been missing for a week.” Dark Meta Knight did not meet Bandee’s eyes.
“Shadow had begun to worry for them, so I decided to leave the Mirror World to check on them.” He sounded almost… ashamed to admit this?
“Your world was still being attacked by the giant portal in the sky when I arrived. I assume that is to blame for my counterpart disappearing. I was pulled in as well, and here I am.”
“What about your wing?” Elfilin floated closer to Dark Meta Knight’s wing, which Bandee hadn’t noticed was damaged.
“A rock hit it. I will recover.” That was a blatant lie, Bandee could hear it in his voice.
“Will you let me try and heal it? I’m not very strong but…” Elfilin wrung their paws together.
“Do whatever you want.” Dark Meta Knight’s scarred eye vanished, leaving only his good eye visible. He looked annoyed.
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Dark Meta Knight could not believe they were allowing this… whatever species they were, to try and fix their broken wing.
But they acted just like Shadow Kirby did when they first became friends.
Elfilin grabbed onto Dark’s wing. Causing it to regain feeling and motion…
And the pain was gone. He moved it into a resting position, allowing Elfilin to ride it.
“There! Is that any better?” Elfilin smiled at them, they were overwhelmingly positive.
“... mhm.” Dark made sure he sounded annoyed. He was NOT appreciative of this act of genuine kindness.
“Bandana,” Their attention turned to the Waddle Dee, “lower your spear.”
“Ah-!” Bandana squeaked, “Sorry!”
Bandana put his spear away.
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Bandee led Elfilin and Dark Meta Knight with confidence. The knight was reluctant to come, but the moment Elfilin started to leave his wing, and it fell limp again, he agreed frantically, wincing in genuine pain. (Bandee was unaware Sir Meta Knight and Dark Meta Knight could even feel pain, as they usually hid it very well.)
“... Where exactly are you taking me?” Dark Meta Knight sounded confused.
“Waddle Dee Town!” Elfilin was definitely smiling.
Bandee didn’t turn around, “It’s the safest place in this new world!”
“... I see.” Dark Meta Knight’s voice went back to the angry one, which Bandee was learning was just his neutral voice.
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Dark Meta Knight was expecting this. Every time a Waddle Dee saw them they ran and hid.
He spotted one cowering in their home, “Is that the knight from the mirror?” (Obviously.)
One child hid behind their parent, asking, “Is he going to eat us?” (Dark has no idea where this one came from. They don’t even like meat (or food in general) that much, and Waddle Dee sounds gross.)
One stood out. This one was standing angrily, pointing at him, “I bet he mind-controlled Bandee like he did Sectonia!”
That one… reminded them of something.
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Dark Meta Knight looked up at the spider before him. She locked him in here.
“Let me go!” They pleaded. It was out of the frying pan and into the fire for them. Freed from Dark Mind’s control, and then sentenced to be Sectonia’s ‘project’.
Sectonia smiled. Not responding to his plea. She simply asked him, “Aren’t I the fairest in these lands?”
“I am not a magic mirror!” They wanted to harm her, yet they were… powerless. She kept draining their magic to strengthen her own. They could barely even summon their sword, let alone break a powerful magic seal.
Eventually, Dark Meta Knight learned his lesson. He was starving, and sometimes Queen Sectonia would be gracious enough to feed him… if he said the right things.
“... yes, Queen Sectonia.”
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Dark Meta Knight was snapped out of his (traumatic) thoughts by Bandana calling out to the Waddle Dees.
“Alright everyone! Calm down! Dark Meta Knight is not a foe!”
“Tch, yeah right.” Dark muttered under his breath.
Bandana continued, “Dark Meta Knight is stuck here, just like us! He-”
“Dark!” Kirby cut Bandana off, running past him.
Dark barely had time to brace themself before they tackled them into a hug.
“... it is good to see you again, Kirby.” Dark couldn’t help but smile. It was Kirby, after all.
Kirby hung onto Dark for a while, before Bandana called out to them “Kirby!”
Kirby pulled away, leaving Dark to brush himself off, “Yeah?” They replied happily.
“Elfilin and I were planning to go look for Sir Meta Knight and Great King Dedede. Do you want to join us?”
“Yeah!” Kirby smiled. They turned their attention to Dark, “Dark, can you guard Waddle Dee Town while I’m gone?”
“No.”
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Bandee was shocked to see Dark Meta Knight look genuinely annoyed with Kirby. Although, he was more focused on the horrified faces of the Waddle Dees.
“Why not?” Kirby tilted their head.
“Is it not obvious?” Dark Meta Knight gestured towards the Waddle Dees, “The Waddle Dees fear my mere presence.”
“Oh…” Kirby looked a little sad.
Kirby, of course, didn’t stay sad for very long, “Then why don’t you go with Bandee instead?”
“What.” Dark Meta Knight said, completely monotone, looking more confused than anything.
“What?!” Bandee shouted at the same time, completely shocked that Kirby would suggest something like that.
Elfilin broke the suffocating silence, “I think it’s a good idea! That way I can keep healing his wing!”
“I… suppose you have a point.” Dark Meta Knight closed his eyes, his wings drooping slightly. He was easily persuaded.
Bandee was not, “I don’t think this is-”
Unless Kirby was the one trying, “C’mon Bandee!”
“Fine. I will let you come with me…” Bandee clutched his spear tighter, closing his eyes.
Bandee lifted his spear to Dark Meta Knight again, it worked to intimidate him last time! “Provided you don’t try anything.”
“When the Jamba Hearts rained down, was I with or against you?” Dark Meta Knight was unfazed.
“You were with us, but-!”
“I swear on my sword, I will not try anything.”
“That would imply you have honour to swear on.” Bandee glared at Dark Meta Knight, putting away his spear.
“Excuse me?!” Dark Meta Knight’s wings flared up, enraged.
“You heard me! You’re a dishonourable copy of Sir Meta Knight!”
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Dark Meta Knight had half the mind to stab this child. They were planning to stab this Waddle Dee as soon as they could. Why would he compare Dark to Meta Knight?! Dark already knows they’re inferior! No need to add salt to the wound!
“Guys, please!” Kirby looked like they were going to cry.
They’d seen that look before, when Shadow had first started begging them to be merciful. It had worked then and by the Mirror did it work now.
Fine. He wouldn’t stab Bandana… yet.
‘I guess… He hasn’t tried anything in a while.” Bandana relented.
Forgiveness was that easy for this Waddle Dee? What?
“Then it’s settled!” Kirby was back to smiles and joy (sickening), “I’ll see you guys later!” Kirby waved.
“We’ll be back soon!” Elfilin called from Dark’s wing. Dark had completely forgotten they were there.
The three of them left the safety of Waddle Dee Town, and headed out into a wild new world.