A Shooting Star ~Kirby and Sonic crossover~

Chapter 51: A Knight's and King's Training

"Again!" Masked Knight snarled, knocking away Meta Knight's tip with another sweeping parry. His movements were almost lazy as he advanced, causing Meta Knight to stumble backwards in an effort to remain balanced. "Come on, even an apprentice could do better than this!"

Meta Knight panted under his breath, his limbs trembling with exhaustion. Sweat clung to his brow, falling into his eyes with a stinging nip. With a sharp inhale, Meta Knight closed his eyes and tapped into Galaxia's power, focusing on his core. Galaxia answered him with a flare of golden light.

Mach Tornado, at—

"Too slow!" Masked Knight barreled heavily into Meta Knight, causing him to drop and roll over the floor, winded. His tired eyes glazed, and he heaved himself up, ignoring the sharp, sore stings of pain from his wounds. His wings trembled, feeling like a pair of large boulders on his back.

Some distances away, Masked Knight eyed his counterpart, his expression full of disdain. "You call yourself a knight with this power?" He scoffed, unimpressed. "Makes me wonder just how powerful this band of 'Star Warriors' truly is."

How dare you! Meta Knight's eyes flashed angrily with a furious crimson. With a flash of his blade, he swung for Masked Knight's face, feeling a glimmer of victory when he felt the heavy impact of Galaxia bouncing off of the First's broken mask. A new ride of energy swept through his body, fueling him with days worth of spirit.

Masked Knight brought a hand to his face and felt for his mask. He paused, then gave Meta Knight an approving nod. "Hmph. Not bad." He shook himself, sweeping his wings around him and forming them into a silky cape—it was different from Meta Knight's own wings, which were seperate from his cloak. It was clear that they both still held their differences, even if Meta Knight was Masked Knight's reincarnation.

"Your strength is much more than what I would have expected," Masked Knight admitted, sheathing his Galaxia back into its scabbard. Much like Meta Knight, Masked Knight also wielded a Galaxia—despite having different origins, both swords were just as strong as the other. "But you lack stamina, and your Mach Tornado is far too slow. If you fought alone, you would not last for very long."

Meta Knight nodded humbly, feeling the fierce gush of adrenaline beginning to ebb away. What he said was true—already, Meta Knight could feel his feet begin to sway, trembling as they supported his weight. He longed to sink into the grass and rest his muscles, but he willed himself to stand, keeping his chin high and his wings flared out.

Masked Knight continued. "That's why I think it will be wise for you to work alongside Lord Dedede's reincarnation. Back when we were alive, we made a good pair." His gaze flashed with yearning as he whispered hoarsely, "Even the heavens shook before us."

Even the heavens? Meta Knight couldn't help but feel intrigued, and he wondered just how powerful Masked Knight and the other Firsts were. But his curiosity was soon replaced by a feeling of unease when he thought of working with Dedede. I have not worked with another warrior in a very long time. The last time he had fought beside a friend...

He closed his eyes, trying to block out the sounds of war as they plagued his mind, recalling the metallic scent of blood with a violent shiver. The screams, the cries, and the loud pleas of the innocents, was all too much for Meta Knight. A shudder coursed through his body as he remembered the feeling of delicate flesh squelching beneath his blade, and the pale, sightless stare of his friend as he died by his hand.