A Smash of Kings

Chapter 23: The Feats of The Silent Knight

The days and nights he spent in the dungeon began to blend together. No windows and the sparse torch light often left Meta Knight with nothing to do except brood and sleep in complete darkness. The last time he saw sunlight was during his trial, even then it broke through the windows and stained glass of Ganon's Great Hall. Although it felt like a lifetime ago, Cloud confided in him that it was only seven days previous. Barely, he got fresh water from the guards, and even fewer times did he receive a warm meal. His dreams began bending in the darkness of his confinement, and the abstract colourless shapes soon were filled and resembled what Meta Knight used to see everyday; his loyal knights of the King's Guard, Kirby in his office, Queen Rosalina in one of the gardens, the other members of the Small Council...

One of these nights, he found himself in the Great Chamber. A thick layer of purple fog covered the main entrance across from the Throne of Smash. Dark purple embers danced in the air, falling down like snowflakes, and the Crown sat on the Throne. Meta Knight slowly approached it, ascending the small steps until he was in arm's reach of the Crown. He felt a shiver go up his small spine, and he turned around quickly. There standing was a woman with a white aura around her; her white wings were spread, matching the very colour of her humble dress. It was a Hylian, evident from her pointy ears, and it reminded Meta Knight of Princess Zelda, but her hair was much more blonde.

"Humble Warrior," she said, bowing her head, "The Prophecy has been set into motion. The Great Calamity is near, and The Demon King beckons thee again. The Brave Knight will slew the Calamity, as He had centuries ago and will millennia from now. Such is the cycle, until the Rightful Ruler sits the Throne."

Before Meta Knight could say anything, the floor of the Great Hall erupted in purple flame. The falling embers fell faster on Meta Knight, but he was unaffected. He watched as a great monstrosity formed from the purple flame. What was purple darkened into black, and two horns emerged from its head, followed by the snout of a pig. Its skinny figure solidified into a large, thick body, and, as it stood on its hind legs, the roof of the Great Hall collapsed. Meta Knight looked up at The Demon King. When The Demon King looked down at him, two large swords appeared in its hands, as large as the horns on its head. When the monster let out a nasty roar, Meta Knight's vision was filled with white; he saw The Demon King tear through the entire Small Council, beginning by beheading Bowser and finishing by splitting Ganon himself into two. Behind The Demon King, however, stood two knights. One of red, and the other of white. There, they joined their hands, forming a sword. They fought The Demon King, and, just before he saw the Brave Knights prevail against the monster, Meta Knight felt his body heat up suddenly and violently.

He woke up gasping for air; the darkness of his cell was cut by a flame. Cloud was inside the cell with a torch, and Meta Knight caught himself, standing up to meet him. Sadly, Cloud replaced the torch that had burnt out earlier and produced a small pouch of water from his waist, underneath his White Cloak. He said no words, taking the pouch and drinking the water extremely quickly. "I pity you, My Lord," Cloud shook his head sympathetically, "The darkness has nearly driven you mad..."

Meta Knight gasped when he finished the pouch of water, bits of it sprinkling down his body. "Nearly... Perhaps completely..." he replied, "May you fetch me a pen and parchment? I need to write a letter for both you and Lord Kirby... In the event I fall during my trial by combat."

"As you wish, My Lord. I'll fetch you more water too... One of these dark corners may be a good spot to hide it in," Cloud bowed his head.

****

"I have received a letter earlier today from our allies in the North," Samus announced, standing in front of a council of elder Hylians who wore dirty, long robes. She paced back and forth, her orange armor clanking with each step, between their seats and a small collection of villagers, who sat on the benches of the small church. The orange rays of the sunset broke through the stained glass windows. "The True Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom has increased our numbers greatly. If all your villages commit as much as those in Sherbertland and the East, we have more than a simple fighting chance to liberate these Kingdoms."