A True Hero

17 - When Stars Fall

"She's not reliable," a shadowy figure said from a corner of a dimly lit room. The only light source was a candle on a nearby table with maps of Kaoru scattered all over it. Paths and trails were highlighted with blood red ink and a several large globs were scattered throughout the mountains and jungle.

A familiar circular soldier paced back and forth in front of the table while muttering to himself; his long white cape swooshed the floor around him and stirred up dust. He coughed as he shooed the dust away, which was gathering in his pink eyes, and returned to puzzling over the map.

"Neither of them is," he hissed. "I have a feeling they are both growing weary of us. We can't trust either of them anymore."

"Mmm," the shadow mused. "They are like a virus. If not exterminated, they will infect the other soldiers as well. We could both be in trouble."

"You think it's that serious?" the puffball chuckled. "One is still under training, and the other hasn't been here long enough to make that much of an influence."

"You forget that they are both highly popular, and they are both in constant contact with someone who could make everyone turn."

"Meta Knight," the puff hissed and slammed his fist down on the table. The candlelight quivered and shook his silhouette. "If he believed-"

"Then all is lost," the shadow finished. He stalked from his corner to the table and his gray silhouette made a gesture towards the map. "Many ninjas have gone to this planet-"

"-without my permission?! You should've asked-"

"I need no permission from someone with the likes of you," the shadow said calmly, which made the other scowl under his cross-cut mask. "As I was saying, many ninjas have traveled here to uncover this temple, but none have returned. The last message I received was from the leader of the most recent group of scouts; they had found the temple but were ambushed and killed. I was able to perceive the temple's location, however."

"Well, where is it?!"

"I can't share that with you. I can't let you get the swords before me."

"Why would I want them?!" the other demanded. "I would lose everything! Speaking of such, why would you want them?"

"Who said I had to retrieve them?" the shadow asked. "I'm not about to lose my power, either. Let someone else lose themselves for it, then take it from them."

"Really? Stealing? I thought you valued honor."

"Is it stealing if the one who retrieved the artifacts is dead? I will simply take ownership of the swords when their owner can no longer take care of them."

"Ahhh," the puff whispered. "I think I know just who to send, then. We'll lure them there with a trap..."

"And trick them into taking the celestial objects. Then, just before they can escape, they'll be devoured by Nightmare's monsters. We won't have anything to do with it."

"Wonderful," the soldier growled, and they both began snickering in low, short cackles that progressively turned into a deep-throated sinister laugh. The shadow picked up the map and dipped a corner into the hungry candle flames. It immediately lapped up the dry paper and all of the other maps around.

Soon, the room was bright with a fire that surrounded the two individuals. The walls, which used to be box-shaped, seemed to evaporate into a limitless cave. The fire lapped at their armor and slowly engulfed it, revealing their faces and transforming them into hideous, red, scalding masses of flesh with wide grins and shining teeth. Only one was recognizable once his mask disappeared. The laughing continued as they burned...