Stars that Fall to Earth

Not this guy again...

Meta Knight's POV.

Inhale.
And exhale.

Inhale.
And exhale.

You know you can do this.

I mentally prepare myself for the battle.
But how is one supposed to do that when he's already drowning in his own problems?

I think about Kirby.
So... Young...
He's still got his fighting spirit.
I do too, but I hate to use it at times like these.
No one but me, Falspar, DMK, and Arthur has seen him.

I hope they get the chance, though.

There's something about that boy that makes everyone happy...

"Meta. We're moving." Falspar reminds me.
"Yes, I know."
"Then let's go."

I roll my eyes, and return to reality, its cold harshness beckoning me.

Arthur, Falspar, and I separate from the Mirror World copies, and take an alternate route into the ruins of the city hall.

A route that supposedly leads us directly to Ophydialyn's lair.

Maybe I should-

To keep their little heads
From falling in the snow
And I turned 'round and there you go!
And Michael you would fall!
And turn the white snow red as strawberries in the Summertime-

Not this guy again...

"AH! Oh. I didn't notice you. Did you hear that or..?"

"Yes. We heard you. But what do you want, Snake-Tongue?" Arthur snaps.

"To get out of here. I'm quitting my dumb job. Do you think I'd make a good merchant?" Says DGK.

"Wait. So... You've given up?" I ask.

"Yeah. I'm starting to regret everything I've done for the past few decades. Maybe I could redeem myself by giving you some info..?" He offers.

Falspar, Arthur, and I exchange skeptical looks.

"Should we listen to him?" Arthur whispers to Falspar.
"Probably."
"But didn't he just try to kill Dark Meta Knight yesterday?" I point out.

"...Since when did you care about DMK's welfare?" Falspar angrily whispers to me.

"...Shotzo you're right..." I hiss.
Something's wrong. Very wrong.

"That... That would be thanks to me..." DGK admits reluctantly.

"What?" All three of us say in unison.

DGK glances to the side.
*Cough cough* "Magic." *Cough cough cough.*

"Oh." Arthur mutters in an unsurprised tone.

"That makes a lot more sense." Falspar admits.

"Yeah... Sorry about all that. I can lift the spell, but it's gonna feel extremely weird." DGK warns.

"What spells did you cast upon us?" Arthur asks.

"...Mostly personality and memory differences."

"On all of us?" I ask.
"...Yes."
"Like I said before, you're an idiot. You know that?"
"Yes. But at least I'm telling the truth." He says, a bit soberly.

"I can't even see you under that hunk of stomach-turning metal and I can still tell that a part of you is missing. What did Ophidialyn do to you?" Arthur demands.

He sighs, and removes the mask, uncovering his iconic scar across his face.

"Do you wish to see?" Dark Galacta Knight murmurs, lazily blinking his rose-red eyes.