Tiff paused on the castle wall, her jade eyes reflecting worry. Her frightened eyes contrasted sharply with the peaceful orange-and-pink sky; you’d think she saw a ghost. The birds twittered a few “goodnights;” the leaves rustled in the evening breeze; the golden clouds melted into orange and grayish-black. The Booma-Dooma Volcano’s shadows darkened from smoky navy to blurred violet. Dyna Blade’s metallic rainbow wings sparkled in the last rays of the setting sun as she and her chick settled down to sleep.

While the world was peaceful. . .

the atmosphere of the castle was not.

The tension inside the enormous building threatened to swallow the inhabitants whole.

The fear all felt could not be contained.

So what to do?

*   *  *

Tiff was not prepared for her long night, nor what the outcome was to be.

It all started before breakfast.  Tiff was in her room, reading a book, when her younger brother, Tuff, called her down. Reluctantly, Tiff marched down to the breakfast table and found her place, taking her seat just as Lady Like, her mother, waltzed in with the dishes.

“Good morning, guys!” little Ivene cried, leaping into the middle of the table and knocking the teapot off; thankfully, Sir Ebrum caught it before it landed on the linoleum and shattered to pieces. Starmonia sedately swaggered in, her green eyes glowing bright.

By the time the king and his snail sidekick came to breakfast, the rest were half-done with their food. “Hey, y’all could’ve saved some for the rest of us!” Dedede snapped. “Is this how my no-good servants behave toward me, the royal king of Dreamland?”

“Save your thoughtless words and you won’t get hurt,” Ivene, the outspoken one, retorted, her brown eyes flashing. “Maybe if you showed a little more respect toward your subjects, we would show some more toward you.”

Escargoon chuckled and elbowed the king in the ribs. “She’s a mouthy one, huh, Sire?”

“Shut your mouth, you insignificant snailbrain!” Dedede ordered, banging Escargoon on the head. “When I want your worthless opinion, I’ll make sure to ask for it, got it?”

“Okay, fine. Sheesh,” Escargoon mumbled, rubbing his bruised head.

Tiff glanced across the table at one plate still filled. “Um, Mom?”

“Yes, darling?” Lady Like turned from the sink, a puzzled look on her weary but cheerful face.

“Why wasn’t Sir Meta Knight at breakfast?” Tiff asked. “He’s normally here around the same time we are.”

“Maybe he got held up patrolling,” Tuff kidded. “With all the work Dedede makes him do, perhaps he’s sleeping in.”

“Dedede would never allow that,” Sir Ebrum objected.

“Then what the heck is he doing?” Tiff demanded, standing up from her seat. “We should go see!”

“Whoa!” Lady Like objected. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. First of all, you don’t know what he’s doing. And secondly, if he even is doing something, it’s rude to interrupt.”

“But Mom!” Tiff exclaimed in exasperation. “What if something happened? We have to go see him now!”

“If you want to see him, fine,” Lady Like said, returning her attention to the dishes. “Just make sure you knock first.”

“Of course,” Tuff mumbled as she left the room, Ivene, Starmonia, and Tuff behind her. “What else would I do before entering his room?”

*   *   *

Tiff reached the knight’s room and knocked on the wooden paneling. She stepped back, expecting the door to swing open. But nothing happened. The door stayed tightly shut. Tiff raised an eyebrow.

“Ummm,” Ivene said hesitantly.

“Tiff, are you sure he’s in there?” Tuff inquired.

“He’s got to be,” Tiff answered. “Sword and Blade told me he hasn’t been out of his room all morning.”

Tiff knocked again, more insistently this time, but still no reply came from within. Tiff was starting to get extremely bothered; why was her friend not answering? Surely he would have heard the knocks, unless. . .unless something had happened. . .

Tiff grasped the knob and tried to turn it, but it wouldn’t budge. The door was locked!

“The door!” cried Tiff. “It’s locked!”

“What?” Tuff exclaimed.

Tiff sucked in her breath. “That’s it!” she burst out. “I’m breaking down the door!” Ignoring the objections from her friends, she kicked in the door, sending a shower of dust and wood splinters flying into the air. The foursome rushed into the room, only to find it deserted.

“Did anybody check the balcony?” Ivene piped up.

Tuff ran out onto the balcony and came back a few seconds later. “No one’s there,” he reported.

“Then where the heck is he?” Ivene exclaimed, stamping her feet in frustration. “He couldn’t have just vanished into thin air!”

Tiff’s eyes roved around the room until they came to rest on the bathroom door. She frowned. “Um. . .”

“You’re not suggesting we check the bathroom, are you?” Tuff joked. “I, for one, am not interested in doing such a thing. If we are doing so, we should definitely follow Mom’s advice and knock first.”

Tiff hesitantly knocked on the door, but there was no answer. She reached for the knob and slowly turned it, and the door swung inward. She took one glance inside. . .and screamed at the top of her lungs, the blood draining from her face.

“What is it?!” Ivene shrieked, jumping to Tiff’s side. What she saw made her heart leap into her throat. She couldn’t believe it.

Meta Knight was lying unconscious on the floor in a pool of blood!

Ivene was speechless. She felt as though she were going crazy. All she could think of was that Sword and Blade absolutely could not witness this horrible scene; they would freak. After what seemed like an eternity, she found her voice and hollered, “Someone get Dr. Yabui!”

*   *   *

Tiff sat on the edge of Meta Knight’s bed and looked sadly at him. He seemed fine now, but there was something about him that didn’t seem normal. . .was it his color? His breathing? She was so scared she couldn’t think straight. She could never forget the red painting the floor of the bathroom. That image would remain with her for a lifetime.

Dr. Yabui snapped his medical bag shut and stood up. Tiff gazed up at him with worried eyes. “Dr. Yabui, what’s wrong with him?” she begged to know.

Dr. Yabui shrugged. “It appears to me he, er, threw up blood, though I really have no idea why. It seems to me it was caused by extreme stress or trauma, but I don’t know of anything terrible that happened to him, except for the losses and horror he experienced in the army.” He scratched his head. “Does anyone else know something I’m missing?”

No one said a word, but Starmonia noticed Tuff staring at her. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.

Tuff crossed his arms. “I think you know,” he said.

Starmonia stared at him. “Why me?”

“You seem to be keeping a lot of secrets from us,” Tuff replied, “and so I think you know.”

Dr. Yabui frowned. “Starmonia, if you know something we don’t, you have to tell us.”

“It’s not fit for children to hear!” Starmonia shot back. “And besides, I promised Meta Knight I would never tell.”

“You have to tell us,” Dr. Yabui persisted. “We have to know.”

Starmonia knew there was no use arguing with him. She scowled. “Okay, fine,” she muttered. “If you really have to know, there’s no use keeping it in the dark, I suppose.” She sighed deeply. “Sir Meta Knight was abused. . .badly! I will not go into details, but we’ll leave it at that! All right?!”

There was a stunned silence. Tuff looked at the floor. Tiff turned away from Starmonia and looked at the far wall. Dr. Yabui twiddled with his bag. Ivene rolled her eyes to the ceiling, a peeved expression on her face. No one knew what to say; they were all in complete shock.

A knock came on the door and Dedede poked his head in. “Hello, everyone. What’s up? A meeting?”

“Oh, be quiet,” snarled Ivene. “Nobody’s in the mood for your wisecracks. Why don’t you go away and leave us alone?”

Dedede stared round at the solemn faces. “Hey, what’s up? Why do you all look like you’re attending a funeral?”

Tiff sniffled, tears filling her eyes. She ran her fingers over Meta Knight’s limp hand, hating how still he was.

Ivene tossed her head, her eyes glowing with a defiant light. “If you don’t get out of here fast, Dedede, we’re likely to be attending your funeral,” she snapped.

“Whoa!” Dedede held up a hand. “Chill! I’m not here to do anything! I just wanted to know why Dr. Yabui was here.”

“None of your business,” Tuff responded.

Dr. Yabui seemed uncomfortable. “Umm, I think I’ll be taking my leave now,” he said quietly, slipping out of the room, but not before calling, “Call me if he gets worse or does anything like this anything.”

“We will,” Ivene promised.

Dedede was left standing in the room with three angry kids and a silent adult. He felt as though he wasn’t welcome here, probably because he wasn’t. In truth, he didn’t feel as though he ought to be there. But here he was, nonetheless. No one looked at him; no one spoke to him; no one acknowledged him. He felt as though he didn’t exist.

At last, Ivene turned around and her eyes pierced him like a laser beam. “What do you want?” she coldly asked. “If you’re here to make fun of us, then do so. But don’t just stand there saying or doing nothing. You give me the creeps when you do that.”

“Um. . .” Dedede fiddled with his fingers. “Um, well, I just wanted to know what was going on. You all seem kind of upset about something, is all.”

Ivene stood up, her eyes glowing with fierce anger. “Yeah? And since when do you care if we’re upset?!” she cried. “You enjoy making everyone miserable! Ever since my sisters and I first arrived here in Cappy Town nearly fifteen years ago, you’ve done nothing but bother, tease, and humiliate everybody here! You think you’re the star of this show, but you’re not! In fact, you’re lower than anybody I’ve ever met! Even Nightmare himself probably couldn’t hold a candle to you!”

“That’s not true!” Starmonia exclaimed before she could stop herself. Realizing what she had just said, she clapped a paw over her mouth.

Tiff stared at her through shimmering eyes. “What?”

“Uhh, it’s nothing. . .” Starmonia turned away and rolled her eyes, hating herself. . . “I nearly gave away the secret!” she muttered.

Dedede seemed startled. “What is she talking about?”

Before anyone could answer, Meta Knight suddenly stirred and opened his eyes. Tiff was so relieved he was waking up that she forgot Dedede for her friend. “Meta Knight!” she murmured.

“Tiff?” The knight sat up and grasped her hand. “Where am I. . .What are you doing in here?” He looked at the others crowded round the bedside and at Dedede standing by the door. “Why are you all in my room?”

“Ummm, it’s a long story,” Tuff replied. “But long story short, you threw up, passed out in your bathroom, and Dr. Yabui came to find out what was wrong. Starmonia told us you had been abused.”

“Tuff!” Ivene gasped.

Starmonia groaned under her breath. “Tuff, why. . .”

Meta Knight stared at Tuff. “She did what?”

Tuff rubbed the back of his neck, wondering if he should have said that. “Um, uh, she said you, uh, were. . .abused? I guess. . .” His voice trailed off.

Tiff brushed her hand across her eyes. “She said you were abused,” she said, her voice threatening to crack. “She said you wanted her to keep it a secret, but I don’t know why. It’s not like such a horrible thing can be kept in the dark forever.”

“Why did you never tell us?” Ivene asked.

Meta Knight’s grip involuntarily tightened on Tiff’s hand. “It was bad enough living through those memories once,” he whispered. “Why bring them up again?”

“Oh, I don’t think you ever need to bring them up again,” Ivene retorted. “In fact, I bet you think of them all the time and that’s what causes you to stress yourself out and throw up just like you did today. Isn’t that right. Sir Meta Knight?”

Meta Knight was so shocked he couldn’t answer.

“Ivene!” Starmonia hissed through clenched teeth. “Stop it!”

“You know,” Ivene went on, ignoring her sister, “the more you try to keep your bad secrets in the dark, the more they’ll show. And one day, they’re gonna spill over.” She scowled at him. “What else are you keeping from us? Huh? What else have you not told us?”

“Nothing!” Meta Knight replied, but his voice was shaking.

“You saying so doesn’t make it true! Not in the slightest!” Ivene shouted.

“Ivene, I don’t think. . .” Tuff began.

“Quiet!” Ivene ordered. “I’m not talking to you! This is between me and Sir Meta Knight!” Back to the knight. “If you have anything you’re suffering from, tell us now! Now is the time to spill everything that’s bothering you!”

“Nothing is bothering me,” Meta Knight spoke, but his voice was strained with emotion. “I-I’m fine.”

“Fine?!” Ivene shrieked. “Fine?!! I don’t call throwing up, being stressed, having bad nightmares and horrible flashbacks, and not being able to sleep being fine! That’s a total lie, and you know it!”

“Ivene, stop!” Starmonia ordered. “That’s quite enough out of you! And stop yelling! That’s not going to help anything in the slightest!”

Ivene stopped yelling and the angry look faded from her eyes. The room became silent. No one spoke. No one moved. Finally, Ivene looked back at the soldier. “Meta Knight. . .” she said, her voice as calm as calm could be defined, “. . .take off your mask.”

Meta Knight hesitated. He didn’t seem willing to oblige.

“Don’t you see?” Ivene insisted, a slight hint of impatience in her voice. “You’re getting all shut off with your mask on for ages and ages! You need to take it off.”

Meta Knight dropped his gaze to the floor, not knowing what to say. After a moment, he reached up and removed his mask, and for the first time since she was very young, Tiff saw his true face. She gasped in surprise.

Dedede took a step back, startled. He had never before seen Meta Knight unmasked. “Whoa! Uh. . .”

“And now do you see why I always wished to hide myself from the world?” Meta Knight asked, his voice quavering. “I am afraid others will hate me as I hate myself. I blame myself for everything that’s happened to me all these years. I am afraid others will criticize and make fun of me as those who have hurt me in the past did.”

Tiff was shocked by her friend’s words, but even more shocked by. . . “Meta Knight!” she gasped. “Are you crying?” She had never before seen him cry.

Ivene sighed heavily, her high-toned ears wilting. Starmonia sat beside her baby sister, Tuff standing beside the two of them. Dedede was too stunned to say a word.

“M-Meta Knight?” Tiff gently touched his hand. “Don’t cry. It’ll be all right. Really. It will.” Hardly thinking about what she was doing, she hugged him gently, soothingly. He leaned against her shoulder, his body shaking uncontrollably, tears seeping out of his eyes and onto her shirt. She didn’t care about herself; her friends were more important.

“‘It’ll be all right?'” Dedede softly repeated to himself. He pressed a hand to his head, suddenly feeling like he had heard that phrase before. . .many years ago. . .

_ _ _

“Dede?” Little Tiff, aged three years old, slipped into the king’s bedroom. Dedede was lying on his bed, facing the wall, his shoulders trembling. Tiff climbed onto the bed and sat beside him, tapping his shoulder gently. “Dedede aw wight?”

Dedede sniffled and turned over to see Tiff sitting beside him. He was honestly astonished to see her. He had never been nice to the girl and yet here she was, a sincere expression of concern on her face. He wiped his face. “I’m fine, Tiff.”

Tiff didn’t look convinced. “Why Dede cwy?” she inquired, her little face screwing up into a look of sympathy. “Happen?”

“N-No, nothing happened, child. . .” But it was not true. He had suffered from another nightmare about his father throwing him off the turret, but he did not want to admit it. “It’s nothing, r-really. I’m. . .”

Tiff touched his hand. “Dede, why cwy?” she asked again, her voice filled with sadness. “Why?”

Dedede couldn’t answer. He had never felt this before, but strangely, he felt as though Tiff really. . .loved him. Actually cared about him. He had never felt this way before in his life. Another tear slipped down his face as he reache d out and embraced Tiff, who patted him lovingly.

“It be aw wight, Dedede,” Tiff said softly. “It be aw wight. God wuvs you.”

_ _ _

“Dedede?” Ivene asked. “What’s wrong? Why are you spacing out?”

Dedede, startled, snapped back into reality. “Uh, uh, I’m sorry. I was just. . .” Why did I think about that now, of all times? he wondered.

Tiff wasn’t paying any attention to Dedede’s strange behavior. She was too absorbed in comforting Meta Knight. She could vaguely recall comforting several times in the past when he seemed stressed or traumatized, but never when he cried. In fact, she couldn’t recall him ever crying in front of her. But now he no longer seemed to be the strong, stoic knight she had always known. Now he seemed like a broken, fallen soldier who needed to be reminded how much he was truly loved. . .both by his friends and by God Himself.

“Meta Knight, I need to tell you something,” she said quietly, a lump in her throat. “I love you way more than you will ever know, and you cannot comprehend how much I appreciate you being my friend. I hate seeing you upset or unhappy, and I long to make you feel better, but I can’t if I don’t know what’s wrong. I know you have a lot of trust issues and I can respect that, but I wish to goodness you’d be more upfront and honest with me about what’s going on with you.” She sighed shakily. “I know you hate yourself for what happened to you all those years ago, but know God sees something in you no one else could ever see. . .beauty in your brokenness, my friend.” She held him closer as she spoke, and the tears she had been holding back finally spilled over and streamed down her face. “I really want you to know,” she choked out, “that nothing you do will ever shake my love for you!”

Dedede was touched by the scene. He had never really noticed it before, but Tiff and Meta Knight seemed to have a beautiful and intimate bond of friendship. They were always together, always talking, always hanging out, always training, always seeing the good in each other despite their faults. I wonder why I didn’t see it there before? he wondered.

He looked at them a moment longer, puzzlement clouding his features. Then he smiled.

He decided it didn’t really matter why he hadn’t seen their bond before. The important thing was that they had it.

They didn’t care about each other’s pasts.

They didn’t care about each other’s faults.

All they cared about was their loving bond for each other.

And that was how it was supposed to be.

 

-Starmonia

 

P.S. Let me know what you think of the story!