It's been a while….
I put this up a few years ago, as some of you old-timers might know. This isn't a rework or anything, but after reading the first chapter again while procrastinating, I've decided to tidy this up a bit by correcting some spelling and grammar, possibly rewriting a couple of bits. I'm sorry for the amount of author's notes, there should be lot fewer when I get the rest of the chapters up.

Enjoy!

…Prologue…

Numerous lightning flashes momentarily illuminate the barren battlefield. Two armies face each other, several hundred yards between them. One, line upon line of beasts, in all shapes and sizes, forms and figures, some wheeling around the sky, others scraping their claws off the ground, filing them to a point.

The others, a silent, calm sea of armoured faces, eyes glowing all different colours, but all set on the distant monsters with determination. Some carry spears, others firearms, but they all have one thing in common - a small star-shaped badge located on their breastplates, shoulders or masks.

The most deafening of all thunderclaps reveals a strange cloud far above. Its one eye scans the Galaxy Fighter Team's army and lightning bolts spring angrily from its sides. The monsters below roar, squawk or stamp their feet, and begin to march. They build up speed, and the march becomes a stampede.

The Star Warriors grip their weapons, remembering the strategy. They charge swords down, arrows and bullets loaded. A few moments of tense rumbling and the armies collide.

The air is immediately filled with metal clangs, screams, howls and the whiz of airborne weapons. Blood begins to run along the wet ground and the clouds mimic the scene below. Two figures in the midst of the fighting race through a path hewn through the oncoming monsters as fast as they dare.

The smaller of the two is round, bright green, with large forest green feet. In her white-gloved hand she clasps a bow, golden with a few decorative lines. The helmet she wears is reminiscent of a Sir Kibble's golden one, but with no wings, just fins spreading out from the front. The puffball's companion however, is taller, with a shock of spiky yellow hair uncovered and free for the wind to blow through it. Behind his mask, his black eyes soften slightly as he catches up with the green puffball. His sword slashes fiercely through any unfriendly thing that dares to come too near. His mask is equipped with teeth along the bottom and a circular locket hangs form a fine, but strong chain around his neck.

Both warriors are remarkably young, but are as fearless as some of the veterans. Abruptly, their path ends, and they find themselves surrounded by monsters on each side. They valiantly stand their ground, the taller jabbing at anything he can reach, the smaller pulling her bow tight, ready to fight to the death.

But then one of the monsters to their left wails in agony and falls as another warrior joins the fray. The two Star Warriors dash through the gap, silently thanking their saviour.

Their 'saviour's' red eyes follow their every move and he swiftly jumps over the corpse of his comrade. A gigantic wolf, red as blood with blazing eyes and sharp claws roars as the dark blue spherical monster gives chase to the warriors. The puffball pays no attention. He doesn't take orders easily.

…

"Carida! Is it clear?"

The taller warrior calls to the green puffball. Pushing up her helmet, she peers cautiously around the strong stone pillar that supports the gates of the massive black building ahead.

"Yes! Hurry, Jecra."

Jecra and Carida dash boldly through the open gates, once they were sure Kracko wasn't watching. They slink against the cold black stone walls of the castle's main entrance. A few seconds of close listening and they sneak in. They pad silently down the deserted corridor, past tunnels leading to dungeons and training rooms, trying not to think of the malevolent spirit that resided within these very walls. Unnoticed, the dark puffball enters after them.

The warriors see a flight of stairs and climb them, wasting no time. This reconnaissance mission was vital and the two young warriors were eager to prove themselves. Minutes of futile glances into several rooms pass and Jecra and Carida are getting anxious. They can't afford to spend much more time. Their pursuer watches carefully, waiting for the right moment to strike.

With a gasp, Carida beckons to Jecra. Their target found, they stand at the door to one of the laboratories that are scattered around the castle. They enter, leaving the door slightly open. Large glass tanks, none of them in use, mostly hide the walls of the lab. One, at the very back of the lab is full of strange translucent goo. Next to each of them, an array of instruments and tools are laid out on a table. Multicoloured buttons line the bottom of the tanks, and wire tubes connect each of the tanks to the main computer, at the end of the room.

Jecra and Carida walk forward in silence; mouths open in shock and unease. The puffball shadowing them stops outside the door, loath to go inside where he spent many horrible hours 'developing' as his master put it.

Carida rushes to the computer. To her annoyance, it's turned off and there seems to be no way to switch it on. Jecra eyes the tanks with disgust.

"This place is creepy…"

The dark puffball slips inside, one hand on his scabbard. Carida gives up on the computer and turns to Jecra. Her silver eyes widen in shock as she sees a jagged-edged sword spring from the shadows. The dark puffball launch himself at Jecra, sword flashing. Jecra quickly turns and counters with a slash of his own sword and the lab rings with the sound of clashing metal. Jecra staggers under the puffball's blow; he is surprisingly strong. He wrenches his sword away and Jecra is slowly forced back by a renewed attack. Carida shakes herself and fits an arrow to her bowstring. She glances at the monster's blood red eyes - and falters.

For a split second, they had flashed a different colour.

Thinking quickly, she discards her arrow and takes out another. Jecra leaps back as the monster almost runs him through. Carida reaches up to her helmet and gathers some dust. Tipping her arrow with it, she fires. Jecra watches as the puffball goes rigid, and falls to the floor, unconscious. He pants heavily from his brief but brutal duel.

"Nice…shot."

Carida runs to the fallen monster. Jecra frowns at her under his mask.

"What are you doing? Come on, we have to go!"

He pauses, disbelieving.

"You didn't kill him?!"

Carida shakes her head.

"Did you not see it?"

"See what?"

"His eyes…they were yellow."

"No, they weren't."

Carida looks up at him.

"They were! For a second, they were… That's why I didn't shoot to kill."

Jecra looks from the blue puffball to the green. A smile forms on his lips.
"Sure, sure that's why you didn't kill him."

Carida gapes indignantly.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, you two are alike…"

Carida glances at the puffball once more. Realisation hits her.

"I do not have a crush on him! He's a monster!"

Jecra laughs.

"He's a puffball, you're a puffball…"

"Jecra! Quit messing around! What are we going to do with him?"

Jecra shrugged.

"Leave him. We should at least go soon."

Carida stares at the masked blue monster.

"Wait. I've got a better idea."

She starts to take off the puffball's mask. Jecra watches curiously. Carida glances at him.

"There must be some good in him. If there is, I'm going to strengthen it."

Jecra's eyes widen.

"You're going to do the soul-?"

Carida nodded firmly.

"Yep."

"Carida, don't!"

He moves to stop her, but he is too late. Carida whips off her gloves and closes her eyes for a moment, concentrating. She reopens her eyes and places her hands over them, breathing in and out slowly and steadily.

"Carida-"

Carida's eyes glow bright silver for a moment and she shudders. Jecra hurriedly sits down beside her. She removes her hands and looks at him with dim eyes. She starts to fall, but Jecra catches her in time. She holds up her hand weakly.

"Give it to him, Jecra…I'll be fine, in a minute…"

"Alright."

He places her gently on the floor and takes the shiny gold droplet form her palm. Walking apprehensively over to the blue puffball, he gently opens one of the eyes. To his shock it is golden, but distant as a sleeper's. Carida's gentle voice comes again.

"Do it Jecra, hurry."

Jecra tipped the droplet into the puffball's eye and stands back. Carida tries to sit up and he hurries back to her. Holding her up, they watch as the blue puffball moans and twitches. His bright eyes open and settle on Jecra and Carida. They hold their breath anxiously, and Carida notes the expression. Confused, but slightly relieved. The monster meets her gaze evenly.

"Why didn't you kill me?"

Carida was shocked at his question.

"I-I-you don't deserve to die!"

The puffball averts his gaze.

"I deserve worse than death."

"No, you don't. No one deserves that. Not even Nightmare's monsters."

He stiffened when she mentioned Nightmare. He looks at her again, his eyes full of sorrow.

"I'm one of them. You should have killed me. You're Star Warriors. That's what you do."

He sighs and his eyes become wistful.

"You save good people. The innocent. And get rid of the bad."

Now it was Jecra's turn to question him. He stood up; Carida could support herself now.

"Yes, we are Star Warriors. But how do you know all this? It's not all true - is it?"

He glances at Carida, The blue puffball's eyes shine green.

"It's why he hates you."

Jecra and Carida exchange glances. They both knew who 'he' was. Jecra laughs grimly.

"At least we know that we get on his nerves."

He pauses, thoughtfully. Well, if Carida can suddenly trust him…

"I'm Jecra, by the way. And this is Carida. Who're you?"

Carida sits up properly, her strength returning. The puffball mutters quietly to himself.

"Jecra...Carida..."

Hu turns back to them.

"My name is Meta Knight."

Jecra looks surprised, but smiles.

"Meta Knight...it has a good ring to it."

Carida nods.

"You seem different to the other monsters, Meta Knight."

Meta Knight shakes his head.

"None of the monsters have anything in common,"

Meta Knight gets to his feet.

"But they all serve Nightmare."

"'They'? What about you?"

Carida's hopes begin to rise. Have they found a rebel monster? Or was it just her drop of soul surfacing? She remembers his golden eyes. If he was truly evil, wouldn't they stay red? Meta Knight looks uncomfortable.

"I'm…"

Suddenly he freezes. Carida and Jecra grasp their weapons. They heard footsteps outside. Meta Knight whispers almost inaudibly to them.

"You must leave. I'll let you out."

They all scramble to their feet. Meta Knight straps his mask back on. He moves silently over to the door. Carida can't help but admire his stealth.

Peering behind him, she sees a lone servant, or clerk perhaps. The small human type monster is walking down the corridor, heading straight for the lab. Jecra and Carida come up behind Meta Knight. Carida mutters to him.

"Come with us."

"I cannot."

Meta Knight's tone sounds defeated. The servant is coming nearer, a clipboard obscuring most of his face.

"What do we do?"

Jecra's voice is verging on nervousness. It only takes one person to sound the alarm...

Meta Knight stares at the servant.

"When I say so, run for the door."

"But what about you?"

"Never mind that. The most important thing is that you get out of here alive."

He should be a Star Warrior, Carida thinks to herself. Whoever heard of a monster who was willing to put others before himself?

"Meta Knight - I must give you something."

"You have already given me hope."

"No wait - take this."

She takes his gloved hand in hers and places her star badge on his palm. His eyes flash blue as his fingers close around it.

"Thank you, Carida."

He turns and walks out the door, signalling for them to get ready. Jecra and Carida listen closely. The servant's voice comes drifting through the open door.

"What are you doing in here? All monsters are to report to the battlefield. Nightmare's orders. I'll report this."

Silence from Meta Knight. The clerk's voice quavers a little this time.

"N-Nightmare's going to punish you. You're too d-disobedient by far."

Carida and Jecra look at each other with excitement. They hear the clerk shuffling towards the wall.

"Get smart, you s-stupid puffball or I'll- I'll raise the alar-ack!"

"Go! Meta Knight shouts.

"Jecra and Carida spring from their hiding place and run past. They feel a strange shiver run through them, and they run harder. Nightmare has been disturbed. Just as they disappear around the corner to freedom, Jecra glances back. The servant is dead at Meta Knight's feet. Meta Knight is standing motionless, calmly awaiting his fate.

"Come on, Jecra!"

Carida pulls him onwards and a few seconds later they burst out of the headquarters and onto the battlefield.

The monsters are winning, and the Star Warriors are being forced back steadily. The two young warriors run to the distant forest, and back to the Star Warriors' camp. On the way, Carida runs over their encounter with Meta Knight in her mind repeatedly.

"Jecra, will he be all right?"

Jecra races on in front of her.

"I don't know. He killed the thing."

Carida's silver eyes widen in shock.

"...I don't care. We must save him."

"We can't, Carida! He told us to run. He did that so we could escape."

Carida wasn't persuaded.

"Then we should tell the others about him."

Jecra gives a short nod. They run even faster, the camp in sight.

…

(This will probably be the only chapter in present tense, it's a flashback, and there will be plenty of made up flashbacks in this story. Oh, and about Carida (my OC) she has a special power (no duh) to remove some of her own soul from her eyes. Yeah, there's a lot of weird stuff like that in this. It temporarily weakens her, and she's really supposed to save it for emergencies….)