"So you and your kind are creatures that feed off of the Love of others?" Carina nodded in response to the galactic warriors query. "Your sister, Princess Chrysalis, is now wanted for murder and crimes against this country?"

"That part is unfortunately news to me as well, but yes. She is..."

"Which is why I am now here, as Meta Knight was severely injured in his attempt to apprehend her, and I am the next to be sent?"

"His name is Beta, and I'm only guessing at that part, but that's what it sounded like Elfilis wanted you to do before he conked out."

"I refuse."

"OK."

"I shall not be anyone's pawn."

"OK..."

"I have been betrayed one too many times by those I swore fealty to."

"OK...?"

"I am unbound. This summon shall be the last. Finally I will be free, and-"

"I'm sorry, but are you actually even listening to what I'm saying anymore? I don't give a shit what you do now. I don't think Elfilis cares either. Well, he probably does care, but he's nice and hasn't forced any of his creations to follow him." It was at this point that the both of them finally registered what the other had said.

"Creations?"
"Summon?"

They both just looked at the other for a moment, but Galacta Knight recovered first.

"I am Galacta Knight! I have been around for millenia, and I will be around for a millenia more. I am no recent creation of your lover." Now, Carina didn't really know if this was the truth or not. She was just going to apologize for assuming he was the latest addition to Elfilis's entourage of dream creatures, but Beta interrupted from his spot on the floor.

"You are Galacta Knight, the only Galacta Knight. But you are not the first. I heard my liege's words. You are a Phantom, same as me and my brothers." The pinkish purple knight with feathered wings mearly scoffed in disbelief. "It is true. I am assuming you have your memory, just as I do. I remember being Meta Knight, of testing Kirby and the residents of Dreamland. Going to war with its inhabitants so that they may overcome their lazy nature. Defending it from greater threats than myself, time and time again. And some memories..." His lone eye looked down in thought. "Some of them are impossible. Contradictory. I know Kirby was the true hero in many of our adventures, but I remember being in his place many times. Fighting the foes he alone had defeated."

"This is all very interesting, Beta, but I fail to see how your faulty mind has anything to do with me being a Phantom."

"Many of those memories involve Meta Knight fighting you."

"Of course. He summoned me many times, all so that he could fight me. To try to prove himself my superior."

"I seem to recall winning those fights..." If he heard him, Galacta Knight gave no inclination. "Regardless, you may be shocked to hear what I have to say next. Each and every time Meta Knight fought you, was the first time he ever saw you." It was silence that filled the cave for many a moment, until the changeling finally gave voice to her thoughts.

"What the fuck are any of you talking about?" Galacta was next to fill the silence.

"I suppose... that would explain some things..."

"What!? That doesn't explain shit!" He continued unheeded.

"The ancients had locked me out of space and time, but I had fought Meta Knight often enough that I believed him to be a constant of his timeline. His unfamiliarity with my combat style each time however... It truly was a different Meta each time..." Carina just threw her head back and groaned in confused frustration as the Knights continued speaking. "This still gives no credence to the idea of this Elfilis creature having made me. Of me being a copy."

"The last memory I have, of a Meta Knight coming in contact with the original Galacta Knight," His eye gleamed brighter as he made sure to capture his opponents attention. "Was of watching him die."

"Impossible. I remember no such thing. The last thing I remember was an Ancient summoning me to fight you- ugh, Meta Knight and his entourage. Then a glowing butterfly appeared and brought me here before I could start the battle in earnest."

"That butterfly wasn't normal. It didn't bring you here, it disintagrated you. Instantly." Carina brought forth her thoughts once more.

"A butterfly? Swaddle-Dee, can you believe this bullshit? ... Oh my gosh, you totally believe this bullshit."

"It absorbed your power, stole your body. It became Morpho Knight. It was defeated, but it never relinquished you. Galacta Knight was gone until Elfilis created you." The only sound for the next minute was of a chitinous head lightly banging against a wooden table.

"... In truth... the last thing I remember before being here was of pain. Worse than I had ever experienced before. Not in-"

"You actually got fucking murdered by a butterfly?! How the- What does- Beta! I order you to kill all the butterflies!"

"No."

"Swaddle-Dee! Get your hammer! Kill the butterflies!"

"Swaddle-Dee..." Beta stopped as the mother hen pulled out a warhammer twice his size from under the bed. "... Only if the butterfly is glowing, leaves embers in its wake, and has round yellow wings that are outlined in orange." He started to yell as the hammer toting caretaker ran past him to the entrance of the cave. "And stay nearby! Don't actually start crusading across the country in search of a butterfly!" And then he was gone, though the rapid crunching of leaves could be faintly heard. "... Carina, that was a gross overreaction."

"A butterfly turned the 'Strongest Warrior in the Galaxy' to ash. I will react however I god damn want."

"... May I continue?"

"Shit, sorry Galacta. I just... okay sorry. I overreacted."

"Indeed." Galacta Knight crossed his arms for a moment before speaking. "I am willing to entertain the idea for a time, until Elfilis himself is able to explain himself to me." They all turned to the being in question, watching as his chest rose and fell. It was Carina who once again popped the bubble of silence.

"Want to play some cards while we wait?"

"... Very well. It has been awhile."

My head hurt like hell, pulsing and burning with each heartbeat. I woke up hissing through my teeth and bringing my hands up to massage the bridge of my nose, trying to relieve some of the pressure built up.

"Fuck... Water. Water water water..." I held out my hands to cup the glass of liquid that came out of a portal slowly. I felt the pain twinge as I used my powers further, but I ignored it as best I could as I took large gulps of the cold drink. And then I poured the rest over my head in an attempt to numb it. "... Galacta Knight... Why did I choose Galacta Knight?"

"Hmph. I was hoping you would be able to answer that for me." My eyes shot towards the voice. There he was, in all his feathery, horned glory. His pinkish coloring was off, but he was nearly one for one with what I remembered from the games.

"... I am surprised to see you here still. You don't exactly have a good track record with... everything."

"And yet you 'created' me anyway. Why is that?" This combative conversation was not a great way to relieve headaches.

"I wasn't in the right mind, I don't think. I-" Everything became blurry for a second as my vision swam. When it finally settled, Carina had appeared in front of me, holding a hoof to my forehead.

"You okay? Your burning up..." I nodded silently and leaned into her touch before picking up where I left off.

"I am... not used to my abilities, or my body. I believed I was getting better, but I saw how hurt Beta was and I just..." I trailed off as my girlfriend wrapped her front legs around me. "... It was like I was a different person..." I watched as Galacta Knight stared me down, arms crossed and wings pulled closed. Eventually, he looked away before speaking.

"Is it true? That I had died?" Well shit.

"... Yes. It was some kind of butterfly. It seems to target beings of strength. I don't know how it chooses, whether it is some grim reaper chasing down those who have escaped death or a creature attracted to pain, but it is a powerful creature. The original Elfilis was victim to it as well." He looked back at me as I finished, and Carina tensed up around me.

"The original? Are you some copy as well?" I shook my head lightly.

"I don't know. I may just be another member of his species, but my memories are... not of my own life. I took on his name because I cannot remember my own. It's... complicated."

"... Very well." He uncrossed his arms and brought one to rest against his lower mask, as if in salute. "It appears I owe you my life Elfilis. I will complete one task for you." His eyes seemed to glare at me from behind his visor. "Do not, make me regret this."

"Of course. And thank you. Beta? Are you still here?"

"Yes sire." I looked to my right to see him. His damn eye... "I assume you need this?" He was holding out the changeling radar.

"Yes, thank you Beta." I picked it up and handed it to Galacta Knight carefully. "I don't know how it works, but it should-"

"Help me find Chrysalis. Yes, I know. Beta has filled me in. I am to take over his mission. Disable and capture the changeling princess. She is violent and larger than most of her kind, so she shall not be hard to find with this. It shall be done." He seemed to hold himself higher as he spoke his next words. "It has been a long time since I sealed the great evil, but I have not grown rusty. I shall be returning soon with her locked in crystal." And then he was gone, leaving a couple of feathers falling to the floor in his place. The cave was filled with a now familiar silence for a short time before Carina spoke.

"You really scared me you know..." I pulled her close and laid my antlers against hers, even though the light clacking brought the pain back into the forefront of my attention. "You really didn't have any control over that?"

"No... The train left the station and refused to change tracks." She snorted lightly into my collar of fluff.

"That's a funny way of putting it... Are you okay? Really?"

"Yes. I just need some rest, I think. That was rougher than anything else I had ever done."

"Hmm. It never hurt you before, did it?"

"No... that may be a consequence of whatever took over though... A bit off topic, but where did Swaddle-Dee go? He always seems to find a way to sneak his way into a situation but I don't see him anywhere." Beta Knight surprised me by laughing openly at my question. "What?"

"The Waddle-Dee is defending your home from butterflies, per the mistress's request."

"No, really? Carina?" She started to push me back onto the bed.

"Shhhh. You need to sleep."

"Wow. Are we doing this now?"

"Sleeeep..." I huffed out a laugh as I let her win and laid back down with her staying atop of me.

"Fine, fine, we'll talk in the... whenever it ends up being. Beta? Are you okay?" He smiled from behind his half-mask as he nodded to the affirmative. I had to make him a replacement. "Alright. Don't be afraid to wake us up if you need anything."

"Of course. I have had some time to recover while we conversed with Galacta Knight, and Swaddle-Dee gave me some slices of Maxim Tomato. I will be fine, for now." I didn't really respond. My vision was beginning to swim again as exhaustion took over. I suppose... I did need to rest...

I didn't know what the future held. Life was throwing bricks at me again, one after another. I figured, that I had done the best with what I had for the moment. I knew I was still acting instinctively too much, but I had time to work on that, and friends who were willing to help. I had time.

I thought I had time. I should have kept some of my pessimism, maybe then I would have been prepared for the break that was fast approaching.

Author's Note

I know my chapters are already short, but I felt like I would be padding this out with filler if I made it any longer than this is. So it's about 300 to 400 words shorter than usual. I'm happy with it though, I think it says what it needs to say to keep the story going.