Chapter Text
Tap tap tap.
The storm had been brewing for a while now much to Metas distress.
A rush of anxiety starting to creep in.
At first, he figured maybe he was imagining it. but really it never went away.
Something about it makes his skin crawl. He hates it.
What’s he even supposed to do?
His room in the castle doesn't have any mirrors, but the reflective shine in his armour brings it closer and closer.
He used to like rain.
He really loved the noises lulling him to sleep at night, or the drizzle cooling his overheated body in battle. Washing away everything that stains the earth.
But lately he could swear he see’s something in it. In the pooling water in the way the droplets scatter around with an unnatural hue.
Sometime’s it comes up right next to him. A strange presence he’s learnt to keep look out for. Towering, looming.
It’s not even unwelcome. It just refuses to leave, he hates how it stares at him.
The rain’s almost never thick enough to get a good look, the puddles just barely encompassing the thing, but it always watches him. He assumed it was one of nightmares goons, but it can’t be.
After every particularly bad storm though he see’s it wandering about town. Just watching or sitting nearby. It seems angry but, peaceful.
the waters almost always too murky to properly see, or too thin or simply crashing far too hard to get a good look. Even when the water is clear though something seems to distort it. So he can never quite distinguish what it is.
It’s presence always feels warm amidst the cool air. Has been for years.
The rain today however is thick, muggy. Pouring down with a wrath that he’s rarely ever seen on this planet. Poor kirby, so small and sweet. Despite his courage he is still so little, so unaware of the outside world outside of fighting and loving. Only recently beginning to understand the world fully.
And the Ebrum children, huddled together cozy in their homes. They know better than to fear the thundering crashes, sure, but knowing doesn’t completely rid of the fear you have. You’ll always fear some of it, and that’s okay.
So long as you can function. Thats all you need to do. As long as you can keep yourself and loved ones safe.
Thats all you can, and should do.
Then theres sword and blade, the two knights that room with him. What would they say if he told them about the figure?
For all meta knows it might not be real.
And if it is, what are they to do?
…
Meta can feel it’s eyes on him even at night sometimes.
God he just wants it to stop. He’s so tired. He just wants it to go away.
not like he trusts dr.Yabui to properly treat schizophrenia…
As meta glances outside, he can see the water start to rise. Up and up and up. towards him.
It’s coming for him. He doesn’t even know what it is.
A creaking noise forces a surprised breath out as he turns to face it.
“Meta, the waters gettin too high. Most of the cappys are takin their stuff and evacuating to the castle. We gotta go help.”
Sword knight announces, already helping Blade load the waddle dee’s up with luggage.
“I’ll be right down. I…need a moment to grab my things.” He breathes, trying to calm his nerves.
“Well hurry, waters comin up fast, could make walking impossible soon.” Sword nods in agreement. Sure the castle would stand, but it could fill up pretty badly and ruin a lot of their work.
As Meta watches them leave, he feels something inside himself twist. He shouldn’t be like this, why is he being like this?
He’s strong, he’s defeated being that could swallow entire planets. Yet he’s trembling like a child, over what? A few raindrops? Over a few hallucinations!?
It’ll be fine. It’s all gonna be fine. It’s just a bunch of rain.
“Meta hurry up!” Blade calls for him, the sounds of his boots stomping over to him cluttering the air.
It’s not coming to get him. He can handle it.
“Meta, you there?”
He can’t run from it. He can’t even fly from it.
“Meta what the hell are you doing?”
The sudden shake rumbling through the castle snaps him out of his daze. The shouts finally reaching his ears.
He finally turns back around to see the man standing there. Snapping his gaze away from the rushing water outside.
“…are you okay..?”
“…”
Blade walks over to him and places a hand on his shoulder. “Meta we have to go.”
Metas eyes flicker over to the window then back to blade, weighing his options. If he says the wrong thing, what could happen?
What if they stop listening to him all together, what if they think he’s gone mad? What would happen to Kirby, to everyone around him?
“if I didn’t know any better I might think you’re scared of storms or something.” His expression darkens at Metas lack of response.
“Wait are you?”
“Of course not. I have no reason to be. I just…” he trails off, it’s not even real.
Nothings watching him he’s just paranoid.
“It’s alright.” He walks back over to the door.
“…stay here. I’ll deal with it.”
Oh fuck why didnt meta tell him? Like half a decade of working together and he didnt think to mention this crap?
“Okay.”
“We are going to talk after this I swear to god.”
——————————————————————————
It’s odd having so many cappys in the castle, but it’s not exactly unpleasant. The Ebrum family has some very welcome company, though it’s a tad crowded. Tiff and Tuff are showing the other children around, and making sure they all stay out of trouble.
Things are finally starting to calm down, it’s still raining cat’s and dogs out there though and it’s scaring some citizens that there could be a tornado.
but other than a few odd noises and concerns, it’s cozy.
Tiff, in all the chaos of it all nearly lost her newest interest in the rapid streams that sprawl across the town, and much to her fascination she founds something quite odd about it.
It’s really quiet beautiful in the reflection. She almost didnt see it with how much mud there is in it. Bright and bold, unlike the stormy blue hue of their current ruler.
It’s the only comparison she really has. Dedede’s the only other big blue bird here.
Seems like it’s even more important than she thought.
——————————————————————————
“You can’t just hide things like this, I get that we can’t reveal a lot but you could have put people in danger.” It’s not often he’s cross with the man but he has to tell him off.
“Yeah, we barely got everybody out in time. Any later and the winds could’ve picked somebody up.” Sword nods in agreement.
“Look we ain’t sayin you gotta tell us why, but seriously what if someone got hurt?”
“…I apologize for not telling you sooner. I wasn’t being reasonable, but I can handle it. I have it under control.”
“Under control? Meta we had to pull your weight, and we didn’t even get to know whether or not you were okay.” Blade shifts his gaze over to the window, the outside world blocked by a very thick curtain. “Please, just please tell us things. We can’t work for you if you wont tell us anything.
“I’ll try and make sure I tell you more. Please relax though, I promise I will make sure you both have everything you need to know.”
“Just please leave, and make sure the citizens are alright. I have things to do.”
“Fine. Let’s go, Sword.”
As Meta watches them go, his body relaxes. He walks over to the window and opens up the curtains for a moment to check outside, and he see’s exactly what he expected.
A raging storm, a few items and pieces of roofs strewn about, and the man.
God why wont he just go away.
Nobody wants it here.