Castle Dark was massive, and it bristled with numerous towers that jutted up from the main building. It was built from shining black stone, and there were numerous banners and pennants that Meta assumed usually bore Dark's insignia. Not that he could tell now, as the banners were all tattered and shredded, no doubt courtesy of the ones who currently occupied the castle. Meta gazed up at the building in slight awe as he was marched forward by the disguised Dark, only to have the man suddenly force him to stop.

The castle gate lay before them, and it was adorned with intricately wrought black metal that also formed the gate itself. Meta glanced downwards and was startled to see that there was a seemingly bottomless abyss that separated the castle's gate from the area they were now. Meta flinched as a bright light enveloped the two men, and he squinted through to glimpse two Rosalian soldiers atop the gate, armed with floodlights.

"I have captured Meta Knight!" Dark called out, his voice perfectly disguised. The two soldiers looked to each other and turned the floodlights away, much to Meta's relief. His eyes were photosensitive, and without the protective glass of his visor the light had been agony.

"Very well, you may enter," one of them shouted, and they both moved to the ends of the wall. Each end was attached to a tower, and they disappeared into the small rooms they contained. There was a moment of silence before a loud rumbling sound started up, and a large slab of stone suddenly shot out from a slot beneath the gate, creating a bridge. Dark gently pushed him forward and they began to cross as the soldiers peeked out from the rooms.

"Long live Rosalia!" they shouted in unison, saluting. Dark returned the motion, rolling his eyes beneath the obscuring helmet of his illusion.

"Long live Rosalia!" he responded. How tacky, at least he limited such things to ceremonies. The intricate locking mechanisms of the gate were quickly unlatching, and Meta found himself impressed by the engineering that must have gone into it. It wasn't the most practical lock, but it was certainly a spectacle to watch it work. It finally finished, and the gates themselves slid into the walls as the two passed through.

The garden within the courtyard was probably beautiful when it wasn't ensnared within a mess of thorny vines. The vines also tangled around the black marble statues and a large fountain in the center, which was leaking water across the cobblestone path that lead to the castle. As they walked through the courtyard Meta noticed that most of the statues were untouched, save for two that featured Shadow Kirby and Dark respectively. The heads of the statues had been knocked off, and the crumbled bits of marble scattered about indicated that whoever defaced them wanted it to be hard to repair.

"Fucking animals," Dark muttered underneath his breath, his true voice slipping through. The vines were even winding across the enormous statue of Dark Mind atop the fountain, and Dark made a mental note to teach Dark Taranza a thing or two about respect. Preferably with his fists. They passed more soldiers patrolling about as they made their way towards the castle entrance, and Dark exchanged a few more shouts of "long live Rosalia" with them. They made their way up the red velvet runner that decorated the stairs to the castle and finally entered it.

It seemed as if no depiction of Dark or his emblem had escaped destruction, as the center of the black marble floor showed hints of a design through the horrible cracks that had been inflicted on it. The portraits that hung along the walls of the parlor were also damaged, save for the largest one that hung over the entrance to the next room. It was a portrait of Dark Mind in regal garb set within a silver frame. Meta could sense the boiling rage emanating from Dark, and he chose to stay totally silent.

The next few rooms were similarly damaged, and Dark only grew angrier, though he hid it well from the guards they passed. The two guarding the entrance to the throne room were clad in far more extravagant armor than the rest of the soldiers they'd encountered, and they brandished their large weapons, blocking the entrance.

"I have captured Meta Knight," Dark intoned, presenting his false prisoner to the two. They gave the man steely looks. These were obviously higher ranked soldiers, and they'd obviously heard that Meta had played a hand in their king's defeat.

"We will deliver the prisoner to him," one said, and Dark's blood ran a little cold.

"I insist on an audience with the king. This capture was no easy task," he protested as the two guards closed in.

"He has requested no visitors," the other said, grasping Meta's arm. The other moved to pat Dark on the shoulder before the man could dodge.

"You have done good work soldier-" His hand went right through Dark's illusion, and his eyes widened. He had no time to react before he was impaled with a glass sword that jutted up from the ground, shattering the guard instantly. The other recoiled in alarm.

"Your majesty!" she screamed. Meta rapidly drew his blade and delivered a fatal strike, shattering her as well. Dark let his disguise fall away, and he nodded at Meta.

"Cover's blown! Let's strike now!" he said, darting into the room. Meta followed, watching as Dark drew his own cursed blade. Dark Taranza was standing facing the throne, and he whirled around at the intruders. A radio was in his hand, and he smiled cruelly as he spoke into it.

"They broke in. Release her," he said, loud enough for the two to hear.

"That's your death warrant, you idiot," Dark shrieked, a touch of panic in his tone. Dark Taranza laughed and flared out all his hands, his form glowing a bright purple. Web-like magic quickly covered all the exits as Dark Taranza cackled madly.

"You aren't going anywhere! Shatter me all you like, it won't save you!" he laughed, sending a blast of energy at the two. They easily dodged only for Dark Taranza to ensnare Dark and drag him closer, a mad look in his eyes as he tossed the radio aside. "You're finally going to pay for what you've done to Rosalia! For what you've done to me!" he sneered, conjuring a few large crystals.

"What about your wife? Isn't she the one I wronged?" Dark hissed, slashing through a few of the webs that tangled around him. Dark Taranza only laughed harder, preparing his attack.

"What? I should be shaking your hand for that! You made it so easy!" he said, causing Dark's eyes to widen. Dark Taranza was suddenly slammed into by a blueish blur, and he was thrown into a wall hard enough to crack him. Meta straightened up from his attack, twirling his sword before pursuing the man. Dark Taranza blinked out of existence, and Meta let his senses take over, trying to feel for where the man would appear. He was too quick for Meta, and he managed to hurl a crystal into him as Dark Taranza reappeared to his side. Meta skidded back, nearly falling from the brutal hit and getting cut on the flying shrapnel as the crystal shattered. Dark Taranza prepared a second attack only to be grabbed by Dark and kicked in the gut. Meta ran to assist despite his wounds but stopped as Dark hurled Dark Taranza into the floor.

"What does that mean?" Dark asked, letting his magic entrap the man in a crust of glass. Dark Taranza only smirked.

"What? Did you think I wouldn't jump at the opportunity to seize my kingdom back? You made it easy for me," he cackled.

"You were only waiting for an opportunity, then? I suppose it is par for the course from a traitor like you," Dark said, unimpressed. It wasn't like he cared for either of them, and it wasn't like he was surprised by Dark Taranza being treacherous. The trapped man only cackled harder as Meta approached, silently watching the situation.

"Who said I waited? Like I said, you made it easy for me to strike." Dark frowned and placed his boot over the man's neck, pressing down lightly.

"What did you do?" Dark said, his tone emotionless yet brimming with danger. Dark Taranza smiled at him, glee on his face.

"You don't think your dear little Sectonia managed to corrupt herself all on her lonesome? You know as well as I do that the little spell book you gave her shouldn't have been able to mutate her so severely," he said sweetly. Dark's face was totally blank as he stared down at him.

"You wanted her to die," he said.

"And it worked fabulously! I have all the power I wanted, and all the loyalty she commanded! And now, I'm about to be rid of you-" he was quickly cut off as Dark smashed his blade down onto his neck, shattering him instantly. The mirror knight's eye was blazing red, and glass was crackling across the floor as Dark's magic ran amok.

"He fucking killed her," he spat, slashing and stomping on the scattered shards. He tossed his sword aside as he fell to his knees and grasped handfuls of the glass, flinging it aside and crushing at it in a furious frenzy. Meta grabbed at his shoulders and tried to pull him away, concern on his face.

"This will do nothing, calm down," Meta said. Dark whirled around, hopping to his feet and causing Meta to back away. He wasn't quite fast enough to avoid having Dark grab him by the collar.

"Calm down? CALM DOWN? HE KILLED HER, AND I CAN DO NOTHING MORE THAN SHATTER HIM! HE WILL MAKE IT BACK TO HIS LITTLE KINGDOM AND REAP THE REWARDS OF MURDERING SOMEONE I LOVED! AND NOW DUE TO HIS ACTIONS EVERYONE I KNOW IS IN DANGER! I CANNOT CALM DOWN!" he screamed, yanking at Meta. Meta gave him a wide-eyed look, choking a little as his collar was tightened around his neck.

"Please, there will be time for this later. We must deal with the crisis now," Meta rasped, dropping his sword and placing his hands over Dark's. The enraged man's grip weakened a little, and Meta gently slipped his collar out of Dark's grip.

"I..." Dark swallowed thickly, "I know." Meta lowered his hands, and he could feel Dark curl his fingers around them a little.

"Despite the crisis, you have many who stand with you. Your citizens, your guard... Shadow Dedede is trying to head them off as we speak. And..." Meta looked away for a moment before turning back to look directly into Dark's eye. "I stand with you as well." Dark nodded silently and clasped at Meta's hands, his eye fading back into its usual pale yellow.

"Thank you," he said softly, a slight smile on his face. The smile then quickly twisted into a wicked smirk. "Then let's go fuck them up." Meta nodded, the ghost of a smile on his lips.

"I second that notion," he said, releasing Dark's hands. He noted how he could still feel the lingering coolness from Dark's hands, and he shook away the thought as he picked his sword up from the ground. Dark grabbed his own weapon and turned back to Meta.

"Follow me, and shatter anyone who tries to stop you," he said. Meta allowed his cape to meld into his wings, and he flared then out.

"Duly noted," he responded. Dark stretched his own tattered wings and darted through the door, Dark Taranza's magic having dissipated when he was shattered. They tore through the castle, effortlessly shattering any soldier that got in their way as they worked their way to the lower levels. They finally reached the corridor to the lowest room, and they followed the long cables and metal hoses that had assumedly been installed by Parallel.

"How far underground are we?" Meta asked as they approached an arched doorway.

"6 stories. It's just ahead," Dark responded. The fear radiating from the man was palpable, but he kept admirably cool. The two hesitated before the door before entering. This new room was massive, with tall vaulted ceilings. Numerous equipment was scattered about, and Parallel stood at the center with her back turned. Dark's blood ran ice cold as he realized that the massive glass crystal before her was empty and shattered.

"Took you long enough. I have to say, I'll regret killing your counterpart. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders," Parallel said, turning to them with a large remote clutched in her hands.

"I wish I could return the compliment," Meta deadpanned.

"Where is she?!" Dark demanded. Parallel only laughed, pressing the button on her remote. The two whirled to see behind them as they heard a clanking sound approaching. Dark resisted the urge to flee as a winged figure came into view.

"How do you like it? I call her Electro Galacta," Parallel said.

(Updates will be back to daily, sorry about the wait.)