A/N

A shorter chapter unfortunately. But hey, there wasn't much to write about in this chapter. It's one of those that is there just to dispense some info. Anyway, I think the next chapter looks promising to be longer, so that'll be something to read after this boring chapter ehe. Well, I wouldn't say boring...Oh whatever, right now, I'm boring. Go ahead and read.

Chapter 19

The fire crackled, gentle flames licked at the wood and heated the rocks surrounding it. Vague puffs of smoke lifted into the air, giving a soothing atmosphere to the shaken Tournament combatants. Hours ago, the demons had attacked, leaving the camp and its inhabitants in ruin. Blood still stained the grasses and tears remained scarred into the bark of trees. As the Smashers sat around the campfire in, or on, their sleeping bags, they sighed, their breaths still shaky with fading alarm. Silence still settled in the air as the twenty four exchanged glances with each other. Night bugs chirped with the quiet hoot of an owl. A faint breeze tickled the blades of grasses and shifted the leaves in bushes and trees. The stars blinked calmly as they glanced down upon the camp that was hushed with exhaustion.

"So..." Link's voice lifted the silence.

He received curt glances. Marth sighed and looked about the camp, "That was scary. Those things could have killed us all."

A moment of pause filled the air.

"Thanks to Vic, they didn't." Lucario dipped his head toward the Raichu who sat by Sammy and Gom.

Samus sighed and, with a quiet of her helmet, she lifted it from her head and set it upon the ground next to her. IKE's eyes widened, "You're a girl?"

Samus glared, "What, you didn't know that at the start? Never mind, don't answer that."

"I can't believe it! She's a girl!" IKE ranted.

Samus rolled her eyes, "God."

"Hey, Marth. I've been meaning to ask...What's that on your head?" Ness asked.

The swordsman's eyes dulled with sorrow, "Oh...It's my sister's tiara. She gave it to me before she sacrificed herself to save me."

"O...Oh...I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry."

"Nah, it's fine."

IKE's eyes narrowed with disgust as he looked at Marth who ignored his unfriendly gaze. ROB beeped occasionally as he looked up at the sky. IKE blinked and blurted awkwardly, "I have eight brothers. They're all named Ike, pronounced differently. I'm the only one who's name is spell with all capitalized letters."

Everyone stared at him with gazes that read: "What the h***?"

"Master, are you okay?" Moonlight appeared behind Black

Black jumped, "Hey! I never summoned you!"

She nudged his side, "You're hurt."

"It's a bruise!"

She sat and glared, "I don't care."

He stepped back, "Geez."

"WHAT IS THAT?" Lucas yelped, jumping behind Ness.

Black Knight sighed as he sat down and shrugged, "A friend."

She grumbled, "Try again."

"Alright, fine. Her name is Moonlight and she's my soul...well half of my soul."

Moonlight lied down and the young knight glanced at her, "How'd you show up anyway?"

She smirked, her wings lying flat, "You don't need to summon me for me to appear."

He looked away to see the Smashers staring at him, "What?"

Sammy narrowed an eye, "What do you mean, half of your soul?"

Meta Knight prevented him from speaking, "Do you really want to know?"

They nodded, though Lucas stilled hid behind Ness. The veteran sighed, "Brace yourself. Especially you, Kirby."

The puffball stared at him curiously, "Poyo."

"Black and I both have only part of our own soul." The Smashers were already confused. "We also share a half of a demonic beast that doesn't have its own body. It is a failed demon beast created by Nightmare. It's called the Dark Soul. It feeds on our negative emotion and, as it does, grows more powerful. I fear it will soon come out of its dormancy and there's no telling what could happen."

The audience nodded slowly. Link narrowed his eyes, "Wait. I've heard about that guy's place being far away or something. Why would you have anything to do with anything about that guy?"

Meta Knight exchanged glances with his clone before they both looked at the Smashers, "Because we were created by Nightmare...in other words..."

"Demon beasts." Black Knight finished hesitantly.

The Smashers' eyes were wide with shock. Marth smiled, "That's cool! But...I thought demon beasts were evil."

Meta Knight chuckled, "Not all. I rebelled against Nightmare and took Black with me. But I have an old friend who followed the same path and escaped his control."

"So what about this Dark Soul? Will you know when something is wrong?" Lucario asked intently.

He nodded, "It is already awakening, unfortunately...But it's waiting for the right moment."

"D***." Marth hissed.

"This has the Xelleriahn's energy in it. If it's shattered, we're all dead." Black Knight pulled a red gem from his sword's hilt, "This is the Blood Gem," The black slit pupil on the treasure stared darkly at the Smashers, "It's what keeps the monster from being released."

"Holy s***! It's looking at me!" Link yelped.

The knight placed the gem back in Arrats and sheathed the sword.

"After we ran from NME, we came to meet Sammy and Vic."

Vic glanced at Meta Knight briefly. Sammy scratched his ear, "So, when you kill demon beasts, you're technically killing your own kind, right?"

Black Knight shrugged, "I feel nothing."

Meta Knight didn't respond.

"You know, I still have my ID number etched into my side." Black glanced at his skin with a frown.

"What's it say?" Sammy's ear pricked.

"Uh, 36-550."

"Weird."

"Yah, I know."

Lucario heaved a sigh, "What will become of this tournament?"

Black Knight's eye widened as he remembered the prophecy he had received. He still hadn't told anyone about it which could lead to disaster. Blinking, he sighed, "I have no idea..."

The other Smashers shrugged lazily. IKE lied back abruptly, sprawled out upon his sleeping bag as he fell asleep. Link laughed, "IKE's got the right idea."

Meta Knight smirked behind his mask, "Indeed."

Black Knight yawned, "Yah, I'm following his lead."

Kirby was already asleep in his sleeping bag. The young knight lied against Moonlight who curled around him. As the Smashers settled into their sleeping bags, silence befell them once again.

...

...

...

"GOTS MILKS? IKES DOES!" IKE suddenly screamed before collapsing onto his sleeping bag again, his butt in the air.

I don't have much to say...really...Oh! Uh, the whole "Gots milks? Ikes does!" is IKE's motto for a reason you should know by now. IKE's favorite drink is milk. Let's see if you'll survive his wrath.

Do you like milk?

1) YES! Love it! (IKE: *thumbs up*)

2) Eh... (IKE: *glares*)

3) NO! Gross! (IKE is currently hunting you down Dx)

4) Lactose intolerant (IKE pities you...)

IKE told me what he'd do so if you want to get mad, get mad at him instead of me ehe

Randomness!

Review/Critique please!