Well, it's about time for another chapter of Darkness Over Dreamland! I swear, I really ought to try to get these chapters up a little quicker XD One thing I must say first- this chapter might be a bit surprising, and I might have been a bit misleading about a key fact of the story. You'll see what I mean. So, without further ado, here's the review replies.
Random Reader: ... You know, I actually hadn't realized that I killed off most of the anime characters XD Now that you say that though, I realize I pretty much have. Weird. But, don't worry there's plenty to look forward to :)
Chapter 2
-Popstar: 10 Months Later-
"There's absolutely no sign of anyone. It seems all has gone according to our plan. We've eliminated the threats, and are planning our steps to eliminate Meta Knight, Kirby, and King Dedede upon their return."
"And what of the other planets? Do we have control of what we need?"
"Yes. We have all control of each planet, including Ripple Star. We also have the resources to summon NOVA if need be."
"Good. Then I suppose the last thing to do is await the return of the other trhee."
-Aboard the Halberd-
"We're almost out of the dimensional portal." This small bit of information immediately cheered up Kirby and King Dedede. Despite the adventures they'd all had at the Super Smash Brothers Brawl tournament, all three looked forward to returning home. Kirby had grown up a lot during the past year, now having gained the ability to speak completely normal, whereas he'd hardly been able to speak a full sentence when he left. Still, the enthusiastic pink puff nearly flew to the front window of the ship, followed not so quickly by the self-proclaimed penguin king. Soon after, they exited the dimensional portal, coming out just outside of Popstar. Kirby couldn't help but squeak in joy at seeing his home planet- both King Dedede and Meta Knight chuckled a bit at this.
"Hurry up and land, Meta Knight, I want to see everybody!"
"I can only land this ship so fast, Kirby. Be patient." Kirby pouted, but continued looking out the large front window. Meta Knight carefully brought the Halberd into the planet's atmosphere. However, though they were still a great distance from the ground, they noticed that something seemed a little off. The ground itself seemed to lack any color; what Meta Knight had sworn was once a large forest was now a barren field of naked gray and brown trees. The ocean far to their left gently lapped at a line of rubble on the once picturesque beach.
"You sure we ain't in the Mirror World somehow?" The masked warrior nodded.
"It would've been noticeable immediately if we accidentally ended up in the Mirror World. Not to mention, the only way to enter is through a mirror, and I doubt we could find a Mirror World portal large enough to fit the Halberd." It was quiet again, but only for a moment.
"Is that Cappytown?" If it hadn't been for the very recognizable look of the land around the area, both Meta Knight and King Dedede would've denied the confirmation. However, the truth was confirmed by the fact that the nearby hill contained the familiar Castle DDD, although it was in pieces itself.
"What happened?" Kirby sounded on the brink of tears, a fact neither the warror nor the self-proclaimed king could blame him for. Before either of them could attempt to say a positive remark to comfort him though, a warning bell went off. Meta Knight quickly checked what it was signalling.
"We're being shot at. You two might want to buckle up." Neither of them made a move- the shock was still too much for them to react. They felt the ship rock momentarily, although faintly, signalling a closer shot.
"Well?" Kirby and King Dedede hurried to buckle up as Meta Knight brought up several other screens, trying to locate where the attacks were coming from. As he was doing so, another alarm went off.
"Meta Knight, there's someone else onboard!" Meta Knight nearly cursed, only half because the pink puff recognized that alarm from previous experience.
"I may actually require assistance." The two quickly got up from their seats, rushing to the monitors.
"What d'ya need us to do, Meta Knight?"
"Kirby, check that monitor there and see if you can figure out where the intruder is. Dedede, you operate the cannon controls once I locate where we're being shot at from." The pink puff and the penguin went over to the seperate areas, after Meta Knight pointed them in the right direction.
"Meta Knight, whoever it is is near the main reactor!"
"Shi-!" The word was lost in an explosion as another impact rocked the ship, and judging by their near loss of balance, very near them.
"What're we gonna do?" Meta Knight thought for a moment.
"We're going to abandon the ship." Immediately after he said this, another warning bell went off, signalling that the main reactor had been destroyed.
"We're an insane height in the air! We ain't gonna survive if we abandon the ship!"
"Listen, the ship is going down anyways. I can make it land on the ground easy enough before the ship takes too much damage. At least, I'm pretty sure I can. Buckle up again, that way if it's a rough landing, no one will get hurt." Kirby and King Dedede buckled up again.
"Kirby, keep an eye on the monitor, in case the intruder decides to come find us."
"Got it." Meta Knight pressed some buttons, bringing the Halberd to a slow halt before steadily bringing it down. New warning bells began to ring out as they descended. The small masked warrior ignored them, concentrating on safely landing before the loudest alarm went off, signalling that all engines would be off, sending them into free fall. For several tense minutes, all that was heard were the various smaller alarms that signalled the failure or damage of smaller areas of the ship. Then, with the ship still a far distance from the ground, an echoing alarm like a nuclear air strike siren pierced through the many corridors of the ship, causing Meta Knight to nearly yell every curse word he'd learned in the Galaxy Soldier Army.
"What's that siren for?"
"That would be the engines. That alarm means that, due to the loss of power from the main reactor, all the engines have now failed."
"Which means what for us?" Meta Knight paused as the electricity flickered in the control room, eventually going out.
"It means hold on tight and hope like hell that the fall doesn't kill us."
"What?" That was the last word said before the Halberd began plummeting to the ground, King Dedede and Kirby holding onto each other, still buckled in and screaming as the ship fell, and Meta Knight holding on to the nearest object, which happened to be the control panel. It took only a few seconds for the airship to hit the ground, which it did with a jarring thud, the force of the impact knocking out all three Dreamlanders immediately.
Don't be afraid to admit it- I bet some of you thought these three wouldn't be in this story at all. I bet I was little misleading on that one XD Anyways, hope you liked this chapter, I'll try to update again soon.
Buick Regal Racecar 56