Kirby: Right Back at Ya! Odyssey of Dreams

by ChronoWeapon

Taking place one year after Nightmare's defeat, Cappy Town is visited by a jester named Marx who intends to rule with eight ancient mystical stones called Dream Stones. Meanwhile, a force far more terrible than Nightmare arrives, known as Dark Matter. Kirby sets out with friends to locate all the Dream Stones to hopefully defeat Marx, the Dark Matter and even a mechanical clone!

25. Ch 24: The Secrets of Yogurt Yard

Kirby: Right Back at Ya!

Odyssey of Dreams

By: ChronoWeapon

Chapter 24: The Secrets of Yogurt Yard

*Tiff's Journal*

"When we first arrived in the Gnarlyvine Jungle, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The Marzipan Ruins were breath taking and I wish I could have shown Mr. Curio. I still don't understand why an ancient tribe would build a structure like the Veluvius Temple inside an active volcano. Regardless, we encountered the next Dream Stone and the guardian. Magmalith was a lot more powerful than we expected, but I was determined to show my merit. Unfortunately, Magmalith cut my time short, but thanks to some quick thinking on Meta Knight's part I recovered and Kirby overcame the guardian in the end. After his defeat I thought we were clear, but then 'he' showed up waiting for us. Marx managed to wrestle away our Dream Stones and used their power to transform. Luckily, Ribbon came up with a brilliant strategy, until I screwed it up that is. You know that saying that you see your life flash before your eyes? I thought I saw my end when Marx attacked me. That is all I can remember, until I saw Meta Knight staring down at me with the others. I'm done playing around. I can't always be the one to get in these situations. My greatest fear here isn't really death anymore it's what could be the cause…"

Tiff

"Now that's what I'm talkin' about, General Dee will be ecstatic when I tell him the news. Now, we have one less headache to worry about and so does Pop Star, but we aren't out of the woods just yet. Anyway, Sir Arthur said something about Yogurt Yard. I heard some nasty things about that place. It's the largest continent on the planet and is rich in resources. General Dee once withdrew our miners from that place and never spoke about it, but placed a sanction on it and warned heavily of danger. This however, caused uproar of a conspiracy, and I heard terrible rumors. One however, strikes me as odd. I heard that some of the Waddlekin Miners and Prospectors never returned from there…, and those who did say nothing. I have a feeling this Dream Stone hunt is about to get much harder."

Waddle Dee

"I didn't now what ta think when Sir Ebrum's daughter nearly bought the farm. I didn't think that any of our enemies would attempt ta kill a little kid! I guess these guys are really playin' hard ball. Luckily, Meta Knight brought her back and I actually felt better. After all that, Sir Arthur mentioned Mecha Kirby again. I'm really regrettin' havin' anything to do with that stupid robot. I found it cool at first, but now it's just plain creepy. I gotta get more info from Escargoon, even if I have to smack him around a little.

The Great King Dedede

"That's one enemy down two to go, but Zero is much more threatening. We need every advantage we can get to face Zero. I never imagined Kirby could release such power, but at least we're all alive. I really thought we lost Tiff back there but Meta Knight managed to pull her through. What a strange guy he is, I'm glad he's on our side though!"

Ribbon

"Ahh, another foe felled by our efforts, my only regret is not finishing Marx by my own hand. I'm very proud of everyone's performance, especially Waddle Dee and Tiff. Waddle Dee was ready to shield a fellow teammate disregarding his safety. However, I must remember that 'teamwork' is one of the major aspects of Waddlekin culture so it's kind of expected. I learned a lot from Sailor Dee while fighting alongside him, our Waddle Dee reminds me of him in many ways. Tiff still needs some polishing, but she has done extremely well staying with us. I truly did not expect her to come this far, but she is maturing quickly, she reminds me of Garlude only younger…"

MK

"Yes, we won, Marx is outta the way and we're one step closer to Zero! I do feel a little guilty over Tiff's little mishap, but Meta Knight told me that these things happen in these situations and no one is responsible. He said that even he still has some trouble with it though. I think I'll talk to Waddle Dee about Yogurt Yard he might be able to tell me what to expect! I overheard that Mecha Kirby is Escargoon's doing, I can't help but shake the feeling that he's hiding something. When the subject comes up, he's strangely quiet."

Adeleine

"Ice skating no good, no fighting power! Ice skating just for fun! Need better power…, Nova very great! Kirby do good today, beat Marx, save Tiff. No friends go away. Kirby keep friends! Kirby…, sleep now…"

Kirby

*Halberd II Encampment*

As Kirby and his friends exited the Halberd II's hull, a dark shroud of clouds enveloped Mt. Veluvius. Then with a fierce explosion, an eel-like red scaled dragon with four emerald green eyes emerged from the peak and coiled itself around the volcano.

Meta Knight glared at the creature, "Another one, this is becoming ridiculous…"

"What do you mean Meta Knight?" Tiff asked curiously in anticipation. "Have you figured out something?"

"Yes actually, with this creature's appearance and the Dark Matter that is now approaching from that direction, I can confirm that these creatures are being placed here on purpose. This is no accident…," Meta Knight deduced.

"Just what are you up to Zero?" Ribbon thought with distress.

Kirby and his team regrouped, Kirby going with Tiff and Dedede while the others made their way to Escargoon's blimp, Kabula. Kirby and his current team members began visiting some familiar faces.

The first stop they made was at the Museum Curator, "Ah, hello child, you look like you have something on your mind," he chuckled. Kirby handed over the Tribal Figurine, "Ah, this was a good luck charm for those who wanted wealth, but it probably doesn't mean much to someone like you. Here take this Silver Mask, it should benefit a large person, it gives the user the deadly Blado Battleaxe!" he said with an excited tone to his voice. Kirby then relinquished the Ornate Headdress, "Ah, this was a headdress once worn by a ceremonial High Priest. They were in charge of performing sacrifices. Here take this Golden Mask, a large person is the only one who can wield the Blatzy Cannon," he informed. Kirby then gave up the Tribal Ceremonial Robe, "Ah, this is the robe worn by the High Priest while performing a sacrifice; it's amazing that there is no blood on this one. Here take this Platinum Mask, a large person can use the Plasma Chainsaw like a broadsword, it can be quite…, powerful!" he chuckled. Thank you for the donations child, your service is greatly appreciated!"

Nearby the Curator, stood a Waddle Dee Postman, he signaled Kirby and his friends over to him. "Ah, there you guys are. Here, this package is from the General!" he said handing over the package. Kirby opened the package and found another Weather Vane that was meant for Waddle Dee with a letter. Ribbon grabbed the letter and read it to the party, "Listen Do-rag, the boys in the garage, Gizmo and Gadget, have finished another Weather Vane and I wanted you to test it so I sent it to you via my postman. Get used to it cause every time I have a new toy for you to test just find the Postman. Anyway, the boys say this Weather Vane makes a heat wave that causes burns and sunstroke. Not to you, to your enemies, if you get the heat stroke, let us know, because that's not supposed to happen. Anyway until next time Do-rag, and thanks a bundle for doin' this!" Ribbon finished as she neatly tucked the note away. "I'll be sure Waddle Dee gets this…"

Kirby then paid a visit to Grill's cohorts, "Hello again, have another coin for Grill?" Salt asked cheerfully. "Now what could you use… ah here we are you can have this Crystallized Grizzo Heart, don't worry its not 'actually' a heart it's a rare gem stone that just looks like one. It doubles the strength of anyone holding it!" he claimed. Kirby took the artifact and gave it to Dedede. "Good luck out there!" the three said I unison.

Kirby made his final major stop, the mystical Shaman, "Ah hello my dear friend, do you have the next volume of the Book of N'or?" he asked eagerly. Kirby handed over the Book of N'or Volume 4. The Shaman took it eagerly, "Ah, the instruction manual to my VCR, I really needed this back, it's a real pain trying to set the clock on that thing!" he said with joy. Kirby and his friends faulted at the Shaman's quirkiness, but in the end decided that it was Tiff's turn to reveal her hidden power. Tiff's eyes beamed with anticipation as her heart rate rose. The Shaman snapped his fingers and Tiff felt a warm sensation explode from the deepest parts of her being. After it settled, her body was outlined with a glowing yellow light.

"How do ya feel girly?" Dedede asked curiously.

Tiff blinked a few times, "Incredible…, this is what I was searching for! This is the power I need to help my friends and my family. I feel great…, better than I have ever felt before, stronger, faster, everything!"

The Shaman chuckled, "See you again soon, real soon!" he said ominously as he vanished into thin air.

Kirby then finally, stocked up on some last minute supplies and went to join up with his friends at Kabula. Upon arriving at Kabula, Kirby's friends were occupied with various self motivated tasks. Then suddenly, Meta Knight's crew approached the party, Captain Vul with a small trunk. Captain Vul walked respectfully up to Meta Knight, "Sir Meta Knight, I noticed the sad state your mask and cape are in after all we've been through and while you were in Mt. Veluvius I found this…"

Meta Knight gripped the trunk with both his hands and placed it on the ground, "If this is what I think it is, then I thank you for retrieving it for me and for keeping it for so long," he said gratefully. Meta Knight opened the trunk and inside, was an old set of armor. A mask much like the one he already wore, except that it was a shiny purple color, sat atop a scarlet colored dimensional cape. "My vintage gear…," Meta Knight said softly.

"What is that stuff Meta Knight?" Tiff asked as everyone crowded around him.

"My vintage gear, rare equipment I earned while training to be a knight…," Meta Knight explained. "This gear was rewarded upon successfully completing every type of course available for all trainees; I was the only one who ever did it. Not because I thought of myself as better than everyone else, but because I felt I could always learn something from every course. When I completed every exercise they awarded me with this armor."

"That's awesome Meta Knight!" Tiff congratulated with admiration.

Everyone stared at Meta Knight waiting for the moment for him to remove his broken mask and reveal his face. Meta Knight suddenly, yanked the scarlet dimensional cape and took cover under it. In what seemed like only a few seconds, Meta Knight revealed himself with his vintage mask on his face and scarlet cape on his back. For whatever reason, Meta Knight's skin color changed from its dark blue color to a darker purple that was almost black. Meta Knight tested his dimensional cape and instead of bat wings, this cape turned into wings that looked like they belonged to a phoenix. Kirby and his friends seemed disappointed, not being able to see his face, but their disappointment was replaced with awe. "Ahh, like revisiting an old friend…," Meta Knight claimed. "Shall we make our way to Yogurt Yard?"

"Sir Meta Knight, if you don't mind," began Sailor Dee. "I can completely repair your other outfit if you'd like, although, they both are merely for aesthetics, not one better than the other. I mean I was wondering if you'd like both outfits in your wardrobe."

"Yes, I would like that," Meta Knight said as he handed his newer but broken armor and cape to Sailor Dee.

"I will do my best, Sir Meta Knight!" saluted Sailor Dee.

The entirety of Meta Knight's crew saluted him, "Long live Sir Meta Knight!" they said in unison. Meta Knight flashed his wings and saluted his crew in a respectful return.

Suddenly, Escargoon started Kabula's engines and he poked his head out the window, "Hey, are you guys getting on or what? We're burning day light here!"

*Kabula*

Ribbon laid all five Dream stones in the center of the room, "Everyone we need to have a group meeting! I think we need to discuss a few things!"

Everyone gathered around, all eager to share their thoughts. Meta Knight spoke his mind first, "I think we should take a closer look into what each of our Dream Stones are capable of."

"Okay let's start there," Ribbon began. "The more of these we collect the more I learn about them so let's try and learn more while we can. Um…, let's start with the Ruby Pumice. Its guardian is Magmalith. Hey Magmalith, you can hear me right, you're still alive aren't you?"

Magmalith's voice resonated from the Ruby Pumice, "Magmalith, live…, all Dream Stone Guardian's spirit bound to Dream Stone. Body regenerate after defeat…, you may challenge us again if you like or need more training…"

"I thought so," Ribbon stated with a smile. "So the Ruby Pumice is a Dream Stone that can deal with the realm of heat and fire?"

"Ruby Pumice can turn ocean to desert, call forth lava, summon fire, and revive or put sleep volcano or even produce limitless geothermal energy," Magmalith elaborated further.

"Okay, now we understand this Dream Stone's power a little better," Ribbon nodded with a smile.

"One last thing, how did you end up at the Veluvius Temple?" Tiff asked curiously.

"Ruby Pumice discovered by ancient Cappy Sage, long ago, placed atop Dream Fountain as good luck charm. All Nightmares that try to escape from fountain not come near Magmalith…," Magmalith explained. "No one challenge Magmalith until you…, when Veluvius erupt, civilization destroyed. If Magmalith defeated earlier, Ruby Pumice could stop Veluvius…"

"So basically, the Ruby Pumice was simply placed on the Dream Fountain for good luck and your sheer strength warded off the Demon Beasts, but when the time came to actually use the Ruby Pumice's power it couldn't be done because no one ever challenged you for its use?" Meta Knight interrogated.

"Strange, I thought the Sage's captured you guys and put you in charge of protecting the Dream Stones," Ribbon said quizzically.

"No, Magmalith always guardian, had nothing to do with Sage…," Magmalith stated flatly.

"Could what Grill told us back at the Butter Building be…, incorrect?" Waddle Dee asked worriedly.

"Um…, thank you Magmalith, let's go to the next stone shall we?" Ribbon said as she picked up the Sunstone Schist. "Now, we don't know much about this one, won't you tell us a little about yourself?"

Dyna Ra's majestic voice echoed, "Ah, I was beginning to get a little lonely. You want to know about this stone correct? The Sunstone Schist can manipulate solar power, and change night into day at anytime. It mostly affects the realm of 'light' and everything to do with light. In addition, it can grant a potential boost much like the Amethyst Aggregate."

"Um, how did you end up at the top of Skyline Tower?" Waddle Dee asked eagerly.

The Skyline Tower was crafted by the elementals, but the Dream Fountain was placed by someone else and the Dream Stone was placed by your people. I believe it was the Waddlekin Sages that placed it there," Dyna Ra explained.

Waddle Dee became confused, "What, but that's impossible, unless…, the sages got there much earlier than our faction!"

"Shortly after your sages placed the Sunstone there, the elementals got into an argument and confiscated the top of the tower, taking it back to their realm and the Sunstone Schist with it," Dyna Ra explained.

"I wonder what kind of skirmish the elementals had…," Waddle Dee asked rhetorically.

"Wow, we just learned some valuable history there!" Ribbon said ecstatically as she placed the Sunstone Schist on the floor. "Now for the Citrine Sandstone, hey Biggolem, what's your story?"

Biggolem moaned, "You want to know a few things, huh? I already told you about this Dream Stone's power; it has the ability to manipulate landscapes, change earths and minerals. If something is crafted from any kind of mineral, this Dream Stone can change it or move it in some way, shape or form. As for ending up at that citadel, hah, the Citrine Sandstone was always with Fry. Even before he came to Sand Canyon, he had it with him. However, contrary to his madness he did not create the stone. Such a low level magician could not do that…"

"So wait, Fry didn't create the Citrine Sandstone?" Dedede asked confused. "But he was layin' claim that it was made by him when we fought him!"

"No, Fry was credited by the people with its creation he only carried it with him. He decided to keep the lie going and after awhile, he believed it, even after he became that undead monstrosity...," Biggolem explained with a chuckle.

"Then that means Grill's info was wrong after all!" Dedede concluded with frustration.

"So wait, if Fry didn't create the Dream Stone, who gave it to him?" Meta Knight asked.

Meta Knight was met with a pause, "You know, it's been so long I don't remember anymore, I wonder why…"

"…," Meta Knight groaned.

"Okay, next one, the Sapphire Pearl," Ribbon said eagerly. "Tell us everything Amoebeo!"

Amoebeo's voice came forth, "Ah, well, as I said before, the Sapphire Pearl is the Dream Stone of water, it can manipulate anything that has to do with it, including vaporize and freeze it! You can flood places to create new bodies of water and even use its power to purify stagnated or polluted water. As for the origin, the Sapphire Pearl was given to the Mermaids, and once the people of Ripple Field met them, the Dream Stone was to be presented as a gift of friendship. However, it was taken by a greedy person, not forged by a Sage, and used as a center piece in the Water Palace; I believe you know the rest of the story…"

"This one seems accurate then, I guess not all the Dream Stones were shrouded by lies and falsehoods," Adeleine stated.

Meta Knight glared at the last Dream Stone, the Amethyst Aggregate, "I've been curious for a while now, but who is the Guardian for this Dream Stone? It was the first one we encountered yet we know nothing about it…"

"You're not the only one, Meta Knight," Ribbon said as she picked it up. Ribbon tried to contact the spirit within the stone but she received no response. "That's so strange, was this stone not guarded?"

After Ribbons comment, the Dream Stone Guardians began mumbling amongst each other until Magmalith spoke above them, "You already defeat that Guardian…, after Magmalith…"

Suddenly, Kirby and his friends were stunned as they put the pieces together, "Marx…, is the guardian of the Amethyst Aggregate?!" everyone said in unison.

"Wait, if Marx is the guardian why isn't he answering me?" Ribbon asked curiously. "I mean his spirit should have a few choice words for us if he's in there!"

"If he doesn't answer, then he wasn't killed after his defeat…, he's still alive," Biggolem stated.

Ribbon dropped the Amethyst on the ground in shock, "But…, we saw him die… no one could live through that!"

"It wouldn't matter either way," Biggolem started. "Even if you vaporized his body, his spirit would return to the Amethyst Aggregate and he would regenerate."

"This doesn't make sense, why is 'he' the guardian?!" Ribbon asked irately.

"Because he ousted the former guardian," Amoebeo stated, "He was boasting about it since he stole the Sapphire Pearl back in Citrine City."

"Who was the former guardian?" Ribbon asked anxiously.

Biggolem sighed, "Why don't you ask your big blue friend over there, he ate him, or at least what was left of him."

Dedede gulped nervously as he recalled the last creature he ate, "Ya mean, that cake monster back in the Castle of Cake was the former guardian?!"

"Yup, and you ate him…" Biggolem stated. "Great job on that…"

Dedede riled in a grossed out stupor, "I can't believe I did that!" he whimpered. As he continued to rile uncomfortably, Dedede began to cough uncomfortably, until finally, he coughed up another wax birthday candle. "What in the world, another candle?"

The wax candle gathered everyone's attention as it lit its own wick and a voice came from it, "Woah, I survived being eaten!"

"Bundt, you're alive?" Biggolem asked surprised.

"Apparently, good thing this wax isn't digestible," Bundt said just as surprised. "Anyway, you guys asked about the Amethyst Aggregate? That stone can, just like big bird over there said, improve a person's potential in whatever task they are carrying out, but its real gimmick is the ability to manipulate gravity, voids, and shadows! Okay, now that you know what it does, can you like, put me in a cupcake or something?"

"So how does Marx have the guardianship now?" Tiff asked intently.

"Oh, that, well the Amethyst ended up on that island a long time ago, carried by a sage from Marx's tribe and the people sorta took a liking to my appearance so the whole populace kinda got a big sweet tooth!" Bundt explained joyfully. "Anyway, as for that Marx guy, he was always nuts, at least when I met him he was. He ousted everyone from that castle I was in and just took over. After I told him about the story of the Dream Stones, he started making outrageous claims! He then, did the worst thing ever; he removed me from me from my position as guardian with his magic and cast me into that hole I was in! Then he took off with the Dream Stone and the title as Guardian and then tubby here chomps down on me!"

Dedede blushed, "Eh, sorry 'bout that!" he said as he attempted to hide his mistake.

"So wait, the Dream Stones were not created by powerful Sages then?" Meta Knight asked curiously.

"Not that I know of, even we don't remember our own birth!" Bundt chuckled. "I know, ironic for a creature that takes the form of a birthday cake, huh? Uh, I'll also be taking back my Guardianship of the Amethyst if you don't mind," Bundt said as both the candle and the Dream Stone glowed simultaneously. Then the candle suddenly vanished, "Ah, that's better, I guess I won't need that cupcake after all!"

"That was pretty neat!" Dedede said impressed.

"I have one more question," Ribbon asked. "What are your policies on 'theft'?"

"The Dream Stones will not work for ones who do not challenge another for them even after the guardian has been defeated," Amoebeo claimed.

"That sounds right," Meta Knight began. "I fought Marx when I first met him and took the Amethyst as the prize."

"So that's why Lord Daroach couldn't use them in the Sand Canyon Colosseum!" Adeleine pointed out. "He stole them while we slept, instead of fighting us for them!"

"That's also why Mecha Kirby and Marx could still use them after the struggle at Citrine City," Tiff deduced. "And after washing us out in the jungle. They were sneak attacks, but apparently, they still counted."

Suddenly, Escargoon drew everyone's attention, "Hey brats, we're here at Yogurt Yard, the largest landmass on the planet…"

*Yogurt Yard, Mallow Marshes*

Kabula's engines quieted as Kirby's party examined the surrounding swamplands. The swamp was filled with cattails, tall weeds, exotic flowers, weeping willows, other gnarly trees, puddles of water and most of all, sticky thick muck. Tiff noticed a rancid stench, "Yuck, is this really Yogurt Yard?" she asked covering her nose.

Escargoon replied aptly, "Well, these are the Mallow Marshes, a sort of sub section of Yogurt Yard. I have extended family that lives here in these marshes. If we all get going, we can get to the village, but don't tread too fast or you'll end up gettin' 'swallowed' by muck pits."

"Are you from here Escargoon?" Dedede asked with a grimace.

"Well yes sire, thank you for askin', but generally this is where my species has been for, well, ever really," Escargoon retorted.

Kirby turned and noticed Ribbon looking into the Dream Stones, "What Ribbon doing?" he asked with a smile.

"Oh, I was just curious about what Sir Arthur told us…," Ribbon stated as she noticed Kirby.

Adeleine approached Ribbon with a curious expression, "Curious about what Ribbon?"

"Well, these Dream Stones told us their location by how close we were to them, but this time we had to 'backtrack' and come back this way and that's when I remembered something…," Ribbon explained anxiously.

Waddle Dee threw his own thoughts into he mix, "I get it, remember when we left Cloudy Park and she was attempting to find the next stone? I remember the Dream Stones 'skipped' like a needle on a bad record. Then we were suddenly shown the Marzipan City Ruins and Mt. Veluvius in the Gnarlyvine Jungle."

"The skip bothered me, and it has been ever since," Ribbon claimed nervously. Then suddenly, her expression sank into surprise at the image broadcasted in the stones, "That can't be right…!"

"What, what is it?" Adeleine asked as she gulped a mouthful of saliva.

"The Dream Stones indicate that the nearest stone is found in a land of ice!" Ribbon observed with a cold sweat.

Dedede waddled up to the stones and gazed into them, "Hey, that's Rainbow Resort!"

"Rainbow Resort, that's impossible, that's like at the edge of the planet, it's even further from here than the Gnarlyvine Jungle!" Waddle Dee claimed in astonishment.

"So I was right, something is wrong…," Ribbon worried.

Tiff thought for a second and then it hit her, "I wonder if something is blocking the signal, y'know like someone might have found it and is hiding in a chest made out of a material that is dense enough to cut it off from the others."

"That's a good possibility…," Ribbon said lightening up a little.

"Alright that's enough chit-chat ya little brats," Escargoon stated with urgency. "It'll start getting dark soon so we better start heading towards town! You really don't want to be out here during the night hours even if you're nocturnal…"

"Escargoon is right," Meta Knight said with anticipation.

"What's wrong Meta Knight you seem…, distant, all of a sudden…" Tiff asked with worry.

"I sense something…, bad here," Meta Knight claimed with a sense of unease.

"W-what do you mean…, bad exactly?" Waddle Dee asked nervously.

"Mecha Kirby must be here after all, in these lands," Meta Knight stated with caution. "I'm getting bad vibes, the ambience is off. It feels like something is creeping down from the mountains of Yogurt Yard and even 'beneath' it". Waddle Dee, you know the most about this planet's landscapes, I want to know everything you know."

Waddle Dee thought deeply for a moment, looking for a good place to start, "Well, Yogurt Yard is the largest landmass on Pop Star and is a treasure trove of minerals. Naturally, it is mostly nothing but miles upon miles of rocky terrain and mountain ranges with a mazelike network of caverns below. According to Professor Doo, we haven't even explored as much as a single percent of its mass and tapped into even less when it comes to resources. This info of course, goes against the views of another faction that opposes General Dee."

Meta Knight stared at Waddle Dee, "We have enemies camping out here as well?"

Waddle Dee continued as he cleared his throat, "Well, about ten years ago or so, General Dee, along with Argent Lady Sylvanya and Trade Regent Chapman, the Cappy leader of Rainbow Resort sent miners and prospectors to survey the area. For a short while, maybe a month or so, we collected an incredible amount of useful minerals. Then suddenly, all production stopped and General Dee and Admiral Doo pulled back our own miners followed by the Trade Regent and the Argent Lady. General Dee publicly announced that all Waddlekin avoid the place and those who enter do so at their own risk. During this announcement, he claimed the Eco Terrorists, the Venture Coalition, attacked our miners with explosives claiming they were endangering the environment. However, reports of the miner casualties proved that no one was killed by use of explosives, but General Dee and Admiral Doo remain silent as do the miners that came back alive. Argent Lady Sylvanya and Trade Regent Chapman also have a code of silence."

"So, my feeling of blood lust is correct after all, but Mecha Kirby is not the cause as I initially believed," Meta Knight stated.

Then suddenly, Kirby walked away from the group a few steps, "Kirby…, hear something strange…," he said listening hard to his surroundings.

"Kirby, what do hear, what does it sound like?" Tiff asked curiously.

"Thump, thump, thump…," Kirby sounded.

"Ribbon, I will go and check it out," Meta Knight stated. "Waddle Dee, Adeleine, if you would, I would like you to accompany me."

Adeleine and Waddle Dee agreed and Ribbon flew up to Meta Knight, "The others and I will head to the village then, I'll teleport you there once we get there and as soon as you finish checking out the disturbance."

"Good girl, Kirby, get going, I'm sure Escargoon knows the way," Meta Knight said as he and Waddle Dee and Adeleine went off to find the disturbance.

Escargoon took the spotlight, "Come on guys, the village is just up the road from here, like I said it'll be night soon."

*Mallow Marshes, Meta Knight*

"Jeez, the creatures here are tough!" Waddle Dee claimed short of breath.

"We are close do you hear that loud thumping noise?" Adeleine asked while in Ice Dragon form, eventually reverting back to normal.

"Yes, come this way…," Meta Knight said as the party continued. Shortly after, Meta Knight caught the sight of an unnatural object emerge from the brush. The party found themselves in a small clearing with a tall and very strange metallic mechanized tower. It was very simple in design and its only function seemed to be using a pole-like protrusion to slam against the ground.

"What is this machine; I've never seen anything like it!" Waddle Dee asked hoping his friends might know something.

"It looks like an oil drilling device, albeit a small one…" Adeleine studied intently.

Meta Knight approached the strange machine, "It resembles one, but it's not harvesting anything. There are no holding tanks to contain any material. This machine is also moving in timed intervals, slamming the ground, but why?"

Adeleine analyzed her surroundings suspiciously, "Hey, did anybody notice that the beasts and creatures stay away from this machine? I haven't seen a single animal since we arrived and the swamplands are silent with the exception for this noise this machine is making."

"That's it," Meta Knight said with a stroke of realization. "This machine is a deterrent device it makes a sound that resembles something large moving through the swamp so the wildlife stays away."

"Well it's a great relief that this thing is harmless then!" Waddle Dee said with a smile.

"That is one thing, but the next is who made it?" Meta Knight asked rhetorically.

"Not only that, Meta Knight, but I think this machine had a more specific purpose," Adeleine considered sharply.

"What do you mean, Adeleine," Meta Knight asked with interest.

"This machine hits the ground, forcefully…," Adeleine evaluated keenly. "That type of tactic is meant to deter subterranean creatures. The others stay away as well as a sort of bonus, but unintentional."

Meta Knight sighed, "Well, we've seen all we have here let us wait for Ribbon to contact us."

*Mallow Marshes, Kirby*

As Kirby's party headed towards the village they caught sight of a sleeping Grizzo with a very unusual feature. "Hey, what's wrong with that Grizzo's right rear leg?" Tiff pointed out attentively.

Escargoon gazed deeply at the mammals leg and then he realized what was wrong with its leg, "T-that's a cybernetic prosthetic!" his said in awe.

Then suddenly, a snail just like Escargoon came from the brush, he had a country style bumpkin appearance to him, "Here ya are girl, ya takin' a nice nap all the way out here?" he said placing a leash around the Grizzo's neck. Kirby's party then gained his attention, "Oh, what do we have here? Well if it ain't ol' Escargoon, I haven't seen ya in ages! Well what are ya waitin' fer, bring yerself and yer friends down ta the village everybody'd be glad ta see ya!"

Escargoon replied with slight embarrassment, "Well, thanks for the warm welcome cousin, we were stopping by anyway…" he chuckled uneasily.

*End of Chapter*