Orange peaks swam in his vision, his eyes wide with terror. Everywhere Kirby looked, all he saw was fire. Around him, flames clung to the trees, lapping against the wood, even as bits and branches came crashing down. A dark cloud hovered high over the treetops, blocking any light from seeping through. The shadows around him grew bigger and smaller, in constant motion as the fire raged. His head spun, the smell of smoke creeping in and filling up his nose, each crackle and pop like claps of thunder echoing in the burning forest.
To his left, something creaked. Kirby jumped away with a squeak. His back slammed into a tree, and it shuddered. He barely had time to turn around before he heard something snap. Splinters flew into the air, glowing bright red before disappearing into the grass, and flames trailed behind a tree as it fell. A loud crash rang out, and several more trees toppled over.
Kirby glanced around, frantic. No matter where he turned, the fire loomed over him.
This was supposed to be an arena! he thought, and he trembled. What happened to the bright lights, to the crowds? Where did all the trees come from? Why is everything on fire?
Kirby's gaze flew around in a desperate search. His eyes swept all around him, streaks of red and orange dripping down the trees like juice. He looked one way. The burning forest stretched on forever. He looked the other way, but not a single soul was in sight.
He sucked in great, gasping breaths. Heat poured into his mouth, searing his tongue. His lungs burned as he coughed. Then, a glimmer shone in the corner of his eye.
Kirby looked up. There, just out of reach, he saw a light. It was small, barely bigger than his own stubby arm, but it was there.
Suddenly, he found himself back on the Halberd. The ship had fallen into the ocean years ago, and yet, here he was.
Outside the windows, he saw the sea, the orange light of the sun stretched over the water, growing closer by the second. The sharp wail of the alarms echoed in the tight metal corridors, ringing and pounding on his head, and the faint tang of smoke left a stinging smell in the air. At the end of the hall, he could see the clouds rush by, his only chance of escaping shrinking with them.
A cry for help startled him. Kirby glanced over, but a curtain of flames blocked his path. He peered through the hazy and flickering wall of red and yellow. He could barely make out a Waddle Dee, huddled against the wall as the fire inched closer.
The Waddle Dee noticed him looking. Their eyes met, and the Waddle Dee's eyes brightened. Something flickered in them: hope.
Kirby couldn't find it in himself to leave him behind.
He sucked in a mouthful of air. The heat burned. Kirby winced, but he pressed down on it. His foot slid back. His eyes narrowed. A doubt flickered in his mind. If he tried to get through, he'd get burned.
He crushed that thought and pushed through. The flames swept aside as he jumped. He reached out to grab the Waddle Dee's outstretched arms.
Then the flames behind him leaped up and grabbed hold of him. They raced up his feet, and Kirby cried out in pain. It was like he was being stabbed all over with a million tiny needles, eating away at his flesh. He fell flat on his face. The fire only washed over him even faster.
Kirby rolled away, and the flames extinguished with a hiss. His body still hurt all over, a dull throbbing feeling sticking onto him like honey. As he tried to catch his breath, a shadow fell over him.
Instinct yelled at him to move. He rolled again. Dead leaves flew up in his face, and as he spat them out of his mouth, he looked up. Blue & Stabby looked back at him, his sword glazed with a red glow.
Kirby barely had enough time to duck before Blue & Stabby thrust again. His sword sailed over Kirby's head. Blue & Stabby widened his eyes, and his mouth opened. Something solid formed in Kirby's hand. Without thinking, he swung it forward.
The hammer slammed into Blue & Stabby's stomach with a crack. Kirby caught a glimpse of Blue & Stabby's face, his eyes almost bulging, his mouth wide open as all the breath rushed out of him.
Then, Blue & Stabby became Blue & Blurry, screaming as he flew into the air. The flaming branches snapped as he sailed past the trees, breaking out of the burning forest. He flailed his arms as his sword was ripped from his hands, shrinking to the size of a bug in seconds before he was engulfed in an explosion of colors.
Kirby shielded his eyes from the light as it washed over the stage. When it faded, he pulled his arm away from his face. Blue & Stabby's sword lay on the ground, abandoned. A guilty pang strunk him, but as he watched the sword disappear, following its wielder into the blast zone, he pushed it away.
He attacked first. I had to do it, Kirby tried to tell himself. The guilty pang lessened, and he sighed. This is how things are now.
Anyone who was expecting some sort of joke here, I'm sorry to disappoint. I like to write my chapters a day ahead, and proofread the next day, so I actually wrote this on March 31st, and it doesn't count.
Honestly, this is probably for the best. I'm the least funniest person I know. But Brotherhood of Smash will get an update tomorrow, so if I think of anything by then, you'll know. And it's probably going to be something super dumb.
Expect an update next week. I'd just like to get this finished, and I wish you all well in these troubling times.