Chapter 26: Sora's Dreamland Adventure Part 4
Sora's group along with Meta-Knight made their way to the Fountain of Dreams. The heartless came at them in numbers, but Sora and his gang quickly finished them off with the help of Meta-Knight.
Sora: How much farther?
Meta-Knight: Not too far. We can only hope that the king hasn't gotten to the fountain yet. If he gets the Star Rod, Nightmare will be revived and we'll be in grave danger. Dedede is simply the puppet in Nightmare and Ganondorf's plot.
Dizzy: Then, why Tiff and Kirby involved?
Meta-Knight: Because only one with a pure heart can release the Star Rod from it's location. I'm not sure why Kirby or even Tiff would ever fall for something pulled by the king. Unless...Dedede must be using Kirby as a bait to lure Tiff into his hands. We must hurry.
The group left for the Fountain of Dreams in a hurry. Meanwhile, Tiff and Kirby arrived at the Fountain of Dreams with Dedede and Escargoon.
Tiff: Are you sure about this, Dedede? If we take the Star Rod off the fountain, I hear that bad things will happen.
Dedede: Well, don't worry, Tiff. Nightmare is long gone. Just pull the Star Rod off the Fountain of Dreams and may all of your dreams come true.
Tiff: OK. If you say so.
As she and Kirby walked up the fountain, they could hear voices in their heads telling them to stop, but they proceeded. As they reached the top of the fountain, they looked at the Star Rod. It has pink and white stripes and a Star on top.
Tiff: It sure is beautiful.
They both pulled it out of the fountain. Just then, the heartless appeared around them and took the Star Rod out of their hands.
Tiff: Oh. no. Not those things again.
Suddenly, they heard Dedede and Escargoon laugh.
Dedede: Well done, Ms. Tiff. You served your purpose pretty well.
Tiff: Dedede! Why are you doing this?
Dedede: Simple. With your dear old daddy giving you strict orders, I knew that the stress would go to your head. And with Kirby as part of the plan, I would get you to personally hand me the Star Rod, and I thank you my dear.
Tiff put her hands over her eyes, crying.
Tiff: How could I let this happen? Because of me, Dreamland is in grave danger.
Dedede: And now with the Star Rod in hand, I shall get rid of Kirby once and for all.
He turned to Escargoon.
Dedede: Find that keyhole, Escargoon.
Escargoon nodded and looked around. The heartless threw the Star Rod to Dedede. He fired a star out of the rod, which hits Kirby, sending him flying into the fountain. Dedede was about to deliver the finishing blow when Sir Ebrum grabbed his arm. Tiff gasped happily upon seeing her father.
Tiff: Daddy!
Dedede: Get off me, you old fool!
He grabbed Ebrum and smacked him aside into the fountain. The monster inside of Ebrum escaped from him. It was a black monster with an eye and orange spheres on it's back. It flew away. Tiff ran to her father and embraced him.
Tiff: Daddy, I'm sorry.
Ebrum: Don't worry about it, Tiff. I'm sorry I yelled child. I found out that a monster was tampering with my emotions. I always trust you darling and I love you. No matter what happens to us, you'll always be my daughter. The best daughter a father could ever ask for.
Tiff hugged her father and sniffled.
Dedede: Bah, you can't stop me now. If Kirby can't stop me, who can?
?: All of us!
Dedede turned to an angry mob of Cappies with Lady Like, Tuff, Rick, and the twins.
Tiff: Mom, Tuff, Rick, Fololo, Falala! You all came.
Tuff: We're always here for you sis.
Rick: And we're going to help fight against Dedede.
Dedede broke into laughter.
Dedede: You're all going to defeat me? I have the Star Rod now.
He then sent a wave at the Cappies, knocking them down. He turned to Tiff.
Dedede: Now, you want to see other worlds, right? Well, prepare for a one-way ticket to the world of the heartless.
Escargoon returns to Dedede.
Escargoon: Um, Sire. They keyhole isn't here.
Dedede: WHAT?
He grabs Escargoon by the neck.
Dedede: What do you mean it's not here? It's suppose to be here. My calculation-
Escargoon: Sire, you don't even know what the word calculation means. You made a big mistake.
Dedede: I never made a mistake! I know for a fact that...
He then stops upon hearing running footsteps. He turned to see Sora and the gang enter.
Dedede: Great, just when things are starting to get good.
He turns to Sora and the gang.
Dedede: You're a bit late, boy. So why don't you turn back now? You can't beat me. Escargoon, to the tank!
The bad guys quickly ran away and got into a tank that had the colors of Dedede's robe on it.
Escargoon: I still can't believe you kept this thing after getting that limo.
The bad guys drove away. Sora ran up to the fountain of dreams and looked up.
Sora: We're too late. He got the Star Rod.
Meta-Knight left in the shadows and his cape flew up. Plucky saw Kirby on the ground and ran over to him. He used Cure to heal Kirby. Sora ran over to Tiff and Ebrum who were still in the fountain.
Sora: Are you guys alright?
Ebrum: We're fine, lad. I'm sorry about the way I've been acting.
Sora: It's OK, sir. We know that you were manipulated by those goons and that is why we stayed. We just had to help and we'd risk the rule of the world order to save you guys.
Tiff: Thanks, Sora.
She kissed Sora on the cheek, causing him to blush.
Tiff: How did you find us?
Sora: Meta-Knight told us.
Dizzy: Meta-Knight gone.
Sora turned to notice that Meta-Knight was no where in sight.
Sora: I wonder where he went?
Kirby ran up to Sora and jumped into his arms.
Sora: Kirby, you're OK.
Dizzy grumbled a bit again, but then got back on topic.
Dizzy: What happen here?
Tiff explains to Sora's group about what happened, from Dedede tricking her and Kirby to Kirby fighting Dedede.
Plucky: So, that big penguin tricked you into coming here?
Tiff: Yeah. He's become more powerful now that he has the Star Rod in his hands.
Lady Like: Oh dear, that terrible king. I knew he was up to somethin.
Ebrum: We must get the Star Rod back, before the citizens of Dreamland will have nightmares.
Sora: We'll deal with Dedede. We're the only ones who can stop him now.
Ebrum: Thank you, child. Words alone cannot describe how much you've done for us already. Please be careful.
Sora: Let's go, guys.
The trio began to leave, but Kirby stopped them and jumped up.
Sora: Kirby? You wanna come with us?
Tiff: He feels like he did something wrong. He may be like an infant, but he still knows when he did something wrong. I'm coming too. This is all our fault. We have to stop Dedede.
Plucky: But your dad-
Ebrum: I don't mind. Tiff could come up with some battle strategies for your victory against the king.
Fololo & Falala: We'll help, too! We're behind you all the way.
Tuff: Count me in as well.
Rick: Me too, mates.
Sora: Then we'll all fight as one!
Plucky and Dizzy also cheered.
Ebrum: Young ones. The only way to weaken the power of the Star Rod is to hit it with magic spells.
Sora: You can count on me and Plucky to get the job done.
Our heroes headed towards the castle while the Cappies helped Ebrum up to bring him back home. Unknown to everyone, a weird shadow has crept it's way into the fountain. Sora and the rest of the gang battled heartless along the way. Kirby even swallowed the Yellow Operas to become Plasma Kirby. He gained a tiara with green electricity on it. He charged up to level five and unleashed the Plasma Wave. After finishing off the heartless, they arrived in the castle. There, they battled more heartless. Sora even called upon his summons to help in battle. Finally, they arrived to the front door of the throne room.
Sora: So this is the throne room?
Tiff: Yes. Let's go inside.
Inside the throne room, Dedede was at his throne looking at the Star Rod
Dedede: Ah, victory never smelled sweet. Wait, it's not victory. There's a pie underneath my seat.
He pulled out the pie under his throne and ate it.
Dedede: Now, what should I do to my loyal subjects? Have them all perform ballet form me? Or should I have them destroy Kirby? Wait, I've got an idea.
Escargoon: That walnut sized brain of yours just came up with an idea?
Dedede: Your insults won't work on me, because I'm going to have the whole town...no, all of Dreamland destroy Kirby.
?:(Mexican accent)Not while I'm around.
Dedede turned to notice Meta-Knight entering the room with his sword out.
Dedede: Well, if it isn't the traitor, Meta-Knight.
Meta-Knight: Sword, Blade, and myself would never bow to you. You're being used by Ganondorf and Nightmare. They're leading you right into their hands. Please hand over the Star Rod.
Dedede: Listen, buddy. You're not gonna trick me into handing over the Star Rod. You gotta get up pretty early in the morning to fool old Dedede.
Escargoon: Or at least until lunch time.
Dedede: I heard that, you fool.
Meta-Knight: If I can't get through to you with words, then I'll have to fight you.
Dedede: I don't need to fight you. Sword and Blade will take care of you.
Meta-Knight's eyes widened upon seeing his closest friends ready to attack him. He felt his heart sink that Dedede has gone to great lengths to take the Star Rod. Meta- Knight did not wish to attack the first friends he ever had. Sword knocks Meta-Knight's sword, the Galaxia out of his hand, and Blade slashed him into the wall. The two knights continued to slash him while he cried in pain. Suddenly, Sora's group enters the room.
Tiff: Leave him alone!
Dedede: Great. It's that meddling key brat and his friends.
Sora ran over to where Meta-Knight was and knocked out both sword knights.
Sora: Meta-Knight! Are you alright?
Meta-Knight: I'm fine, Sora. Don't worry about me.
Tiff and Tuff ran up to Meta-Knight and helped him up.
Tiff: It's OK, we're here now.
Meta-Knight: Thank you.
Inside his mask, a tear fell down his face as he has never seen love from people who actually cared for him. For the first time ever, he has experienced an emotion he never thought possible.
Meta-Knight: Kirby! Take my sword!
Meta-Knight threw his sword at Kirby who ate it.
Kirby spins into the air and flashed. He jumped back down and was now wearing a green hat. Kirby took out Galaxia and held it ready to fight.
Meta-Knight: This would normally be Sword Kirby, but when he absorbed my sword, he becomes Galaxia Kirby. He's twice as powerful as Sword Kirby.
Plucky: Give it up, chubby. You can't run from us.
Fololo & Falala: You're finished!
Dedede: Not on my watch.
Dedede took out the Star Rod and fired a wave which sends Tiff, Tuff, Rick, the twins, and Meta-Knight flying into a wall. A cage then fell on top of them.
Tuff: We're trapped.
Tiff: Dedede, let us out of here!
Escargoon: Sorry sweet cheeks. We'll release you after we defeat your friends.
Plucky: This is some world we've encountered. It feels like an international world in one. A knight boy who sounds like he's Mexican, a hamster with an Australian accent, and now a penguin who sounds like a hillbilly.
Sora: Plucky, Dizzy, you two deal with Dedede while me and Kirby deal with Sword and Blade.
Plucky: Great, leave it to us to fight the tougher guy.
Sora: Plucky, we have to use magic to weaken the Star Rod. Remember?
Plucky: Oh, yeah!
Sora uses the Dino Egg to release Yoshi. Sora, Yoshi, and Kirby clashed with both Sword and Blade. Sword slashed at Sora who rolled out of the way. Sora clashed with Sword again as the two jumped up. Yoshi came charging in and rammed his head against Sword, knocking his sword out.
Sora: Thanks, Yoshi.
Yoshi: No problem.
Rick: Hurry! Get that thing off his neck!
Sora slashed the weird collar around Sword's neck, causing Sword to look around in confusion.
Sword: Where am I? What happened?
Sora: Long story short, Dedede had you under control.
Sword: Oh, well, then I'll help anyway I can.
Kirby was clashing with Blade with the Galaxia. Blade struck hard at Kirby, sending him rolling back. Kirby got back up and slashed back at Blade, rolling him back too. He got back up and the two clashed swords again. Suddenly, the collar around Blade fell off, and he returns to normal.
Blade: What happened?
Sword: We were under a spell by the king, but Kirby and that spiky haired kid saved us.
Blade: Then let's take the king down.
Before they could move, the heartless appeared in front of the cage holding their friends.
Sword: How about we take these creatures out first?
Blade: You got it.
The two knights charged at the heartless while Plucky shot Fira at Dedede who dodged the attack.
Plucky: How can I miss something that big? He makes Dizzy look like he's on a diet.
Dedede: Years of practice being huge. Is that all you got ducky?
He keeps dodging Plucky's attacks but didn't pay attention to Dizzy, who rammed his head on the king.
Dedede: Hey, watch where you're going, you little devil.
Plucky took the chance to cast Blizzara at the rod which glowed.
Dedede: Hey, cut it out!
He then saw Sora, Yoshi, and Kirby run up to join the fight.
Dedede: I guess you three took care of Sword and Blade, huh? Well, it doesn't matter, because I'm going to take you all out myself.
Dedede pressed a button on his throne, and the throne room changed into a wrestling arena.
Dedede: Behold, my fighting arena.
Sora and the gang noticed signs everywhere that said Dedede rocks. He looked down to see a picture of Dedede in the middle giving a peace sign.
Sora: What's with the wrestling arena?
Dedede: I'd figure it would be the perfect place where your pathetic friends could watch your downfall in a big arena.
Sora and the gang looked out of the arena to see audience seats filled with the twins, Tiff, Tuff, Rick, and the three knights all tied up.
Plucky: LET THEM GO!
Dedede: Now, let the fun begin!
Sora, Kirby, and the rest of the gang charged at Dedede. Sora attacks with the keyblade, but Dedede blocks the attack and threw him across the arena. Plucky used Fira at Dedede which Dedede dodged. Dedede then body slams Plucky, crushing him. Yoshi and Dizzy charged at Dedede, but he dodges them and used his big stomach to belly bump them. Kirby tried to suck up the Star Rod, but Dedede held onto it.
Dedede: Let me show you a real Inhale, Kirby.
Dedede opened his mouth and sucked Kirby into his mouth. Dedede then spits out Kirby, sending him towards Yoshi and Dizzy. The three of them fell back.
Plucky: He's too strong. We are no match for him.
Sora: We have to try harder, Plucky. We'll have to use our Fira and Blizzara combination.
Sora and Plucky then used Fira and Blizzara at Dedede. He tried to dodge them, but on of the fireballs hit the Star Rod, causing it to react. The Star Rod sent little stars all over the place. Yoshi swallowed as many of them as he can, turning them into eggs. He threw his eggs at Dedede, doing some damage to him. Sora follows up with the Sonic Blade attack, doing some serious damage to Dedede and knocking him out of the arena.
Sora: Now it's all yours, Kirby.
Kirby then charges up the Galaxia and prepares a Sword Beam. He unleashed the attack shaped like a crescent beam, as it went towards Dedede. Dedede hides behind Escargoon.
Escargoon: Sire, what are you doing?
Dedede: You are my loyal servant, so you must protect me.
Escargoon: I'm loyal, but not that loyal.
Escargoon struggled trying to get free, but the Sword Beam hits both Dedede and Escargoon. The resulting explosion sent them both flying and Dedede dropped the Star Rod. Everyone cheered and the room returned to normal and everyone was freed. Kirby reverts back to normal and his group runs over to him, congratulating him. Plucky and Dizzy ran into Sora's arms and hugged him.
Plucky: You did it, kid!
Dizzy: Sora won!
Sora: I didn't do it alone. I had help from you guys and Kirby.
He turned to Kirby.
Sora: Thanks, Kirby!
Kirby: Poyo!
Tuff: You rocked the house, Kirby!
Tiff: Thankfully we can now bring peace back to Dreamland.
Sword: Meta-Knight, can you ever forgive us?
Meta-Knight: It's OK. You were under a spell by the king, so it's really his fault.
Rick: We should return the Star Rod back to the Fountain of Dreams.
Sora: Right. Back to the Fountain of Dreams.
Everybody takes a long trip back to the Fountain of Dreams.
That's it for chapter 26. OK, I lied that this chapter would be the finale of the Dreamland arc. The next chapter will be the real finale.