Chapter 67: A Mess of Power - Part 5

"What?!" exclaimed Kirby and Chuchu together. Chuchu, however, continued, "Gooey, how much do you know about Galaxia?"

"Not much," admitted Gooey. "What I just told you is about it. But I do know its approximate date of creation: about two thousand years ago, by the Odnetnin calendar."

"Odnetnin?" said Kirby. "Haven't I heard that somewhere before?"

"Why should you?" replied Gooey. "That calendar isn't in use on Pop Star, which isn't surprising since we don't have years here."

"Hmm," muttered Kirby.

This was such a trivial question that Gooey hadn't remembered the correct answer. In truth, Kirby had heard the word before. Don't believe me? Look near the beginning of chapter 46 and you'll see.

"Oh, come on!" said Chuchu impatiently. "You gotta know more about Galaxia than that!"

"Well, let's see," said Gooey. "It can destroy anything, the forging date was two millennia ago, the blade itself is indestructible, it looks like a normal (but slightly orange) sword until activated, um... Meta Knight currently possesses it... Really, that's all I know."

Chuchu sighed.

"Okay, Kirby," she said. "Go ahead."

Kirby activated his Light ability, and then immediately wished he hadn't.

Earlier...

As Sasuke blasted the force field with more weapons (which included an ice ray, a suction device, a powerful water hose, and more), Meta Knight consulted Captain Birdbrain on the distribution of pay after the war was won.

Though the LAP did not remember this, "Professor Birdbrain" had long ago held the position of manager. Not leader manager, but more management manager. Not only could he fly any aircraft placed in front of him, but he also took care of the LAP's affairs and made sure everything was neat and in order. (Remember what the LAP HQ looked like when Kirby went there? It was a mess without Birdbrain's help.) Anyway, he was quite a different person back then.

The now Captain still had a knack for this sort of thing and Meta Knight knew about that only too well. Without Captain Birdbrain's help, Meta Knight might not have been as obscenely rich as he was.

"Meta Drone has no need of money," said Meta Knight, "so there is no need to give him any, but I would like to take seven-and-a-half percent of the total wealth and divide it up evenly between the remaining six of the Meta Clan. Then the rest of the Generals should each get one percent. You and Escargoon, who I hope is getting the job done down there, will each get one-and-a-quarter percent, just like those in the Meta Clan. Then..."

Meta Knight went on to divide up the remaining eighty-four percent among the helping hands at the Meta Base, the secondary crew of the Halberd, and the soldiers, with specifications as to those that had served in more than one of the above areas. This covered thousands of Meta Army members and there is no need to share the details. I don't want to bore you out of your minds.

And throughout Meta Knight's discussion with Captain Birdbrain, Sasuke continued to do everything within his power to break open the force field. Needless to say, he wasn't succeeding.

Captain Birdbrain absorbed this information like a dry sponge absorbing water. When Meta Knight had finally finished, he posed an interesting question.

"Um... Sir Meta Knight, if I may," he asked, "what about you? Aren't you going to keep any of this wealth for yourself? From what you've told me, you're giving every ounce of it to, well, us. I'm not complaining, but... I just had to ask."

"Money," said Meta Knight. "What use is it? All it is is an exchange unit for material items. I don't need money and I think nobody should. Besides, once I rule this place, I'll be able to get anything I want."

"I like the way you think."

"Meta Knight," interrupted Sasuke, "I've depleted my weapons again. All I have left is this giant mirror."

Silence.

"You said I needed to be creative," continued Sasuke, "but I haven't a clue as to how this sort of thing is supposed to help."

Silence.

"Meta Drone," said Meta Knight, getting a sudden inspiration, "has the Wrath Cannon cooled off enough to be operational again?"

"Yup," replied Meta Drone.

"Sasuke," continued Meta Knight, "aim that giant mirror at the Wrath Cannon. My theory is that if we fire a shot out and reflect it back at the outside it may destroy the field!"

"Splendid idea!" cheered Sasuke as he put the mirror in position.

"Meta Drone," commanded Meta Knight. "Charge the Wrath Cannon and fire directly at the mirror."

"Okay, dude!" answered Meta Drone.

The Wrath Cannon slowly charged up, its power core emitting quickening revving noises.

A blinding light suddenly encased the entirety of Fantasy Meadows in its glow.

In the confusion, the Wrath Cannon fired. The beam then ricocheted off the mirror and shot back through the field, destroying it. However, the beam continued backward, blasting the Wrath Cannon to smithereens and blowing a chunk out of the weaponry ship.

Earlier again...

The eye of Dark Matter surfaced from the darkness.

What am I to do? thought Dark Matter. I can't believe I'm losing! Now I know why they call Meta Knight the master planner.

How am I going to get out of this one? If I back out, then Meta Knight will destroy Neo City. If I keep battling, then I'm destined to lose. But I can't surrender either, for that would mean I'd have to leave Pop Star and release everyone under my possession!

Dark Matter looked up to see Kirby and Chuchu high above the battle.

And now even Kirby has joined the fun. With all this against me, I may not even get out of this alive! And now he's transformed into Light Kirby. I'd better shut my eye. I don't want him to temporarily paralyze me like the Ripple Star Fairies did.

As Dark Matter closed its eye, an idea sparked.

Wait! That's it! I have the Fairy Queen in my possession! Then I can... errgh... oh, blast it! Her magic banishes darkness. That means using it would free her from my grasp. Bah! It would take a miracle for me to win!

"Aaaaaaah!" screamed Chuchu and Kirby together. The light was blinding. The last time Kirby had used Light was in complete darkness. This time it was just in the middle of a storm. The combined light nearly caused Kirby and Chuchu to faint.

"What happened?" asked Gooey.

In their insane panic and confusion, Kirby managed to blurt out, "The light! It's too bright!"

"What?" asked Gooey; but then he said in understanding, "Oh... I hadn't thought of that. I suppose you'll just have to shut your eyes and wait until the light fades. The field below must be in a great amount of confusion. So, there's nothing that could possibly happen until then."

"Generals!" shrieked Meta Sword. "Do not stop fighting! Shield your eyes and go on! Stopping will let Dark Matter take you! Keep going!"

The other generals did what they were told. But the problem was that they were now the only ones in the battle that were moving at all.

What? thought Dark Matter in disbelief. I sure am glad I closed my eye. That light must be blinding, because almost all action in the battle has stopped.

Dark Matter remained motionless for a few seconds, collecting his thoughts.

Excellent. Now is the time to strike!

The essence of Dark Matter quickly spread out and encased the entirety of Fantasy Meadows.

Meta Knight's weaponry ship crashed to the ground.

There was a sudden silence throughout Fantasy Meadows.

Then Dark Matter began to swell.

"All the life in Dreamland," said King Dedede, speaking Dark Matter's words, "shall now be mine!"

The darkness swept away toward Neo City.

The light finally dimmed.

Kirby and Chuchu now hovered above an almost completely deserted Fantasy Meadows. All that was left were two ships (one of which was a smoldering wreck) and a group of soldiers. Everything else had been taken by Dark Matter.

The landscape looked utterly wrecked, like a tornado had hit it. Mud was everywhere and the churned up earth showed no signs of life. The rain had finally stopped, but the clouds were darker than ever.