Chapter 4 Coming back

The next morning everyone was getting ready to head back to Cappy Town.

Meta Knight was rather pleased by the perfect traveling weather that was perfectly cool, with the sun shining gayly giving them the warmth and energy that they needed.

Even though Tuff had told them that everything was destroyed Meta Knight had some hope that somebody there was alive. And even if no one was he needed some supplies. With five children and two knights he felt responsible for them all and had taken it upon himself to take care of them until he could find another town or someone else to care for them.

"Are we ready?" Meta Knight questioned.

Sword and Blade saluted him assuring they were ready, but the children, on the other hand, looked tired and unprepared to go anywhere.

Tuff's hair was a mess! And his expression was sleepy.

Tiff's hair was also a mess and blue wrinkled bags were under her eyes.

Lololo and Lalala also looked tired with the same sleepy bags hanging below their eyes, they would also yawn every three minutes or so.

Even Kirby looked tired!

The children had stayed up all night talking and laughing that they could barely keep their eyes open. But how could they be so joyful? Especialy at a time like this!

Meta Knight was certain that Tiff hadn't be laughing along with them, he guessed that the others had kept her up.

Meta Knight watched as Tiff, Tuff, Kirby, Lololo and Lalala walked out of Kabu, each of them in a drowzy daze.

Meta Knight called Sword and Blade over who, naturally, came running to his side.

He told the two knights that he wouldn't expect the children to walk, even if they probably did deserve it. Meta Knight asked them if they would mind to carry the children. Sword and Blade both agreed.

"Blade, you shall carry Lololo and Lalala. Sword, you shall carry Tiff and Tuff," Meta Knight assigned them, "and I shall carry-"

Meta Knight stopped when he remembered how Tiff had said to him how he only cared about Kirby. He wouldn't want to leave that impression. Plus the fact that Kirby was probably ten times lighter than any of the other children would also make him to appear as a very weak Star Warrior, and he didn't want any one to think that!

"On second though, I shall carry Kirby and Tiff."

It wasn't the fact that Tiff was lighter than Tuff that made him want to carry her and Kirby. Even though Meta Knight's arms were longer than Kirby's he still wouldn't have had enough room to carry Tiff and Tuff. But holding Tiff she would be completely stretched and Kirby was so small he could ride on top of Meta Knight or better yet, lay on his cape.

Finally, every one was ready to go.

The group set off toward Cappy Town, each holding at least one of the kids.

Now, just because the children were tired didn't mean it made the trip any easier, and it didn't mean their mouths were.

For example, Tuff talked and talked even in his sleep.

Soon enough they had reached their beloved Cappy Town and all was destroyed.

Tiff's eyes started to weten as she looked up at the crumbled houses with smoke still rising from them. Dead Cappys lay every where totally lifeless.

"Look! There's Chief Bookem!" Tuff shouted pointing at the Police Cappy laying on his porch.

Tuff ran to his side but did not touch him, "Chief Bookem?"

Tiff also stood along side their Cappy friend.

She said his name slowly as she slowly extened her hand toward his body, "Chief Bookem..."

When she touched his body her hand flew away from him with a gasp.

Tuff let out a "huh" then did the same. His hand flung back as well and at the same time he showed all his teeth.

"He's cold!"

Kirby, who had been standing there as well seemed to understand Tuff's remark, and ran into the police station and returned with a blanket. He covered the corpse with it just enough to let the Cappy's head show then he squeeled happily as if to say, "he won't be cold anymore, I got him a blanket!"

Tiff hugged Kirby sobbing mornfully, "Oh, Kirby."

"Poyo?" he squealed questionably, not realizing what had really happened.

Everyone in the group spread out looking in every house to see if anyone was alive.

"Honey's dead!" Lololo exclaimed.

"So are her parents!" Lololo added.

Tiff covered Kirby's ears, which he didn't have, as more reports came.

"The Mayor's dead!"

"Gus's is dead!"

"Spikehead's dead!"
"Samo's dead!"

Tiff, after hearing Samos name on the list, rushed into Mabel's house.

She gasped.

Mabel's body lay over the table for her crystal ball, eyes closed and arms hanging.

Tiff sprinted out of her house to tell the others.

Tuff sighed, "There sure are a lot of dead people here."

"DON'T--SAY THAT!" Tiff roared into her brothers ear making his hair fly the opposite way.

Then, she realized something, "If everyone in Cappy Town's dead then what about-"

"Mom and Dad!" Tuff finished.

Everyone rushed to the castle.

The King Dedede's Castles' bridge was down, but that looked like the only highlight of their return to the castle.

The first downfall was the many dead bodies of the poor Waddle Dees which were scattered in the front courtyard, but even though the sight of more dead bodies was most dreadful Tiff ignored them and darted into the castle calling for her parents.

Tiff raced through the castle looking for her familys' room. Of course on her way to her dorm she always passed the throne room, but she wasn't anxious to find out if Kind Dedede was alive or not. But she screeched to a stop when she heard mone of distress.

It was a deep voice so it might be her father.

Tiff ran into the throne room hoping it was her Papa and hoping he wasn't hurt.

Alas, it was not her father, it was King Dedede. The King was stuck with his throne partualy over his body when he saw Tiff he groaned "help me" in a very pleading way.

Usually Tiff, being as kind hearted as she was, would help anyone in need even if it was someone who she disliked. But she had no pity for him and she hurried out of the room leaving him in pain.

When Tiff arrived in front of the door to her Mother and Fathers' apartment she was almost afraid to open the door for fear of what she might see, but she did.

Her choice made her frightfully sorry she had even set eyes on the door to their room.

What she saw griped her heart and pulled it down.

Her parents lay on the floor eyes closed, and skin lighly turning green, as bodies do after being dead for many days.

For a split second Tiff hoped that they were just unconcious and had blacked out, but she was much too clever to think they had turned green in their fear.

Tiff flopped between them (for they were side by side) weeping mornfully.

Meta Knight and the others hadn't reached the room yet. But unlike Tiff, when they saw Dedede trapped they ran to his side to help, save for Tuff who like his sister was too worried about his parents to even notice the creep whom he despised.

Though the three knight all thought the same question Meta Knight was the first to blurt it out.

"What happened?"

Now this was a silly question for they all knew he was probably the one who ordered the monster in the first place. But Meta Knight wanted to know what Dedede's hatered toward Kirby had done to him this time.

"That monster turned on me," he replied too tired to lie about ordering it.

"Where is it now?" Meta Knight asked sharply.

Dedede had no idea where the monster had gone but he didn't really care! Even though the knights had come to his aid, they hadn't removed the tremendous throne that was crushing his ribs.

Without any thought toward the subject he hotily screamed, "GET THIS THING OFF OF ME!"

Of course they did so.

Dedede sat up right rubbing his back.

The three knights awaited eagerly for him to speak. As usual, he thought of himself and ignored the events that had passed.

"All this agony has made me hungry, where's the Waddle Dees?"

Behind Meta Knights masked he frowned.

In his shock by Dedede's disconcern about his loyal subjects the Star Warrior announced, "It pains me to do this sire but, I'm afraid I must." Meta Knight made a fist then drew it back then forward punching him dead in the face then offered a bow and said, "I am sorry you majesty" and rushed out of the room.

He found Tiff and Tuff and tried to comfort them.

"Why would anyone do this?" Tiff cried.

Meta Knight knew who would be heartless enough to do it. Nightmare of course! But why? Why would he attack the Cappys? Then again it didn't matter to him who are what he attacked, he just wanted to fullfill his selfish needs!

Then his face became rather stern, "We shall make them pay. I promise."

Tiff didn't feel any better. After all she had just lost her parents and that's a big deal!

A little later everyone else joined the two in the small room and morned with them.

The next question was what to do next. The monster could come at any time and they were no where near prepared to face it. At least not now. Meta Knight wasn't really preparing for another attack. He was trying to think of what would be best for the kids. But was there anywhere safe they could go to get away from the monster? Meta Knight could take them to another town but he didn't want to bring bad fortune on anyone else.

Meta Knight gazed up into the sky unsure of what to do and where to go but had to keep the promsie he had made to himself.

"I won't let them down like I let you down."