Anguirus111 Note: This is loosely based off of the anime Kirby versus the videogame version because I haven't really played a Kirby game. Oh yeah, this chapter is more depressing than the others I think.
Dreamland: An elderly King Dedede was preparing another monster to be unleashed on the helpless Cappies, though to what end no one really knew.
"Okay Escargoon, release the monster!" said Dedede happily.
"And this'll end differently then your other monsters how?" asked Escargoon crossing his arms.
"Because those Cappies ain't prepared to stop it, so let it loose!" said Dedede rubbing his hands in anticipation. Escargoon sighed before pulling on a lever and a massive Octopus left the castle headed straight for Cappietown. But less than two seconds after it had left the castle, two small meteors slammed right into it, destroying it.
"What?" shouted Dedede before a massive blue spaceship landed nearby. King Dedede promptly grabbed his telescope and peered down at the passengers that left the vessel and headed off for Cappietown.
"Oh no," said Dedede defeated as he saw the pink puffball that among them.
"Kirby, right?" asked Escargoon leaving. "Well I'll go get the aspirin."
"I'm going to defeat him once and for all! I swear it!" said Dedede collapsing. Escargoon rolled his eyes before heading indoors.
Meadow: "So what do you think has changed in the past hundred years or so?" asked Keira.
"Knowing my luck, nothing," Kirby snorted. "I do hope that nobody remembers who I am."
"Knowing you for as little as I have, I find that hard to believe," said Keira. Neva Kee and Zoda nodded their heads in agreement as they approached the crest of the hill they were on and as soon as they passed it, Zoda, Neva Kee, and Kirby were left stunned while Keira just trudged on. Ahead of them was a massive modern sprawling city complete with planes, trains, and automobiles.
"What? You said it was a little primitive by our standards, but I can survive this," said Keira looking at them confused.
"I feel old," said Neva Kee shaking his head as he too advanced down the hill.
"This is going to take some getting used to," Kirby admitted. The quartet reached the bottom of the hill and advanced into the city where they went largely unnoticed by the populace.
"Unbelievable," said Kirby as a jet liner went flying above them leaving a massive roar in its wake.
"I'm surprised these people would need your help to defend them," commented Keira confused.
"B-but when I left, things…things were nothing like this!" Kirby protested. "These people were incredibly primitive technologically, aside from your rare motorcar, they certainly didn't show any signs of advancing towards this stage of development."
"I'll attest to that," said Neva Kee looking around at the hustle and bustle.
"So I guess a trip to a library is in order?" asked Keira.
"Yeah," said Neva Kee and Kirby.
"Actually I think I'm going to go check out that castle that disgorged that monster," said Zoda.
"Can I come with?" asked Keira.
"Sure," said Zoda shrugging. Neva Kee turned to face them.
"Alright I'll get Kirby fixed up here and then I'll meet up with you two back at the ship," he said.
"Cool, later," said Zoda leaving with Keira. Neva Kee and Kirby walked down a couple more streets before arriving at the center of town.
"Wow," said Neva Kee as Kirby's eyes widened at the sight of a massive statue dedicated to him.
"I think we need to get to that library," said Kirby immediately.
Castle: Keira and Zoda advanced past the remains of the monster and the two smoking golf balls before looking at the castle itself.
"Hard to believe the Cappies could just stand by and just let Dedede release monsters at them. Usually advanced civilizations don't tolerate constant security threats to them," observed Zoda.
"Maybe they were expecting Kirby to save them?" suggested Keira.
"Maybe," Zoda relented. "I on the other hand am here to see if Metaknight is still alive."
"Who?" asked Keira as Zoda used the Force to open the doors to Dedede's castle.
"A swordsman who promised me a good fight whenever I returned to Dreamland," said Kirby looking around the inner courtyard of the castle. A rustling was heard as Keira drew her blaster and Zoda yanked out his dueling sabers and swung them around to an attack stance. More rustling was heard and then countless Waddle-Dees appeared from the various doorways and surrounded them with their lances.
"This is the enemy?" asked Keira laughing. "They look just like Kirby."
"The sandpeople are easily startled but soon they'll be back…and in greater numbers," said Zoda distantly.
"What?" asked Keira.
"Attack!" yelled a gravelly voice. The waddle-dees rush them as Keira opened fire with stun bolts and Zoda began chopping lances left and right with his lightsabers.
Cappietown: "And with that the brave star warrior vanished into the sky leaving the Cappies behind. Though at first fearful and upset at their abandonment, the Cappies soon learned to deal with the attacks of Dedede and his monsters and became a much better people because of it. It was then that they came to realize that the Star Warrior had left to benefit Dreamland and not hinder it. To this day no one knows what became of the warrior who saved us, but his name will live on in the hearts and minds of Cappies everywhere. The legend of the Korby the star warrior," said Neva Kee reading a history book at a local library before looking shocked at that last statement and glancing at the book closer. "Korby?"
"They blew my name?" shouted Kirby. "Oh that's just great!"
"Well there you have it," said Neva Kee placing the book down. "That was the awe inspiring legend of 'Korby' The Star Warrior. Ha, ha, ha."
Kirby yelled at him angrily and prepared to tackle the diplomat when the library security guard approached them.
"Is there something wrong here?" the Cappie asked.
"No, nothing's wrong," said Neva Kee. "My friend and I were just having an argument over something in this book."
"Ah the legend of Korby the Star Warrior," said the Cappie happily as he clutched the book. "I'm kind of a buff on him so what's your debate about?"
"Well my friend believes that his name was Kirby and not Korby like I do," explained Neva Kee.
"Does it really matter what his name was?" asked the man. "It's what he stood for that's all that matters. Now I'll put this book away for you, but please don't cause any more distractions or I'll be forced to make you leave."
The man left with the book leaving Neva Kee and Kirby alone, bewildered.
"I need a drink," said Kirby holding his head.
"Me too, let's go," said Neva Kee as both filed out of the library.
Castle: "I feel like a monster," said Keira depressed. The waddle-dees were all in a pile unconscious with Keira and Zoda standing victorious nearby.
"If it means anything, they're incapable holding a grudge…or a memory for more than ten seconds for that matter," said Zoda twirling his lightsabers.
"But still…" began Keira.
"What have you two done to my minions!" demanded an individual angrily. A big sagging multicolored blob appeared, limping on a cane, as he advanced towards the waddle-dees.
"Wow. The years have not been good to you Dedede," observed Zoda.
"Zoda?" asked Dedede amazed. "Can it really be you after all these years?"
"You betcha," he said tipping his head at him.
"Die!" shouted Dedede as his cane became a massive mallet which he swung at Zoda who easily evaded it.
"Even in your prime that trick never worked," Zoda observed as he pointed both sabers at the aging dictator. "Now where's Metaknight?"
"How should I know? The man keeps his own schedule and I haven't seen him in awhile," said Dedede crossing his arms. Zoda put his lightsabers away and pulled out a sword before spinning around and having it slam against another sword as a short stocky individual, clad in armor and wearing a cape stood right behind him.
"Finally, I've been trying to get in touch with you all day!" said Zoda. The two then went straight up into the air and began clashing their swords together as they raced about the courtyard.
"What can I do?" asked Keira helplessly.
"Try and make sure Dedede doesn't try anything," Zoda shouted as he clanged his sword once again with Metaknight's.
City: "You know that Blue Man Group? Total rip off of the Smurfs," said Kirby completely drunk. Neva Kee sat with him at the counter at local bar carefully sipping some water as Kirby drank every alcoholic beverage he could get his hands on.
"If you say so," responded the diplomat before he received his burger and began eating it.
"You know I never did like it here, but at least I had a purpose you know what I'm saying? Out there all I was, was a number. One of many, never to be recognized or appreciated, but here I could be a hero. Only in this time, I'm a dead hero whose name isn't even spelled right. So now, there's nothing, I've got nothing and all that's left for me to do is to crawl away somewhere and die alone," said Kirby depressed as tears came from his eyes. Neva Kee patted him softly on the back.
"I can't help but feel responsible for this, I mean it was Zoda and me taking you off this planet that landed you in this mess," observed the diplomat honestly.
"I don't blame you," said Kirby. "You were doing what you thought was right and quite frankly so did I. I never really appreciated what I had here until I lost it."
Neva Kee nodded but remained silent as he chewed on his burger thoughtfully as the news came on a nearby TV.
"In other news today, the health of Tiff and Tuff, the brother and sister duo who worked side by side with the Star Warrior Korby, continues to deteriorate due to their incredible age. Doctors reluctantly admit that their time is near and when their time finally comes to pass, the last known link to Korby will be forever gone, aside from the borderline psychotic King Dedede who was forever imprisoned in his castle. In other news…"
"IT'S THEIR FAULT!" shouted Kirby, startling Neva Kee. "They're the ones who ruined my life! I'm gonna kill them!"
The rest of the patrons looked at Kirby bewildered before Neva Kee stood up as well.
"Sorry, whenever my friend has a little too much to drink he always says he's going to kill whoever's on the news. Why just yesterday he said he was going to kill the water," Neva Kee laughing nervously. The patrons all laughed before returning to their conversations as Neva Kee wiped his forehead.
"You need to cool it Kir-by?" asked Neva Kee confused. Kirby was gone and had actually left some money for his bill.
"Oh no," said Neva Kee worried. "Kirby would only do that if he was serious about Tiff and Tuff."
Neva Kee slammed his money on the counter as well and took off into the street and found Kirby nowhere in sight.
"Now where do I find him? I can't just ask somebody for directions, that'd easily reveal myself to be an extra-terrestrial," thought Neva Kee worried.
"Star Maps! Get your Star Maps here!" shouted a voice. Neva Kee looked to his side to see a street vendor carrying a ton of pamphlets.
"I'll take one," offered Neva Kee. The man nodded and offered his price which Neva Kee haggled with before handing over a few coins and hurriedly rushing off to Tiff and Tuff's place.
Castle: Kirby and Metaknight kept fighting as Keira went looking for Dedede. She finally found him hobbling down a hallway towards a room in the distance with large closed doors.
"What do you want?" asked Dedede as she walked alongside him. "Can't you just leave an old man alone?"
"I'm here to see you don't try anything sneaky," said Keira beginning to doubt that he could.
"I'm not going to try anything on the spur of the moment, the days for that are long past now. All I have left is to launch the occasional monster at the populace to prove to them I'm not dead," said Dedede, reaching the massive doors and pushing them open to reveal an expansive yet empty dining hall complete with long tables and chairs.
"Now if you'll excuse me I'm just going to enjoy my routine lunch that I take every day at noon before I go to sleep," said Dedede depressed.
"Mind if I join you?" Keira asked.
"Suit yourself," said Dedede sitting down and clapping his hands. Escargoon appeared with a bowl of chowder and placed it before him with a spoon and fork.
"And what'll you have?" asked Escargoon annoyed as he looked at Keira.
"Oh, I brought my own lunch," said Keira taking out an MRE and began eating it. Escargoon rolled his eyes and left.
"Why did Kirby have to come back?" asked Dedede helplessly.
"Because he got freed from cryogenic freeze after having been imprisoned there for the past century," Keira answered.
"So that's where he was. I always knew something must have stopped him from coming back, it's not like Kirby to just leave when the going's good," said Dedede.
"That's the truth," said Keira.
"You know at first I didn't like him. When Kirby first crash landed on this planet I felt threatened by him because the people seemed to like him. But as time went on I began to enjoy our constant battles with me throwing whatever I could at him just to see how he'd weasel his way out of it while still maintaining that innocent façade of his," began Dedede.
"So then you knew…" began Keira.
"That he was smarter than he appeared? Yes I knew. When he wasn't busy pretending to be an idiot, he and I would go on at lengths about the stupid Cappies and how we should just let them be destroyed. Then he vanished and things changed, the Cappies wised up to my ways and imprisoned me in this castle and I've been left without any outside contact for the past several years. Sure Tiff and Tuff used to show up occasionally when they were still able to sneak in, but it's just been me and Escargoon minding the place," finished Dedede. "I do miss the old days."
Keira was about to respond when her comlink beeped.
"K," she said into it.
"What is Zoda doing right now?" asked Neva Kee, puffing and panting on the other end.
"He's fighting someone named…Metaknight," said Keira.
"Great," said Neva Kee upset.
"Why, what's wrong?" asked Keira.
"Kirby snapped and said he was going to kill Tiff and Tuff, two former acquaintances of his who he thinks ruined his life. I lost him and he's headed to their place now and I needed Zoda to intercept them," responded the diplomat.
"Hell I'll do it, just tell me where to go," said Keira getting up.
"It's too complicated to explain, but Zoda would know what I'm talking about because he's been to the area before," said Neva Kee. "You'd better just sit tight."
"I know where they live," offered Dedede. "I'm willing to take you there, no tricks. I just want to see Kirby again for old time's sake."
"Dedede has offered to show me the way," said Keira into her comlink.
"Dedede? Do you think he can be trusted?" asked Neva Kee doubtful.
"He seems harmless these days," said Keira.
"It's your call. But you'd better use the matter transporter to get to the ship. The castle is heavily watched by surveillance cameras that would preclude any chance of sneaking him out," said Neva Kee. "I'll see you there, out."
"C'mon Dedede let's go see Kirby," said Keira. Dedede suddenly got up with renewed strength.
"I'm ready," he said nodding. Keira slapped her hand on Dedede's shoulder and both vanished in a flash of light.
Cottage: Neva Kee raced past the outer stone wall, whose gates had been forcibly torn aside, and then moved past numerous unconscious guards before entering into the cottage itself. After a couple wrong turns, he found Kirby standing in a room next to the near comatose forms of Tiff and Tuff who were on their beds hooked up with various medical devices.
"Kirby don't do it," said the diplomat out of breath before collapsing on the ground. Kirby inflated himself and floated up to stand on the nightstand between their beds.
"Tiff? Tuff? It's time to wake up, the Grim Reaper is here," said Kirby darkly. Tiff and Tuff began turning in their beds.
"Korby, is that you?" asked Tiff finally, apparently in a drug induced lucid state.
"It's Kirby!" Kirby shouted at her.
"It's been so long," said Tuff not opening his eyes, also drugged.
"But not enough for you to ruin my life!" shouted Kirby as he grabbed Tuff's collar and shook him back and forth.
"What-what are you talking about?" asked Tiff.
"You gave the history books the wrong name and proclaimed me as good as dead! Now I can't come back!" shouted Kirby.
"You could be someone else," suggested Tuff. "You don't have to be Korby anymore."
"But I am 'Korby'! I need to be 'Korby'! I'd go crazy if I had to be Kirby all the time!" shouted Kirby.
"Amazing, you do have a conscience," said Neva Kee still lying on the floor.
"Shut up!" shouted Kirby at him before turning back to his two 'hostages'. "You two built me up as a hero and then you tore it out from under me. I hate you both."
"And you think you're the only one?" asked a voice with just as much anger. Kirby whirled around to see Dedede and Keira in the room.
"Dedede?" asked Kirby in disbelief. "The years have not been good to you."
"So said Zoda, but I'm still alive and still as angry as ever at those damn Cappies," said Dedede. "They stuffed me in that castle to die but I'm not going to go without taking them down first."
"Me neither," Kirby seethed. "Me neither."
"I think we have a lot of catching up to do," said Dedede. Kirby nodded.
"Yes we do," he responded.
"I think it may be time to bring back Korby to truly defend his people from the sudden inexplicable might of King Dedede," said Dedede grinning evilly as Kirby nodded.
"Yeah, maybe it is time," he said.
"I'll be waiting for you at my castle," said Dedede leaving. Kirby got ready to leave as well before confronting Keira and Neva Kee.
"Guys, it's been fun, but Korby must rise again," said Kirby with a grin. Neva Kee grinned as he finally got onto his feet.
"Make us proud Kaptain Klown," said Neva Kee holding out his hand.
"You two Captain N," said Kirby. "And don't hesitate to visit, either of you."
"Kirby, I want to give you a hug," said Keira. Kirby nodded and Keira closed her arms around him before abruptly spinning him around and giving the puffball the Heimlich maneuver which caused credits to go flying from Kirby's mouth.
"That's my ten percent for helping you at that auction you bum!" yelled Keira as she grabbed the credits. Kirby laughed.
"Yeah I'll miss you too. Later," said Kirby and with that he was gone.
"I'll miss that pink puffball," said Keira reluctantly.
"As will I," responded Neva Kee. "Now let's get out of here before the cops show up."
Keira nodded and both vanished in a beam of light.
Castle: Zoda and Metaknight were still going at it when Neva Kee's ship appeared low over the castle.
"Well Metaknight it's been fun," said Zoda sheathing his sword. Metaknight nodded.
"Indeed it has. Until next time," said Metaknight bowing as Zoda did the same before vanishing. An instant later two golf balls soared up and over the castle and then Neva Kee's ship vanished into the upper atmosphere and straight into hyperspace.