Chapter 16 – The Royal Battle
Fortress of the King - Castle Dedede
After about a 30-minute walk, our puyo popping party of 11 was standing in front of the huge doors of Castle Dedede. The castle itself was a ginormous, tan-colored structure with stuff you would expect from a castle. Giant windows, cannons, a sunroof. What made this castle different from the others is the fact that this castle had eyes. Angry-looking eyes. It actually looked kinda threating.
"So this is it, huh?" I asked.
"Yep. Castle Dedede." Arle said.
"Right behind this door…is all the remaining Puyo Souls." Ringo said.
"And all we have to do is beat King Dedede." Raffina said.
"So how tough is this Dedede guy, anyway?" Maguro asked.
"In all honesty, it really depends on if he's possessed or not." Adeleine said.
"It does?" Arle asked.
"Yeah, it does. Normally Dedede would just use his hammer to fight. But whenever he's possessed, whoever's possessing him…gets a bit creative."
"Creative? How?" I asked.
"Like I said, it really depends on who, or in this case what, is possessing him."
"Well, that doesn't help calm the nerves." Raffina said.
"D-Do we…r-really have to...g-g-go in…th-there?" Ribbon stuttered.
"Y-Yeah. I-I'm w-w-with Ribbon. I-I-I d-don't….w-w-want to go…i-in th-th-there." Ringo also stuttered.
"What?! Aw, come on, you two! Not again!" Arle complained.
"You're not scared, are you Ringo?" Maguro asked.
"Of course I'm scared! We don't know what this guy will do to us!"
"But you know, it is 11 of us vs. one of him."
"Yeah. Pretty Boy's got a point." Marx said.
"Pretty Boy?"
*BONK*
"Ow! Seriously, quit doing that!"
"I will once you stop being a pest." Adeleine said to him.
"Maguro's right, Ringo. We totally outnumber this guy." Raffina said.
"I…I don't know…"
"If it makes you feel any better Ringo, I'll fight with you." Maguro said.
…
"Y-You will?"
"Sure, why not? We're friends, right? Friends help each other out in times like this…although times like this rarely happens, but you get the point."
"Th-Thanks…Maguro." Ringo said with a faint blush.
"So is everyone ready? I'm going to open the door." I said.
Everyone nodded their heads and then I faced the two giant doors blocking our way. I didn't even touch them, yet it seemed like the doors opened on their own. We could see red mist coming out of the castle. The Red Puyo Soul is definitely in here. And hopefully, so are the others.
As we each started waking inside, once the last person was inside, the doors slammed shut on their own. Making a huge bang sound that scared the heck out of me.
But I gained calmness again. There was no time to be afraid. Not when we had an entire world to save. We're so close to riding Dream Land of the puyos. I can feel it!
Stupid girl…you're nowhere near close…
"Huh? Who said that?"
Foolish little mortal…you'll die before you save anything…and I'll make sure it happens…
"W-Wait?! Wh-What do you mean?!"
Your death will be slow and painful…and I'll enjoy every last minute of it…HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
"Who are you?! Want do you want from me?! LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"Amitie!"
"H-Huh?! Wh-What?! What happened?!"
"Amitie, you okay? You started talking to yourself." Arle asked me.
"Then you just shouted leave me alone like something's after you or something." Maguro added.
"I-I did? W-Well…I did just hear something…"
"Huh? Hear what?" Adeleine asked.
"It was this creepy, evil voice. It said something like I'm nowhere near close and my death will be slow and painful and a bunch of other creepy and scary stuff.
"Wh-What does that mean?!" Ringo asked.
"I don't know…and I don't know who said it, either. I'm actually starting to get scared."
Good…be scared…seeing you cry in fear will be a great memory for the moment I kill you, Amitie…
"WAAAAAAAAAHH! Th-The voice! I-It just spoke again!"
"Ami…maybe you should sit this one out." Raffina said.
"B-But…"
"It's okay. I'll be with you to protect you."
…
"Th-Thanks…R-Raffina." I said while holding her arm, as we continued our trek through the castle.
Not even your girlfriend will save you, Amitard…!
I'm seriously about to cry…
Minutes later and we were somewhere in the middle of the castle. This place is so huge that I think we got lost a couple times. But as we eventually found the right way, we started seeing red mist from above us. Not only that, but we heard and felt a rumble every few seconds, which made some of us tumble every now and then.
"We have to be getting close. The rumblings are getting louder. You ready to take on Dedede, Kirby?" Adeleine asked him.
"Poyo!"
"Kirby will show you guys how to deal with Dedede. He's beaten him many times before."
"Thanks, Adeleine." Maguro said. "Ready, Ringo?"
"Y-Yeah…s-sure. R-Ready, M-Maguro." Ringo stuttered, with the same light blush from before.
"Hey, Amitie. I've been wondering…since there are more people than last time, you think we could more people fighting out there?" Arle asked.
"Yeah. I guess we can. I mean, it makes sense. Plus, we might be able to end the fight quicker." I said.
"Sounds good to me! I'm gonna fight too!"
Bandana-Dee stood next to Arle and raised his spear in the air.
"You fighting too, Dee?" Adeleine asked.
Bandana-Dee gave a simple nod.
"Alright. Five should be enough. And then me, Ribbon, Gooey, and Marx will build the chains."
"Sure thing, Adeleine." Ribbon said.
Gooey made a thumbs up gestor with his tongue.
"Yeah sure, whatever." Marx said, sounding completely unamused with this whole thing.
*RUMBLE*
*RUMBLE*
*RUMBLE*
"We're seriously getting close." Arle said.
"Yep. Just right behind this door." Adeleine said.
"Poyo. Poyo poyo. Poyo. Poyo."
"Alright, Kirby. I believe in you. I'll cheer for you on the sidelines." I said.
"And I'll be with you the whole time, Ami. You've got nothing to fear." Raffina said to me.
"Thanks a bunch, Raffina."
Pathetic…just as I expect from a piece of crap like you…
"WAAAAAHHH!" I screamed in terror.
"That voice again?"
"Yeah. And it keeps getting meaner and meaner. Not knowing where it's coming from is really scaring me."
"Don't worry, Ami. Whoever or whatever it is, I'll give it a beating it'll never forget."
"Poyo!"
"Th-Thanks, you guys. I feel a little better now."
*RUMBLE*
*RUMBLE*
*RUMBLE*
*RUMBLE*
*RUMBLE*
"We better go in before Dedede destroys his own castle." Adeleine said.
"R-Right. Let's go."
With Arle on one side and Ribbon on the other, the doors were pulled open from their handles and we went inside the final room of the castle. As we did, we saw a bunch of waddle-dees run pass us, looking like they running for their lives. One managed to stop once he saw Bandana-Dee. He was jumping up and down while flailing his stubby arms in a panic state, while Bandana-Dee stood there and nodded every few seconds. When another loud rumble happened, the waddle-dee ran off. Leaving the rest of us confused on what just happened.
"What did he say, Dee?" Adeleine asked.
Bandana-Dee started writing on his board what sounded like a very detailed explanation of what the waddle-dee said.
"He said that King Dedede has gone completely out of control. Ever since he found this giant red crystal earlier, he's been acting like a savage animal. Destroying everything in his path." He wrote.
"Wait…ever since he FOUND this giant red crystal? So that means…"
"Dedede wasn't the one who brought the Puyo Souls here!" Ribbon shouted.
"Great. So we're back to square one." Adeleine said with a disdained tone.
"Well, maybe we'll something once we free Dedede from the Puyo Soul." Arle said.
"Yeah, I hope so."
*RUMBLE*
…
*RUMBLE*
…
*RUMBLE*
…
*CRASH*
Suddenly. The roof above us had broken into pieces. A big penguin-looking guy had crashed through it and landed in front of us. Wearing a scary-looking metal mask and wielding a very big metal hammer. Through the mask we could he had glowing red eyes, and around him was a red aura that looked rather threating.
"RAAAWWWGGGHH!"
"Dedede!" Adeleine shouted.
"Wait…THAT'S DEDEDE?!" I shouted.
"Yeah. And it looks like he put on his mask, too." Ribbon said.
"Woah…this looks like it's going to be a tough one." Arle said.
"Yeah, no kidding." Maguro agreed. "You're still up for this, Ringo?"
"Y-Yeah. I-I wanna fight. W-With you guys." Ringo said while shaking in fear.
"Ami, let's get out the way quick." Raffina said.
"Right. Good luck, everyone." I cheered.
"Thanks, Amitie." Arle said.
"Poyo!"
Once me and Raffina were far away enough, the battle soon began.
"Alright, you guys. You ready?" Arle asked. "Let's…"
"PUYO BATTLE!"
"RAAAWWWGGGHH!"
BOSS: Vs. Masked Dedede
Me and Raffina watched as a bunch of puyos rained down from the giant hole in the castle and landed in front of the group of four in the back. It didn't take them long for them to start building and reach high enough to set off. The five in the front were glowing as they received the power from the popped puyos and began to attack.
"FIRE!"
"SINE!"
"FURIKEN!" Maguro himself doesn't have any powers, but for some reason his kendama does. Whenever he makes a chain, the little ball on it would glow and when Maguro swings it, it'll shoot out electric bolts or these multi-colored stars. I don't really get how that's a thing, but Maguro seems to be okay with it.
Bandana-Dee threw his spear. But while in the air, it split into three. I rubbed my eyes a bit, thinking I was hallucinating a bit. But I wasn't. and then Kirby…
Wait, when did he get a hammer?!
The hammer was on fire and Kirby threw it with the other attacks. They all hit Dedede causing a huge explosion and lots of smoke. When the smoke cleared, we saw that he was still standing.
"Figured it wouldn't be enough." Arle said.
"RAAAWWWGGGHH!"
Dedede then started walking towards use with his metal hammer in the air gaining electricity. The group got ready to dodge. It looked like the attack was going to be big and possibly deadly. I was about to warn everybody…
…but then…
"RAAAWWWGgghhh…"
…Dedede just collapsed right in front of them. The mask and hammer breaking on impact. The red aura around him disappeared and…out came the Puyo Soul…
…th-that's it…?
We won…?
We all starred at the now unconscious King Dedede, wondering what just happened just now.
"…Uh…wow…" Arle said.
"That was…surprisingly easy." Ringo said.
"I thought you said whenever Dedede's possessed, he's a lot stronger." Maguro said to Adeleine.
"I did…but…a battle with Dedede was never…THIS short." Adeleine said.
"Huh. I…guess we won, Ami." Raffina said to me.
"Yeah…I guess. And we got the second Puyo Soul, too. Let's go check it out."
"Sure."
We got up from the floor and began walking towards the Puyo Soul. The redness from it was really…
"GAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
"AMITIE!"
Without any warning, I felt myself getting pierced on my stomach by these really sharp teeth. I could barely open my eyes from the pain, but it felt like I was moving really fast. At some point, though, I was spat out like a piece of gum that lost its flavor. The pain was somewhat bearable, so I was able to get up on my own. I felt Raffina's body leaning on to me to give me some support, as we all looked at what the hell just did that to me.
What we were looking at was a giant snake creature, that looked like it was made of metal instead of flesh or skin. Its body was like an Egyptian-type of yellow and the head was red with one horn on each side.
"WH-WHAT IS THAT THING?!" Arle asked in a panicked state.
"N-NO WAY! I-IT CAN'T BE!" Adeleine said.
"K-KIRBY…I-ISN'T THAT…T-THE COILY RATTLER?!" Ribbon asked.
"P-POYO!"
"Th-The what?" Maguro asked.
"It's a monster from another world that Kirby fought a while ago! How it's here, looking like it didn't get a single scratch, is beyond even me!" Adeleine explained.
"Amitie! Look! In its mouth!"
I could barely see it, but what little I did saw made me freak out a lot.
"M-MY HAT!"
After waving it around in its mouth a bit, the Coily Rattler threw my hat out of its mouth and it…landed on the Puyo Soul?!
Yes…finally…I'm free…I'M FINALLY FREE!
"W-Who said that?!" Ringo asked.
"Th-That's the voice I've been hearing lately!" I shouted in fear.
"I-It's coming from…it's coming from your hat, Ami!" Raffina shouted.
My hat started glowing the same red hue as Dedede had. Then it jumped off the Puyo Soul and…started morphing. It was morphing into a body…a body similar to mine. When it was finished, my hat…was unrecognizable at this point. You couldn't tell it was a hat anymore.
"I-Is that…i-is that me?!" I asked in shock.
My hat had turned into a look-a-like of me. It wasn't wearing my clothes, but it had on a red sweater with a gray scarf around her neck. A black skirt with red stripes on it that almost reached up to my knees, black socks, and a pair of red and white sneakers. On the sweater was what looked like a soul symbol, had the same red hue all over her body, and the biggest thing I noticed about this look-a-like was that she had my blonde hair, but one strand of it was a different color: dark red.
"I-It…it can't be…" Ringo stuttered.
"I-It…r-really is Amitie." Arle said.
"Wh-What…the hell…?" Raffina asked.
"Finally…"
"I-It spoke!" Adeleine said.
The look-a-like raised its hand and, without even touching anything, pushed the others away from me. Causing me to fall from the pain in my stomach from earlier. Before I had a chance to recover, I was grabbed by the shirt and lifted to meet face to face with the clone. Her dark red eyes looked really threating and scary. They looked like…
…like it was time to kill.
"Finally…it's time…it's finally time…!" She said. With me being closer, her voice sounds a lot like mine. But a little…demonic.
"T-T-Time…f-f-for…wh-wh-what?" I stuttered. I was so terrified. I felt blood coming from my stomach thanks to the teeth marks from the Coily Rattler biting me. So I was slowly getting weak.
The look-a-like didn't answer. Instead, she threw me in the air, teleported to me, and punched me hard in the head. Slamming me to the ground.
"AMI! I-I can't move!" Raffina said.
I was in so much pain. I could barely move. So much blood had come out from my head that I was getting lightheaded. I tried moving what little I could, but the look-a-like teleported to me again, looking at me with an evil grin on her face. At this point, I was crying in so much fear. I've never been so scared in my life. I had no idea what this monster was going to do to me.
But then…then I found out. In the most inhuman way possible.
With her seemingly large claws, the look-a-like pierced her hand through my stomach. Leaving a gaping hole in the middle. I felt more and more blood pouring out of my body as I collapsed to the floor from the massive blood loss.
"AMITIE!"
I could barely hear the others scream my name in horror as they witnessed the recent event. The only thing I could hear…was the sound of my dying body choking from the puddle of blood I'm lying on.
"Have fun in hell…Amitie. NYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
These were the last words I heard, before closing my eyes and lying in the pool of my own blood.
…G-Goodbye…e-everyone…
…I'm…s-so sorry…
…I…f-failed you…all…
A/N: Behold. A new threat has appeared: Dark Red Amitie! Why she killed the real Amitie, and what she plans to do next…are both unknown…for now.
I'm taking a break from this story for a bit. Sorry to leave it on such a dark cliffhanger. I'll come back to this story soon. Until then, thanks for reading.
