Chapter 43 – The Star Warrior's True Power
*BACK TO NORMAL POV*
10 minutes after recruiting Cheri and we're still climbing this tower. I would complain how big this thing really is, but Kirby did tell me that we're almost to the top. So I'm keeping my mouth shut this time.
"W-We're so high up. I-I don't think I could handle being this high up." Ringo said.
"Try not to look down. I think that's how you pass out." Cheri said.
"P-Pass out?!"
"And I think you'll fall back down and die."
"D-Die?!"
"I think."
"Cheri. If you're not sure if that could happen, then why even say it?" Arle asked.
"I dunno."
Arle then sighed out of annoyance. Cheri's personality is still something we have to get used to. So far, Arle and Raffina find her a pain to hold conversations with. Especially when she starts talking about depressing stuff like life and death.
But the way I see her…she's like a Ringo version of Sig.
…
*giggle* I just imagined what it would be like if Sig was a girl. Probably shouldn't tell him that, though.
"Poyo. Poyo poyo." Kirby said that we had finally reached the top of the tower as we climbed over the final few steps. The sunset view over the entirety of Dream Land was even prettier now that there weren't any walls blocking the way. It was soothing and relaxing. You could possibly bring your special crush up here and confess your love to them.
…
M-Maybe…I-I should do that. W-With him…
"Yo. Amitie."
"H-Huh?"
"What's with the blushing?" Raffina asked me.
"U-Uh…n-nothing. I-I'm fine. Really."
Raffina didn't look too sure of my answer. Usually, she would grill people on until they eventually tell the truth. But this time, oddly…she just let the whole thing go. Totally not like her.
Well, whatever. At least I won't have to tell her.
"So why did you guys come to this tower, anyway?" Arle asked Kirby, Chetta, and I.
"We saw this light-blue light fall from the sky and we wanted to check it out. But now that we're up here, I can't seem to find it."
"Meow…"
"Huh? What's wrong, Akaineko?" Chetta asked her cat.
"Meow…meow meow *hiss*."
"You sense something? You mean something's here?"
Akaineko didn't answer.
"Is it…someone?"
"Meow."
"Someone's here? Does he know who?" I asked.
"Meow."
"He said he doesn't. But what he does know is that it's definitely a foe." Chetta translated her cat's meow.
"A-Aw, come on!" Ringo whined out of fear."F-First we climb this tall tower, and now we have to fight a scary enemy? I-I can't do this! I-I'm going baAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
As Ringo turned around, she was met face-to-face with…well…a really big red eye. It was almost the same size as us. And it was floating while blinking a lot.
"I-Is that…an EYE?!" Arle asked.
"Arle! Behind you!" Chetta yelled.
"Huh…*terrified scream*"
Arle turned around to see ANOTHER really big floating red eye. The same size as the other one. She was frozen in fear as it kept staring at her…menacingly.
"Wh-What's going on?" Lidelle asked as she started backing up. She then bumped into something. And when she turned around, she saw that it was yet a THIRD really big floating red eye.
"*really loud terrified scream*" Lidelle screamed for her dear life as she ran to hide behind a nearby pillar.
"S-Sis…I-I'm scared." Raina said as she hid behind Raffina.
"To be honest, Raina. I am too. These eyes are super creepy."
Then after feeling a light touch on her arm, both Raffinas turned to see a FOURTH eye. Staring at them with a creepy stare.
"Wh-What the hell are you staring at, bud?! G-Get your creepy eye-looking self away from us! You damn pervert!"
The eye didn't react to Raffina's yelling. In fact, none of the eyes moved an inch as they kept staring at the five girls. And I was starting to get scared myself.
"H-Hey, Chetta. W-Were these eyes the foe Akaineko was talking about?"
"Meow." Akaineko meow normally.
"I-I sounds like it. A-Although he said that there's a fifth one somewhere."
"A FIFTH ONE?! HOW MANY OF THESE EYES ARE THERE?!"
"Five. I think." Cheri said as she floated up to us.
"Five? W-Wait…Cheri, do you know what these are?!"
"Possibly. I think I know what they are, uh…"
…
"What was your name again?"
"Grr…For puyo's sake, Cheri. MY NAME IS AMITIE!"
That's when the four eyes turned to face me.
F-Fiddlesticks…
The eyes started heading towards me. And they soon circled around me from above. And after spinning really really fast, I got really dizzy. And fell to the ground.
"Amitie!"
"Poyo!"
"I-I'm okay, guys. J-Just a bit dizz-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
Without any warning, I was being electrocuted by the four eyes. The electric currents were rushing inside my body. The injuries I got from the Coily Rattler were hurting even more as I felt my life source was quickly being drained from me. The pain was too much. So much so, that when it finally stopped…I fell unconscious as I began to cry once more at the pain I was feeling all over my body.
Wh-Why? Wh-Why is everyone…tr-trying to kill me?
Adeleine's POV
*MEANWHILE…*
"Kirby! Amitie!"
…
"*sigh*"
"Do you really think they climbed the entire tower, Adeleine?" Ribbon asked me.
"Well, it's not impossible, Ribbon. But I highly doubt they did. Even with Kirby's help."
"Y-Yeah, but…"
"Ohoho. So very shiny. To come all the way up here and find this beauty…it may not be the sacred treasure, but this is an extremely good haul *chuckle*."
"Hey, Daroach. Don't go running off with that thing. I told you why we need it." I said to him.
"I'm very aware of it. I'm just admiring it a bit more. The gang will be very impressed with this find, yes?"
"*Serious grunt*"
"Like I said, I'm just admiring it a little. Can't a thief admire his treasure?"
"*sigh* Honestly…" I said.
Along the way of Ribbon and I looking for the others, we ran into Daroach and Dedede. The former actually found something really important and just out of the blue.
And I mean that literally. Since he told me that it fell from the sky with light-blue fire around it.
This one important item…was the Purple Puyo Soul.
I can't really say why it fell from the sky or where it was beforehand. But with this, we now have all the Puyo Souls! Which means the puyos should stop raining down Dream Land!
Now if I could just tell the others this news…
*BOOM*
*SCREAM OF INTENSE PAIN*
*SCREAMS OF INTENSE FEAR*
"Wh-What was that?!" Ribbon asked.
"Those voices…i-it's the others! They're in trouble!" I yelled.
"It sounds like they came from this way." Daroach said as he pointed to a wall in front of us.
That's when Dedede walked up to it and smashed it to smithereens. Clearing a path that showed a bunch of stairs up ahead.
"Thanks, Dedede! Come on, guys!" I yelled as I ran through the rubble.
"A-Adeleine! W-Wait up!" Ribbon yelled as she and the others ran after me.
"Guys!"
"A-Adeleine?! Wh-What are you guys doing here?!" Arle asked as we reached the top and found everyone there.
"We came looking for you all! Wh-What the heck is happening?!"
"I-It started a little while after we found Ringo's clone…"
Wait, Ringo's clone?! Ugh! Focus, Adeleine! Deal with such a thing later!
"…When we came up here, Chetta's cat sensed something around here. We were then kinda-sorta ambushed by these four floating red eyes…and they just electrocuted Amitie!"
"H-Huh?!"
I looked over to where Arle was pointing to see Amitie laying limp on the ground. Her body burned to a crisp and bleeding a little from her previous injuries.
"Poyo…poyo…"
And right beside her…was Kirby. With a sad and worried look on his face as he tried to wake her up.
Kirby…
"AAAHHH!" I heard Ringo scream. "TH-TH-TH-THEY'RE BACK!"
I then finally get to see what everyone was talking about. As four really big red eyes came down at us and started spinning in a clockwise direction. For some reason, these eyes looked familiar.
Like I've seen them before.
"H-Hey, Adeleine." Ribbon said to me. "D-Do you think…th-these eyes look familiar?"
"Yeah…they kinda do, Ribbon."
"D-Do you think it's…"
"No. I don't think it's Zero. That thing's been dead for years."
Th-Then again. I-It did resurrect itself once…
"Meow…Meow!"
"Akaineko said they're still one more eye around here!" Chetta translated her cat.
"One more?" I asked.
And right when I asked that, a storm full of clouds appeared over our heads. And a ball of clouds came out of one of them. The cloud ball dissolved itself until it revealed the fifth and final red eye. Only this one was bigger in size compared to the rest.
As everyone stood in fear, shocked, or both, I was thinking of what could've caused this. As I knew what this thing was. It wasn't Zero, but the eyes were extremely similar. And there was only one other eye monster that I knew all too well.
"N-No way. I-Is that…Kracko?!"
"Huh?! Y-You mean THAT'S Kracko?!" Ribbon asked me.
"No doubt about it. Although it looks like he got a little make-over." Daroach said.
"W-Wait! Guys! Who the hell is Kracko?!" Raffina shouted.
"He's a cloud monster that usually lives in the cloud areas here. He can create storms based on rain, lightning, and can even create tornadoes."
"S-Seriously?! S-Such a thing exists here?!" Lidelle asked from way over behind a pillar. I also noticed that Ringo was hiding in fear with her. While Ribbon was hiding behind me.
"Yeah, but…Kracko doesn't normally look like this. What the heck happened to him?" I asked.
"I believe I can answer that."
"Huh? Wh-What the…"
We then saw someone zip on by and landed in front of Kracko. Turns out, it was Zan. But…like Kracko, she also looked different. Her eyes were completely red and she had a mix of dark red and black hue around her. She was also a bit pale. Unlike her teammates.
"Bonjam, everyone. Especially you two. Raina and Cheri." Even her voice was different. It was more distorted than her normal one.
"*shriek*" Raina hid behind Raffina.
While Ringo's clone (who apparently is named Cheri now) floated up and said:
"Hey, uh…Dan?"
"It's Zan! Zan Partizanne! It's not that hard to remember!"
It kinda is…
"Hmph! Whatever! I just came by to see if you all liked this newest creation of mine."
"Creation? Wait, you mean you did this to Kracko? So he's working for you guys now?" I asked.
"Hmm…you could say that. It took a bit of work, but it happened. No need to sweat the details. You probably won't live to learn them all."
"Grr…You wanna bet, you demented woman?!" Raffina shouted with rage. "I'll beat you down real good for what you did to Amitie!"
"R-Raffina! Wait!" I yelled as I held her back with what little force I had. The girl is crazy strong. It's honestly shocking.
"Baaahahahaha! It's so funny that you all care for her! But at the same time, it's also sad and pathetic. You all are placing your worthless little lives at the hands of THAT blonde moron of a girl. After how many times she nearly died because of her stupidity? You're all just as idiotic as she is!
…
"Or…should I saw "was"? Because at this rate, she'll die for sure of the pain and suffering she's suffered before. That's what she gets for believing she stood even the slightest of chances against the Angel of Darkness! Baaahahahaha!"
Th…The Angel of Darkness?! Oh no…
"Grr…Why you damn little…" Raffina and Arle were filled with so much rage. But not as much as…
"POYO!"
"Huh? Kirby?" I asked as we turned to face him.
"Poyo. Poyo poyo poyo. Poyo poyo poyo…POYO POYO!"
"K-Kirby…" I was deeply shocked that he was using such violent language. And his face…his angered face…it was so scary to look at. Almost like he was ready to kill someone.
And in this case, it was Zan.
"Well, look at you trying to be all cocky. All that smart talk won't heal your worthless friend. So I suggest you shut it, Star Warrior!" Zan taunted. Then turned to face Kracko.
"Kracko! Kill them all! Leave none stand! Make them suffer! Baaahahahaha!"
I'm not sure was kind of power Zan gave to him, but Kracko's multiple red eyes began to glow a black aura as each of them started gathering electricity. He looked more threatening than he ever did before. And I was actually scared for my life.
"*crying sounds* I don't wanna die!" Raina yelled in fear.
"Th-This is it! It's game over! WE'RE DONE FOR!" Ringo shouted.
"*sniff* Daddy. I'm sorry." Lidelle said through her tears.
"Will there be cherries where we're going?" Cheri asked without a care in the world.
"We're about to die and all you can think about is CHERRIES?!" Arle shouted at her.
"I like cherries. They're delicious."
Arle just facepalmed at that response.
As for me, I could barely think or move. I even felt Ribbon clinging onto me in fear of her life. As the other stood in fear. Quietly saying goodbye to their lives.
But…when Kracko fired his attack…
…
I felt nothing.
H-Huh?
I open my eyes to see Kirby standing in front of us. Holding his guard stance up as he somehow blocked such a powerful attack! I mean, I know he's the Legendary Star Warrior and all! But geez! That at least had to hurt!
"K-Kirby!" I shouted.
"Gah! You don't know when to quit do you, Kirby?! You stubby pink nuisance!" Zan yelled.
"Poyo! Poyo poyo poyo!"
"H-Huh?! St-Stay back?! Wh-What are you…a-are you going to fight them on your own?!"
"K-Kirby, that's crazy! Y-You can't do that!" Ribbon yelled from behind me.
"Poyo poyo! POYO poyo poyo!"
"Y-You're doing this…f-for Amitie?" I asked.
Kirby didn't answer. And instead looked away from us. Which was a clear sign of what the answer is.
W-Wow. H-He really cares for Amitie, huh?
…
I-I wish…he cared for me like that…
"You're seriously fighting for that girl?!" Zan asked. "Ha! So pathetic! It almost makes me feel sorry for you, Star Warrior! Baaahahahaha!"
"Poyo…POYO!"
As Kirby continued to stand his ground, something weird happened. He started to rise up above us. And was now floating above us all. We were all amazed by the sight.
But that wasn't all.
"H-Hey! Wh-What's going on with this thing?!" Daroach yelled. As something was going on…with the Purple Puyo Soul. It broke out of his grasps and floated towards Kirby. Now currently circling around him.
"I-Is that…the Purple Puyo Soul?!" Arle asked in total shock.
"What the…*BONK* Ow!"
As I rubbed my head, I looked down on the ground at what just hit me. Turns out…it was Kirby's phone. And was ringing, too.
"Hello?" I answered it.
"A-Adeleine!"
"Magolor? What's wrong? Why are you screaming?"
"I-It's terrible! Th-Th-The Puyo Souls! Th-Th-They just…d-disappeared!"
"Wh-What?! Th-They're gone?! Wh-Where did they go?!"
"A-Adeleine! Look!" Raffina shouted.
I looked up to see the answer to my question. As the other four Puyo Souls were now joined with the purple one. And were circling around Kirby on their own free will.
"N-No way…"
"KIRBY!" Ribbon shouted.
As we continued to look at Kirby, the Puyo Souls…they started fusing with him. The red one, the blue one, the green one, the yellow one, and the purple one. All in that order.
Then…he started to change.
And then once that was done, he dropped back down to us. Only…he wasn't his normal pink color anymore. He was a mix of all the colors of the Puyo Souls. And his galaxy-like eyes were replaced with ones of pure whiteness. He was more jiggly, too.
Almost like a puyo.
"K-Kirby?!" I yelled.
"Holy crap!" Raffina yelled.
"Wh-What happened to him?!" Ribbon yelled.
"Poyo poyo…Poyo poyo…POYO POYO!" Was the only thing that came out of his rainbow-colored mouth.
*TO BE CONTINUED…*
