.
.
.
.
Secrets have a way of making themselves felt, even before you know there's a secret.
—Jean Ferris—
.
.
.
Kirby knew today was the 25th anniversary of eNeMeE's defeat, but apparently, Tiff believed he still didn't know how to read a calendar. "Sorry, Kirby, but our lessons are canceled for today. Say, I have an idea! Why don't you go visit Dyna Blade's chick instead?"
A sure way to keep him away from Dedede Castle and out of Cappy Town for the rest of the day as they prepared for the surprise party.
Kirby puffed out his cheeks in indignation just thinking about it. He has saved Dreamland countless of times from demon-beast, freed the galaxy from Nightmare Enterprise's tyranny and could now even talk properly. How long will everyone continue to treat him only as a child?
Even Meta Knight promised to give him "the talk" once-
"How are you feeling today, Kirby?" Think of Meta Knight and he shall appear.
Kirby let out a startled squeak when golden ovals suddenly filled his vision. He was so busy fuming that he nearly ran into his mentor on the pathway.
"I am sorry if I startled you," the enigmatic knight apologized. "I was simply on my way back to Castle Dedede."
"I just came from there…" Kirby rubbed his cheek sheepishly. "I guess I wasn't watching where I was going…"
Kirby noticed that the bag Meta Knight was carrying came from Tuggle's store. Meta Knight rarely did any type of grocery shopping during the daytime. Normally he would have Sword or Blade run errands for him.
With his curiosity getting the best of him, Kirby asked, "What's that?"
"Coffee grounds," Meta Knight answered with a bit of a yawn in his reply. "We were out this morning. Blade Knight made the last cup and did not replenish the stash," he added with a note of annoyance.
'He's tired because he was up all night helping me…' Kirby realized, dropping his eyes. It was becoming increasingly difficult to look at his mentor for some reason. "Meta Knight… thank you… I-I don't know how but I felt so much better after you arrived."
"You are welcome," Meta Knight replied. He made a move to walk around the pink puffling without another word.
That was it? Kirby felt indignant. He needed to talk about it!
"Meta Knight," he tried again. "About last night-"
"It was a passing phase," the sworn knight cut him off. "Nothing more, nothing less. There is no need to bring it up to me or anyone else."
Kirby tilted his head to the side. He did not understand why Meta knight was so adamant about the cappies not knowing about this, unless…
His cheeks glowed brightly in embarrassment as he remembered how that fever made him lose control of himself. Meta was right. That was something he didn't want everyone to gossip about him nuzzling up his own mentor in the heat of the moment.
Kirby averted his eyes again. He watched the butterflies as they fluttered around a patch of daisies. "Sorry…" he apologized quietly
Meta Knight nodded, seemingly understanding what he was apologizing for. "Do not feel ashamed, young one. It was something you couldn't help. Passing a Heatwave is not an easy feat."
Kirby perked up. That term was new to him. "What's that…?"
Meta Knight paused for a moment. "...I will tell you soon enough," he promised vaguely.
Kirby felt a twinge of hurt. "Why not now?" he demanded.
"Kirby-"
"Why are you always like this?" Kirby blurted out in frustration. "You don't have to keep everything a secret you know!"
Meta Knight stilled at his words. His golden eyes dimmed to a foggy gray color. "Please be patient with me, Kirby," he pleaded softly. His tone noticeably softer and filled with something Kirby couldn't quite discern. But if he had to take a guess, it was sorrow. "I know you have a lot of questions. I assure you that they will be answered but not now. It's for your own good that these things remain hidden just a little longer."
Meta Knight never did anything without reason, so Kirby nodded. "Alright, I trust you."
The Star Veteran's eyes flashed again. This time they were the color of periwinkle. Who would have thought that four little words would have such a profound effect on him. "Your trust will not be misplaced," he vowed.
"Now run along," Meta Knight dismissed him. "I am sure you have lessons with Lady Tiff this morning."
"She canceled…um, Tiff said I should go visit Dyna Blade and her chick for the day."
"Hm, yes," Meta Knight agreed with his eyes now glowing a pale green. "That is for the best…"
'For you or for me?' Kirby thought grumpily to himself. Forcing out a cheer that wasn't in his soul, he chirped, "See yeah later, Meta Knight!" With a wave, Kirby continued on his way to Candy Mountain.
Lucky for him, Dyna Blade was in a hospitable mood and Dyna Chick was eager to show off for a spectator. The little hatchling was trying to fly for the first time and Dyna Blade allowed Kirby to watch.
"Did you see, Mama? Did you see?!"
"That's it, dear, keep it up!" Dyna Blade encouraged her chick sweetly in bird speech.
Dyna Chick chirped triumphantly before turning to Kirby for more praise. "Did you see me, too, Kirby? I lasted about ten seconds in the air this time!"
Kirby couldn't help but grin at his enthusiasm. "Of course I did!" he applauded, clapping his paws. "You will be flying in no time!"
Dyna Chick puffed out its little chest proudly before running back to the top of the liege to try again. Kirby beamed up at Mama Dyna Blade and remarked, "He's doing so well on his first try. You have every right to be proud of your son, Dyna Blade!"
The proud mother clicked her beak with pride. "Thank you, but my chick is a girl."
Kirby let out a stunned, "Huuuh? Uh, I never realized that…"
"All Dyna Blades are born female," Dyna Blade explained, raising a brow. "How else can each generation lay an egg every hundred years?"
"Oh…" Kirby paused. That did make sense. "Sorry, everyone said your chick was a boy-"
A panicked screech filled the air followed quickly with a crashing thud. Dyna Chick groaned as she landed headfirst into some boulders shattering them on impact. Luckily that chick was tougher than she looked due to her steely feathers growing in.
"Remember to flap your wings as you run, dear!" Dyna Blade coached her daughter. "Or else you will not build up enough speed to get off the ground!"
"Ugh…" Dyna Chick groaned as she sat up, shaking the dust and rocks off her head. "This is harder than I thought…"
"Hey, don't get discouraged," Kirby dusted Dyna Chick's head and picked out any pebbles lodged in between the crevices of her feathers. "Just keep practicing!" The chick chirped happily, leaning into his paw. "So one day you will be a good flyer just like Mama Dyna Blade!"
"Right!" Feeling re-energized Dyna Chick ran back up the ledge to try again.
Dyna Blade beak curved upward, liking how gentle and supportive Kirby was being to her child. "It seems you have the makings of being a good mother yourself, Kirby," she complimented.
Kirby frowned. "Thanks but boys can't lay eggs…"
Dyna Blade blinked. "Kirby, all females can lay eggs or birth children," she explained patiently. "That includes you."
"… …me?!" the pink puffling shrilled.
"Yes, you."
"But I'm a boy…" Kirby insisted weakly.
Everyone referred to Kirby as a 'little boy' or 'him' and 'he' for years. Kirby just accepted it because gender never mattered before. But once grown up, he could have babies like Dyna Blade? That would make it a big deal.
Dyna Blade tilted her head to the side. "You think or you know?"
Kirby honestly had no idea. "…I think?"
"Here. Let me see…" Dyna Blade leaned down to sniff Kirby. Kirby felt the warm air circle around her before being sucked up in a deep breath. Dyna Blade pulled back with a satisfied nod.
"So am I really a girl?" Kirby asked.
"Affirmative. You are female-"
"POYO!" Kirby cheered before she could stop herself. A 'poyo' would always slip out whenever she got too excited. The dark pink blushes on her cheeks now a vivid red. "…oops!" she slapped a paw over her mouth feeling embarrassed.
"Well, I can see you're happy about it!" Dyna Blade chuckled.
"I am!" Unable to keep still, Kirby rocked back and forth on her round bottom. "I can't wait to be a mommy too!" she cheered. Kirby always liked babies. It made her happy to know she could have one day give life too.
"Hey, Kirby!" someone called out to her. It was Tuff. He poked his head up over the ledge to be seen from the den. Cuffing his mouth he exclaimed, "Sorry to interrupt your visit but I need you to go somewhere with me ASAP!"
Has it really been that long? Kirby glanced up at the sky. The sun was just overhead when she first arrived at the nest and now it was steadily lowering into the west. "Oh, okay!" Kirby jumped up, eager to get to the surprise party and all the yummy food sure to be served there.
"See you later, Dyna Blade, and Dyna Chick, you keep practicing! I will be back to check on your progress!" she waved them goodbye before heading down to join Tuff and her cappie friends at the foot of Dyna Blade's nest.
Kirby hummed to herself merrily as they made their way down the base of the mountain.
"You seem happy," Tuff noted. "What is it?"
"I just found out something exciting!" she gushed.
"Oh…" Tuff began to sweat. "…like what?"
"One day I can become a mommy too, just like Dyna Blade!" Kirby cheered. She expected her friends to celebrate with her, but instead, all she got were incredulous stares.
"Yeah right, when you sprout wings!" Tuff laughed and then the rest of the cappie teens joined in.
Kirby blinked at them feeling confused. "But when I grow up, I will get wings too!" or at least that's what Meta Knight told her.
They laughed even harder. "You're such a kidder, Kirby!" Honey giggled.
"Yeah, he is!" Spikehead agreed, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
Kirby puffed out her cheeks in affront. "But I'm not kidding-"
"Maybe you should get Tiff to give you a biology lesson!" Iroo suggested.
Kirby's shoulders slumped. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea…" she relented, feeling equal amounts of confusion and humiliation. A lot of things went over her head and she was used to being the butt of their jokes, but this was no joking matter.
"C' mon, there's a surprise waiting for you in Butterfly Valley," Tuff said in hopes of distracting her.
Feigning ignorance for the sake of it, Kirby asked, "A surprise?" she perked up. "What kind of surprise?"
Tuff chuckled. "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, would it?" he replied to her rather condescendingly.
Kirby bit the inside of her cheek to hold back a wail of frustration. None of her so-called "friends" ever took her seriously.
"I guess it wouldn't…" she replied coolly, dropping the subject. Inwardly fuming, Kirby remained silent for the rest of the way. She wasn't a little kid anymore. It was about time everyone in and out of Dreamland acknowledged that fact.
.
.
.
Next Chapter: A Party Crash to Remember
.