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A Heart dies when it is not able to share its feelings. But a heart kills itself when another heart doesn't understand its feelings.
—Nishan Panwar—
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Her back was starting to ache again. Kirby leaned forward putting her weight on the control panel as she stretched.
It turns out that eNeMeE was much of an entrepreneur as he was a sorcerer. He had invested in many quadrants across the galaxy. Their last mission happened to be at a mining site build to harvest Graydon Ore and Titanium. Materials eNeMeE would use to build his Defense Saucers and some of his robotic monsters like Masher and the Ice dragon robot. Taking a tumble down a rusty old mine shaft for hundreds of feet down has certainly left its mark.
Knuckle Joe glanced over at her with concern. "Oi, Kirbs, do you need some more painkillers?"
"No, they make me dizzy," Kirby refused to take another one. Not to mention it had her hallucinating about dancing gumdrops and pudding cups. Trying to distract Joe, she said, "Tell me more about the Kungfu Master you wanted to track down at the Raincorn Bar back on Planet Twilight."
"Nothing to really to talk about," Knuckle Joe tried to downplay it with a shrug. "I mean Master ShuShu had over 25 tequilas and was still able to whoop that moob! Ha-ha! Who am I kidding? It was priceless!" he laughed. "That was the best Drunken Fist technique I've ever seen in my life!"
Kirby laughed with him. She had never visited a bar besides Samo's low key lounge back in Dreamland. It was a little scary at first, but after Master ShuShu helped them defeat Daroach and the Squeak Squad, she didn't mind visiting another one. "Do you like hanging out at bars?" Kirby asked, wondering if she could tag along with him.
"Not really, and you shouldn't either," Knuckle Joe shook sent her a pointed look. "I never step foot in one unless I'm looking for thugs or seeking out information. Besides, Sirica doesn't like me goin' to places like that so I tend to ignore 'em."
"Oh…" Kirby paused, admiring how considerate Joe was being to his teammate's wishes. "Are you and Sirica together then?" she concluded.
"What?" Joe blurted, eyes bulging with shock. "And you come to that conclusion how!?" he demanded to know.
Kirby shrugged.
It wasn't that hard to figure out, even for someone like her. Knuckle Joe was a boy, Sirica was a girl. They always traveled together. Both lost their parents in infancy. Both hunted Demon Monsters for a living and explosions followed them wherever they went. Together they made even bigger explosions.
"I think you two would make a good couple," Kirby answered honestly.
"We would be a good couple of freaks you mean!" Joe burst out laughing. "You couldn't get me into the sack with that raging dyke even if I was drunk off my-"
A thrown wrench came flying. It struck Knuckle Joe on the head knocking him clean off his feet. Kirby sidestepped him. Looking out into the viewpoint as the stars continued to streak across the spaceship's windshield. "How much longer until we arrive at the next planet, Sirica?"
Sirica imputed a calculation into the computer. "Hm… it seems we are projected to enter Koolos' atmosphere within 34 hours. And by the way, no, I am not a dyke," she added. "I just happen not to take poodoo from anyone."
Kirby blinked. "…okay?" she didn't even know what that was. Kirby made a mental note to ask Tiff what that word meant once they return her to Dreamland.
Tiff...
Kirby felt a little guilty as she thought about her childhood friend. Tiff was probably one of few who worried about her whereabouts. Still, Kirby didn't regret her choice.
Traveling with Joe and Sirica these past six months have been the best decision of her life. It was so much fun, danger, and excitement. Kirby learned a lot, faced a lot, even got embarrassed at some points for not understanding how things worked outside of dreamy old Popstar.
They were currently en-route to the last base. Once the place got swept, the mission would be over, and she would have to return to her responsibilities. Is this how Princess Rona felt? Kirby couldn't help but wonder. Even Rona's fun had to come to an end. She had a kingdom run. Kirby would not be expected to rule one, but to restore a kingdom using her own body.
Kirby glanced to off to the side to check on Knuckle Joe only to see him still laid out on the floor. "I'm going to get him some ice," Kirby headed towards the kitchen. "You really should pull your punches, Sirica."
"Only when Joe learns to watch his mouth I will!"
Forever caught in the umbra of its immovable moon, Koolos is known as the Dark Lunar Planet. Sirica and Joe made sure to suit themselves up with night vision goggles and subzero jackets. Kirby's round form couldn't fit into any of their equipment, so she huddled in a cloak they managed to find for her. Kirby shivered, wrapping herself tighter. The place was nothing more than a desolated ice cube. The climate harsh and unforgiving without the kindness of the sun.
"See anything?" Sirica raised her voice to ask over the high winds.
"I see ice, ice, ice, and what do you know? More ice!" Knuckle Joe answered sarcastically. He adjusted the sight range on the goggles to see further out. "I mention ice? Is the scanner able to pick up any life forms, Sirica?"
Sirica glanced down to read the gadget in her hand. "Besides the three of us, no. Not that hard to believe since this place is a frozen wasteland!"
"Drat!" Knuckle Joe kicked at the frozen ground. "With no monsters guarding this lab then it'll be a simple blast and sweep operation..."
"You actually sound disappointed," Sirica noted dryly.
"Well, I wanted to go out with a bang for Kirby's sake," Joe explained. "It's our last stop after all."
Kirby managed a smile. "I'm okay with it ending like this, Joe. I've had a great time with you and Sirica, thank you both!" she hugged Sirica.
"Ahh!" Sirica grinned, hugging her back. "You're welcome, Kirby!"
Kirby tried to hug Knuckle Joe too, but he dodged her. "Oi, oi! No need to get all mushy about it! We're in the middle of a mission in case you need reminding!" Joe marched on ahead.
Sirica patted Kirby's head. "This won't be our last adventure together, Kirby," she promised. "I'm sure of it!"
Kirby didn't bother getting her hopes up. "If you say so... can we proceed now?" she asked, eager to get out of the cold.
"Yeah, let's catch up with Joe."
The entryway to the base was almost tomb-like. It was buried beneath a mountain of ice and snow. "Even before Nightmare Enterprises went bust, I doubt anyone been here in the last 100 years!" Knuckle Joe remarked.
"This place…ugh…" Sirica cringed, not taking another step. "I know Nightmare Enterprises' facilities usually give off sinister vibes, but why does this one give off the biggest creep vibe in the whole galaxy?"
"Dunno, but I'm all the move eager to figure out why," Joe raised his fists. "Vulcan Jab!" he fired at the ice. It cracked and crumbled under the barrage Chi punches. Joe managed to beat the ice down to the doors of the facility before wearing out. He slumped. Lowering his fist as he gasped for breath.
"Thanks, Joe. I'll take it from here!" Sirica lifted her weapon to her shoulder. Clicked a missile into place and fired. The durasteel doors crumpled against the pressure and exploded off their hinges. "Be on guard, everyone!" Sirica warned them as they proceeded to enter.
Knuckle Joe waved her off. "There ain't nobody here so what are you worried about?" he walked on ahead to scout the corridor.
"That we know off…" Sirica muttered. "I swear I need a leash for him sometimes! Stay close, Kirby," she warned the little puffling. "I would like to return you to Dreamland in one piece."
"I'd like that too!" Kirby squeaked. She didn't like this place, not one bit. Everything felt off. The lights on the ceiling flickered overhead and the shadows on the wall were eerie looking. They seemed to stick and scatter rather than fade when the light blinked.
Kirby blinked to make sure she wasn't imagining things. "Sirica…!" she tugged on her companion's sleeve.
"Yeah?"
Kirby pointed to the walls.
"What do you mean…?" Sirica's eyes bulged when she saw what Kirby was trying to warn her about. "Joe, come back!"
"Huh? What for-" Knuckle Joe didn't even get to finish his response before the shadow leaped out from the walls. By pure instinct alone he managed to dodge its claws by mere inches. Now fully exposed the monster drew itself to its full height and shrieked loudly.
"Ugh!" Kirby tried to cover her ears. The sound was sharp and horrifying.
"I knew it!" Sirica fired rapid shots from her machine gun but the bullets went clean through the transparent creature. "There is a monster here! It's a Shadow Shrieker!"
"Open your mouth, Kirbs!" Joe called out to her. "I'm gonna feed you a Vulcan Jab!"
"Right!" she swallowed the energy blast sent her way and immediately felt her core morphing. Her body growing stronger and her mind focused. Her paws hardening like steel and suddenly all the knowledge of every all Kung Fu and Karate technique entered her brain. She was now Fighter-Kirby!
"HI-YAH!" Kirby leaped into the air to land a Hi-jump kick, but the creature retreated into the wall to avoid being hit. Kirby kicked off landing next to Sirica. It then swung out his clawed arms to retaliate. "Vulcan Jab!" Kirby sent out an energy chi blast to deflect the attack. It fared a little better than Sirica's gun. Kirby's attack took more energy to pass through its body.
Kirby was about to try another Hi-Jump kick when Sirica stopped her. "There's only one thing that can defeat a shadow, with light!" Sirica pulled out aa lighter from her pocket and set it ablaze. Kirby opened her mouth to accept the flame. "Joe! Retreat to the blast doors, we got to take cover!"
Kirby felt her core morphing yet again. All the wisdom of the martial arts leaving her body. Kirby felt her internal temperature rise higher and higher until it burst forth on the top of her head in flames. The flames burned brightly and crackled with a mighty roar in the air. She was now Fire-Kirby!
The Shadow Shrieker hissed at her with pure loathing in its cry. It hated the light, but it despised fire more than anything else.
"We're covered, Kirby!" Knuckle Joe yelled. "Roast that monster!"
Kirby inhaled deeply drawing in as much breath as she could before exhaling a mighty flame. The creature cried out for the first time in pain instead of rage. It tried to retreat to the wall to make its escape, but Kirby saw this and instead looped the flame around the creature in a swirling mass of spinning fire. Now it was trapped with nowhere to flee.
Kirby really turned up the heat. "Tornado Blaze!"
The demon beast gave off a final cry before falling dead. Its body crumbled away being disintegrated into soot. Kirby relinquished the Firepower and plopped down on her bottom completely exhausted. She bit back a hiss of pain as a jolt of pain shot through her spine.
"Kirby!" she heard Joe and Sirica running to her. "Did it hurt you?" Sirica knelt to check her for injuries.
"N-No, not really, but I still hurt," she whimpered.
"Your back is bothering you again, isn't it?" Sirica realized. "We're going to have to get that checked."
"No need. Err, well…" Kirby didn't know how to describe it. "…it's personal..." she hoped Sirica would drop it the matter.
"Oh…" Something dawned on Sirica's face. "Or is it that time of the month for you, Kirby?"
Kirby blinked. "Um…?"
At hearing that Knuckle Joe clear his throat loudly. "I'm going to go scout ahead again!"
"Take the scanner with you!" Sirica tried to pass it to him.
"Bah! That scanner is useless here. I'll be alright, Sirica. At least now I know what to look out for. You tend to Kirby!" he said and then left.
Turning back to the little puffling, Sirica offered, "Do you want me to escort you back to the ship so you can rest?"
"No," Kirby got to her feet. "I want to finish our last mission."
"Alright," Sirica relented. "But once we're done here you are going on bed rest until we return to Dreamland. No ifs or buts about it! Understand?"
Kirby didn't even bother to argue. "Yes."
"And one last thing; I am not sure what you normally use, but I got you covered if you need any pads."
"Thanks, Sirica."
"Anytime."
Kirby followed her down the hallway while wondering to herself what kind of pads were Sirica talking about.
Luckily, no further incidents occurred. After exploring the facility the trio regrouped at the control center. Sirica plugged into the network to download any files left in the database and to scan for structure schematics. This was the most boring part of the job. It could take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours.
"I'll stay on watch," Knuckle Joe volunteered, standing at the door with his arms crossed. "You two can rest."
"Thanks, Joe," Sirica sat down leaning back against the wall. "Come join me, Kirby."
Kirby sat down beside her.
"I guess this is it. We've cleared the Kolako sector," Sirica smiled down at her. "Thanks for lending us a hand. This last lab was a doozy. I don't think we could have done it without you."
"No problem!" Kirby beamed despite the pain. "So, what you are you two going to do after you return me to Dreamland?" she asked.
"Well, after reporting in with Sir Arthur and the Analytical Team, Joe and I will have about two months off before shipping out again."
"Oh," Kirby brightened. "Then you should come back with me and rest in Dreamland for a little while!" she insisted. "Fighting as hard as we did you both deserve a break!"
"Hmm…" Knuckle Joe stroked his chin as if he was considering it. "You got a beach and a hotel?"
"Yes! My friend, Iroo, helps run the Cappy Town's Beachside Hotel!" Kirby announced proudly. Currently, it was the only hotel in town. Iroo even let her stay some nights for free when she helped him paint the walls. "Also, Lovey-dovey Day is coming up soon!"
"Eh? What's that?"
"Lovey-dovey Day is a holiday we celebrate in Dreamland. On that day you get to tell someone just how much you love them by giving them cards, candy, and gifts! Then later that night King Dedede hosts the Cupid's Ball at his castle!"
"Man, your folk sure love having parties…" Knuckle Joe muttered. "I swear we were just at one!"
A sly smirk lit up Sirica's face. "Maybe this is your chance of finally getting that dance from the Cabinet Minister's daughter~"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Joe gritted his teeth.
"Dance! Dance!" Kirby cheered.
"See? Kirby agrees-"
"She doesn't even know what you're talking about!" he retorted.
"You want to dance with Tiff!" Kirby giggled happily.
"Wh-What? Kirby! How did you even know—wait... SIRRRRICA! Did you tell Kirby!?"
"I haven't said a thing!" Sirica laughed. "Kirby is smarter than you think she is!"
Knuckle Joe groaned as he buried his face into his hands.
"So, what's your favorite thing about Lovey-dovey Day, Kirby?" Sirica asked.
"Cake!" the pinkette cheered. Strawberries were in season this time of year and that means lots of yummy strawberry shortcake. Kirby started drooling just thinking about it.
"Figures your only love is food!" Sirica giggled.
"I love giving gifts to people too!" Kirby added. Last year the mayor's wife, Hana, allowed Kirby to use her oven so she could bake treats for her friends as Lovey-dovey Day presents.
"Is there anyone especially special to you Kirby?" Sirica asked. Kirby sent her a questioning look. "You know..." she poked Kirby's side. "Like a boyfriend perhaps?"
"B-Boyfriend?" Kirby stuttered. "I don't have a boyfriend!"
Who would even want to be in a relationship like that with her? Then of all people, Meta Knight popped into her thoughts. Kirby frowned. Why did she think of him? Meta Knight has always been standoffish and mysterious, but when she saw him without his helmet on, she got to see another side of him. The real him-
"Aha! I know that look!" Sirica caught her. "So you do like someone!"
"B-But...!"
Knuckle Joe turned his attention back to them. "Are you saying Kirby got a crush on someone?"
"W-Wait!" Kirby sputtered as her whole body reddened. "It's not like that!"
"Your reaction says otherwise!" Sirica sniggered.
"SIRICA!" Kirby wailed, burying her face into her paws.
Knuckle Joe sent her a Cheshire grin. "I'm gonna find out who your boyfriend is once we get back to Popstar!" he teased.
"DON'T! HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!"
"Oho! Who is this he, Kirby? Please explain-"
"NOOOO!"
Sirica's datapad pinged as it finished copying all the data from the computer's hard drive. "Huh? It's finished downloading already. Well, that was quick." She began to scroll through the information.
"Whew!" Kirby let out a sigh of relief. Glad for the attention to be off her. But Knuckle Joe was still smirking at her. "I. will. NOT. let. that. go," he mouthed to her. Kirby stuck out her tongue at him.
Turning his attention to Sirica, Joe asked, "Anything interesting?"
"No. According to the files, this base is just an inactive testing site that was abandoned 200 years prior. No wonder the place was so empty... and that monster we fought in the hallway must have been left behind in the move," Sirica assumed with a sigh.
"Now you're the one who sounds disappointed," Knuckle Joe threw her earlier words back at her.
"It can't be helped," Sirica shrugged. "Guess we're done here, team."
"Alright!" Knuckle Joe whooped. "Now onto my favorite part; blowing it all up!"
"Yeah!" Kirby cheered.
Sirica rolled her eyes. "Use the charges this time, Joe, Kirby isn't supposed to be used as a lighter!"
"Aww…!" Knuckle Joe and Kirby whined together.
"Such a party pooper, I know," Joe agreed as he reached for the detonator pouches in his backpack. "Okay Kirby, you know the drill. You distribute the charges on the left and I'll go to the right-"
"Hey, wait a sec!" Sirica exclaimed. Something had just caught her eye. Sirica expanded the map on her screen to show them. "There seems to be another level beneath this facility! Let's check it out before we detonate the base."
Knuckle Joe shrugged. "Alright," he dropped the charges back into his bag. "How do we get there from here?"
Sirica studied the map a little closer before standing up. "Follow me." She led them to a small room in the back that appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary office space.
"It's a dead-end, Sirica," Knuckle Joe said. "Did we make a wrong turn?"
"No, this is the right place," Sirica insisted. "A door should be somewhere in here… oh, right about there!" she pointed to the back of the room.
"Maybe it's behind the drawing board?" Knuckle Joe walked up to the dingy whiteboard and began to feel around the corners.
"Like a secret door!?" Kirby squealed. Things like this were always exciting.
Kirby went to pick up one of the markers. She tried to open the lid when she heard something click. The drawing board withdrew revealing the wall behind it. The walls separated to reveal a pair of durasteel doors. They hissed and then slowly squeaked open to reveal a lighted stairwell.
"Nice! Guess you got the magic touch, Kirbs!"
It was a long way down. Close to fifty stories underground.
"You think eNeMeE could have installed an elevator, but nooo!" Joe grumbled when they finally reached the bottom. "I hope it was worth coming down here because the walk back up those stairs is gonna suck!"
"Well, I guess we're about to find out..." Sirica replies. They exited the stairwell and entered the underground lab. Unlike the bare and cleared out research labs on the first floor, this seemed to be a fully functional lab. Completely stocked and fully operational. Located in the center of the floor was a giant crystal hooked to a machine with wires attached to the surface. Heavy chains were wrapped around it and secured with a rusted lock.
"...what in the...?"
They approached it with caution. On closer inspection, they could see that something or rather someone was frozen on the inside the crystal. A swordsman by the looks of him dressed in immaculate white armor. His lancer and shield were still in his hands.
"Wow…!" Kirby breathed in awe. It was a white knight like from one of those fairy tales Tiff used to read her.
"And eNeMeE has this stashed in his secret basement for what reason?" Joe deadpanned.
"Your guess is as good as mine..." Sirica muttered.
"Could he be a star warrior that eNeMeE managed to capture?" Kirby suggested.
"Perhaps," Sirica glanced around the room to look for a computer and quickly found one. "This seems to be a separate terminal down here," she plugged in her datapad. "Let me see if I can download any information..."
"Hmmm..." Joe rubbed under his chin as he continued to observe the frozen warrior. "Hey, is it just me or does this guy look similar to Meta Knight and Sir Arthur?" he remarked. "Maybe he's Kiridian."
Kirby perked up at hearing this. Perhaps her people were not as extinct as Sir Arthur said they were. Her little feet squeaked against the tile floor as she walked closer to get a better look.
"I dunno about that," Sirica disagreed. She glanced warily at the horns spouting through the knight's helmet. "I mean, when did Kirby's race have horns?"
"They don't," Knuckle Joe replies. He glanced down at Kirby. "At least not the ones I've met didn't have em'."
Sirica's datapad pinged when the download completed. "Let me see what we got..." Most of the files she managed to download were encrypted but Sirica kept searching until she found one unlocked. She pulled up the information on the screen. "…according to this he's subject 94x01J-9A…?" she read out loud.
Kirby stepped forward feeling strangely drawn to the encased knight. She rested her paw against the crystal's surface.
"Careful, Kirbs," Joe warned her.
But his warning seemed so far away. All she could sense was a deep sense of loss, loneliness, and longing. Kirby shuddered as she felt waves of it pouring over her. It did not hurt in the physical sense, but it was a deep emotional agony that caused her to let out a choked sob at the intensity. Other feelings began to pour into her as well. Bitterness, despair, and anger… so much anger! He wanted vengeance! The warrior's eyes snapped open. His glinting glare fixated on her.
"…Kirby!" Knuckle Joe raised his fist. "Get away from there, quick!"
Before Kirby could respond the Knight in front of her faded away and she was covered in a veil of darkness.
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Next Chapter: Walking in a Dreamgaze
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