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Do away with anger as anger is poison, it will eat away your very essence. Do away with fear, fear is awful, face it. Memories are sweet. Cherish them.
—Dr. Anil Kumar Sinha—
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Next thing she knew, Kirby found herself standing in the middle of a well-lit cave. The walls, the ceiling, and even the dirt that crunched beneath her feet were made of crystals. They sparkled and shimmered like mini rainbows from the reflected sunlight that managed to reach the inside of the cave.
"Wow! This place is so beautiful!" she gasped, but then Kirby's smile vanished when she realized that she had no idea where she was or how she got here. Wasn't she just in the basement with Knuckle Joe and Sirica-
A low groan sounded out from behind her. Kirby turned to see who was groaning and was shocked to see that it was the white knight! He was no longer trapped inside a giant crystal but was laid out on a mat severely injured. Kirby didn't know how, but in an instant, she somehow knew he had been recently defeated in battle. Kirby shuddered as she felt waves of self-disgust pouring out of him. If there was anything he hated more than losing it was weakness.
The Knight tried opening his eyes, but they felt too heavy to lift. He reasoned that this had to be some sort of nightmare instead of reality. But deep down he grudgingly knew he had been outdone by his better. Throughout their fight, the Shieldmaiden he battled would swap out the elements like a chameleon changes its colors. She would sparkle with ice, then crackle with lightning only to turn into a whirling tornado of water.
Kirby gasped. Those descriptions sounded very much like her Copy Power!
The Shieldmaiden was fierce, skillfully unpredictable and so very, very beautiful-Bah! What a ridiculous notion! the Knight ridiculed himself for thinking that. The Whiff Storm abandoned him ages ago. All he had left now was an ambition to be the best. What could a mere wench offer him?
"Oh, I see you are finally awake," a melodic voice commented. "Will you open your eyes or not?"
Knelling next to him happened to be a female Kiridian dressed in crimson armor. Her skin colored a soft canary yellow with rosy cheeks and starry blue eyes. The Knight's eyes snapped open with a glare. He tried to leap to his feet, only to jerk into painful spasms.
The maiden forcefully pushed him back down on the mat. "Lay still or else you will reopen those wounds!"
She must have been the warrior who had won the fight, Kirby realized; though not unscathed. One of her large ombre colored butterfly wings was torn and dangling down her back. "Your wing…" the Knight blurted before he could stop himself.
The woman paused, seemingly taken aback by his concern. "It'll heal soon enough," she assured him dismissively. "Although the same cannot be said about you…" her heavenly blue eyes softened with fretful regret. "… I got a bit too carried away at the end, I am afaird."
"If you should think that then you did me a disservice, Shieldmaiden!" he spat at her. "I gave everything I had in our battle! Did you not do the same?"
She frowned with obvious disapproval on her face. "I do not attack unless provoked. Senseless bloodshed does not excite me as it does you."
The knight snorted unkindly at her poor assumption. "It's not about that, Shieldmaiden. It's about strength! I fight to be the strongest. To be the best! I would not fight for another, but myself!"
"For your own glory?" she sounded unimpressed.
"None is a more worthy conquest," he replied unblushingly.
"Hm…" She frowned down at him thoughtfully. "Then I apologize for the wrong I have done against you. If fate allows us to cross paths again then I will give our battle my all," she vowed. She lifted her paw and taped the five corners of her mask, swearing an oath onto the Star Table.
"Now I best be going…" she stood up. "I have bound your wounds. Water and food are left beside you. Farewell."
Kirby watched as the woman walked past her. Did she stay just to ensure his recovery? Kirby glanced back at the knight. His body had been lathered down with bitter herbs and wrapped in clean dressings. What a nice lady-
How annoying!
The Knight didn't share Kirby's sentiment. He felt cheated by not battling his opponent at her full power and then confused about why she would even treat her enemy's wounds. She made absolutely no sense to him. "Shieldmaiden… wait!" he called after her.
Footsteps came to a halt. "Yes?" she answered.
"…" He didn't expect her to reply. "… …what is your name?" he decided on the question.
"My name is Dame Stella of the House of Morpho," she started walking again, but then stopped again. Her curiosity getting the better of her, she asked in turn, "What is yours?"
"I am known as the Temporal Knight…" he answered. "…Sir Galacta of Halcandra."
"...Halcandra?" Stella sounded confused. "But that place is nothing but a desolated junkyard!"
Galacta chuckled weakly. "Perhaps the Halcandra you know of, Shieldmaiden, but the Halcandra I yield from is a flourishing utopia of sorcery and mechanical magicks."
"Galacta…" Kirby mumbled as the scene faded away. She panicked a little as everything grew pitch black around her, but Kirby wasn't in the darkness for very long. Slowly her sight returned. Now Kirby found herself standing outside in a strange new place. Sir Galacta was there as well. No longer on the verge of death, but fully recovered from all his injuries.
Galacta was looking out into the sunset until he grew restless. He raised his lancer high ready to strike the planet to its very core when suddenly a butterfly fluttered up to him. Galacta paused as he watched the tiny critter. It came closer and then landed on the tip of his weapon.
He lowered his lancer. Truthfully this place reminded him too much of Dame Stella. Even this creature reminded him of her. The pathetic inhabitants below let out a collective sigh of relief as he flew away in a disgruntled huff. Galacta never cared about accidentally destroying a planet or two if it got in his way until he met that blasted Shieldmaiden.
Galacta Knight took up his lancer again, not to destroy, but to past through space and time. He slashed across the very fabric of existence to open a portal. Inside the gaping hole was another sky filled with raining stars. Galacta transformed his snowy white cape transformed into a pair of feathered wings. He then took off flying through the portal he had made. Kirby let out a shriek of surprise as she accelerated behind him against her will.
This was not the first time he had done this, she somehow knew.
"Where have you been going, Sir Galacta?" someone had asked Galacta once.
"I fail to see how that's relevant, sire. Now, what is my next assignment?"
Kirby also knew he shouldn't be going where he was, but Galacta was determined to see Stella again. Eventually, he had tracked the Dame down to a gated Kingdom much larger and grander than the little Kingdom of Dreamland. And this was not the first time he had been here either. Kirby sensed another passage of time has taken place. By now he had fought her several times already. All the while making an absolute nuisance of himself.
"You again?!" It sounded like Stella's voice.
Kirby was beginning to feel sorry for the nice lady. It seemed Galacta sought her out whenever he crossed over into her dimension and when he found her Galacta didn't care what she was doing or where she was, he would challenge her to match. No one could stop him from pestering the poor Shieldmaiden. No knight, no matter how chivalric or skilled, could match him in battle. It didn't matter to Galacta how many challengers would confront him. As long as Stella was there to fight him after he was done with those peons.
Galacta managed to get the soldiers out of his way with ease, as usual. All except one this time. This warrior was clothed with the night. His bat wings flapped menacingly as he flew up to confront him, cutting Galacta off from obtaining his goal. Now he was annoyed. "Get out of my way, boy!" Galacta snarled impatiently.
His bioluminescent eyes blazing like molten fire as he fell into a stance. "No," he replied simply. His deep baritone voice sent a strange shiver through Kirby. "Your fight is now with me!" He oozed confidence and she was sure he had the strength to back it up.
Galacta's tightened the grip on his lancer with growing anticipation. He too could sense the raw strength eager to be released in the heat of battle. He loved to fight, just like him. Not since Dame Stella has he found a worthy opponent until now.
But who was this? Or rather what was this?
His outer appearance was clearly Kiridian but there was an unsettling thirst within him. For the first time in centuries, Galacta felt like he was looking into the eyes of a predator. The closest creature in resemblance to him would be a Vamporian, but that was impossible. The Ancients made sure those bloodthirsty warriors went extinct for the safety of the universe. Pity that. A Vampire Knight had always been a worthy challenge.
Without mercy, Galacta charged forward. The dark warrior flew up in a semi backflip to avoid the attack and then retaliated. So began an air bound battle. He was strong, like Stella and he maneuvered as Stella would, but her techniques he had made his own defensive style.
"She trained you," Galacta realized, coming to a halt. "Dame Stella was your master."
"You mean she is my master," he corrected him.
Galacta snorted in disbelief. "Do you imply that you are still a mere squire?"
"What of it?"
"I've disposed of sworn knights within seconds and yet you can hold your own against me. Dame Stella has trained you well," he commended him.
The squire did not relax his stance. "Indeed, she has," he murmured in agreement. "Tell me, Sir Galacta, what business do you have with my master that you would be brazen enough to storm King Velvetine's Castle-"
"No more of this! Stand down, now! All of you!" She has finally arrived herself, the Shieldmaiden, Dame Stella.
The guards hesitated. "But Princess, he is dangerous! He took down the entire Royal Battalion and-"
"That is an order!" she commanded. The knights reluctantly made way for their princess as she marched forth. She glanced up at her apprentice. "That includes you, Meta!"
"H-He is Meta Knight?!" Kirby blushed, feeling foolish and yet strangely aroused at this revelation. But why was he so different from the one she knew? If Meta Knight had wings, then why did he never use them?
"Yes, master," The squire obediently descended to the ground, landing next to Dame Stella.
Stella rested a hand on her student's shoulder as she smiled fondly at him. "I think it's time for you to enter the Glimmering Grails, Meta," she remarked.
He seemed taken aback to hear that. "… Are you sure, Master?" Meta asked.
"Yes, I am," she confirmed, her eyes shining with pride. "It's time for you to be knighted."
Meta Knight bowed to her. "Then I am honored to face the trials, Master."
Stella then turned to face Galacta. Her sword shrilled to life as it was pulled from its scabbard. "You wanted this, you got it. Your next opponent is me, Galacta!"
Galacta felt his eyes change. They turned from crimson to a deep shade of a velvety purple. Yes, this is exactly what he wanted. Just him and her-
He then vanished, like a pop, he was gone and Kirby along with him. It was all so quick. It was like getting spun around really fast. Kirby felt physically sick. She would have thrown up if she could.
"WHY DID YOU HAVE TO SUMMON ME BACK NOW?" Galacta roared at the ones who have just cheated him out of his long-awaited rematch.
Kirby found herself now standing in a lofty chamber made of gold pillars and clouds with twelve thrones. She stood behind Galacta looking up at the ones seated on them. They were... kitties?
Kirby blinked to make sure she was seeing straight. Even made sure to rub her eyes to help clear them up before taking another look. Yep, they were not only cats but the most regal looking beings she had ever seen. They were adorned in long white robes trimmed in gold with halos behind their heads. Their fur pure as snow and their eyes like a flickering flame. Warm, passionate, intelligent but above all else at the moment, displeased.
One of the godly cats spoke up calmly. "You were summoned because you were not authorized to travel into that dimension," this cat had a mane of red hair and a crown on his forehead. "As I am sure you are already aware, Galacta Knight. It's an unanchored dimension not connected to any other plane of existence. Your presence there can have terrible repercussions if kept unchecked."
At hearing this, the proud warrior immediately dropped to his knee and replied, "Forgive me, my lords... I was simply curious."
That was a shocker seeing Galacta Knight submit anyone. Just who were they-
It then came to Kirby who these lords were like a whisper in her ears. They were the Ancients. Galacta Knight was a knight sworn into the service of the Ancient Ones.
"Galacta..." the Leader of the Ancients said, this time more gently. "We have blessed you with the Time-mover Power to serve our will. See that it is not abused."
"That was never my intention, sire. From now on I will tread more carefully," Galacta promised. Kirby sensed the sincerity of his vow, but she noticed how Galacta had only promised to be more careful, not to stop his visitations.
The Leader of the Ancient Ones leaned back to his throne seemingly appeased by his compliance. "Now then, what of your last assignment?"
"Completed, my lord."
Galacta went on to give the Ancient Ones a verbal report of his latest travels. Kirby only half listened. They talked about places, people, and gadgets she had never heard of. But what did catch her attention was a shadow in the corner of her eye.
"Very good," the Ancient One replied, once Galacta finished. "Go rest now. Your next assignment will be in three suns and two moons time."
Galacta bowed again before excusing himself. Kirby felt herself getting pulled along with him. The shadow that was observing the proceedings in the corner of the throne room followed them out.
Galacta Knight walked several paces before growing weary of his stalker. He came to a halt. "What?" he snapped, looking behind him.
"I was just thinking about how it would be a shame for the Ancients to take back the gift they've given you."
A shiver went through Kirby as she recognized a voice she had not heard it in over 25 years. "How can this be?! Why is eNeMeE is here?!" she squawked in panic, but of course, no one could hear or see her.
The space wizard appeared younger. Instead of being dressed in black robes with silver pauldrons on his shoulders and a red medallion around his neck, the wizard was in a bright royal blue cloak with stars stitched onto his sleeves.
Galacta snorted in disgust. "That is what you are hoping for, isn't it? It's beyond me why the Ancients keep a sniveling worm such as you underfoot!"
Kirby could sense eNeMeE's hatred and jealousy of Galacta Knight, but the magician merely tsked, "You never had a polished tongue, Galacta..."
Galacta sent him a withering look. "And yours is forked like a snake. Mark my words lowly wizard: such power will never befall one of your ilk!"
Galacta stormed away leaving eNeMeE behind. Once his back turned, eNeMeE let his indifference drop into a snarling glower. "We'll see about that, Galacta Knight!" he hissed as his eyes bleeding red.
"Oh dear, oh dear..." Kirby muttered fretfully. She had the dreadful feeling eNeMeE made good on that promise.
The scene faded back into darkness again. This time Kirby wasn't afaird and simply waited for her sight to return. When it did she found herself back in the laboratory still staring up into those glinting scarlet eyes. Kirby blinked slowly. Was this real or was she seeing something else-
"-by! KIRBY! Are you deaf or something?" Knuckle Joe grabbed her. "I said get back!" he threw her into Sirica's arms.
Getting a face full of Sirica's overalls, Kirby grunted as she pushed herself up. She really was back. Back with Joe and Sirica and… Shadow Shriekers?! Kirby let out a startled cry as she held onto Sirica tighter when she realized they were also now completely surrounded by those ghoulish abominations. They hissed like venomous snakes ready to strike as their clawed tentacles thrashed around in the air threateningly.
Behind them, the crystal holding Galacta shuddered violently. Kirby noticed the fine lines running through the Knight's encasement. Having foes in front and possibly one behind them, the situation seemed utterly hopeless.
"J-Joe..!" Sirica's voice trembled.
"I know…" He stepped up in front of Kirby and Sirica. "You two get ready to run for it! I'll hold these things off for as long as I can!"
"No!" Sirica refused to budge. "We won't leave you behind!"
A loud crack sounded behind them and then the crystal shattered. On instinct, Kirby inhaled the shards. A crystal scepter formed in her paws. Spells and enchantments echoed through her mind as if she was simply recalling a memory. A red and cyan dual-toned jester appeared on her head. She was now Mirror-Kirby.
Kirby erected a barrier to shield herself and her friends. The knight, freed from his imprisonment, lowered his weapon. "The … the copy ability…" he whispered, appearing dazed to see it. Then he got angry to the point that he shook from pure rage.
"What is it about Kribs that pisses him off so much?!" Joe yelped.
"Who cares!" Sirica snapped. "We got bigger problems in case you need reminding!"
The Shadow Shriekers let out their trademark shrills before leaping over the trio and went straight for the Knight. Covering him like a blanket. Layer upon layer they piled onto him.
"We should help him!" Kirby insisted.
"Rising Fire!" the Knight cried out.
The ground beneath their feet rumbled and then erupted as Several columns of fire wrapped in lightning sprung the air, vaporizing the Shadow Shriekers on contact.
"Does it look like he needs help?!" Joe snapped. "We got to leave now while they're all distracted! C'mon!"
The attack spiraled up into the ceiling causing it to break apart. "Look out from above!" Sirica fired her rocket launcher to destroy the larger pieces of rubble falling. Dust and pebble-sized debris rained down on their heads.
"Keff!" Knuckle Joe swore. "The place is gonna cave in at this rate!"
"Warp star!" Kirby snatched the warp star off her head. "Take us back to the ship!" she ordered it.
The warp star sparkled to life as it levitated from her paw and expanded to its fill size. Kirby hopped on it. She flew to Sirica first. The young woman fell back with a yelp as it knocked the legs right from under her. She landed next to Kirby and then it sped towards Knuckle Joe. Joe grabbed onto a corner of the star and together the trio flew out of the secret laboratory and up the stairs. The entire stairwell was breaking apart and giving away as they flew up.
"Hold on tight!" Kirby yelled. It felt like a rollercoaster as she steered the warp star from side to side to avoid a collision. Unfortunately, their path to freedom was caved in. "I think the doorway is blocked!"
"Keep goin' Kirby! Sirica and I will keep clearing the way! Just keep going! Vulcan Jab!" Joe fired away with energy punches while Sirica used her rocket launcher against the metal slabs. They exploded, falling back and out of their way. With the path cleared Kirby managed to fly them outside.
The trio had made it safely back on board their ship when the surface of the entire planet gave a violent jerk, knocking them all off their feet. "Keffing curd!" Sirica cursed. She crawled into her pilot seat once the shockwave ended. "I think his attack struck something big this time!"
"This place ain't gonna last much longer!" Knuckle Joe panicked. "Punch it, Sirica!"
Kirby had never heard him so afraid before. Even when they were at desperate odds trying to take down Masher 2.0, Joe wasn't fearful as he was now.
"The ship is going as fast as it can!" Sirica retorted, panic evident in her voice. They lifted off the planet, managing to get a good distance away when a bright white light filled the cockpit. The radar blared a warning. "Guys, brace yourselves for the shockwave!"
It came just a moment later with a deafening bang. The turbulence was very much like being a bouncing house only it wasn't very fun or soft. The trio spun around like a whirligig in a metal compartment. When it was over the ship was pretty banged up and so were they. The lights flickered out and the engine sputtered to a stop.
"Kirby… …Joe!" Sirica hissed in pain. "Answer me!"
"…ugh!" Knuckle Joe groaned as he rubbed the back of his neck. "…besides the whiplash, I'm alive!"
But there was no response from Kirby.
"…Kirby?" they called.
Her back had been bothering her for weeks and now this? Kirby could feel every cut, every bruise, and every ache in her body. She nearly passed out from all the conjoined pains.
"KIRBY! Are you alright?! Answer us!"
"…Y-Yes!" she managed to squeak out.
They drifted quietly in the wreckage for some time with the power out and the cabin dark. Only a small flashing red light was seen on the dashboard. The light from the remaining moon outside illuminated the space outside. There it was a magenta pink body and it was still moving in the debris.
Kirby smiled, feeling relieved that Galacta had managed to survive as well. Her friends, however, did not share her sentiment.
"Oh god…" Sirica's breath hitched, her eyes filled with horror. "…that thing can survive in the vacuum of space?!"
The knight flapped its wings, re-centering himself amidst the destruction he caused. The trio dared not to utter a word as they waited to see what he would do next. The Knight then took off like a jet. He appeared nothing more than a crimson streak as he flew across the galaxy like a shooting star. The three remaining occupants let out a conjoined sigh of relief at his departure.
"So, Joe… how's that for going out "with a bang"?" Sirica asked him sarcastically, remembering his words from earlier.
"L-let's not do that again," Knuckle Joe rubbed circles on his throbbing skull. "…the worst part is that Mr. Psychotic Knight is now roaming free… just who was that freak?" he muttered.
"His name is Galacta…" Kirby whispered. "And he was so sad that it made him angry…!" she shuddered just recalling the knight's emotions.
Joe and Sirica sent her startled looks.
"...Kirby, just how the heck do you know that?" Knuckle Joe demanded.
"When I touched the crystal, I just knew," Kirby explained the best she could.
"Right," Joe snorted. "Why do I get the feeling that he knocked you around just a little too much?"
Kirby glared at Knuckle Joe. "I'm serious! He was really sad!"
Looking at all the destruction floating around their ship, Sirica snorted, "Then I hope he finds a better way of venting his frustrations!" she ran a shaking hand down her hair. "I honestly feel sorry for any creature that crosses paths with him!"
"Well, what about you?" Kirby asked her. "Don't you grieve the same way? By blowing stuff up?"
"At least I can't blow up an entire planet just because I'm having a hissy fit, Kirby!" Sirica retorted.
"Guys…" Knuckle Joe interrupted them. "Let's just power on the ship and get out of here!"
None of them wanted to move so they forced themselves too. "Right…" Sirica tried to turn back on the power and then the auxiliary power to no avail. "Frack!" she cursed after a while, slamming her fist down on the control panel.
"What now?" Joe asked.
"The ship cannot power up, that's what!" Sirica snapped. "That blast must have short-circuited everything!" she turned her chair around to face her companions. "We're dead in space you guys!"
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Next Chapter: The Bringer of Mischief
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