Authors Note: Finally! Here's the update! I know I'm starting to get slow with updates but I'll try and fix that. ;) Oh and I loved all the reviews, thanks everybody!
Side Note: Kirby and all of his friends and Kirby64 are owned by Nintendo and Hal.
Chapter 8: Confusion And Suffering
As the night continued to grow long Adeleine soon found herself happily searching for Waddle Dee and the King with some good news.
When she finally located the two her attitude quickly changed.
She found that they were snoozing away, slouched against a large willow tree. And though it was the perfect opportunity to wake them up in some funny, unbelievable, convoluted way- she found no time to do any more than simply shout at them.
Luckily that did the trick.
She lead the sleepy pair back to the town square to share some new information she had gathered.
"Well I checked the books and..." She smiled widely, "I found... Drum roll please..."
She chuckled as Waddle Dee began to start hitting an invisible drum.
"This ain't a game show just tell us!" The King tiredly bellowed.
"Geez, okay okay. There is exactly one guy who specializes in eye care."
"Only one?"
"Yeah, obviously since this planet must run on the power of awesome- people don't really need doctors- just healing items. There were a few doctors in there though for specialized cases. And one of those doctors was an optometrist."
"Alright whatever. Let's just go and find Ribbon ta get this all done so we can start that party a mine. Then I'm going back ta bed."
The painter nodded blandly, "Right-o. Ready Waddle Dee?"
The little guy gave a gleeful hop.
"Okay then. Let's go to Fragrant Fie-"
"YOU GUYS!" A familiar little voice shouted.
Adeleine sighed, "Why do I keep," She paused and looked around suspiciously, then hurried the last two words, "getting interrupted?"
"Huh, Ribbon?" Adeleine stopped her, erratically flying, friend from crashing into anything, "How did you find-"
The fairy released herself from the painter's grasp and speed through her spcheal in one long breath, "I asked someone for directions and they told me to turn around and go straight to get back to the town square and now here I am to tell you that Kirby may be in danger because Meta-Knight is back and he said they returned and we don't know who they are or what any of it means!"
Adeleine, Waddle Dee, and the King were left wide eyed and completely baffled. "What?" They questioned in unison.
"Uh?" Ribbon was trying to catch her breath.
Luckily for the fairy, the worried look on her face spoke volumes to Waddle Dee- who began jumping around and acting out what he 'heard' through her expression.
King Dedede crossed his arms, "Kirby's in trouble? Well where is he?"
Adeleine tried to follow along in a much less serious manner, "Did he... Fall down a well?"
Waddle Dee shook his head, moving his arms in a panic.
Ribbon sighed, "He went to the West of the Fields to fight some kind of enemy Meta-Knight warned us about."
"Oh!" Adeleine and the King finally caught on.
"We have to help Kirby." The fairy quickly turned to lead the way when- WHAM!
"Oh geez, right into the stop sign." Adeleine brought her palm to her face.
Tumbleweeds, thick dusty air, and complete darkness were all around. These were the new surroundings that taunted the pink hero.
By the time Kirby made it through the western grasslands path (otherwise known by him and his friends as 'finishing a level') he was straining to catch his breath.
He rubbed his little forehead and looked around in thought, only to become disheartened.
No catchy melody of chimes were there greet him in blissful harmony.
No picnic blanket with his friends surrounding it as they feasted- which lead to what wasn't there that he needed the most right now- food.
"Ugh..." He grabbed his stomach.
Alone he stood in an abandoned wasteland.
It felt odd as he entered this place. Not a single drop of the ever-present poppy and peaceful music that normally graced each land could be heard- just the lone sigh of the wind against the desert weeds.
"You've come..." He heard a voice speak to him, not out loud but in his mind. "You've finally made it, my child of the stars."
The voice was like no other he'd ever heard before. It sounded so calm. Not too old, not too young. He was unable to identify is as male or female.
It fleetly took the form of a floating blob of murky black and purple. No eye(s) or anything distinct. It really wasn't much scarier than Dark Matter minions or much else. Just a little off putting maybe.
But that creeping voice... Wrapping itself in a tumultuous veil of unknown obscurity.
The pink hero froze for a moment then took a step foreword.
In a instant of offhand rebellion he shouted an irritated warning that he was no child- especially not of this creature's.
When it didn't respond Kirby was ready to fight but felt as if something was stopping him. Unable to decipher what it was he felt there was nothing he could do but launch into a quick laconic line of questioning.
He primarily demanded to know who the 'they' that Meta-Knight had warned him against were and why 'they' were returning.
A gentle kind woman's laugh was the response he got, along with hearing many other voices lightly layering it.
Kirby began to feel a little uneasy. When the voice decided to speak again, "Tell you what sugar, you defeat me and I will answer your question."
The pink puff was baffled as to why this supposedly androgynous creature decided to go all female but the thought was drowned out by a young middle aged man's laughter now coming from it.
He watched as the ball of black and purple swirled with glee at the poor heroes utter lack of understanding.
This vile thing of illusion and deflection- how it loved annoying Kirby. Filling him with so much confusion and no will to fight.