I would like to just take a moment to apologize to all of you not updating for so long. I just haven't dedicated enough time to this project and it just got easier to ignore it after each week. However, this is somthing that I want to continue and see through.

I would like to thank those who have been reading my story, whether you reviewed it or not (especially my reviewers though), I appreciate you all. I hope you will continue to read. I will do my best to update. However, I won't make any empty promises that I may not be able to keep. I will try harder though.

Okay. With that out of the way, I do believe that it would be appropriate to give a small recap, seeing as though it has been half a year since I updated.

Kirby had beaten Kabu, thus receiving the third Sparkling Star and Kabu's message that Kirby is the one who will save everybody. After leaving the cavern, Kirby and Sir Kibble meet and begin to do battle. They end up falling to the wreckage of Sir Kibble's ship and prepare to fight again. Meanwhile. Escargoon has taken the final Sparkling Star, the Star of Sealing, and has captured Trila. Now Capsule J takes Kaboola to go and pick up Sir Kibble and his crew. I believe that that is everything so...

Disclaimer stuff: Kirby and all characters that happen to fall under that franchise are owned by Nintendo and Hal. I don't care if you use any original characters that I make, however, it'd be nice if I get some credit for them. Enough legal junk, let's get on with the story.

Chapter 21

In the Air on Land and Sea

Kirby leaped onto the Warp Star and began to circle Sir Kibble. "Soldiers, do not interfere with our battle," Sir Kibble said as he simply watched Kirby. "Your ability of flight would seem to give you an advantage…however, you must underestimate my own resourcefulness…take my scimitar for example. Normally a sword such as this would serve me little use against one so far away as yourself. However…" Sir Kibble swung the scimitar in a diagonal fashion toward Kirby. The blade separated itself and began to spin toward Kirby. Kirby had just enough time to tumble off the warp star as the blade flew over the Warp Star. Kirby plopped onto one of the wooden planks. He got quickly back up ready for Sir Kibble's next move. Sir Kibble stayed in the same place and caught scimitar blade. "You'll find that underestimating your opponent will lead you to defeat."

Kirby began to inhale. Sir Kibble stuck his sword into the ship and held on as Kirby attempted to inhale him. However, Sir Kibble, keeping a tight grip on his sword, was unaffected by Kirby's attack. After about thirty seconds, Kirby grew tired and stopped inhaling. Sir Kibble pulled the sword out of the ground. "As I suspected…Kirby, I have spent the last few days studying your remarkable powers. To think, you seem to have the ability to adapt to any situation. Such abilities seemed unstoppable…until I realized that you may have had a weakness. If you cannot gain my powers…you cannot adapt. And if you cannot adapt, victory is already mine. So Kirby, can you adapt?" Sir Kibble quickly pulled his sword out and lunged at Kirby. Kirby sidestepped, losing his balance and falling into the water.

Sir Kibble studied the water for a few seconds. Lost him… Kirby jumped up from behind Sir Kibble and tackled him. Sir Kibble was knocked over, losing grip of his sword. Kirby swallowed the sword. Kirby jumped up. A golden winged cap landed on his head. A silver scimitar blade glided back and forth at Kirby as he barely dodged each swipe. The blade then hit his helmet connecting to it. He had become Cutter Kirby.

Sir Kibble stood up. "…Well played my friend. It would appear that you have the advantage…let's see if you can keep it." Sir Kibble pulled the blade off from his helmet. "Come at me, Star Warrior!"

Kirby threw his blade at Sir Kibble, who deflected it with ease. The blade still came back to Kirby who caught it masterfully just in time to block a slash from Sir Kibble. Sir Kibble back flipped, and threw his blade at Kirby. Kirby jumped over the blade and it stuck to the ground. Kirby picked up the blade. "Looks like you're defenseless now Sir Kibble. Do you surrender?"

Sir Kibble seemed to smirk. "Masterfully done, Kirby. You give the Star Warriors a good name. However, my king has charged me with the task of recovering the Sparkling Stars." Sir Kibble spread his arms as two sharp boomerang-like blades came out from his armor. They were attatched to his armor by metal hords. "…And I intend to do everything in my power to do this." Sir Kibble threw the two blades at Kirby. Kirby successfully dodged and the two blades stuck to a piece of the floating debris. Kirby looked back, saw the blades were stuck and rushed toward Sir Kibble. Sir Kibble pulled the cords forcefully causing the blades to retract towards him with the debris. Kirby saw the plank just before getting hit it. Sir Kibble forced the plank down, keeping Kirby underneath it.

"Hmm…I suppose that even a Star Warrior can be beaten though. Perhaps your grand speech earlier were just words that held little meaning. Kirby, if you mean what you said…then show me." Sir Kibble harshly tugged the cords causing the debris to fling off Kirby and toward him. He forcefully kicked the debris, sending it back at Kirby just as he got up, knocking him over again. "Show me!" Kirby weakly got up, then looking directly at Sir Kibble, he tossed away one of his blades. The other blade shone as Kirby jumped high into the air. After front flipping, he hit the ground with such a huge force that the shockwave split the large plank they were standing on into five separate pieces. Sir Kibble lost his balance, nearly tipping into the water. As he regained his balance, his arm was slashed by Kirby's blade. Sir Kibble grasped it in pain. "Grah!" Sir Kibble looked up at Kirby and chuckled. "Well-played, Kirby…however, it would seem that our time is up."

Kirby looked behind him and saw the same zeppelin from the other night. A ladder was let down and as the rest of the ships crew climbed upon it Sir Kibble handed Kirby one of the Sparkling Stars. "If you want the other two…well, I'm sure you know what you have to do." Sir Kibble grabbed the ladder and the zeppelin flew away from the wreckage.

The Warp Star flew beside Kirby. Does he really expect me to take on that? Kirby sat down to rest from the last battle for about a minute. Then he jumped onto the Warp Star and headed off toward the zeppelin.

Sir Kibble walked onto the main bridge of Kaboola where Capsule J was waiting. The two saluted and Capsule J then asked, "Was the mission successful?"

"Nearly. We now have all but one Sparkling Star. Kirby managed to take the other one."

"Why didn't you get it back before coming on board?"

"…Had I stayed, captain, Kirby would have all three of the Sparkling Stars. It is of little consequence. We can always find him later and take the last one."

Capsule J nodded as an alarm went off. One of the crew members turned from his monitor. "Captain! We have an unidentified object approaching fast! It appears to be…sir, it's Kirby!"

Capsule J turned to Sir Kibble. "It would appear that our opportunity to take the final Star has come. You've done well Sir Kibble, you should get that arm looked at."

"I'll be fine. I'd much rather watch the battle from here."

"Suit yourself." Capsule J sat in his command chair pressing several buttons. "Full about! All hands, battle stations. Activate all ship gatling guns. Ready the main cannons. Bring full tactical units online. I don't want him to survive one pass at us. Sir Kibble, no matter how powerful this Kirby is, he can't withstand the full force of the airship Kaboola."

Sir Kibble just stood there. "We shall soon see, captain."

Kirby was quickly catching up with Kaboola. If I can get inside quickly enough, than I'll be able to get the Sparkling Stars without having to deal with…scratch that idea. Kirby watched as the massive airship sharply turned until it faced Kirby directly. Two large cannons came out from panels on the side of the balloon. Several other smaller panels opened, revealing dozens of machine guns. Kirby gaped at the dreadnaught that flew before him. Seconds later, the two large cannons fired. The shells were easily ten times bigger than Kirby. He was able to dodge them as they rocketed past. Kirby then realized that he was nearly under the ship. The machine guns fired. Hundreds of tiny bullets hit the Warp Star, which Kirby was now underneath.
"Impossible! How can that flying star take so many hits?" Capsule J pronounced in frustration.

"You're underestimating him. Don't," said Sir Kibble.

"What do you suggest then, Sir Kibble?"

"Seeking weaponry might do the job…on the other hand. Kirby's adaptive powers make any form of attack risky. I really have no suggestions."

"Sir!" said a tactical officer. "One of our cannon shells hit Kirby's star. Kirby was knocked off of it. If we can keep Kirby separated from the star, he should be immobilized."

"Excellent…engines at full power. We're gonna ram him. Full speed ahead."

Kirby grabbed back onto the Warp Star. Geez, this is ridiculous! Kirby looked to see Kaboola approaching, very quickly. Kirby turned tail and headed away from it, but since Kirby was also dodging gun fire, Kaboola caught up with Kirby and knocked him off of the Warp Star. Kirby landed on Kaboola's balloon. He tried to hang on, but the blimp's speed sent him further toward the back. Kirby was sent flying from the back of Kaboola and began to plummet toward the ground. Kirby's freefall was ended as Meta Knight swooped over him, grabbing him. "Meta Knight!"

"You must get the Sparkling Stars. Here." Meta Knight handed Kirby the Warp Star. He then flew off, drawing fire from the machine guns.

"Let that one go, Kirby is our target." Capsule J said. "This isn't working out very well…"

"You did nearly defeat him. Yet Kirby seems to have a way of snatching victory at the last minute."

Capule J growled lowly. "…Activate missile launchers. Lock onto Kirby."

"We have him locked captain. Missile's prepped and ready to fire."

"Fire!"

Kirby heard several loud booms. He turned to see about half a dozen rockets stream toward him. Kirby quickly flew away from Kaboola to avoid its other weapons. The rockets were slowly gaining on him. Kirby flew straight down in an attempt to lose them. They followed him down. Kirby was coming down to the water quickly and at the last second leveled out. Two of the missiles hit the water, but the others leveled out with him. Four left…now what? Two more cannon shells hit the water barely missing Kirby. The force knocked Kirby off the Warp Star and into the water. The missiles flew over him and began to loop around to hit him again. Kirby quickly jumped back onto the Warp Star, and got out of the way from the missiles seconds before two others hit the water.

Kaboola suddenly flew right over Kirby, coming down, starting to force Kirby down to the water. Kirby stopped suddenly letting Kaboola pass over him. Kirby turned seeing one of the last two rockets coming at him. Kirby inhaled the missile. Kirby jumped up. Smoke came out of Kirby's feet and then launched him causing Kirby to fly erratically, his head hit a red metal cap stopping him. He had become Missile Kirby.

The final missile was coming up quickly. Kirby jumped off the Warp Star. The cap glowed as Kirby transformed into a missile. Kirby rammed right into the other missile causing a large explosion.

"Sir, we have confirmed a direct hit," stated one of the tactical officers.

Capsule J turned to Sir Kibble and seemed to smirk. "Let's find whatever's left of him and get the Sparkling Star."

"Sir! We have a contact approaching fast. Inbound missile sir!"

"What? Destroy it, quickly! All weapons fire!"

The missile was quickly destroyed in a large explosion. "Lieutenant, I want to know where that missile-"

"Sir! It's back, and it's still coming toward us!"

"It's Kirby," stated Sir Kibble. "He's used his powers to become a missile."

"You've got to be kidding. Use whatever is necessary to bring him down! Fire more missiles! Now!"

"Firing sir!" The missiles hit Kirby again and again. However, regardless of what hit him, it only seemed to slow down the inevitable. Kirby would continuously transform into a missile each time he got hit. Kirby finally hit the balloon of the blimp.

"Sir, we've been hit!"

Capsule J turned to Sir Kibble. "What can we do?"

Sir Kibble stood in silence for a second stunned at Kirby's power. "…Nothing. Kirby is too powerful." The ship was rocked again by another hit from Kirby. "There is no way that we can defeat Kirby now."

"Sir, we've lost weapon control!" The ship was hit much harder again. "Sir! we're losing altitude! Engines are not responding!"

"We must evacuate," stated Sir Kibble.

Capsule J nodded. "All crew, evacuate Kaboola immediately. Pilot, are we near the mainland?"

Yes sir, we are right above the shore right now. Are rate of decline is increasing, sir."

"Alright. Sir Kibble, do you have the Sparkling Stars?"

"Yes. We must leave." Capsule J and Sir Kibble were the last off the bridge.

Kirby returned to normal, seeing that Kaboola was now plummeting to the ground. Kirby noticed the ships crew jumping ship. He flew off in that direction, hoping to find Sir Kibble and the Sparkling Stars. Kirby spotted Capsule J carrying Sir Kibble as the two swiftly flew toward Castle Dedede. Kirby trailed them. Capsule J turned to see Kirby, unsheathed his laser gun, and began to fire erratically at Kirby. However, the burden of Sir Kibble made his aim less than accurate, so Kirby was easily able to dodge. Kirby quickly overtook Capsule J and crashed into him, causing the three to slam into the ground. Capsule J was knocked out cold. Sir Kibble and Kirby both stood up. Then Sir Kibble collapsed. Kirby ran over too him. Sir Kibble slowly got up again. "Well Kirby…I'd say that…you've beaten us…here." Sir Kibble took out the two Sparkling Stars and handed them to Kirby. "Your abilities are…extraordinary…I see that opposing you any further would be pointless. Well done Star Warrior…the king has the other Sparkling Star."

"You are almost correct," Meta Knight revealed himself. "Kirby, you must give me your three Sparkling Stars, I must take them back to the fountain immediately. The king has removed the final Sparkling Star. Your planet is now in immediate danger. By putting these back, I can hold back any cataclysm for a while. But if you do not return the other two Sparkling Stars…Popstar will be doomed."

Kirby nodded. "Then I'll head to the castle and get them." He jumped onto the Warp Star and quickly flew off.

Sir Kibble turned to Meta Knight. "…Just who are you that you know so much about Dreamland? These things you say are only known by those who've studied ancient Popstar mythology."

"And I have done so. I am, however, merely an intergalactic mercenary. I arrived on this planet by chance. That is all."

Sir Kibble nodded. "Hmm…there is obviously more to you than that…that is your business however. I will take my leave for Castle Dedede. Regardless of what you have said. I am still in the service of his majesty. And I will stay loyal to him." Meta Knight turned and walked away from him.

To be Continued

I hope that I haven't lost too much of my touch. Review please! And I hope to update soon!