Hello everyone. I have just finished my finals in college, so I finally have some free time. Yay! Thank you to Shining Riku and Xanxi for reviewing! By the way, check out my profile page for a poll. I won't say much about it but it will have relevance to my saga eventually. So please vote on it.

Anyways, I should be able to update more often for the next couple of weeks (knock on wood). We'll just see how it goes. So read on and please review! By the way, a personal favorite enters the picture in this chapter. :)

Disclaimer...Nintendo owns everything, including your substitute math teacher. That's why he's playing DS instead of actually paying attention to what you kids are doing...or something. Anyways, on with the story.

Chapter 23

Reunion

Waddle Doo was just entering the airdock when his cousin caught up with him."Hey, Doo! Wait up." Waddle Dee yelled, still unhappy about Waddle Doo's plan. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Waddle Doo shook his head. "Of course it ain't a good idea! That doesn't mean I have any other choice. We need to distract Kirby, so I'm taking it to the one person who will at the very least stall him for a long time!"

"You sure seemed confident during the meeting…"

"…That…was just an act…" Waddle Doo said rather solemnly. "You're not in an important position Dee, so you probably wouldn't know that a lot of the things I do before our majesty are just for show…now get out 'a here and go find somethin' to do. We ain't payin' you to just sit around and ask questions."

Waddle Dee nodded. "…by the way Doo, some of the other servants said that we captured one of the aliens…did we?"

Waddle Doo nodded."Yeah…'parrently Capsule J got her when she ambushed the Doc. We're holding her prisoner right now…for that matter, go make sure someone's bringing her food.

Waddle Dee sighed. "Alright…be careful cousin."

"…" Waddle Doo got into a small helicopter-like aircraft and flew out of the hanger.

I'm glad that you're still a good person at heart cousin…now, to see the prisoner.

Kirby was headed for Castle Dedede at full speed. He could see Dream City in the distance. Almost there! Suddenly Kirby was knocked off the Warp Star by an impact from behind. Kirby fell and hit the ground. Capsule J shot over him at an incredible speed. Kirby growled quietly. He jumped back onto the Warp Star and blasted off after Capsule J.

Capsule J, who's jet suit was equipped with state of the art technology, could see Kirby coming at him via his radar mini-map. He back flipped and rocketed off toward Kirby. Kirby brought the Warp Star down just as Capsule J shot past him. He turned around and began to inhale, but Capsule J was out of site. Suddenly, Kirby was smashed downwards as Capsule J crashed into him, bringing the two of them down to the ground. Kirby groggily stood back up. Capsule J stood about twenty feet away, his jet pack sparking. Capsule J pressed a button on his arm, causing the jet pack to detach from his suit. He grabbed it and after spinning it around, tossed it at Kirby. He then got out his blaster and fired a shot at the pack, causing it to explode and blasting Kirby away from the Warp Star.

Capsule J quickly ran up to the Warp Star and grabbed it. He then began to run toward Dream City. Kirby was in too much pain to run after him.

Capsule J, activated his com link after reaching Dream City. "Waddle Doo, I have separated Kirby from his flying star. Make sure he sees the Sparkling Star when you fly over him."

"Got it," came Waddle Doo's response.

Capsule J then contacted Sir Kibble. "Sir Kibble, my mission was successful, do you need me to bring you back to Castle Dedede."

"No…" came Sir Kibble's response. "I'll make my way back there on my own."

"Alright." Capsule J deactivated his com link.

"Hey, that's not yours!" someone shouted behind Capsule J. He turned around to see Knuckle Joe and Poppy Jr. standing behind him.

"What business of it is yours?" said Capsule J.

"Well, ya see, the guy who owns that star, he's a friend of ours," said Knuckle Joe.

Capsule J pulled out his gun and pointed it at the duo. "Now, you two listen. I am under direct orders from His Royal Majesty. You will leave at once, if you don't I will be forced to-oomph."

Capsule J was knocked down, and out as Rocky jumped onto him. "I can't believe that you guys actually talked me into this..."

Poppy Jr. picked up the star. "Come on! We gotta find Kirby!"

Kirby slowly got up. He wasn't too far from Castle Dedede. He could still walk, it would just take longer. Kirby got back up and began his journey towards Castle Dedede. This journey came to a sudden end when Kirby saw Waddle Doo pass close by him in his aircraft, tauntingly showing Kirby the fourth Sparkling Star and flying off in the direction of Grape Garden. Kirby tried to run after the ship, but he knew he had no hope of catching him. Grape Garden is so far…this is gonna take forever.

"Hey buddy, need a lift?" Kirby turned around to see Poppy Jr., Knuckle Joe, and Rocky standing behind him. Kirby also saw that Poppy Jr. was carrying the Warp Star.

"Guys!" Kirby exclaimed with glee. "You got it back. Thank you so much."

"No problem Kirb!" said Knuckle Joe.

"Kirb?" said Rocky.

"It's…a nickname, you know. It's like a sign of camaraderie."

"More like a sign of laziness," said Rocky disapprovingly. "Regardless, isn't it about time we 'stormed the castle' so to speak?"

Kirby nodded. "Yeah, I'll bet one of the Sparkling Stars is there…but there's another one over at Grape Garden…I need to get it."

"Well it's a good thing that there are four of us," said Poppy Jr. "I got an idea. Kirby and I will go to Grape Garden. Joe and Rocky will infiltrate Castle Dedede."

"The name is Knuckle Joe," said Knuckle Joe.

"I thought you liked nicknames," said Rocky condescendingly.

"Besides," said Joe, "How are you gonna keep up with Kirby anyways. He's got the Warp Star."

Poppy Jr. was about to say something then realized that what Joe had said was true.

"He'll just hold on really, really tightly," said Kirby.

"Yeah, I'll just…wait a minute!"

"Alright, it's decided. Joe and Rocky, go to Castle Dedede. Poppy and I will go to Grape Garden."

Poppy Jr. sighed. Maybe it wasn't such a great idea after all.

Waddle Dee brought a food tray into the room where Trila was being held. She was chained so that she couldn't move her feet, and could barely move her arms. Waddle Dee closed the cell door and handed her the tray. "Sorry if it's difficult. I can't loosen the binds"

"Don't worry about it," said Trila. "…So, what are they doing with that last Sparkling Star?"

"The Doctor's trying to find a way to use it as a weapon."

"If he succeeds, he could create the most powerful weapon seen on this planet…it won't matter though. We're all doomed if the Sparkling Stars aren't replaced."

"You say that as if there's more than just Popstar on the line for this," said Dee.

She turned to him and gave a heavy sigh. "Kid…you have no idea."

Waddle Doo had finally reached his destination. Bubbly Clouds, on the far end of Grape Garden was home to an old…acquaintance of Waddle Doo's. The place was made entirely out of clouds. Yet, for some unexplained reason, these clouds were solid enough that one could stand on them. Waddle Doo walked into what appeared to be a throne room of sorts. Cloud pillars lined the sides. At the center was a solid room, open on three sides. There was a very wide pedestal in the middle and two stone pillars held the ceiling up.

"Hmph hmph hmph hmph…" a muffled, deep, and growly laugh seemed to surround Waddle Doo. "Waddle Doo, my old compatriot, it's been a long time."

"T-t-t-too long boss," said Waddle Doo, who was scared out of his wits.

"So tell me friend, what brings you to Grape Garden after all these years."

"H-h-his royal majesty King D-d-d-dedede-"

"Dededededede? That's probably one of the saddest names I ever heard. Get on with it, Waddle Doo."

"King Dedede wishes to make a contract with you, sir."

"Does he got money?"

"Y-yes."

"And will he get me my money…on time?"

"A-a-absolutely! I swear to you, he will."

"Fine. But if I don't get my payment on time Waddle Doo, I'll have no choice but to whack you. Do you understand?"

"Y-y-yes."

"Alright then. Tell your king…" a large blue eye rose from the clouds. "that Kracko is at his service."

To be Continued

I'll say it now...Kracko is my favorite boss. I don't know why?...REVIEW!...please...