I feel I have done better chapters than this one but I wouldn't upload it if I wasn't satisfied with it. I feel I could have been more descriptive and make the scenes flow better, it also feels a tad short but you know what, I'm uploading this on time. I've read through it and it's good and I hope you agree, not amazing, but good enough to pass my examination.
Originally I had almost no focus on the dark woods and was simply eager to go onto the ruins but I've decided that the forest needs some attention paid to it. I am proud to be able to upload this chapter on time and I also plan the same for the next chapter, a chapter I have formulated onto paper already. Anyway I wish you all a happy new year and I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 5: Purple Plants! Journey through Dark Woods!
In order to learn about all of the exploits of the various groups it is necessary to go back a bit, go back in time to the moment when Kirby was just about to face off with Whispy Woods and when all of the other three groups had made their way into the dark woods.
The first of these groups consisted of two individuals, Professor Iru and his assistant Ume. The two, having been running a good distance away from the gate and where Whispy Woods was planted, stopped out of exhaustion.
"O-okay my dear...this should be far enough...we can stop...running." Iru stated amidst large gulps of air.
"Y...yes sir." Ume replied as she lay on her back sprawled across the wild purple grass.
Iru stopped panting, or at least as much as his aged lungs had been, and looked around, observing his surroundings. The green environment prior to entering had morphed completely; replacing greenery was purple-ry. Untamed and unattended purple grass shot out from the pale chalky dirt. The plants, though their stems were green, blossomed in purple arrays and small purple lights floated in the air, mixing with the numerous flutters. The thin purple tree's surrounding the area had the common green forage but the larger tree's had, once again, purple in its colour scheme with a uniquely coloured forage.
"Sir, can you hear a river?" Ume asked as her ears heard the gentle lolls of flowing water.
"The river...of Green greens probably flows through the forest and then through here," The professor explained as he regained his breath, now correcting his posture "It doesn't sound far."
The elderly croucar began trotting in the direction of running water, moving ahead only a few steps before turning to his assistant and inclining his head onwards. Ume got up in haste, despite her spent energy, and followed her senior.
The bushes that professor pushed aside were strangely green or rather normal in comparison to the surrounding plant life. Around the edges, closest to the trees were green tufts of grass and Iru upon seeing this he went down to inspect quickly.
"Everything else is purple here," The professor said as he stooped down to the grass basked in the tree's shade "except for the grass under the tree's. Shouldn't it be less green, I can't imagine it receiving much sunlight or water from here?"
Never the less the wise bird decided, as he contemplated his starch throat, to head for the sound of water once more and to look into the research later. With some unease Iru placed the large book of his dear friend in a pouch tied to his back and began to flap his wings. Taking off only a wee bit off the ground he flew over the hedges and rows of plants. Meanwhile Ume trudged behind, taking her time pushing back the various obstacles and manoeuvring around them. Shortly, the sight of a reflective blue lake came into view, running down a small slope and weaving through the trees.
"Hmm, a lot smaller than the lake of Green greens, to be expected I guess." Iru thought to himself as he slowed the consistent movement of wings and gracefully descended, falling over face first.
Grumbling, he pushed himself up off the floor, wiping the dirt off his face with his wing, and just in time as Ume came hopping through the bushes. Ume just looked on at the professor as he turned round to greet her.
"Did you just fall over professor?"
"O-of course not, I'm perfectly fink and spam."
Iru, hiding his embarrassment, turned his eyes to the lake which struggled to move onwards, tree's disrupting its flow and causing such straightforward water to twist and bend in its path. Despite the river, flowing eon after eon, the banks remained firm though narrow and slight, the clay coloured surface barely weathered to the point of revealing a creamy brown layer of earth.
Ume on the other hand had heard the small pitter-patter of soft, delicate wings and turned her attention to the green sky of tree's, witnessing small butterflies fluttering. As they would do so anywhere else, the harmless creatures drifted along an unfelt breeze, a charming tune emanating from their innocence.
"So the flutters here are orange?" Ume queried aloud, and unaware but only to herself as her senior trotted over to the river, inspecting the dirt.
The tip of his wing lowered and pecked at the bank, scraping only a few fragments of dirt from the hardened surface. The croucar stared at his spoils, brown and purple specks of earth, native only to this forest (as remembering the place is only called Dark Woods because it sounds better than Dark Forest). A smirk formed on his face as he pushed around the minerals his wing.
"The earth here is harder, has been mostly unaffected by weathering and comes in numerous colours. Oh, Takahiro must have been having the time of his life studying all this." Iru mused, before letting the dirt slip from his feathers.
"Ume-san, we're heading onwards." The professor stated.
"Yes professor!"
The tree's had long since fought over territory and their war appeared to be everlasting as the roots struggled to secure a space in the earth. Though thin and wavy, a curved pattern to the tree's stature, their purple roots dug fiercely through the earth, wherever it could be found. Unlike in Whispy Wood's Forest, where the path's lay clear with the odd leaf bristling, here the path's were nowhere to be seen, hidden by vines and weeds, monstrous bushes and thorns galore. The roots, sprouted out of the ground like tripwire.
Animals cawed and roared as the wildlife moved busily, savagely. The area was truly bizarre for the duo; an untamed land was where they were venturing.
"T-this is pretty scary professor." Ume murmured worryingly as her eyes darted to and fro, the whisperings of the wind calling like a ghost.
The aged croucar turned his attention to his assistant to calm her "now, now, you knew this was going to be a lot different than Whispy Woods forest."
"I know but still..." Ume said stumbling over a root but managing to push against two close by tree's and secure her balance.
"Watch yourself dear."
The bomb tossing citizen of Dreamland said not a word but nodded with a hum. Too put her mind at ease from the constant rustling and more hostile environment she began to hum. A soft and sweet tune, and quiet as to not attract attention.
"Hmm," Iru hummed as well but one with no tune as he spotted a slight clearing between groups of plants and fungus "is that...tilled ground?"
Iru who pondered it, began to trek with even more care whilst Ume simply skipped over to the unearthed patch of ground, a comfort to not be so concerned of where she put one foot and the next. Ume wondered off to the centre, happily humming, whilst Iru's eyes were downwards alone and his thoughts directed at the tilled earth.
"Looks like there are at least some civilised people, maybe they can help us out..." The red crow said in his head.
"Dear, it's apperent that civilised people live in these woods we should-watch out!" The Croucar halted his conversationwhen he noticed something in the distance and immediately stepped forth and pulled Ume out of the way as a purplish-red foe flew down, swiping at the spot where the bomber once stood. The attacker did not continue to fly but instead landed from parallel his arrival. The two turned to face the surprise attacker, a young face painted croucar with a spear strapped to his back who hopped back out of the distance of the two.
"A-a croucar?" Iru stuttered as he looked over at the similar raced bird.
They were clearly of the same race but due to age and environment Iru and the younger, wilder croucar bore little resemblance elsewhere. At first the fiercer crow did not speak, just look with a frown and a scowl upon is face but his words soon came.
"Old croucar, why does thou help the enemy perot?" The younger croucar asked his voice bold and lacking grace.
"O-old croucar? Why you insolent brat I demand that you at least give me a horonofic?" Iru snapped back at once, infuriated at what he would term this youths rudeness.
The spear wielding croucar did not budge, nor show any signs of reaction, his heart as still as the wooden whistle hanging by his chest. Slowly he withdrew the spear round his back and wedged it into the ground, its tip gleaming as the slightest glimpse of sunlight shone upon it. With his other wing the croucar took hold of the whistle and blew a slight melodic beat, but for just a second. Then came the calm. Then came the numerous croucars.
"..." The professor tried to speak but no words came from his beak. He was a rare bird, a croucar, with few residing in Dreamland and yet now he was surrounded by them. To him the whispers were non-existent; words were unheard as he looked round in amazement at the assembly of a war painted flock.
"Who's the old croucar?"
"Never seen him before, an escapee of another tribe?"
"Is that a perot with him?"
"Why is he with a perot, our enemy?"
"Doesn't she look a bit different from the others?"
Ume on the other hand was less fazed by the sudden emergence of a croucar tribe and was more interested in the constant talk of perots which seemed to be aimed at her.
"Umm, excuse me but...what's a perot?" The yellow hooded girl asked, drawing the attention of the circling natives to her.
"T-the Perot spoke, she'll be cursin every one of ye, silence witch lest ye tongue be slit." A voice resounded, that from the first croucar, the one who had tried to attack Ume beforehand.
Ume immediately went silent, Iru placing a wing in front of her as a flimsy means of cover, the croucars meanwhile cheered the words of their leader. Iru was hesitant to speak as he weighed his options, he looked round at the strong and agile birds of prey and went to think some more; his words would have to be chosen carefully.
"Native croucars! I do not wish to cause harm nor intend to, me and my assistant here are simply passing through-"Why have you aligned yourself with the perot you old fool?" Iru was interrupted by the croucars with the same question as he was asked earlier though phrased differently.
"Pray do tell, who or what are the Perots?" Iru asked, politely and restraining any anger over the rude manners of the ruffians surrounding him.
"You be senile alas for their behind thy noble guard stands one."
It was at this point, a response rather than a thought out manoeuvre, that Ume poked her head over her teacher's wing and decided to clarify "um, I'm a poppy bros, not a perot."
The flock seemed startled, and the more cowardly stepped back but even in the strong was a slight tremor of fear.
"You are the first to speak with no giggle nor rhymes, and to nother but ye men of thy kind. Thus your words clearly be a curse upon the clan of flying black birds." The leader said without hesitation though his wing shot to his weapon, ready to grasp and wield if needed.
After a whispered scolding Iru kept his stare upon the leader and continued to speak "I assure you my assistant is not one of these perot beings you speak of, and even if she was I assure you she will do no harm to you or your people."
The leader was to say more but hesitated to speak and murmured in his head alone "She be different for no moon of skin nor tongue lay bare about her... maybe truth be in old croucar before."
The leaders silence became a group silence. The youthful man riveting with primitive strength but a keen eye stared back at the aged man long since lost his vigour of strength but overflowing with an active mind of turning gears and cogs. Then the leader raised a wing, a lone wing, and five other croucars disembarked from the encirclement and huddled with their leader. They bonked heads closely as they made a small circle and began to discuss.
"You're all useless, useless I say. Why on Popstar did you leave my sedan chair behind?" Dedede groaned as he trudged through narrow paths, barely squeezing through the tight corners.
"W-we're very sorry no kimi." The group apologised attempting to bow in movement.
They knew that it was actually the King's fault that the sedan chair was left behind but they also knew that it was better not to argue with the currently irked off penguin with a hammer twice the size of them. The bloated king continued to trudge along, whining when he got pricked by the numerous thorns, and moaning at the strength he was exhausting pushing aside firm standing tree's. The distorted path often became too narrow for a body build of Dedede's type and so he suffered these encounters frequently. The waddle dee's and doo's tagging behind also suffered as tree branches swung back at them. The King however was not at the front of the group; rather it was the invincible Gordo who stayed in front, ready to alert the King when something approached.
"My lord, there is a treeless area through here." The gordo said as he shifted his weight to the left, indicating a gap which lead to a slight area of space.
"About time, let me through." The king commanded, the gordo floating up a notch to allow the heavy weight to barge his way into the miniature field of plants.
The area was small, cramped and dark, light as miniscule as every other area of the forest, and while the trees broke away and the thorns did not interfere where they were the flowers thrived lively. An area with little light and little water, the purple and blue tinted flowers were strong, commendable for not being crushed to death even under the King's weight. The men all followed their dissatisfied villainous leader into the spot, where more complaining ensued.
"You know what; it's too dark in here as well, like everywhere else, light it up already would ya." Dedede commanded as he stared up at the sky, hidden away by far reaching tree leaves of deepest green.
A lone waddle doo stepped forward and charged a small spectre of a beam in his lone eye, making his pupil act like a flashlight. The light was small and weak but effective, if not in making everything more visible, in startling the nearby Poison Mash. Like a Cappy, the Poison Mash was a mushroom creature but withered and dull, its colour scheme consisting of grey.
"What the he-the King began to say before the panicked citizen of the woods threw its blue cap at the group, easily knocked aside by a hammer "Don't you dare interrupt the great and almighty King Dedede!"
The toxic mushroom tried to run, flailing its arms in fear but the vengeful penguin swung his hammer like a golf club and blew the Poison Mash away. Further misfortune befell the King's entre when the Poison Mash collided with a small gang of bug like birds. The dopey beaked insects turned to see what enemy had launched another enemy at them and upon sighting the King's group they flew forth.
"Koozer's attack!" They yelled as they flew towards the King.
"So many of you dare raise a hand against your King!" King Dedede yelled as he grasped his hammer with both wings and a malicious grin formed upon his face.
The Dee's and Doo's moaned at this sudden attack while the Gordo simply thought upon the bizarre creatures they were encountering "why on popstar would anyone want to come here, I mean no one could like this place?"
Meta Knight swung his golden sword, parrying a tossed boomerang, and then leaped forth to stab its wielder. Then two clown like beings with faces like mimes tossed bombs out from their personal pocket spaces but the knight twirled round, spinning with such ferocity he turned into a tornado. The tornado blew away the two bombs to the side and as they blew up the blue sword wielding man halted his mach tornado, ran towards the two Perots and whipped his sword through the air. Meta Knight placed his sword back into its sheath as the two Perots fell to the floor.
"I love this place."
Meta Knight and the Meta-knights stood in a small clearing made up of tree's stumps, now also with a group of wounded perots lying on the floor.
"It's been a while since we got any exercise." Mace Knight said, heaving his weapon onto his shoulder.
"That is true; to fight once more outside of a spar was quite enjoyable." Sword Knight agreed, nodding his lowered head.
Meanwhile both Trident Knight and Blade Knight panted away; their shoulder or lack thereof, moving up and down with each ragged breath.
"T-that was sudden." Trident Knight stated as he looked around worryingly, fearing something else was going to jump.
"If I wasn't so tired...I'd have beaten them all...in seconds." Blade Knight heaved, exhausted from his consistent movement, be it a spar with his leader, running into their destination or fighting off a surprise attack.
"Nah, you're just getting rusty." Ax Knight joked, a chuckle forming upon his lips.
"Am not."
"Hey, the more you deny the more true it becomes." The more relaxed knight mused loudly to his tired companion who decided not to speak further, not because he believed his axe wielding companion but simply because he was tired.
"So...are these poppy bros?"
"Negative, maybe variation." Javelin Knight's digital voice responded to the question, his lone eye wavering over the various individuals that lay on the floor.
Meta Knight came to his crew with a spring in his step, though as a mature professional warrior he hid his joy of the encounter and merely spoke "Men, if the enemies are no more we shall depart."
"Where to boss? Shouldn't we ask our attackers?"
"No, our wits will be sufficient enough, besides the greedy pompous king is ahead and I'll be damned if he gets his hands on the Isabelle before us."
With those words the group departed, walking through more trees and going along an open path. An open path untouched by trees or plants or even the people of the forest. A path that leads to a field of roses.
"In consideration the girl appears not to be of the Perot but regardless she is not one of us, nor do you appear to be of our clan."
"W-well..." Professor Iru began "that makes sense; after all we are from outside these woods."
This seemed to startle the tribe even more than the idea of a Perot speaking to them. Unlike before though, when a fear for their safety and a suspicion that they would be cursed came upon them, this time they showed plain hate and anger. Their expressions became fierce and their stares filled with bloodlust.
"Impossible! No outsiders dare enter these grounds, and after what they did here none who touch upon it shall leave alive." The leader shouted his spear gripped firmly as he lowered his knees, ready to lunge.
In fact, all of the croucars were ready to strike now, their various weapons drawn.
"W-what do we do what do we do oh professor?" Ume cried her head turning left and right to see foes all around, not even the tightest corner was safe for them to run through.
"Chaaar-Hold it or I'll, I'll...I'll cast a spell on you!" Iru cried out, wings spread wide as his stuttering voice echoed throughout the clearing.
The men stopped; mostly stunned by the sudden outburst but then they started taking into account what he just said.
"H-he's a wizard?"
"That would make sense, he is an old one."
"That thing he's carrying it must be some sort of magic."
"W-we can beat some old mage right, right?"
"You're a mage?" The leader asked Iru with a voice tinted with doubt and disbelief.
As Iru breathed, attempting to sort his thoughts out the croucar leader continued keep his attention on Iru, his look a mix of caution and uneasiness yet still his intense anger laid bare.
"Y-yes, I'm an all powerful wizard, make one move and you're kaput."
A tension filled the air as both sides became still, neither willing to play their hand. Iru hoped with all his willpower that they would believe the bluff and surrender in the face of an unknown might. Considering the look of irritation on the leaders face Iru concluded he was struggling to decide, to take the risk or to not. Attack a wizard and be vanquished, or surrender to a powerless foe.
"I didn't know you were a wizard professor." Ume whispered into Iru's hearing side, her innocent nature leading her to believe in the bluff as much as the enemies.
"Quiet!" Iru snapped, though in a whisper as to not let the croucars hear.
Suddenly the spear's wooden end struck the ground before being raised to the sky and boldly the leader declared "Even if you have magic I am the leader of the clan who rule these skies. I will not back down."
Suddenly the leader charged, his closest comrades closely reacting to his speedy manoeuvre and in the vigour of it all the rest of the encirclement began to charge in at the unarmed duo. Iru closed his eyes along with Ume, awaiting the worst to come, only to catch wind of a strange sound. The old crow opened his eyes, noticing a strange shadow hovering over the spot where the leader was recently standing. Soon others began to hear the sound, the sound of something large and heavy falling from the sky. The tree's shattered and the wind was shimmed away as a large cannonball descended. It landed not with a gentle thud but a mighty crash, whipping up a force that blew all the birds (and one poppy bros) off their feet, and sending a mighty tremor through the earth.
Along with the forceful air and mighty tremor came dust and it was awhile before the group could make clear of what occurred. The sight they behold sent shivers down their spines. Where once their leader had stood and made his speech was a giant black object, known only to Iru and Ume as a cannonball. Iru tried to keep a straight face but this was obviously unexpected even to him. The others meanwhile were simply shocked, most of all was the leader kept his attention to the bullet and where he had stood before his charge and then turned to the 'wizard of the outside'.
The croucar raised a wing, this time the entire croucar clan gathering to him, and they immediately bowed in the direction of the professor. The crowd of war painted croucars wielding weapons bowed before them beside the cannonball, which sat content in a crater it had created.
"Please don't harm us oh mighty wizard." The croucars cried.
He bounded along; skidding with his skates against the tree's and hopped to and fro when the roots threatened to disrupt his momentum. It was irritating him, this journey through the forest but he knew what he wanted the oppurtunities that lay further on. The forest was but the first obstacle and one that was almost over.
He halted his movements, his skates braking suddenly to inspect what was ahead, but he needn't have seen who was there, he could hear them.
"I-it wasn't like that at all."
That was them all right.
"Y-yeah, we thought we were going to perish till you guys arrived."
They took care of Whispy Woods for me, now the rest will be a breeze.
"So you wanted to perish in one another's arms." Gooey added, enjoying his well timed teasing.
I best get on my way.
"Yes-I mean no-I mean... stop confusing me."
It was at this point that Gooey, Kirby, Adeleine and Kirby began to rush off to the Dark Woods, their excitement letting them stay no longer. Then, all of a sudden something zoomed past at high speeds, knocking the group aside and rushing off into the woods while gleefully laughing. The group tumbled to the ground but were only buffeted by the sudden tackle and pulled themselves up instantly, trying to catch sight of the far gone being.
"W-who was that?" Dee asked as he picked his hat off the ground, patting quickly to knock off any dirt on the already dirtied and worn hat.
"That man's sure lucky we aren't got a speed limit in Dreamland." Gooey mumbled as he simply rolled upright.
As the more talkative trio complained about the racing figure who had sped through them Kirby looked on, his mind remembering the familiar giggle, the rush of wind, and the orange figure who zipped and sagged through the trees in the distance.
"Him again poyo."
I managed to write this chapter up fairly quick, I had already finished it by christmas eve. All I needed them was to edit it and I could go back to enjoying all my presents (which currently translates as dying repeatively on Donkey Kong Country Returns and sitting in bed all day watching NCIS).
Don't have much to say on the chapter though I do find myself becoming quite fond of the character of Professor Iru, who has become quite fun to write about. The next chapter will feature a bit of action for nearly everyone and a good deal of comedy.
I hope everyone had a merry christmas (or a merry 'place the name of the holiday you celebrate') and I hope you all have a happy new year. I'll be trying to update every month in 2011 aside from February and I hope to have finished this fanfic by next year as well. I hope you all enjoyed Chapter 5 of Kirby Ancient Ruin Adventure!