Knight Errant
Part 14
Meta Knight: What is this thing?
Meta Knight picked up the small, rectangular block and ran his glove along it. Blade Knight had found the hunk of plastic inside the machinery of Kirby's star ship, but what its purpose was remained to be seen.
Meta Knight: This was made by NightMare Enterprises.
Blade: It woz near the internal components of Kirby's communicator, wedged between that an' the signal transmitter. I think that's wot interfered with Kirby's signal, an' why we couldn't contact 'im! Per'aps an agent of N.M.E. put it in there! I wouldn't put it past Nightmare to do a thing like that.
Sword: I agree with 'im. Wot I wonder is 'ow one of Nightmare's agents could have gotten the chance to put it in there. It woz wedged deep in there; it taikes a lot of time to do somethin' like that.
Meta Knight: It must be from NightMare Enterprises; I can sense an enormous amount of dark energy coming from it. It also seems to be very old; it must have been in there for a long time.
Blade and Sword exchanged glances. It had always amazed them how Meta Knight could detect things about an item or being beyond the extent of vision, or even normal senses. Even other Star Warriors of similar experience to Meta Knight lacked this capability.
Blade: We've found other things that're…different…about Kirby's star ship from normal star ships. I've never seen parts like these! Wot's also weird is that the internal machinery's completely different, but on the outside, it looks the saime as when Kirby left 120 years ago!
Sword: I guess I can see the advantage to that; Kirby could pass 'imself off as a Star Warrior easier in it.
Meta Knight: That would make sense. Still, I have to wonder if Kirby knew about these…modifications.
Sword: Wot d'you mean "if Kirby knew"?
Meta Knight: It was just a passing thought. If I can, I will ask him about it later.
Blade: Oy, look what I found!
*Blade holds out a bouquet of flowers, and throws it at Sword, who staggers backward.*
Sword: I certainly 'ope these ain't for Kirby!
Blade: 'Old on, I see a nametag! It says, "To Mint-Love Kirby." I wonder 'oo Mint is? 'As Kirby got 'imself a girlfriend?
Sword: Now I want to ask 'im about that!
Meta Knight: Enough. We have more important tasks at hand.
Tiff: Sir Meta Knight! I have a question for you.
*She goes over to the three knights.*
Tiff: Didn't Sir Arthur die years ago?
Meta Knight: Yes, he died around seventy years ago.
Tiff: That's what I thought, but Kirby said he talked to Sir Arthur recently!
Meta Knight: Sir Arthur died years after Kirby left Dream Land; that is not possible.
Tiff: Well, Kirby must be mistaken.
Meta Knight: Or, there are darker forces at work.
Later, in the Dungeon
Tiff: Kirby!
Kirby: Yay, you're here!
Tiff: I was just talking to Meta Knight, and he confirmed what I thought. Sir Arthur is dead; he's been dead for some time now.
Kirby: But how can that be? I know I saw him kinda recently!
Tiff: *thinking* I need another tactic. This conversation is going in circles!
*Blade and Sword run down the stairs.*
Blade: We're under attack! Tiff, Meta Knight said you should go! 'E sent us down 'ere to maike sure they don't-
Tiff: Kirby's in danger?
Sword: I don't think so; I think they want to rescue 'im!
Tiff: I'll only be in the way if I stay here. Should I find the guards?
Meta Knight: Do not find the guards. That will only make things worse!
Tiff: Okay. Good luck!
Moments after Tiff headed up the other stairs, Kirby's comrades poured into the dungeon, attempting to push past the three knights.
Marx: Kirby, there you are! Let's get you out of here!
Kirby: Marx! How'd you find me?
Marx: After you went down into the castle, I thought there would be trouble-and there was! I used my own transceiver and called in for help from the rest of your brigade! And rest assured, I gave them an earful for mutinying against you!
Kirby: Thanks for finding me! I could've broken out myself, but I wanted to find out more from Tiff and my friends about what's been happening here! As it turns out, Sir Arthur is dead, which means someone else is leading the Star Warriors! Wait…did you know that all along?
Another Part of the Dungeon
Sword: This is useless! There's too many of them! Besides, Kirby's a traitor! Why are we helping him?
Meta Knight: We cannot let Kirby go back! He has caused enough damage!
*Meta Knight dodges an attack, only to be struck from behind.*
Sword: I've never seen an enemy get so many strikes in on you! It's like they know your weakness!
Meta Knight leapt out of the way of another attack, thinking rapidly while doing so. They did seem to be doing well…too well. They would try to attack him from the sides and behind, constantly changing positions so Meta Knight would have a hard time sensing where they were without sight…did they know he had gone blind?
Meta Knight: Kirby! He must've told them!
The Roof
Marx: Kirby, you're talking nonsense! What have they done to you?
Kirby: Things aren't adding up! Why is everyone saying Sir Arthur is dead, yet I saw him recently?
Marx: They're trying to brainwash you! I should've known they would try to do something like that!
Kirby: I trust Tiff! She wouldn't lie to me!
*the two run over to Kirby's star ship. Marx sees some of the parts laying on the rooftop.*
Kirby: They've taken some of the parts from my ship!
Marx: We don't have time to fix it! Get in, and let's go back to the Star Warriors base!
*Kirby and Marx hop in and Kirby takes the wheel.*
Kirby: All right! Off we go!
*The star ship lifts off the ground and flies off.*
Marx: Aren't you going to thank me for saving you?
Kirby: I could've broken out on my own, but thank you.
Marx: What's wrong, Kirby? You sound upset. We'll be home in a few days, so there's nothing to worry about.
Kirby: *quietly, half to-himself* It's not home.
Kirby: *thinking* I need to have a talk with "Sir Arthur".
Yes, this part is short, but it's still a major turning point in the story.
I imagine you readers are having a "Ah! This finally makes sense!" moment, and if you're not, everything will be made VERY clear in the climatic next installment.
Coming up next:
Kirby may finally be heading back to the Star Warriors' base, but his trouble is far from over...in fact, it's only just beginning.