Knight Errant
Part 15
Kirby: Sir Arthur-or whoever you are-we need to talk!
As soon as Kirby and Marx had returned to the Star Warrior's base, both had been called down to "Sir Arthur's" meeting room. It worked out well for him; Kirby had been meaning to confront the Star Warriors' leader about some rumors he'd heard on Dream Land. Supposedly Sir Arthur had been dead for a long time…
*Kirby looks around.*
Kirby: Marx! Where are you? You were with me when we got called down! Come out!
Sir Arthur: Kirby!
*Kirby turns around quickly.*
Before him stood the ancient leader of the Star Warriors, a green kirby dressed in golden, star-like armor that glowed in the torchlight that lit the room. Despite the rumors, he appeared completely alive.
Kirby: *thinking* Why did Sir Meta Knight say Sir Arthur was dead? He's clearly alive and standing in front of me! This doesn't seem like an illusion; he seems too real!
Sir Arthur: Kirby, I know why you are here, and in fact, it has to do with the reason why I called you down here.
Kirby: So it wasn't a coincidence that you called me down here. How did you know I wanted to see you?
Sir Arthur: I found out from Marx, of course. I am connected to everything that goes on in this base. I know every feeling, every thought, and every action of my warriors. I am bonded to the ones I create, and I gain this control over everyone who willingly joins me.
Kirby: Huh? I've never heard that before. Wait, then how come you didn't know what I was feeling until now? I'm a willing Star Warrior!
Sir Arthur: You're not a Star Warrior…anymore.
Kirby: What do you mean? Meta Knight said the same thing! What did I do?
Sir Arthur: You haven't been a Star Warrior since you came to this base for the first time. Due to good planning-and admittedly with the help of Marx-I have been able to keep you in the dark for almost a hundred years.
Kirby: In the dark about what? What does Marx have to do with this?
Sir Arthur: Marx has everything to do with this. He brought you here, he made sure your actions fell in line with our ideals and made sure one of the best Star Warriors stayed on our side.
Kirby: What are you talking about? What side? Marx is my best friend!
A brilliant spotlight in the ceiling turned on, swiveling around until its light revealed Marx, who clearly looked as if he didn't want to be there.
Marx: No, I never was your friend. Neither was Spark or Spitfire, or the rest of the brigade. Our only duty was to make sure you stayed with us.
Kirby: W-what? What about Mint?
Sir Arthur: Do you think she truly liked you, let alone loved you? Do you think she would even be with you if you weren't a famous and powerful Star Warrior?
Marx: Kirby, that's not completely-
Sir Arthur: Marx, quiet! *to Kirby* Seeing as you're beginning to catch on, I might as well tell you the whole story. You're now of no use to use either way.
His body glowed with a sinister purple light as he began to transform, the darkness of the room flowing around him forming an enormous deep purple and black cape.
Kirby: Nightmare! For the last time, what's going on?
Nightmare: Marx, why don't you tell him?
*Marx swallows nervously.*
Marx: O-okay. *to Kirby* After you and I had our first battle-you remember that, when I used NOVA to try and take over the world?-I thought I was dead, but Nightmare appeared to me in a dream. He told me that Kirby was his enemy and that if I helped him…defeat…you, I would be granted my "soul" form permanently.
Nightmare: You forgot to mention I promised you could finally get your revenge on Kirby.
Kirby: I-is this t-true, Marx?
Tears began to drip softly from Kirby's blue eyes, rolling down his magenta skin and gently dropping to the floor.
Marx: Yes, but I'm-
Nightmare: Silence! Kirby, unbeknownst to you, you have been working for me all this time, aiding NightMare Enterprises to accomplish its ends of universal domination. This whole time, you have been part of a highly elaborate scheme I concocted.
Kirby: Why didn't you just kill me?
Nightmare: I could have found a way to kill you eventually, but why do that when I could simply manipulate you into fighting for NightMare Enterprises instead of against it. Using some spies I've positioned within the Star Warriors, I was able to get information to use to remodel the base, ships and countless other things to resemble what the Star Warriors had. Also, I was able to obtain Galaxia this way.
Kirby: How did you get Galaxia…? Marx! Marx must have taken it while I was captured in Dream Land!
Nightmare: It only gets better. I knew it would be inevitable that you'd have to leave the base for missions on other planets, so I had to go even farther. I managed to create and spread a rumor that NightMare Enterprises had the ability to control the minds of entire planet's populations.
Kirby: That wasn't true?
Nightmare: No, but it served its purpose. It led you to disregard those who tried to tell you the truth, and it inspired you to fight harder for NightMare Enterprises to "free" those poor planets.
Kirby: *thinking* So Tiff was telling the truth…*out loud* What did happen to those planets, anyways?
Nightmare: I conquered them. Thanks to you, NightMare Enterprises is more powerful than it has been in thousands of years!
Kirby: *to himself* I knew something was wrong! I wish I had been more suspicious earlier! There must be something I can do about this! Think Kirby, think!
Nightmare: I had you going along for quite some time, but I knew eventually you would figure out the truth. Fortunately, I prepared for that day.
Kirby: You should be prepared! If I've been with NightMare Enterprises all this time, I've picked up information about you, too! And, when I tell it to the real Star Warriors, they'll take you down for good!
Nightmare: Do you honestly think they'll let you even come near them or believe what you're telling them? In their eyes, you're the worst traitor in the history of the Star Warriors! They want you dead! Besides, what makes you think I want you to leave? You know too much.
In an instant, all the lights in the dark room flashed on. All around the room stood hundreds of Nightmare's soldiers, armed and ready to prevent Kirby's escape.
Nightmare: Kill him!
*Kirby flies into the air to avoid the first wave of attacks, while desperately looking around to find something to help him.*
*A projectile hits him, knocking him out of the air.*
Kirby was pinned to the ground by the massive army of Nightmare's monsters. He could hold his own in physical combat even without an ability, but he was overwhelmingly outnumbered. A flicker of hope filled his mind as he saw what was nearby.
*Kirby, straining, looks up and manages to inhale the torch in the wall above him.*
Golden light surrounded Kirby as a circlet formed around Kirby's head. His skin darkened to a brick red as flames poured forth from the circlet. He was now Fire Kirby!
*Kirby burns a hole through the metal wall behind him and squeezes out through it.*
As Kirby scrambled out through the hole, he cast a glance behind him. Some of Nightmare's monsters were following him through, but only one or two could get through at a time.
Kirby: I hate to run from battle, but I need to get outta here!
*He runs in the direction of his star ship.*
Kirby: Thank goodness I left my ship here when I got called down! I'm close to an exit!
*he hastily climbs in and flies off.*
*Kirby deftly navigates his star ship through the base for a short distance.*
Kirby: I can see the stars outside!
*Kirby's star ship speeds through the exit.*
Kirby: I don't know what I'll do now, but I can sort that out later! I need to get outta here!
Inside NightMare Enterprises' Base
Marx: He got away…
Nightmare: I've sent out patrols to chase him down. The Star Warriors have been hunting him for years, and now that he's not under the protection of NightMare Enterprises, they'll have much more success. Kirby's days are numbered.
Marx: Do you think he'll turn up again?
Nightmare: He certainly will. You know as well as I do that Kirby's persistent, sometimes to a fault. If he has a goal, he won't give up until he achieves it-or until he's dead. I'm counting on the latter.
*Nightmare leaves the room.*
*Marx gazes off at the stars through a window.*
Marx: Good luck, Kirby.
...so, who saw that ending coming?
This part has seen so many problems. On DeviantART, I used Part 15 to experiment with formatting and uploading PDF files (it didn't work out so hot at the time, but the new PDF system on DA is good enough that I might considering experimenting with the formatting in future stories). I also took a major hiatus from the fanfiction after this story on DA. Then, a few months after I finished reuploading this story on , I noticed that I had somehow forgotten to upload this part!
Coming up next: This isn't the end! I split the second half of the adventure into another fanfic (for various reasons), so keep on reading with Part 16!