Crash and Burn (But mostly crash...)
AN: Yaaaaaay! I finally friggin' UPDATED! Aren't ya' so glad? Course ya' are. Well, here's the beginning of a new arc. Arc 2 of 3 in Star Chronicles. I'm SO happy. Sorta'. This Arc will be a more war-type arc than the last Arc, which was mostly fight scene after fight scene. Sorry if none ya'll like it.
Now, to get to the story!
Roll 'em!
S3 (Super Star Ship), Cockpit...
Rajiim looked into the radar and realized they were several days from Dream Star. He reclined in his chair and set the ship on auto-pilot.
Murderer...
He jumped up.
What the... What was that voice?
Slaughterer...
Where was it coming from!
Silence. Golden silence. He reclined back in his chair and slowly slipped into an uneasy sleep.
The Knight's Quarters...
"'Ey, Meta Knight? Why do we travel with this motley crew?" Sword Knight asked.
"We are required to go defeat the Necrosi with them. They will need our help, that's a certainty," Meta Knight replied.
"What are the Necrosi. We don't know that much about them," Blade Knight asked.
"They practitioners of Dark Magic. They are incredibly powerful, so don't underestimate any of them," Meta Knight answered.
"What else do we need to know about them?" Blade Knight continued.
"They, like all, have an opposite. The Biokin, practitioners of Light Magic. They are powerful as well, but their numbers are dwindling," Meta Knight said.
"What for?" Sword asked.
"The Necrosi forcibly recruit anyone with the Black Spirit," Meta Knight said.
"And the Biokin?" Sword continued.
"They ask anyone and everyone to join their ranks with the White Spirit. Virtually every Star Warrior has the White Spirit, while those who don't have the Black Spirit. However, not many join," Meta Knight answered.
"But how come?" Blade asked, this time.
"The Biokin are selfless, supposedly. They have to take an oath to never harm anyone unless in self-defense. Lately, with all the wars, fewer and fewer Star Warriors wished to just heal. They wished to fight. The Biokin wouldn't allow this. So, their numbers have decreased greatly over the past few centuries," Meta Knight said, "There are only a handfuly on each world."
"What about the Etheri? I've heard many legends about them," Sword asked.
"The Etheri? They are truly a rare breed. There's approximately a handful in the whole galaxy left. They've been hunted for about a century. I only hear rumors about them now. It is a sad thing to see them go. They were great warriors and wise Star Warriors," Meta Knight said.
"How does one become an Etheri?" Sword asked, inquisitive about the Etheri.
"I have heard that an Etheri is born every few decades amongst Star Warriors on average. They are in possession of both the White and Black Spirit. When they master both forms, a new Spirit is open to them. The Ethereal Spirit. With it, they can master Elemental Magic if they couldn't already and become naturally good at fighting in any style, when it is open to them," Meta Knight answered.
"Then they are the ultimate Star Warriors?" Sword asked.
"Yes. But they are rarely born, as I said. There used to be several hundred, however. Now, there are barely a dozen, if that," Meta Knight said.
"The war ravaged them and then bounty hunters picked at their numbers," Blade continued, having picked up on that before.
"We could use their help," Sword said.
"I believe we will have their help. Two anyways," Meta Knight said.
"Who? How do you know such?" Blade asked.
"My charge and the mercenary. They possess both spirits. Strife is aware of his powers but is afraid of them. Kirby, however, is unaware of them at this point," Meta Knight said.
"We have two Etheri on our side?" Sword asked, shocked.
"Yes. But they have yet to become Etheri," Meta Knight said.
"How do you know they are Etheri?" Blade asked.
"I am one myself," Meta Knight answered.
"You're... an Etheri?" Sword asked.
"I have tapped into both Magic. I have yet to master them, however. It is difficult to do," Meta Knight answered.
A voice crept into his head.
Failure...
He shook his head, trying to get rid of the voice.
You failed all your friends before. How can you hope to succeed now?
He ignored it. Meta Knight had dealt with such whispers for centuries now. The wars left him in such a state. He had grown used to them.
"Are you alright, sire?" Sword asked.
"I am fine. We should get rest now. I have a feeling we will be landing soon," Meta Knight said.
They all climbed into their beds, Sword Knight and Blade Knight falling asleep quickly. Meta Knight, however, knew something they didn't. He saw their ship plummeting into the barren surface of Rochalam. They would find out soon enough. It would be better if they got some sleep before it happened.
Cargo...
Strife sat in his pilot seat, thinking.
I can't be one of them. I'm a merc. I serve no one but myself. I'm only helping them because I have nothing else to do and I need to keep from getting rusty! I am no Etheri. I... it can't be right. That woman was insane.
Yet, I've healed myself several times and blasted my targets in desperate situations. They repelled in fear of the black energy. If I can use Light and Dark Magic, I must have both Spirits. If that's so... I am an Etheri. I... must accept it.
I never wanted this, but if the Star Sage has gifted me with this, I must use this ability.
I will master the Ethereal spirit and become one of them. When I do, I shall have reached incredible power. With it and my allies, we'll bring down the Necrosi.
But... what then? Will I become a merc once more, with greater power? Or will I regroup the Etheri and eventually reunite the Star Warriors? What could I do?
I will help the galaxy. The Star Warriors must become reunited. If we're struck again... I don't even want to think about it.
Strife had decided. He would become an Etheri and gather them all together.
Then an image flash through his mind. It was of three figures standing on a ledge overlooking a crashed ship. Then it was gone. He tried to cling to it, but it was like trying to hold water with your bare hands. He just remembered the evil radiating off the... people. Then it was gone.
He drifted into an uneasy sleep, hoping whatever it was didn't happen.
Tri-Star Quarters...
There Kirby, Black Kirby, and Donokbe were lying down, resting.
"Kirby... what's wrong? You seem distressed," Black Kirby asked.
Kirby had been used to it. They seemed to have a mind link. Of course, it was because they were sort of the same person. They could activate the mind link when they wanted or needed to.
Kirby sighed, "The Necrosi. They're a huge threat."
"Well, of course. They've amassed huge numbers. They excel in Dark Magic," Black Kirby answered, "But that's not what's bothering you. Don't try to lie. You're bad at it."
"It's been since Strife came. I felt something activate. When Meta Knight and Strife were with me, it doubled," Kirby said.
"The king and the merc? How could they be affecting you?" Black Kirby said.
"They're Etheri," Donokbe said.
"What? How do you know?" Black Kirby asked.
Donokbe tapped his right ear.
"You eavesdropped on them?" Black Kirby asked.
"I happened to catch the word Etheri. I listened from then and found out that Strife, Meta Knight, you, Kirby, are Etheri," Donokbe said.
"Me?" Kirby asked.
"Yeah. You're the Star Warrior of the prophecy. The rest of us can only help you do what you're destined to," Donokbe said.
"What is it?" Kirby asked.
"You're supposed to wipe out the Darkness. I'm guessin' that would be the Necrosi," Donokbe answered.
Not quite...
Donokbe looked around briefly. He couldn't tell where it came from. It seemed to come from nowhere.
Multiverse...
The Multiverse was the place where all universe could meet freely, with the least amount of magic used. It was a door to anywhere and anywhen. And an elite group and guardians of light called Keepers had the skeleton key. Keepers were beings from various places (some were humans, some were aliens, hell, one Keeper swears he saw an Ewok walking around the base at one point) who had been killed before their time. They were given Sacred Jewels that supplied the Keeper with powers. The Keeper would then go do various tasks to keep peace throughout the universes.
It was here we see four teens, probably about 14, sitting around at a table. One of them, we recognize. It's Xana, the one who took Zold Myrannus back home, wherever that was.
"What do you think of the plan so far, Landon?" Xana asked.
"I envy you. All you had to do was revive some guy and give that Nightmare guy some Nightmare Matter and you've already got Kirby tested," Landon answered.
He wore a gray cloak and glasses. His hair was black.
"Yes. You officially suck. Actually, both of you do. I had to think up six people to send after the damned Titans," Cody said.
He had a black cloak that looked a bit shadowy. It seemed to move around on its own and the bottom seemed smoky. He had spiky blonde-brown hair.
"That was not my fault. I sent Titan there and he went PSYCHO, 'kay? It did not go to plan and you know it," Landon retorted.
"So? You still suck," Cody said.
"I'm not saying anything for or against them," Raina spoke up.
"Yeah, you only had to drag out two people. From a universe Cody referenced to you," Xana said.
"I also had to open up several worlds to Sora. And that's tough business, so nya!" Raina said.
"Did you send the creepy disembodied voices?" Cody asked Landon.
"Yeah. That was fun," Landon said, "I'll mess up the ship in just a minute."
"Man it's fun to be evil. Even if it's to be good in the long run," Cody said.
"Hell yeah," Landon said.
Cockpit...
Rajiim snapped awake, alarms blaring. The engine was faltering. The rockets had already stopped and they were being drawn towards a planet's gravity. It was Rochalam. Oh shpit. He primed the escape pods and alerted everyone. The energy escape pod formed around him and solidified, ready to shoot him out safely.
Unfortunately, the escape pods would shoot out in random directions because he was in such a rush he forgot to put in specific coordinates for everyone. Luckily, the escape pods shot out in pairs. Who would be paired up was determined beforehand in such a case as this.
Rochalam...
Eight pods shot out in four different directions. Several beasts noticed this, and a few headed after them until they couldn't see them. A few were around when they landed. Others simply ignored them altogether.
Three such beasts had planned for this to happen, as they looked upon the crashed ship.
"Wrath, Vice, the S3 has crashed. Now, we simply need to wait for them to come to us at the Slayus Forge. They will fall to us," the large figure said.
The large figure actually turned out to be half-ship. The bottom half was a ship, although it wasn't really big. About four feet long, three feet tall, at its tallest. The upper half was heavily armored. His right hand was a lance, and his left hand held what seemed to be a joystick. Several guns were attached to the ship, as well. The ship was a gunmetal color with a red stripe along the bottom. The armor he wore was mostly red with silver lower arms and helmet.
"Yes, brother Bloodbath," Vice said.
"Can't wait to get my hands on that damned Kirby," Wrath said.
"You'll get your turn with the puffball," Vice said, igniting his boots and skating (think Shadow or Wisdom Form Sora) off to his part of the Slayus Forge, the Sinner Crescent.
"I'll be the only one with a turn with the puffball," Wrath muttered, flying off to the Vexation Crescent of the Slayus Forge.
"We must only fight others, not each other. Fighting is what brought down the previous Sin Legacies, Revenge and Malice. It even brought down Annihilate, Aggression, and Treachery. We will not be brought down," Bloodbath said telepathically to Wrath and Vice.
Kirby and Black Kirby...
The creations of Nightmare and Dark Mirror were paired together. After the crash, they slowly climbed out, and started trying to get their bearings. They saw a large structure in the distance and decided to head for it, as they had the idea that the others would head there, too.
They stumbled through the many cracks in the smashed-up stalagmites and rocky landscape.
"What happened here?" Kirby wondered aloud.
"I don't know. I remember the flashing in the cockpit. I managed to glance at the computer screen. The planet's name began with an 'R' and didn't have Star. That's all I could tell," Black Kirby said.
"Rochalam. It was destroyed in the wars," Kirby said.
"And thus wasn't introduced into the Star Millennium. It and Takroar," Black Kirby finished.
"We're screwed. Rochalam is a dead planet that houses horrid mutant beasts called Shakerren," Kirby said, semi-horrified.
"The poisonous atmosphere will weaken us until we get to that structure. The Rochalam gas wears off in minutes, but in such great quantities, like a planet full of it, it can slowly eat away at you without being hindered," Black Kirby continued.
"And we can't become the Tri-Star Knight," Kirby said.
"All types of fusion are possible, though, surely," Black Kirby said.
"We've trained enough to become our ultimate copy ability at will," Kirby said.
"Let's keep that in reserve, only for use in emergency, 'kay?" Black Kirby suggested. Kirby agreed.
They entered what seemed to be a basin if you saw a top view. The only way to leave it was the entrance they came through and the split rock at the opposite end. It housed a great beast. The mighty Shakerren Lord: Cooral.
A great beast it was. The Shakerren are centaurs-like creatures. Four legs and two arms. The bottom torso was pitch black and scaly with great claws. The upper torso was scaly as well, but it faded from pitch black to gray. The right hand was crab-like, but it had three claws that could bend at three joints (two fingers and a thumb). His other hand was about half the size of the right hand, but it was threatening, nonetheless. From each finger, a long talon sprouted at the will of the Shakerren. His head was similar to a T-Rex, but it had four eyes and the end of its mouth formed what seemed like a beak.
"Oh crap... that's a big-ass Shakerren," Black Kirby said.
"I've heard of these... Shakerren Lords...," Kirby said.
"Not comforting to know," Black Kirby answered, turning into Nightmare Sword Black Kirby.
Kirby focused and became Star Shield Kirby. They grabbed hands and focused. The black and white energies of the sword and shield, respectively, burst forward and intertwined, smashing into the Shakerren Lord. It stumbled back into the ravine wall and let out a shrieking roar, causing NS Black Kirby and SS Kirby to clasp their head with their hands, trying to block the sound out.
"ARGH! MY HEAD! GET THE VOICE OUT!" Black Kirby cried.
Kirby could only scream as the voice penetrated his very mind. His very soul. And as it tried to taint him, it retreated, quickly, trying to survive from the energies within Kirby's soul. A pureness he could not touch. So he retracted his soul self and stopped his screech.
It turned on the two and charged, intending to kill the wounded warriors. But they had a different plan. With their souls having been tapped into, they managed to call out to each other on an entirely different plane. And they fused into a warrior with great power.
He looked the same as Kirby, only he had a small row of golden horns going down his back and he had a black tattered cape. He carried the Nightmare Sword and Star Shield. With his energy he formed a Warpstar beneath him. And he rode on it to fight against Cooral.
The Warpstar was currently a ball of energy, unable to form a definite shape as its make was of two Clans, instead of one. It would form two Warpstars once they became Kirby and Black Kirby again, but for now, they were the Balance Knight. And they were ready to tear through the beast before them.
The Balance Knight lifted up the sword high above his head and then swung it in front of him, as if pointing, and the "Warpstar" shot forward. He put his shield up to protect himself from any Shakerren energy beams.
Cooral was never bright. Hell, he only stayed in the ravine because he got stuck there when fighting another male for the title of Lord. He couldn't find a way out (the way Kirby and Black Kirby had entered in and the path they intended to leave through were too small for him), but he managed to survive off scraps other Shakerren brought him or the occasionally stupid beast that stumbled into his ravine.
So, he kept barraging the shield despite the fact that it was giving off a searing light. And that searing light soon became a beam which tore through his energy blast he had fired and caused the Balance Knight to actually be propelled back.
However, Shakerrens are immune to energy beams, particle beams, star beams... frankly, only physical attacks that involved no energy actually being harnessed in the making of said attack could harm one.
So, Balin (that'll be his short name... I'm LAZY, 'kay?) raised up the Nightmare Sword and shot forward, the Star Shield Beam now propelling him forward once he realized it did no good against the Shakerren Lord.
The Nightmare Sword's aim was true. It stuck the being dead in the heart, causing its death. He ripped the sword out, causing blood to spray as Cooral slunk down to the bottom of the ravine.
Balin, his work done, split back into Black Kirby and Kirby. The mind link disconnected as well as their souls. They had felt how dead the planet truly was when they had become Balin, and it damaged them moreso than Cooral did. At least Balin left behind two good presents. The Warpstar he had formed became the Archi-Star, a Warpstar with a crown symbol on it and a few other various things decorating it, symbolizing its royal links. The other became a round star shape that was mostly see-through, although it had a black tint and had white stars glowing on it. It was called Star Matter.
They both eagerly jumped on their new Warpstars and slowly drove off to the structure, listening around for their companions and making sure to avoid any more Shakerren.
They would find something quite... different from their friends at the Slayus Forge...
BADUM! BADUM! BADUM!