Chapter 3

My Imagination12: Glad you liked it xD

Greenone15: If I really have to be honest: I don't think they were close friends, or perhaps they were.. but in that case something must have happened between them. And anime left a lot of things still unclear. Like Meta knight's wings at the pilot episode but then he never uses them in the whole anime (and he was also portrayed as a demon beast working under Nightmare). And what about Knuckle Joe's changing skin colour? I will never understand that one… Perhaps you have a theory too. ;)

Pyro: Yay ^_^! Same theories! Glad you think that way too!

DoUEvenWriteBro: Too bad you're anon coz your name is extremely amusing. But do not worry, I do not plan to go that direction. I understand exactly how you feel about overused ''evil demon meta knight'' stories, I myself cannot stop loving them. However I am planning to write the theories I have of him, but that goes for all the characters in this story. He isn't the only character who will have his moments. I read almost all Kirby fanfictions, so I think I will surprise you with the future chapters. Thank you for your thoughts!

Storystosee: Thank you for your kind comment. :)

I don't own anything, and write this for pure entertainment.

CHAPTER 4 WILL BE POSTED SOON.

It was raining hard,, which is rather rare occurrence of Dreamland. A certain Cappy girl stared outside, and as excepted she heard a loud thunder.

Fumu's brother has Astraphobia, in other words extreme fear for thunder. Ironically enough as he faced close to Kracko almost three years ago, he told us it was a different story because Kirby was in danger, and it wasn't a natural thunder. But this time, he is smart enough to stay inside and ignore his adventurous side. He was like herself watching the TV with his parents.

Fumu heard knocking on the door, and she opened. Knuckle Joe and Sirica were utterly completely wet. It was real funny sight, Sirica hair's was down, while Knuckle Joe was almost unrecognizable because his hair almost covered his whole face. Fumu almost thought that Sirica brought a completely different friend.

''You guys were outside? In this weather?'' Fumu gestured to let come inside, but she planned to talk with them but in a comfortable manner, not while they were utterly soaked state. ''Wait a second, I'll bring some towels.''

''Yes..'' Knuckle Joe answered as he used the towels to dry his hair. Memu and Parm were here too, watching television of Dedede's channel. Knuckle Joe could hear some of cheesy lines, or one of some idiotic sentences that was just typical one of Dedede's strange idea.

Memu, the mother of the family, greets them and offers the warriors tea. They accepted modestly, and enjoyed the warmth of the drink as their hands were completely frozen and blue from the rain.

Sirica grew quickly irritated of the TV, and went to the room of Fumu to distract herself. Fumu was in her own room too, busy with hanging their wet clothes.

''Sirica,'' Fumu said emotionlessy, not facing Sirica as she was busy with hanging the clothes ''I really need to talk with you.''

''You need help with that?'' The girl saw she had difficulties with hanging the accessories, because she wasn't nearly tall enough to reach it. But Fumu ignored her and put a chair so she could easily hang the wet things up, without answering Sirica question. Sirica noticed this odd behavior, ''what's wrong,'' she raised her eyebrows. ''Is something bothering you?''

''While we are here, offering you guys nice guest service and all.'' Fumu said dryly ''I need to know why you guys are here. I know that you are not here for a friendly visit.''

Sirica bites her tongue. Of course Fumu would figure something like that out sooner or later. ''Well..'' she closed her eyes, unsure if she should tell her.

''Please Sirica, I know it has to be important. While the ship was exploded, I am concerned. Are some bandits, or other bad guys behind you? Perhaps demon beasts?'' The Cappy girl questioned while holding her hands, and wore an extremely worried look. ''Is that possibly why the ship was exploded? You could have died if you were in it!'' her tone a bit higher now.

She continued her rambling: ''And now you guys went outside to repair it, are you crazy? You could have struck by lighting! Look how bad the weather is!"

Sirica only smiled of her concern, it was really adorable she was worried about such thing. She fought a war almost her whole life, and saw possible most terrible things in her life. Sirica was positively sure she is one of rare young people who has experienced war so much in her short life and survived.

''Fumu, it has nothing to do with it.'' Sirica dismissed the girl's worries, and closed her weary eyes, she wanted to assure Fumu that Dreamland was safe, and that a civilian shouldn't worry about such things.

''About the ship, I think Dedede was just.. in his pranking mood.'' She tried to assure her. But sooner of later she had to explain to Fumu, knowing her she is too stubborn to change the topic.

With a frustrated sigh, ''The reason why.. we are here….'' Sirica's eyes travelled down to the floor, trying to find her words. ''Do you remember.. about the crystal?''

Fumu nodded furiously with a frown, ''Yes, that crystal gives me the chills. Something is very unusual about this crystal.'' Fumu gulped. ''Knuckle Joe said it was something from Nightmare… but he's dead.. I saw it with my own eyes. So that theory doesn't make any sense.''

''Well, do you know what the crystal exactly does? Why Knuckle Joe is so firm on that theory?''

Fumu shook her head as no. Sirica sighed heavily.

It's going to be a long story, she closed her eyes again and told her the story about the crystal discovery.

One year ago

GREENSTAR

''Sirica, look what I've got from the villagers!'' My friend was waving with some food in his hand. That is good; we were both very hungry and exhausted with all the demon beasts fighting.

With a huge smile, I took some of the food that Knuckle Joe has received. I knew the villagers were very thankful we were here defending their town, by fighting off some demon beasts. Knowing them there were only very poor people, and yet they were generous to share the food they have so few of.

It was hard to imagine that Knuckle Joe grew here up.

''I heard a rumor that some people went to find some food in the forest, and never came back. It's possible that they were captured by some Demon beasts.'' my friend told me, taking me out of my thoughts.

''Seriously?'' My eyes widened. ''Why haven't they told that us in the first place?'' With that I stood up; I felt refreshed again thanks to the meal. ''We have to find them, and quickly! If we don't hurry they could be killed!'' Knuckle Joe couldn't disagree with that, and they both ran off to the forest.

The forest was overgrown, and there was no clear path. If we don't watch our step we could fall in the ravine - and the surviving rate isn't big.

''Sirica, look.'' My friend whispered, and knowing him he discovered something important.

My eyes widened as I saw a blood trail. I grunted, we are probably too late. ''Lets hurry.'' He nodded, and we followed the trail. Everything became darker and darker, and my vision became unclear. One of my hands has a firm grip on my weapon, like a trained soldier prepared for any attack to come. My ally was carefully looking at his surrounding, but he gestured we could move on quietly.

I felt something wet on my neck, which was strange. It wasn't raining, but I noticed that the temperate has increased. We were inside in something, and my hand travelled on the ground. Stone. Trusting on my other senses, my hand travelled further to the left and I noticed again: a wall of stone.

''We are in a cave,'' I whispered, I couldn't see Knuckle Joe very clearly but I see his glowing stone on his headband.

''I can smell them,'' Knuckle Joe growled ''The demon beasts. This path is the right one.''

My stomach was growing uneasy. I was getting second thoughts. Perhaps it was wise to return with a torch or something. I don't want to do a suidice mission.

''Joe,'' I whispered, ''Perhaps we should return, better geared.'' I can't read my friend expression because I could only see his back and vaguely his bright blond hair.

''Are you crazy? There are probably dying over there! You saw the blood trail right?'' he said a little too loudly.

''Shh!'' I said, my hand waving gesturing he should calm down. ''All right, you have a point. But please, be careful. This could be a trap y'know.'' My friend moved on, but more carefully – and I was happy that he took my message.

We both saw light, this cave has two entrances? We didn't go any deeper so that was very possible. Knuckle Joe walked to the light and we were in a spacious area. But I was wrong about the entrance, the light came from a strange crystal not from outside. We were still deep in the cave, and it my worries didn't eased a bit

I never saw such gigantic mineral, I knew a lot of kinds jewels but I don't recognize this one. We craft a lot of gemstones on our weapons or armor, so my knowledge about those stones was very varied.

A scream could be heard, and I spun around and immediately pulled my weapon out of my scabbard. To my surprise I saw my friend already lying in the ground, clutching his head as he was in terrible pain.

''Joe!'' Before I went to his side, I scanned my surrounding. But I didn't hear anything, or see anything. My instincts were screaming to go away, but I couldn't drag Joe all the way back. ''Joe!'' I went to his side, my hand trying to take his hand to calm him down. He really need to get up now.

But my friend slapped me away, as he was experiencing a seizure. I never saw him like this, and I was sure that Joe had no epilepsy. But he was screaming so hard, it was heart-breaking sight. I couldn't do anything, but suddenly I felt something tapping on my shoulders my ultra high alerts made me reckless.

In terror, I spun around and stabbed someone with my dagger. Suddenly everything was white, and it was clear whom I stabbed. My body was paralyzed with shock, and my mouth slowly opened.

My mother with her arms spread, and she looked with an angry face. ''You stabbed me!'' she screamed so hard, and I couldn't say anything.

''You killed me!'' I looked as my dagger was precisely in her heart. She looked utterly disappointed, ''My daughter, a murderer!''

''N-no!'' I found my voice again. My mother never screamed, I was the one who was screaming. My mother, my beautiful mother with a distraught face, dying on my feets with big tears rolling from her eyes bleeding to her death.

My eyes was tearing up, No this couldn't happen. This is a nightmare, my mother is dead. I wanted to touch her, to tell her that I am so sorry but she was so far away, so far gone. I can't walk, let alone crawling to her as I did when I was a baby – she always would hug me warmly and gave kisses on my forehead.

She called me a murdered, I killed her in cold blood. This is not what I wanted! I wanted to make her proud! I trained so hard…

I killed her!

My mom's eyes light is disappearing, and her failing attempts to reach me with trembling hands as I saw slowly her lips moving calling out my name..

''Sirica..''

''Sirica…''

''SIRICA!''

I gasped, coughed. The first thing I noticed, was Knuckle Joe's face looking utterly worried at me. But he seemed very relieved that I was awake..

from a nightmare?

''I-….''

''Shht, you don't have to say anything.'' Knuckle Joe's eyes closed. We were back at our camp, and I relaxed a bit. ''W-what happened?'' my voice was very groggy, was I really screaming in my unconscious state?

''There were no survivors.'' Knuckle Joe's eyes were grave, with a tinge of grief. ''We were both suffering under the crystal's effects. But somehow I was earlier out of it… and I took you back to the tent…''

I noticed Knuckle Joe was sweating, he looked so utterly broken. He dragged me all back, and I couldn't feel but greatly grateful – but I feel sadness and anger at myself for being so weak.

''Hey, why are you so sad?'' Knuckle Joe frowned as he saw my teary red eyes.

''I…'' I was not sure what I should say. ''I am… sad because we couldn't safe them..''

Knuckle Joe never saw me cry, we've experienced a lot of things together and those were very hard times. But we were both willing to help people even it sacrificed our health, but with each other company it easier to get through.

''To be honest, Sirica.. That was not it .. huh It was a bit more personal..'' Knuckle Joe's eyes softened ''You were screaming, and I heard your mother name.. I know that you are still thinking of her, yes?''

At those soft words I lost myself, I cried so hard. My head on Joe's shoulder, I let out of my tears. ''I've killed her, Joe!'' I choked, but Joe rubbed my back to comfort me.

''You know that's not true..'' he whispered. ''it wasn't your fault, the demon beast killed her.''

I whipped my hands, god I had to look pathetic. ''But I saw her, so real. I could touch her, she hated me because I killed her with my own dagger!'' I couldn't breathe. My lungs desperately needed air but I was so emotional that I even failed to breathe.

''I saw my father.'' Knuckle Joe said shortly. ''I killed him too, but.. look at this.'' Knuckle Joe grabbed my dagger, ''It is still perfectly clean, see?'' I looked at it, nodded numbly. ''This dagger, your mother gave it to you when you were young right?'' Again I nodded.

''Your mother is proud of you, she knew you was strong. Otherwise she wouldn't give you this dagger right?'' Knuckle Joe smiled ''She could never hate you, she knew that you would become one powerful woman one day. She is right , y'know.'' Knuckle Joe smiled to me and rubbed his nose, but I know he sometimes does that when he was nervous.

I gave him a sad smile, I felt really a slightly better. ''.. you saw your father?'' I said softly, giving him a gentle squeeze on his shoulder.

''It is not the first time.'' Knuckle Joe waved off, rubbing his nose twice. ''I really don't want to talk about it.''

''You saw him, killing him – like I did to my mother.''

''The way you described it, it was almost the same as my vision.. but there was someone else as well.'' Knuckle Joe's shoulder tensed, and Sirica felt it.

''Who was it?'' I questioned.

''I do not know, it was all too vague and it went too fast. Then I woke up, and I saw you lying on the ground – having a kind of seizure. But you know what was really strange?'' I noticed he changed the topic fast. ''The crystal was glowing, I never saw something like that.''

''While we walked inside, the crystal gave a sort of light, but I knew there was something off. But when I woke up, it wasn't shiny but glowing with a dark aura. Then I saw the demon beasts, they did nothing and I killed them all off.'' I flinched a little of his anger, ''You know what bothered me the most?'' I shook my head,

''They never fought back, they were terribly weakened. It was almost.. they were feeding themselves on the crystal to strengthen themselves up. It is possible why the demon beasts are still alive in this world.''

''Are you saying.. Those things are the remaining things of Nightmare's reign to keep them alive?'' That theory didn't sound too crazy in my opinion.

''Yes, basically Nightmare's bases were full of those crystals.''

''We have to destroy it , Sirica! We found the source of all of our problems'' His eyes had a strange glint ''Imagine: If we destroy all those crystals, all the demon beasts would be gone – and there will be finally peace.''

Back to present.

''We knew,'' Sirica explained. ''at that point, every planet that has demon beasts that ever lived on this planet has the crystal somewhere.''

Fumu's eyes widened, so Dreamland has one of this crystal?

''That's why we need to find the location, but we cannot fix the ship because we do not have material to do so. The ship has the machine that help us to find the crystal. The map only points us out the places we've been, so that doesn't help either.''

With that sentence Fumu's eyes glowed with determination ''Then we will find someone that can help us!''

''But Sword and Blade cannot help us,'' Sirica said with a defeated tone. Fumu halted at her logical point, her hand was holding on the door lever, ready to leave. But Sirica's valid point was not stopping Fumu.

''I am not talking about those knights. I am talking about one certain knight.'' With that, she opened the door and ran quickly as she could.

Sirica was left alone, unsure what to do. But suddenly something hit her:

''Fumu! What about the weather?'' Sirica shouted, but no answer as the girl was already long gone. She quickly ran to the window, and to her surprise there was no drop. Actually the sun was shining and almost blinding her eyes. . Perhaps Fumu could be of our assistance, the warrior thought with a smile.

''Man, I thought you staying on dreamland would soften you, but I am wrong about that.'' Yamikage commented on Meta knight's swordsmanship skills. It was not to be underestimated; only a fool would do that.

''Is that your way of telling me,'' Meta knight sheathed his sword back in his scabbard. ''that you've enjoyed this fight?'' From experience, Yamikage was a terrible person when it comes to fair dueling. He was just not cut for that. But Meta knight knew him very well, so some of his tricks were a bit predictable giving him a great advantage while fighting the ninjas.

''It has been a while,'' he said gruffly, not the one who gives compliment freely. ''The GSA always praised looked upon you with your skills, even the ninja's. So I am not surprised that you've kept training – especially that Nightmare was around. And the new danger..''

''Speaking about training,'' Meta knight wrapped his cape ''I am a bit too tardy for my own training. I have to go now, I will see you over few hours.'' The ninja nodded, and Meta knight carefully departed from the cave.

Yamikage looked forward to the day that he'll repay his debt, and grinned evilly.

It was evening. Kirby didn't feel like training, he wanted to take a walk and sort out his own thoughts. But it went In circles:

His mentor was siding with someone who sided with Nightmare, and he told:

''It is very unfortunate that I am not the last survivor of the star warriors. If it was that the case..''

What does that mean? Is he planning to kill the star warriors? But why would he do that? With that purpose? Kirby's eyes began to tear; was the one he always looked truly a liar?

With those dark thoughts, Kirby decided that he would handle this himself.

Kirby was training with the knights because he wanted to travel through the stars in the future, but in order to do that he had to train a lot because he was told demon beasts were still spread over the universe. It was also dangerous to go alone, his mentor told him. So he would be with him if he matured enough, but how is he supposed to do that if his mentor would surely back stab him?

The pink warrior arrived at the beach and saw Sword and Blade sparring their swords, and they noticed them ''Hey Kirby!'' he cried enthusiastically, unnoticing that Kirby wasn't in his normal bubbly go-happy mood.

''Meta knight isn't still here, which is kinda odd.. did he forget something?'' Blade replied.

''Perhaps..'' Sword said confused ''It is unusual of him to come late..''

Kirby frowned, unsure what to do. Sword and blade probably don't know of Yamikage. But the knaves already came with a suggestion.

''Kirby, you stay here, we will look at the castle. Perhaps he is occupied with something that he was ordered too.''

''Stupid Dedede,'' Blade whined ''sometimes I ask why we still work for him.'' Sword shushed him, and before they left; Sword threw Kirby a sword, causing Kirby almost losing his balance.

''Maybe, you can warm up a little bit. The searching could take a bit, so… see ya.'' Sword said awkwardly, and quickly went back to searching their lord.

Kirby wordlessy nodded, not giving away that he actually could sense his mentor thanks to his star warriors senses and let the knaves walk to the castle. He knew that Meta knight wasn't in the building, but felt his presence coming closer somewhere from the forest. He wanted to handel this alone.

He sat, and waited for him while he watched his surroundings with caution. That traitor ninja could be with Meta knight, and he would pay - he thought darkly. Both will pay.

Preview:

''Kirby no!'' Fumu cried to the pink star warrior. ''Stop ! What are you doing?!''

Kirby was ready to strike Meta knight, his sword glowing preparing for a sword beam, Meta knight could only watch in horror. He didn't except Kirby to go that far.

''Sir!'' he heard screaming of his loyal assets, gasping and running to their lord. Meta knight assumed they came back as they heard the loud sword clinging.

''No, Sword Blade, I have to handle this alone!'' Meta knight's eyes glowed white, and he quickly took his legendary Galaxia sword from his scabbard.

''If Kirby wants a duel, so be it.''

I could go on, but the max. is actually 3500 words. Lol, I went overboard. But it was fun writing this chapter! :p

HOWEVER! THE NEXT ONE WILL BE AN EXCEPTION - AN EXTRA LONG CHAPTER DUE TO SCHOOL.

Hopefully you enjoyed, reviews are welcomed!