Chapter 5

Chapter packed with action! As promised from the earlier preview…

SUMMARY:

Due to strange occurrences that are caused by the crystal, many bad things happened in Dreamland.

Sirica and Knuckle Joe's ship suddenly exploded, so the duo was unable to leave.

Kirby accidentally discovered that Meta knight is allied with Yamikage. Kirby fought Meta knight and the fight brought a lot of consequences. However Meta knight was willing to explain his actions, but Yamikage insisted that they had no time.

Sir Arthur knight took the leader role over the dreamland, and with the rest of GSA commanders, they were on a quest to find the source of the problem: the crystal.

Meanwhile Meta knight and Yamikage are already at the crystal cave, facing with a strange unknown voice…

The question is: what will Kirby do right now? How will Kirby handle all of this?

Kirby woke up slowly. The drugs had a still a bit effect on him, because he felt still groggy. While his vision was becoming clearer, he noticed he wasn't sleeping on his own bed. He was in the castle, in a loge bed just next to Bun's bed.

What happened? Kirby inspected his own body. He noticed there was a small cut in his arm. The ninja had an infected shuriken and his body felt limp and numb from the effect.

Kirby frowned. What did actually happened after all of that? He didn't remember. The last things that the pink hero remembered was that he was in Kabu, and when he woke up – he was in throne with everybody asking questions about Meta knight.

Meta knight… Kirby let out a sad sigh. What is his mentor doing? Allying with Yamikage? He closed his eyes, remembering all the events with the ninja, with a student who was failing, called Benikage.. How was the ninja doing now nowadays?

The young warrior decided it was time to get up. Kirby slowly walked sleepily to the door to enter the main room. He was surprised that there were so many people here, he didn't hear a sound from them except the low TV buzzing sounds.

Not only the Cappy family were here, but also Knuckle Joe and Sirica.

They were all very silent watching the channel. Kirby assumed that they didn't notice him, so he quietly walked closer so he wouldn't startle them.

''Poy.'' He greeted softly one of his favorite words. Suddenly everyone looked at him, and Kirby felt uneasy at that. They wore all worried looks, and Lady Memu was the first one who commented.

''Hey Kirby,'' the mother's voice sounded very weary, and Kirby noticed that her eyes were extremely red.

''How are you feeling?'' she asked.

Kirby gave them a nod, conforming them that he felt fine. To be honest, Kirby was still progressing all the things that happened. His heart was still hurting of anxiety, especially when thinking about his mentor.

The father of the family, Pamu, was the first who took Kirby out from his thoughts.

''Fumu is missing the whole day, we didn't saw her at breakfast. We are so worried, can you please find her for us?''

''Oooh… what if something happened to her?''

The mother trembled, her tears threatening her eyes ''Oh I want my baby back!'' she cried, her head burying in Pamu's shoulder. Her husband comforted her, and they both looked at Kirby with pleading eyes.

To look at such desperate parents, it was like the sleeping drugs' effect on Kirby was completely disappeared. His head nodded determinately at the parent's request, and he ran quickly out of the castle.

First he ran to the roof, and halted himself at the sight where to ship of Knuckle Joe and Sirica were located.

Not there was anything anymore, of course. The only remaining thing was the black stain of the explosion.

Many things happened, and Kirby was not exactly sure or he was managing it well. His mentor was now a possible victim of the crystal, or he was all willing with Yamikage. Kirby felt conflicted with himself, nobody seemed to blame him thought, which confused Kirby greatly…

It was as there was a greater force behind all of this events. The GSA was even here, Kirby remembered. The situation has become very serious, but the question is actually: what is everybody doing?

And now Fumu was suddenly gone, what was she thinking?

Where could she possible be?

Or wait… The little pink warrior halted himself as a realization hits him.

Oh no,

Fumu was going to speak with Meta knight!

''You fools! very soon I will be destroying you all!''''

The voice boomed loudly in the cave. The crystal was glowing so bright, that their eyes were temporarily blinded. The ninja growled, such trick shouldn't affect him!

''Show yourself!'' Meta knight cried, his voice was almost inaudible due to the loud earthquake that crystal caused.

''You can't cleanse the crystal!''

With that, Meta knight could hear the ninja disappear, leaving the knight alone. He was unsure where Yamikage went, but he knew that the ninja was powerless in a situation like this. Leaving the situation seemed the best idea. So Meta knight decided to copy his idea and grasped his navy blue cape, and covered himself with it. He used the dimensional cape ability to escape, and warped himself out from the cape.

Surely, his cape couldn't transport far ranges, but it was far enough to teleport himself outside of the cave, which was already effective enough. The light that radiated from the crystal seemed have dimmed severally as it knew that they were gone. Standing before the cave entrance Meta knight was able to see the crystal again, without blinding his eyes.

The unknown voice from the crystal was silent again, but it was still taunting in his head.

''Fools, will destroy you all!''

Meta knight realized that the situation has become worse, not only everyone doubted him when he actually needed their assist the most, it was also that the enemy is coming so much earlier than he predicted.

He feared for everyone's safety so greatly. First in a long time, Meta knight felt truly lost not knowing what he should do. He lowered Galaxia, almost dropping it. The masked knight just sat here, his eyes glowing green deep in thought.

''Did you feel the earthquake?'' Nonsurat commented, pointing at the direction where the earthquake possible might have been.

''Yes. From now on, I want you three to guard the place around. Note the Star warrior's energy. That way you may track Yamikage and Meta knight. Sir Arthur Knight inspected his best soldiers, Falspar Nonsurat and Dragato, and they all nodded at his command.

With that, the commanders parted their ways and Sir Arthur went to the direction of the cave. Little he did he know, that someone was following him. Sir Arthur knight's eyes widened as he saw a familiar shining crystal, glowing so brightly from the cave. He saw so many of those cursed things in his war. It killed many of his people, and thinking about it made the leader so furious. It was a blasphemy, this unholy things still feed the demon beasts even Nightmare is gone. With angry steps he moved heading to the cave, until he noticed Meta knight he halted himself.

There was a long silence, and the leader inspected his former pupil. Knowing him for so long, he could read a shred of Meta knight's emotion. Well, it wasn't hard to notice that knight was thinking because his glowing green eyes.

Meta knight broke the silence,

''I need you to listen to me,'' Meta knight said carefully, Sir Arthur knight could tell that his visit wasn't unexcepted. ''No matter what you think of me, I need you to listen to this.'' Meta knight didn't face Sir Arthur knight.

''Someone very dangerous is coming,'' he said in a low voice.

''Pray tell me, why are you stopping me right now?'' The leader's eyes carefully inspected his surroundings. ''Where is your … friend?'' his tone very dark, especially on the 'friend' word. Yamikage seems to be nowhere.

''I…''

''What is left of you, Meta knight?'' Sir Arthur knight interrupted with a stern voice. ''Honor?'' With a deep sigh. ''You are sided with an enemy, thus you are siding Nightmare's former ally, a murderer.''

''Is it Friends?'' He continued, as his own eyes narrowing as Meta knight didn't flinch a bit of his words. ''Family?'' He was entering a dangerous zone, the leader knew that.

''Face it, you have none anymore. So what drives you to do such trivial action?'' Sir Arthur knight's voice held no arrogance however, but the atmosphere has become severely tense.

Fumu was watching all of this from afar, and unlike Meta knight, she flinched at the leader's hard words. She wondered how Meta knight stays so calm at such unpleasant moment. He knew that the knight held high regards of the commanders, they helped him with the Nightmare invasion after all. Without them,they probably haven't survived.

What happened between those two?

''With what rights do you have to speak with me?''

Meta knight is still silent, his posture is like an stone statue. The masked knight knew that his leader wasn't done talking.

''Are you … perhaps …striving for power?''

Meta knight held his hand as he wanted to point out something, but his mouth couldn't form words. When Sir Arthur knight could see Meta knights hands, which was normally always covered in his cape – he saw it was trembling.

''I … am not like him.'' He replied. ''I will be never like him..'' But he didn't sound anything more confident, his eyes was turning into a color that Sir Arthur hasn't seen in a long time.

It was purple.

''Then why did you left us in the dark from the possibly danger for so long? Why didn't you warn us about the crystal?'' Sir Arthur knight said with an icy voice. ''The way I see it, Meta knight, that you just completed an act of betrayal.''

The knight didn't respond.

There was a long silence again. Meta knight could hear Sir Arthur deeps sighly as he saw a slight sadness twinkling in his eyes. His eyes also showed regret, and deep disappointment.

''What is left of Meta knight,'' The leader said in third person. ''Is his knight's honor.'' He paused to let the information sink in. ''He will be no more a part of GSA.''

''Sir,'' Meta knight said with all courage he could mutter, even the news torns him ''I do not know who corrupted the crystal, but all the time I needed to protect it …'' his arguments was too weak, pathetic. Meta knight knew all of this, but he needed to listen! ''All what I did, was with a purpose! The more people held the knowledge of the crystal, the more dangerous.''

''What have you done?'' The leader gave a sound of disbelief, surprised the crude comments of his former pupil. ''Don't you understand that you left us all the time out with such important information?!''

Fumu was confused by this discussion. Meta knight seems to be banned from the GSA, which is a big shocking news of course. But why was Meta knight more taken aback when it comes to talking about power then the actual fact that he is no more a part of GSA? Fumu frowned deeply, why was he so keen on protecting the crystal? It was time she found out, and so she hid no more. She would straight ask the knight questions, she was tired of this mysterious game.

No no no. Fumu couldn't be that stupid! For the first time in his life, Kirby doubted Fumu's intentions. Fumu is smart, but she could a bit reckless sometimes.

He ran so fast as his own feets could carry to Whispy wood, but the pink warrior suddenly felt over something. He quickly regained his posture and looked behind to see where he actually fell from…

A feet?

And then the pink warrior looked up to the person who let him fall, and he was frightened what he saw.

''I believe it's time to repay the debt, little star warrior!'' The enemy threw a shuriken, almost hitting the star warrior. ''As promised,'' the figure laughed haughtily at his own comment.

But Kirby of course didn't share his humor, and ran away so hard as he can. Yamikage! Oh boy… could his timing be any better?

''Are you running away again?'' Yamikage sneered. ''Pity, I thought you wanted this?'' Kirby gasped as the ninja held out a familiar little star in his hand.

''I thought you would put an interesting fight,'' he grinned evilly. ''If you are willing to take this of course.'' He stood here, waiting for the star warrior attack.

''Poyo…'' Kirby sorrowfully gazed at the warp star in Yamikage's hand. He was conflicted or he should take the Warp star or Fumu.

If he could take the warp star, it would be much easier to find Fumu. The pink warrior thought.

''Poyo!'' Kirby's eyes glowed with determination. He was sure he would take the warp star. This ninja isn't strong as Nightmare, so the chance of winning was greater for Kirby. Or so the little warrior thought.

''I like those eyes… that's so much better.'' Yamikage's eyes were glittering dangerously.

''Uh…'' Fumu felt suddenly less confident as she saw composure of Meta knight. She never saw the knight so helpless, he even seems broken utterly sad by hearing the news that he wasn't a part of something he fought for his ... probably whole life. Fumu pitied him, but her resolve of solving the mystery didn't waver.

The knight slowly turned around to face the girl, ''What is it Fumu? I assumed you couldn't hold in your curiousity?'' he commented emotionlessly.

Fumu felt instantly embarrassed of his comment, but asked her question anyway. She was so accustomed of the knight's strange way of holding a conversation.

''W-Were you the one who .. made Knuckle Joe and Sirica' explode?''

''Yes.'' The knight replied without hesitation. He wondered how to girl figured out so quickly, but it did not matter anymore.

''Y..you also ordered Sword and Blade not to help them?''

''Obviously.''

While this conversation was held, Meta knight watched as his former leader entered the cave.

''Why do you protect the crystal?'' Fumu held her hands, she needed to know this. But the knight was still eerily quiet.

''From what I've heard, the crystal did nothing but cause destruction. I know that Kirby was mind-warped from the crystal, and that the warp star returned and you guys have it…'' she continued ''I… cannot help but feel so disappointed in you, Meta knight.'' Meta knight flinched; this is the first time that the girl didn't use his respective title. Understandable, but a foolish comment. He was already in a horrible mood, and if the girl was taunting him in anyway, her very life is gambling on it, the knight thought coldly.

''Just... I thought we were friends.'' Fumu's eyes bore in Meta knight's blank eyes. ''I thought… you as a good friend actually. I never thanked you properly for training Kirby and defeating Nightmare…'' then she trembled, unsure or she was afraid or it was sadness. She assumed it was the latter. ''Kirby looked up to you, so do I and the rest of the village.'' Fumu told him, her own visible gulp could be heard.

''Why are you doing any of this? This isn't you…!'' She was beginning to feel frustrated, her impatience was almost getting better of her. Oh how she hated when the knight didn't give her any questions!

Meta knight understood that the girl loved Kirby dearly, like a sister. His eyes softened at her attempts to defending him. But she shouldn't be involved in a situation like this; she was way too young to understand. He wanted to answer but was interrupted by a loud yell.

''Soldiers,'' Sir Arthur knight's voice was loud, as he was attempting to regroup the soldiers. He found the crystal, Meta knight assumed. ''It is time we destroy the crystal!''

With that Meta knight turned around, his back facing Fumu and walked to the GSA commanders. They all stood before the entrance, ready to enter and destroy the crystal with their weapons.

Meta knight unsheathed his sword, and a loud cackle of thunder from the weapon emerged causing the soldiers looking at him. Fumu gasped, what is he thinking?!

''If you keep up this façade, you'll confirm us that you are siding with Nightmare.'' Sir Arthur knight was the first to comment at his aggressive stance, and also unsheathed his own sword, along with the other soldiers. ''If you don't turn your sword, we won't hesitate to kill you.''

Fumu screamed ''META KNIGHT!'', she ran to him wanting to stop before they fight each other. But she stopped herself when she heard him say. What is hell is he doing?

''I may be no part of GSA, but as a knight I will always hold my promise. I swore to protect Kirby.'' He said, ''even it means an act of betrayal, even it means my loyalty or my own life.''

And somehow, after all the horrible things – the duel between the two star warriors, the return of the ninja, and the betrayal, Fumu knew she could trust him just because of that one sentence. It wasn't because she was naïve, quite the opposite. It was the tone of his voice she could pick up:

It was tingle of fear and sadness.

Fumu couldn't bear to look at this fight, with her hand covering her face and the girl ran away, as far she could be from the fight. But she heard other screams, but it wasn't coming from the knights. She ran to that direction. It was very close to the other fight, what is going on?!

''Kirby!" she gasped as she saw him fighting with Yamikage; the little star warrior was fully covered of scratches. But that didn't stop Kirby, as he inhaled a shuriken from the ninja. Fumu vaguely wondered why the warrior didn't run away but she quickly noticed the warp star in the ninja's hand.

Kirby changed in Ninja Kirby, and from nothing the star warrior pulled out three shurikens from his back. With a deep frown of concentration he threw a very accurate aim, but the ninja already disappeared from that point.

Kirby copied him, and the field was empty for a while. The ninja appeared first, gasping for breath. ''You can't stay invisible forever!'' he shouted. ''I will find you!'' The ninja summoned a giant wind with strange posture as he cried ''Fuujin no jutsu!''

''Poyooo!'' Kirby appeared again his stealth couldn't hold because of the strong wind, as he taken by surprise. His arms helplessly struggled in air, then he was falling.

''Kirby!'' Fumu ran to the star warrior to catch him, she pushed herself forward and fell on her knees – catching the small warrior just on time. ''Ouch… luckily you didn't become heavy, after all those years '' she commented, and the star warrior grinned. Kirby was relieved to see that Fumu was okay, and he gave her biggest grin he could manage without hurting his wounds.

The duo stood here, hugging each other with a big relief.

''I sense disturbance in air,'' Yamikage seems to pause himself from the fight. ''I can hear… swords…''

Fumu glared at the ninja, ''Yes Meta knight is fighting with the GSA soldiers.'' She remarked sharply, ''But you don't seem too happy to hear the news.''

The ninja growled, not knowing how to respond. He decided to depart and with a smoke bomb he left. Fumu coughed of the smoke and covered her eyes to prevent irritation as Kirby did the same.

Fumu was confused by the ninja's reaction, but it really seemed that the two were friends and Yamikage was clearly unhappy to hear that his friend was fighting, with a big disadvantage too. Four against one, no matter how great the swordsman, is almost impossible to win.

She noticed there was something shining in the darkness of smoke; the girl walked carefully headed to the light and then she smiled to the sight.

''Seems finally we have some luck,'' Fumu grinned, ''Yamikage seems to forget this,'' she held up the warp star to the star warrior,

''We can fly back to the castle to warn Knuckle Joe and Sirica!''

Kirby jumped with joy and agreed wit the girl. Seeing the warp star back to their side made the pink warrior really happy, and warm inside.

Yamikage cursed their luck. The crystal was found by GSA, the things went downhill. He ran with almost an impossible speed to the fight and threw a shuriken to interrupt Sir Arthur knight's first attack.

''I see that you joined the fight,'' he said darkly, his sword flinched back of the sheer force from the shuriken throw. ''No matter, I will stop you too and end you both in here.''

''Such irony,'' Falspar chuckled, ''Both of you star warriors will die in this peaceful land. After we got rid of the crystal, demon beasts will be here no more.''

''Not only the star warriors!'' another voice inquired, and Meta knight was genuinely surprised to see his loyal assets again. ''We are here too, you won't let you touch the crystal!''

'"Soldiers,'' Sir Dragato argued, ''Stay out of this, we will not harm you. If you join them, you are making a grave mistake.''

''Following our lord was the best choice we ever made in our life,'' Sword remarked angrily at his comment, ''We will gladly sacrifice our life for him, no matter what.''

''Sword… Blade…'' Meta knight grimaced. He felt very grateful to have such loyal friends in his life, but they were both so young…and yet…

''I know what you are trying to say, sir.'' Blade said to his leader, ''But we will not change our mind. We will stay at your side, even we do not know fully your intentions. We will always follow you, no matter what.'' he repeated what Sword said.

''You are all fools,'' Sir Arthur commented. 'Don't you see you are siding a demon beast?!" With a low growl ''two demon beasts in fact, even the other one isn't a born one!''

''Actually you are incorrect,'' Yamikage commented, he sheathed his own ninja blade. ''But what does blood matter? What it matters is the choice you make.'' Yamikage's red eyes narrowed as he stood closer to Meta knight.

They were both protecting each other back, as they were surrounded by four commanders. Yamikage knew he couldn't escape from this one. He had to fight back with Meta knight.

''And you are saying?'' Nonsurat held his shining axe, his posture seemed calm but his appearance was not friendly. ''You are protecting the crystal, thus you are protecting Nightmare's belongings.''

''No matter!'' Falspar cried, ''It's time to make an end of those traitors!'' He charged forward, along with the others and the blades clashed. Sword staggered back of the powerful blow from the commander, and almost was too late to defend himself with another swift blow.

Dedede castle

''What are you saying?'' Knuckle Joe bumped his fist, ''they are fighting out here without us?!'' Kirby nodded.

''Yes! Meta knight and Yamikage are fighting against the commanders!'' Fumu still didn't know of Sword and Blade assist, ''Please stop them, surely there must be a way to stop this conflict!''

''Let's go,'' Sirica commanded at hearing the news, ''Can you tell us where they are?'' she faced the girl.

Fumu opened her mouth, but before she could respond she hesitated. These guys are the members of GSA, right? They wouldn't kill him right?

''They… are .. in the whispy wood…'' The girl agreed of make an end of this. ''There is also a crystal nearby, I saw it.. '' Fumu gulped, hoping she made a good choice.

''Let's destroy it,'' Knuckle Joe grinned arrogantly.

Did Fumu made a good choice? Will Knuckle Joe and Sirica fight against Meta knight and Yamikage? Oh my goodness, why isn't Meta knight just telling what he's doing to spare all the trouble?

Such melodramatic.

Thank you for waiting JI'll respond to the reviews later! Sorry for any spelling and grammatical mistakes.

Greetings -