Chapter 13

Fumu, Bun, Sword and Blade stood at the edge of the pit nervously. They heard Meta Knight's cry and the other two's panicked response, the sound echoing upwards to reach them. Shortly afterwards, they heard Shieldmaiden and Kirby's cries relief and all gave a collective sigh. A few minutes later, they heard the sound of wing beats echo closer as Meta Knight and Shieldmaiden rose back up from the pit.

"Sir Meta Knight!" Fumu cried. "Are...are you okay?" She noticed his mask had red dots and that his glove had dull, reddish-brown streaks. Meta Knight's wings fell limply into a cape, which he quickly wrapped around himself to better conceal his bloodied gloves. He lifted his head slightly and nodded.

"I'm fine, thank you." Meta Knight replied in a level tone. He then looked back down at the pit.

"Fumu, you and Bun will have to be carried down. Sword and Blade, you're going to have to climb. You're just too heavy for us."

Sword and Blade nodded, speaking in unison. "Yes, Sir."

"Okay guys," Shieldmaiden said gently. "Walk a bit closer to the edge."

Fumu walked forward first, her feet trembling with each step. She knew that this was safer than climbing, since it was dark and she and Bun had zero climbing experience, but that didn't make being carried into blackness any less scary. Meta Knight handed her the glowing mushrooms he had been holding - already, they were beginning to dim out. The masked Star Warrior then stood behind Fumu.

"Are you ready?"

Fumu gulped and, eyes squeezed shut, nodded.

She felt two gloved hands wrap around her side, under her arms, before her feet suddenly didn't touch ground anymore. She felt cold metal press on her back and heard an audible grunt of effort as Meta Knight lifted her up, struggling with the weight. Although a brave girl, she was still being carried into a narrow pit of blackness with no restraints but the arms of a clearly struggling friend and nothing a fading light to guide them both. She began to flail her arms instinctively.

"Fumu!" Meta Knight gasped, exasperated.

She knew that she was making his job harder and held still, trembling under his touch as she clung to the mushrooms. The two descended rapidly, Meta Knight unable to control his fall as well while holding a creature that weighed at least as much as him, if not more. When the part of the journey came where the rocks threatened to brush against his wings, Meta Knight folded them and allowed them to drop for a split second. Fumu twitched.

"It's okay, it's okay." Meta Knight said quickly, flapping to regain their usual speed as he safely lowered them down onto the ground.

The second they touched the cave floor Fumu fell to her knees, shaking, while Meta Knight sat back and gasped for air. Kirby ran over to Fumu and patted her back, sensing her fear.

"It's good to see you, Kirby" Fumu said, visibly shaken but still managing a smile.

Shortly afterwards, Bun and Shieldmaiden landed. Bun clutched the ground in a similar way that he did when first landing into the jungle from Warp Star; he'd never admit it, especially since he felt a need to look tough in front of the warriors and his sister, but all he wanted to do was go home.

The four then looked up, all concerned about Sword and Blade.

Sword climbed down cautiously, each step carefully chosen in advance and tested with slight pressure before he trusted the foothold with his full weight. The armored warrior clutched the mushroom in one hand as a crude flashlight as he climbed down with the other. His heart was in his throat; he hated heights, but he knew that he'd have no choice but to climb. A few feet above him, Blade climbed down as well. The two made their journey far slower than the Star Warriors did by flight, each step carefully chosen.

After about a half hour, the two made it to the cave floor. Sword hopped to the floor, shaking but alive, as the others cheered for him. Blade landed a few minutes later, but his landing was a good deal shakier.

"My leg...guys, my leg..." he said, voice strained.

Sword and Meta Knight rushed forward as Blade laid on his back, allowing them access to his species 'leg' - more accurately, the region where his body and feet met. Sword took Blade's foot in his hand and gently moved it back and forth. The movement caused Blade to let out a groan, body shaking in pain.

Meta Knight watched Blade as Sword moved his foot, eyes green. "Sprained. Not broken, thankfully."

The two helped Blade to his feet, Sword wrapping his arm around his friend's body and walking him forward as Blade hopped on his one good foot.

Sword patted Blade's back. "We got you, buddy."

"Thanks" Blade managed to say, a pained but genuine smile hidden behind his helmet.

The group began to progress into the cave further. They noticed that their path was increasingly narrow, that no new fungi grew within its depths. The mushrooms held in their hands, deprived of nutrition and dying, were losing their light as well. Before they could go out entirely, Meta Knight withdrew the torch from his cape. Using the blade Galaxia and a piece of rock from the ground, he hit the two together over the top of the torch until it caught fire, the sparks from the friction of sword on rock being the catalyst. He held the flaming torch above his head while the rest of the group proceeded into the now lit pathway. Shieldmaiden remained silent as the party moved forward, yet her eyes glowed green as she watched him hold the lit torch. She was impressed.

As the group walked forward, they noted that the pathway began to slowly give way into a far larger room. In the room, far beyond the reach of the torch and into blackness, a shining yellow light could be seen.

Meta Knight was so surprised he nearly dropped the torch. Shieldmaiden pointed, wings trembling.

"There it is! The relic!"

The entire group quickened their pace, Sword and Blade falling behind slightly due to Blade's injury. The light grew closer as they walked forward, the light appearing so bright it looked as if a tiny sun had been placed in the chamber. Soon, they were within arm's reach.

The relic was a beautiful, golden half of a disc that gave off such a bright light at a close range that it was difficult to look at directly. Carved into the disc were hundreds of tiny, intricate symbols, no two designs repeating themselves. The strange artifact was light and about six inches wide, and it rested on a rock that was mostly natural but both very deliberately placed where it was and also flattened on the top where the relic sat. Meta Knight held out his hand to the others before anyone could grab the disc, eyeing the surrounding area very carefully first. He knelt downwards to examine the base of the rock and peered behind it, making sure there were no traps. Satisfied after a thorough search, he slowly reached forward before grabbing the disc in a quick motion. He darted back immediately with his prize, eyes wide as he prepared for a trap to spring; nothing happened.

The group turned to leave. As they stepped forward, a curious rumbling could be heard behind them. Meta Knight whirled around first, blade drawn; he knew such a powerful artifact would not be left unguarded. What he did not expect, however, was the threat to rise from the very earth underneath his feet. A collection of large, broad rocks, each one identical in size and shape, rose shuddering from the ground around them. One by one, each rock opened its tiny black eyes. They lifted themselves, debris running off of their hard, stone bodies, before lurching forward towards the group.

"Rockies!" Sword exclaimed from behind the group.

Meta Knight looked back and forth rapidly, his sword beginning to glow as it sensed its wielder's intent.

"We can't escape, it would take too long to climb up that passage." He stated grimly. He squared his feet, lifting his sword with one hand while holding the torch with the other. "We have to fight."

Kirby and Shieldmaiden joined him, ready. Blade escaped Sword's grasp and began to limp forward while withdrawing his own weapon before Sword grabbed him back roughly, glaring at his friend.

"Don't get involved! You're too hurt to fight." Sword commanded. He then took his friend by the arm and handed him to Fumu and Bun, the two supporting the wounded soldier by each arm, before withdrawing his own blade.

"Keep him safe." Sword said with a quick glance at the two children, before dashing off to join the Star Warriors on the front lines.

Blade cursed and lurched forward, held back by Fumu and Bun. "No! I can't just stand there while they...there must be something I can...Kirby!" He cried.

Blade withdrew his sword and carefully held it blade first, the hilt aimed at Kirby. Kirby turned around upon hearing his name. He saw what Blade was about to do and nodded, planting his feet and opening his mouth wide. With as careful aim as he could manage, Blade threw his sword dead center at Kirby. Shieldmaiden and Meta Knight each jumped back slightly, but there was no need; Kirby's powerful inhale altered the path of the flying weapon and guided it directly into his mouth. In a flash, the sword appeared in his hand; a little green hat materialized on his head.

Meta Knight's eyes flashed green. "Sword Kirby."

Sword Kirby turned back around to face the Rockies, whose slow yet persistent march had not stopped since they had first risen from the ground. Without a word he charged forward, sword held high. He jumped in the air, falling into a controlled spin with the accuracy of a gymnast, and slashed into one of the Rockies.

The Rocky paused, shuddering. A small chunk of its rock fell off. It then opened both of its eyes, seemingly unphased. With sudden force it threw itself forward at Kirby in response, using its hard and heavy body as a weapon.

Kirby cried out in response, being flung about a meter backwards. His hat flew off, sword clattering a few feet away from him. Meta Knight's eyes dimmed as his eyes darted from the advancing Rockies to the fallen Kirby. He then swung his arm in the air forcefully, emitting a powerful sword beam from Galaxia. The crescent-shaped energy beam flew forward, digging a small furrow into the ground, before it hit a Rocky. The Rocky slowed, paused, and continued advancing forward with only a crack on its face. Meta Knight lowered his sword shortly, taken aback.

"Slashing will do no good. They need to be bashed!" Shieldmaiden shouted. "I'll get them away from Kirby."

Shieldmaiden leaped in front of Kirby and beat her armored chest a few times, shouting out to the hoard of Rockies. "Come at me, you cowards!" She slashed her spear threateningly in the air and pointed at each one, emitting a loud war cry. One by one, the Rockies' attention diverted from Kirby and onto Shieldmaiden.

Meta Knight watched, fascinated. He was glad that they had a warrior trained in front line combat and defense, who was able to taunt them away from Kirby or the rest of the group. However, even the most defensive warriors in the galaxy couldn't stand up to an entire horde of enraged Rockies. The golem-like beings were not only tough as nails, but hit very hard by using their own bodies as battering rams. They could even jump in the air and fall on her, crushing her wings and body. His eyes darted back and forth frantically, trying to figure out how to take advantage of her temporary diversion.

Kirby meanwhile, began to rise. He looked up with his head moving in slow, erratic circles, clearly dazed. With the sword knocked away, he no longer had access to its power. Meta Knight's eyes flashed as he saw something; a sizable chunk of the Rocky Kirby slashed was left behind. He pointed to the rock.

"Kirby, slashing attacks are no good. Inhale that instead!"

Kirby obeyed, opening his mouth and quickly inhaling the small rock. The rock was special, not like the rocks they were surrounded by in the cave; since it fell off of a Rocky, it contained its essence. Within seconds Kirby's skin faded from its usual pink to a dark, tanned color. He was now Stone Kirby.

Stone Kirby whirled around to face the hoard of Rockies, who had gathered around Shieldmaiden. Shieldmaiden attacked the group, keeping them at bay with her spear while bashing them with her shield. However, there were far too many; she was being overwhelmed, dealt blow after blow by the creatures as they mobbed her. She held up her shield to deflect one as another smashed into her, denting her armor hard enough to push into her body. She grunted and stepped back, wings flared and pressed forward as her back slid against a wall. Kirby then ran into the melee, jumping as high as he could before curling up his body and morphing into a large rock in midair. The rock spun in midair as it slammed into one of the Rockies, blasting it to pieces.

The other Rockies took notice and began to focus on Kirby instead. Kirby transformed back, darted off, and continued to hurl himself at the Rockies. Shieldmaiden continued to bash them with her shield, her buckler doing far more damage being used as a battering ram than her spear would against the living rock. Meta Knight hurled sword beams at them from Galaxia while Sword followed Meta Knight's lead, firing sword beams of his own.

The Rockies began to crumble under the assault, Shieldmaiden, Sword, and Meta Knight doing minor damage as Kirby smashed their weakened bodies to pieces. One by one, the Rockies fell and crumbled to pieces. Eventually the last Rocky fell, exploding in a cloud of pebbles and dust as Kirby rammed into it.

The four warriors stopped at once, stepping back. Shieldmaiden lowered her shield with a sigh, while Meta Knight sheathed Galaxia. Kirby's skin began to fade back to pink. They turned around and began to walk back where they came from, the first piece of the relic safe in their hand. Meta Knight scooped up Blade's discarded sword on the ground walked forward with a hurried stride to catch up to Fumu, Bun, and Blade, handing Blade's sword back to him. He then put his torch out, grinding the flaming tip into the earth beneath him. At least with the relic in their possession, they had a constant source of light.

The seven made their way back to the pit, looking upwards. They knew that they'd have to travel back up again, but it would be more difficult; they were exhausted and Blade's leg was sprained, affecting his ability to climb. Meta Knight steeled himself; he needed to carry Fumu back up without losing energy or running into anything or they could both be killed.

Shieldmaiden spoke up as they stood at the bottom of the pit. "Let's take a short rest...the coast is clear, after all. It would be more dangerous to over exert ourselves and fall back down here than to make sure we can handle this."

The others looked around at each other, silently nodding. Kirby looked like the only one fresh enough to make the journey again, and seemed genuinely confused by how weary everyone else looked. One by one the tired group sat down in a circle, gathering their strength for the last leg of their journey through the cave.