Dream Land

They departed Olimar's ship onto the peaceful area of green land. "This place looks nice," Olimar said as he shut the ship door. Pikmin and Waddle Dees stared at each other as they wandered through the grass.

Captain Falcon jumped out of the Blue Falcon and studied the Waddle Dees. "I don't like the looks of those creatures."

"Relax, friend," Villager said. "I'm sure they're harmless."

"I don't know. They look like they're concealing repressed rage to me." A Waddle Dee slipped and fell on its face.

"Look," Isabelle shouted. "Even the trees here have faces. This place is so cu—"

The tree blew a furious gale, taking the breath out of Isabelle as she shot through the air. Villager quickly caught her in his net, before the wind lifted him up. Olimar grabbed hold of Villager's feet, Alph grabbed hold of his, and soon the only thing keeping them from blowing into the sky was the line of Pikmin linked between Alph and a tree stump.

Captain Falcon moved slowly as he charged through the wind. He risked completely losing his balance, dashing forward with a raptor boost. If he came short of Whispy Woods, he would be blown back into his friends, knocking them all into oblivion. He connected with the trees' noes, causing it to pause for breath. A luminous sphere fell out of the tree leaves. Captain Falcon quickly cracked it open before Whispy Woods got its breath back. He radiated in fluorescent light as he called the Blue Falcon, jumping into the engine and charging into the hostile tree. The branches fell apart on impact, and Whispy Woods turned into a trophy. The Blue Falcon played an electric guitar solo as Captain Falcon celebrated, doing a spinning back heel kick.

A little figure in a mask burst out the trees, holding a gold sword to Captain Falcon's neck. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't cut your throat." A cake splattered Meta Knight in the mask. He grunted, looking around while still keeping enough composure to keep his blade held on Captain Falcon.

A pink blob jumped up between them both, separating them. He waved at Captain Falcon. "Hi!"

"Kirby, you fool," Meta Knight muttered.

Captain Falcon grabbed Meta Knight in his fists. "What kind of crooked place are you running here? Trees that attack you with hurricanes?"

Meta Knight swiped his wings, pushing Captain Falcon off him. "Touch me again and I'll put Galaxia straight through you."

Another cake splattered Meta Knight in the face. He cursed under his breath. "What are you doing, Kirby?"

"He defeated Whispy Woods," Kirby said. "You should be friendlier. You know how much of a nuisance that tree is."

"You are too simple, Kirby," Meta Knight said. "The enemy of my enemy does not make my enemy my friend. We have no reason to believe they won't attack us next."

"Look at my crew," Captain Falcon said. "Do we look like we could harm anybody?"

Meta Knight eyed the weird spacemen and their odd little followers. He studied the dog waving at him. He narrowed his eyes. "I don't like the look of that guy with the net."

"You don't like the look of anyone," Kirby said. "I think we should trust them."

"I think we should send them and their ship back to the forgotten part of space they belong."

"Well, I think we should give them a home here in Dream Land."

I'LL BE THE JUDGE OF THAT!

Heavy footsteps stomped forward. Kirby frowned. "Oh no, not him."

"Just pretend you can't see him," Meta Knight said, pulling his wings over his face.

A giant, penguin-like creature wearing a robe and holding a massive hammer over his shoulder beamed a smile at them. A Waddle Dee wearing a bandana stood by his feet. "Greetings, newcomers," Bandana Dee said. "Welcome to Dreamland. Introducing to you his royal highness himself…"

"Not this again," Meta-Knight muttered under his breath.

Bandana Dee unrolled a giant scroll that rolled all the way to the end of the line of Pikmin lagging behind Alph. "He is the grappler of the Gordos, the hitman of the hammer, the manager of the mallet, the Jupiter of the jump, the…"

"Please," Kirby said, looking at Captain Falcon. "Say something to interrupt this nonsense."

"…the wangerer of Waddle Dees, the prettiest of penguins, the Duke of Dream Land, the Prince of Popstar, ladies and gentlemen, I give to you, King Dedede!" Bandana Dee clapped as King Dedede placed his hands on his hips and held a valiant stare aimed at the clouds.

"It is I, the great King Dedede." Captain Falcon and his crew gawked. King Dedede laughed. "Please, don't let my immaculate physique intimidate you. I am as fair as I am majestic. I am sure we can solve this dispute in the royal court."

"There is no royal court," Kirby interrupted.

King Dedede held a hand above his eyes, looking out at the horizon. "My royal degree stretches far and wide across these lands."

"You're still saying it wrong," Meta Knight said. "It's decree, not degree." Bandana Dee shushed him.

King Dedede spotted the Pikmin. Cakes took over his eyeballs that nearly popped out of their sockets. Saliva dribbled from his mouth. "Where did you get those delicious-looking peppers?"

The Pikmin garbled as they scurried back behind Alph. "Those are Pikmin," Olimar said. "You can't eat them. They're our friends."

King Dedede bent over and smelt the Pikmin, the power of his sniff almost taking them up his beak. "Oh, I just have to bake them all in a pie. I propose this to you, visitors. Give me your exotic peppers, and I will let you stay here in Dream Land."

Alph gasped. Olimar stepped forward to argue, when a distant buzz distracted them all. Isabelle looked out at the horizon. "Oh no! They've followed us here."

"What?" Captain Falcon said. "But how?" A squeaking noise rang through the air. It seemed to be coming from the Blue Falcon. Something red glowed beneath the car. "What's this?" Captain Falcon reached under and pulled the thing off. "That damn Black Shadow. He must have fit a tracking device beneath my aircraft."

"Those red vehicles don't look too friendly," Kirby said.

"Black Shadow is dangerous. We need all the help we can get."

Kirby pulled out a sword. "I'm in." He looked at Meta Knight.

Meta Knight nodded. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

King Dedede stomped forward. "And my hammer!"

The fighters held their position, waiting for Black Shadow's army.