Kirby All-Stars

by Edward Emma

A young woman is thrown into another galaxy, and wakes up to find herself in Dreamland on Planet Popstar! Realising that the characters from the Kirby franchise that she loves are real - including the loveable 'pink demon' himself - and armed with a mysterious pendant that grants her equally as mysterious powers, it eventually becomes apparent to her why she ended up in Dreamland!

1. Once Upon A Dream

KIRBY ALL-STARS

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ACT I

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A young woman is thrown into another galaxy, and wakes up to find herself in Dreamland on Planet Popstar! Realising that the characters from the Kirby franchise that she loves are real - including the loveable 'pink demon' himself - and armed with a mysterious pendant that grants her equally as mysterious powers, it eventually becomes apparent to her why she ended up in Dreamland and just where she belongs!

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CHAPTER ONE

Once Upon A Dream

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She was falling … falling through space and time and … no, wait, it was just space. Literal space, with that endless black expanse dotted with stars as far as the eye could see and everything … those stars flashed by so fast, it was like the old flying through space screensaver on the computer. She was cold, but, not uncomfortably so … that didn't stop her heart from pounding like crazy … and then she fell face-first into a pane of glass.

Out in the middle of space.

Which only added to the nostalgia, because she was remembering being a kid and pressing her face up to the computer screen to pretend that she really wasflying through space (until her parents had told her not to).

And, then, the glass seemed to shatter, and she was falling again, only now she felt herself losing consciousness … but, not before she caught a glimpse of what looked like a giant star, that she was either falling towards or else it was rushing up to meet her . . .

Either way, of two things she was certain.

Whoever said that she played too many video games was probably right, but, she had a feeling that it was suddenly going to come in handy.

Because . . .

As crazy as this was … it was really happening.

---

The sun rose from the east, as per. the usual. It wasn't a gradual thing; as soon as those first rays of light came up over the horizon, the rest of the sun quickly followed, bathing Dreamland in its warm light.

The sunrise was beautiful. It wasn't too hot, or too cold. The birds were singing.

And . . .

"ESCARGOON!"

The voice of Dreamland's self-proclaimed ruler could be heard even outside of the castle walls - the birds briefly stopped singing, and a lone spear-wielding Waddle Dee on patrol stumbled slightly, but it wasn't really anything unusual … which is why Escargoon was already entering the throne-room by the time the birds resumed their morning song.

"You bellowed, sire?" The purple anthropomorphic snail asked, as he edged around the doorway.

King Dedede had his back to his most loyal servant, so it was impossible for said servant to see the king's expression when he said: "Escargoon, I've been thinking — "

"Did it hurt?" Escargoon couldn't help but interrupt, and was rewarded with a giant hammer slamming him into the ground, courtesy of the king, who then cleared his throat.

"As I was saying," Dedede crossed his arms. "I've been thinking - isn't it high time I found myself a queen?"

"W-what?!" Escargoon was momentarily startled, even as he lay injured on the floor. "But, sire, remember we what happened last time?!"

Dedede cringed, instantly falling silent at the memory of what had happened when Princess Rona and her lady-in-waiting Vee had come to Cappy Town - the fact that those two had switched places without telling anyone being the least of what had occurred.

"Besides," Escargoon went on, as he picked himself up off the floor. "Every woman here is either too old, too young, or too married. Plus, everybody here hates you, King Dedede!" He was using the king's momentary distraction at the memory of being bested by the sword-fighting princess to get away with saying that last part.

"I know that, Escargoon!" Dedede snapped, and that was when Escargoon realised that the king was holding a certain catalogue. "That's why I'm gonna order a Monster to find a bride for me!"

Escargoon was about to say that Dedede would just do that anyway since it meant less work, but, Dedede wasn't finished.

He suddenly had an almost dreamy expression on his face, which was Escargoon's second hint that the king might actually be serious about this (the first hint had been the announcement that he was going to get Night Mare Enterprises involved).

"She'll be pretty - no, beautiful - but look good in anything, have a ton of hobbies (including golf), be both sweet and spicy, will absolutely adore yours truly straight away, be gentle yet strong (because these are 'un-presently' dangerous times) … in other words . . . " Dedede held his arms up dramatically. "She will be absolutely perfect!"

Escargoon was just staring at him, trying to work out what to say next. The kind of woman that Dedede was describing did sound wonderful, although the kind of strong that she would have to be in these unprecedentedly dangerous times (most of which were caused by Dedede) was nothing short of Star Warrior or similar.

So, basically, Dedede was describing a graceful Star Warrior who would look stunning even in pyjamas, be somehow instantly smitten by Dedede and share the same interests as him, and could go from being a sugar cookie to tough as nails in a matter of seconds.

Escargoon took a deep breath, knowing that he was probably pushing it but he also didn't care. This was poised to escalate swiftly and get out of hand, and it was also a tiny bit alarming because Escargoon was actually still pretty certain that Dedede was serious about this.

"Sire, let's be realistic now - a girl like that isn't going to fall from the sky!"

---

She was laying in the grass, which was softer than any grass she had ever known (it felt so plush beneath her!), but that wasn't the point.

She was staring up at the sky, which was bluer than she could remember it being, and that and the grass were making her think of that George Ezra song … which in turn made her wonder if she had not in fact survived her fall from space, and was actually dead.

A cold, sinking feeling began to creep its way through her chest, and she struggled to try and come up with something - anything - to explain what was happening.

Think! She thought desperately. Think, Emma, think up an explanation! Think, think, think, think! Okay … okay … I was painting in my room … Mum came in and startled me and I spilled the water … we argued … things were said … I ran outside … and … then … umm .. oh … I need a sign!

No sooner had she realised this, when that sign came in the form of something round and pink suddenly appearing in her line of sight.

Big blue eyes met hazel ones that were suddenly equally as big, and a few seconds passed in silence, before . . .

"Poyo!"

"Aaaaaa!" Emma all-but shrieked, and instinctively shoved the round pink being away from her with a surprising amount of strength - not that much strength was needed, since the cliff edge was only a few feet away.

"Poyo?!"

Emma couldn't believe it.

She immediately raced to the cliff's edge and looked over, in time to see the poor pink being disappear into the trees.

"Kirby!" She yelled. "Kirby!"

"Poyo!" The faint voice called back.

Emma took a couple of shaky breaths, before she said: "Okay … as long as no one else saw that happen, Kirby and I can smooth this over - I can't believe he's real!" She gasped, and then she added: "That's your sign?!" She looked up at the sky in frustration, not noticing the bird, as she stood up, and that was when she felt the cliff begin to crumble away beneath her feet. She groaned. "This is because I questioned it, isn't it?"

---

Meanwhile, high up in the air, Tokkori was already flying away, and so he didn't see it when the cliff broke away and the one standing on it fell.

His heart was pounding, as he cried: "It killed Kirby! I'd better tell everyone!"

---

Back in Castle Dedede, the king couldn't help but smile in anticipation, as Escargoon peered wide-eyed over the back of the throne, and electricity crackled within the teleporter.

"Big D," the Night Mare Enterprises sales guy who they always did business with said over the monitor. "This Monster is sure to find you a bride!"

"Heh, like I always say, these guys really can do anything!" Dedede remarked to Escargoon.

"Sire, when have you ever said that?!"

"This Monster's serial number is 60143," Sales Guy went on, as a large creature could steadily be seen starting to appear from the teleporter. "But we like to call her Bridezilla!"

---

"What?! Kirby's dead?!" Tuff couldn't believe it. The young boy and his Cappy friends - Honey, Spikehead, and Iro - all stared at Tokkori in shock and disbelief.

"That's what I said, isn't it?!" The yellow bird said impatiently. "Kirby was killed by a Monster!"

"Wh-what kind of Monster?" Honey asked nervously.

"Oh, it was horrible!" Tokkori said dramatically. "Worse than anything we've seen so far!"

"Worse than Susshi?" Iro's eyes widened.

"Way worse!" Tokkori confirmed.

"Not worse than Pukey Flower?!" Honey gasped.

"Yes worse than Pukey Flower!" Tokkori told her.

"Hey, what about Umiushii?" Spikehead said suddenly.

"That was just Escargoon in a costume and you know it!" Tokkori reminded him. "And, this was worse than all of those combined!"

"Just tell us, Tokkori!" Tuff cried.

"A mop of hideous red hair," Tokkori told them. "With caterpillar eyebrows and a scream that could raise the dead!"

He had no way of knowing that, thanks to his strange description, the kids were currently picturing a huge monstrous mop, with red hair, and actual caterpillars for eyebrows, that had merely had to scream at Kirby for him to give up the ghost.

"Aww, man, my sister's gonna be upset." Tuff said to no one in particular. He then straightened up. "It's unacceptable for a Monster to do this!"

"We'd better be on the lookout!" Tokkori warned them. "It'll come here next!"

---

Emma had screamed again when she'd felt the cliff give way. She couldn't help it. She had been through only one other life-or-death situation before this and, as she felt herself falling from the cliff and scrape her arms, she wondered if she had survived the hit-and-run only to die falling off a cliff. At that time … the locals had come running from everywhere to help, as Emma had gasped for breath and tried to figure out what had just happened.

Now, however, only two locals came in to help … two small round beings, just a little bit smaller than Kirby.

The blue one grabbed onto Emma's right arm, and the pink one with the yellow bow grabbed onto Emma's left arm.

"It's okay!" The pink one exclaimed. "We've got you!"

"No offence, though, but, you're a little bit heavy!" The blue one said.

"Hey!" Emma cried.

"Fololo!" The pink one added. "How could she NOT take offence to that!"

Fololo's eyes widened. "I-I mean … you … have a scream that could raise the dead!"

"Hey!"

"That's also bad!"

---

They managed to make it down into the forest without any mishaps, unless Emma saying that they had to go into that forest, and also panicking because of the height and because she was wearing a dress (it was actually a long nightie, but, still . . . ), and Fololo struggling to hold on to Emma and then saying that it was because of the blood; there wasn't that much (but, the scrape did still hurt) counted as mishaps.

Either way, once they were below the tree canopy and Emma had her feet back on solid ground, she felt it necessary to turn to her saviours and say: "Thank you. Y-you really saved m-me." Okay, so, she stammered it. Talking to strangers - even if she'd known about them because of those video games and that anime - wasn't really her thing!

"That's okay." Fololo told her, as he hovered there. "But, why did you want to come down here? This is a really dangerous place!"

Aurgh. Emma thought. They're friends with Kirby, aren't they? Well, they just saved my life. I can't lie to them. There you go, Mum, I don't always lie . . .

She took a deep breath and, letting it out slowly and trying to hold back the sudden tears that were threatening to fall, explained: "Th-there was an accident and I accidentally p-pushed Kirby - b-because he startled me - and-and he accidentally went over the side of the cliff and l-landed somewhere in th-this forest … by accident." She looked up, and felt like she could interpret the looks that she was suddenly getting. "I'm really sorry!" She cried. "Fololo, Falala, I-I'll find Kirby, I promise!"

"O-okay?!" Fololo seemed startled by her sudden outburst. "It's okay . . . " He told her.

"Yeah . . . " Falala added, and then she seemed to pause. "Wait … how did you know my name, though?"

"Umm . . . " Emma didn't know how to answer that, and it didn't matter because, just then, a light pink rabbit hopped out of the trees, stood up on two legs, and spoke with a surprisingly deep voice.

"Eh," he said, in a Canadian accent, pointing. "Look behind you."

So, of course, they all looked.

An absolutely massive creature leapt out of the bushes. It would have been about ten feet long from nose to tail tip (so, twice Emma's height), and it had bright orange fur with black stripes - a tiger.

With its yellow eyes nearly glowing, it roared.

"AAAAAAHHH!" Emma, Fololo, and Falala all screamed.

Emma then grabbed Falala's hand and, with her holding on to Fololo's hand, took off running, knowing that there was no way she was ever going to be able to out run a tiger.

"Oh," she heard Fololo say thoughtfully. "So that's why he wanted to rename it 'Tiger Woods' … but, he never mentioned the actual tiger!"

"Please give your king some credit!" Emma cried, without thinking.

But, before Fololo could question how she knew who he had just been talking about, Falala suddenly exclaimed: "Look! There's Kirby!"

And, Kirby had indeed just walked out into their path, and there was no way that Emma could stop, and so she just yelled: "Kirby, run!" She then ended up tripping and, as she fell, she happened to turn and see the tiger leaping towards her … on instinct, she angled her body to try and shield Fololo and Falala, and . . .

Kirby suddenly leapt in between them and the tiger, and Emma just barely glimpsed the suddenly determined expression on his face, as he said: "Poyo!"

"H-how … did we manage … to outrun … a tiger?!" Emma asked no one in particular but, as it turned out, there was in fact an answer.

"Look, there!" Fololo pointed at the tiger. "In its back right paw!"

"It has something stuck in there!" Falala realised.

"Yeah … that's … right . . . " Emma squinted, wishing that she had her glasses with her. The tiger was slowly advancing on them. It then stepped into a small shaft of light that was flickering in through the trees, and that was when Emma saw it. Her eyes widened. "There!" She staggered forwards and, closer to Kirby's level, pointed it out to him. "Kirby! Suck it up!" She added, in a flash of inspiration with one of the top ten or so lines that she'd always wanted to say.

Kirby didn't need to be told twice. He opened his mouth, and the sound that followed was likeable to a vacuum cleaner - so was the effect, as everything in front of Kirby that wasn't nailed down was sucked into the little pink puffball's mouth.

The tiger dug in its claws … which allowed whatever was embedded in its back paw to come out, and shoot towards them.

Emma gasped, and grabbed Kirby, yanking him out of the way - she didn't want him to inhale something that looked so sharp!

Fololo and Falala stared, with very wide eyes, as whatever it was flew between them, and embedded itself into a tree behind them.

Emma breathed a sigh of relief, as she straightened up, and then set Kirby on the ground in front of her. "Th-thank you, K-Kirby," she told him, and then she bit her lip. "A-also … I'm s-sorry about what happened . . . "

"Poyo!" Kirby replied, and Emma hoped that that meant he forgave her.

She still couldn't quite believe that this was happening. She was still breathing heavily. Oh, how she really didn't like running!

Fololo and Falala were busy trying to get whatever had been embedded in the tiger's paw out of the tree, but they both froze when they suddenly heard the deep rumbling growl that could only come from the tiger, and Emma gasped . . .

They both turned quickly, just as the tiger started licking Emma's face, and she looked startled but then she laughed, as Kirby smiled happily.

"Poyo!" He said to the tiger, who looked down at him with now non-glowing, and almost wise eyes. "Poyo?"

The tiger seemed to understand Kirby's speech, because she - there was something feminine about this big cat - nodded and knelt down, nodding towards her own back almost pointedly.

Emma suddenly understood. "Oh? You'll get-give me a ride out of h-here?" The tiger nodded. "I h-hope I don't fall off . . . " She muttered quietly, as she swung her leg over the tiger's back. "I c-can't go side-saddle . . . " She added, grabbing the fur on the back of the tiger's neck - the tiger stood up, and Kirby settled himself down in front of Emma. "Ok-ay — !" Emma suddenly gasped, as the tiger set off at a lope, and her fears about falling off instantly went away.

She had ridden horses before, and also an elephant, but this was something else entirely because, whereas a horse oftentimes had a bouncing gait, and an elephant had a lumbering gait, the tiger ran with smooth leaps and bounds, and so it was easy for Emma to stay onboard.

They exited the forest this way, and came out to cross a rolling field, which gave way to a gentle slope that the tiger descended like

It was no big deal.

The problem, it seemed, was when they began to reach the first signs of civilisation, and the tiger stopped - without warning.

Emma managed to hang on, by gripping with her suddenly white-knuckled hands and her knees.

Fololo and Falala, who had been hanging onto her shoulders throughout the ride, held on. "Kirby!" They both cried, as Kirby had not been so lucky and went flying.

"Oh no, not again!" Emma gasped. "It's not my fault!" She added.

"We know that!" Fololo assured her. "We'll get Kirby! You meet us at Cappy Town!"

"It's just up the road!" Falala added. "Hmm … maybe it's a good thing the tiger stopped here." She realised, as she and Fololo flew off in the direction that Kirby had gone flying.

Emma was inclined to agree with her. She slid off of the tiger's back and, after giving her a hug which she returned by nuzzling up against her, Emma waved as the tiger turned and headed back towards the forest.

She then paused and, deciding that if she went slow enough then she could avoid walking in to Cappy Town by herself, started to head up the road.

She then stopped, all of a sudden.

"Is that it?" A small voice said, from behind the bushes on the side of the road.

"Yes." Another voice replied. "Commence attack!"

And, that was when the rocks started flying at her, and she let out a shrill yelp as one of them made contact with her shoulder.

"Wow," said a young girl's voice. "That Monster really does have a scream that could raise the dead."

"Mmhmm, mmhmm." Confirmed the voice that had ordered the attack to commence.

Grr. Emma couldn't help but think, as she identified what looked like four attackers (kids throwing rocks), and that the young girl had a small bird perched on her head. What did she just say? She then realised something, and her eyes widened. Wait … WHAT did she just say?!

It was at that point that her fight or flight reflex kicked in and, despite the fact that she hated running she turned and ran, and the kids - three Cappies and one not - chased after her, throwing rocks and stuff and calling her a Monster and telling her to leave town.

---

Meanwhile, a young girl who was the older sister of the non-Cappy kid had just walked across a small stone bridge, and something made her look up.

"Uh . . . " Her green eyes narrowed in suspicion, to see Fololo and Falala currently trying to pull Kirby out of a tree. "Forget it." She decided. "I don't wanna know." It was at that point that Fololo and Falala succeeded in freeing Kirby, who immediately fell and landed on top of the girl. "So nice of you to drop in." She said sarcastically.

"Poyo!" Kirby replied happily.

"Sorry, Tiff . . . " Falala said.

"Forget it." Tiff sighed. "But … now I wanna know what happened."

---

"Oh, brother . . . " Tiff said, five minutes later. "Kirby, how do you always get involved in stuff like this?" She asked him.

"Poyo?" He really had no idea.

"So, then . . . " Tiff glanced in the direction away from Cappy Town. "This strange woman … where is she now?"

As if on cue, there was a yell from the direction that Tiff was looking, and she, Fololo, Falala, and Kirby all froze.

"That sounds like . . . " Fololo said slowly, as the sound of running footsteps could also be heard.

"It's gotta be her!" Falala realised, just as Emma ran into view, looking positively dishevelled and like she never wanted to run again.

"What happened?!" Fololo cried, as Emma reached them, and practically collapsed on the bridge.

"Tuff-and-the-others-think-that-I'm-a-Monster-who-killed-Kirby!" She managed to gasp, all in one breath, as Kirby hopped over and peered up at her in concern.

Tiff was watching this, and then her face set, and she stood on the bridge with her arms held out as Tuff, Honey, Spikehead, and Iro appeared.

"What are you doing?!" She demanded to know, looking mainly at her brother.

"That thing's a Monster!" Tuff told her impatiently. "It killed Kirby!"

"She is not a Monster!" Tiff replied, just as impatiently. "And, Kirby's right here!" She pointed behind her. "See?!"

The other four kids all froze, and then slowly looked around Tiff to see Kirby, standing beside the young woman that they had just chased and accused of being a Monster.

"B-but . . . " Iro stammered. "Tokkori said — hey, wait, where did he go?!"

"Lightning Tokkori strikes again." Tiff realised at once what must have happened. She faced her brother and his friends. "You can't just go around doing that sort of thing! You all need to apologise, right now!"

"But, Tiff!" Tuff exclaimed. "It was Tokkori's fault!"

"Apologise," Tiff said again, narrowing her eyes. "Or, I'll tell Mum and Dad about what happened."

Tuff gasped. "W-we're really sorry!" He told the young woman on the bridge.

"We're really sorry!" Honey, Spikehead, and Iro echoed.

"It-it's … okay . . . " Emma tried to assure them. "B-but … eh-what were you thinking … attacking somebody that you … thought had killed … Kirby?"

"Huh?" Tuff paused. His eyes were hidden by his fringe, but, Emma imagined that they were suddenly very wide. "Oh, yeah, I guess we didn't think!"

"That," Tiff said scathingly, as Fololo and Falala rolled their eyes. "Is obvious." She then turned to Emma, and said, in a completely different voice: "I'm also sorry about my brother's behaviour. My name's Tiff. Who are you?"

Somebody finally asked me what my name is! Emma realised. And, I shouldintroduce myself, since I know all their names. "M-my name's E-Emma."

"Are you an alien?" Iro suddenly said.

"Urk — !" Emma tried to swallow. "Uh … umm . . . "

Tiff sighed. "Boys." She rolled her eyes.

"Tell me about it." Falala agreed.

"We don't care what you are." Honey told Emma.

"Yeah, but, what are you?" Spikehead wanted to know.

Emma swallowed. "I-I'm a — hmm?" She suddenly looked up, and that was when she noticed two things.

One was a huge creature - it was even bigger than the tiger - that resembled a hippogriff with glowing red eyes and wearing what looked like a wedding veil for some reason, flying towards them all.

The other was a small yellow bird with a purplish-pink beak, which was currently open as he yelled: "MONSTER!"

"DUCK!" Emma yelled back, and they all did just that, as the Monster swooped down low over the bridge.

They all yelled out, but then looked up when they felt that the Monster had bypassed them.

"Is everyone okay?!" Called Tiff, who had put her arms over her little brother as they'd all hit the ground.

"Poyo!" Kirby suddenly cried in panic, and an even more panicked scream answered him.

They all looked up in shock, to see that Emma had been grabbed around the middle by the flying Monster, which now paused in mid-air, flapping its giant wings before it turned and began to fly away.

Emma cried out again, unable to free herself from the Monster's talons. "Kirby!"

"Poyo!"

"It got her!" Honey gasped.

"I don't believe it!" Tokkori cried, sounding completely shocked. "It got her! It took her! It swooped down and just grabbed her like a field mouse!"

"Tokkori, calm down!" Tiff scolded him.

"Yeah, you caused it!" Tuff added.

"I did not!" Tokkori said straight away.

"You did!" Spikehead told him. "If you hadn't told us she was a Monster and made us attack her, she wouldn't have been so tired and she wouldn't have been taken!"

"Not even you can believe that!" Tokkori snapped.

"None of that matters now!" Tiff interrupted them. "We need to find out where that thing is taking Emma!"

"I'll find out — !" Tokkori began, but, he was cut off by Fololo and Falala.

"It's heading towards the castle!" The two of them said in unison.

"That's where it came from before!" Tokkori added, not to be outdone. "Which means that — "

"This has something to do with Dedede." Tiff said grimly. "We need to stop it before it gets there! Kabu!" She suddenly added, in a commanding voice. "Send the Warp Star!"

There was no doubt in her mind that Kirby would want to go and stop this Monster that had taken their new friend. But, even she knew that the odds of Kirby getting to it before it reached the castle were slim to none . . .

---

"No . . . " Emma gasped, all but clinging on to the talons of the Monster that had just grabbed her and taken her straight to a large castle that sat atop a steep hill. "No … no . . . "

The Monster was now trying to drop her unceremoniously from the hole that it had just made in the ceiling, and Emma was suddenly unwilling to find out just how hard that floor was.

And, just as the Monster succeeded in shaking her free, a set of doors burst open and somebody came running through them … only for Emma to land on top of him, and they both ended up falling down a staircase and landing in a heap at the foot of those stairs.

"Ow … my everything . . . " Emma complained, and then she realised who she had landed on.

A small, orangey-brown and tan creature with short arms and orange shoes, and big brown eyes.

Emma stared at him, and he stared back at her, before a memory came into her mind of playing a certain video game as a child, and of what this creature creature was.

Waddle Dee . . .

"S-sorry . . . " She then noticed a small white sailor cap with a blue ribbon on the first step, and gingerly reached over and took it. "Here." She said quietly.

"Th-thanks." Sailor Waddle Dee replied, just as quietly, placing the hat back on his head, and then they both stood up. "What happened?" He added, looking around.

"M-Monster . . . " Emma tried to explain, pointing up to where the Monster in the wedding veil was still glaring down at them both.

Sailor Waddle Dee's eyes widened. "Oh … that's not good . . . " He said. "I heard the king saying something about . . . " He trailed off, and then glanced up at Emma. "I-I suppose that would mean … umm … hey, wh-who are you, by the way?"

He stammers more than me. Emma realised. She felt kind of calm around the obviously timid little Waddle Dee, for some reason. "I'm Emma — "

It was at that point that somebody else appeared - he was similar to a Waddle Dee, but a darker shade of red, with only one, large eye, and he carried a sword.

Waddle Doo?

"Alright, Waddle Dees!" Waddle Doo called out, and that was when Emma noticed that there were more Waddle Dees at the top of the stairs. "Time to get ready for the ceremony!"

"Ah . . . ?" Emma blinked, looking first at Waddle Doo, and then at Sailor Waddle Dee (who looked worried), and then back up to the top of the stairs.

The Waddle Dees there had just armed themselves with makeup, brushes, and scissors and material.

"What — !" Emma cried, as a number of Waddle Dees suddenly appeared on the same floor as her and she felt herself being picked up, and carried up the stairs. "What?!"

---

"The Waddle Dees sure are busy." Sword Knight commented, as he and Blade Knight walked through hallways. "I mean, more so than usual . . . "

Blade Knight muttered something, and Sword Knight nodded.

"Yeah, between this and Meta Knight acting strangely . . . " He trailed off, as somebody came scurrying towards them. "Hmm?"

"What is it?" Blade Knight said, looking at Sailor Waddle Dee, who had apparently been looking everywhere for them - he was out of breath, but, he still tried to speak between gasps.

"King … Monster …. bride … found … woman!"

Sword Knight and Blade Knight exchanged a glance. "What?" They said in unison.

Sailor Waddle Dee groaned.

"So," came a voice from the shadows of the corridor that they were in. "The king ordered a Monster to find himself a bride, and it succeeded?"

Sailor Waddle Dee nodded.

"Poor lass." Sword Knight said fervently.

The figure in the shadows gazed at Sailor Waddle Dee with yellow eyes that were framed by a silver mask. "I see . . . " He said and, with a swish of his cape, he turned and walked away.

---

Forty-five minutes later, Emma was about ready to throw in the towel with … whatever was happening to her. The Waddle Dees had whisked her away to a dressing room where she had been poked and prodded, scrubbed and sequinned - twice, a Waddle Dee had pricked her with a needle by mistake (the second time was because she had jumped the first time), and she had never been more grateful for the dress-like camisole that she had put on over her underwear the evening before (even though she was a hundred percent sure that none of that particularly mattered to the Waddle Dees).

Unlike Sailor Waddle Dee, the majority of the Waddle Dees never spoke, and instead seemed to choose to communicate with her via motions. This way, they at least let her decide which eye-shadow she wanted, and let her choose her own shoes (only after she tripped over in the first pair, which had heels).

They had swiftly gotten her into a white and gold dress and, after the mishap with the shoes and a quick touch-up to her make-up, they finally left her alone.

Emma stared at the door to the room, wondering if it was locked, and then she happened to catch sight of herself in a big mirror at the side of the room.

"How did I go from what happened last night to meeting Kirby and riding a tiger to this?" She wondered, as she reached up a hand to tug gingerly at the veil that was pinned to her hair. "Stuff like this isn't supposed to happen … I am in wayover my head here … who am I even talking to?!" She was on the verge of having a panic attack. Falling off of a cliff she had managed. Running from a tiger who was in pain she had handled. Having to convince some kids that she wasn't a Monster … well, Tiff had done that.

She might even be able to explain how she knew Falala's name and Tuff's name, and how she'd known that it was King Dedede who had wanted to rename that place Tiger Woods (wait, hadn't that been in the Japanese version of the anime?), and where she came from.

But, suddenly getting married?

She was about to pass out. She just knew it.

Before she could, though, a small sound made her jump. She quickly turned, to see that somebody was coming in to the room.

Sailor Waddle Dee crept in, took one look at her, and said: "M-maybe you should sit down?"

Emma nodded wordlessly, and made her way over to a sofa by the window, where she sat down heavily.

Sailor Waddle Dee lingered in the doorway, before he came over to her and asked her: "Are you okay?"

Emma shook her head.

"Are you … nervous about getting married to the king?"

Emma nodded, her face paling ever so slightly.

"How come?" Sailor Waddle Dee wanted to know.

"B-because I … I've never … I don't . . . " Emma had no idea how to explain this to herself, let alone somebody else. At last, she just sighed, and muttered: "I can't marry a man I just met."

"B-but, you haven't even met him yet." Sailor Waddle Dee pointed out.

"Y-yeah, but, I know about him," Emma replied, twisting her hands (one of which had a bandaid on the wrist, over the scrapes from before). "I know what he's like."

Sailor Waddle Dee's eyes widened. "N-no wonder you're so worried." He said.

Emma guessed what he was thinking. "Actually, I haven't got a problem with him … in theory … I'd even like to meet him . . . " She said before she could stop herself, and Sailor Waddle Dee looked startled. "B-but … that doesn't mean that he has to like me … which is why … this marriage is a bad idea . . . "

"W-well, perhaps — " Sailor Waddle Dee began, but, he was cut off by the door to the room all but slamming open, and an anthropomorphic purple snail with a green shell stormed in, brandishing a clipboard.

"E-Escargoon!" Sailor Waddle Dee squeaked nervously.

"Well, I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it for myself!" Escargoon said, almost to himself, as he shook his head. "The king wanted a bride, not a space alien!"

Space alien? Emma just stared at Escargoon, even as Waddle Doo hurried into the room as well, and tried to explain something.

"I don't wanna hear it!" Escargoon said dismissively, waving his clipboard. "It's not like Bridezilla can go out and find another woman right now, and the king's getting impatient, so, I suppose that you'll have to do." He eyed Emma somewhat critically.

Emma's mouth was dry. "H-has he thought this through?!" She exclaimed, as Waddle Doo came over and ushered her up off the couch.

"What?" Escargoon rolled his eyes. "Of course he hasn't, he just decided to get married this morning!"

"Which means that he could j-just as easily d-decide to g-go back on it by tomorrow." Emma realised.

Escargoon, Waddle Doo, and Sailor Waddle Dee all stopped, and looked at each other, before they looked back at Emma, who looked horrified.

Escargoon sighed. "It figures that the one woman that gets brought here's too smart for our king." He said to no one in particular, before he turned and headed towards the door. "Still, it's too late to do anything, so let's just get this over with."

"W-wait a minute — !" Emma stammered, as Waddle Doo began chivying her towards the door, as well. "Don't I get a say in this?!"

"'Fraid not." Waddle Doo said, matter-of-factly.

They were almost out the door, when Sailor Waddle Dee called. "H-hold on a minute! Emma!" He came hurrying over, as Escargoon paused and began scribbling on his clipboard (quite possibly making a note of the name of the new queen-to-be).

"Y-yes?" Emma tried to say, but she could barely get the words out.

Sailor Waddle Dee reached her and, unexpectedly, leapt up and hugged her briefly, before he hopped back down and scurried away, saying something about swabbing the decks.

"What decks?" Escargoon muttered, as he, Emma, and Waddle Doo watched Sailor Waddle Dee go. He then sighed, again. "Alright, come on, we've got a wedding to get to!"

With each step that she took, Emma felt more and more apprehensive. And, by the time they'd reached the top of the stairs where the Monster had dropped Emma into the castle, she couldn't take it anymore.

"Why can't that Monster go and find somebody else?!" She suddenly yelled, startling both Escargoon and Waddle Doo, and causing a nearby Waddle Dee putting up a tapestry to fall off of a ladder. "S-sorry, sweetie — !" She added.

The Waddle Dee raised a hand in reassurance, just as they heard footsteps approaching them.

"Heh heh heh," chuckled a voice with what could only be described as a strong Texan accent. "That scream of yours could raise the dead, girlie."

Does it ever end? Emma wondered, as she tore her eyes away from the Waddle Dee who was now tangled up in the tapestry, and then she froze.

The light from the hole in the ceiling caused a beam of light that illuminated both her and . . .

"K-King Dedede . . . " Emma barely managed to say. He's big … he's a penguin-like creature … he sounds exactly the way that Ted Lewis made him sound in the anime . . .

They just stared at each other, as particles of dust danced about in the shaft of light that surrounded them.

Escargoon then sighed. "Waddle Doo, get someone in to fix that hole in the ceiling before the next storm." He said. "Well, sire," he went on, speaking now to Dedede who was still just staring. "You wanted a bride and Bridezilla delivered - this is," he checked his notes. "Emma."

"Emma . . . ?" Dedede repeated.

Emma was frozen to the spot, waiting for the axe to fall. This was it. This was the part where he rejected her completely, and she got out of this whole ordeal before it had even begun. That was what she had wanted.

It's not like she wasn't used to guys not wanting to have anything to do with her.

It didn't mean that it wouldn't hurt.

Emma was just standing there, bracing herself for the moment … that never came.

"Emma!" Dedede said again, and this time the joy was evident in his voice. "What a beautiful name for a queen!l he reached out and grabbed her hands in his mittened ones. "My love, you'll be known as the brightest diamond, the tenderest rose, the Queen Of Dreamland!"

Emma just stared at him. She had no idea what to do or say.

Waddle Doo was in tears. "Sire, that was so beautiful!" He sobbed.

"That was disgusting." Escargoon remarked flatly, and was then slammed into the ground courtesy of Dedede's hammer. "Not again . . . " He complained.

Dedede then turned back to Emma, who seemed to have snapped back to reality somewhat after seeing Escargoon get hurt.

She was now looking right at him, with an almost startling gaze … Dedede couldn't quite place the expression on her face, or the look in her hazel eyes … but, he suspected that it might be one of annoyance.

When she spoke, however, her tone was surprisingly level.

"A-are you sure about this?" She asked him softly.

Dedede reached out and took her hands - which were shaking - again in his. "As sure as I am that you're the most beautiful woman that I've ever laid eyes on!"

"And I thought I needed glasses." Emma murmured. "I mean … thank you, but … I … I really . . . " She cast a slightly desperate glance at Escargoon.

He looked startled and then just shook his head at her, as if to tell her to just go along with it.

"I ain't taking 'no' for an answer!" Dedede said suddenly.

"Of course not." Emma sighed. "But … wh-what about me . . . ?"

"You don't want to?" Dedede sounded incredulous.

That stopped Emma. "I-I didn't say that! Th-this is not about me!" She exclaimed. "I m-mean … it is, but, it's also about you, and how marrying me would be the worst mistake that you could ever possibly make!" Her hands were shaking even more, now, and so was her voice. She looked at Escargoon, and then back at Dedede. "Y-you should j-just get that M-Monster you ordered, Bridezilla or whatever its name is, to find you somebody else!"

She knows that King Dedede sent the Monster . . . Escargoon realised. How does she know that he ordered it, though . . . ?

"I don't want somebody else!" Dedede said suddenly, sounding quite firm in his decision, and not realising the details in what Emma had just said.

"Besides," Waddle Doo spoke up again. "Bridezilla is currently busy."

"Doing what?" Emma, Escargoon, and Dedede all asked in unison.

Waddle Doo suddenly pointed up, just as there was a yell that got louder as the owner of the voice fell towards them.

"Poyooooooooo!"

Kirby fell through the hole in the ceiling, landing in Emma's arms.

"Kirby?!" Exclaimed Dedede (crossly) and Emma (worriedly).

"Poyo . . . "

Emma stared at the battered little pink warrior in her arms, and then up towards the hole in the ceiling.

The Monster with the wedding veil had just appeared, with Fololo and Falala clasped in its front talons.

"Fololo! Falala!" Emma gasped. They and Kirby must have come after me, and then the Monster attacked them! She realised, feeling horrified.

In fact, she was so busy being horrified by this that she didn't notice the gleam in Bridezilla's eyes, and didn't realise the danger that she was in, until the Monster was a split-second away from her, and she barely had enough time to turn and shield Kirby with her own body.

She felt Bridezilla's claws rake down her left arm, and heard the shocked cries from the others as she, Kirby, Fololo, and Falala went flying, and landed about halfway down the stairs.

As they tried to pick themselves up, Falala's eyes suddenly widened. "It's coming for us again!" She cried.

"It's gotten way more vicious, like it's just snapped!" Fololo added, as Bridezilla lunged at them again.

And, Emma leapt forwards, placing herself between Kirby, Fololo, and Falala, knowing that this time it was much more serious than the tiger and that she was probably going to get hurt badly, but, she also had a theory . . .

She saw the Monster's eyes flash an even deeper crimson, knew that she was right about what had caused it to snap (but, she still had no idea why) . . .

CLANG!

Somebody else had just gotten between her and Bridezilla, and was blocking the Monster's attack with a golden sword … he was a bit bigger than Kirby but had a similar body shape, except in dark blue, and . . .

"Me - ta - Knight?" Emma barely breathed. She watched as Meta Knight pushed back the Monster. Her chest suddenly felt hot … looking down, she caught sight of a purple and silver pendant that she was suddenly sure hadn't been there after the Waddle Dee's had finished dressing her for the wedding … thinking back, she realised, the only time when she could've acquired it was when Sailor Waddle Dee had hugged her … and, come to think of it … wasn't he associated with Meta Knight, somehow?

She had just come to that conclusion, when Bridezilla screeched and lunged at her again.

"Emma, go!" Meta Knight told her, in the same Spanish accent that she recalled from the anime.

"But, Meta Knight — !" She began, just as somebody grabbed her.

"You heard him!" Dedede was saying. "Let's scramoose!"

"But, what about Kirby, and the others?!" Emma protested, realising that Escargoon was hurrying along beside them, but that Kirby, Fololo, and Falala had been left behind.

"They'll be fine!" Escargoon replied. "It's you the Monster wants to tear apart!" He added.

"Yeah, and I wanna know why!" Dedede said, as they burst into the throne room. Briefly forgetting that Emma was right there (however, she looked like she was about to pass out from their short sprint through the castle, and might not have been paying attention), the king went over to the computer by his throne, and immediately contacted Night Mare Enterprises.

The Sales Guy's face appeared on the screen. "Hey, how's it going, Big D?" He asked casually.

"You tell me!" Dedede retorted. "Why did that Monster attack my new bride?!"

"Oh, so sorry," the Sales Guy said, not sounding sorry at all. "But, I must have forgotten to mention Bridezilla's design flaw … or else, you just didn't read the manual. Either way, she gets insanely jealous - jealous enough to attack - whenever she sees another bride, particularly a beautiful one. So, technically, it's your own fault for rushing in," he shrugged, as Dedede simmered away. "As they say, only fools rush in — "

"I know the weakness!"

The triumphant cry made Dedede turn, and the screen with the Sales Guy's face on it also turned, to see Emma standing there next to Escargoon, with a large book opened up between them.

Emma was the one who had spoken, and now she looked up, her eyes gleaming strangely, even as she left Escargoon with the book and went over to the throne. "So, thanks, mate," she told the Sales Guy, with just a hint of sarcasm in her voice, not noticing the figure behind him on the screen. "But, see ya." She pressed the button that severed the connection, much to Dedede's shock.

"What weakness?!" He immediately cried.

"This one, sire!" Escargoon came over to him with the book, and showed him the teeny-tiny writing on one page.

Monster 60143 will find itself unable to effectively combat an attack from one such as a prince, a dashing swordsman, or a gallant knight; this is due to its 'dream' of finding its own groom like that.

"As if they didn't already know about Meta Knight, and maybe Sword Kirby." Emma muttered. "Then again, it should've been obvious . . . " She added.

"Huh?" Escargoon and Dedede looked at her.

"Yes, because many girls dream of finding their prince charming or their knight in shining armour . . . " Emma trailed off, and then realised what she had just said and to whom she had said it to. She quickly shook her head. "Also, i-it said that the weakness is the o-only way to combat that Monster when it snaps, so . . . " She paused. I guess that my presence there meant that it still attacked Meta Knight … how will we able to combat it, then?

It was at that moment that Dedede suddenly realised just what had happened, and what Emma had seen.

"Sire," Escargoon whispered to Dedede. "She seems to be handling the whole Monster thing well . . . "

"That's good." Dedede responded quietly.

"Yeah, but what if she tells someone?" Escargoon wanted know. "She might handle it well, but that doesn't mean that anybody else is going to . . . "

They both glanced over at the woman in question, who was currently staring down at the pendant on her chest. The purple stone appeared to be glowing with a soft light and, as if she sensed them watching her, she looked back at them.

"You know," she said, shifting slightly. "I-I'm really not handling this well … I'm … I'm just a normal woman who somehow ended up here, and … s-stuff like this doesn't happen where I come from … no Monsters, no supernatural magic, no … whatever you are, Kirby . . . " She gestured to the figure standing next to her, and then she jumped. "Kirby?!"

"Poyo!" He responded, but he seemed worried.

"What is it?!" Emma asked, immediately anxious. "Surely Meta Knight should be able to defeat that Monster!"

"Well, you would think so," Escargoon said suddenly, peering at Bridezilla's instruction manual. "But, there's an asterisk here … which leads to a paragraph that basically says that if a bride is protected by what would usually be Bridezilla's weakness, then she'll think that . . . " He trailed off, and glanced uneasily at Dedede, and then said. "Well, regardless … let's see … in order to combat that … oh! I don't believe it!"

"What?!" Emma and Dedede asked in unison.

Escargoon looked shocked. "It says 'congratulations if you're in this very unlikely scenario, now figure the rest out for yourself'!"

"Where?!" Dedede demanded. "Where does it say that?!" Escargoon showed him in the book. "I'll … just take your word for that ... hey . . . " He suddenly realised that Emma and Kirby were no longer in the throne room. "That pink puffball ran off with my bride!"

"Oh, here we go . . . " Escargoon rolled his eyes, as he followed his furious king.

---

Out in the castle courtyard, Tiff and Tuff had just arrived, followed by what seemed like half the town, and was more than a little bit shocked to see Meta Knight pushed to the brink by this Monster.

If this Monster was getting the best of Meta Knight … it seemed to almost be in a frenzied state, and its eyes were positively glowing.

Tiff's heart thudded in her chest, as she looked around. Where was Kirby?! Where were Fololo and Falala, who had gone with Kirby to try and rescue Emma?! Where was Emma?!

"Look out!" Tuff suddenly cried, as the Monster lunged towards Meta Knight again.

Out of the corner of her eye, Tiff noticed two figures that had just come running into the courtyard. One was Kirby, and the other was a woman in a long white (slightly torn) gown and a veil … a purple pendant glowed on her chest, as she suddenly flung herself the last few feet, placing herself in between Meta Knight and the attacking Monster.

Tiff had just enough time to register that Meta Knight appeared to try and move in that instance and, though it was very hard to tell because of the mask that he always wore, she was suddenly certain that he was panicked.

And, just as the Monster's talons made contact with Emma, there was a blinding flash of light.

The light started off purple, and then became more blue, flashing a swirling swiftly like ribbons … the reason for which suddenly became clear when the light faded.

Where she had just been wearing a gold and white dress (that Tiff had briefly thought looked suspiciously like a wedding gown, complete with a veil), she now wore tight white pants, a dark red gilet, a pair of dark blue knee-length lace-up boots, and a white cravat with the purple pendant on it. She had on a dark blue redingote with gold lining and epaulettes and, perhaps most striking of all, a dark blue cavalier hat with two white feathers on it.

Her right hand had bandaids on it, and so she held her sword in her left hand - it was a silver rapier, that gleamed in the sunlight.

"Wow." Said Tuff, from Tiff's side. "I don't think any of us expected her to do that."

"Yeah . . . " Tiff said slowly, watching Emma who was watching the Monster - both of them suddenly looked very apprehensive. "Her included . . . " Her outfit may have changed and she may have a sword, but that doesn't mean she knows what she's doing! She's going to need help . . .

Perhaps Meta Knight had realised this too, despite not being able to see Emma's face, because he called out to Kirby. "Kirby! You must fight alongside Emma!"

"Poyo!" Kirby nodded, which is when Fololo and Falala suddenly appeared, holding something that was quite familiar to them, Emma, and Kirby.

"Kirby!" They called to him. "Use this!" They threw the shard at him, and he inhaled it.

He instantly donned a green hat, and a green sword with a golden blade appeared.

"Yeah! It's Sword Kirby!" Tuff cheered.

While this had been happening, Meta Knight had grabbed Emma's free hand. With a surprising amount of strength (for being shorter than her) he yanked her over to where Sword Kirby had just landed.

Which was about the time that Emma felt compelled to tell them both about the overall extent of her sword fighting abilities.

Of which there were none.

"You will know what to do." Meta Knight assured her, watching as Bridezilla began shifting itself to attack them all again.

"How?" Emma asked him, her heart hammering in her chest so much that she wouldn't have been surprised to know that he and Kirby could hear it.

"I know that you can do it." He told her.

"How?!" She said again.

He looked up at her. Just briefly, his eyes gleamed the same purple colour as the pendant.

Emma gasped softly, just as Bridezilla lunged at them, and the three of them all leapt out of the way in different directions.

The Monster screeched in frustration, and turned to the right, where Kirby had gone. It slashed at him with its claws, and Kirby dodged skilfully out of the way, slashing simultaneously with his sword to create a large gash in one of the Monster's wings.

Meta Knight noticed that Emma was watching Kirby's movements carefully, which is why he wasn't worried when Emma came under fire next - he watched as she dodged the attack exactly the same way that Kirby had, although she didn't attack back - yet.

As it was his turn to dodge Bridezilla's onslaught, Meta Knight became aware that Dedede and Escargoon had just come into into the courtyard behind him, but he still dodged anyway, not overly concerned that the Monster's momentum meant that it would very likely crash into those two.

Dedede and Escargoon were, naturally, horrified at the sight of Bridezilla on a collision course with them.

And, they weren't the only ones.

With a short, sharp yell, Emma had appeared at Bridezilla's side, and now she slashed diagonally with her sword - the resulting white sword beam would have sliced into Bridezilla's left wing, had the Monster not moved on purpose to take the attack to its right side … which resulted in its right wing being completely severed.

Meta Knight took immediate note of this, even as Kirby got in front of Emma, and slashed Bridezilla away as the Monster screeched in pain.

Emma, who looked slightly shocked, looked quickly away from Bridezilla, and over at Dedede and Escargoon, who were just staring at her like they didn't know what to make of her.

Emma was sure that, in the back of his mind, Dedede was remembering how Princess Rona had shown her skills in swordsmanship (if, indeed, that event had actually happened). Why else would he be staring at her like he was now?

This is perfect! She tried to remind herself, as she looked back at Bridezilla. However he decides to end the marriage before it's begun, it will be for the best!

"She saved us." Escargoon said to Dedede, somewhat faintly. "She's strong . . . " He added. "Even though or maybe because she went from being a sugar cookie to tough as nails in a matter of seconds . . . " He realised.

"Is being a swordslady a hobby?" Dedede asked him.

"Depends on who you ask." Escargoon shrugged. "Why?"

"Because — "

"FORE!" Emma suddenly yelled, as Meta Knight had just succeeded in cutting off the Monster's left wing, and it arced through the air. Everybody in that area scrambled for safety, and the wing hit the ground with a thud.

Bridezilla dug in its claws, and turned to face Meta Knight head-on, as something else arced through the air overhead.

"It is now completely focused on me . . . " Meta Knight remarked, sounding like that had been his plan all along - which, as it transpired, it was. He watched as Kirby hopped aboard the Warp Star, which had no doubt been summoned by Tiff before when she'd realised that the fight was getting serious.

He also noticed when Emma turned and, realising what was about to happen, so also moved.

And, as a result of that, and perhaps of their hearts being combined in that exact instance, the three of them struck the Monster simultaneously. Kirby attacked it from above, falling purposefully from the Warp Star to strike the Monster using a combination of his own strength and gravity.

Meta Knight had managed to move around Emma's right side, and stabbed Bridezilla in the left side using Galaxia.

And Emma, who was the only one to announce her attack, thrust her sword straight upwards into Bridezilla's left side.

"Starward Strike!"

Bridezilla screeched in both pain and fury, before it was destroyed in the beams of light that came from all three swords, whose tips momentarily touched.

Kirby then moved back and landed on the ground, as Meta Knight lowered Galaxia.

Only Emma still had her sword raised, and she was breathing heavily, the adrenaline of the battle still flowing through her, despite the fact that no trace of Bridezilla remained.

I … just did that! I just … killed something! Okay, so it was a Monster, and Kirby and Meta Knight also killed it . . .

Emma closed her eyes briefly and, in that instance, an image flashed through her mind … a painful image … she didn't know what it was, but, whatever it was, it immediately reassured her that she had done the right thing.

That, and the cheering that she could hear … she had barely even registered the fact that their battle had had an audience.

She opened her eyes, lowered the rapier and returned it to its scabbard … as soon as she had done this, she felt her clothes change - not back to the wedding gown, but back to her long nightgown. The pendant was now on a chain around her neck, and … she suddenly felt something appear in the pocket of her nightgown (yes, it had pockets).

"Oh, is that my glasses?" She guessed, and took them out of her pocket. "Oh, yes! Thank you whoever is responsible for that!" She suddenly gasped, slightly, as Kirby (who had gone back to normal) leapt happily into her arms. "And, thank you, Kirby!" She paused, and then went on with: "I never … imagined … that something like this would ever happen … I spent years playing video games where there was a hero named Kirby … and, an anime series which is eerily similar to what's happened here up until today, that is . . . "

"Oh, so that's how you knew!" Falala exclaimed, as she and Fololo flew over to them. "My name, and stuff like that!"

Emma nodded.

"But, you never told us that you could transform and fight like that!" Fololo said.

"I-I didn't know." Emma admitted. She glanced down at Meta Knight. His yellow eyes were watching her, but, they were impossible to read. "But … you did . . . " She realised, choosing not to say that Sailor Waddle Dee had given the pendant to her. She had a strange feeling that Meta Knight wanted to keep that fact between them. Fololo and Falala didn't need to know about that.

Meta Knight inclined his head briefly. "The Star Amulet … will not shine for just anyone." He said mysteriously.

Emma also had a feeling that he knew what he was talking about.

He had sheathed Galaxia (the sword that was very choosy about who wielded it), and seemed like he could disappear into the shadows without warning, as the crowd of onlookers began to move towards them.

Before he could, however, something very interesting happened, that made everybody else stop and stare.

Because, Dedede had just appeared practically out of nowhere, and thrown his arms around Emma, who froze.

The glasses were in her left hand, although she felt somebody, probably Escargoon, carefully take them from her, and she was grateful for that. She could see just fine up-close, but she needed those glasses to see long distance.

Kirby, however, wasn't as lucky as the glasses - the young Star Warrior found himself pressed uncomfortably between Emma and Dedede, the former whose face was now red as she struggled to try and get a grip on the situation.

He's … he's hugging me … tightly … a guy is … I don't know if that's his heart or my heart that I can feel … what do I do?! What do I do?! WHAT DO I DO?!

"What's the big idea?!" Tiff demanded to know, which is when Emma thought that the young girl was about to - rightfully - accuse Dedede of sending the Monster out in the first place.

Before she could, however, Dedede responded with something that was decidedly worse.

"I'm allowed to hug my fiancée!" The king declared to the courtyard at large.

Aaaaahh! Emma thought.

Tiff was stunned into silence.

"Whaaaat?!" At least twenty voices all chorused.

Meta Knight's eyes briefly flashed red.

And Kirby, who must've decided that he'd had enough of being squished, shouted: "POYO!" And managed to push both Emma and Dedede apart in order to get free.

They both staggered back, as Kirby landed on the grass.

"Poyo, po-poyo! Poyo!" He exclaimed, how voice muffled by the grass but still managing to sound slightly frustrated.

"I'm no expert in 'poyo-language' . . . " Emma said quietly, not looking at anybody. "But … did he just say that you can't marry a man you just met?"

"No." Tiff said bluntly, coming over to pick Kirby up off the grass.

Emma sighed. "Okay, well, I'm saying that." She said, a little bit louder now.

Escargoon took one look at the expression on Dedede's face, and quickly said: "Emma, wait!" He motioned to her to come over to him, which she did. "Please, please don't say no! The king's not that bad, but if you reject him then he'll make my life miserable!"

"Oh, that's selfless." Said Tiff, who had joined them, sarcastically. "You should think about somebody else for a change, Escargoon!" She scolded him. "She just saved your life!" She added.

"I know that!" Escargoon snapped. He glanced at Emma's glasses in his hands. "But … King Dedede has had multiple chances today to change his mind, and he hasn't!"

"Y-yeah, because he hasn't seen any of the bad stuff!" Emma said, in a slightly high-pitched voice that carried across the courtyard. "Of which there is a lot!"

"See?! You're perfect for each other!" Escargoon replied.

Emma looked startled, and then cast a desperate glance over at Dedede, who was still watching her.

"Just don't say no!" Escargoon added.

Emma's hands were shaking again, but, she kept her voice as steady as she could, when she said: "I-I'm not saying no … th-there's just something to be said for g-getting to know each other and p-putting in all of the hard work and such . . . "

Whew. Tiff thought, watching as Dedede seemed to be contemplating this. Thank goodness she's so smart - she's figured out that Dedede's too lazy to go to all that trouble —

"I'll do it!" Dedede suddenly declared, making nearly everyone jump. "I will gladly fight for the woman I love!" He added.

What? Tiff thought numbly.

"Sire, no one said anything like that!" Escargoon groaned.

"No, I did!" Dedede told him. He came over to Emma and, once again, took her hands in his. "And, then you'll say yes?" He asked her earnestly.

Emma swallowed. She forced herself to look into his eyes, and felt the blush creeping up on her face again. "I-I'll decide as time goes by . . . " She told him.

"Ha!" Said Tuff, chuckling. "Then you'll be waiting a really, REALLY long time!"

"What was that?!" Dedede glared at Tuff, before he looked back at Emma … which is when he, like everybody else, noticed something awful.

Emma's body had started to pale, but not in a normal way - it was starting to turn semi-transparent, and Dedede found that he could no longer hold on to her hands anymore, as she started to vanish.

The look on her face was, at first, one of confusion, and then of realisation, and finally, as she looked past Dedede and met Meta Knight's gaze, one of horror.

She had only just gotten here … was one day really all she was going to get in Dreamland?!

She heard a faint rushing in her ears, mingled in with the cries of those around her, and the last thing that she heard before everything went black was Kirby calling out her name.

"Emma!"

---

I guess … everybody gets a dream come true … except me. Mine's just that … a dream. I'll go back to my life, to arguing with my family and not actually leaving the house except on Thursdays and Saturdays … maybe I'll even … apologise to Mum, when I get back … but . . .

"I wanted to stay in Dreamland . . . " Emma whispered, as a tear slid down her face. "I want … to go back . . . "

I know you do.

The voice came from nowhere and from everywhere, and it made Emma gasp, as her vision was enveloped in a soft white light.

That world still needs you.

---

It rained the next day in Cappy Town.

The Waddle Dees were already hard at work, fixing up the hole in the ceiling, but their hearts just weren't in it.

Perhaps they were picking up on the depressed mood of their king, who was walking aimlessly through the hallways like he'd just lost his best friend.

Tiff and Tuff watched him from around a corner.

"Jeez, I've never seen Dedede look so depressed." Tuff remarked.

"Yeah," Tiff agreed. "And, he's not the only one … look there . . . " She motioned to her right, to where Escargoon was slouched over, and paying no attention to the water that was being trekked all throughout the castle, despite the the fact that he'd ordered for the hole in the ceiling to be fixed. "And . . . "

The two siblings turned, to see Meta Knight on the mezzanine across from them. He was holding the Star Amulet and looked like he hadn't moved in hours. It was, as always, impossible to tell what he was thinking.

They then turned back, to see Kirby standing there, staring out of a large open window, with such a sad expression that the siblings were momentarily lost for words.

"It's because they fought alongside each other." Tiff finally managed to reason.

"And, because she went down into the forest to find Kirby, even though it was dangerous." Tuff added.

Tiff nodded. "And … Dedede was convinced that he was going to marry her, which meant that he wouldn't take things out on Escargoon . . . "

"Yeah, so . . . " Tuff glanced back towards the mezzanine. "What's up with Meta Knight?"

"He seemed to know something about that pendant . . . " Tiff said slowly. "Like … he knew that Emma would be able to do what she did, even if she didn't . . . " She hadn't realised that she had spoken so loud, until she saw Kirby, Meta Knight, Dedede, and Escargoon all jump like they'd been shocked. "Oops . . . " She muttered.

But, it was Sailor Waddle Dee who spoke, appearing suddenly and pointing towards the open window. "Emma!" He cried.

Kirby, Meta Knight, Dedede, and Escargoon all jumped again.

"Ssh! Stop saying her name!" Tuff exclaimed. "They're all upset because she's gone!"

"But — Emma!" Sailor Waddle Dee tried to say, waving his arms about.

"We know," Tiff sighed, as Tuff tried to shush Sailor Waddle Dee and the other four jumped for a third time. "It's really unfortunate what happened, and we all miss her, too — "

"But she's right there!" Sailor Waddle Dee insisted.

Tiff just stared at him, and then they all looked sharply over at the window, to see that, indeed, the young red-haired woman in the long white dress was standing there on the window sill, looking both happy and shy with so many sets of eyes now cast upon her.

Mouths dropped open, eyes widened, and the level of shock in the air was palpable.

"I came back." Emma told them.

"H-how?!" Tiff exclaimed.

"I dunno." Emma replied simply, looking quickly around the area - her eyes lit up as she locked gazes with Dedede, who looked like he was getting ready to run towards her and suddenly hug her again … but, Kirby beat him to it.

The trouble was, that Emma was standing on a slippery wet window sill and, when Kirby leapt at her, she ended up slipping over backwards.

Dedede, Escargoon, Tiff, Tuff, and Sailor Waddle Dee all reached for her, as if that could stop her from falling . . .

And, somebody flew across the room - it was Meta Knight, having unfurled his bat-like wings. He swiftly reached Emma and Kirby in the time it had taken them to disappear from sight and grabbed onto both of Emma's hands, holding her up effortlessly and stopping both her and Kirby from falling.

"Whew . . . " Tiff breathed a sigh of relief.

"Cool," Tuff said. "I didn't know Meta Knight could fly."

---

"The rain went away, when my love came back to stay — !" Dedede sang, about twenty minutes later, as he practically danced into the throne room to find only Escargoon in there. Then: "Hey, wait a second … Escargoon!"

Escargoon hastily hid his collection of rings that he had accumulated over the years (it wouldn't do for the king to discover this sparkly stash of treasures) - luckily, though, Dedede didn't seem to notice it when Escargoon slid the stone back into place to conceal the secret space. "Y-yes, sire?"

"Where is Emma?"

Escargoon blinked. "Weren't you paying attention before?" He wanted to know, and then cringed when Dedede raised his hammer threateningly. The snail sighed. "She asked me where her glasses were and I told her that I'd taken them to Dr. Yabui to copy her prescription just in case she came back." Escargoon didn't think it wise to remind Dedede that Emma had hugged him happily when she'd learned this, and thanked him for his help. He had a feeling that the king was not to be tested right now. "She went into Cappy Town to pick up her glasses." He summarised.

"So, then, she's coming back?" Dedede wanted to know.

Escargoon paused. "I … assume so?"

"Well, good." Dedede went and sat down on his throne. "That's good." He leaned back, just as the monitor beside him crackled to life, and the Sales Guy's face appeared on it.

"Hey, Big D!" He said, somewhat cheerfully. "Just checking in with you that you got my email!"

"Email?" Dedede repeated.

"About the additional payment on Bridezilla's headdress." Sales Guy explained. "It wasn't included in the primary payment, so, you might wanna set up a payment plan for it - or, just send everything back."

"H-hold on!" Escargoon spoke up. "Why can't we just send back the veil?!" Not that that was much of an option, either - the veil had been destroyed alongside its owner.

"You either pay for the veil or you send both of them back, that's how it works." Sales Guy replied evenly, holding up a copy of the contract.

"How much are we talking here?" Escargoon demanded to know.

Sales Guy showed him the price of the veil.

Escargoon nearly fainted.

Dedede just stared at the numbers, which was around the time that Escargoon recalled that the king's literacy skills were a little less than not-so-great … the king then reached over, and pressed the button to disconnect the call, much in the same way that Emma had done the previous day.

Escargoon just stared at him for a moment, before he said: "Uh, sire? This mightbe one of those problem's that isn't going to go away anytime soon . . . "

"Then there's plenty of time to deal with it later." Dedede replied firmly. "We've got more important things to worry about!"

"Like what?!" Escargoon cried.

"Like me winning the heart of my Star Queen!" Dedede told him.

"Oh. Right. I almost forget."

"Well, get 'unforgetful', because this isn't going to go away!"

"Just like the interest on your debt . . . "

"The what?"

---

"Wow, a lensometer." Emma nodded.

"Do you have any idea what he just said?" Tiff whispered to her, as Dr. Yabui put away his microscope-looking piece of equipment.

"Only that he seems to know what h-he's doing, so, that's what matters." Emma responded. "Kirby, don't touch that." She added suddenly and Kirby, who had been about to prod at the phoropter, immediately stopped what he was doing. Emma then turned back to Yabui, and said: "So, umm … th-the thing about m-money is that . . . "

Yabui waved his hand dismissively. "It's already been paid for out of the castle treasury."

Emma and Tiff exchanged a wide-eyed glance.

"That's pretty cool." Commented Tuff, who was examining the Snellen Chart on the wall. "I guess Dedede must be trying to win you over already!"

Emma gulped.

"Oh, yes, I heard about that." Yabui said calmly.

"H-how?" Emma wanted to know.

"Oh, Fololo and Falala came through about ten minutes before you got here, telling everyone they could that you were back and that the king was indeed going to court you for your hand in marriage."

Emma felt her face heat up. "Y-you don't say . . . ?" She murmured. "S-so, then … everyone knows about it?"

A random Cappy walking by the open window nodded. "Good luck!" He added, as he left.

"Well," Yabui went on, ignoring Emma's obvious embarrassment. "As soon as you've picked out some frames, I can get to work." Yabui gestured to a doorway off to the side of the room. "The display frames are through there."

"Umm . . . " Emma hesitated. "H-how many . . . ?"

"As many as you need." Yabui replied. Emma just stared at him. "Are you planning to be involved in any contact sports, battles against Monsters, or work with small children?"

"I don't do sports, I'm not planning on any battles but that doesn't mean anything, and I don't have kids." Emma replied. Yet?

Yabui nodded. "Let's say four extra pairs, then." He told her, as he opened up the door to the other room, to reveal shelves and shelves of glasses with clear frames in them.

Emma gulped. "This is gonna take awhile." She realised. "It always does . . . "

"Uh, yeah," Tuff shifted slightly. "Well, Tiff and I might leave you to it . . . "

"Yeah!" Tiff said quickly. "We have some stuff to do, so . . . " She grabbed her brother's hand.

"Uh — ?!" Emma didn't exactly want them to leave. She was reminded once again that she was in a strange, new place, and she knew that it wouldn't take much for her to find herself out of her depth.

"Kirby will stay with you!" Tuff called over his shoulder, as he and his sister left.

Emma stared after them, and then looked back at the roomful of display glasses. Kirby was already in there, and he turned around, to reveal that he was wearing a pair of round black glasses.

"Poyo?"

---

"So, what do you reckon's up with that pendant?" Tuff said suddenly.

"I already told you, I have no idea beyond what we both saw happening yesterday!" Tiff replied, somewhat testily. "Why don't you go and ask Meta Knight?"

"Why don't you?" Tuff retorted.

"Because it's not a priority for me right now!" Tiff responded.

"Are you still upset with me because I said that you should be good at sewing because it's girl's work?" Tuff asked her, and then he flinched, as his sister gave him an incredibly cold stare. "Umm … I mean … hey, that looks great!" He said, with a small touch of over-enthusiasm, as his sister stepped back to admire her handiwork.

"Thanks." Tiff replied, a little bit shortly, although she also happened to be glaring at the instructions for the small desk from Shy-KEA, and so Tuff wondered if she was still feeling frustrated by the lack of written instructions that she'd had to go by. He also wondered vaguely what had delivered the package (it had been short, dressed in a red robe and a strange white mask, and could fly) and why it appeared that Meta Knight had already signed for it (the initials .M.K. had been on the sticker on the box), but, he decided against asking his sister any more questions. She was still in a slightly irritated mood.

Tokkori, it seemed, hadn't gotten the memo.

"What are you two doing in my house?!" He cried, flying in through the open front door.

"It's Kirby's house!" Tiff immediately snapped. "And, as you can see, I've just finished putting together a Shy-KEA desk, and my brother has just finished the girl's work of sewing together a pillow!"

Tuff cringed.

Tokkori was unimpressed. "What FOR?!"

"For Emma." The voice came from the doorway, and they turned to see Sailor Waddle Dee standing there. "She and Kirby are on their way here, you guys!" He added.

"Quick, help me move this desk over!" Tiff cried.

"FORGET it!" Tokkori practically yelled, even as Tiff, Tuff, and Sailor Waddle Dee struggled to move the desk in to place under the window. "Why should I have to share my house with a complete stranger — ?!" He was suddenly cut off when Tiff grabbed him out of mid-air and got right up close to him.

"Because I said so," she said, in her iciest and most dangerous voice. "Because she's new here and needs a place to stay, because she feels the most comfortable with Kirby, because she cannot stay up at the castle at the moment, and because you owe her for telling Tuff and his friends that she was a Monster!"

"I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THIS!" Tokkori shouted.

"And I refuse to let you decide who Kirby can and cannot have as a roommate!" Tiff responded.

"You don't even know if he'll say yes, yet!" Tokkori accused her. "You just decided this on your own!"

"Tokkori, if you don't stop this then you're sleeping in the tree!"

"You're not the boss of me, Tiff!"

Emma and Kirby just stood in the doorway to the house, blinking slightly and not really sure what to make of the situation.

Noticing that they both had some packages in their arms (no doubt containing clothes and such), Sailor Waddle Dee hurried over to help, and explained: "Welcome to your new home, Emma!"

Emma's eyes widened, as she stared incredulously at Sailor Waddle Dee and ignored the fact that Tuff was now having to keep Tiff and Tokkori apart like a referee. "Huh — ?!"

"I-if it's okay with Kirby, that is!" Sailor Waddle Dee added quickly.

Kirby's eyes lit up, and he leapt into the air in joy. "Poyo!"

And, Emma was unable to keep the smile off her own face, as she said: "Everyone's been so nice … I really … don't know h-how to say thank you . . . "

"You could move out!" Tokkori called to her.

"DON'T listen to him!" Tiff exclaimed.

Tuff couldn't help but laugh. "Well, it looks like things will be getting even more interesting around here!"

Just like my whole life. Emma thought, still smiling. Is this the start … of my dream come true?

---

That night, after Tokkori had resigned himself to the fact that this was going to be a long-term arrangement, and Tiff and Tuff had stopped by again with take-away from Kawasaki's (correctly assuming that Emma would not feel like leaving the house again that day, and also that Tokkori would try and lock her out if she left), Emma had been graciously offered the bed by Kirby (there was still only one, until they could come up with a better alternative) and fell asleep almost straight away … only to have a dream bizarre enough to go along with how her life had turned out.

She was running through a place that looked like it came straight out of the castle from Lady Lovelylocks.

Down two sets of stone staircases, and then a stone wall at the foot of the stairs opened up into a maze - she stopped straight away, and the wall in front of her turned so that it was straight. She followed the path to the right, and then continued on until she reached the end of the passageway, where the stones in the wall moved apart for her to go through. She went to her right, through a very dark corridor, and then came out into a room with a deep chasm and some stone steps leading upwards … which moved to form a path heading downwards as soon as she began walking on them. At the foot of those stairs, she turned to face a seemingly innocuous wall, which moved apart to let her through.

She came out into a very large tech-like room, with machines and such all over the place.

And, in the middle of that room was something akin to a large test tube, that reached from a round computer and all the way through the ceiling and out of sight.

But, it was what was in the test tube that was the main drawcard of the room. Why it was down here, hidden away, and in a somewhat random place.

Her eyes lit up - she knew what this was … this was why she was here, and what was here was here because she was.

She reached out with shaking hands, even as she sensed the comforting presence of two others behind her . . .

And, then, the dream changed, and became incredibly close to being a nightmare … it was like the dream of dying, as she weakly tried to raise a hand, but couldn't find the energy to. Her other hand closed over the item that she had just handed to one of those two from before, as an arc of light streaked across the sky like a shooting star.

She whispered something . . .

And, then, with a gasp, she woke up.

She sat up quickly, not wanting to get that weird feeling that always seemed to follow a scary dream if she stayed laying down. She tried to calm her breathing, as she clutched at the edges of the pillow Tuff had made for her, as she stared out the window into the dark early morning and wondered why that song that said something about dreams about dying being the best said that when clearly they weren't.

That had been terrifying, but also really sad. Emma reached up a hand and, sure enough, there were tears in her eyes, threatening to fall.

Before they could, though, a sound made her jump.

"Poyo poyo poyo . . . "

Emma looked down to the foot of the bed, and was surprised to see Kirby, curled up there on a star-shaped pillow.

Wasn't he sleeping in the tree? Emma thought, and then she looked outside again; she could just make out Tokkori's shape in the nest. Ah.

Emma looked back at Kirby, and then reached out and carefully put the blankets at the end of the bed over him.

"Poyo . . . " Kirby smiled in his sleep, but, he didn't wake up.

Emma also smiled, feeling better all of a sudden. I wonder what Kirby dreams about? She wondered, as she lay back down again, and the pendant that she had gotten back from Meta Knight glowed warmly against her chest. Knowing Kirby … it's probably about food. He loves food! I should try and think about something that I like, so that I'll have sweet dreams … after all, this place is called Dreamland … not 'Bad Dream Land'!

---

The waters of the bay lapped up against the rocks, as Kine the fish casually surfaced, enjoying the peace of his early morning swim.

There was nobody else up at this hour … or, so he thought . . .

Not paying attention to where he was going, Kine bumped into the wooden hull of … a ship?

"Alright," said a totally unfamiliar and somewhat chilling voice from up on deck. "Ye bloodthirsty scallywags … at dawn . . . "

"At dawn, igara!" A high-pitched voice echoed.

"We descend upon Cappy Town!"

As shouts and cheers rose up from the deck, Kine hastily swam some distance away, and then turned around, seeing the ship in full for the first time … and then he spotted something that made his blood run cold.

The ship was flying a flag with a skull and crossbones on it.