Chapter 41: Fright to the Finish
The Fountain of Dreams resided near the village, resting on top of an elegant, silver plateau. Reaching it required walking up a small stairway. Behind the fountain was a silver metal arch decorated with large stars. If one were to look beyond it, they'd see a vast rapeseed field, with blue, pink, and purple trees standing tall in the distance. It was like nature itself was inverted into a strange, magical realm where nothing made sense; and yet, you were fascinated by its bizarre beauty.
The fountain itself was tiered in design, massive in size. People could host a swimming party in the basin alone. The water was so clear that it appeared baby blue. Resting on the top level was a blue orb that housed the Star Rod. Usually water would be pouring down, giving the fountain life. Right now, though, it was comatose, unable to provide sweet dreams for the denizens of Dream Land.
The group disembarked from the Warp Star, and made their way towards the fountain. Strapped across their chests was the blissful feeling of accomplishment. Their quest had come to an end. The citizens would be able to sleep without trepidation dangling over their heads like a loose ceiling fan.
Kirby conflated the seven pieces together, which formed a giant glowing star. It then reformed into the Star Rod. Luigi and Yoshi blinked in astonishment by the uncanny resemblance it had to the one from their world. Although the Dream Land rod had red and white stripes wrapped around the handle like a candy cane.
Sora gestured towards the fountain. "Care to do the honors?"
Kirby nodded, and headed towards the stairs. From out of nowhere, Dedede dove onto the ground, wrapping his giant arms around the puff ball, hindering any movement.
"You again!?" Sora asked, startled. "Get lost! Haven't you caused enough trouble!?"
Dedede glared at him. "Quiet, kid!" He turned back to Kirby with a desperate look in his eyes. "Don't do it! Something bad will happen if you reunite the rod with the fountain!"
But Kirby was tired of listening to Dedede's grating voice. He had been nothing but a blight that cast irritating fumes over Dream Land, making everyone's lives miserable. Kirby was able to forgive, but even he had his limits. Namely, when someone brought harm to his friends. Nothing Dedede said would reach Kirby's outer ear. The puff ball trudged forward, dragging the king along the concrete ground.
"Quick being thickheaded!" Dedede said, growing aggravated. "I'm serious this time! We're all in danger!"
All Kirby heard was the voice drilling against his skull. Tired of being stalled, Kirby knocked Dedede aside with the rod. Bandana hurried over to check on the king.
"At least use your words instead of hittin' me," Dedede said as he rubbed his cheek, grumbling.
Kirby leaped onto the fountain, placed the rod on the pedestal, and then rejoined everyone. The group waited in anticipation for something to happen. Dedede was paralyzed with fear, not sure what to expect from the unknown entity. The fountain remained motionless. Not even a small drop of water fell from the upper level.
"Something supposed to happen?" Yoshi asked.
Just as miffed, Kirby approached the fountain again. Only to notice the blue orb turning pitch black; the clean water in the basin was tarnished with the same dreadful color, as if being infected by sizzling hot tar. The Star Rod was flung from the pedestal, landing right next to Dedede.
Everyone watched in horror as a giant dark sphere with faded silver stars emerged from the ground. The sky grew dark, and the wind started hallowing in a fright. A strange, terrifying sensation started growing in Kirby's stomach like an unwanted fungus. Kirby didn't know why he was experiencing these feelings. It was almost like they weren't his own.
And then he realized the cause: the entity was projecting fear itself, planting these negative emotions inside of the group like thorns.
"Appreciate the assistance, Kirby," the sphere said, delighted. "As thanks for unleashing me, I'll let you fall asleep first."
He fired a dark energy beam at Kirby. Before it hit, a familiar person leaped out from the shadows, deflecting the beam with his sword.
"Meta Knight!?" Dedede asked.
The warrior turned to Kirby. "Are you okay?"
Kirby gave a confirming nod.
"Bah, no matter," the sphere said in an indifferent tone. "Every last one of you will soon cradled into an everlasting sleep!"
He ascended into the clouds above. The sudden rush of trepidation vanished, but the sky grew darker, shrouding the sun in its never-ending form.
"What is that thing!?" Sora asked in shock.
"It calls itself Nightmare," Dedede said with a grave look in his eyes.
"Has this Nightmare been the one you were talking to by yourself?" Meta Knight asked.
Dedede gave a regretful nod. "He promised me that I would never have nightmares again." He was upset with himself. "Can't believe I let him fool me like that! It's because of me that we're done for! I can never forgive myself."
"Your majesty," Meta Knight said in a firm tone. "A true king does not wallow in self-pity. He needs to take command of the situation and learn how to fix his mistakes, not let them spread like wildfire."
Dedede remained skeptical. Every decision he made thus far left nothing but a dust trail of trouble behind him. "I dunno."
"Prove to us why you deserve such a title," Meta Knight said, refusing to lose faith. "Tell us what needs to be done."
Sora could tell that the king regretted everything he had done, and said, "We're willing to let bygones be bygones. If you know of any way to stop that thing, we're all ears."
Dedede could sense himself huddled in a circle of support. Despite everything he put them through, the group would cooperate with him. Was it because they had a common enemy now, or, like Bandana, could everyone see he's a decent person at heart? He turned to Kirby, who gave a sincere nod. Even Dream Land's hero was putting his faith in him. It was time he fulfilled his duty – to not let his blunder lead to disaster.
"There might be a way to destroy Nightmare." Dedede picked up the Star Rod. "I figure that Nightmare had to absorb from the bottom because the rod's core power would be too much for him."
"So if we can strike him with the rod," Luigi said, contemplative, "we might be able to beat him!"
"Exactly!" Dedede tossed the rod to Kirby. "You're everyone's hero! I'm putting you in charge of this operation! Take Nightmare out!" He turned to Meta Knight. "Evacuate the villagers and get them to Mt. Dedede. We have shelter there. I'll go have my crew prepare everything."
"Now that sounds like a strong king," Meta Knight said with an uplifting voice. "Consider it done!"
There was no time to waste. Kirby would not let everyone become prisoners of their dreams, forced to be derided by nightmares for eternity. The Star Rod's energy pulsated in his hand; its power was immeasurable. Kirby was confident in succeeding; he had to win! Just focus on that positivity. He started heading for the Warp Star, and heard the running footsteps of his friends right behind him.
"Wait up!" Sora said. "You're not doing this alone! We're going with you!"
Kirby responded with an appreciative smile. There wasn't even a doubt, now; they would save Dream Land. Sora and his friends have been invaluable in his quest; he couldn't ask for better companions.
Everyone prepares to board the Warp Star when Luigi said, "There's one small problem."
"Not now, Luigi," Sora said with an exasperated sigh.
"No, I'm not chicken this time." Luigi reevaluated his statement. "For the most part. His star might be too big for all of us to fight on. We should split our efforts against this thing."
Sora agreed; it would be awkward trying to battle in one spot. Kirby rubbed his chin in thought, stringing together a cohesive idea. When it was connected, he inhaled the Warp Star; it popped out from the back as four smaller stars.
Luigi gave a perplexed stare. "Not even going to question the logistics of that one."
"Now we're in business!" Sora said with an eager grin. "How do we use them?"
Kirby hopped onto his star, struggling for a moment on how to explain with his limited vocabulary. The best he could muster was closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
Sora slumped his shoulders. "How come you can't speak English when we need it? I'm guessing we need to concentrate on the star itself."
Kirby nodded. Never one to doubt his words (or lack thereof), the trio leaped onto their stars. Sora closed his eyes; the star's energy tickled his feet like q-tips. He could sense that energy merged into his being; it reminded him of the conscious control he had over the Keyblade. His mind commanded for the star to move forward, and did so. Luigi and Yoshi were able to do the same.
"It's working!" Sora said, excited.
"So cool!" Yoshi said in awe.
They took a minute to practice flying around the area. Even Luigi was starting to gain confidence. "Okay. Doing good so far. I got this, man. I got this by the—"
And soon his confidence shot too high, as he crashed right into a tree, and fell onto the ground. Sora just shook his head at Luigi's continuous display of ineptitude.
"Hello, barky, my old friend," Luigi sang in his muddled state (he could've sworn Daisy was spinning around his head, saying, "Hi, I'm Daisy" repeatedly).
"Hurry up!" Sora shouted. "Or we're leaving without you!"
Luigi regained his senses, scrambled onto the Warp Star, and followed the others into the sky to locate Nightmare. Meta Knight watched in silence as they vanished into the clouds. The only sound heard was his cape flapping in the ferment wind.
His heart pounded from a concoction of emotions. He had never put his faith in complete strangers before. But they had already proved reliable. Their teamwork was unmatched; their belief in each other pushed them to fight harder. He had to keep that same belief firmly gripped between his gloved fingers.
Sora and his friends will awaken the world that trembles beneath a nightmare.
"Good luck, my friends," Meta Knight said. "Our future rests on your shoulders."
Beyond the clouds was nothing but a thick veil of darkness; not a trace of illumination from the stars could break through the barrier. If it wasn't from the magical light of their Warp Stars, the group would've have been submerged in a vast, dark ocean, meandering until being consumed by the Nightmare's unfathomable power.
In the distance, they saw the spherical form of Nightmare hovering in place, as if awaiting their arrival, prepared to snatch them into his form like a Venus flytrap. That irrational sense of fear started tightening their chests like a massive wrench; each turn made those feelings strong.
Sora thought his own nightmares were emerging from within the dreary crypt of the subconscious; and one of them was something he dreaded the most:
Losing Riku and Kairi forever.
He took a deep breath, pushing the ajar door to the crypt closed. Being overwrought by these troubling thoughts would make him a burden in this battle; if anything, it would increase the prospect of his nightmare coming to fruition. He felt the calming presence of his friends. They were by his side. He would focus on that positive air that circulated through his skin, and let it carry away the sudden fear into the abyss.
With an unhinged resolve, the group drew their weapons, prepared to fight.
"We're not gonna let you put Dream Land to sleep and take away their dreams!" Sora said in a loud, courageous voice. "Not while we're still awake!"
"Afraid you're too late," Nightmare said, unamused by his threat. "My power cannot be challenged! Now witness it in all of its petrified glory!"
Like a missile, Nightmare launched himself high into the sky, and unleashed a blinding light from his form. Everyone shielded their eyes as they were consumed by its overwhelming power.
"Dream Land and all of its denizens shall forever suffer in a restless slumber!" Nightmare said, shouting in delight.
The light started to fade, and as Sora started opening his eyes, he saw the sphere morphing into a robed figure. Long, boney, gray hands emerged from with his dark purple cloak. A moon crescent formed at the top with a double chin. His eyes were covered by single chrome sunglasses. Hanging around his neck was a red medallion.
He hovered back down to the group, staring at them with a wide grin that lengthened to unnatural levels. Images of various ways to torment his fresh victims elegantly waltz through his mind.
Luigi reeled back in horror (as usual), letting out an audible gulp. "I'm starting to miss that mask salesman's creepy face."
"Kirby," Nightmare said, pointing an elongated, cold finger at him, "you and your friends are about to face your worst nightmare."
Luigi winced from the one-liner; even Sora's puns had more thought put into them. But Nightmare's foreboding power made up for such a frivolous quip. Nightmare fired outlined stars from his fingers, and everyone flew off into separate directions. Sora countered with a fire spell, but Nightmare vanished before the attack made contact.
Nightmare appeared in front of Sora, his hands parallel to the boy's body, perfect for crushing him like a fly. Before Nightmare could clap them together, Sora forced the Warp Star downward, just avoiding being flattened. He threw the Keyblade, and once again, Nightmare vanished from sight.
Sora gritted his teeth in frustration. "Hey! Why don't you fight like a, uh, whatever you are?"
The boy felt Nightmare's presence from behind; he turned to see a giant gray first coming right for him. Sora leaned back, flew over the first, and went straight for Nightmare's forehead, delivering a downward slash. It didn't affect him in the slightest. Sora looked right into Nightmare's glasses, noticing his apprehensive expression staring back at him.
"Because I like prolonging a one-sided battle as much as possible," Nightmare said with a low murmur.
Nightmare unleashed a wave of darkness from his body, sending Sora spinning backwards, out of control. The boy clutched onto the star like a pillow, refusing to let go. It didn't take him long to regain control. Nightmare fired another star straight for Sora while he was defenseless. Yoshi flew in front of him, deflecting the star with his shield.
Luigi and Kirby flew by the two, prepared to attack. Nightmare fired another star; Luigi moved ahead of Kirby, and deflected the star with his hammer. Kirby flew over Luigi, launching a star from the rod. Nightmare deflected it with his robe.
Luigi flew in from below, preparing to deliver a fire uppercut to Nightmare's chin, but he leaned backwards, dodging the fist. Nightmare pointed a finger at Kirby, summoning a stream of darkness down on him like lightning. Kirby came to a halt, just missing being eradicated. Another stream plummeted right towards his pink head. Kirby moved forward to dodge it, and then titled his Warp Star right to avoid another incoming stream.
Meanwhile, Luigi tried striking with his hammer, but Nightmare caught the head with little effort. He then shoved Luigi away, and fired another star. This time, Sora used Blizzard to freeze it in place; as the star descended, Yoshi ate it, flew over to Nightmare, and spat it right in his face, exploding into frozen specks. Although Nightmare didn't sustain any damage, it did make him flinch for a moment.
Kirby used this diversion to charge the Star Rod with power. He planned to end this now. Kirby swung right at Nightmare's chest, throwing every ounce of his stubby arms into the attack. However, the rod was deflected right off Nightmare's cloak, startling the puff ball.
Nightmare smirk widened. "Did you honestly expect to literally wave a magic wand to make me go away? As long as fear lingers in the heart, I will never die!"
He prepared to throw a punch, but Sora used Thunder to stun him for a moment, giving Kirby a chance to retreat. Nightmare was growing somewhat vexed by their persistence, but didn't need to be worried. Why should he be? Nothing could hurt him. Even the world itself froze in terror at his omnipresence power. Clouds remained motionless; the air was still. Existence was at his mercy.
All except for four annoying fruit flies who couldn't comprehend the meaning of surrender.
He shot multiple stars at Kirby, all of which he dodged by tilting left and right. Sometimes he twisted himself like a corkscrew to avoid them. Kirby performed a U-turn, and flew right back at Nightmare, shooting more stars. Nightmare covered himself with his cloak, blocking the attacks. Sora and Luigi stared hitting him with magic spells.
They were determined to win. Kirby would not let anyone succumb to everlasting sleep; to let his bright, vibrant world wither into a dismal wasteland. Despite being at odds with the Dedede, he had to trust his judgment in believing the Star Rod could defeat Nightmare. After all, he had just as much to lose as Kirby did. Why lead him astray?
Nightmare's patience started swaying faster, like a boat being caught in a furious storm. His plans had fallen into place. He would not let it be postponed anymore. Nightmare extended his arms; then, he opened his mouth to unnatural lengths, producing a loud, deafening scream that sent everyone flying backwards.
As they regained their balance, the group noticed Nightmare's cloak floating in the wind. Underneath it, they noticed a tornado of darkness – his body.
His weakness!
Everyone regrouped to form a new plan. They needed to distract Nightmare long enough for Kirby to attack the core.
"Pointless chatter will get you nowhere." Nightmare hovered over to them, once again widening his grin. It was the only other light source in the sky. "I am part of nature. I exist in all of you."
Sora lowered his head, looking defeated. "Maybe you're right about that. You serve as a window into our deepest fears. Sometimes we're forced to look through it." He looked up at Nightmare with a spark of resolve in his blue eyes. "But we never have to look for long. Eventually, you overcome those fears, and the nightmare is gone. Just like you. You can't exist forever."
"You're willing to believe such idealistic nonsense?" Nightmare said, laughing. "Then by all means – do try to back up your claim."
Sora got into his battle position, giving a confident grin. "Mother Brain and Ganondorf could vouch for us. Oh, wait. We defeated them. Guess you'll have to experience it the hard way!"
Nightmare vanished, reappearing right above the four, and showered down stars from his hands. The group twisted and turned through the hazardous rain. Yoshi flew off in one direction, but came to a halt from another giant stream. Turning around, he saw Nightmare throw a punch at him. Yoshi put his shield up to block the attack, but the force sent him flying.
Nightmare looked up see Luigi launching Blizzard at him; with a powerful exhale, he sent the spell right back at Luigi, partially freezing his Warp Star. Luigi started losing the link with it, and plummeted towards the earth like a meteor. He used Fire magic to melt the ice, regaining full control of his Warp Star in the process.
An orange light appeared in the corner of Nightmare's eyes. Spinning around, he saw Sora firing his spiral attack; the dark sky was illuminated from the spirals' magical orange glow. Nightmare deflected them with his cloak. A waste of time, he thought. What's the point of exerting more energy? Did they wanted to die a heroic death? Sometimes accepting your demise brings a painful release.
Sora smirked; it was all part of the plan. "NOW!"
Kirby launched stars like a pitching machine straight into Nightmare's core, making him scream in pain. The sound barrier was disrupted by a tsunami of distress. He never experienced such a terrible sensation before. Also, it felt like a damage to his pride; he was invisible. Nothing could touch him. Brought down to the level of mere mortals. It left a rancid taste in his mouth.
And he knew the source of this sour taste: Kirby.
Upon recovering, he vanished, reappearing right above Kirby's head, turned upside down, and prepared to spin his core straight into the puff ball's marshmallow head. Yoshi hurried over with the shield over his head, and caught the drill. But Nightmare's giant mass started pushing against the dinosaur; he could feel his spine tremble from the pressure.
Kirby flew in reverse, and fired more stars into the core, once again damaging Nightmare. His composure had melted in a large vat of rage. He had waited so long for his plans to be wrapped together in a neat ribbon. Now, it was on the verge of being snapped in half, forced to dangle back and forth as a reminder of failure.
Nightmare fired an onslaught of stars at Sora and his friends, keeping them distracted while he perused Kirby. He vanished, reappearing in front of the puff ball, and threw a punch. Kirby ducked underneath the attack, and fired another star. Nightmare once again vanished; this time he reappeared above Kirby, holding a star on the tip of each finger. He tossed them right at Kirby, who deflected them with the rod.
But it was a distraction! Nightmare appeared to the side of Kirby, knocking him away with a smack of his hand. The puff ball spun through the dark, empty sky, trying to his regain balance. Nightmare appeared in front of him, and fired an energy beam from his glasses. Kirby had just enough time to point the Warp Star straight at the beam, which caused it to explode into pieces.
Unfortunately, the impact sent Kirby flying into the sky. Nightmare was quick to grab him with his giant hand; he started crushing Kirby's squishy body. The puff ball's excruciating screams reverberated throughout the vicinity, pounding in Sora's ear drums. He and the others flew towards Nightmare posthaste.
Nightmare snapped his fingers, and the three found themselves surrounded by a barrage of stars. One false move could be fatal. They heard Kirby's cries for help; he was getting crushed between Nightmares fingers.
"It seems this so-called 'Hero of Dreamland' is comparable to putty," Nightmare said. "Weak and meaningless."
"Let him go!" Sora said as his anger rose.
"Afraid not," Nightmare said. "Like putty, he is providing mild amusement. Besides, I want you to carry the sounds of his screams to your slumber; that you'll be forced to live with your failure forever."
Sora clenched his fists; his anger was on a steady incline, growing faster with each hard pedal. He had to witness loss throughout his journey. Samus, Zelda, his home, just to name a few. Riku and Kairi were potential future victims, too. But now, Kirby would be next to become a memory – one that would forever be tarnished with tears and stains of failure. Sora wouldn't stand for it any longer.
The Keyblade lit up the entire area. Everyone was astonished by how much power radiated from it. Sora squeezed the hilt with both hands, flew straight into the stars, and broke through them with a powerful slash. Even Nightmare was startled by this sudden burst of energy. He fired more stars, but Sora cut through every single one – his expression was stone cold, filled with a burning desire to save Kirby.
"Force!" Sora shouted.
The Gravity Spell appeared above Nightmare's head. He raised a hand to grab the spell, and crushed it with ease. Once again, it was a diversion. Luigi and Yoshi both appeared in front of his eyes, and together, with a hammer and headbutt, cracked his shades. Natural reaction made him clutch them with both hands, dropping Kirby in the process.
Sora hurried over and caught the puff ball in his arms. "Kirby! Are you okay?"
For a moment, Kirby remained motionless. Sora gave him a gentle shake. Still, no answer. Anxiety pumped extra air into his lungs. His heart pounded faster. Was he too late? He could never forgive himself for losing another friend. Luigi and Yoshi gathered around the two, trying to assist in helping Kirby.
Nothing seemed to work, though: shouting, shaking, he remained limp. Sora's hope had formed a mudslide which went down a large, jagged mountain. But Yoshi had one last idea. He began licking Kirby's nonstop.
And it worked. Kirby opened his blue eyes, groaning from the pain, but also because of being drenched in dinosaur saliva. Everyone's bodies collapsed with relief.
"Man," Sora said with an awkward chuckle, "don't scare me like that. He didn't hurt you too bad, did he?"
Kirby gave him a reassuring nod. Good. Sora would be able to keep their memories together in pristine condition. The group turned to face Nightmare. He grasped at his shades, frustrated over how they were ruined. Seeing him flustered gave the group an opening for a counterattack. Kirby hopped onto Yoshi's back, while Sora and Luigi went ahead to keep Nightmare occupied again.
The two launched Blizzard spells right in his shades, which turned them to solid ice. Unable to see, he couldn't anticipate another strike from Kirby's Star Rod, which made him holler in pain. He grabbed his shades, revealing a singular black hole that formed in his eyes. Not a pupil was in sight. Behind that eye was a gateway into everlasting terrors beyond comprehension.
Livid, he crushed the shades in his hand; then, he fired another star at Yoshi and Kirby. Luigi flew in front of the two, butting it away with his hammer. Sora threw the Keyblade straight into Nightmare's eyes, which managed to disorient his vision. Kirby flew straight over and swung straight at the core with a flurry of combos. The pain was overwhelming Nightmare; it continued sending shocks throughout his system.
The group continued their tactics; and it was working! Nightmare's movements became lethargic. They were able to anticipate each strike, and counter with intense force. How is this happening? I'm invincible, he thought. I am a part of creation itself, and yet, they're able to defy it.
After dealing enough damage, the four regrouped, and formed a giant Warp Star. Kirby held up the Star Rod, converting some of its power into Sora and Luigi's weapons. Nightmare found himself reel backwards. Amongst the overwhelming aches was a new feeling – something that, up until now, only existed in his victims.
Fear.
The group turned into a giant star, flew straight into Nightmare's core, and broke him in two. He bellowed in pain. Light burst from his eyes and mouth; his entire body started to stretch to incredible lengths, as if about to be pulled apart by an unseen force.
"I will…live…on….in…your….dreams!"
He exploded into a massive white light. The group braced themselves as they were hit by a burst of air. Once the commotion died down, everyone looked around the black void. Not a trace of him remained. Suddenly, the dark veil opened, revealing a bright blue sky. Everything was calm. A gentle breeze embraced their faces with jubilation; it was followed by cheerful murmurs in their ears.
Nearby, they saw the sun grace its presence with its warm, pleasing glow. Sora never expected to be witnessing this view from above the clouds. It was breathtaking. Everyone sat down on the Warp Star, sharing this tranquil moment together. It had been forever since they could enjoy even the smallest joys of life. The fight was over. Nightmare would never harm Dreamland again.
Kirby wanted to collapse right now. He was overcome by relief. Tonight, he would sleep without a care in the world, knowing that everyone was safe. For a moment, he thought he'd never experience such bliss again. His journey was long and treacherous. But he had help this time – from complete strangers who didn't need to accompany him. Who could've just past by him without a second thought.
But they stuck with him till the very end, and that was the sign of true friends.
Kirby turned to Sora. "Thank you."
"No, thank you," Sora said, placing a hand on Kirby's head. "For putting your trust in us."
Kirby smiled; it was a decision he was content to carry with him forever.
Uproarious sounds of confused and frightened citizens congested the silent air. They were gathered outside of town courtesy of the Meta Knights, and prepared to make their journey towards Dedede's Castle. The Meta Knights did their best to keep the crowd calm, but the threatening dark sky cast a shadow of apprehension on the concerned citizens (the lack of sleep didn't help in raising their anxiety).
They were about to depart for Dedede's castle when a stroke of blue wiped away the darkness. Everyone watched as the sun peeked out from the cloud; the rays touched down on Dream Land, restoring its vibrant, sparkling colors. The citizens could sense peace had been restored, and they erupted into cheers. Some jumped up and down in excitement, while others exhaled a huge, relieved sigh.
Meta Knight stared up at the sky; there was nothing but light clouds and blue skies. It had been so long since he had seen them. In the past, it was covered by smoke from large fires; in the background he heard gunfire, blades clashing, and the sounds of people suffering. For the first time in forever, he could sheath his disquieting blade, and not keep a hand on it every waking day.
Meta Knight let out a small chuckle; he hadn't experienced serenity in so long. It was like reuniting with a lost friend; how do you enjoy your time with it? Either way, he had a whole new life ahead of him, and would make it a good one.
Meta Knight closed his eyes, and spoke in a whisper. "Thank you, my friends. "Now I never have to worry about reliving the past again."
Dedede and Bandana arrived outside of the entrance to the castle. They, too, watched the sky return to normal. Dedede sighed in contentment; he was glad to have undone his mistake. It was never his attention to let this whole ordeal spiral out of control. He could never live with himself if something happened to this world.
Taking responsibly made him feel good. It was like being proper ruler. Perhaps showing a bit of empathy towards other wasn't a bad idea (although that gratification for yelling at his servants remained stapled to his ego).
"They actually did it," Dedede said, adjusting his hat, smirking. "Kirby might be a pain, but they're times when I'm glad he keeps this world safe."
He continued gazing at the sky with a smile.
"Everything okay, sire?" Bandana asked.
"Yeah," Dedede said. "Just forgot how beautiful the sky is."
Bandana was overjoyed by the king's statement. He was starting to appreciate the little things in life. Maybe he was becoming a better person? It would be difficult. Change is not spontaneous. It needs time to bloom. But Bandana wouldn't mind the king displaying some benevolence.
Dedede stretched out his back, groaning. "Say, I feel like getting out more. Wanna come with me? It was your idea."
"You bet!" Bandana said, pleased.
"First, let's make sure everyone else is alright," Dedede said.
He opened the castle door, anticipating nothing but adoration from his servants for his grand return. Instead, he was greeted to the boisterous sounds of them throwing a massive party in the hall. Streamers, plastic cups, plates, and wrappers were littered on the floor. Some of the servants were dancing to music. Others were swinging on the chandeliers. And some just engaged in frivolous conversations.
"So the elephant says, "you should see the monkey,'" one Waddle-Dee said to another. They then broke into laughter.
Bandana shifted his panicked eyes to the king. Dedede's cheeks expanded, fill with hot, angry air. The forthcoming verbal assault was going to be astronomical.
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!?" Dedede said at the top of his lungs.
The music stopped. Everyone faced the king with a look of frozen dread. They did not want to be in his line of sight; it would be a potential hazard. Wordless, everyone scattered from the room like mice being spotted by a ferocious cat.
Bandana sighed. Looks like he had to take on the unwitting role of damage control. Again. "I'll get a broom." And he left.
"What's a king to do?" Dedede asked, shaking his head in mild frustration.
Sora and his friends returned to the Fountain of Dreams, and disembarked from the Warp Star.
"I think I'm done flying for today," Sora said, exhaling in exhaustion.
"But we need to take Labo Ship later," Yoshi said.
Sora rubbed his forehead. "Why'd you have to remind me?"
Kirby approached the Fountain with the Rod. He glanced back and forth with watchful eyes, making sure there were no other suspicious characters around. Kirby reached the pedestal, carefully placed the Rod on top of it, and hopped off to join the others. Once again, nothing happened. A feeling of concern snapped around the group's abdomens like an elastic band.
Did Nightmare live up to his namesake? A ubiquitous being that would always exist in nature? Everyone braced themselves for the worst. Then, water started pouring down each of the Fountain's levels. The Rod started glowing, and unleashed an explosion of little stars into the sky. The group relaxed; they had succeeded.
The citizens of Dream Land could finally enjoy a good night's sleep without having to worry about a terrifying, disfigured nightmare waiting around the corner. Before the group could celebrate their victory, they noticed the Star Rod shooting out a small energy beam from the tip, which hit a nearby tree.
The energy soon morphed into a familiar sight: a keyhole.
Sora chuckled as he summoned the Keyblade. "Isn't that convenient."
Within seconds, he locked the Keyhole, guaranteeing this world's safety from any further harm. Sora took a moment afterwards to stretch out his arms and neck; they were as stiff as a plank. He needed to shred the tension into sawdust. It had been another big adventure laden with excitement, drama, and danger.
He looked up at the sky; the sun had just reached its peak. They still had a long day ahead of them. But for right now, a break was in order, he thought.
"Alright!" Sora said, groaning as he finished his stretch. "Whatdaya say we get a big lunch, guys? Just like I promised." No response. "Guys?"
He spun around to see a sight that would fill someone's smile with cavities: Kirby and Yoshi had fallen asleep together; they were leaned against a tree. Today had taken an even bigger toll on the two. Sora didn't blame them. Especially Kirby. He didn't have to worry about protecting his home anymore.
Kirby rested his head against Yoshi's stomach, feeling it move up and down in a slow, rhythmic manner. Every distressing thought had been squeezed out of his mind like a sponge. It was replaced with delightful images of succulent foods: from hamburgers to candy. Sora and Luigi felt a release of stress just from watching the two sleep without a care in the world.
Sora gestured towards a tree next to them. "Maybe we should take a cue from them and rest for a little bit."
"I ain't sleeping next to you," Luigi said, raising an eyebrow.
Sora chuckled. "Not like that, I mean."
The two walked over to the adjacent tree, taking a seat on each side of it. Sora sunk into the tree; he stretched out his legs. For a moment, this peaceful respite reminded him of being back on his island, watching the vibrant blue sky; he'd focus on the white clouds as they drifted by at a turtle's pace, letting his thoughts fly with them like birds heading south for the winter.
"Hey," Luigi said, pulling out a piece of paper, "want to check out the Ansem Report while we wait?"
Sora took the paper from Luigi and started reading.
It is my duty to expose what this darkness really is. I shall conduct the following experiments:
-Extract the darkness from a person's heart.
-Cultivate darkness in a pure heart.
-Both suppress and amplify the darkness within.
The experiments caused the test subject's heart to collapse, including those of the most stalwart. How fragile our hearts are! My treatment produced no signs of recovery. I confined those who had completely lost their hearts beneath the castle.
Some time later, I went below and was greeted by the strangest sight. Creatures that seemed born of darkness...What are they? Are they truly sentient beings? Could they be the shadows of those who lost their hearts in my experiments?
Each line Sora read expanded the uncomfortable lump in his throat. This didn't sound like a ruler who treated his subjects with courtesy and respect. Not even a hint of remorse shed an inky tear through the words. Leon told him that Ansem was resolute in his mission to eliminate the Heartless – to vanquish the everlasting affliction superglued to their skin.
But this was inhumane.
Then again, he didn't know Ansem. Words never paint a full picture like actions. Maybe these people volunteered themselves for the good of humanity? They were many potholes in Ansem's life that needed to be filled. He just hoped they'd lead to an answer – to restoring his home, to saving Kairi, and to rekindle his relationship with Riku.
Yoshi overcame his jealousy of Kirby; Sora prayed that Riku would do the same.
After a big lunch (in which Yoshi and Kirby's massive appetites demolished an entire kitchen's worth of food), Kirby escorted his new friends back to the ship. He was sad to see them leave. Especially Sora. They had grown close in a short amount of time. The day went by fast. There was barely any time to just sit and enjoy the environment together. Time continued prodding them forward.
Sora agreed. He hated leaving so soon. But, in the back of his mind, he knew visiting these worlds was an incomplete experience; he wanted to explore them with Riku and Kairi. That was his dream. Once this journey was over, he and his friends would visit every world to their hearts content. He vowed make the pages of his fantasy spring to life.
"Guess this is where we say good-bye," Sora said, disappointed.
Kirby grabbed his arm, and looked up at him with a crestfallen expression. He shook his head. "Poyo! Poyo!"
"We can't stay," Sora said. "Wish we could." He gave Dream Land one last look. "This place is so nice. I would've loved for you to give us a tour."
"But we have places to be," Luigi said. "Friends of ours are out there somewhere. Can't keep them waiting."
Kirby lowered his head, disheartened; but it was immediately lifted when Yoshi licked his face, making him laugh from the wet kisses.
"I know Yoshi's gonna miss you," Sora said with a small chuckle. "But I promise we'll come back and visit. Promises are something I never break, so count on seeing us again."
"Just keep the memories of our adventures close," Luigi said. "They'll tide you over until we come back."
Kirby felt better from hearing those encouraging words. In fact, he was excited; he couldn't wait for the day Sora and his friends return, so that they could partake in more adventures.
"Thank you…friends," Kirby said, cheerful. He waved. "Good-bye!"
Kirby watched as the ship ascended until it vanished into the clouds. The puff ball smiled, knowing he would see them again. Sooner than you think. Tonight, he would snuggle under his covers, drift into a peaceful sleep, and find them waiting for him.
Together, they would soar over Dream Land, partaking in never-ending escapades with merriment in their hearts.
It was the perfect dream.
After their noses were filled with the rough smell of steam from the engine room, the group approached the ladder to the cockpit.
Luigi looked over his shoulder to see the others. "Let's free the Star Spirit before continuing on."
"How about changing us back first?" Sora glanced down at his feet, looking restless. "Having knees would make walking a lot easier."
"Oh, right." He flicked his fingers inward. "Stand close you two."
Although the two did as instructed, there was a hint of hesitation rattling back and forth in their eyes.
"Luigi think he's got this?" Yoshi asked, a little nervous.
Luigi smirked in confidence and held up his hand. "Not even a question. Don't worry about a thing. Just a snap and…"
They exploded into a puff of smoke, and reappeared as anything but their original forms. Yoshi had taken on the form of a tortoise with a red shell. Luigi noticed his arms had been replaced by white wings; the tips were colored green. Tail feathers had grown on his backside, sporting the same colors. While still wearing his hat, Luigi's face resembled that of a Red-billed hornbill bird.
"….instant failure." Luigi sighed in exasperation. "Mama-mia!" He paused. "Although, this form does have possibilities. Think I might have some fun on one of Bowser's cars when I get home. Hehehe. I've matured gracefully."
Yoshi seemed insulted by his new appearance. "Great. Me a turtle again. Why Luigi keep doing that? What he trying to say about Yoshi? That he slow!?"
"No, not at all!" Luigi said, with an innocent look. "Just a huge coincidence! I swear, I would never—"
They were interrupted by what sounded like someone rubbing sandpaper on a surface. The two traced the noise to Sora, who had become a lion cub with brown fur, and gray on his stomach, paws, and mouth. His spiky hair took on the form of a mane. He was washing a paw with his tongue. Sensing their stares, he looked up at them; he seemed genuinely confused as to why they were giving him strange looks.
"What?" Sora asked.
Yoshi's jaw dropped in surprise as he scanned Sora's features. "Has Sora become just as cute as Yoshi?" He was perturbed. "Me not sure me can handle this. Yoshi going to have an extra terrestrial crisis!"
"That's existential crisis!" Luigi said with a snap. "Stop being dramatic. We're working on your vanity next."
Luigi's lecture came to a halt when a sudden burst of hot air tickled his ear. The feeling grew strong; it was like standing next to a train discharging steam. The sound grew louder; each puff pushed further into his ear. Turning around, he met with Sora's blue eyes, which gleamed with a sudden, uncontrollable desire. He leaned down on all fours; his tail wiggled back and forth like a pendulum.
Luigi started to back away with his clawed feet; his feathers started to ruffle in fear. "Wh-what are you doing?"
"Luigi, we need to spend more quality time together, "Sora said in calm, unnerving tone. "Why don't you come over here and stand right next to my sharp teeth?"
"Have you lost your mind!?" Luigi asked in horror. Sora stepped closer. "No, don't wiggle your butt! Stay away! No touchy with the teethy! Sora!"
The boy pounced right for him, and Luigi flew into the air, just missing those sharp claws. Sora chased him around the room, letting out excitable, hungry growls; in between them were desperate cries from Luigi. It was insanity personified. Yoshi retreated into his shell, overwhelmed from the chaos on display. Even Telly-Vision started chasing Sora around, warning him not to ruin the freshly coated room.
Hearing the commotion, Isabelle started climbing down the ladder. "Hey, is everything al—?" She froze in bewilderment upon seeing the madness for herself. Nope. She was not going to dive headfirst into this mess. "Oh, I just realized: made a grammatical error in the journal. Better go fix it. K, bye!"
Isabelle hurried back into the cockpit, slamming the latch behind her. She had her fair share of danger to last a lifetime.
It took a while, but everyone managed to get Sora's urges under control. With another snap, Luigi was able to revert everyone back to normal. But he was irate with Sora, giving him a huge scowl. Guilt shrunk Sora's conscience to the size of a walnut. He had no idea what made him lose control.
Luigi refused to even look in Sora's general direction. The grudge had returned with a vengeance; it relished in ever angry crease formed on the plumber's forehead. Luigi released Misstar from her captivity. She granted them a spell called: Aero, which deploys a wind barrier, protecting its user from fatal attacks.
Once everyone entered the cockpit, Misstar took her leave, and, after locking on to another Star Spirit, Luigi set course for the next world. But he was far from excited; that scowl was plastered across his face, and it only hardened as time passed. Sora began apologizing profusely, hoping to loosen that expression with forgiveness.
Luigi refused to speak.
"Aw, don't be like that," Sora said, forming a pout. "I swear I didn't mean it! Your magic worked TOO well at getting me into the role. Please, let me make it up to you. I'll wash the ship later."
His offer was shot down by Luigi's continued silence.
Sora winced at the next idea that entered his mind, as if he just suffered a headache. "I'll cut down on the number of puns I make today."
"Just for today?" Luigi asked, eyeing him from the corner of his vision. "How about never again?"
Sora was mortified by the very notion. "What you ask of me is something only an insane person would do. Isn't there any way I can make it up to you?"
Luigi liked hearing those words. Perhaps he should take advantage of Sora's generous proposal. Might make the day a little less cumbersome. He drummed his fingers on the wheel, mulling over an appropriate. His frown subsided as something came to mind. But Sora didn't like that it was slowly morphing into a devious smirk.
"Why do I have a feeling the word regret is going to haunt me tonight?" Sora asked, worried.
"As a matter of fact," Luigi said, seeming a bit too chipper, "there is a way you can make it up to me."
He whispered his request in Sora's ear, who gasped in horror. "Are you serious!? There's no way I'm giving him a ba—"
Luigi covered his mouth, and turned to see the others giving them perplexed stares.
"Everything's fine," Luigi said with a nervous chuckle. "Never mind him. His ingrown toenail is bothering him."
"Yeesh," Yoshi said, clenching his teeth together. "Sora should get that checked."
Luigi pulled Sora's ear up to his mouth, and whispered, "You know how Yoshi gets when he hears the B word."
"I realize that now," Sora said, whispering back to him. "But do I have to? You've told me how your ventures into bath time end in disaster."
Luigi narrowed his eyes. "It's either that or losing the puns forever. Your choice."
Sora frowned. He would never abandon his constant barrage of play on words. It was a trait that defined his lighthearted personality. To have that lair peeled away like an onion, leaving behind a horrid smell of boredom, was a travesty.
"Fine," Sora said, defeated. "I'll bathe him tonight." He sat back in his set. At least Luigi was acknowledging his existence again. "It can't be that bad. Maybe he won't be as fidgety with me."
Luigi responded by howling with laughter, something Sora had never seen him do before. Sora may have just made a miscalculation in his assumption. Isabelle and Yoshi stared at Luigi, no longer perplexed, but concerned for his well-being.
"I-Is everything okay?" Isabelle asked.
Luigi wiped his eye. "Couldn't be better. Sora just told his first hilarious joke." He gave Sora a hard slap on the shoulder. "Congrats, kid! You must be so proud!"
Sora slid lower into his seat, grumbling to himself; he started lamenting over opening his mouth. Desperation can be a dangerous weapon to brandish. Isabelle and Yoshi turned to each other, feeling like they've been left behind at the start of a race, confused by their odd behavior.
"Is there a full moon out or something?" Isabelle asked. "What is wrong with everybody?"
Yoshi just shrugged. Although, for some reason, he thought he heard his ears ring.
Thoughts of his impending task were pushed aside once Sora saw the next world come into view; it was unlike any place he had seen yet. He leaned out over the control panel, gaping at its massive size. Right in front of them was a futuristic city; the skyscrapers were dazzled with neon lights and signs.
Sora could make out the silhouettes of what appeared to be flying vehicles moving by the buildings. It was a world of tomorrow – something that only existed on the pages of book, described in vivid details. And now, they were about to step onto those pages, experiencing every colorful adjective through sight.
Without wasting another second, they began their descent into the hustling, bustling world. Heart pounding action was about to extend a neon-colored greeting from within the depths of the city.
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