Disclaimer: Kirby belongs to Nintendo and HAL Laboratory.
Later on that day, Doc managed to patch up Kirby. From there, Daroach led the pink puffball out of his house.
"It's time for you to sneak out of the city," Daroach told him, "you were already spotted, so there will be people looking for you. I'm doing what I can to keep my own name out of people's mouths right now so I don't get implicated in your escape. Spinni is currently talking about how he nearly defeated you, leaving you battered and bloodied before you got away from him. He has people looking in another location entirely. I'm going to try and sneak you out through the Great Cave. You know about it?"
"Poyo," Kirby nodded.
Daroach draped a large patchwork cloak over Kirby. He then pulled out a knife and handed it to him.
"If anyone gets too close," he instructed, "subtly brandish it. It'll make people less likely to look at you too closely. If it's another gang, you need to run from them. Our gang may be the most powerful, but there are some heavy hitters down here."
Kirby nodded with a determined look in his eyes.
"The main thing is don't make eye contact," Daroach added, "one last thing…"
Reaching into his pocket dimension, Daroach pulled out a can of spray paint. He shook it up and sprayed him until his body was a blue color, though the pink star warrior coughed a little.
"That should help disguise you a bit better, but don't let people get too close to you," Daroach continued, pointing his claw to a large neon sign with 777 on it, "the entrance to the cave is on the other side of the slums, next to that gambling den. And if anyone tries to get you to buy something or gives you a bag full of colorful candies, don't eat those. Are we clear?"
"Poyo," Kirby nodded.
Kirby turned and surveyed his surroundings, mentally calculating the safest possible routes.
"I need to get going and monitor the situation with the other gangs," Daroach proclaimed, "I think I can talk down some of them, but the others…there are other gangs that will come after you for this. Stay safe, my pink friend."
Daroach teleported away. Upon cue, Kirby scampered through the nearest empty alleyway. He stopped for a moment to hide behind a dumpster, checking the streets. Everything seemed clear save for some normal Squeaks wandering around. The pink puffball snuck along the street, making a beeline for the next empty alleyway. He checked the alleyway for a second and when he reached another street, he checked his surroundings again. Thankfully, he didn't find any gangsters nearby. He checked the casino sign from a distance, calculating how many blocks he would have to sneak through. He continued venturing the slums, keeping his distance from any passing Squeak and averting his eyes at all costs.
Getting closer to the casino, Kirby spotted some gangsters nearby. They didn't look nearly as pleasant as Daroach with dirty fur and a more aggressive demeanor. They weren't as well equipped, save for switchblades. Among the four of the gangsters, one of them was juggling a couple of cartoony-looking bombs, wearing a pair of sunglasses and bright pink gloves. The pink star warrior kept his distance and darted through the alleyway, hoping the street would be clear enough for him to sneak behind the building across the casino.
As he crept around, however, he heard something roll to a stop next to him, glancing down a pair of white eyes painted onto one of the bombs the Squeak had been juggling. The fuse vanished into the hard-shelled explosive. Kirby's eyes widened as it exploded.
"Did you see that?" the sunglasses wearing Squeak laughed, "I nailed him!"
Kirby staggered back to his feet, shuddering when he realized the explosion burnt the cloak to ashes.
"Listen up, pal!" the Squeak snickered, tossing one of his bombs up and down in his hand, "the name is Mouser, and I'm gonna get a pretty penny for bringing you in!"
Kirby didn't bother to look his attacker in the eye as he made a run for it.
"W-What?!" Mouser shouted, "hey! Get back here and fight me like a man!"
Mouser immediately chased after Kirby. The pink star warrior didn't dare look backwards as he kept sprinting, his eyes focused on the entrance to the cave. He heard more explosions behind him, the clink of the bombs hitting the pavement behind him. Adrenaline flooded his body as Kirby moved past the casino, getting closer to the cavern entrance. Mouser kept up his pursuit with short distance explosions continuing on. The aggressive Squeak growled and reached into his pocket dimension.
"That's it!" he yelled.
Kirby tensed as Mouser pulled out an odd explosive device with a wind-up key, eyes and feet. The Squeak turned the key and once he finished, he dispatched it after him. The pink star warrior accelerated his sprint, barely making it through the entrance and setting foot into the Great Cave.
"Dammit," Mouser growled, "I can't follow him through there…"
The walking bomb didn't catch up to Kirby as it exploded far behind him. The pink star warrior found himself in an area of the Great Cave he hadn't seen before, seeming more like a normal cave than he was used to. With only the knife in his possession, Kirby started meandering through the area in search of a possible exit. Even when the area seemed mostly barren, he got a strange feeling to the air. It could probably be dust, but he couldn't help but feel like something was off about the area. As tired as he was, he decided against taking a nap for now.
Kirby continued scoping possible branching paths in the tunnels. Before long, a soft beeping sound echoed and the cave flooded with light. A large screen materialized in the air, a large crack moving through it originating from a lower corner. The pink puff scrambled to a cavern wall before tilting his gaze upwards.
"Poyo?"
He recognized the screen from the mysterious magic machine he fought the previous time he was here. It flashed some rather eerie text:
[Game Over: Continue?]
[Yes]
[No]
Kirby gave the screen a puzzled look and tilted his head sideways.
[Yes]
[Computer Virus summons: A Fallen Foe]
[It's Holo Defense !]
[Holo Defense summons Holo-Doomers!]
[The summon is making Summons? Oh, what Irony.]
[The joke falls flat.]
The screen shook for a moment before a familiar opponent appeared. He recognized the Holo Defense API he fought back when the Haltmann Works Company invaded Popstar. Kirby made a brief glance at the knife in his possession, wondering if he could get a copy ability out of it. The two large holographic creatures similar to the ones which held Energy Spheres from his adventure to repair the Lor Starcutter appeared, letting out screeches as they flew towards Kirby.
[Twin Holo-Doomers use tackle!]
[Computer Virus has received a lawsuit!]
Kirby inhaled the knife and became Ninja Kirby.
[Kirby became a Ninja, believe it!]
[Computer Virus is piling up lawsuits!]
The Twin Holo-Doomers slammed into Kirby's side. The pink puff grabbed at one of the Holo-Doomers. It screeched and tried to throw him off, but it failed to do so.
[Kirby is hurt!]
[Kirby grapples with Holo Defense 's Summon!]
Kirby slashed the Doomer with a katana and leapt off. He slammed his foot into the other Doomer, sending it flying into the ground.
[Kirby lashes out with his Katana!]
[The Holo-Doomer [1] takes 34 damage!]
[The Holo-Doomer [2] has been Foot Stooled! Is this a competitive match?!]
Kirby dodged a projectile one Holo-Doomer spat out before throwing a few kunais. The Holo-Doomers both charged up fireballs, even when flinching at the damage.
[The Twin Holo-Doomers start charging up a blast!]
[Holo Doomer [1] takes 10 damage 3 times!]
Kirby quickly entered a defensive stance.
[Kirby raises his defenses!]
The Holo-Doomers took turns unleashing a fiery blast attack. Kirby flinched as the blasts struck him, but recuperated quickly.
[Kirby is engulfed in flames!]
[Kirby defends against the inferno!]
Kirby leapt up and swung down a fan, conjuring a barrage of cherry blossoms which he flung at the Holo-Doomers. One of them screeched as it exploded.
[Holo-Doomer [1] is defeated!]
[Kirby finds 50 gold and 100 experience.]
[Kirby leveled up! Kirby gains 3 free stat points.]
[Holo-Doomer [2] is enraged! Attack is doubled!]
The Holo-Doomer charged at him recklessly and slammed the pink puff into the cavern wall.
[Holo-Doomer hurts itself in a powerful charge and takes 12 damage!]
[Kirby takes 30 damage!]
Kirby plopped to the ground, but got back to his feet. He sprinted towards the Holo-Doomer and slashed it with the katana.
[Holo Defense recalls Holo-Doomer [2].]
[Holo Defense takes damage equal to its summons and is badly hurt!]
[Holo Defense summons Holo-Kirby!]
The creature vanished and a green holographic projection of Kirby appeared in its place. It seemed different, as something about this version himself was just…off. Kirby fidgeted nervously, wondering what this hologram would do next.
[This version of Kirby is brought to you by: Master Hand!]
The hologram charged at Kirby, bursting into flame and smashing into him.
[Holo-Kirby uses Fire Charge!]
Kirby crashed into the cavern wall, losing his copy ability in the process.
[Kirby loses his Ninja skills!]
[Holo Kirby grapples Kirby!]
[Holo Kirby punches Kirby 3 times!]
[Holo Kirby uses Air Drop!]
Kirby flinched as his green doppleganger grabbed him, punched him repeatedly and slammed him into the ground. The pink puffball struggled to his feet, now in far worse condition. He checked his surroundings, hoping to find some hiding spot to recuperate and prepare a counter attack.
[Holo-Kirby is looking to punish Kirby's poor recovery and take a stock!]
Kirby spotted a few loose rocks nearby and quickly inhaled them.
[Kirby transforms into Stone Kirby! Defense up!]
Holo Kirby dashed closer. Now that the pink star warrior had the Stone Copy Ability, he actually gained thicker skin in exchange for being a bit heavier than normal. Holo-Kirby opened his mouth and Kirby felt the heavy pull as the copy attempted to inhale him.
[Holo-Kirby uses Inhale!]
Kirby thought fast and leapt up before he changed into a sturdy heavy stone, slamming down onto his doppleganger.
[Kirby uses his Down special to punish Holo Kirby for his failed Inhale attack.]
[Holo Kirby takes 24 damage!]
[The crowd cheers!]
The doppleganger went flying, smoke now starting to sizzle out. From there, Kirby would change back and prepare himself for a brief moment. He then leapt up again and hurdled down as a heavy stone. The doppleganger tried entering a defensive stance, but Kirby's attack broke it easily, leaving it stumbling around in place. The pink star warrior repeated his action which finished off the doppleganger, sending it flying off into the distance with an explosion.
[Holo-Kirby is defeated! GAME!]
[Holo Defense takes damage equivalent to its summons collective damage!]
[Holo Defense is defeated!]
[Computer Virus takes damage equivalent to its summons collective damage!]
[Computer Virus is defeated!]
[Kirby gains 200 Exp]
[Kirby obtains several lawsuits!]
[Kirby gains several nerfs in the next update!]
Kirby let out a heavy sigh of relief before shedding his copy ability. Though, he was rather baffled that this Computer Virus came up with a few new tricks, even as it retreated into the darkness. He continued venturing through the cave until he found an exit. When he stepped outside, he surveyed the landscape of Peanut Plains. He summoned the Warp Star and hopped on before he took off. He flew across Dreamland as the sun began to set at the horizon. It didn't take long for him to touch down at the courtyard to the tower. He disembarked the Warp Star and made his way to the door. Before he could even knock, the door opened, revealing Elfilin from the other side.
"Kirby, you're back!" Elfilin chirped, doing a happy back flip.
"Poyo," Kirby waved his arm weakly.
"Thank goodness you're ok!" Elfilin cried happily, "I was so worried about you!"
Elfilin immediately embraced Kirby and nuzzled his face. The pink puff giggled a little and returned the embrace. Kirby walked into the foyer with the small chinchilla still in his arms. Vesa and Elfilis emerged from the staircase to the library when they spotted the pink star warrior.
"Kirby!" Vesa exclaimed.
Vesa rushed towards Kirby while he released Elfilin from his embrace. The human knelt by his side, examining the pink star warrior's wounds.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her tone hinting concern.
"Poyo," Kirby reassured her, "poyo poyo, poyo."
Vesa sighed. She glanced over her shoulder as Elfilis approached her from behind. The ultimate life-form took notice of the light burns and cuts as he was still drenched in blue paint.
"You look like you got roughed up quite a bit," Elfilis commented with a soft hum.
"O-One moment," Vesa blurted.
Returning her gaze to Kirby, Vesa concentrated her mana until her hand generated soothing green sparkles. With a soft wave of her hand, Kirby felt a soothing wave fill his squishy frame as his wounds closed up.
"Poyo," Kirby waved his arm at Vesa.
"You're welcome," Vesa smiled.
Kirby then shifted his gaze towards Elfilis.
"Poyo poyo," Kirby told them, "poyo."
Vesa blinked twice.
"Why?" she asked, "what happened?"
Elfilis twitched their feelers at Kirby's mere mention of Daroach. They felt uncomfortable as they remembered the leader of the Squeak Squad tried to woo their sisters.
"Poyo," Kirby muttered, "poyo…"
Elfilin fidgeted nervously as his tail swayed side to side.
"Uhm," Elfilin stammered, "ok?"
Kirby took a few minutes with his limited speech and body language to explain that he learned of the grim situation the Squeak population was living in and the details of their struggles. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a bit.
"Poyo poyo. Poyo," Kirby concluded, "poyo poyo. Poyo. Poyo poyo."
Elfilis blinked as they raised a brow.
"Presumably, yes, if the people they are dealing with are as bad as the black market back home was," Elfilis replied, "ours was probably worse, if I'm being honest. Mostly because we dealt in magic more than this planet does. The people weren't any worse than here, I'm guessing; they just had access to more dangerous things."
Elfilis recalled there were plenty of people who wanted to channel the power of Dark Matter. They remembered the Ancients weren't able to destroy the Master Crown easily, which was why it was entrusted to Landia. Still, Vesa felt horrified at the prospect of a sentient race of rodents being exterminated to the point one particular thought lingered in her mind.
"This doesn't seem fair to anyone," she said to herself, "not to Kirby, not to us, and not to even the Squeaks."
Vesa locked eyes onto Elfilis.
"It's certainly a tragic situation," Elfilis agreed, "my opinion on the matter is that the best course of action is to let whoever wants to leave do so and set them up somewhere else…probably Dreamland. If they agree to abandon their former home, then Dreamland would probably be willing to offer protection from other countries. Besides, I doubt these other people would be able to take on a full kingdom, not with us backing them. A sufficient show or threat of force will likely be enough. And we can always offer to pay back a certain amount for damages. We are some of the best mages on the planet, so I'm sure we can come up with some objects of monetary value that will be worth enough to pay off their debt if we must."
Vesa nodded with a smile.
"Poyo!" Kirby chirped.
"We'll just have to see when Daroach is ready to negotiate," Vesa added, making a brief glance at Kirby, "until then, is there a kind of soap that removes paint?"
Feel free to make some fanart related to this fanfic!
And leave a review so Kirby can use them to buy snacks for him and Elfilin.
