Chapter 9 - Hell on the Halberd
The landscape of Dream Land blurred past in shades of green and blue as Kirby leaned forward, his small hands gripping tightly onto the handlebars of the Wheelie Rider. Behind him, Bandana Dee held on, his spear at the ready, and Pikachu perched confidently, sparks of electricity dancing across his cheeks.
"Poyo! (Faster, Wheelie! We're almost there!)" Kirby urged, his eyes locked onto the looming shape of the Halberd flying overhead.
As the Halberd dipped lower, Kirby gave a nod to Wheelie Rider, who accelerated forward, hitting a small hill with a burst of speed. With a mighty leap, they soared through the air and landed with a thud on the metallic surface of the Halberd, the reverberating sound drawing Meta Knight's attention.
The knight turned, folding his cape with a flourish, and he regarded Kirby with a knowing expression. "I knew you'd come, Kirby," he said, his voice tinged with something between respect and rivalry.
Kirby hopped off Wheelie Rider, landing in front of Meta Knight. "Poyo, (Meta Knight)," he greeted, his eyes narrowing. "Poyo. (We're stopping you here.)"
Meta Knight held out his hand, a shimmering sword in his grip. "I wouldn't expect anything less. If we're going to settle this, let's make it fair." With a flick of his wrist, he tossed a sword to Kirby, who caught it eagerly, transforming into Sword Kirby in a flash.
The two warriors circled each other, gripping their swords tightly, both determined yet respectful.
"This time, Kirby, I want to see you at your full strength," Meta Knight declared, his voice firm but lacking malice. "Prepare yourself!"
Kirby nodded, determination shining in his eyes. "Poyo! (Let's do it!)"
Meta Knight wasted no time, dashing forward with incredible speed. His first strike was swift and precise, aiming to disarm Kirby, but the pink puffball raised his sword just in time, deflecting the blow with a loud clang. Sparks flew as their blades clashed.
Kirby responded with a spinning slash, forcing Meta Knight to leap backward to avoid the attack. Kirby dashed after him, bringing his sword down in a powerful overhead swing.
Meta Knight parried gracefully, using his cape to briefly obscure his movements before countering with a quick jab that grazed Kirby.
"You've improved," Meta Knight said, a hint of respect in his tone.
Kirby didn't respond with words but instead leaped high into the air, charging his sword with energy. He came down with a powerful strike, creating a shockwave on impact. Meta Knight rolled to the side, the force of the attack shaking the deck.
The two continued exchanging blows across the Halberd's deck, their swords dancing in a display of skill and speed. Meta Knight's precise, calculated strikes contrasted with Kirby's raw, unpredictable swings. Kirby managed to land a few solid hits, but Meta Knight's experience kept him one step ahead.
Finally, Meta Knight knocked Kirby back with a powerful slash, sending him skidding across the deck. "You fight with heart, Kirby. But is it enough?"
Before Kirby could respond, a deep, guttural roar echoed across the Halberd. Both combatants turned to see a massive figure descending from the sky.
"Poyo? (Dedede?)" Kirby murmured, recognizing the imposing figure of King Dedede. But something was different—he wore a dark, ominous mask that crackled with malevolent energy.
"I don't have time for this," Meta Knight said, sheathing his sword, and turned toward Dedede. "What are you doing here?"
Masked Dedede only growled in response, gripping a massive hammer that emitted dark energy. Without a word, he charged forward, swinging it wildly at both Kirby and Meta Knight. His glowing eyes locked onto Kirby and Meta Knight, radiating pure malice.
He raised his hammer, dark energy surging around it, and slammed it into the deck, creating a massive shockwave that sent both Kirby and Meta Knight tumbling.
Meta Knight was the first to recover, his cape billowing as he stood his ground. "All of you! We must deal with him together!"
But before either of them could act, Dedede roared again, swinging his hammer with incredible speed. Kirby barely managed to roll out of the way, while Meta Knight took to the air, evading the strike.
Bandana Dee and Pikachu scrambled onto the deck, joining the fray as Masked Dedede's attacks forced Kirby and Meta Knight to retreat.
"King Dedede, snap out of it!" Bandana Dee called, dodging another wild swing of the hammer.
Dedede didn't respond. He swung his hammer at Pikachu, who leaped out of the way, retaliating with a quick Thunderbolt. The electricity sizzled against Dedede, but he shrugged it off, his masked face showing no hint of recognition.
"Poyo! (Enough!)" Kirby shouted, leaping forward with a powerful spin attack, his sword glowing with energy. The strike collided with Masked Dedede's hammer, and for a moment, it seemed to shake him.
Meta Knight seized the opportunity, slashing at the mask with his own sword. Cracks appeared, splintering across the mask's surface.
"Come on, we're almost there!" Bandana Dee encouraged, jabbing at the mask with his spear.
With a final, powerful blow, Pikachu used an Iron Tail that shattered the mask. Dedede staggered, the broken pieces of the mask falling to the ground as he collapsed, breathing heavily. Dark energy sizzled throughout the mask, as it fizzled out into the sky.
Kirby approached cautiously. "Poyo…? (Dedede…?)"
King Dedede looked up, the wild, dark gleam in his eyes gone. "Kirby…? Meta Knight…?" He shook his head, regaining his senses. "Wait! I... I'm not your enemy. I was… under someone else's control."
Meta Knight narrowed his eyes. "Whose control?"
Dedede's gaze turned serious as he stood up, brushing off his cloak. "There are two godlike creatures—Galeem and Dharkon. They're trying to take over everything. I thought if I worked with them, I'd have the power to protect Dream Land, but…" His face turned remorseful. "I was wrong. That power is dangerous, and I'm not the only one who has access to it. If all of this goes haywire, who knows what could happen!"
"Okay, but why did you bring that cat thing to Dream Land?" Bandana Dee demanded.
Dedede looked ashamed. "I thought it would give us a warning. Let us prepare for what's coming." He glanced around at the gathered heroes. "We need to rally as many fighters as we can from across the universes. This threat isn't just to Dream Land—it's to every world out there."
Before anyone could respond, the sky darkened, and an ominous chill swept over the deck. A dark rift tore open in the sky, and a massive, looming figure emerged—Dharkon. His twisted, tentacle-like appendages writhed as he floated down, his glowing eye fixed on Dedede.
Dharkon's voice echoed through the air, cold and mocking. "Dedede… You fool. You dare betray us?"
Dedede took a step back, fear flickering in his eyes. "No... no, I was just—"
Without warning, Dharkon's dark energy surged forward, piercing Dedede's chest with a tendril of darkness. Dedede gasped, falling unconscious as his body went flying off of the Halberd and crashing towards the ground.
"Poyo! (Dedede!)" Kirby shouted, but Dharkon only laughed.
"Your friend is of no use now," Dharkon sneered. His tendrils writhed, reaching toward Kirby, Meta Knight, Bandana Dee, and Pikachu. "And neither are any of you."
"Run!" Meta Knight shouted, leading the charge as they dashed toward the Halberd's entrance. Dharkon's dark tendrils snaked through the airship, tearing apart metal and spreading an oppressive shadow that seemed to sap the light from the very walls.
Kirby led the charge, his sword glowing faintly as he slashed at the oncoming tendrils, severing them with quick, precise strikes. Meta Knight hovered nearby, Galaxia shimmering as he deflected incoming attacks, his cape fluttering against the unnatural winds.
Behind them, Bandana Dee gripped his spear tightly, his usual bravery dimmed by the overwhelming presence of the dark force. Pikachu scampered beside him, sparks flying from its cheeks as it eyed the writhing tendrils with a mix of fear and determination.
"Stay together!" Meta Knight barked as another wave of tendrils erupted from the floor, lunging toward the group.
Kirby leaped forward, slicing through one tendril while spinning to deflect another. Bandana Dee thrust his spear upward, piercing one of the shadows attempting to ensnare Pikachu. "We can't keep running forever!" Bandana Dee cried.
"Don't worry," Meta Knight responded sharply, slashing through a cluster of tendrils in one swift motion. "We just need to reach the captain's quarters!"
The group sprinted through the twisting corridors, dodging and attacking as Dharkon's presence grew stronger. Tendrils lashed out with increasing ferocity, smashing through walls and tearing apart the Halberd's structure.
"Pika!" Pikachu cried, sending a bolt of Thunderbolt into a group of tendrils blocking their path. The electricity crackled, momentarily scattering the dark energy.
"Good one, Pikachu!" Bandana Dee encouraged, lunging forward to clear a safe path with a flurry of spear strikes.
The group finally burst into the captain's quarters, slamming the door shut behind them. But the respite was short-lived. The room darkened as Dharkon's massive, glowing eye appeared above them, surrounded by countless tendrils that seeped through the walls and floor.
"You cannot run from the inevitable," Dharkon's voice echoed, deep and resonant, reverberating through the room. "This world will fall, and your resistance is futile."
Kirby and Meta Knight immediately charged, their blades slicing through the advancing tendrils. Bandana Dee and Pikachu fought valiantly at their side, fending off the smaller tendrils that tried to ensnare them.
However, one of the other tendrils snaked forward, wrapping around Bandana Dee and hoisting him into the air. He struggled, calling out, "Kirby! Help!"
"Poyo! (Bandana Dee!)" Kirby cried, rushing forward, but the tendril flung Bandana Dee into a swirling rift before he could reach him. The portal closed, leaving only a fading echo of his voice.
"Poyo! (No!)" Kirby yelled, his eyes brimming with anger. Pikachu growled, his fur bristling with electricity.
In a surge of fury, Pikachu leaped at Dharkon, his body cloaked in blinding light as he unleashed a powerful Volt Tackle, striking Dharkon directly. But Dharkon retaliated, sending Pikachu flying through another rift with a sweep of his dark energy.
"Poyo! (You'll pay for this!)" Kirby threatened.
Kirby and Meta Knight charged in unison, their blades glowing with newfound resolve. Together, they unleashed a flurry of attacks, slashing through Dharkon's tendrils and forcing the entity to retreat slightly.
Dharkon's eye pulsed with anger as it withdrew further into the shadows. "Impressive," it admitted. "But all of this... is part of my plan."
With that, Dharkon's presence vanished, the darkness receding from the room. The captain's quarters were left in disarray, the walls scorched and broken, but eerily silent.
Meta Knight looked at Kirby, his expression grim. "We've lost Bandana Dee and Pikachu… and Dedede's fate is unknown."
Kirby gripped his sword, determination hardening his gaze. "Poyo. (Then we need to find allies. If Dharkon and Galeem are this powerful, we'll need all the help we can get.)"
Meta Knight nodded. "Good idea. We'll have to search across every world, every universe, and bring together those who can fight against this darkness. Before all that, we need somebody to fix the Halberd."
With heavy hearts but renewed resolve, the two heroes began to formulate their plan, knowing that they were only at the beginning of an epic battle for the multiverse's fate.