Chapter 12
Return to Dream Land

BGM: Mistilteinn, Tree Crown Without a Ruler (Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe)

The tree possessed by the Master Crown let out a loud and threatening roar. Dedede turned to some of his subordinates and said, "Those who cannot fight or feel too scared to fight, head back to the ship now! Don't throw away your life recklessly if you can't do anything!" He then turned to the unconscious Magolor that Drilley was still carrying under her arm. "And take him to the ship as well! Get him treated if he's injured!"

Those who felt too threatened by the presence of the Master Crown ran back to the Lor Starcutter, and Drilley also headed back with the intention of getting Magolor to safety first.

The roots of the Master Crown glowed with purple light, and then a portal appeared next to the fleeing people. Out of the portal appeared a large and thick root that crashed down onto the fleeing Dream Landers, crushing and knocking out some of them. Those who saw it were in shock at seeing their people getting wiped out.

"Oh no! They're killed!" gasped Mica.

Dedede angrily turned to Master Crown and said loudly, "How dare you?!" His hammer opened up and fired a large amount of missiles at the tree. Everyone else around him with firearms also fired at the tree, blasting it all over with projectiles.

The Master Crown cried in anger and pain and also shook its body around as the projectiles struck all over its body. Letting out a loud cry, it made portals appear around itself from which energy balls flew out of them and towards the people below.

Everyone fled from the incoming projectiles, though some were not successful in doing so and got hit. One of the projectiles headed for Kirby, and he opened his mouth to suck it in. With a mouthful of energy ball, Kirby jumped up as high as he could and then spit the energy ball back to the Master Crown, hitting it in a part of the trunk.

The Master Trunk turned its attention to him and then opened up a portal above him to bring down a root onto him, but he rolled out of the way in time. When the root struck the ground, some debris flew out, and Kirby sucked them up before spitting them at the root before it pulled back into the portal. When the root got hit, Master Crown let out a cry. Kirby turned to look at the main body up in the air and said, "Looks like those roots are actually part of him." He then turned to everyone else and shouted, "Guys! If you have a hard time hitting that guy up there, aim for the roots that he tries to hit you with!"

"You think he would be stupid enough to do it again after you said that out loud?!" Anis asked him. She noticed a portal appear next to her, so she leaped away just in time to avoid getting hit by a root that thrust out of it horizontally. She turned around fast and fired from her rocket launcher at it, making the Master Crown cry in pain. Looking at the main body, she said, "That guy really is stupid…"

The Master Crown opened up several portals in the air, and crystal apples fell down from there. The apples glowed brightly before exploding one after another, and everyone ran from them. Kirby hurriedly sucked in one of the apples before it exploded and then spit it at the Master Crown, and the apple exploded against it.

The Master Crown let out an angry cry before dropping towards the people below, creating an earthquake when it landed that made most of them trip.

Hammering ran towards the Master Crown while shouting, "You've left yourself wide open! Take this!" She jumped at its eye and slammed her hammer against it hard, making it reel back its body while crying in pain.

"Volt! Boost as many people as you can!" Liter shouted at Volt. The robot dog barked before a rod came out from the back of his body and created a yellow shockwave that spread throughout the place and came in contact with all the good guys.

"Yeah! I feel energized! Bombs away!" said Mast with enthusiasm as she began firing from her rigging rapidly. Her rapid firing created nonstop explosion against the Master Crown's body, almost covering it up in smoke.

"My! I've never felt such power before!" said Ludmilla as she took aim with her machine gun and fired a rapid burst of icicles. Ice gradually spread throughout the Master Crown's body as it got hit rapidly.

"Fire! Don't stop!" Dedede shouted while pointing at the Master Crown. Everyone did so, doing everything the best he or she could before the effects of Double Boost ended.

The Master Crown let out a roar of anger before shooting multiple red laser beams out of its eyes in various directions, sending everyone fleeing, but some got hit. The possessed tree then flapped its wings to take flight into the air, where it was immediately blasted by energy projectiles fired by the once again airborne Lor Starcutter.

Inside the navigation room, the Blade Knights and Sword Knights were taking control of the spaceship to have it attack the Master Crown aggressively. "Let him have it! Show him what the Lor is capable of!" shouted one of the Blade Knights.

While the Master Crown was getting bombarded by energy balls and oars fired by the Lor, Meta Knight took flight into the air. Slashing the air multiple times, he fired several energy blades at the tree, hitting it in various parts of the body. The Master Crown responded by forming several portals around itself that released energy balls at him and also the Lor.

Meta Knight flew around swiftly to avoid the energy balls while closing in on the Master Crown, and then he slashed it across the eye, making it reel back in pain. The Master Crown recovered fast and angrily swung its hand at Meta Knight, but with a single swing of his sword, he cut off several of the fingers. The Master Crown pulled back its hand, and the severed fingers grew back a few seconds later.

It fired a red laser beam at Meta Knight, who flew out of the way and then made his way below it. He raised his sword and began spinning at a fast speed, forming orange wind around himself that grew to a tall and large size. The tornado encircled the Master Crown, cutting it all over the body with sharp and hot wind blades.

"Wow! That's awesome!" said Mica in awe as she watched the spectacular sight before her eyes.

"That's Meta Knight for you! He's got some really cool and flashy moves!" Kirby told her.

The tornado ended, and the Master Crown was seen with several gashes on its body and many of its leaves missing. The Master Crown leaned forward, looking weak, and then it dropped to the ground below with a powerful slam, shaking the ground.

"Did we do it…?" wondered Anis.

The Master Crown raised back up while roaring loudly, causing portals to appear everywhere and crystal apples to drop out of them. Everyone ran around to avoid getting blown up by the apples.

"Argh! Just die already!" shouted Anis in anger as she fired from her rocket launcher at the tree.

Liter turned to Volt and said to him, "Volt, use Double Boost again!" The latter nodded and once again stuck out the rod in his back to release a shockwave that powered up all those who came in contact with it.

Meta Knight had just been boosted by the shockwave when suddenly a portal opened up next to him, and a root came out and hit him. He tumbled violently to the side and dropped his sword. When he got up and looked at his sword and saw Kirby nearby, he shouted to him, "Kirby! Use my sword if you have to!"

"You sure?" Kirby asked him, and Meta Knight assured him that he gave him permission to use his sword. Kirby ran up to the sword and picked it up. Seeing the yellow aura around it, the pink puffball felt a strange sensation as he stared at the glowing weapon, and then he ate it.

Liter saw this and asked in shock, "What are you doing eating that sword?!"

A bright yellow aura appeared around Kirby as a green conic hat with a star at its tip appeared on his head, while a sword several times larger than him materialized in his hand. Meta Knight widened his eyes and said in awe, "The Ultra Sword…!"

"Whoa…! What a huge sword! How did you do that?!" Mast asked Kirby in awe.

"I felt tremendous power in the sword, so I had the feeling that something like this would happen if I ate it," said Kirby with a smile on his face. "I'm glad my hunch was right! Time to put an end to this!"

Even with a sword that big, Kirby was still able to run at a fast speed at the Master Crown. Several portals appeared in front of Kirby, and roots came out of them. With fast slashing in every direction, Kirby was able to cut all the roots to pieces. The Master Crown cried in pain as its own roots broke into pieces.

Kirby raised the sword over his head before swinging it down onto the Master Crown, but the latter caught the blade from both sides with its hands and struggled against Kirby, who also struggled to bring down the blade.

"Everyone! Give Kirby your support!" Blanc shouted to everyone before firing from her gun at the Master Crown.

"Yeah! Let's give that monster all we've got!" said Mast in agreement before firing from her rigging.

Anis, Mast, Liter, and Ludmilla all fired from their guns. The Dream Landers who possess firearms contributed as well. Everyone bombarded the Master Crown nonstop, trying to make it flinch so that Kirby could bring down his sword onto it. However, the Master Crown endured the attacks it was receiving and refused to lose the struggle against Kirby.

"In the name of the king, I order you to stop living!" shouted Dedede as he pulled back his hammer and then flung it at the Master Crown, hitting it square in the eye. That was enough for the tree monster to flinch, and so Kirby brought down his giant sword onto it.

SLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!

BGM Ends

The Master Crown was sliced from top to bottom dead in the center. The giant tree split in half before glowing brightly, and then it exploded.

KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

After the explosion died down, the tree, as well as any traces of the Master Crown, was completely gone. Everyone jumped in joy in response. "HOOOORAY! WE DID IT! HOOOORAY!"

Kirby released Meta Knight's sword from his body and gave it back to its rightful owner. "Here! Thanks for letting me use it!"

"I knew you had it in you!" said Meta Knight as he took back his sword.

Anis sighed with relief. "Phew… Finally… I though that thing would never die…"

"Luck was on our side. That's why we won!" Blanc said to her happily.

"This is so much more fun than fighting Raptures back in our world!" said Mast with excitement, while Morgan squawked happily. Her rigging then changed back into her usual gun. "I wish I can do more treasure hunting adventures like this!"

"You're insane…" Anis said to her with an unimpressed look.

A large portal opened up in the air of Dream Land, and the Lor Starcutter flew out of it. Dedede looked out the glass cockpit of the navigation room while seated on his throne and said, "We're back, but we came back empty handed…"

Ludmilla, who was sitting next to him, said, "What matters is that we came back with our lives intact. Our lives are more important than any treasure!"

"You're right. It's important that we lived," said Dedede with a nod. "But the same cannot be said for those who lost their lives… We will have to pay them proper respects later as well as compensating their families…"

Ludmilla's face turned sad when she heard this. "You're right… It's a pity not every one of us could make it back alive… If only we had been more careful…"

Magolor slowly opened his eyes. Looking around, he saw himself in the infirmary of the Lor Starcutter. Some Waddle Dees were in the room, looking after him, and they were glad to see him up. "What happened?" he asked. "I remember finding the treasure… And I think it possessed me or something… Yeah, it's starting to come to me now…"

"I heard they had to beat you up to free you from the crown," a Waddle Dee told him. "After that, the crown possessing you possessed a tree, turning it into a monster and attacked everyone. We managed to defeat it though, and now we're back in Dream Land."

"I see… Looks like I caused trouble to everyone…" said Magolor in a regretful tone. "How can I ever make up for this…?"

"Personally, I'm not angry with you, since everything is resolved now," said the Waddle Dee.

"Some of us died though," said another Waddle Dee with a sad face, and hearing this made Magolor shocked. He said to Magolor, "No, it's not your fault! The tree monster did it itself, not you!"

"It's still my fault that all this happened in the first place…" cried Magolor with his hands on his face. "How can I ever face anyone like this…?"

Kirby then came in the room along with Anis, Drilley, and Hammering. They had heard what Magolor said, and Kirby said to him, "It's all right. I forgive you! You weren't in control of yourself that time, so I don't blame you."

"Had you not been so greedy about wanting the treasure, this wouldn't have happened in the first place!" Drilley angrily said to Magolor. "You made us go through hell and back!"

"C'mon! Don't be so angry at him!" Hammering told Drilley, trying to calm her down.

"I agree that Magolor got tempted by the crown and started all this mess, but I still think it's not right to blame him for everything, since the crown is the real instigator after all," agreed Anis. She then looked at Meta Knight. "But… if you really want to make up for what you did… maybe you can help us find a way back to our world?"

Hearing this, Magolor livened up and said, "I will! I will do everything I can to help you get back to your world! If this will make up for the trouble I caused, I'll gladly help!"

"Well, then that settles that! You'll help us get back to your own world! You agreed on this yourself!" Anis said to him with a smirk, and he assured her he will.

"Good to know that everyone is getting along again!" said Kirby happily.

Mica looked out the window, and she could see a castle located close to a cliff approaching closer. "Is that the king's castle?" she wondered.

Looking out the window, Blanc said, "Seems to be so. The king must be taking us back to his castle! If so, then it's my first time going to a royal castle! I can't wait! If only Noir is here…"

"If only Belorta is here as well… We didn't find any of our friends…" said Mica in a sad tone. "I wonder where they are…"

"I'm sure they'll be all right," said Blanc, trying to sound positive. "They must be looking for us as well, and as long as none of us give up hope, we'll definitely reunite with each other again! Believe in the power of luck and happiness! Here, let me give you a luck charge so that something good may happen!" She then gave Mica a hug.

Mica hugged back and said, "Thanks! I feel a lot happier and luckier now!" Letting go of Blanc, she said, "I'm sure Belorta and everyone else, including old-timer, are doing good and looking for us. We shouldn't give up on finding them as well. We have to get back home!"

"Right! That's the spirit! We'll be sure to give them a great story about our time here as well!" said Blanc happily.

Anis phone then let out a sound while vibrating. She took it out and looked at it, seeing a message on Blabla that writes Hang on.

A confused look appeared on her face. "What's this? Who sent this?" Blabla did not specify who the sender was at all, and though she tried to contact that person, there was no response whatsoever. "What the…? Hang on? What is this person trying to tell me..."

As the Lor Starcutter approached Dedede's castle located in the distance, Dream Landers down below were looking up at the passing by spaceship.

Inside the spaceship, the people were glad that they finally made it back from Another Dimension. While it was a disappointment that they came back empty handed, they were glad that they made it back with their lives.

What lies in store for the Nikke, Kirby, and Meta Knight next is unknown. Will they be able to find a way back to their own worlds? What if things are more than meet the eyes? Will the mystery of what is actually happening be solved?

Only time will tell…

Neon, Privaty, Diesel, Elegg, and Jackal walked down together the sidewalk of a futuristic and incredibly advanced city, marveling at the towering skyscrapers all around them as well as the advanced-looking vehicles that either traveled on land or in the air.

Walking behind them was a person clad head to toe in red and orange armor with a green visor. In addition to that, an anthropomorphic fox and an anthropomorphic wolf were both part of the group.

"Wow! This place is so awesome! I think it may be even more advanced than the Ark!" commented Neon in awe, and the other Nikke agreed.

The fox had a proud look on his face when he heard this and said, "That's Corneria City for you! It's the most advanced civilization in the Lylat System!"

TO BE CONTINUED

And with that, the Kirby arc is finished! I hope you enjoyed the final battle as well as the entirety of this arc! Please let me know what you think of the Kirby arc! Thanks!

Coming up next we have… the Star Fox arc? Or are there more than meets they eyes? Stay tuned!