Chapter Text

The world was falling apart. Buildings were flying, animals were running for their lives, and Kirby was in a desperate race against time to stop Planet Popstar and everything on it from being annihilated.

In short, the usual climax to one of his adventures. This time he was using a truck though! So that was cool!

Bandana Dee gripped the Warp Star tightly, struggling to keep up with Kirby through the winds of dimensional travel. “Go, Kirby! Go!” His spear whipped around to slash at pursuing beasts, their faces cloaked in dark smog.

Up ahead, Fecto raised its arms, tearing portals across space and time. Chunks of debris fell through, on a collision course with the pink puffball and his sweet new ride. Kirby braced himself for impact...

As the meteors exploded, cleaved to pieces by a golden blade and smashed to dust by a mighty hammer. Two more Warp Stars sailed into view, carrying Meta Knight and King Dedede as they flanked Kirby’s charge, weapons drawn. Kirby would have smiled if his mouth wasn’t wedged around a truck. Dedede’s okay!

The king wasn’t so jolly, focused on the monster floating ahead. “C’mon, Kirbs! We got a maniac to clobbah!” He and Meta Knight sped up, forcing Kirby to do the same, pushing his vehicle as fast as it could go.

Elfilin cheered, clinging to the truck’s front bumper and glowing with energy. “Get him, guys!”

Meta Knight didn’t speak, but his grip on Galaxia tightened, which said enough. Finish it.

Fecto flung its spear down, trying to strike Kirby from afar, but it was deflected by Dedede’s hammer as Kirby swerved, angling to ram straight into the creature. Just a little further...!

*boom*

Kirby’s eyes widened as another meteor crashed through the pavement below. He blew up the road! With all his might, he lifted the truck and jumped, sailing towards Fecto at full speed.

A new portal formed in the corner of his eye, but it was...different. Not jagged and broken like Fecto’s, but...smooth-edged, in the shape of a star. Kirby’s eyes widened as he recognized it.

So did Bandana Dee, who let out a cheer. “It’s the Lor!”

Gleaming blue, the Starcutter sailed through the rift, beams of light from its emblem striking down the debris field, clearing Kirby’s path. And it wasn’t just the vessel that was joining the fight...

The puffball beamed as more familiar forms flew through the portal. The Star Allies are here!

Fecto let out a wordless shriek as it spun to flee, but didn’t make it far before a silvery blur cut past, Dark Meta Knight sweeping his sword through the creature’s torso. Twin beams of light tore through its wings and arms as Ribbon and Susie opened fire. The levitating spear was swept into a black hole as Marx devoured it whole.

By the time Kirby’s truck reached Fecto, the “Ultimate Life-Form” didn’t have much left in the tank, winded and staggering, too tired to resist as the truck smashed through him. Kirby’s face was coated in green slime as his ride broke down and collapsed into his bottomless stomach.

Fecto was destroyed.

Shaking off the melting remnants of his enemy, Kirby nearly fell through the portal to Planet Popstar but was caught by a strand of blue yarn, which pulled him down to the Lor’s deck.

His vision was fuzzy now, exhausted, but he could make out a familiar face. “H-hey...Fluff...”

Prince Fluff, ruler of Patch Land and one of Kirby’s less-frequent allies, smiled back at him. “It’s been quite a while, Kirby. You didn’t forget about me, did you?”

“Of course not!” He’d been meaning to visit, really!

The prince shook his head. “Well, next time, don’t put a nail through the sock and hang it on the wall. It makes traveling much harder.”

Ooh, right. Forgot that sock was the portal. Whoops.

More important questions now! “Where’s Elfilin?”

Meta Knight touched down on the Lor’s mast. “He flew off, saying something about...closing the portal between worlds...Kirby, do you think he can-”

The knight stopped talking as said rift shone golden and began to slide shut. In the center, Kirby could barely make out a speck of turquoise. “Elfilin!”

As the portal vanished, the speck fell down, towards the earth far below. A Warp Star sped over to it, Bandana Dee catching Elfilin on the way down, and Kirby breathed a sigh of relief.

He wasn’t losing any of his friends today.

Kirby struggled to a sitting position. He was tired, but it wasn’t as bad as how he was after Void...that reminded him! “Why are the Star Allies here?”

Fluff scratched his head. “You thought everyone wouldn’t notice the portal and all of your friends and half of Dreamland’s population vanishing overnight?”

Meta Knight cleared his throat. “We can discuss this later. For now, we should return to Waddle Dee Town to recover, and then plan our next move.”

As if listening to him, the Lor Starcutter turned around and headed for the ground, following the glistening trail of Bandana Dee’s Warp Star.

The pink puffball sighed, leaning back. “I’m gonna nap. Wake me when we get there.” He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, dreams filled with cake and trucks and his friends all in Waddle Dee Town!

A tap on Kirby’s head awoke him some time later. “We’ve arrived, Kirby.”

He nodded to Meta Knight and stood up, sore but much more rested than before. The Lor wasn’t moving, now nestled within a grassy ravine. “What’s the deal?” He knew the swordsman would already have organized whatever he needed to know...he was the tactician of the team, after all.

“Waddle Dee Town is intact, and all Dees are accounted for. The Beast Pack appears to have quieted down for the time being. Elfilin is currently resting at your house, Sailor is looking after him. He is drained, but should recover. I believe the others are waiting for us.”

Kirby nodded. “Let’s go then.” No time like the present.

A few minutes of gentle flight later, he guided the Warp Star into the central plaza and jumped off, Meta Knight flying in nearby. The swordsman’s usual perch atop the Colosseum was occupied by a dark mirror of himself, slightly hazy. One of Dark’s clones, Kirby assumed, keeping an eye out for danger.

Kirby’s first order of business was to look around for his friends. He couldn’t see any of them right now, but the Colosseum had been roped off with a sign saying “Star Allies only” so they were probably in there. Plenty of Waddle Dees still around, including all the usual faces.

He turned to Meta. “Colosseum?” The knight nodded and sped into the air, soaring over the entrance. Kirby followed, but he took the stairs.

Stepping inside, he saw most of his friends sprawled randomly on the lobby’s red carpets and benches. Dedede was lounging in the corner, Bandana Dee close by with his spear lying at his feet. Dark Meta Knight was perched on one of the columns, Meta Knight landing on its twin on the opposite wall. Marx, Gooey, and Magolor were seated on one of the benches, Susie, Fluff, and Ribbon taking up the other one. And-

Kirby’s eyes widened. “Zanzan!”

The thunder mage’s gaze narrowed. “Never call me that again.” Zan Partizanne, leaning against the far wall, smiled all the same. “Is this everyone, Sir Meta?”

“That we were expecting.” He dropped down. “We need to understand what has occurred from both sides. I will commence.” The knight gave a shortened version of their current situation.

Susie was the first to speak after him. “Some of our local equipment was disturbed by the portal opening and I elected to investigate. Once I knew we were dealing with Another Dimension yet again, Magolor and Partizanne were contacted immediately. Dark was drawn in from his own world suffering a similar event, and Ribbon and Fluff were on Popstar at the time. I am unsure when or how Marx arrived.”

The jester cackled. “Hey, I live in Another Dimension, if something funky happens I gotta check it out!”

Kirby nodded. All of that made some sense. “What about the others?”

Magolor wrung his hands nervously. “About that, Kirby...they got dragged through the portals at some point. This dimension’s time works differently from ours. You remember how in Halcandra you skipped a month even though you were only there for like a week?” He nodded. “Same idea here, but the other way. It’s only been a few days in our universe, even though you’ve been here for almost ten. They could be anywhere by now.”

The puffball frowned. “We have to find them. And fast.”

Meta Knight drew his sword. “We should split up and search by region, then.”

Zan Partizanne nodded. “From what you said of this world's geography, we will need six groups. And there are,” she quickly counted the group before continuing, “twelve of us.”

“Fourteen!”

Kirby smiled as Elfilin’s shout was followed by himself flying into the room, Sailor Dee running in behind him.

The thunder mage corrected herself. “Fourteen. Although someone should remain in Waddle Dee Town, for their safety. Kirby, Elfilin, you two will remain here.” She cut them off before they could protest. “You two have done more than all of us combined thus far. Leave the rest to us.”

They silently accepted her point, backing off as the others worked out teams. While they were doing that, Kirby stepped closer to Elfilin, lowering his voice. “You okay?”

“I’m a bit sore but it’s not too bad.” He bounced in midair. “So these are your friends?”

The puffball shifted. “Most of them. The rest are still missing. I hope they’re alright.”

Meta Knight cleared his throat. “We shall begin immediately. Kirby, if you would?”

“Right.” The puffball raised his arm, and the others went silent. “Star Allies...”

A chorus of voices responded. “Go!!!”

Chapter Text

Kirby watched the lure bob, breathing out as he held the fishing rod loosely. “Not much biting today...”

Elfilin, lounging in the other chair, stretched out. “After Fecto Elfilis nearly destroyed both our worlds? I’m not surprised the Blippers are hiding.”

“I guess...” At least the Waddle Dees around town had made it through alright. They did mention being pretty scared at the time, but by now it was business as usual.

The two of them had been taking it easy, keeping an ear out for trouble but also just relaxing. It was nice, being able to do that without having a bunch of missing Waddle Dees on his plate.

Yes, his other friends were still missing, but they could handle themselves much better than the little guys could. They’d be okay, he was sure of it!

Elfilin nodded. “So...the ‘Star Allies’ was it? How long has that been going?”

Kirby adjusted his cap. “Not too long...only a few months, I think. Before then it was just the four of us, me, Meta, Dedede, and Bandana, running around and doing these things on our own. Our friends swapped in and out on our last adventure, and it all kinda snowballed.”

“Hm. That seems like fun.” His ears fluttered. “What are they all like? I’ve only really met Meta Knight, Bandana, and Sailor Dee so far.”

Kirby’s face brightened. “They’re great! Susie and Magolor are super smart, Dedede’s strong and brave when he wants to be, Gooey’s just a fun buddy to hang out with, Zanzan and Fluff are really responsible, and Ribbon is...” He struggled to find the right word.

Elfilin snickered. “You’re blushing, Kirby.” The puffball blinked, feeling the heat in his cheeks and trying to force it down. “Okay, I get it. What about Dark Meta Knight and Marx?”

He shook his head. “I kinda...dunno much about Dark. He doesn’t talk much. And Marx...is just weird.” He left it at that.

“...and what about your missing friends?”

Kirby paused for a moment. Who in all was missing?

Fishing rod set aside, he began counting aloud. “Well, there’s Adeleine, she’s sweet and super creative, then there’s Daroach and Captain Vul, they’re real smart too, and Rick and Kine and Coo, they’re great friends! Oh, and Taranza and Shadow are tons of fun to hang out with...when they’re not moping, anyway, but that’s why they need us!”

“I...see...” Elfilin shook his head. “Are any of them...like me? Did they do bad things?”

Kirby nodded. “Around half of them, yeah. And a lot of them know what it’s like to be possessed, too.”

“Oh.”

The puffball took up his fishing rod again. “It’s okay, Elfilin. Fecto won’t get you again. I promise.”

(Some time later...)

Kirby clenched his cell phone tight. “You all found nothing?! It’s been almost five hours!” Now he was starting to get worried.

Meta Knight grumbled. “Indeed. Dark and I combed the entire Redgar Forbidden Zone and found no signs. There are similar reports from other teams as well. Do you have any ideas, Kirby?”

“What about Lab Discovera?” He didn’t want to think about them being imprisoned in there, but...

Meta sighed. “The whole building has collapsed since Fecto’s rampage. I doubt they would’ve stayed in there-”

“Kirby!” Elfilin zoomed down from his higher vantage point. “We’ve got Beast Pack incoming!”

He grimaced. Of all the times... “Check just to be sure.” He hung up before the knight got a chance to reply.

Grabbing the Chakram Cutter cap and putting it on his head, Kirby headed out to confront the Beast Pack. He could take them. He’d done it before, he could do it again!

Walking out just past the edge of Waddle Dee Town, he waited, watching the distant horde of beasts slowly approaching. The sun was starting to go down, and it looked like they’d get here just before sunset. He readied his chakrams in hand and waited.

Elfilin squinted at them. “Looks like Clawroline is leading the group...Gorimondo and Sillydillo are there too, and...Fleurina and Bonkers and Edge and Frosty...you sure you can handle all this?!”

Kirby adjusted his grip. “Yes.” He knew it’d be tough, but he had to do this. Waddle Dee Town was counting on him!

Half an hour later, Clawroline held up her arm, stopping their march just beyond Kirby’s throwing range. The puffball raised a cutter blade, ready to throw it at a moment’s notice. One more step and the fight would begin.

Clawroline’s paw swung to one side, and the horde of orange-furred Awoofies ran out behind her and...set up a perimeter around Waddle Dee Town, facing away from it? Gorimondo and Sillydillo split up as well, taking positions at around forty-five degree angles. The mid-bosses also spread themselves out across the line.

Kirby blinked as the leopard opened her mouth, emitting strange cat noises. “Mrow meow mrrp meow mrow?”

Elfilin stared in confusion. “Really?”

“Meow!”

Kirby glanced at his friend. “You can understand her?”

He shrugged. “Kind of? Her accent’s pretty thick, but I mostly got it. She’s thanking you for freeing them from...Fecto, I think?...and she’s trying to find Leon? Am I hearing you right?”

The leopard crossed her arms and nodded. “Mrow!”

The puffball lowered his blades. “And she can understand us fine?” Clawroline nodded once more. “Okay. I can help you find Leon, if you guys help us find my friends, too. Is that fair?”

She considered it before meowing with a nod. Elfilin beamed. “She agrees!”

The leopard walked past them, scanning the town until her eye caught on...something. Near the observation tower, maybe? Kirby followed her gaze and oh that’s a portal to Another Dimension up there!

Wait, no, not quite...it was too jagged...and his face went white as he realized where he’d seen a portal like that recently.

Fecto!

(The next day...)

Meta Knight adjusted his sword grip, near the head of the group. “In there, hm?” Elfilin had already briefed them on the Leon situation.

Susie frowned, tapping at a small handheld device. “I’m detecting no life signatures...wait there’s one, and another, and...” She shook her head. “A total of ten distinct organisms, faint but definitely present.”

Kirby quickly counted it up in his head, gaze hardening. “That must be our friends, Leon, and Fecto!”

Dedede gripped his hammer. “Yeah...you sure this is a good idea, Kirbs? What if we, erm, I mean, y’know...”

Magolor adjusted his gloves. “I don’t think we need to worry about that. The psychic energies in there aren’t focused enough to brainwash anyone unless they were already under Fecto’s spell going in.” He sighed. “That’s likely what happened to our friends, as well.”

Ribbon frowned. “They are mostly animals, like the Beast Pack...it’s possible, I guess, but...”

Clawroline (or as she now insisted, Carol), spoke up, courtesy of a spare translator stashed aboard the Lor. “We won’t know from just staring at it. Let us investigate.”

Kirby nodded, Chakram Cutters securely fastened to his hat. “Right! Here we go!” Tilting his Warp Star forward, he led the group through, not sure what to expect but bracing for anything.

What he saw on the other side was...weird. A series of mismatched, isolated islands in a murky violet void.

Elfilin, somewhere behind Kirby, gasped. “This place...it’s totally packed with psychic energy! It feels like being absorbed by Fecto again!” He clenched his own Warp Star tightly. “We better be careful!”

Zanzan peered ahead. “I can see six main isles...hm. Same strategy as before?”

Meta Knight signaled with his sword. “Indeed. The more ground we cover quickly, the better the chances we will stop whatever scheme Fecto is plotting.” After some quiet bickering, they assembled into six groups. He nodded, pointing his sword ahead. “Star Allies!”

“Go!!!” Heralded and emboldened by that cheer, fifteen Warp Stars sailed into the unknown, ready to face whatever would threaten them in these forgone dreams.

Chapter Text

Let it be known that Susanna Patrya Haltmann, often known as Susie, liked to be in control. A byproduct of a decade spent in Another Dimension, where she had very little capacity to affect the path of her own life, up until being rescued by the Starcutter and deposited at Rock Star’s newly-built-at-the-time HWC facility.

Because of all that, she was used to working alone. Teamwork didn’t come as naturally to her as most of the other Star Allies, and while she tried her best, it was difficult when half the group was always acting weird around her. It was like she was missing a piece of the “friendship” equation.

So she was glad the only other person here was Gooey, because he wasn’t judgmental and also fascinatingly unique, if a little simple-minded. He was currently peeking under loose stones with his tongue, trying to find...something, she wasn’t exactly sure what.

Oh well. She armed her blaster and snuck through the odd purple trees, watching out in case any new enemies chose to rear their heads. The blob followed, still peeking under loose objects as they passed by.

Suddenly, he spoke up. “Wow! Shiny!”

Susie pivoted to see what he’d found...it was an orange glimmer, hidden under a log. Something about it felt rather familiar, but she couldn’t place it. It seemed to radiate warmth, though. She reached out and picked it up, letting it float above her hand. “What...is this?” It felt like...

Dad.

Her eyes widened. “Is this...a soul fragment?!” When Kirby destroyed Star Dream, it had...there had been violet sparks just like this, flung all over the place before they vanished.

A ghostly Mookie leapt out of the woods and tried to attack her, but it was silenced by a shock from her blaster. She slid the glow into her pocket. If someone’s soul was fractured here...she’d bet it was Leon’s. “We should find as many of these as we can, Gooey. Keep your eyes peeled.”

Gooey bounced happily, hefting the ape’s discarded hammer with his tongue. “A-Okay!”

Cresting the next skyscraper, Susie jumped behind a nearby barricade for cover as a rounded metal projectile flew past her. She scowled. “Ball bearings?! How primitive.” She steeled herself and peeked out...only to see the gun-wielding dogs being tackled by a flaming Gooey.

Ah, right. He can imitate Copy Abilities.

The blob charged into enemy after enemy, wreathed in blue fire. “Not! Hurt! Sue!”

Susie rolled her eyes at the nickname, taking care to step around the ashes in his wake, sniping at the far away targets whenever they popped out from cover. She’d correct him later.

Jumping down into a nearby road, her eye snagged on a shambling ape-like beast, dressed in shaggy blue furs and wielding a crude stone hammer. A Wild Bonkers! Its eyes were blank, though.

It swung at Gooey, but its hand quickly flinched away at the sting of her electrical bullet. It swung at Susie next, but the blob’s tongue latched around its wrist and pulled it away, making the beast embed the hammer into the ground.

Susie backed away and pressed a button on her remote, calling in her Business Suit. Its arms whirred, ready to face the ghost of Bonkers head-on. The ape fruitlessly tried to dislodge its weapon before raising its fists with a roar...only to be bashed on the head by a stone Gooey.

The Business Suit’s screw-tip missiles launched, blasting both of Bonkers’ arms away, and its double-arm strike slammed into the ape’s torso, knocking it into a nearby building in a daze. As it recovered, it tried to throw a durian...which Gooey slurped up, and then spat out a huge bomb that engulfed the enemy in flames. The ghost faded, leaving only a cluster of soul fragments.

Susie jumped out of her mech and snatched them up, beaming. “Nice work, little guy. Let’s keep it up!”

“Yeah!” Gooey held another bomb in his tongue. “Go go!”

Climbing down into an underground mine of some sort, the two came across a rusted vending machine. Susie hummed, inspecting it. “Incredible...it’s still in working order. Likely it was here so the employees could rehydrate during their breaks.”

Gooey stared at it, almost expectantly. “Food?”

She shrugged, stepping away. “If you want a drink, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”

The blob jumped up and opened his mouth wide, not collecting a can but instead just swallowing the machine whole. Or...sort of whole. His body warped and stretched around it, and soon Susie was staring wide-eyed at a vending-machine-shaped Gooey, with his mouth opened around the juice flap.

She blinked, unsure how this was physically possible. “Um...are you okay, Gooey?”

“Yummy!” Gooey hopped away, still happily sucking on the vending machine. “Yum! Yum!”

Susie could only watch in confusion as the blob somehow made the machine spit juice cans at a nearby Blade Knight, knocking it out.

I...I have so many questions right now.

She blinked, looking at one of the cans left on the ground. Actually I am kinda thirsty...

Cracking it open, she took a cautious sip. “Hm. Strawberry.” She shrugged before following the blob’s path of delicious destruction, continuing to drink the juice. It actually wasn’t that bad...

“Boulder!”

Susie only had a split-second of warning from Gooey before a huge rock rolled down from right behind her, and she barely had time to dive out of its way.

She glared at the stone, despite it being non-sentient, as it rolled off the nearby cliff. Then she realized there were a lot more boulders where that came from. A landslide was approaching!

“Alright then, world, if you intend to stop us, then you will have to contend with the full might of my company’s work!” Digging through her pockets, she pulled out a very special remote labeled as such, slamming the button. A Robobot Armor warped in, standard-issue...or at least, it looked like it at first glance. But the pink sheen and childish drawings on the arms told a different story.

Kirby’s old Robobot Armor, salvaged and refitted as an autonomous unit. She called it Pinky.

With the clang of metal meeting stone, Pinky punched the next boulder, shattering it in a single blow. Then another, then another. Gooey watched in awe as the machine advanced, diverting the oncoming barrage of nature with only its metallic fists.

Susie smiled, walking behind as it worked, scooping up soul fragments as they emerged from the rubble left behind. “Good old Pinky. I don’t get many opportunities to bring it out, but when I do, it’s always a sight to see.” She raised an arm and cheered. “Go Pinky go!”

The blob joined in on the noise. “Go! Go!”

Lifting a noticeably large boulder over its head, Pinky threw it at the rusted concrete bridge up ahead and shattered it, letting the rest of the rockslide fall harmlessly into the deep chasm below. Susie gave the machine a pat on the arm before it warped back to its charging dock.

“Good job, Pinky. Now go file your overtime and have a nice break!”

Arriving in a decrepit old mall, Susie saw a sturdy-looking cardboard box in the corner, just as her legs started feeling a bit sore. “Hey, Gooey? Can we take a rest stop for a few minutes?”

The blob nodded, so she sat down atop the packaging, smoothing out her skirt as she did. He simply flopped against the side of the box and dozed off, snoring softly. He was almost like a cat in the way he acted sometimes, and the mental image of Gooey with kitty ears made her giggle.

The beep of her blaster distracted her, and she took a moment to check it. Hm. Battery’s low.

No way was she going to find a recharge in here. Unless...

“Excuse me, Gooey?” She gently nudged him awake. “Can you utilize the Spark ability?”

“Spark?” The blob mumbled, drowsy. Then he started to glow, vibrating with electricity. Susie quickly ejected the blaster’s battery and held it up against Gooey, and it rapidly refilled to its full capacity.

She pulled it away. “Okay, you can stop now! Thank you!”

The blob cooled down and drifted back to sleep almost instantly. “Friend...zzz...welcome...”

Her heart warmed as Gooey snoozed away. He’s so odd, but so adorable!

Whatever his species is, I need to find out so I can adopt one for myself!

A few minutes of file-sleuthing later, she blanched at the data she found.

“He’s a Dark Matter?! ”

After their break, they pressed on through a series of conveyors before climbing up to the mall’s rooftop walkways...and it was completely disgusting!

“Ugh!” Susie carefully stepped around the spiderwebs coating most of the available scaffolding, having to resort to her propeller device more often than was prudent given its mediocre battery life. But it was better than having to wash spider silk out of her clothes later!

Gooey, on the other hand (and to her utter lack of surprise), didn’t care, freely bouncing through the webbing and fighting the enemies that had made their homes in that mess, digging out soul fragments as he went. She couldn’t help but envy how carefree he was, sometimes.

Although when the blob tried to nuzzle up to her by the end, she did lose her cool. “Eek! Stay away from me!”

“What?” Gooey’s eyes widened, brimming with tears. “Am I...not friend?”

Susie paled when she realized what she’d done. “No no no I’m sorry Gooey! Just...can you wash off all that gross spidery stuff before you touch me?”

The blob paused for a moment, then nodded, beaming. “Okay!” Then he licked himself off in an instant, slurping up the silk sticking to him, before nuzzling into her again. “Clean for Sue!”

She held back a sigh as saliva stained her skirt. It wasn’t a big deal, really, as she patted him on the head. “Yes. Clean for Sue.” She couldn’t control everything, she supposed.

Compromise...maybe that was the key to friendship she’d been missing.

Chapter Text

The mall was deathly silent now, as they’d reached the most abandoned part of it. An old food court, maybe? It was broken down and filthy, legless chairs and tables strewn haphazardly and massive cracks carved into the walls. And plenty of dusty cobwebs, too. It looked like nobody had been here in years.

Still, Susie’s scanner was detecting a life signature in here, so she pressed on. It must be one of their missing friends, lost and alone!

Gooey, bouncing along beside her, seemed to realize the danger, keeping his voice down. “Star Ally here?”

She nodded. “Somewhere...” The scanner wasn’t working as accurately as she’d like, psychic energy did mess with it a little, but it was enough to get an idea where they were. Its blip pointed into the parking lot down below, which was absolutely swamped with spider silk, knotted and tied into an elaborate maze of the stuff.

Susie cursed under her breath. She couldn’t really get a good view from up here, but it looked like someone was trapped in a bulging portion near the middle. Summoning her Business Suit and hopping in, she prepared to drop down. “Ready?” If there was an enemy waiting to ambush them, this would definitely set them off.

Gooey nodded. “Go go!” With that, he jumped down, Susie following him an instant later. As they touched down...nothing moved. It remained unnervingly quiet...something was very wrong here.

Her free hand slid to her blaster pistol, tightening her grip as they advanced.

The blob’s tongue poked at a loose strand of silk, tugging on it. It snaked all the way to that weird lump in the middle, ripping up the webbing along its path and stretching taut like a thread.

“Wait,” Susie called out, “one moment!” The blob stopped moving, watching as she maneuvered her Business Suit to guard Gooey and shield her cockpit with its arms. Once it was locked into a defensive position, she primed her blaster. “Okay, on three, got it? One, two...three!”

*shrrriiiiiiiiiip!*

As the cocoon split apart, a small shape sprang out of it, sweeping its ragged green cloak aside to reveal a feral figure with six floating hands, jagged horns, and barbaric white hair covering its entire head...except for eight glowing amber eyes. Susie’s grip tightened as it let out a vicious hiss, mandibles crunching together under its breath.

Her eyes narrowed. “So you are brainwashed...hmph. Brute force it is, then.”

Primal Puppeteer

Forgo Taranza

Gooey made the first move, swinging his tongue forward and slurping up a wide swath of floor silk, leaving it clean. That was well-timed, as Taranza cast a spell to electrocute the webbing.

Susie guided her mech into the empty spot and then glided in, thrusters at maximum, spinning into Taranza with all the machine’s might.

She only had two arms compared to his six, but at this speed it didn’t matter! Shredding the thin cobweb walls erected in her path, the whirling machine powered through, batting each grasping hand away like they were mere fleas, striking the head directly.

With a shriek, the spider wrenched itself onto the arm, tearing frantically at the arm and ripping off its armor plating, exposing the inner wiring. Susie took aim with her blaster and fired, trying to shake him off, but each time she shot a hand two more grabbed back on! He was relentless!

She growled, jumping out of the mech and landing on a patch of solid ground. Actually, most of the silk was gone by now, thanks to Gooey slurping it all up! She gave him a thumbs-up before pressing a button on her remote, triggering the Business Suit’s self-destruct.

The mech began to shine as Taranza slashed through a crucial component, severing wires with a prideful howl as the arm went limp...right before the machine erupted in a crimson fireball.

Gooey blinked, watching the explosion with wide eyes. “Sue destroy suit?”

Susie smiled deviously. “I have spares.” Then she aimed her blaster at the smoke cloud, eyes narrowed. No way that’d be enough to take down a Star Ally, heck even she could easily survive a blast like that!

But as the smoke cleared away...nothing, except a jagged hole in the pavement. Susie scowled when she saw it, putting two and two together. “He’s digging underground! Gooey, be careful, he could pop out from anywhere!” The blob hopped over to her, watching her back.

She didn’t know Taranza that well, but the spider was definitely acting out of character...in terms of pure savagery, at least. Trickery and sorcery were his usual domain, but who knew what he would do under Fecto’s influence. Still, she expected some underhanded tactics to come into play. He’d had plenty of time to come up with them.

So when the ground right under her feet started cracking, she was a little surprised that he was being so direct-!

“Sue!” Gooey’s tongue lashed around her arm and flung her away just before an explosion of violet plasma could sear more than the hem of her skirt, Taranza unleashing a torrent of energy as he rose from the tunnel below.

The blob floated up, pulsating and emitting orange flames around himself. “Sue friend! If you hurt Sue...you’ll pay!” Twin bolts of black lightning emerged from Gooey’s eyes, blasting Taranza into the far wall as Susie gaped. Where did that come from?!

The blob twitched, parts of his body staining with red patterns as he shuddered, and her eyes widened as she realized what was happening. He’s losing control! She quickly jumped up and dusted herself off. “Gooey! It’s okay, I’m okay! Calm down!”

As quickly as it began, the episode ended, Gooey regaining his usual blue and dropping back to the ground, no longer ablaze. “Sue is okay!” He jumped over and started nuzzling her. “Happy!”

She took a moment to pet the little guy. “Yes yes I’m fine, thank you so much!” Then she got down to business. “What was that, anyway? Do you know?”

He shook his head, sort of dazed. “New power? Felt strange...”

A shriek sounded as Taranza burrowed out of his latest rubble pile, angered and with his mane torn away to reveal his face, which glowed with an eldritch green pattern she couldn’t identify.

Susie aimed her blaster with one hand, fishing around in her pocket for Pinky’s remote with the other. “Gooey, stay back!” She opened fire as tendrils of magic-formed silk spread from each of Taranza’s fingers, forming into a colossal cocoon around himself, which began to writhe and knit into some sort of flower-like beast.

Even as her blasts singed the silk, it continued to expand, engulfing the arena despite her best efforts and oh god it was all over her and it was choking her she couldn’t breathe she couldn’t speak she couldn’t see no no no Daddy help-!

...

S̴̢̡̢̭̳̪̩̠͔̼͎͌̕u̴̡̧̧̹͈̤̖̲͚̲͗́ͅš̵̞̝̻̯͚͔̫̦̟̖͉͍͉͎̩͔̩̈̆̀͘͜͜a̶̧̡̘͎̖͓̮̝̪̼̥̥̱̻̤͗͊͆̃̈́̾́͐̋̀̅̏͆̀̈̀͝͝ͅn̴̢̠͈̮̑͒͆͒͂̆̐̅̑̀ñ̴̡̞̥̹̮̼̳̜͉͓̯͖̙̖̬̲̌̏̈́̃̚̕͜a̴̧̢̟̮̓̃̓̐͊̿̀̑͋̏͐̿̉̔́́͘

Huh?!

d̸̫̳͓͍̭̿̓̑̽̌͂̅̀̀̊͑͊̿͝͝o̵̤̯͈̳̗̺̬̫̠͚̿̀̑̔̅͜ͅn̴̡̛͍̼̋͌̈́̌̀̈̑̔͑̂̆͠'̴̧͔̣̩̪̝̖̰̘̗̱̙͆̎͋̃͒̀́́̕͝t̶͖̘̗͎̥̼̘̱̼̥͖̯͌̀̓̈́͘ ̶̞̏̐́̀̃g̴̛̰̪͇̎̎̆̇̂ḯ̷̛͇̘̟̻͍̞̗͍̭̪͚̼͎͍͆̌̓̑̃̉͠v̸̨̡̛̙̟̜̹̙͚̳̖̮̲̿̐͊̋̋̚e̵̠̭̓̐̏ͅ ̵͔̲̪̼͚̘͍̙̖̙̪̬͂́̉͊͗͛̓̍̚͘ͅų̴̪̲͉̤̻͎͓̻̘̫̹͈̍̏̆͊̈́̅̚̚͠p̵̥̈́̔̅̋̓̕̚

...

Her hand suddenly brushed on something metallic, and she squeezed tight.

*bschzzrt!*

A beam of cyan flashed through her vision, as the silk split to ribbons all around her. Taranza let out a screech before falling silent, and Gooey cheered. “Yay! Yay!” Susie blinked as a familiar if odd silhouette entered her vision. It wasn’t Pinky, like she’d been going for...it was...Meta Knight?

No wait...her eyes widened at the chrome-armored swordsman, webbed scraps trailing from its blade as it guarded her. “A Stock Mecha Knight?!” But that was impossible, that whole project had been scrapped and the only functional prototype left had used Star Dream within its AI and she’d personally wiped every trace of its code from the HWC network!

As if the laws of physics caught up with it at the same time her realization did, it slumped, the violet eye-like scanner on its mask going dim and its energy sword dissipating.

Taranza’s hissing resurgence from the fallen webbing was short-lived, as Susie whipped her blaster in his direction and opened fire. The electric bolts tore through his magical guard and launched him through a window, landing him in a heap against an overturned table. “This takes precedence over you, Taranza. Stay down.”

Gooey hopped through the window and out of sight, prodding the spider as she turned her gaze back to Mecha Knight. Prying its mask off, she took a closer look at the data streaming across its inner monitor. The program’s in the same incomplete state I last saw it in...no one’s edited the files since, the last listed ID to have accessed them is my own...so how is this possible...?

“Susie!” Taranza’s head popped up through the empty window frame, now freed from...whatever mind control he had been under. The green pattern on his face had faded, and his eyes weren’t glowing so bright anymore, instead being their regular level of spidery-creepiness.

She suppressed a shiver...Taranza always kind of spooked her...but he was at least trying to be friendly, so...triggering Mecha Knight’s warp system, it was sent to her private workshop so she could analyze it later. Then she turned to face the spider. “Are you alright?”

“I think so.” He shook his head. “I’m so sorry about, er...all of this.” He gestured at the smoking husk of her Business Suit. “I just...lost control, and...” He flinched back before bowing his head, hands splayed out on the ground below him. “Please forgive me!”

Her first instinct was to scold him for being a wimp, but less aggressive thoughts prevailed this time. Compromise. “It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault, Taranza.” He looked up at her in confusion as Gooey bounced into view, holding a cluster of orange soul fragments. “Now come on! We have work to do, and friends to save!”

“Que...” He seemed starstruck, eyes glazed over with wonder, as she turned on her heel to leave, but he suddenly rose to attention and chased after her. “Y-yes, ma’am! Right behind you!”

Chapter Text

“Kyahahahaha! Come out, little fishies, it’s breakfast time!”

Bandana Dee sighed as Marx split into a black hole and started sucking up enough saltwater to fill several swimming pools, fish and all. They hadn’t even been here for three minutes and the mad jester was already getting on his last nerve.

Everbay Coast was usually nice and sunny, or at least it was during his and Kirby’s adventure here in the real world. This copy of it was cold and dark, though, no sunlight and with only hazy shadows for life.

Still tangible enough to eat, based on Marx licking his chops in satisfaction, but not real. “Hey Waddle Dee, keep up!” He flew ahead, diving into the water with his mouth wide.

Bandana’s grip tightened around his spear. “Will you call me Bandana already?!” Seriously, of all the people that annoying nut could have followed it just had to be me, huh?

He reluctantly followed, swimming with his inner tube as Marx fooled around in the depths. His weapon was still able to hurt the ghosts, but not easily...they were sort of smoky and hard to skewer. Even the Chillies were sort of half-melted and fluid. It was messed up. And creepy.

Though considering how Fecto acted, he shouldn’t have been surprised by-what was that glow over there?

He reached into the clump of dead seaweed and grabbed it. It was like a little orange sun, and just holding it warmed him up. “Yo, Marx! Take a look at this thing!”

The jester popped out beneath him, cackling, wings extended and splashing him. “Hey hey hey what’s u-!” His eyes went impossibly wide, jaw hanging. “A soul fragment?! Gimme gimme!”

Bandana held it away from the chomping mouth. “Whoa whoa whoa! Don’t touch what isn’t yours!” He slipped it under his namesake for safekeeping. “But how d’you know that?”

In response, Marx extended his tongue, and on top of it was a cluster of miniature versions of the soul fragment, except these ones were magenta and tied together by a sort of magic chain. “When a soul is destroyed,” he said, somehow not biting his own tongue off, “this is what happens to it! Kirby tore my soul to bits before so I had to patch ‘em all back together for a while!”

As the jester retracted his tongue, he flashed an eerie grin. “I betcha ten Maxim Tomatoes I’ll find more of these than you can!”

The spearman knew this would at least stop Marx from eating them to keep his count up, so he nodded. “You’re on!”

Okay seriously, where did Marx get ice bombs from?! It was hard enough to overtake his flight to grab the fragments first, but the ability to put out fires was giving him a really unfair advantage!

He missed when a befriended Chilly could infuse-wait, that’s it!

Taking careful aim, Bandana threw his spear into the nearest flaming log, just as Marx blasted it with another ice bomb. Once the steam cleared, he sped in and snatched up his weapon. Sure enough, he’d gotten a Blizzard Spear out of it!

The jester glared at him. “Hey, that’s not cool! You can’t just steal my trick!”

The spearman glared right back, scooping up the revealed soul fragment as he did. “Oh, but you using your wings and flying ahead like that is totally fair game, huh?”

Marx actually thought about that for a moment, then dropped down to his feet, wings vanishing in a puff of darkness. “If you say so-hey who’s that guy?!”

Bandana Dee barely had time to turn around and block the heavy sword of a Wild Edge. Frost spread along the metal and coated the beast’s armor, slowing it down enough for him to dodge.

Marx punted a toy ball at the armor, cackling as it bounced off without dealing any damage. “Oh noes, what are we ever possibly going to do to stop him?! He’s just sooo strooong!”

The spear was still doing damage and slowing the knight’s swings, letting Bandana barely evade it, but it wasn’t by much. “You could spit that huge mouth laser of yours! Or turn into a black hole and shred him! Or spam him with your lightning arrows! Or do literally anything else!”

“I can’t do any of those without my wings!” He cackled again. “And you told me that was unfair!”

Bandana’s Blizzard Spear broke as he drove it through the Wild Edge’s visor, denting the back of the helmet from the force. The knight slumped and faded, leaving only soul fragments which he quickly snatched away from Marx’s dive. “Have it your way!” He stashed them and ran for it.

“What the heck, no fair!”

Marx kicked one of his balls at a propeller-mounted target, causing it to break and release a soul fragment. “Hey hey hey! That makes the score even again!”

Bandana groaned, spearing another target and quietly grabbing the soul. “Whatever.” He really didn’t care for Marx’s attitude right now, the constant drip-drip-drip of snark was getting to him.

Seriously, how do the others stand you? Kirby and Gooey and Magolor I get, but you’re even friendly with Ribbon and Daroach! What gives?

Marx’s eyes widened, staring at an underwater treasure chest, resting on a submerged crane platform. “Ooh! Lookie there!”

Bandana watched as he grabbed the crane’s suspension cable with his mouth and began to tug at it. “Hrrrrrrgh!” Some of the rust loosened and flaked off, but that was it. The mechanism itself didn’t budge.

The jester broke off and panted for a moment. Then he turned to smirk at Bandana. “Hey, this thingy is, uh, really heavy...can you give me a hand?”

He rolled his eyes. “Why? So you can snap up all the soul fragments for my hard work? Not gonna happen.”

Marx shifted back and forth. “C’moooon, I’m the one who saw the chest! And you can’t get it by yourself either so-!” He paused as Bandana pulled a rope out of his namesake's pocket. “...wha-what are you doing?”

He tied the rope just below his spearhead, making sure it had a hook on the end that was heavy enough to sink in water. “Fishing it out.” He prepared to cast the makeshift rod.

The jester jumped up. “Wait wait wait!” As Bandana’s first throw went slightly wide and he pulled it back for another go, the smirk vanished from Marx’s face. “Okay okay if you help and there’s more than one in there I’ll give you half!”

His second cast paused mid-windup. Marx did spot the chest first...alright. “You got a deal.” He set his spear down and waddled over to the crane, grabbing just above where Marx’s saliva had coated the cable. “And heave ho!”

Together, they slowly but surely managed to raise the platform, chest and all. Once they opened it...five soul fragments! Marx moved to grab all of them, then paused...and left two untouched.

Huh, Bandana thought, maybe he’s softening up.

On second thought, nope.

After making it through falling boulders and whirlpools and a windstorm over scaffolding, the duo found themselves in the remnants of a water tank, all scratched and burned up. A Warp Star beckoned as a way out, but Marx blocked him off. “Hey hey hey, let’s check how many soul fragments we both got! I lost count!”

The jester spat out a bunch of glowing orange suns. “One two three four five six...” He counted quickly, mouth moving much faster than should be physically possible. “...twenty-one!”

Bandana rolled his eyes, but obliged, removing his namesake and counting out measured handfuls of fragments. “Five...ten...fifteen...twenty...twenty-two!” He beamed. “Haha, guess I’m winning so far!”

Marx scowled. “Yeah but two of those should be mine to begin with!”

His eyes widened. “Excuse me?!” What the heck, Marx! You’re lucky I gave you any of those five!

The jester snapped up his fragments and bounced off towards the Warp Star. “Whatever!”

Bandana raced ahead of him, blocking his path. “Okay, enough! Do you have to be such a jerk all the time? I don’t even know why Meta Knight lets you stay on the team when you’re always acting like this!” He knew he shouldn’t snap at his teammate, but enough was enough!

“Oh yeah?” Marx’s eyes went bloodshot. “I don’t know why you’re on the team either! You’re just a Waddle Dee with a fancy stick, there are literally hundreds of other Dees who could take your place!”

The spearman recoiled like he’d been slapped. What...what did he just say?! “But I...”

The jester spread his wings, casting a wider shadow. “Look at you! You’re cowering like the sad little Waddle Dee you are! What can you do? Kirby destroys gods on a regular basis! Dedede is strong enough to shatter the Dimension Mirror! Meta Knight beat Galacta Knight twice! I literally cheated death! But you? You can barely punch through two blocks of cement with everything you’ve got! You’ve never done anything on a Star Ally’s level on your own!”

Bandana was stunned, dropping his spear. This wasn’t Marx’s usual sort of cheerful snark, this was pure vitriol. “I-I...you tried to conquer Popstar and kill Kirby twice!”

“So what if I did? So did Dedede, and Meta Knight, and Susie, and Magolor, and Dark Meta, and Zanzan, and even that Carol chick!” The jester sprang into the air and soared over him, grabbing the Warp Star. “News flash, Waddle Dee, Kirby makes friends with everyone, it ain’t a badge of honor or anything! You’re useless!”

...

...

...

*sniff*

...

Marx cackled. “Oh boo hoo, you gonna cry? Wah wah waddle-”

“Shut up.”

He froze mid-laugh. “Huh?”

Bandana wiped his tears away. “What have you done, then? Sure, you cheated death, so did Magolor and Dark and Zan, that’s not unique to you either. Your big claim to fame was that you stole a wish. You didn’t train for it like Meta Knight, you weren’t born with it like Kirby. Anyone could’ve made a wish on Nova and been handed those powers on a platter, just like you.”

The jester glared. “I got the sun and moon to fight, remember? I did that on my own, and it’s more than you ever did-!”

“And you’re proud of that? You might’ve missed it while you were dead, Marx, but I wasn’t all that different from you back then, just a random face in a crowd. You’re half-right, I am just a Waddle Dee with a fancy stick, but it’s not like I’m replaceable or anything. I trained every day for years to get where I am now. That cement thing? That was before I started.”

He picked up his spear, twirling it in one hand. “And it’s not like I even need a spear to help. It makes it easier, yeah, but it isn’t the only thing I’ve got. I wasn’t lugging a weapon around when Dark Matter came knocking the third time, but I still pulled my weight. I don’t need to prove a thing to you. Only to me.” He jumped up onto the Warp Star, despite Marx’s wide-eyed shock.

...

Bandana gave him a look. “What?”

The jester averted his eyes as the Warp Star got up to speed. “Huh.” His usual peppy act was gone. “We’re just a couple of no-name schmucks who got lucky, eh?”

A calm silence followed, until a now-pacified Bandana decided to break it. “We made our own luck.”

That got a chuckle out of Marx. “Yeah, heheh, I guess so.” He raised a wing, claw opened. "I'm, uh, sorry about all that stuff I said. Truce?"

Bandana nodded, taking it and shaking it. "Right back at ya. Truce."

Chapter Text

Bandana Dee gripped the ladder tight, shivering against the wind. They were pretty high up now and it was getting cold. Still, at least he knew where they were. “Boss fight coming up, Marx!”

The jester, clamping to the ladder with his tongue, chuckled. “What kind? Is it a fish? Ooh, or a squid? I could go for some fried calamari!”

“Nope,” he sighed, “it’s the tree.”

Marx almost fell off in laughter. “This world’s got a Whispy too?! Haha, sometimes I love how predictable this whole adventuring thing can be!” He grinned widely. “Let’s go pay him a visit!”

Once they reached the top, though, it was clear they wouldn’t be fighting Tropic Woods. The arbor where it should’ve been was uprooted and cockeyed, hanging at an angle with gnarled roots only barely clinging to the ground enough to keep it from falling. The hole left in its place was filled with toxic-looking violet water, and the fronds around it were sickly and overgrown.

The spearman pulled out his weapon and stood at the ready. Something was wrong here...he could feel someone (besides Marx) watching him. His eyes flicked back to the jester. “They’re hiding. Think you can drag them out?” He had suspicions, but nothing concrete.

Marx’s grin widened, spreading his wings. “You got it!” Splitting in half, he formed a black hole and started to suck in. Bandana stabbed his spear into the dirt and held on tight as pebbles and branches were pulled into the ravenous cosmic maw. The greenery began tearing from debris until three beasts emerged, one from the bushes, one from the trees, and one from the pool.

Bandana unearthed his spear as the suction died down. The hamster’s fur and the owl’s feathers were shaggy and braided with reeds, and the fish’s scales were scratched and sharpened, but he recognized them all the same. “I should’ve known.” He extended his weapon. “Bring it on!”

Trifecta of Ferocity

Forgo Rick & Kine & Coo

Rick sped forward, fire licking at his chops, and tried to bite Bandana, who dodged to one side and jabbed his spear in return. His fur turned to stone to parry the strike, but it still knocked him away, rolling back into the bushes.

From above, Coo attempted to drop down on him, holding a jagged stone in its talons, but a swing of the spear parried it, Bandana twirling his spear like a copter to take flight. Rising to Coo’s level, he dove in, forcing the owl to dodge and weave, flinging sharpened feathers on retreat that were blocked by the spiraling polearm.

Marx, meanwhile, had gone after Kine, trying to chomp down on him, but the fish nimbly swam around the attacks and extended his spiked scales. The jester flinched back and onto the pool’s shore, one of his wings all scratched up.

He cackled. “Alright, fishy, have it your way!” He spat a few sickly-looking seeds into the water.

Within seconds, vines sprouted and speared upward, catching Coo and fencing Kine in. Rick suddenly barreled Marx over and bit down on the vines, ignoring the thorns, and ripped them out with his teeth.

Bandana rapidly descended with a mighty stab, kicking up sand as the strike just barely missed and Rick grabbed him. Coo broke loose and grabbed Marx with his talons. The jester twitched before warping away, but only wound up in the jumping maw of Kine, who swallowed him whole.

The spearman gasped as he felt hamster jaws tightening around his head. No no no please no-!

He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable...

Marx’s teasing, muffled through Kine’s gut, still found its way out. “C’mon, Waddle Dee! You’ve never given up before, so show me what you can do! Prove me wrong already!”

His grip hardened, his tears dried, and he felt determination burn within his heart. Marx...you’re right! I’m not done yet!

With a renewed burst of energy, he forced his way out of Rick’s maw and raised his spear. It felt lighter than usual, a little more potent, but he didn’t spare it much thought before swinging it in a wide arc, slashing all three of the animals in one fluid motion and forming a trail of bright fuchsia light in its wake.

Coo recovered first, diving fast enough to ignite into flame, but Bandana was ready, swinging his spear like a hammer and bashing the owl into the dirt before turning his attention to Marx, trying to claw his way out of Kine’s mouth. Tying his fishing rope to the now-glowing spear, he cast his line, and Marx managed to nab the lure with his mouth.

The jester spread his wings on the way out, forcing Kine’s mouth wide enough to cause physical pain, as the fish’s eyes began to water. He spun around once he was free, zapping the pool with a stream of lightning arrows and frying Kine bad enough to launch him out of the water.

As the fish flopped on the sand, Rick emerged in a rage, grabbing Kine and Coo and swinging them like maces. Marx cackled, dodging away from the spinning daredevil alongside Bandana Dee. “Fence ‘em in and I’ll give ‘em a good finish!” His mouth began to shine with cosmic power as the jester began charging his laser beam.

Bandana twirled his radiant weapon, nodded, and jumped in. Parrying every swing of the KO’d Animal Friends, he struck Rick again and again, ducking, weaving, sliding, and hacking away at loose parts, tugging those knots hard enough to imbalance the assault. The reeds in Rick’s fur and Coo’s feathers tore apart, and the spikes on Kine’s scales broke and dulled with each hit.

Marx grinned wide, shining with darkness. “Here we gooooooo!” With an inhumane scream, a radiant beam of cosmic force surged from the jester’s hyper-stretched maw, and Bandana was barely able to evade in time to avoid being vaporized. Rick took the blast head-on, fur turning to stone to resist as best he could, shielding his friends/weapons as well.

Twirling his spear around, Bandana threw it at the hamster’s skull, and as it flew, the wood and metal shattered, leaving only the light itself as a deadly lance, spiraling directly into its target and erupting with a huge fuchsia explosion that blinded him and Marx.

Once the glow faded, the jester stared at the utter carnage left behind. “Unholy Nova...” The two attacks together had ravaged the arena into a dust bowl, the pool evaporated and the remnants of trees feebly trying to hold together as their leaves flaked to ash. Rick and Kine and Coo were lying unconscious in a heap. “That. Was. Awesome! We gotta do that again sometime!”

Bandana’s eyes were wide, staring at the devastation he’d just caused. “Whoa...”

Marx touched down, retracting his wings. “But seriously, how’d you do that?”

The spearman shrugged. “I dunno.” The glint of fuchsia in the ashes was starting to dim, but he wandered over to investigate it. Its shape was much sleeker than a normal spear, straight as an arrow and thin as a nail. The reverse end had a counterweight, carved into a heart shape. He put his foot against the embedded surface and pulled it out, ripping the tree in half in the process.

Bandana could feel the magic radiating from it, even as the spear dimmed to a purple crystalline sheen. That power was still locked inside, he could tell, but it was asleep now. It reminded him of Kirby’s full strength in a way, some sort of ancient yet comforting but still unstoppable force.

Marx’s eyes widened, peering over his shoulder, and he gasped. “Whoa! Is that a-!”

He recognized it too, even though he knew it didn’t make sense...but there was no doubt. He’d somehow created a... “...I didn’t even know this was possible!”

The jester’s mouth was hanging in shock. “Y...you know what this means, yeah? You...”

Bandana tied the weapon into his namesake’s tails, like usual. “Doesn’t matter, what’s important is that we won. Are those three okay?”

Marx shrugged, still visibly amazed. “They made it through alright. I don’t think you actually hurt them. It’s more like they just fell asleep.”

“That makes sense,” the spearman said, “it was meant to seal things away, not kill them.” His eyes slid over to the animals, who were starting to stir.

Rick was the first one to stand, holding his head in a daze. “Oof. I ain’t gonna feel good in the mornin’ after that...” He perked up after seeing the duo. “Bandee and Marx? G’day mates!”

Marx cackled. “Hey hey hey!” He spun on his toes. “Guess it worked!”

Bandana beamed, before running over to help Coo rise. The owl shook out his feathers with a frown. “I apologize for the trouble, Bandee. It was imprudent to venture this monster’s territory.”

The spearman shook his head. “It’s no big deal, Coo, I don’t think any of us saw Fecto coming.”

Kine flopped weakly, looking up at them. “Yep...ow...nothing could’ve gotten us ready for that psycho. He made Marx look sane.”

The jester spun to glare at the fish. “Says the guy who tried to eat me just now!” He bounced around, cackling. “I could imagine it now: ‘Here lies Marx the Devourer, dead from being eaten by a big fish,’ or something like that. Ironic, ain’t it?”

Bandana sighed. “Can we focus, please?” The jester had become a lot more tolerable since they’d both vented their issues, but Marx was still getting on his nerves a bit. Maybe that was just his personality though, nothing wrong with that. He turned to help Kine, only to see Coo doing it for him. “Are you three all good to go?”

Rick stretched. “Yup! Better run before that nut notices we’re free! Oh, that reminds me!” He reached into his fur and pulled out a cluster of soul fragments. “Here! Take these!”

Marx snatched three of them, allowing Bandana to grab the other two. The jester smiled. “And it’s a tie game again! Hey, buddy, you wanna wrap up the contest here? We can go halves on the wager!”

Bandana Dee shrugged. “Sure. It’s a tie.” He drew his spear. “Let’s get outta here! Star Allies...”

“Go!!!” With a resounding cheer, the group of five raced to the Warp Star.

Chapter Text

Meta Knight knew that Kirby, leader of the Star Allies and hero of Gamble Galaxy, wasn’t overly picky about whom he worked with. Normally, the older warrior didn’t argue much, provided they pulled their weight. Marx and his own dark counterpart, for example, were villainous but cooperative, and mighty enough that he could stomach it.

Which was why he was currently watching Clawroline, or rather Carol, from a distance. The Lethal Leopard had broken off from the others and headed for this twisted variant of Wondaria as soon as she was given the chance, and Meta Knight wanted to know why.

Not that he was alone, of course.

“I think we can trust her, Meta Knight.” Elfilin floated up beside him. “I’m not sensing any dark intentions from her.”

The knight adjusted his sword grip. “What do you mean by that?”

“Well,” the creature replied, “after I got absorbed by Fecto, it triggered a few psychic powers I didn’t know I had. Closing portals is one of them, reading minds is another.” He shrugged. “I’m still getting a handle on it, it’s more feelings than full divination, but I’m pretty sure she’s being honest with us.”

“Hm.” Meta Knight considered that, watching as Carol gracefully danced around malfunctioning carousels and parade cars, flipping like an acrobat as she stabbed her claws into the cracked streets to dig out pieces of Leon’s soul. “She appears to be performing admirably, at least.”

Elfilin bounced in mid-air. “She’s pretty cool! Even while Kirby was fighting her, she put on a real show for everyone! Everyone in the Beast Pack adores her!”

“Is that so?” The knight spread his wings, taking flight as Carol passed through a door. “Perhaps I will have to inquire as to why.”

By the time Meta Knight caught up to the leopard, she was breaking ice off her claws, the fading and collapsed husk of a ghostly Wild Frosty at her feet. Elfilin hung back, staring. “Wow...”

The knight, less interested in her skills than her reasons, landed nearby and warily approached.

Carol noticed him, shaking the last flecks of ice off as he got near. “Oh,” she meowed, translated within microseconds by the silvery collar around her neck, “Meta Knight.”

He kept his sword sheathed, but made no effort to appear friendly. “Why did you leave while we were discussing? There is safety in numbers, especially in such a dangerous location.”

The leopard crossed her arms and mewled. “I know this area best, and I don’t want anyone else slowing me down. I grew up in this park on my own, so I can find my way around just fine.”

She stepped around the Frosty corpse and sunk one of her claws into it, accelerating its decomposition. “And I believe it should be obvious that I can handle myself.”

Elfilin approached at that point. “Carol, you shouldn’t be like this. Meta Knight and I won’t slow you down, and we don’t know what’s waiting ahead. That Frosty isn’t what was supposed to be here. Fecto’s changing the script on us, you can’t just run in blades out and expect to be okay!”

She considered that, adjusting her stance while retracting her claws. “Fine. You can come, but if I leave you behind, I won’t turn back for you.” She pivoted on her heel and stalked off.

Meta Knight took a moment to fly above the nearby popcorn parlor and grab a soul fragment she’d walked past. “You forgot something.”

The leopard rolled her eyes while taking the treasure, but still purred lightly. “Thank you.”

The next room was shrouded in darkness. Galaxia glowed a little, and Carol could naturally see in the dark, so it wasn’t overly difficult to navigate. The photosensitive machinery was somewhat harder to bypass, however.

Elfilin floated up to look at one of the receptors. “If Kirby were here, I bet he’d just suck up that lightbulb we saw a bit ago and use that...” He sighed. “Man, I can tell there’s a soul fragment or two behind here but there’s no way to get to it!”

Meta Knight frowned under his mask. Galaxia wasn’t bright enough to trigger these devices, and that was the only source of light they had. Unless...

An idea crossed his mind. “Elfilin, you can generate portals through space, correct?”

The creature scratched one of his ears, puzzled. “Um...I haven’t tried it yet, but...I think I can?”

Carol seemed to catch on. “Ah, I understand! Perhaps you could open a portal to somewhere in our home world, maybe Everbay Coast? The sunlight there should be bright enough.”

Elfilin blinked. “Oh? Oh!” He nodded, beaming. “That’s a great idea, guys!” Focusing on the ceiling, his body started to faintly shine. Golden sparkles began to rain down from above, and he squinted. “Hang on, gotta figure this out...it’s like trying to use a new muscle for the first time...”

Meta Knight nodded. “Take your time, Elfilin. We are not in a particular hurry.”

Carol huffed under her breath, but the translator still broadcasted at full volume. “Yes we are.”

The knight shot her a glare, but didn’t get much further than that before a noise like ripping fabric sounded, and the room was suddenly bathed in the warm afternoon sun, clear blue skies visible through the portal now dominating the ceiling. The machinery around them whirred to life.

Elfilin grabbed three soul fragments from behind the now-activated panel, hugging them tight. “I can’t believe that worked but I’m so glad it did!” He spotted another fragment in the distance and flew off to grab it.

The leopard smiled warmly, stretching out to soak up the rays with her eyes shut. “Ahhhh...this is nice, Filin. It reminds me of the day Leon and I were...”

She trailed off, prompting Meta Knight to inquire. “The day that Leon and you were...?”

Carol jumped, rapidly shaking her head and scurrying ahead on all fours. “N-never mind! We need to hurry and save your friends!”

He scowled and sprinted after the leopard. She’d have to spill her secrets eventually.

Once they’d made it out of the dark room, Carol’s ear twitched at the sound of carnival music. “Is that the parade?!” She raced off towards the song, leaving Meta Knight and Elfilin to eat her dust.

The two shrugged at each other before chasing after her. The leopard was still grabbing the soul fragments as she traveled, but that was the only reason Elfilin was able to stay within view. Meta could outpace her but didn’t need to, as she kept banking off-course to snatch up Leon’s soul.

Eventually she climbed up and perched herself on an old building, overlooking the main road of the real Wondaria. Meta Knight silently landed next to her, and Elfilin soon caught up. The parade below was in full swing, and Carol was watching it with a smile. “I always loved watching these go by when I was a little kitten. Leon even brought me flowers sometimes...”

Her face fell. The knight paused before finally deciding to pry. “You two were rather close, hm?”

“Yes.” The leopard sighed through her fangs. “I was always lonely growing up...I was the runt of the litter, my siblings picked on me for it, I ran away when I was still young and wound up here in this old abandoned park. It was hard, and cold, and hungry...but then I met Leon. He was such a gentleman, so determined and brave, so warm...and I fell in love.” She crossed one leg over the other, eyes glazed by nostalgia. “Have you ever been in love, Meta Knight? I’m sure you’ve had several female admirers over the years.”

The knight blinked, unsure of what to say. “I...would not know for certain. I pay little attention to such things.” He wasn’t sure where she was going with this.

Elfilin had flown off at some point, trawling through a high-tech maze further in, using portals to reach through barricades and grab soul fragments. Carol frowned. “When Leon started talking in your language, I couldn’t understand it. I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what. All I could do was follow him. I was kept in the dark about what Filin really was...we all were...” She sighed. “But I wouldn’t leave him for anything. He is everything to me. That’s why...”

Her gaze hardened as she stood up. “That’s why I have to save him! I have to bring him back to the king of beasts he should be!”

Meta Knight remained quiet for a moment, carefully constructing his response. “I see. That is an admirable goal, and I commend your resolve.” He unfurled his wings as Elfilin tore open a portal next to them, to the far side of the maze. “Shall we continue?”

Carol purred before stepping aside. “After you, Sir Meta Knight.”

Chapter Text

Meta Knight kept his sword up as the group wandered through the next room, an eerily quiet and empty hallway. It was far different from what should be here, hastily constructed and formed of dull and rusted metal.

Carol growled. “Fecto tore down my performance stage...for this?”

“You know your actual stage,” Elfilin responded dryly, “ is still in Wondaria, right? This is all fake.”

The knight shook his head. “But...for what purpose would Fecto have created-”

*clang*

Carol jumped high enough that she almost hit the ceiling, staring behind them in the direction of that noise. “What was that?”

*clang*

Elfilin squinted. “There’s something there...hang on, maybe I can...” He focused for a moment and opened a small portal, barely as large as himself, and peered through it. Meta Knight took a look as well...and saw a gleaming golden shape that he recognized very well, pounding on the metallic surface blocking its path. As it cracked, so did a wall to their right.

*clang*

The warrior spread his wings and grabbed Elfilin, just as the wall crumbled to reveal the metallic monster barreling towards them at full speed. “Run!”

Carol didn’t hesitate to follow orders, galloping on all fours to escape the titanic machine. Meta Knight swung his sword behind him and deflected a stream of bullets, then spun to fly backward while holding his blade at the ready.

Chrome Crustacean

Heavy Lobster mkIV

Elfilin dropped down to grab Carol’s scruff and hung on for dear life, glowing as he tore a portal right in front of the Lobster. It mostly swerved around, but one of the outstretched gatling guns got caught in the portal long enough for the rift to close and sever it.

The Lobster let out a muffled screech, one that Meta Knight recognized, and he scowled. “Of course.” Galaxia gleaming in his grip, he unleashed a wave of energy that slashed through the other claw’s rapid-fire weapon.

Briefly unarmed, the robot’s claws cycled, swapping the ruined gatlings for flamethrowers, and opened the valves. The knight ascended quickly to dodge the streams of heat, banking around the machine and diving to land a heavy strike at its spine.

He jumped away as the machine’s back split open to reveal a set of rocket launchers, firing homing missiles after him. Meta Knight blasted ahead, barely able to outpace the arsenal.

As the Lobster chased after him, wheels whirring at full speed, Meta Knight’s eye caught on a wider space nearby, the remnants of Carol’s arena...and a familiar shape clinging to one of its scaffolds, beckoning him with one paw.

He rapidly changed course, sliding through the doorway and up to her level, as the missiles hit the frame and exploded. The one that got through was quickly skewered by a thrown knife from the Lethal Leopard. She smiled devilishly, watching as the machine bashed against the metallic barricade, trying to break it down. “That should buy us some time. What is that thing?”

“A war machine from my world.” Meta Knight gripped his sword at the ready, watching as a crack began to appear in the wall around the entrance. “Are you prepared to do battle?”

Carol’s fangs glistened as she gripped a handful of knives. “Yes.” And with that, she took aim and flung the five blades directly into the Lobster’s eye just as it broke through.

WIth the wailing crunch of glass, the eye shattered, and Meta Knight capitalized on it, spearing through the other eye with his sword shining. As he backed away, the machine began to wildly rampage, now that it was blind. Carol mewled in amusement. “That is quite the foolish machine if it can be crippled so easily-”

Heavy Lobster’s claws raised to take aim at her, and her eyes widened as she sprung off her perch to barely avoid the rising flames. Meta Knight scowled. It can still hear us!

He began to flap his wings harder, loud enough to make noise, and drew the machine’s fire away from Carol. The Leopard took her cue and slipped away, moving quietly to attract less attention. Charging Galaxia with energy, he formed a torrent of energy waves, shredding the flamethrowers within moments.

That screech of the machine’s occupant ran louder, and it sped up its charge...only for a horde of leopards to drive their claws against its head, halting it. They were pale and translucent, but seemingly solid enough to have mass, even if they were rapidly fading from view.

Meta Knight raised an eyebrow under his mask. I did not anticipate Carol to have self-duplication abilities.

A foreign thought popped into his head. She doesn’t normally, but my powers are having a weird boost effect on her. From the tone of voice, he assumed it was Elfilin. Kinda like what Leon had with Fecto...maybe it’s a species-locked thing?

He shrugged, touching down softly on stage as Carol’s illusory copies began to slash at the robot and tear away its armor. It’s possible. As the clones began to glow purple, they converged into one, which swung its claws in a cross formation and unleashed a slashing wave of energy.

When it connected, Heavy Lobster’s hull split like it was paper, and began to smoke and catch ablaze. The copy disappeared once the flames touched it, and the machine exploded in a large plume of sparks and heat, forcing Meta Knight to shield the open portion of his mask.

From the wreckage, a familiar face climbed out. His feathers were longer and unshaven, and his uniform was ripped and tattered, but he was recognizable by the angry shriek alone as he hefted a metallic crossbow clearly assembled from scraps.

Merciless Machinist

Forgo Captain Vul

Meta Knight deflected the first bolt, and there was no need to evade a second, as a large portal opened above the attacker and dropped a Kirby-sized boulder on his head.

*clonk!*

The bird collapsed to the floor, unconscious, as Elfilin flew through the portal himself and waved at Meta Knight. “Sorry I took so long, I had to find a good weight!”

The warrior shrugged, flying over to inspect his subordinate. He was still breathing, and the rock hadn’t done any significant damage beyond simply knocking Vul out. As the psychic creature floated down and closed the portal, he peered closer. “Is this one of your friends?”

“Somewhat,” Meta Knight said while sheathing his sword, “and well done, Elfilin. Where has Carol gone, anyway?”

The leopard, as if on cue, landed behind him. “I was exploring the rest of the building. Nothing to note besides some soul fragments.” She held up her paw, revealing a small cluster of them. “I believe that we’ve checked everywhere on this island. We should regroup with the others.”

Meta Knight turned to walk out, carrying the unconscious Vul over his shoulder. “Agreed.” On the way out, he looked over at the leopard walking beside him. “If I might ask...what are your plans for the future? Once Leon is saved, you will have no driving mission.”

“I don’t need one,” Carol meowed back, “I’m not the type who needs a goal to be happy. As long as Leon and I can live in peace, I will be satisfied.”

The knight nodded. “I understand. A life of combat is not for everyone.” He adjusted his mask. “If you do decide to seek further training, however, I would be more than willing to assist you in that pursuit.”

She purred lightly, smiling. “I may take you up on that, Sir Meta Knight. Thank you very much.”

Once they’d made it outside of the complex, the distant noise of the parade's tail end woke Vul. “Rrrngh...huh?”

Meta Knight shifted, allowing the bird’s talons to touch ground. “Good afternoon, Captain.”

The bird squawked and jumped away, quickly putting up a salute. “Sir Meta Knight!” His beady black eyes narrowed. “To what do I owe the pleasure of-”

Elfilin suddenly blasted him with a glowing gold beam. “I’m not falling for that, Fecto!” A cloud of darkness was ejected from the bird’s skull, and it reformed into a ghostly black shape resembling an older, larger version of the psychic. The shape glared with pale white eyes.

Carol’s paw tightened, claws out. “Y-you...you cursed...!” Meta Knight simply drew his sword and waited for it to attack once more. But the ghost of Fecto simply faded to psychic smoke.

Meta Knight sighed. “Nicely done, Elfilin.” Inspecting Vul’s once-again-KO’d form, he confirmed that the bird's eyes had returned to their usual blue...he should have noticed that early. “You once again astound me with your range of abilities.”

The creature tenderly scratched one of his ears. “I, um, thanks? I think?”

He sheathed his sword and lifted Vul onto his shoulder again. “If you wish to develop them further I would be glad to assist. Now follow me. Now that Fecto is aware that we are here, we must make haste!”

Elfilin and Carol exchanged worried glances before speeding after him.

Chapter Text

Waddle Dee Town hadn’t had many issues in the last week. Ever since Meta Knight took up his post and made his position known, things had been rather quiet. Even with him gone, the Beast Pack was keeping a sharp watch for intruders.

Which is why the Waddle Dees were a little surprised when Shadow Kirby somehow managed to sneak in without anyone noticing. One second he wasn’t there, and the next he was fishing at the pond, completely oblivious to the general shock surrounding him.

And then a portal opened in the Colosseum, and there was suddenly a “Phantom Cup” on the schedule and no one was sure when that had been announced, but the stadium was packed.

They did need a challenger...but Shadow was more than willing to fill that role.

If his counterpart wasn’t here, he’d be more than happy to take part. Besides, some of these Waddle Dees were from his world, too. They’d be glad to see him doing his bit.

Maybe enough that he could get away with a few pranks on the café...he had a few ideas in mind.

Phantom Gorimondo beat its chest and roared, dragging its massive arms along the pavement and trying to grab the puffball. Shadow was quick enough to dodge, gathering up broken bits of asphalt as a black-hued cyclone and flinging the shards back into the ape.

The beast roared, stomping on the ground and causing it to shake. No worries, as Shadow flew into the sky and dove into its face, drilling with the Tornado ability at maximum speed.

As the strong-armed illusion roared again, Shadow broke away, smirking as Gorimondo spun in a tornado of its own, lifting boulders out of the ground to hurl as weapons.

The moment it slowed, dazed, Shadow flew into its gaping mouth and spun into a Tornado of his own, battering the ape’s jaws and knocking it out. Landing at the exact same time as the KO’d beast, he smiled. One down.

Phantom Clawroline growled, lashing out with its claws at lightning-fast speeds. Shadow and his silvery cutter blades were barely able to block the slashes, as the beast vanished into thin air at a moment’s notice.

Throwing the blades, he sailed over the illusory leopard’s knives and slashed, leaving a deep gash in the beast’s cheek fur. As it split into four of itself, Shadow spun in a circle, throwing his cutters in a circle as they boomeranged around him, slicing the copies to turn them into smoke.

As Clawroline attempted to flee to the scaffolds, Shadow swung his cutters at the base with all his might, hard enough to dent the metallic beam. With a tearing screech of iron, the scaffolding collapsed atop the leopard and buried it under the rubble.

Phantom Sillydillo swung a cage over its head, trying to snatch Shadow out of the air. Puffing out to extend silvery spikes, he stabbed into the prancer’s hand, dodging the cage before rolling up its arm and spiking into its eye.

The armadillo let out a screech as the floor beneath collapsed, and Shadow had to jump away before being blown up by strange Kirby-shaped bombs. He smirked. If I wasn’t mute, I’d give you a compliment. That was a good prank. He silently added it to his mental list for the future.

He’d probably skimp on the explosives, though. Water balloons, maybe?

Rolling into a ball, the armor-plated illusion tried to tackle him, but Shadow’s Needle ability was built for this, spinning into a mirrored juggernaut and grinding up against the beast’s shell. They were at a stalemate, until...

*snap*

The armadillo’s shell cracked, and a spiked blow to the underbelly was enough to put it down for the count.

Phantom Tropic Woods roared, dropping spiked balls and coconuts all over the place. Shadow flung bomb after bomb, diverting all the projectiles and dodging the clouds of toxic smog while chipping away at the tree’s bark with his high-grade explosives.

Metallic fences rose from the sand, shielding the illusory fronds as Gordos bounced over the barricades and tentacle-like roots spiked up from the ground. Dodging and jumping around the blockades, Shadow noticed a torn portion of fencing and stuffed a bomb through it, which rolled all the way into Tropic’s open mouth just as it tried to shoot a large puff of toxins. Gotcha!

*whumph!*

As the explosion sounded within the tree’s mouth, it slumped, lips charred and letting out a single tear. Shadow smiled. Who’s next?

Phantom Dedede roared, sending a horde of Primal Awoofies after Shadow, only for them to be frozen by shards of black ice and knocked back into the penguin king. Swinging its hammer, it punted several Gordos into the stone floor of the cathedral, shattering the iced critters.

As the puffball evaded, the illusory nemesis stomped down, knocking the spiked balls into the air to rain down on its opponent. While it was off-balance from its landing, Shadow dove past the Gordos and flash-froze its hand, forcing the enemy to drop its hammer.

Shadow grinned, watching his stomach expand with air. What, you wanna turn your belly into a mouth and try to eat me? I’ve seen that one before, gimme something new!

Instead, the false monarch let out a breath-filled roar, almost throwing him into the abyss below before he formed an icicle in his hand and stabbed into the edge, halting his fall. As he jumped out, he twisted to dodge a massive frost-coated pillar swung by his opponent.

Skating to the king’s discarded hammer, he snatched it up and landed a flaming hammer swing into its jaw, sending it flying into the pit with a scream. Strangely, the penguin didn’t attempt to fly back up, and soon enough the KO-bell rang. Shadow smirked. Ring out.

Prepping for the sixth round, Shadow gripped his sword tight. Silvery and shining bright enough to be used as a mirror, one of his best weapons for sure. In the distance, he could see a familiar figure, but its coloring certainly wasn’t. Green and neon-pink was a strange combination, and its eyes were hollow despite how bright they were.

As it dived, Shadow raised his sword, which glowed against the darkness of the arena, and parried the blow. The knight bounced back, brandishing its sword.

Shadow grinned. Bring it on!

The Isolated Illusion

Phantom Meta Knight

Swinging his blade, he drove a slash through the illusion’s guard, cutting a gouge in its wing. The knight jumped back, protecting the scratched appendage as it launched a slicing green wave of energy that Shadow jumped over. Parrying the next slash, he watched as the knight took flight and plummeted with a mighty stab, tearing the ground as energy coursed through it.

Dodging around the energy as it erupted into pillars of light, the puffball struck at Phantom’s mask and left a sizable scrape, much like how Dark’s mask looked. The illusion let out a roar and flew above, flapping its wings hard enough to rip up the floor, hefting boulders from below with enough speed and friction for them to ignite.

Shadow readied his blade with a smirk. Not bad for an impostor!

As the rocks rained down, he bisected some and dodged the rest, weathering the torrent while slowly advancing towards the knight’s perch on the arena’s outer wall. The knight watched him with a strange expression...it was hard to read it with how hollow its eyes were, but it looked almost amused. Shadow scowled. Will you take me seriously already!

With one last swing of his blade, he shattered the last of the stones and lunged up the wall, with silver light trailing behind him as the ascending attack sliced cleanly through the faker’s mask.

As the metal split down the middle and fell off, Shadow expected the fight to be over. The knights always flew off when their mask broke, ending the fight. Dark did it, Light did it, even Galacta did it from what he knew. So he lowered his blade...

...only to be slashed by the unmasked knight. Shadow shut his right eye against the pain and struck back harder, piercing the illusion’s own face and ripping away to tear through the top of its head.

The illusion vanished into smoke, just before Shadow lost his footing and collapsed, barely clinging to consciousness as his sword crumbled to glassy dust and flaked away.

Distantly, he could vaguely hear the Commentator Waddle Dee delivering the ten-count, and it took almost every ounce of energy left to remove the Maxim Tomato from his pocket and bite down, letting the sweet fruity mixture seep down his throat.

Suddenly, but expectedly, a burst of energy rushed through him, and he was able to stand and claim victory...but not without a cost. His right eye was just a little bit blurry. His now-reformed blade’s mirror-like edge reflected a thin white line tracing directly over his face.

Shadow shook his head, frowning. I let my guard down. Stupid, stupid...!

In Dream Land people generally didn’t get scars, because the atmosphere was basically made of happy dreams and thus had a restorative effect. He’d forgotten for a moment that this world wouldn’t have that crutch.

Oh well, at least now he sort of matched Dark Meta. And that would really tick him off, so...net positive! Kinda. Maybe.

He shrugged and headed back to the lobby. Time to get ready for the next and (according to the schedule) last round. From the rough sketch on the banners...it looked like a Dedede rematch.

Probably a masked one. He smirked. Eh, I’ve had worse. As long as his belly doesn’t grow an eye and start shooting lasers at me. Been there, done that. Putting his sword away and hefting the ebony-handled hammer provided, he walked through the entrance and hopped onto a Warp Star.

Here we go!

Chapter Text

The final arena was sweltering, and Shadow Kirby could feel the sweat coating the hammer’s handle as he gripped it. Still, he pressed on, flames licking his weapon’s frame, swinging wildly against the twin hammers currently trying to flatten him into ashen paste.

Phantom Forgo Dedede, the last challenge of the Phantom Cup, wasn’t going down easily. As the puffball had expected and hoped for. It’s no fun unless there's a challenge after all!

As the illusory primal nemesis growled, hurling its hammers into the floor hard enough to leave magma-spewing cracks, Shadow closed in and landed a vicious blow to the king’s jaw, sending the penguin flying. It howled, calling down a storm of meteors which Shadow evaded, even as the platform began to sink into the molten fluid below.

When it finally collapsed, Shadow took flight, landing on one of the coolant pipes running along the walls, and took aim to throw his weapon at the hunched beast king-

*roarrrrr!*

Suddenly, a sharp talon gripped the puffball by the head, making him drop his hammer. He was dazed for a moment, and before Phantom Forgo Dedede could pounce, it was incinerated by a stream of crimson flame.

Shadow’s eyes widened at the ashes left behind. What the...

The claws gripping his head lifted him into the sky, out of the blazing fortress and to the peak of the volcanic mountain. It was mercifully cooler up here, but the talons were scalding hot, enough that if he was just about anyone else it’d leave burns.

As they approached the crater’s obsidian ridge, Shadow was able to struggle himself loose and drop down, narrowly avoiding being slammed into the craggy ledge as he floated up onto it.

Quickly sucking up a nearby molten rock, he equipped the Fire ability, crown emitting pale smoke as the party-crasher landed before him, roaring through sharpened fangs as the volcano began to erupt, black-charred scales glistening in the moonlight, eight green eyes radiating fiery hatred.

Shadow grinned. Oh, this’ll be fun. He beckoned with one hand, crown and eyes and spirit burning bright. Come on!

*roarrrrr!*

Herald of Hellfire

Forgo Landia

Shadow breathed out a stream of flame to counter Landia’s own, white clashing with crimson as flecks of lava splashed at their feet.

Two streams became five as the dragon’s other heads joined in, pushing Shadow back to the crater’s edge. He scowled, breaking off and diving to one side, cloaking himself in pale flames as he rocketed towards the enemy.

He sailed into the dragon’s gut, and Landia screeched before swinging its tail up like a whip, slapping Shadow into the air.

Flipping in midair, the puffball smashed down as a blazing white-hot meteor, striking the dragon’s top head, shattering the layer of black scales to reveal the raw red ones underneath.

Landia roared, blowing Shadow away with raw air pressure before flying up, trying to bite down on him. The puffball twisted and barely dodged, grabbing the dragon’s right head by the horn. He repeated the process to smash this one’s scaly helm as well.

He flipped around the dragon’s talon swipe, resisting the hurricane-strength winds from Landia’s wingbeats, and delivered another burning tackle to the left head. Three down, one to go!

The dragon was finally able to shake Shadow’s grip, headbutting him to the ground below before spiraling down to tackle him. The puffball squinted at the hydra, set his sights, and blasted into a fresh dash, blazing pale as he rammed into the bottom head’s scales and shattered them.

Shadow grimaced, bouncing back down to the crater’s crumbling edge as the dragon screeched loudly, shrouding itself in crimson smoke as its necks stretched unnaturally. The heads snapped off as the dragon’s body flaked to ashes and vanished, and soon he was face-to-face with four smaller Landia dragons.

*roarrrrr!*

The puffball charged in, bursting into flame as he blasted through crimson fireballs and erupted into a white inferno right in their midst. The dragons screeched and backed away, sparking with blue electricity as streams of plasma stretched between them, fencing him in.

Shadow slid under one of the beams just before the Landias rammed together with a thunderous screech. Spitting white flames into the huddle, he dodged each beast as they charged out of the smoke and grinded against the stones at their feet, tearing open rivers of lava as the arena began to break apart even faster.

While the puffball jumped up to a higher and more stable crag, Landia reformed into one mighty body, scales now shining a smoldering violet as its eyes burned crimson. Its fangs caught fire as it spewed a massive spiraling beam of flame directly at him.

With lava raining all around, Shadow focused, crown burning brighter than ever as he gathered all the power he could, before spitting it back at the blast, as the pale heat formed into a draconic maw and charged into the battle, clashing against the crimson blaze with all his might.

The volcano finally hit its breaking point, erupting into a massive inferno as their beams of flame met, creating an ear-splitting boom to accompany Landia’s roar and Shadow’s scream.

Inch by inch, while the world crumbled around them, Shadow pushed further, Monster Flame shrieking as Landia’s breath began to falter. And just as his foothold started to crack, it made contact, blasting the four-headed dragon into the lava below.

The puffball began to climb, jumping to another crag as his footing collapsed completely. The Warp Star beckoned, as lava rained down to block his path.

Shadow took flight as little as he had to, landing on solid stone wherever he could to refill on air and stamina. He was getting close...just...a bit...further...!

He slipped, bashing his cheek on the rocks hard enough to split his lip. His eyes widened. Oh shoot!

Shadow tried to suck in air and puff up, but he couldn’t, his torn lip meant he wasn’t airtight so he couldn’t fly anymore!

Just as his foot grazed the lethal lava below, he felt a gust of wind rush past him, snatching him up. He stared, as one of the miniature Landias, eyes gleaming a warm and comforting shade of blue, carried him out of the volcanic crater just as it let out its grandest explosion yet, engulfing the entire arena in lava as they barely outpaced the heat.

All four dragons sailed into the night sky, Shadow riding on the lead one’s red-scaled back. It was surprisingly comfortable.

The dragon underneath him growled, and it somehow translated within his head. “Thank you for your assistance, reflected one.”

The puffball smiled at that, dazed but content, thinking back at it. Anytime.

One of the other dragons flew backwards in front of him, breathing on him as his torn lip knitted itself shut, and his right eyesight refocused. It grumbled at him. “Our debt is repaid. However, we are unable to remove the scar.”

Shadow smirked. That’s okay, I kinda like how it looks.

That dragon gave him a strange look, but didn’t argue as it arced away.

As Landia touched down in the Colosseum, Shadow in tow, most of the Waddle Dees were just confused. Still, they got over it quickly while welcoming them back. A few were a little concerned about the puffball’s new scar, but they thought it was cool, so he didn’t get bothered too much.

After the celebration wrapped up, he headed over to the café and ordered a Car-Mouth Cake for himself, and a platter of Kirby Burgers for the quartet of Landias. They seemed confused at this, but Shadow simply smirked. That was a fun fight. Lunch is on me.

The dragons seemed to accept that, and enjoyed the meaty feast as Shadow munched on his cake. He wasn’t lying, that was a pretty fun fight.

His eye drifted over to the portal up above, and paused. His right eye, the scarred one, was seeing it a little differently, flecked with orange light instead of being pure violet. He raised an eyebrow, trying to puzzle it out.

One of the Landias grumbled, noticing his confusion. “It appears that, in healing you, we have imparted some of our ability to detect magic. Use it wisely.”

Shadow grinned. Cool.

When they finished their meal, the Landias flew out to join the Beast Pack’s perimeter, while the puffball stretched and wandered over to the portal. His counterpart and the rest of their friends were still beyond it, but he was sure they could do it. He had full confidence in the Star Allies.

Although he did take advantage of the lack of heroic oversight. The Waddle Dees would later find out, to their annoyance and his amusement, that he’d rigged the theater floor to split open and drop everyone into the basement, which was filled with Dedede-sized water balloons that would explode if someone, by chance, landed on them.

Chapter Text

Dedede tightened his grip on his coat. He wasn’t sure where the leopardskin garment had come from while brainwashed, but it was nice and toasty. And given the blizzard blowing through the green-hued street, he wasn’t in a mood to complain.

Besides, he had other things on his mind.

Smashing a rusted old cage with his hammer, he gently shoveled an orange fragment of soul out from an unfrozen patch of dirt. It was warm against the harsh winter, and also probably important. Not that he was totally sure why, but...he just got that feeling.

“Great King!”

The penguin glanced behind him, seeing the Waddle Dee chasing after him, windblown cap tied to his head by a neatly-knotted string, holding a worn shovel. It took Dedede a moment to place the little guy. “Sailor?”

The Dee nodded. “I brought a shovel, sir!” Without much fanfare, he dug into another patch he’d missed and unearthed another soul fragment, tucking it beneath his hat. “It'd be best to avoid damaging your gloves in this cold, frozen hands can ruin your grip!”

Dedede smiled. “I’m used to it, but thanks, little guy.” Out of all the Waddle Dees, Sailor was an odd one. Rarely for the species, he didn’t pledge explicit loyalty to the king, but instead to Meta Knight. So Dedede didn’t really know him that well, but if Meta liked to keep him around then he must at least be useful enough.

Sailor followed the king closely, sheltering from the wind as they advanced. Okay, fair, Dedede was much more dressed for the weather, and most of the digging spots were under cages he had to break anyway. Batting a few Digguh moles aside was also up to him. Sailor wasn’t as much of a fighter, and was focused on collecting soul fragments while he took care of the fun stuff.

Well, if it ain’t broke...

Climbing down into a busted old metro station, Sailor’s eyes snagged on a nearby pool of frigid water. “Ooh!” Reaching into his cap, he somehow pulled out an entire two-handed water gun and proceeded to fill the chamber with cold water, snapping it back on with a ker-chunk.

Dedede raised an eyebrow, recognizing the Galboro decal on the barrel. “Ain’t that a kid’s toy?”

Sailor shrugged, calmly taking aim at a nearby Mookie. “I’ve upgraded it a few times.” With a quick pull of the trigger, a stream of icy fluid pushed the rabid ape into the wall hard enough to leave a dent, KO-ing it. “I was already a good shot when I joined Sir Meta Knight’s crew, so...”

“Wow.” The penguin was impressed. “How’d you end up joining the Halberd’s crew anyway?”

Sailor pulled out his shovel and started picking at an oversized ice cube with a soul fragment frozen inside. “It was an accident, really. Right place, right time, I guess.”

Dedede stepped up and shattered the ice in one strike, letting Sailor dig his prize out of the shards. “What’d ya do, end up in his base as a kid and convince Meta to hire you?”

“Sort of,” he said while reloading his water gun with melting bits of ice, “he needed someone who was good at organizing and cleaning things and gave me a chance to prove myself. I had a knack for it, so...”

The conversation paused while they skated over a slippery patch of ice-coated concrete. Once they were on the other side of the section, Sailor inspected an arched stone gateway. “My pops always drilled me into keeping everything spick and span, it’s important for a fisherman, so neat and tidy comes naturally to me. By the way, this structure isn’t stable. It’s gonna collapse soon.

The penguin nodded, heeding his advice and avoiding that path, instead heading down the left passageway. Bashing some ghostly Mookies into smoke, he turned to face Dee. “So yer dad's a fisherman?”

Sailor beamed. “Yup! He taught me how to fish, and swim, and cook, and sail, and tinker, and all kinds of other cool and useful stuff! His laugh always fills the room, and he always has a cheery glint in his eye and a bounce in his step!” He adjusted his cap. “We still write to each other every month!”

Dedede considered that. “Huh. He sounds like a great guy.”

Climbing out of the busted-up metro onto the shore of a frozen lake, Sailor shivered against the harsh arctic wind. “Brrrr...it’s getting colder.” He reached up under his cap and pulled out a green Waddle-sized parka and gloves, quickly pulling them on. “Are you holding up well, Great King?”

“Me?” The penguin puffed out his chest. “I'm fine! Even without this nice furry coat and gloves, it’d take way worse than this to faze the ruler of Dream Land!”

The Dee cheered. “Of course! Nothing can stop the Great King Dedede!”

Dedede still pulled the collar of his coat up snug when Sailor wasn’t looking. It was getting pretty chilly.

Iron crates were scattered all over the ridge, and they were pretty tough, it took Dedede a few whacks of the hammer to break them. Sailor noticed that. “Oh! Sir, allow me!”

Reaching into his cap again, Dedede’s eyes widened as the little guy pulled out a brightly-colored firework launcher and let one fly, blasting the crate to bits in a burst of blue embers and revealing a soul fragment within. The recoil knocked him flat on his back, half-burying him in a snowbank.

The king gingerly tugged him out, giving him a shake to dislodge bits of snow. “You alright?”

“Yes, sir!” He hopped down to his feet and snatched up the scattered soul fragments, eyes shining bright. “It always pays to be prepared!”

Dedede followed Sailor as he ran ahead and through the next door. What else is stashed under that cap o’ yours, anyway?

While traversing a battered and frost-stained old bridge, the snowstorm had picked up even more, and the two were forced to wait behind crumbling ramparts when it got too brutal. Still, winds aside, it was quiet...too quiet.

Sneaking forward, Dedede gripped his hammer, and Sailor had reloaded his firework launcher and was ready to shoot. The penguin took the lead, approaching a sheltered section at the end of the bridge, where the snow had been cleared away. The penguin gestured to it. “That’s gotta be a fight waiting to happen. You ready, Sailor?”

The Dee nodded earnestly. “Of course, Great King!”

As they ran to the arena, the king raised his hammer as three shapes appeared and went on the attack. It didn’t take Dedede long to recognize the trio of mice, despite the war-paint applied to their faces. It’s the Squeak Squad!

Spinni struck first, claws scraping against his hammer as he blocked the attack and swung in response, slamming the mouse aside with a hefty swing. The ninja star thrown at Dedede while Spinni flew was deflected by a blast from Sailor’s water gun, as the Dee tripped him over the edge of the bridge, hooking the mouse’s cape on his fishing rod so he didn’t fall too far.

Storo charged in next, swinging his mallet and trying to pound Sailor, but Dedede’s hammer was strong enough to smack it away, giving the Dee a chance to scurry out of the big mouse’s range. It only took a few mighty swings to the head to take Storo down for the count, face buried in the snow from where he landed in it.

Finally was Doc, whose UFO sprouted a laser blaster from the bottom and began to charge with an electrical whine of energy. Then his vehicle exploded, as Sailor Dee nailed it with his firework launcher, and Doc crashed to the pavement in his damaged vessel, unconscious.

Spinni climbed back up, fishing rod dragging behind him, only to be bashed into the stone railing by Dedede’s fist, knocking him out as well. Now that the fight had ended, the penguin stretched his arms and gave Sailor a thumbs-up. “Nice work, little guy.”

The Dee saluted in return. “Thank you, sir!”

A few minutes later, the Squeaks awoke. Spinni was the first to rise, wiping the war-paint off his face. “What the-” He clenched his teeth in pain. “Ow ow ow! Did ya hafta hit me so hard?”

Doc grumbled from his place on the floor. “Spinni, don’t be rude. We were brainwashed a minute ago until these two came along.”

“Awright awright, fine!” He sat back against the railing, visibly putting his weight on one foot over the other. “Sheesh!”

Sailor pulled a roll of gauze from under his cap, approaching the mouse. “Can I check your leg?”

Spinni nodded silently, so the Dee examined the hurt limb before wrapping it up tight. “I think it’s sprained. Keep your weight off it if you can, and rest. Doctor’s orders.”

Storo struggled to his feet, giving Dedede a look. “Sorry if we hurt ya too bad.”

Dedede shook his head, waving him off. “S’okay, mate. I know ya didn’t mean it, been that way for me plenty of times before.” He nodded to Sailor. “You guys oughta get out of here when you can. Sailor and I are gonna keep going.” He hefted his hammer. “You good with that, little guy?”

The Dee nodded. “Yes, sir!” He turned to the Squeaks. “We’ll be back to help you guys get outta here later, if you need to rest. Just hang tight!”

Spinni adjusted his cape, scowling. “I don’t need ta-” He grit his teeth and stumbled back to the railing as he tried to step on his sprained foot. “Hrrrgh...awright, fine! Just...if ya find the boss on the way through, bring 'em back to his senses too, ya got it?”

The penguin nodded. “Right. C’mon, Sailor!”

As they coasted through a flooded subway tunnel, on a hastily-motorized boat that Sailor Dee had rigged up from some junk they’d found lying around, Dedede decided to pry a bit. “Yer dad lives somewhere near Orange Ocean, right?”

The Dee was barely audible over the roar of the engine. “Yup! It’s just a tiny wood cottage on the west shore, but it’s got everything you need! Fresh water, a waterwheel for electricity, and more than enough fish to keep the family fed!” He revved the motor, kicking it up into higher gear. “Sir Meta Knight offered to help him relocate a few years back, but he likes the nice and simple life.”

Dedede smiled at that. “Well, I can’t blame him. From what you told me, he’s pretty happy with his life.”

Sailor beamed. “Mmhm! He’s really proud of me for making something of myself, but he doesn’t really wanna change this far into his life. Fishing is what he loves, and who am I to argue with that?”

The king nodded. “Sounds about right.” Something simple, quiet, and fulfilling...he could respect that.

Chapter Text

The ruined and battered cathedral ahead beckoned, a welcome retreat from the winds...but also an obvious boss arena. After all, Dedede had fought Kirby there while brainwashed. It wasn’t very subtle.

He told Sailor as much, and so the Dee pulled out his water gun and held it at the ready. “What’s the plan, sir?”

Dedede gripped his hammer. “We oughta split up. I’m gonna walk right in the front door. You try finding a way to sneak in and turn the tides if things go sour. That sound good?”

Sailor nodded with a salute. “Okay! Good luck, Great King!”

With that, the penguin sauntered his way up the steps and through the grand archway, hammer hefted over his shoulder and ready to swing. Dedede wasn’t surprised by the cloaked shape in the middle of the crumbling arena.

As the enemy turned, raising a chipped and overgrown claw, the king prepared for battle.

Primeval Pickpocket

Forgo Daroach

Before Dedede could attack, the mouse vanished, leaving behind a horde of ghostly Primal Awoofies to attack. His hammer was able to bat these away easily, but now he couldn’t see Daroach.

The arena beneath his feet flash-froze, and it took a bit of effort to break his feet out of the icy floor. The king chuckled. “Alright, you wanna dance?” Igniting his hammer with flame, he lunged into a spin attack, kicking up a cyclone of heat as he grinded around the arena, melting the frost below.

Daroach popped back into vision, throwing his ragged red cloak aside with a puff of smoke and diving under Dedede’s swing with his claws, trying to sever his hands. The mouse was batted aside but left a decently-sized scrape on his wrist. Luckily Dedede was bundled up enough that the slash was mostly deflected by his coat, but it still stung.

Winding down from his spin attack, the penguin threw his weapon at Daroach, but the mouse vanished with a snicker, leaving more Primal Awoofies behind.

Another round of knocking them aside, this time with his fists, and the floor froze again.

Dedede grumbled, picking his hammer up and brushing off the frosty coating. “So yer running away? Shoulda figured you’d be as crafty as ever.” He smirked. “Too bad that it ain’t gonna be enough to stop me!”

Swinging his hammer with all his might, he made the entire platform shake upon impact, the ice layer shattering as loose stones broke away from the edge...but it made Daroach slip.

With that, Dedede pounced, slamming the mouse with a direct hammer hit to the head and bouncing his skull off the ground. The thief screeched and lashed out with his claws, trying to tear into the hammer and leaving a solid dent in the head. Then he vanished again.

The penguin cracked his knuckles as the floor changed again, this time glowing red as it grew hot to the touch, lava starting to seep through the cracks. “Oh you wanna play, do ya? Hup!”

With a mighty Super Dedede Jump (TM), he sailed to one of the busted window sills up above and hefted one of the busted pillars. There was still visible frost coating it, which was perfect, and he threw the column onto the platform, leaving a trail of rapidly-melting ice that cooled the lava in its path to blackened stone.

Jumping back down, he picked up the cracked column and spun in a circle, dragging it across the entire arena. Aside from solidifying the remaining lava, it also tripped Daroach, knocking him down. As the mouse jumped back up and lunged, Dedede dropped the pillar and pounded the ground with his fist, triggering a plume of magma that caught the thief’s fur on fire.

He smirked as the mouse recoiled, trying to put out the flames. I don’t like getting brainwashed but at least I got some new tricks out of it this time!

While Daroach was distracted with that, he was blindsided by a green-hued firework blasting him off the edge. The king glanced over at the window sill to see Sailor Waddle Dee perched there reloading for another shot.

Reaching for his hammer, he paused as his hand only grasped air. “Wha? Where’d my-”

“Great King,” Sailor shouted from up above, “behind you!” The penguin barely managed to duck in time to avoid a vicious hammer swing from Daroach. Dedede scowled.

Of course the thief’s gonna steal my toys! Well alright, no more Mr. Nice King!

Dipping into his primal side for a moment, Dedede sprinted at Daroach on all fours, attempting to tackle him but the mouse just vanished with a swish, leaving the penguin to trip over a rock and land in his trademark faceplant.

Sailor hopped down from above to help him to his feet. “Are you alright?”

Dedede grumbled, massaging his chin. “Just peachy.” Glancing around, he saw that the column had shattered and wouldn’t be useful, and the arena was starting to fizzle and spark, glowing with electricity.

He laughed at the sight. “Ha! I guess that psycho mind-devil doesn’t know what we’ve got up our sleeves!”

Sailor adjusted his cap, eyes narrowed. “Do you have a plan, sir?”

The penguin grabbed the Dee and jumped them both up to the window ledge. “Get ready to soak him the second you see him.” Then he dropped back into the arena itself, waiting for Daroach to try and attack. He could feel a bit of static from the floor, but his shoes were made out of rubber (hey, he could afford it and it was comfy and helped him bounce around a lot faster!) so it didn’t do much damage.

He reached one hand under his coat and gripped the handle of his secret weapon, waiting for the mouse to reappear. The sound of electricity faded as he closed his eyes, focusing on his sense of smell rather than sight and hearing. Now that his primal side was awoken, he was a lot more confident that this would work.

*sniff sniff*

He caught the scent of Daroach behind him, slowly strengthening as its source approached, and smiled to himself. With his free hand, he gestured behind him, keeping it where Sailor could see but the mouse couldn’t.

Just as the mouse was about to strike, he was blasted by the Dee’s water gun and then zapped by bolts from the floor, coursing through his drenched fur as he popped into shaky visibility.

The mouse swung his claws, trying to strike, but he was blocked by Dedede’s now-extending secret weapon. Gleaming blue metal, with a wickedly-curved blade on the end...he’d never used this baby before, but now was as good a time as any to test it out!

Daroach snarled, holding back the brand-new Dedede Halberd with both hands. His eyes shone as he slipped away from the strike, still shuddering from electrical energy, and pulled out his dual wands. One was a simple thin gold rod, and the other was slightly more decorated and bulky.

Dedede gripped his halberd tight as the mouse raised the larger wand, creating three star-like projectiles and flinging them down, the other wand glowing with pale blue energy as it charged.

Lunging under the stars, Dedede swung his halberd hard enough to smack the thin wand out of the way, forcing Daroach’s frost beam to go wide and ice the doorway instead, freezing it solid and making it crumble. The rockets on the back of the halberd sparked and ignited, drawing in the last dregs of the floor’s voltage to power itself as it swung, shattering Daroach’s overgrown claws when he tried to block it.

Daroach vanished before another blow could be landed, and the Triple Star from behind curved around to try and blindside Dedede, only to be blasted into the stony floor by Sailor’s water gun and dissipated. The floor beneath the king’s feet began to darken, growing purple and sticky.

The penguin fired up his weapon's thrusters, burning away at the gunk and loosening it enough to jump onto the crumbled remnants of the arched entrance, and then to the ledge that Sailor Dee was still perched on.

His halberd’s rockets sputtered and died, drained of battery, as he kept a careful eye and nose out for the mouse. Sailor loaded his firework launcher and nodded, slipping behind loose blocks of rubble and out of sight.

His nose caught another whiff of Daroach, sneaking up behind him, and he quickly swung his hand around and gripped the handle of his stolen hammer, wrestling it out of the mouse’s grip before pinning him to the ground, giving Sailor a clear shot.

The Dee leapt out of cover and took aim. “Fire in the hole!” With an ear-splitting explosion, the cracker flew directly into the thief’s head, clouding both him and the king in smoke and magenta cinders. Dedede coughed and waved it away with his free arm...with Daroach lying unconscious under the other. Guess that was enough ta put him down for the count.

Flopping back onto his rump, the king took a deep breath, hacking up a bit of smoke from his lungs. He spared Sailor a thumbs-up before going down all the way. “Just gonna...take a sec...”

Daroach chuckled, seemingly coming to his non-brainwashed senses. “Heh...I’ll agree with you there, King...man you guys pack a punch.”

Both shared a laugh, lying side by side on the stony ground. The penguin smiled. “You’re pretty tough too, mate.” He’d never experienced it firsthand, but clearly Kirby hadn’t exaggerated how powerful the thief was.

The mouse shifted. “Thanks.” They lapsed into silence, just laying there as Sailor quietly tended to their injuries. Taking a minute or two to rest won’t hurt.

Dedede’s mind drifted, reminiscing on how much they’d accomplished since Fecto’s destruction yesterday.

We’ve got all the time in the world.

Chapter Text

Kirby groaned, brushing sand off his face after a rough Warp Star landing. Originull Wasteland wasn’t a place he was particularly fond of...Elfilin’s kidnapping had put him in a pretty bad mood at the time, and the area itself wasn’t fun to travel either...so he didn’t want any of his friends to have to deal with it.

Of course, that didn’t stop two Warp Stars from touching down behind him. He was about to tell them to go help some of the others, but their faces made it clear they weren’t leaving, so he just decided to drop it.

Ribbon adjusted her bow, looking around the yellow-hued wasteland with a shiver. “Whoa...this place is pretty dreary...” She gripped her Crystal Blaster tighter. “You’ve been here before, right Kirby?”

“Sort of?” The puffball shook his head. “I think this is more like a replica that Fecto made. I was in a place that looked a lot like it, but not exactly the same.”

Prince Fluff stepped around them. “Well, we won’t get anywhere if we don’t start. C’mon!” His yarn-clad feet left soft prints in the sand as he ran ahead, prompting Kirby and Ribbon to follow.

After a while, the fairy spoke up. “You know what this place reminds me of? Rock Star.”

“Rock Star?” Kirby took a moment to recall the shattered planet. “Yeah it does kinda have the same look, doesn’t it?”

Fluff’s arm stretched into a whip of yarn, and he cast it out over a dusty pond to snatch an odd orange glowing ball. As he brought it in, he frowned. “Do either of you two know what this is?”

The puffball looked at it. It did remind him of something, but he couldn’t place it. “Not sure.”

“It kinda has the same vibe as the Jamba Hearts,” Ribbon proposed, “but less...y’know, obviously eldritch-y evil?”

Fluff blinked, confused. “Jamba Hearts?”

“I’ll explain later.” Kirby took the sparkle and pocketed it. “It’s probably important. We should keep an eye out for more of them.”

Soon enough, the group came across an old shipwreck, which was leaking toxic sludge from its busted cargo bay all over the wasteland. Ribbon’s cheeks puffed in anger. “So...so this place is all dead because of some jerk leaving a bunch of poison lying around?!”

Kirby patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Ribbon, this isn’t the real thing.” He quietly made a mental note to never bring the fairy to the actual Originull Wasteland. Ever.

Fluff kicked at a compacted pile of dirt, frowning. “I think there’s more Jamba-whatevers under here...” It was barely out of his mouth when the puffball sucked up a nearby Digguh, equipping the Twin Drill ability and burrowing into the ground to unearth it.

Once he jumped out, his prize held aloft, the prince gave him a look. “So that’s how your Copy Ability works. I was wondering.”

Ribbon cheered. “Yep! It’s super amazing, he can solve just about any puzzle with it!”

Kirby scratched his head, blushing at the praise. “Heheh, thanks Ribbon.” His eye snagged on a nearby cyclone headed their way. “Looks like it isn’t just the little guys in here. Incoming!”

The ghostly Fleurina jumped into the midst of the trio, knocking Kirby aside with a sweep of its arm and sending a horde of tornadoes after him. He tried to burrow around, but he was on metal now and couldn’t dig, forcing him to block the attacks instead. The gusts nearly pushed him into the toxic pool below but his guard held firm.

Fleurina tried to spin-attack into him, but was blindsided by a beam of light from Ribbon’s crystal blaster, which knocked the swan aside and made it slam into the ship’s hull. The mid-boss stood and let out a screech, sailing into the air in a whirlwind of feathers.

Kirby ditched the Twin Drill, swallowing the hat and spitting it as ammo, but the swan’s rotation deflected the attack and started to pull him in...but it also pulled in a huge boulder that Fluff had thrown into range with his arm-whip. The stone bashed into it first and knocked it out, allowing the puffball to inhale its fading remnants.

As Kirby landed, Storm Tornado firmly stomached, he grinned. “Nice throw, Fluff! You got a lot stronger, huh?” If memory served, he’d never lifted anything quite that big during their adventure.

Fluff rolled past him, now in the shape of a miniaturized yarn car. “Yeah! Now come on!”

Once they reached an abandoned old motel, Ribbon let out a furious shriek. “What the hell? Why is that thing spitting poison everywhere?!” She flew up into the sky and started blasting a Poison Croakum on the higher ledge. Kirby would have told her it was too tough to hurt normally, but the fairy was currently proving otherwise through sheer crystal-focused rage.

Fluff watched her go, visibly entertained. “That girl is something else. You said her name was Ribbon, right?”

Kirby nodded. “Yep, we go way back. The whole Star Allies group was her idea, actually. She was like ‘you have almost a dozen friends who can help against galactic threats, why don’t we organize it properly’ and Meta jumped all over it.” He shrugged. “I think she just wanted to have an excuse to visit Popstar more, she loves it there. Not that I blame her.”

The prince chuckled. “Why wouldn’t she? Her boyfriend is there.”

Kirby gave him a look. “Boyfriend? Ribbon doesn’t have a boyfriend. Or at least, not one she told the rest of us about.” He felt his cheeks getting hot for some reason. Was Ribbon hiding her love life from the team? And more importantly, how would Meta react to it? They’d pushed the whole ‘romance’ discussion aside on account of no current Star Ally having a significant other, but...

Fluff’s eyes widened. “Oh sorry! I meant her, uh, her friends. Yeah, that’s, um, absolutely what I meant to say. Whoops.”

The puffball calmed down once he clarified. “Oh, okay, that makes sense.” Still, what was with that weird smile suddenly plastered on the prince’s face?

Ribbon finished blasting at the Poison Croakum, as it fell unconscious, and she began to drag it towards a busted pipe that was spouting rust-polluted water, likely planning to wash it off. Kirby pointed at her. “We should probably go and give her a hand.”

Fluff smirked. “Sure, let’s go.” He sped after the puffball, only taking a moment to snatch up a few more orange sparkles along the way.

Entering an abandoned mall, Fluff watched as Kirby sucked up a ghostly Bernard and equipped the Space Ranger ability. The prince raised an eyebrow. “A gun? That’s a bit...violent...for my tastes.”

Kirby smiled through his helmet, brandishing the weapon. “No worries, it’s a laser gun!” He took aim at a nearby Sir Kibble ghost and fired, zapping it with cyan volts. “Pew! Pew!”

The prince sighed, walking behind him as they snuck through a doorway to the mall’s staff-only side. “You really seem to be enjoying this.”

Ribbon chimed in at that. “Well, he’s got friends with him! That’s always enough to put Kirby in a good mood!”

The puffball silently agreed, continuing to shoot. She had a point, his bad memories of Originull Wasteland were fading now that he could pair it with a memory involving friends.

Fluff nodded, adjusting his felt-made crown. “Friends are important...oh, that reminds me!” He perked up a little. “Kirby, I was meaning to tell you...remember the Quilty Crew?”

Kirby hummed, thinking...not that he had to think that hard. “Zeke and Beadrix and Carrie and Buster and Mara? Oh, and Angie and Dom Woole of course!” His smile grew wider. “How’re they doing?”

The prince grinned. “They’re doing great! We hang out when I’ve got time, they haven’t changed much since you last saw them.” He paused. “By the way...um...your apartment kiiinda got blown to smithereens.”

The puffball stared at him, wide-eyed. “What? What happened? Was it Beadrix?” He’d never totally gotten along with the gem-loving creature, and the memory of that bead-collecting Cozy Cabin challenge was still raw to the touch.

Fluff shook his head. “Surprisingly, no, it wasn’t her.” He groaned. “Turns out Yin-Yarn’s needles weren’t actually dead when we chucked them into space. They landed in Quilty Square and tried to start again...they only got as far as shredding your flat before they all ganged up on them. By the time I got back after we said goodbye, those needles were wishing we’d done the job properly on the first round.”

The two of them shared a laugh, Ribbon eventually joining in. Once they’d stopped, the fairy gave him a look. “So what did you do with those needles?”

Fluff grinned devilishly. “I put them in prison cells and left them in Boom Boatyard.” Kirby quickly dashed to the next room before the prince could elaborate. He did not want to think about that level any more than necessary.

After making their way through a treacherous canyon area, the trio found themselves in a dark cave. Luckily, between Ribbon’s Crystal emitting light and Kirby’s Volcano Fire shooting...fire, it wasn’t so hard to navigate.

On the way, they noticed some odd charcoal stains on the walls. It wasn’t easily seen with the way the light flickered from their attacks, but upon closer inspection they were arrows, pointing to the correct paths. Some even led them to orange sparkles!

Kirby smiled. “I guess one of our friends got lost down here and stashed the treasure where it’d be safe!”

Fluff nodded, grabbing a sparkle floating over a pit with his arm-whip. “I hope we can find them soon. Being alone is awful.”

Ribbon frowned slightly. “You’re a prince, right? So you must have grown up kinda lonely. Queen Ripple was the same for a long time.” She glanced over at Kirby. “She’s better now, but still a bit nervous around people she doesn’t know.”

“Used to be,” the prince sighed, “but after my adventure with Kirby, things got better.”

Kirby smiled at that. “A lot of my friends say I have that effect on people.”

Fluff chuckled. “I wouldn’t doubt it. I met the Quilty Crew thanks to you, and I also got a penpal recently. Actually, I was heading to Dream Land to meet her in person before all this portal stuff happened...” He frowned, looking wistful. “I hope they’re okay...”

The puffball grinned. “I’m sure they are! Now let’s get this done so you can be introduced! As the hero of Planet Popstar, I promise to put in a good word for you!”

Ribbon giggled as he ran ahead at full-speed, flying after him while Fluff stood there somewhat dumbfounded. Eventually he shook it off and sped after them. “Hey, wait-!”

Chapter Text

Ribbon held up her crystal, shining its light on the wall. “Hey guys! Look at this!”

Kirby and Prince Fluff approached and took a closer look. It was another charcoal drawing of an arrow, pointing deeper into the cave...but it looked like it was done in a hurry, as if the artist was being dragged away. Kirby pounded his fists together. “They must have been kidnapped!”

Without discussing it any further, the puffball sprinted down into the depths, which opened into a large chamber he recognized as being Sillydillo’s arena in the real world. And in the middle was a cage shaped like a snarling lion’s head, suspended over a bonfire by heavy silver chains.

And inside the cage was...

“Kirby! Help!”

His eyes widened as he ran up to the cage. “Adeleine!” He jumped up onto the cage, giving the artist a worried scan as he did. She seemed okay, just a little spooked, and her hands and dress were stained with black dust...probably from where she’d been writing on the walls with it. “Hang on, I’ll get you down...what happened?”

She stammered, tears hanging in her lashes. “I-I don’t know! I was just exploring the cave and Kracko suddenly jumped out at me and locked me up!” Her eyes widened as she stared behind the puffball. “Look out!”

Kirby barely had the time to jump down before a burst of flame erupted right behind him, and the artist flinched back in her cage to avoid the heat. “Kirby! Be careful!”

The puffball grimaced, ditching Volcano Fire and swallowing a sharp crystal he’d borrowed from Ribbon’s blaster ammo, giving himself the Crystal Needle ability as he faced down the cycloptic cloud forming from the bonfire’s smoke.

Ashen Altostratus

Charcoal Kracko

Kirby dodged the next blast of flame, bursting into a spiked ball and rolling through the blaze to strike Kracko in the eye. The cloud shrieked and floated back, trying to keep its distance from the now-spiked puffball while flinging down ashen meteors.

“Kirby!”

Ribbon and Fluff sped into the room. Kirby bounced out of his spike form, shooting tiny spines of diamond at the cloud before dodging back, avoiding Kracko’s attempt to rain melting candle wax on him. The fairy’s Crystal Blaster shone bright, firing a beam at the cloud and forcing it back.

Fluff glanced around, seeing Adeleine in the cage. “Is that one of your friends?”

The fairy blinked, noticing the artist...and the flames below. “Kirby, we have to put out that fire!”

Kirby kept his attention on Kracko, as it began to emit heat sparks and glow red-hot. A whip-like stream of flame emerged from its eye, slashing a deep charred gouge into the floor as he barely evaded in time. “Little busy here!”

“Allow me!” Fluff jumped ahead and shifted, knitting himself into the shape of a fire engine as a blast of water shot from his arm-turned-hose, battling the blaze.

Adeleine flinched away as she was sprayed. “Ack, hey! Be careful where you’re aiming that!”

The prince quickly adjusted his aim to be closer to the fire’s base. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to splash you!”

Ribbon paused, her Crystal Blaster glowing. “Hm...” She flew over to Prince Fluff and whispered something to him as he continued to spray, not that Kirby could hear her while dodging meteors from Kracko. The cloud was starting to lose steam though, growing less dense as the smoke source died down.

Fluff changed back to normal and snatched a rock with his arm-whip. “Fire’s out!” He threw the stone at Adeleine’s hanging chain and shattered it, dropping the cage hard enough for it to break on impact, crushing the remaining kindling.

The artist slumped as Kirby’s spiked form charged straight into Kracko and pierced it, the puffball coughing up smoke as his enemy split into black charcoal dust and faded away.

Then he ran over to check on Adeleine. She was rubbing smoke out of her eyes, which meant Kirby couldn’t quite see her face, but she was smiling. “Thank you, Kirby! I knew I could count on-”

She was interrupted by a blast of light from Ribbon, the artist knocking the puffball aside as she whipped her charcoal-dipped leather-wrapped brush out to block it, erecting a smoky paint trail that stopped the beam in its tracks. When Kirby looked up, about to question the fairy, he froze at the sight of the artist’s manic war-painted face, now washed clean of its disguise.

Unrestrained Artist

Forgo Adeleine

The cave beneath their feet crumbled, and Kirby fell onto the sandy plateau below, along with Prince Fluff. Ribbon and Adeleine stayed above, the fairy with her winged flight, and the artist by drawing a solid line of black paint under her own feet, balancing on it like a tightrope.

But Kirby couldn’t ponder that for long, as cave paintings all around them came to life, jumping down from the walls and emitting furious roars. He could see an Ice Dragon, an Acro, a Pon and a Con, a Magman, and even a Dark Matter. Prince Fluff moved to cover him back-to-back. “Got any ideas, Kirby?”

The puffball frowned. “Besides fighting our way out, not really.”

Fluff nodded, adjusting his arm-whip. “Got it. I’ll take the fox, the raccoon, and the demon-eye-thing if you take the shark, the dragon, and the lava-with-a-face.” Kirby smirked, nodding back. “Go!”

The two dashed in opposite directions, Kirby shooting a cluster of crystal spines into Magman and making it flinch. Ice Dragon spat a sharpened snowflake at him, but the puffball backflipped away and dropped his hat while inhaling it to swap abilities in one fluid motion, switching Crystal Needle for Blizzard Ice.

He grinned, spitting frigid spears at Acro to fend off its tackle, then froze Magman solid with a breath of pure cold. Ice Dragon moved to headbutt him but he dodged the blow, letting the live painting slam into Magman with enough force to shatter it outright. Kirby cheered. “One down!”

*boom*

The puffball’s jaw dropped when he glanced over at Fluff...he’d grown to almost triple his normal size and was rolling around on treads, mouth shooting missiles at Dark Matter while a pair of spring-loaded robotic fists pounded away at Pon and Con. “You can use Tankbot at will?!”

“Took some practice!” The prince’s voice was now filtered through the metallic shell, his actual body sheltered deep inside the steel-like yarn of the machine. “Now stop messing around!”

Kirby grinned. “Right-o!” With that, he formed enough snow around himself to build up a huge snowball, then kicked off, rolling right over Acro and slamming it against the fence. The sheer forceful impact of Snow Bowl was enough to drain Blizzard Ice to nothing, sadly, but it did the trick, as the shark slumped and faded away. Two down!

Ice Dragon tried to crush Kirby with its tail, but he was quick enough to dodge, running towards the center of the arena where Fluff was still shooting at Dark Matter, Pon and Con having been knocked out. The shadow was fast, dodging each missile and punch with practiced ease.

Still, Kirby saw an opening when a pair of missiles went wide, giving him an idea. “Fluff! Switch targets!” He inhaled the twin explosives, and felt the Homing Bomb coming on, but he forced it down in favor of something else. He hadn’t done this in a long time so he hoped it worked-!

His Bomb hat altered itself in a new way, now smoothed and silvery, accented by the red fins of a ballistic missile. And that was exactly what came out of his mouth, three speedy heat-seeking projectiles that converged on the replica Dark Matter before it could evade, blasting it to bits.

Behind him, Fluff’s dual Tankbot fists extended and slammed down on the Ice Dragon, flattening it with a loud crunch. The puffball grinned as his friend transformed back to his normal self, then moved to help the prince stand when he collapsed, breathing heavily. “Whew...sorry, that form takes a lot out of me...”

Kirby smirked. “I’m not gonna complain, that was so cool! Now c’mon, let’s go help Ribbon-” His statement halted when the fairy and the artist both crashed into the sand, Adeleine partly-buried but clearly enraged. Ribbon struggled to her feet first, aiming her Crystal Blaster with a grimace and a fresh cut under her cheek, the sight of which made the puffball worry. “Ribbon!”

He jumped between the two girls as Adeleine unearthed herself, still crazed and angry, and ran towards them flailing like a madwoman. He simply removed his Bomb hat and held it out by the tip, pressing the base up against her torso, holding her literally at arm’s length. “Are you okay?”

The fairy smiled, rubbing at her cheek. “Yeah, she got a few hits on me but it doesn’t hurt too bad. I do wanna know where she got that paint-wall trick though, that’s definitely a new one...”

While they were talking, Prince Fluff stretched out his arm-whip and yanked the paintbrush right out of the artist’s hand. She was seemingly too angry to notice, continuing to swing in Kirby and Ribbon’s general direction despite the Missile Bomb hat physically holding her back. “Hey, is it just me, or is this paintbrush moving on its own?”

Kirby and Ribbon both turned to look at it, and noticed that it was actually moving. Also the black charcoal coating on the tip was wearing off, revealing a rainbow of colors lining the bristles. The puffball’s eyes went wide. “Take the grip off!”

Fluff followed orders and unwrapped the leather, just as Adeleine noticed what they were talking about and changed course, grabbing for the tool with rabid swipes.

The brush floated out of the prince’s hand and smacked the artist in the face, hard enough to knock her rolling into the base of the canyon wall, where she flopped face-first onto the sandy ground, out cold.

The paintbrush suddenly grew a face and hands and wings, glaring daggers at the artist while brushing flecks of charcoal out of its bristled hair. “And stay down, you evil kidnapping-!”

Kirby blinked, mouth agape, as he recognized the paint fairy. “What’re you doing here?!”

She spun, noticing Kirby with a loud gasp. “Kirby!” Then she glanced at the fairy floating beside him, as well as the now-gaping Fluff. “So does that mean you two are...also Kirby’s friends?”

Ribbon bowed her head slightly. “Er, yes! I’m Ribbon, a fairy from Ripple Star. And you are?”

The paint fairy smiled, wiping the black dust off of her hands. “My name is Elline. I’m a paint fairy from Seventopia!” She turned to Fluff. “And you are?”

The prince paused before turning to stare at Kirby. “My penpal is a paintbrush?!”

She frowned. “That’s ‘paint fairy’ to you! What, you got a problem with that?”

Fluff rapidly waved his hands around. “No no no no that’s not what I meant at all! That’s kind of awesome, actually!” He quickly performed a bow of his own, face almost touching the floor. “I’m Prince Fluff, ruler of Patch Land. It’s a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Miss Elline.”

Ribbon giggled and whispered to Kirby. “He’s almost as flustered as Queen Ripple when she makes a mistake. Is that just a royalty thing or...?”

The puffball shrugged, whispering back. “Probably. He’s a little better at hiding it though.”

Adeleine shifted, starting to come to. “Ngh...what happened...why am I so sore...” Ribbon flew over to check on her, whispering in her ear. The artist perked up while listening. “Uh-huh...yep, I remember that...really?...oh jeez...thank goodness you and Kirby were there...oh!”

She jumped up, slipping into an elaborate curtsey. “Um, hello. My name is Adeleine, I’m an artist from Planet Popstar. It’s nice to meet you both, Prince Fluff and Miss Elline...I’m deeply sorry for any pain I may have caused you while possessed just now...”

Uncomfortable silence stretched out until Kirby broke it. “Um, Adeleine, you do know that we’ve all dealt with friends being possessed before, right? This isn’t anything new-”

Ribbon whacked him on the head to shut him up. “Let her apologize, you dolt!”

The group as a whole broke into laughter, and once Kirby shook out of his stun he joined in. It seemed to break the ice, at least, as Fluff smiled back. “It’s not a problem, Miss Adeleine.”

“Just Adeleine is perfectly fine,” she said while straightening her beret, “thank you.”

Elline twirled in mid-air. “As long as you don’t wrap me up like that again, we’re good! I could barely breathe through all that leather!” The artist looked chastised for a moment until everyone broke into another round of giggles.

Kirby smiled. Watching his friends all getting along triggered a warmth in his chest. Originull Wasteland? Maybe you’re not so bad after all.

Chapter Text

Zan Partizanne prided herself on being able to handle all sorts of personalities. Straight-laced as she may be, it wasn’t like she wasn’t used to other kinds. Stoic and polite? Francisca. Reckless and brash? Flamberge. Manic and chaotic? Lord Hyness when he was in a mood. And so on.

So, despite a lack of social contact outside of those three before the Star Allies came knocking at their door, she was more than capable of understanding or keeping up with them, and acting as the primary point of contact between their factions. Well...mostly. Two personalities still eluded her understanding.

The secretive one, and the quiet one.

And as she sped across the lava-drenched path before her, thrusting her spear through spectral Mumbies as they tried to sneak up on her, collecting shards of a broken soul along the way, she considered that these two companions fit those roles perfectly.

Magolor, the secretive one, she could at least somewhat comprehend. Personality-wise he was similar enough to Lord Hyness, and his magical knowledge was impressive. His technological acumen, while not quite as familiar to her, was also vast. The problem was, he wasn’t the type to explain himself. Even at his worst, Lord Hyness was at least willing to discuss his motives.

Dark Meta Knight, the quiet one, was hard to trust for an entirely different reason. She did, to a degree, understand his lack of volume. He did, after all, come from a dimension contained within a purely visual medium (a mirror), so the reliance on visual communication made logical sense.

But it also meant she couldn’t get a read on him. Redemption was one thing, over half of the Star Allies had been evil at some point, including herself. But with Dark, she couldn’t tell if he actually was redeemed. The Star Allies didn’t have strict membership rules, but still...it wasn’t like she could shake her doubts. And she could sense a deep evil within him.

Observing him was part of the reason she’d taken command of the team here. So that was what she’d do.

Zan scowled, looking up at the towering building before them, visibly infested with glowing soul fragments. “Hm.” Its shape teased at the edge of her memory, but she couldn’t quite place it...

Magolor’s hands sparked with hexes. “How do you want to go about this? Because I’m pretty sure I could level this thing, but it’d burn a lot of juice. Otherwise we can just climb the tower, but I don’t think that’d be a good idea.”

Her eyebrows raised under her cap. “And why is that?”

The wizard shrugged. “Well, this is just something I’ve noticed, but you tend to attract stormy weather, and up there we’d be super-vulnerable to getting struck by lightning if you’re around...”

Huh. He did have a point there. “What do you think, Dark Meta Knight-?”

The words were barely out of her mouth when the entire structure split apart from the middle, a jagged silver spike piercing straight through it. The black knight was flying above, sword raised as its oversized duplicate extended towards the heavens.

Soul fragments rained down, and Magolor quickly summoned a magical vortex to draw them in and collect them. The building’s rubble fell into the ocean of magma below as Dark returned to their side, sheathing his sword.

Zan moved to inspect the wreckage, noting the way it had been cut. “You analyzed it and struck at a vulnerable seam. Jamanke.” The warrior simply nodded before taking flight, heading for the next area with a flap of his tattered wings. The mages followed without comment.

At least he’s helping.

Once they found themselves within a factory, Magolor squealed with delight. “Nova above, this is so cool!” He quickly floated up to one of the panels and tore it open, inspecting the wiring and mechanisms within.

Zan Partizanne frowned, focused more on the crushers and conveyor belts that stood in their way...

*bzzt bzzt*

...until the device in her pocket buzzed. She quickly pulled it out and checked the sender. It was Francisca! She quickly activated the magical communicator and held it up to her ear. “Bonjam?”

“Zan!” The youngest mage-sister’s voice was a little muddled and hurried compared to how it usually sounded, but she could understand it. “Lord Hyness said he cast a temporal-equalizer spell between our phones! Is it working?”

The thunder mage nodded. “Of course it is. You shouldn’t doubt Lord Hyness’ magical talent.” He lacked elsewhere, certainly, but this was a domain he had mastered millennia ago. “What is the matter?”

Francisca responded quickly. “No, no, nothing’s wrong here! I just wanted to check in!” She giggled. “Goodness, you’re so stiff sometimes!”

Zan felt a small smile growing on her face. “It’s part of my position, Franny.” Slipping past the crusher with practiced ease, she swung her spear through a ghostly Poppy Bro, cleaving it in half as it vanished into smoke. “How is Planet Popstar?”

The ice mage sighed. “It’s recovering. The rifts did some rather severe damage, but it’s nothing compared to repairing the Jambandra Base after one of Lord Hyness’ tantrums.”

Zan giggled along with her adoptive sister, stopping short as Dark Meta Knight cleaved one of the machine pistons to shreds, making its connected crusher fall down with a metallic *clang* as it broke the conveyor belt beneath. “I have to go, Star Ally work. Say bonjam to Berge and Lord Hyness for me, okay?”

“Yes, General!” Francisca audibly smiled. “Jam-buh-bye!” *click*

The thunder mage turned to Magolor, who was still obsessing over technology. “Hurry up!”

He jumped, straightening his hood as he approached. Zan hefted her spear and blasted the rubble of the broken crusher out of the way, and they advanced, following the trail of slashing carnage Dark had left in his wake.

By the time they’d caught up to Dark, on the other end of a (rather fun) roller coaster ride that Magolor had hotwired, he was slumped over, clutching at the scarred portion of his mask. His armor was glowing red with heat, and while the knight didn’t talk, it was clear he was in pain.

The thunder mage approached, curious. What’s going on with him? When Zan took a closer look at the warrior, his visible eye was wide and his feelings were being reflected by it. Fear. Hope.

Her heart ached as she realized...he was afraid. And he was trying to ask for help.

She adjusted her gloves and got to work, thanking all the stars that Lord Hyness had officially begun to train her as his successor. While Zan was still a novice wielding elements beyond her own, she had enough experience to at least summon minimal instances, enough for mundane applications.

Extending her hand, she created a soft but frigid breeze, trying to counter whatever this was. It seemed to help, as the metal began to cool and dim to its usual scuffed silver.

The knight seemed to relax a little, but the gauntlet remained firmly on his face. Once the gust was blowing properly, she diverted some of her attention to try and sense the evil within. Sure enough, it was flaring up, especially in that area.

Magolor crossed his arms and watched. “What’s going on with him? Is there anything I can do to help?”

Zan scowled. “Unless you know ice magic, no.” The wizard shook his head and remained to the side, letting the thunder mage do her job. Eventually, Dark’s metallic equipment was cooled off, and the knight was able to stand, gripping his blade. He removed his hand from his mask...and the eye beneath was completely bloodshot, shining like flames. “Jamblast it...what happened to you?!”

She’d only seen an eye like that once before: Lord Hyness, at the heights of his Void-induced and corrupted insanity, had a watery white-and-red version of this.

The eye faded back to its usual dull yellow, but it still left an impression. Now Zan understood the way he’d been redeemed...he’d broken free of villainous control. No...he was still battling it to this day. A pang of pity rang through her heart, and she resisted the urge to apologize for her unsaid assumptions of his morality.

Instead, she drew her spear and moved in front of him. “I understand. You need not continue to exert yourself at such a level. I will handle combat from here.” She was the leader, after all.

Time to act like it.

As the trio descended into the depths of an ancient mechanical complex, collecting more soul fragments along the way, Zan gripped her spear carefully. It was too quiet here.

The doors clanged shut behind them, and Dark swung his blade behind him, parrying the slash of a Gigant Edge and knocking it back. Magolor swung his hand around just as rapidly, blasting a Mr. Frosty with flame hexes. And before Zan could ask, she was blindsided by a Bonkers’ hammer, barely blocking in time with her weapon held in both hands.

Magolor blinked. “Hey what the heck?” He kept up the fire attacks, even as the walrus kept advancing. “This guy’s not catching fire like he’s supposed to! It’s like he’s hardening somehow!”

Dark wheeled around the larger knight, stabbing his blade through its visor in a killing blow...only for it to do absolutely nothing, as the Gigant continued its attack and wrenched the warrior out of its visor, the gouge he left somehow melting closed.

Zan’s lightning blasts weren’t doing much to the hammer ape either, as the shocks seemed to be dying out before they could conduct properly. But that didn’t make any sense-

Wait. Her eyes narrowed, observing closer as the information aligned. Of course.

Now that she paid attention to it, the Bonkers’ movements were choppy and unnatural. She’d never studied the magic of animating objects in-depth, but she could tell that those weren’t the movements of an organic being. These were homunculi.

Satisfied with that knowledge, she expanded her magical senses, searching for the threads of magic tying the constructs together...and severed them all with a well-placed jolt.

The creator gasped as the trio of false mid-bosses crumbled into chunks of loose clay. Dark heard the noise as well, gliding over to the source and throwing them out from behind a pile of rubble and into view.

The figure cowered in fright, curling into a ball on the metallic floor. “No no no don’t hurt me please-!”

Zan sighed, putting her spear away while approaching. “I promise not to harm you.” The girl looked rather small and delicate, shrouded under a thick sweater and scarf, with ashy-white skin on her exposed face and hands, all of it stained with bits of clay. “My name is Zan Partizanne. What is your name?”

The girl stuttered out an answer, still audibly afraid. “I’m C-Claycia. A-are you...um...” She wrung her hands, forming a blob of clay and quickly molding it into a ball with a stub on either side and a smiling face between them. After a moment, she held up a tiny and colorless puffball model.

“Yes, we are familiar with Kirby.” The thunder mage’s eyebrows raised. “Are you also a friend of his?”

The sculptress’ mood flipped to pure giddiness, jumping to her feet. “Yes! Kirby is great! So if you three are friends of Kirby’s then I trust you!” She paused, frowning. “By the way, have you seen my partner Elline? We got separated earlier. She looks a lot like a paintbrush but with rainbow hair and...” She trailed off, noticing the trio’s lack of reaction. “Oh...I guess you haven’t?”

Magolor clapped his hands together. “Once we’re done here, I might be able to scry for her, but for now, we need to keep going! We have things to do here first!”

“Agreed.” Zan nodded, signaling with her hand to end this little heart-to-heart. “Onward!”

Chapter Text

As the group of four proceeded deeper into the heart of the volcano, the ambient noise of rusted machinery grew quieter and quieter, replaced by the boiling hum of magma. Zan Partizanne was now constantly using her limited skill with ice magic just to keep them from frying alive.

Dark Meta Knight kept his sword in hand. Out of the four of them, he was sweating the least, but he was still clearly on-edge, eyes flicking every direction. Zan couldn’t blame him...she was kind of nervous herself.

Magolor, meanwhile, was dealing with his stress by talking nonstop. Luckily, he kept it down well enough, since he had an active audience: Claycia was hanging on his every word, even making her own inquiries from time to time. The sculptress seemed truly enraptured.

By the time they reached the lowest level...it was strangely colder. Zan didn’t really understand why that was, but was grateful for no longer needing to chill the room...Magolor could probably explain it, but he’d quieted down. She glanced his way, frowning at the atypical silence. “What’s the matter?”

The wizard tightened his gloves, hex symbols flaring to life around his wrists. “Someone’s here.”

Dark and Zan nodded, weapons up. Claycia began squishing putty in her hands, rapidly molding a pair of fists that she attached to the ends of her scarf, essentially building herself two stronger and longer arms. No more words were exchanged. They’d all entered into combat readiness.

A loud, ear-splitting screech sounded, somewhere in the distance. The thunder mage also heard a rush of wind, growing louder and closer by the instant. Her instincts suddenly screamed at her to duck, so she did, barely avoiding being sliced by talons large enough to skewer her outright.

The talons swept up, slamming down against the platform hard enough to almost tip it over. Zan barely kept her footing, staring at the colossal opponent before them. Her eyes widened as she recognized it from her studies under Lord Hyness. A Rainbow Phoenix!

She’d never expected to see one of its kind in person. And yet here it was, glaring down from on high, eyes alight with murderous intent. That scraped and broken golden armor, complete with a cracked blue gem, seemed unnatural though...

Magolor spoke up, panicked. “Th...that’s Dream Land’s guardian angel! What the heck is it doing here? And why is it trying to kill us?!”

Dark simply raised his blade in challenge, and Zan hesitantly did the same with her spear. Even if that bird was an object of galactic reverence, they needed to fight. “Star Allies, fight to disable the enemy!” Then she leapt into the fray.

Sanctified Savage

Forgo Dyna Blade

Her first stab was deflected by the bird’s razor-sharp wings, slashing down in an attempt to stab her, but it knocked one wing wide while the other was parried by Dark Meta Knight.

The knight raised his sword, summoning two giant silvery blades from the floor to block the path of the wings. It worked, forcing the bird back for a moment, and Magolor capitalized, swinging a huge magic-forged sword down, which smashed against the phoenix’s crest and bounced off almost harmlessly.

Clay tendrils wrapped around the phoenix’s talons, tying them to the platform so it couldn’t take flight. The sculptress controlling them scowled. “Dyna Blade, please stop! We don’t want to hurt you!”

Dyna Blade. Zan registered the words, amused by the fact that they’d given a name to a being that was likely hundreds of times older than all the Star Allies combined, but it was a fitting title.

The phoenix opened its beak and screeched, emitting a burst of wind strong enough to throw Dark and Zan back. They would have fallen into the magma if Claycia’s extended scarf-hands didn’t catch them. Magolor warped to their side, shielding them all from the next blast with a hex barrier. They all took a moment to catch their breath, Zan tightening her grip on her spear. “How in Jamblast have you met a Rainbow Phoenix?”

Magolor glanced back at her, eyes glowing with magic exertion. “Take a wild guess.”

“Of course,” she responded with a sigh, “via Kirby. Now, how do we defeat it?”

The wizard hummed. “From what my divination was able to tell, she’s under mind control. Either we can beat it out of her...which seems unlikely...or we can snap her out of it with a significantly potent emotive trigger. I have one idea, but it’s gonna take a minute or so to set up, and I’ll have to leave the area while I’m doing it.”

Normally, Zan would ask for clarification before giving permission. But they didn’t have time, so she chose to indulge him. “It’s probably better than anything I could come up with. Do it quickly.”

Magolor nodded, opening a portal under himself as the bird’s breath attack died down. “You got it! And...” He dissipated his barrier while dropping through the rift. “Good luck!”

As the portal sealed, Dark Meta Knight went on the attack. Splitting into three mirror-like copies of himself, he arced above, drawing Dyna Blade’s attention while raining energy waves from his duplicated swords. The phoenix screeched, breaking free of its clay shackles to ascend and do battle with the knight.

Zan summoned her Raijin Drums, aiming her spear carefully while the enemy was distracted up there. Claycia rubbed her hands together, forming a cannon from clay and putting it on the arena floor, where it rolled into position. Then another, and another, with her scarf-hands following her motions as well.

By the time Dark flew back to gain distance, his clones reduced to bloody and jagged pieces of silver, there were no less than a dozen tread-mounted terracotta cannons stationed centrally in the room, ready to attack. Claycia’s hands raised, and the weapons followed suit. “Fire!”

Balls of hardened and compacted clay flew upwards, buffeting Dyna Blade as they split against its bladed wings, gumming its feathers together and restricting its movement. The phoenix went crashing to the ground, crushing the sculpted artillery under its talons. It screeched, leaving itself open.

The thunder mage took her shot, flinging her spear through the air to embed itself into the metal at the bird’s feet. A moment passed in complete silence, with Dyna Blade’s beak opening to fire a fresh blast of wind.

Then her drums ignited, channeling a beam of electricity between themselves and the spear right under the phoenix, paralyzing it briefly before a torrent of lightning followed, crashing into Dyna Blade with the fury of a thunderstorm and the strength to obliterate a small star.

Claycia cheered as the electrical blast slowly faded, leaving Zan panting. She’d really put her all into that attack, trying to stun the phoenix for as long as possible.

It seemed to have worked, as Dyna Blade was struggling to stand, not injured but visibly tired out, staggering. The gem on its armor had cracked again, now barely able to hold itself together.

With one last defiant screech, the phoenix charged at the exhausted thunder mage, stomping on its talons...only for Dark Meta Knight to jump in front of her, dragging his sword against the arena floor to summon a black-hued tornado that threw the attack off-course, causing the bird to hit its head against a coolant pipe. The metal dented on impact, but it was enough to daze the attacker.

A portal tore open beside them, a familiar shape hopping through it as it closed behind him. “I’m back!” Hands above his head, he was carrying a bookshelf-sized thatch nest, with three juvenile chicks inside it that were each the size of Zan herself.

The instant Dyna Blade saw the chicks and heard them chirping, it thrashed wildly, grabbing the three smaller birds within one talon. It snatched Dark Meta Knight with the other, squeezing him hard enough to do serious damage. He was able to create a hazy mirrored clone just as he lost consciousness, which landed beside his companions and glared.

The thunder mage growled as Dyna Blade took flight, escaping the area. “Oh no you don’t!” She fished frantically through her robe’s pockets, she’d held on to one of these things just in case of emergency like this...her hand brushed on a thin spike, jabbing her, and she grabbed it tightly.

As a Warp Star descended to their side, she smiled and pulled out her trump card, removing the shrinking enchantment she’d placed on it. Gleaming bright pink and with a pommel carved into a heart, she stabbed the spear into the star, splitting it down the middle as it grew and changed its form into their ultimate weapon. “Everyone on!”

Zan narrowed her eyes behind the visor, flying through the murky void of Fecto’s dreams with her friends at her back.

Dyna Blade had flown far into the vast expanse of space, shooting fireballs and feathers which ignited into flame back at them. Blasts of lightning magic fired back in response, the Star Allies Sparkler shining bright under her command.

Seated behind her, Claycia created terracotta shields, defending them from attack. Dark’s mirror image and Magolor brought down the enemy projectiles that slipped by, allowing Zan to focus on shooting Dyna Blade down. Volts of plasma coursed through the Rainbow Phoenix’s metallic wings as she hit them, gliding through the psychic haze.

Dark Meta Knight had been awoken by the shocks, and was actively trying to break free of the bird’s grip, but he couldn’t quite do it. Even with Magolor-brand hexes trying to pull Dyna Blade’s talons apart, it wasn’t enough. And Zan couldn’t bring herself to go all-out, not with Dark and the chicks in its clutches.

The phoenix began to pull away, effortlessly outpacing the Star Allies Sparkler, and Zan grit her teeth. It’s getting away!

Magolor hissed loudly under his breath, watching it escape. “Oh no you don’t!” He pulled a remote out of his pocket and punched the button. “Lor!”

On cue, the Starcutter sailed through a suddenly-opening rift beside them, shooting blasts of wind from its sail and throwing Dyna Blade off-balance. Its oars and wings disconnected and flew out to strike the phoenix, battering its torso. Zan raised her spear, gathering the energies around them into a supercharged stormfront, lightning bolts raining upon the bird and almost blasting it out of the sky.

The phoenix was barely able to stay airborne, and Dark finally managed to break free, flying to them and taking his vanished copy’s place on the Star Allies Sparkler...which was beginning to flake away, the Heart Spear cracking under the magical strain.

Zan frowned. She should have expected this...the artifact was almost as old as Lord Hyness and this was the fourth time it had been used in the last year. The other three had already broken, so it didn’t surprise her that the magic was growing unstable and stale. It’d break soon, and then...they’d lose.

Dyna Blade arced into a dive, trying to escape. Its chicks, still gripped tightly in its other talon despite Magolor’s best magical efforts, chirped in fear. The phoenix sailed into the smoke and out of sight, as the Sparkler disappeared under their feet and they began to fall-

“No!”

With a flash of renewed power, the Star Allies Sparkler reformed within an instant, blazing with golden energy far beyond its normal strength. Zan’s eyes widened at the turquoise speck up ahead, glowing with a matching aura as the mists before them burned away. Isn’t that...Elfilin?!

The psychic’s voice rang through her mind, telepathy engaged. “I’ll pilot from here. Just get ready to pull the trigger!” The Sparkler surged forward, almost too fast to keep her position on.

As the star effortlessly outpaced Dyna Blade, piercing through the void as the haze cleared before them, Meta Knight flying out of the darkness and clashed against the phoenix, wielding a blazing golden blade in each hand. Zan gave it a brief thought...since when did Sir Meta have two swords?...but refocused as he dove under the phoenix’s slicing beak and snatched the trio of chicks right out of its grasp.

The thunder mage grinned viciously, finally willing to go all-out. The Star Allies Sparkler let out an electric whine that rapidly grew into a thunderous cacophony as she channeled every ounce of magic she could spare into it. Magolor and Claycia did the same, as did Dark, and the vessel shone in every color before unleashing a blinding rainbow-colored beam of pure energy.

Dyna Blade shrieked as the blast hit dead-on, knocking her down to an island that until now had been shrouded behind psychic smoke. It reminded Zan of the Jambastion, but more advanced technologically despite its destroyed status. She gripped her spear, as the Star Allies Sparkler finally dissipated, Heart Spear snapping in half and fading away.

Landing on the Lor Starcutter’s deck alongside her companions, she gazed down at the structure below, grip tightening. She could sense an insane amount of magic coming from it...more than a construct that size should realistically be able to hold. Something very powerful was in there.

As Meta Knight landed beside her, safely carrying the chicks, she gestured to it. “That must be it.”

The knight nodded back, walking to the ship’s open hatchway to deposit the trio of juvenile birds inside. “It would appear so.”

“I will signal the others.” Zan raised her spear, creating a small but bright spark above them, burning like a star. A beacon, for the others to see and gather under. As her weapon dropped, she breathed deeply, preparing herself for battle.

As the Lor descended upon the landmass and many Warp Stars arrived to fly beside them, she pointed her spear forward, uttering their call to arms. And despite the smoke and void clouding their senses, it was heard and heeded by all present.

“Star Allies!”

“Go!!!”

Chapter Text

As Kirby touched down in this twisted and orange-clouded copy of Lab Discovera, he looked around, keeping one hand firmly on his Toy Hammer. When it came to obvious danger, he usually went with Hammer, it was a reliable and powerful Copy Ability that had stood the test of time.

Dedede having a broken mallet on-hand was just a lucky chance to get it.

Speaking of the king, he was right beside the puffball, glaring ahead with his not-hammer-holding hand tucked under his robe. “He’s in there, eh?” Kirby nodded. Meta Knight dropped down on his other side, gold blades in each hand. Dedede smirked. “Hey Meta, when’d ya start two-handin?”

The knight adjusted his stance, sheathing one of the swords. “I recently re-acquired an older blade that I had lost. Dual-wielding isn’t my preferred style, but it felt prudent to be prepared.”

Kirby recognized the weapon, and suppressed a sweat-drop. If Meta had seriously brought both Galaxia and Master, he must be expecting a tough fight. Which...was probably a good call, given how tough Fecto Elfilis had been, but it still said a lot that even the knight was on-edge.

The others landed in due time. First came Ribbon, Fluff, Adeleine, and Elline, who had been with Kirby until he’d sped up, trying to catch up to Dyna Blade before she’d been brought down. Sailor Dee, Daroach, and Elfilin came next. Kirby noticed that Elfilin was glowing, golden light shining through his turquoise fur.

As the Lor settled into a hover nearby, Zan Partizanne, Dark Meta Knight, and Magolor dropped down to join them. Claycia also appeared, and she and Elline entered into a brief but joyous hug as they reunited after losing each other for the second time in the last year. Kirby smiled at the sight, although he was a bit surprised to see Claycia again, of all people.

Next was Susie, Gooey, and Taranza, and then Rick and Kine and Coo, and finally Marx and Bandana Dee to complete the set. Everyone’s eyes snagged on Bandana’s new weapon. Zan was the first to say it aloud, audibly amazed. “Is that...a new kind of Heart Spear?”

The spearman shrugged. “I think so? It’s definitely got the same vibe to it.” He drew the purple crystalline lance and twirled it, glancing around the group. “Is that everyone? We’re still missing Vul and Shadow...also where’d Carol go?”

Elfilin floated over to Kirby, still glowing but not as brightly now. “Vul went to group up with the Squeak trio on their airship, and Carol went back to Waddle Dee Town, something about a bad feeling. Fecto knows we’re here, so he might’ve decided to try attacking again. Better safe than sorry, right?” He shrugged. “I dunno about Shadow though...”

Daroach gripped the brim of his hat. “Well, I’m glad my crew’s okay, but...”

Kirby spun his hammer in-hand, focusing forward. “All we can do is keep going. Him and Leon might be further in.” With that, he set off at a brisk but cautious pace, Star Allies falling into step behind him.

By the time they entered the lab itself, everything apart from their breathing and footsteps was utterly silent. There wasn’t even any wind.

It took about a minute of walking through wrecked and crumbling corridors before someone finally commented on it. Unsurprisingly, it was Marx. “So hey, is it always this obvious that the final boss is coming up? Because, like, this is about as blatant as you could possibly get, and Hyness’ lobby wasn’t really all that subtle either!”

That actually got a chuckle out of most of the group. Not Kirby though. He was too busy being focused. Elfilin didn’t laugh either, his gaze aimed up ahead. This was the corridor they had fled in while being chased by Fecto Forgo. Which meant they were going to Leongar’s throne room.

Marx was right. The final boss was coming up.

Once they got close to the central chamber, climbing up the damaged elevator shaft to reach the entry floor, the noise began. Kirby scowled as the stuttering and staticky loudspeaker began to speak.

“And here we are! A-and here we are! And h-here we are! Welcome visitors! Automatic language de-te-tection: activated. And here we ar-are! ID-F86!”

Some of the Star Allies’ paces faltered a bit. Meta Knight’s eyes narrowed behind his mask. “It would appear that we’ve reached the core of Fecto’s subconscious. It must have heard this very speech so many times that its thoughts were consumed by it.”

The puffball mostly tuned out the voice as it repeated itself. “We’re close.” He glanced around at his friends. “This is your last chance, if anybody wants to turn back now.” Nobody did. Some of them were visibly afraid, but no one backed down.

He smiled, hefting his hammer. These were the best friends he could ask for. “Okay. Let’s go.”

Entering the next room, Leongar’s throne room, Kirby could see a few differences from the real version. For one, the ceiling was partially caved in, revealing the hazy orange void. The Eternal Capsule room was ravaged, charred black and torn to pieces, the window between both rooms shattered. Every doorway apart from the one they were now using had collapsed, sealing the room from any other direction.

And Leon was there, curled up inside a psychic bubble in the center of the dented and stained metal arena. Elfilin flew over to him, inspecting the bubble. “He’s the real thing, guys.” He raised his hand, orange glimmers emerging to swirl around the lion. “He just needs his soul back.”

The team followed suit, each removing soul fragments from their pockets and sending them to their rightful owner. The psychic bubble faded as each glimmer was absorbed into the beast’s empty husk, revitalizing it. When it finally popped, he fell onto all fours, coughing.

Kirby approached, catching up to Elfilin, with the other Star Allies hanging back. Leon stood, low grumbles escaping from his mouth. The psychic was the only one who would understand it, so the puffball turned to ask what he was-

Leon pounced, roaring as his titanic claws slammed down on Kirby and Elfilin, snatching them tight. As their friends let out shouts of anger and surprise, the puffball caught a glimpse of Leon’s eyes. They were blank and purple, and he’d seen that look before. Fecto.

He quickly squirmed free, then grabbed Elfilin and wrestled him out of Leon’s grip too. As they landed, he lifted his Toy Hammer as the psychic began to glow. “Bring it on!”

Berserk Beast King

Forgo Leon

Leon’s first slashing energy wave was blocked by a barrier of rainbow paint, Adeleine painting it up using Elline as her brush. The second was deflected by Taranza’s wall of magic silk, and the third was bashed apart by Rick’s stone-headed tackle. When the lion lunged, Kirby jammed his mallet in between his jaws, holding them open long enough for Daroach to blast an icy beam into his throat. The beast staggered, dazed and frosted over as Kirby retrieved his weapon.

As Leon’s mouth shone with psychic energy, firing a massive beam at the group and up to the ceiling, the room began to collapse more. The arena below them split as well, tearing under the force of Leon’s assault. Kirby grabbed Elfilin and hung on for dear life, shielding the psychic as they fell into the darkness below.

Elfilin was able to warp them onto a ledge below, where Leon was spasming on the ground with a black haze coating his mane, his form shining purple with psychic energy. His eyes gleamed white, as dark flames consumed his body and mind, and the lion let out a distorted roar.

Despite the language barrier, Kirby could tell he was in agony and screaming for help.

Lifting his hammer, which was now ablaze with power, the puffball charged, batting Leon’s claws aside as he tried to line up a clean blow to the beast. Adeleine and Elline were hiding somewhere nearby, putting up walls to block the lion’s attacks, and Elfilin was clinging to the back of Leon’s mane, trying to force Fecto out of his mind. And it...was actually working!

The haze started to detach from the lion’s form, forming into the shape of the so-called Ultimate Life-Form. It kept trying to push its way back into Leon, but Elfilin was slowly gaining advantage in the struggle, helped by Kirby continuing to pummel the beast wherever he could.

Still, Leon wasn’t going down easily, and with a mighty pound of his claws he overturned the whole platform, flinging Kirby way off-balance. A sphere of dark power began to form in his mouth, ready to be launched, and the puffball braced himself for impact-

At least until the lion was suddenly lifted and slammed against the ceiling by a rainbow blur, and Kirby cheered as the guardian angel of Dream Land went on the offensive. “Go, Dyna Blade!”

The phoenix’s plumage was burnt, her golden armor fractured, but Dyna Blade didn’t slow down at all, beating Leon down with vicious wingbeats and heavy talon slashes. The king of the beasts was mighty, but he was no match for the queen of the skies, especially as Elfilin kept weakening Fecto’s control.

Coo flew down next to Kirby, grabbing him with his talons and lifting him up. “Kirby! You know what to do!” The puffball nodded, gripping his hammer as it began to turn golden, powering up to the next level. As the owl flew up above the brawling beasts, he dropped his payload.

Kirby raised the weapon over his head, watching as Taranza’s magic silk tied one of Leon’s legs down, Daroach’s ice freezing the other in place. The lion moved to block, but his arms were held back by Rick and Kine, and Dyna Blade and Elfilin backed off, leaving the path clear.

The puffball swung down with all his might. “Grand Hammer!”

*crack*

The effect was immediate, as not only did the toy mallet shatter on impact, but the lion crashed into the ground, denting the floor with the impact as the darkness shrouding him was violently scattered into wisps of psychic smoke. As Kirby landed, panting slightly, the other Star Allies joined him on the bottom level of Lab Discovera’s copy.

Elfilin was the first to speak, staring at the unconscious Leon. “Did...did we do it?”

Meta Knight held his blade at the ready, glaring at a space above the lion’s form. “Look!”

The remnants of Fecto’s power began to meld together, forming into a mass of darkness in the shape of its larval state. Its color shifted from hazy-black to sickly-teal, and its eyes shone with white hatred, as tendrils of its signature slime began to form from its melted body.

One lashed out and wrapped around Dyna Blade’s leg, and she instantly fell unconscious, falling with a metallic *clang* on impact with the floor. Everyone turned in shock...

...giving Fecto the perfect chance to assimilate them all. Elfilin was able to shield Kirby, Bandana Dee, and himself with a psychic barrier, but the rest were snatched up by tendrils and absorbed faster than Kirby could even blink. Even Meta Knight was caught, though he had time to throw Galaxia into the puffball’s hands.

As he realized what had happened, Kirby glared at the monster, enraged behind the Meta Knight Sword ability’s mask. “How dare you hurt my friends?!” Bandana and Elfilin at his side, he charged.

Psychic Phantom

Soul Forgo

Chapter Text

Kirby gripped Galaxia tight, slashing at Fecto’s new body with waves of blue energy. The soul creature was half-melting still, not forming into a defined shape but focusing on just creating the deadliest weapons it could at the given moment. He could see parts of his friends pop out here and there, but only as an arm to punch or a wing to beat, not something you’d recognize without knowing them.

Still, it was enough to make him see red. “Let...my friends...go!”

With a heavy slash, he sent a wave strong and sharp enough to cleave the creature in half, only for it to reassemble. But none of his friends came out. Instead, he saw a distorted micro-version of Forgo Dreams itself. Elfilin noticed that too, psychic barrier flickering as it blocked a burst of slime attacks. “That’s it!”

Bandana swung his spear up, parrying Fecto’s copy of Dedede’s hammer. “What? Did you get an idea?”

The psychic’s shield faded as he ducked under a laser beam from Marx’s mouth. “Think about it guys! This place is created by Fecto’s mind, it feels like being inside Fecto, and Leon wound up here after being absorbed by Fecto!” He launched a glowing golden beam at the slime monster to slow it down. “They’re probably still in here somewhere!”

Kirby frowned, deflecting a feeble swipe from Dark Meta Knight’s sword as Fecto collapsed for a few brief moments, recuperating for another round. “Okay, so how does that help us?”

Elfilin’s eyes glowed. “If we can find our friends and snap them out of it, we can disconnect them from Fecto entirely and weaken it and save them!” One of his portals opened behind them, going up to Lab Discovera’s roof, where a Warp Star was waiting. “C’mon, we gotta hurry, before their souls get shattered like Leon’s was!”

Bandana didn’t waste a second following Elfilin through the portal, and Kirby only hesitated long enough to slash at Fecto one last time, causing him to collapse mid-reformation. A tendril burst from the mass and tried to chase them out, but it was blocked by Dyna Blade, the great phoenix awakening to shield them as the portal closed. Kirby caught the sight of her eye, communicating her wish clearly despite their inability to truly speak in kind.

Save them, please. For all our sakes.

Susie’s blaster whined, running low on battery as she fired into the purple forest, but there was no break in the swarm of haze-shrouded enemies. Gooey was already unconscious, and she had no intention of leaving him behind. Even as her own consciousness was starting to fail...

She’d abandoned her family once. Even if it wasn’t the same, she wouldn’t abandon the Star Allies now! Not...now...

But...she was just...so tired...

Her aim began to falter, vision going hazy as the beasts approached...

“Don’t you dare touch her!”

A blast of magic both snapped her awake and knocked the beasts away, as a familiar force appeared out of the woods with all six hands shining bright. Instantly, Susie felt some of her exhaustion vanish...she didn’t know why, but also didn’t question it. “Taranza!”

The spider’s back-of-head eye twitched in what might have been a wink of sorts. “Sorry I’m so late, Miss Susie!” He raised one hand behind him, giving Gooey a magical adrenaline shot and waking him up.

The blob bounced up, flames bursting out of his back as he entered his Mock Matter form. “Sue and Ranz! We fight?”

Susie grinned, snapping her blaster up to take aim once more. “We fight.”

At least until a portal dropped them back in Waddle Dee Town before any of them could blink.

Bandana gripped his spear tightly, fending off Fecto’s attacks from the back of the Warp Star. It seemed to have settled on a basic form, as he parried the attacks fired from its mouth. Mostly it looked like Leon, with Dyna Blade’s wings and talons as hind legs...plus the extra limbs that formed at will for attacks. Not as creepy as the orginal chimera, but still plenty disturbing.

Still, he kept the beast busy. He was still getting used to the Heart Spear compared to his usual weapon, but it was coming naturally and he could actually do some pretty heavy damage with it.

Down below, Forgo Plains was a distant memory, as they swept over Forgo Bay, Kirby steering them across the area as fast as he could while still able to scan the ground. Elfilin was spotting for them, using portals to warp them out. So long as they weren’t in Forgo Dreams, they’d be safe. Probably.

Bandana’s eyes narrowed, deflecting another glob of slime from the griffon’s back. Marx’s maw emerged from its chest and shone with energy, preparing to fire.

Elfilin flashed brightly. “I can see Marx and the Animal Trio!” With a wave of his arm, he opened a portal and got them out. The instant the jester was gone, his mouth vanished from Fecto, and the beast actually appeared confused, then enraged.

The spearman beamed at the sight. “It’s working! Keep it up!”

Kirby pushed the Warp Star into high gear. “Same to you!”

As Fecto grew Zan’s spear and fired a lightning bolt from it, Bandana blocked it with his Heart Spear and felt the weapon heat up, shedding its crystalline shell to glow in the radiant fuchsia of its true power. He spun the weapon and watched Fecto charge right into his range. “Come on!”

Meta Knight’s blade swept through Wondaria’s illusory remnants, tearing the darkness-infested enemies to pieces with Master. He could feel the force of Fecto’s compulsion upon him, but he afforded it no grip. Not now, not ever. He wouldn’t be dominated again, and he wouldn’t leave his comrades to fight alone, wherever they were.

Outside of Vul and the Squeaks, who were already leaving on their airship, he hadn’t yet seen any sign of the others on this island. He hoped they were holding out as well as he was.

In the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the Warp Star above, occupied by pink, orange, and turquoise, and being chased by a griffin-shaped monstrosity. With a small smirk, he ascended into the void of the sky, joining the flight. Beating his wings hard, he caught up to the Warp Star and clung to the side, giving himself a rest. Elfilin peered down at him in surprise. “Meta Knight!”

“My apologies for the lateness.” He kept Master in hand, glaring back at Fecto. “Do we have a plan?”

The psychic nodded. “We’re getting everyone out. They escape, Fecto loses his grip on their mind and abilities, and he can’t break our souls like he did to Leon.”

Meta Knight nodded in return. “Understood.” He spread his wings, ready to join the battle with the invasive life-form. “I will buy you three time to-”

“Nope!” Elfilin suddenly shoved him through a rapidly-opening portal. “See ya!”

Dedede gripped his halberd tight against the snowstorm, hammer shattered beyond repair. “Man these guys are no joke! How ya holdin up, Squeaker?”

Daroach brandished his ice wand, freezing another wave of the shrouded foes solid. “I’m fine ta keep this up, but I’m worried about my crew. I hope they got outta here before they got hurt!”

The king grinned. “Yup!” As more enemies climbed over their frozen comrades, he swung his blade and diced the lot of them. “Come our way and yer gonna get clobbah’d! So keep on trying if ya wanna-!”

“Great King!” Sailor sped in from behind them and launched a firework that engulfed the next horde. “We need to focus on survival!” Reloading his weapon, he took aim, blasting down part of an ancient clock tower and completely blocking the road with thick stone rubble. Daroach pulled a cartoonishly-large bomb from under his cloak and did the same thing in the other direction.

Once the street was walled on both sides, Dedede took a moment to breathe. He could feel Fecto crawling around in his mind, and forced him out none too gently. Not again, ya jerk. I’ve been taking mind-resistance lessons from Meta Knight.

Daroach’s ear twitched. “I hear the Warp Star.” The mouse raised his wand, sending out a flare from the tip. “With any luck, they’ll notice this and come give us a lift-”

That train of thought ended as a portal split open under their feet, and they fell through, back to Waddle Dee Town along with everyone else.

Kirby frowned, facing forward as they blasted over Forgo Wasteland. Fecto was getting more and more enraged over time, but he was also growing far weaker, and Bandana had done an incredible job holding the monster off. Seriously, he’d assumed that the Heart Spear would be strong, but he didn’t realize how strong.

Elfilin glanced back at Fecto, who was still flying after them but falling further and further behind pace. Clearly, he was tiring out.

The psychic then pointed down at the sands. “There! Ribbon, Fluff, Adeleine and Elline!” He waved his arm, opening a portal below them and then shutting it once they fell through. “And they’re gone!”

The slime-formed lion maw roared, clearly furious, and the beast accelerated as much as it could. Kirby grinned as it approached. “Bandana! Switch out!”

As his friend took the reins, the puffball raised Galaxia, letting it shine brightly and extend itself to several times its normal length before bringing it down on Fecto. Ultra Sword was definitely the Super Ability he’d practiced with the most, so he could keep Sword afterwards. Especially if it was Galaxia, since the sword’s innate magic contributed to the energy requirements. It was a “legendary weapon” for a reason.

The Lor appeared beside them, blasting away at Fecto to harm it even more. On board, Kirby could see Zan, Dark, Claycia, Magolor, and Dyna Blade (who was visibly struggling to stay alert, but seemed to be conscious). The thunder mage called out once they veered close, now flying over Forgo Zone. “Kirby! Where are the others?”

Elfilin called back. “I’ve been warping them back to town!” He raised his arm, which sparked golden. “Speaking of which, bye!”

Zan began to yell something at them. “Oh no you don’t-!”

Once they went through, the effect was immediate, as Fecto lost its Dyna Blade wings and began to plummet, now having only the body of Leon to imitate.

That didn’t stop Fecto from lunging at them, but by now Bandana had flown them far out of its range, heading for the copy of Lab Discovera. Now it was just them, Fecto, and Leon. And soon it’d just be them and Fecto.

And then they could finally kill him for good.

Zan scowled at the portal as it shut behind them, clenching her fist. “Jamblast it!” She knew they were right to do what they did, but she didn’t want to sit on the sideline again! She’d done enough of that while laboring under Hyness’ insanity!

Whatever. The original portal should still be in town, right? She turned to face the others, smiling at the fact that Dyna Blade had regained its...no, her alertness. She glanced around as the other Star Allies, including Meta Knight, flew up to meet them on the deck. Along with an...unfamiliar group of additions.

She raised an eyebrow at the Kirby lookalike. “And you are?” He looked just like Kirby, except with dark-gray skin and a pale scar over his right eye. “Another member of Kirby’s species?”

The puffball raised his arm and moved it back and forth in a so-so motion. Meta Knight stepped in to explain. “He’s the mirror world’s version of Kirby. We generally call him Shadow Kirby, or Shadow for brevity.” He gestured to the quartet of dragons. “And this is Landia.”

Zan’s jaw dropped. “Landia?! The ancient guardian of Halcandra?!” She’d heard stories about it as a child, but...it was still alive? “How did you...” She stopped herself. “...Kirby?”

“Indeed.”

The thunder mage nodded. “In any case. Now that we are freed from Fecto’s connection, we need to hurry. I suspect that Kirby and Elfilin still require our assistance.”

Landia growled in unison, and its voice spoke within their minds. “And Leon, as well.”

Zan nodded. “Right!” She pointed her spear at the sky before them, as the Starcutter began to fly, opening a new portal to Forgo Dreams. “Lor, full speed ahead! Star Allies!”

“Go!!!”

Chapter Text

As Kirby flew the Warp Star back to Lab Discovera’s copy, he noticed that a few things had changed. The destruction caused by their fight with Leon was gone, so the ceiling was mostly complete again (although the hole in it was still big enough to fly through) and the floor was fully intact.

He mentioned this to the others as they landed, Warp Star vanishing, and Bandana shrugged. “It isn’t exactly real, I dunno why it’d have to follow reality’s rules.” The puffball accepted that logic.

Leon was slumped in his throne, unconscious. Elfilin was about to send him back, but his rifting was interrupted by Fecto slamming down from above, still as a melting and incomplete copy of the lion. It let out a roar, and Kirby raised his sword, prepared to battle...

Fecto’s lunge slowed to a crawl...which didn’t make much sense, given that it was in mid-air at the time. Kirby tried to dodge, but realized to his horror that he was caught under the same effect as the monster. I...I can’t move!

All he could control was his eyes. And they locked on a familiar red-and-orange butterfly that had fluttered in from the ceiling hole above. Kirby’s blood ran cold at the sight. Not this again...

The butterfly landed on Fecto’s stunned and snarling face. And in a flash of cleansing flame, the monster was no more. The butterfly remained, glowing bright with fiery power. It grew. It formed its blade. It donned a crimson mask. And it beckoned them to fight.

Kirby gripped his weapon tightly, and obliged.

Fluttering Dream Eater

Morpho Knight

Galaxia met Morpho’s sword in a flash of sparks, the red-hot metals colliding at full force. Elfilin ripped up the floor, hefting chunks of steel with psychic power and throwing them at Morpho’s back. The beat of its wings deflected the rubble, the knight flying back to trace a wave of fire along the ground.

Kirby jumped over the blaze, swinging once more, but Morpho reacted this time, vanishing in a burst of flame and slashing at Bandana, who was able to block the attack with his spear before knocking the butterfly away. Morpho raised its blade, summoning a spectral red copy of Fecto’s larval state. It immediately chased after Elfilin, who vaporized it with a golden energy blast.

The puffball attacked one more time, aiming for Morpho’s back, but the butterfly spread its wings and sent out a wave of sound that completely threw him off his game. His vision went blurry and his ears were ringing, he could barely even tell where he was compared to everyone else-

“Kirby! Snap out of it!”

A sharp psychic slap to the back of his mind, courtesy of Elfilin, was enough to bring him back to the fight. Morpho seemed to notice, disconnecting from Bandana’s blade-lock to punt the psychic into the midst of an inferno. However, Leon was also inside that inferno, so Elfilin grabbed him and vanished through a portal to the outside world. Mission accomplished!

The spearman flourished his weapon as he and Kirby charged the reborn knight. “Why are you trying to kill us, anyway? What’d we ever do to you?”

Morpho didn’t respond, swinging his sword to deflect both their slashes and jumping back to take flight, stirring up blazing cyclones with every beat of its wings. The two heroes dodged them and lashed out, piercing through Morpho’s guard as it tried to rush them and striking it down for a brief moment.

While they had half a second as the butterfly knight recovered, Kirby and Bandana locked eyes and nodded. They’d fought this guy before, so they knew what was coming. And they’d figured out a way to counter it.

Morpho’s sword shone crimson and split in two, extending to triple their length in each hand. But as he was doing that, Kirby shot a slash wave at Bandana, who parried it into the puffball’s open inhaling mouth to create a copy of Galaxia, pairing it with the real thing.

As the butterfly swung down its twin blades, so did Kirby, matching its weapons in length. “Ultra Sword!”

All four blades clashed, grinding together within a cavalcade of sparks. But Morpho had left itself open for the spearman to slip behind and hurl his Heart Spear at its back, landing a direct hit. An eruption of fuchsia light engulfed the room, throwing Kirby back. As it subsided, Morpho was still intact, but struggling to flutter, its wings visibly cracked.

Bandana extended his hand and called the spear back, and it twirled right into his grip. The copy of Galaxia in Kirby’s hand crumbled to dust, but the actual sword was fine, if dimmed a little.

Morpho began to glow, his entire form shining a blinding white, and Kirby was sure the fight was either over...

Its eyes flashed blood-red.

...or about to get way harder.

Shadow Kirby’s eyes widened, scanning the psychic void from the Lor’s deck. Sparks of magic were everywhere in here, and now that he could see energy (thanks, Landia), they were hard to ignore.

The dragon seemed to notice as well, growling. “Dispelled soul fragments...Leon’s, I suspect.”

The puffball nodded. Might be worth grabbing them. He glanced overboard to see a whole horde of crows carrying Beast Pack members, flying towards the sparks, with Carol in front. I guess she had the same idea.

One of the Landias adjusted its footing. “In which case, we should focus on where our power is needed, rather than our sight.”

Shadow squinted, seeing a glow of magic from the farthest isle, the one that the Starcutter was already aiming towards. So...should we start with that one?

Landia’s talons scraped against the deck. “This power...we must hurry!” It let out a sharp quartet of roars. “Lor! Full speed ahead!”

The starship blasted towards it at full speed, fast enough that Shadow almost lost his grip on the rail. Whatever it was, if it had Landia worried...a grin spread across his face.

Challenge accepted.

Kirby scowled, eyes squeezed tight, resisting the cacophony of sound and light emanating from Morpho. Bandana was already knocked out, overwhelmed by the sheer might on display, but the puffball was still...hanging...on...!

*roarrrrr!*

Four crimson blurs sped past him, and he only had a moment to recognize them. Landia?!

The four dragons circled Morpho and roared, sparking with blue electricity as the glow of the butterfly was drained away, and the sound of its wings lessened. Kirby was finally able to see the knight’s new look.

Pale purple mask, gloves, and sabatons. White sword and body. Wings with a faint dusting of pink. Crimson eyes. Altogether, it reminded the puffball of Galacta Knight...which was probably intentional on some level.

It raised its blade, as the Landia quartet flew up and escaped through the broken ceiling. Kirby nodded to them, appreciating what they’d done, and raised Galaxia in reply. “Let’s finish this!”

Aeonic Armageddon

Morpho Knight DX

Morpho moved at a speed Kirby hadn’t expected: he was barely able to react in time, parrying the slash with only half an inch to spare. Their eyes locked, cosmic blue against hellish red, and sparks flew between them as their blades grinded against each other, notches trying and failing to catch hold.

Kirby’s guard was starting to falter, so he disengaged and jumped back, changing tactics. If he couldn’t match this Morpho head-on, he’d play it defensively. Wait for it to attack, evade the strike, punish. Play it safe, don’t rush it. Right. Okay. You got this, Kirby.

Morpho’s next strike went wide, the puffball sidestepping before delivering a heavy slash. It did almost nothing, its wing deflecting the blow with a simple flap. The knight’s empty fist slammed Kirby’s head and knocked him reeling, followed by a single slash that he barely parried but the force of which still sent him careening hard enough to be embedded in the metallic wall.

The puffball’s eyes widened as the butterfly dashed in for a killing slash. “No!”

In answer, a bolt of lightning crashed into the reborn knight, paralyzing it for a moment. Kirby took that moment to dodge away, Galaxia gripped tight, before Morpho slammed into the wall from its continued motion. He landed off-balance and fell over.

He glanced at the lightning bolt’s impact zone, noticing a familiar face there. “Zan! What are you doing?!”

“Saving your life, pipsqueak!” With that, Zan Partizanne twirled her spear and lunged at Morpho Knight, clashing her edge against the butterfly’s. She wasn’t as powerful as Kirby so she had no chance of holding up in a contest of strength, but she did have one advantage: speed.

Zipping around as lightning, she slipped past its guard time and again, striking blow after blow to its body while evading every counter. She didn’t do much damage, but it was starting to add up the more hits she landed. While she was doing that, Kirby felt a pair of fairy-sized hands softly lifting him to his feet. “Ribbon?”

The fairy’s response was whispered. “We’re all here. Get ready, Adeleine’s going to fence him in, and then we send him packing to Void. You ready to go?”

The puffball smirked, still feeling the sting of Morpho’s attacks but the fire in his heart was lit. His friends were here, they were going to fight, and they were going to win. “Let’s do it!”

Meta Knight had joined Zan’s fight against Morpho, along with a gray-hued copy of himself that he easily recognized as the last of his missing allies, Shadow. Kirby suppressed a cheer. There he is!

The three broke away as strands of rainbow paint solidified around Morpho’s limbs, pinning him down, and even as he broke them more took their place, keeping the knight held in place.

Ribbon raised her Crystal Blaster and fired a massive beam, kickstarting the attack. More blows fell from above. A torrent of slashing energy waves from Meta Knight. A lightning blast from Zan Partizanne’s drums. A stream of electrical blasts from Susie. Dark Meta Knight’s mega-sword onslaught. Daroach’s ice beam. Sailor’s firework launcher. Gooey’s Mock Matter bolts. Rick’s fire breath. Kine’s exploding lightbulb. Coo’s lightning-shooting talons. Taranza’s magic energy web. Claycia’s terracotta cannons. Marx’s mouth laser. Magolor’s flame hexes. Fluff’s Tankbot missiles.

As all those attacks faded, Morpho feebly blasted the attackers away with a wave of sound, but Dedede plummeted down, halberd blazing at full-throttle, and struck like a raging meteor, nearly cleaving the butterfly in half. The knight barely resisted the blow, but it was left open for a Heart Spear thrown by the now-awoken Bandana Dee, pinning its wing to the wall. “Kirby! Now!”

The puffball obliged, using his best finisher one last time, with Shadow Kirby mirroring his every move. Even as Morpho’s duplicated blades extended to match it, they snapped under the force of the dual Ultra Swords, and the butterfly couldn’t take the full brunt of two Super Abilities both crashing down on it. With an ear-piercing screech and a blinding burst of white flame, it exploded into nothingness.

Kirby thought he saw a wisp of pinkish mist escaping in all the chaos, but shrugged it off as a trick of the light. Especially since his ears were ringing and his sight was blurry from Morpho’s last-ditch sensory-overload wave.

Staggering back, the puffball blinked a few times, enough to see Zan Partizanne scowling. “You little...pink...idiot! You really thought you should fight Fecto, let alone Morpho, on your own?!” She turned away and clenched her fist. “You could have died, Kirby! You could’ve...you could’ve...”

She trailed off, voice cracking. “...just...just don’t be so...so reckless again...okay?” The puffball definitely heard a sniff before she collected herself, but didn’t comment on it. Meta approached to speak quietly with her, giving Kirby a small nod on the side.

Everyone stood around for a minute, unsure what to say...until a portal split open as Elfilin poked his head through it. “Heyyy! Guys!” All eyes turned towards the psychic. “C’mon, hurry up! Everybody is waiting for us!”

Zan straightened, gripping her spear. “Well, I suppose everything worked out.” She turned to smile at Kirby. “If you would?”

“You got it!” The puffball raised his arm, pointing towards the portal. “Star Allies...”

“Go!!!”

Chapter Text

Once Kirby and company got back to Waddle Dee Town, they were greeted by a tidal wave of Waddle Dees who were happy to see them. Awoofies and other Beast Pack members had also joined the crowd, cheering just as loudly in their barking/grunting/shrieking/etcetera voices.

Meta Knight flew above and towards the Colosseum, and after a few minutes of group-hugging and parade-boating the others trickled in after him. Soon enough it was just Kirby, Elfilin, and the now-approaching Carol left in the central plaza, as the crowd eventually dispersed. Kirby looked at Carol. “Is Leon...?”

The leopard nodded, tears at the edges of her eyes. “He’s awake. All thanks to you and your friends.”

Elfilin shook his head. “Nah, it was all you guys by the end of it! Yeah, we helped, but it was the Beast Pack that really came through and brought him back!”

The puffball instead chose to focus on the more important thing. “Leon’s awake?”

“Yes,” Carol meowed, “although he’s rather indisposed on account of several broken bones.”

Kirby winced sympathetically. “Sorry about that...in my defense, Dreamlanders don’t really have bones most of the time and...”

The leopard purred and waved him off. “No, it’s okay. You did what you had to, to survive Fecto using his body. And honestly,” she added in a low whisper, “I don’t mind you knocking him down a peg or two. He can be a little arrogant sometimes.”

Elfilin giggled slightly as she stalked on ahead, heading for the Colosseum. “Carol is so cool and collected! She just has that aura, y’know?” Kirby silently agreed as the psychic flew ahead. “We better meet up with the others and wrap things up, and then we can party! Let’s roll!”

The puffball followed him up the stairs, squinting against the afternoon sun as they climbed. At least there was a sun, which was always nice. Fecto’s dreamworld didn’t have one.

He gratefully soaked in the rays on the way, smiling. This was a nice reward.

...not that he’d turn down a celebratory slice of cake later...

Meta Knight shuffled the notes in his hands, as delivered by Sailor. “Very well, for our first order of business...I assume we’re all in agreement that Fluff, Elline, Claycia, Elfilin, and Carol should be officially given Star Allies membership, and the appropriate equipment to go with it?”

A chorus of ‘yes’ noises responded, so he glanced over at Magolor, who nodded. “It’ll take me a few days to put them together but yeah, I have all the parts for five emergency buttons.”

Elline fluttered in mid-air, face appearing quizzical. “Emergency buttons?”

The wizard shrugged. “I’ll explain later.” Really it was just a communicator with a distress signal that could cross dimensional distances, but only Magolor, Susie, and Vul understood how they worked and Meta didn’t have any real need to.

The knight nodded. “Good.” He turned to face Carol. “How is Leon? Are his mental faculties now intact?”

She purred. “Yes, he’s back to his old self. He’s resting at Alivel Mall, and I suspect we’ll be able to return to our normal lives once he recovers from his injuries.” She lightly scratched her claws against the stone wall, not leaving a mark but enough to make noise. “Afterward, I will arrange it so that Waddle Dee Town is safe, regardless of what occurs on this continent.”

“Hey! About that,” Elfilin called to get everyone’s attention, “I can open portals back to our home worlds whenever I want, so anytime you wanna leave we can do just that! Heck, I might be able to set up a permanent one, with some time and practice!”

Kirby nodded. “Some of the Waddle Dees really like it here, so I can’t blame them for wanting to stay. That’ll be the best solution for everyone!” Murmurs of agreement sounded throughout the group, and Meta Knight concurred.

He shuffled his pages. “Does anyone else have anything to add?”

Zan adjusted her gloves. “While things are quiet, I believe we should all meet with Leon at some point. The sooner the better.”

Carol crossed her arms with a nod. “Of course. I’ll let him know you want to meet. Filin, if you would like to accompany me there, I would greatly appreciate it.” The psychic nodded happily as she smirked. “Does anyone have any objections?”

A few moments of silence followed before the knight shook his head. “That is all for now. Star Allies, dismissed.”

Zan Partizanne tried to catch Kirby on the way out, but he’d quickly vanished into the crowd of Waddle Dees before she could. “Wait, Kirby!” Her hand stayed out for a moment, grasping air.

“Hm? Is something wrong, Miss...Zan, wasn’t it?”

She turned to see the blue-yarned form of Prince Fluff behind her, looking concerned. “Yes, that is my name...Prince Fluff, correct?” He nodded. “Jamanke, but...it’s okay. It’s just...I wanted to apologize about losing my temper earlier.”

“Ah.” The prince adjusted his felt-made crown and smiled. “I wouldn’t worry, Kirby is one of the most forgiving people I’ve ever met. He won’t think any less of you for it.”

The thunder mage wasn’t entirely convinced. “Then why did he just run off like that?”

Fluff pointed over the edge of the Colosseum’s ledge, down towards Kirby’s house. “Look.” As she followed his aim, she saw the puffball slipping into his home, complete with ‘do not disturb my nap’ sign hanging on the doorknob. “See? Whenever he beats the big boss, he crashes for like an hour. He isn’t trying to avoid you...probably.”

She still felt a little uncertain, but chose to let it rest for now. “Well, it would be extremely rude to bother him now. I’ll speak with him later.” Looking up, she saw that the sun was getting low. “Or tomorrow, most likely.”

As Fluff nodded and walked away, she could still feel a pang of guilt, as if she’d hurt one of her sisters, but it was under control. Kirby wasn’t the type to hold a grudge, so this wouldn’t last.

...right?

Bandana Waddle Dee found himself wandering into the Weapons Shop, for no real reason. He wasn’t the only one there, though.

“Here you go! One shuriken set, sharpened to the limit!”

Spinni pocketed the blades with a nod. “Good.” Then he turned around and limped out, being on crutches doing little to hinder his impressive speed as he slipped past the spearman.

Daroach chuckled from the corner. “Don’t mind Spinni, he’s grateful, he just doesn’t like saying it to yer face.”

The blacksmith adjusted his goggles and cap, nodding slightly. “No big deal, Meta Knight’s pretty much the same when he’s in a hurry.” Then he turned and waved at the new arrival. “Hi, Bandana!”

“Hey, Smithy.” Bandana walked up to the other Dee and put his new spear on the counter. “I was hoping you’d be able to take a look at this. It’s a Heart Spear.” The blacksmith let out a squeal of glee and practically fawned over it, quickly yanking it over to his workbench to examine it further.

While Smithy was busy, the spearman turned to face the other customer. “What’re you doing here, Daroach?”

The mouse shrugged under his cloak. “Not much, just waitin for something to happen. Smithy’s quiet company, so it ain’t bad to hang around in here.” He gestured to the door. “Plus I’m keepin an eye on Spinni, making sure he doesn’t do anything dumb.”

Bandana’s eyes narrowed. “No stealing, got it?”

Daroach chuckled. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” He tipped his hat to them and sauntered out. The two Dees sighed.

Smithy glanced over at the spearman, looking resigned. “Check his stash later, would you?”

Susie was tinkering with a rusted-out car when Dark Meta Knight wandered over, one eyebrow seemingly raised under his mask. She’d been getting bored, and this was a way to kill time, so she took it.

“Hello, Dark Meta Knight.” She calmly bashed the car door’s metal off with a wrench, moving to inspect the inner wiring. “Did you need something?”

The knight paused, then dashed out of sight, returning a minute later with an easel and a black crayon before starting to sketch a diagram of some kind. Susie patiently waited for him to finish drawing, curious. This is a good opportunity to practice the whole ‘friendship’ thing some more.

It was a little hard to read...his artistic skills weren’t the best...but it kind of looked like a fan on a stick. Susie’s eyebrows raised. “A...pinwheel?” The knight nodded. “You want me to...I’ll help in a minute, indulge me...you want me to make you a pinwheel?” Another nod. “Might I ask why you need a children’s toy of all things? It doesn’t seem like your style.”

Dark paused for a second, twirling the crayon in his hand, but started drawing again. This one took a little longer, and it was (thankfully) a little easier to decipher. His mask, with...smoke?

Susie blinked. Right, he was in the lava area earlier, wasn’t he? “So...you want a device to cool your mask when it gets too hot?” He nodded quickly. “I see. Well, that shouldn’t take too long to design, I can have something together by tomorrow morning. Good enough?”

The knight raised a hand, and she shook it, then he flew off, taking the easel and crayon with him. Susie returned to her car-disassembly, uninterrupted until Adeleine suddenly poked her head through the door. “Hey, Susie, have you seen my black crayon anywhere? I can’t find it and I’m sure I had it with me when we got to town!”

The scientist shook her head, not halting her stripping of the busted air-conditioning unit. “No, I haven’t seen it. Apologies.” Once the artist went to search elsewhere, Susie giggled to herself.

Dedede was lounging near the pond when Elfilin and Carol returned, the leopard reattaching her translator collar as she walked through the portal. He straightened and waved. “Oh, hey! Sup?”

Carol scraped her claws together, sharpening them. “Leon is willing to meet with the Star Allies at a later date, but given his current state, not until he decides he is ready. I hope that is acceptable.”

The penguin nodded. “I get what he’s goin through. Been dere plenty of times. Should be fine, I’ll let Kirbs and Meta know.”

Elfilin bounced in mid-air, looking towards the setting sun. “Yeah...we should probably turn in for the night soon. Carol, are you going to stay here or at Alivel?”

She turned on her heel and walked back through the rift. “I will stay with Leon. We will come at our own pace in the coming days, on our own feet. Farewell, Filin,” she meowed softly, “and thank you all, for everything.” As the portal closed behind her, Dedede grinned, stretching out and yawning.

Seems like it all worked out.

Chapter Text

Kirby opened the window, letting the cool night breeze blow into his house. This also had the added effect of letting him hear Kine and Coo, who were respectively soaking in the pond and nesting in the trees outside.

Meanwhile, Rick stretched out on the rug, preparing to snooze. Elfilin was also getting ready to fall asleep, eyes squeezed shut as he snuggled into the spare pillow at the foot of the bed.

The puffball stretched, grabbing his Deep Sleep cap and putting it on, then climbed under the covers. Glancing over at Bandana’s empty camp bed, he smiled. The spearman, who was out on watch right now, had come into his own even more than before. And he was glad to see it.

He wondered if the others had noticed.

They definitely had, right? Right?

“Oi, Kirbs?” Rick had rolled onto his side, and was now looking directly at him. “You got a minute to chat?”

Kirby blinked, fighting against sleep as it started to take over. “Hm? Wassup?”

The hamster paused. “Well, it’s just...” He scratched at his ear before continuing. “Kine and Coo and I got a lot stronger, and with all our mates spread out they didn’t really get to see us in action y’know? And we got that nice big arena right there...”

The puffball would’ve jumped up if he hadn’t been half-asleep. “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing...I kinda wanna give Waddle Dee Town a proper exciting send-off before we go home...”

Coo, from outside, trilled. “If we want to compete in a Colosseum tourney, then we’ll need to be well-rested. Go to sleep, you two.”

Rick and Kirby both rolled their eyes. The puffball smiled drowsily. You never did get out of that parenting mood after finding me in the woods, huh Coo? Then he conked out.

Bandana Dee adjusted his grip on his spear, perched on the wall of the Colosseum and keeping an eye out. It probably wasn’t necessary to be here...Fecto was gone and the Beast Pack was no longer hostile...but Meta insisted they continue keeping watch, for tonight at least.

Well, whatever, at least the knight was finally getting some decent sleep.

...oh who was he kidding, Meta Knight was totally sitting awake right now.

Behind him, Dark Meta Knight stood perfectly still, almost a statue in his own right. It was a little unsettling how precise he was...even Meta Knight at least moved from time to time.

Still, as the spearman looked out over the town, most of which had retired for the night, he did see one figure down below, as Gooey licked up berries from a random bush.

The friendly blob seemed to notice him staring, as he floated into the air as a Mock Matter and zipped up to the perch, landing just next to the two of them. “Hi Ban! Hi Demek!”

Dark shot them a look before continuing his watch, but Bandana relaxed just a little. “Hey there Gooey.”

The blob bounced a little, nuzzling up against him a bit. “Arena?”

Bandana blinked, confused for a moment. “Yeah, this is an Arena. Well, a Colosseum to be specific. But yeah, they do have the whole boss-rematch-rush events in here.”

Gooey hummed a little, then jumped down, heading out of sight. The spearman glanced at Dark and shrugged. He wasn’t sure what the blob was up to, but it couldn’t be that bad, right? Right.

Meta Knight crossed his arms, observing the bridge of the Squeak airship. It was docked, but it still needed regular maintenance and Captain Vul had jumped at the chance to improve another airship...starting with the control panels on the bridge.

Daroach wandered over, yawning behind his paw. “You’re still awake? Do you ever sleep?”

“Not often.” He adjusted his mask, watching Vul and Sailor work. “A good commander doesn’t rest until the rest of his troop retires for the night.”

The mouse chuckled. “Heh, I guess that’s one way to run an army. But I see your point.” He gripped the brim of his hat. “Doc and Storo are keepin an eye on Spinni so I don’t have much to do right now. I don’t feel like turning in yet, though.”

“Hm.” Meta Knight drew Galaxia and Master, inspecting them. Galaxia seemed a little dull, but Kirby had used Ultra Sword against Morpho Knight enough times that it was likely somewhat drained. It should be back to full strength by tomorrow, based on prior experience. Master was unsurprisingly pristine.

Daroach noticed his examination. “You like legendary weapons, eh?” He pulled out his own, the golden wand. Meta knew he had it but not where from. “Good ol’ Triple Star. Found it in Rainbow Resort years ago. I think it was an unfinished Star Rod or somethin like that? I dunno.”

That made sense, in Meta’s opinion. It did have similarities to the Star Rod, at least in its basic powerset, but only acted as a weapon...it didn’t seem to have any inherent sealing magic. “Do you suspect it was also created by the ancients? A prototype, perhaps?”

The mouse tucked it back under its cloak. “Leanin towards no, actually. It could’ve been, but I think it was someone else tryin to copy the Star Rod later on. Who knows why, maybe they wanted to sell ‘em for cash.” He frowned. “Or use ‘em for worse ends.”

The thought chilled Meta Knight’s bones, especially as he recognized a likely parallel. Master...it was strikingly similar to Galaxia. Very comparable powers, not as versatile or focused but easily recognizable as the same basic weapon. Could it have been a deliberate copy of Galaxia?

And Galaxia had only arrived on Popstar when he brought it, which meant Master would have been forged while the template was in his possession, and without his knowledge of it.

...he would have to consider this...or more accurately, who or what could have done this...

Dedede solemnly promised himself that he would never bunk near Marx again. He snored so loud!

Not that the penguin was entirely innocent on that front, but yeesh!

Fluff, splayed out on a spare chair in the king’s lake-bordering cabin, was pretty much in the same boat, unable to drift off against the log-sawing noises coming out of Marx’s gullet. Even being on the bare wooden floorboards didn’t stop the jester from sleeping soundly. Emphasis on the ‘sound’ part.

“I wish I could say I’m used to loud snoring thanks to Kirby,” the prince groaned, “but wow.” He struggled up to a sitting position, bleary-eyed. “What’s with this guy anyway?”

Dedede stayed horizontal while answering. “He went ta wish on a robot space god and turned into a super-powerful archdemon-thingy, or somethin like dat.”

Fluff stared for a few seconds. “...was this before or after Kirby defeated him?”

“Uh...sorta both?”

A few moments of silence (apart from Marx’s continued snoring) passed between them, as they considered how odd their lives were.

This was only accented when Dyna Blade reached her head and neck through the open window to grab Marx, then flew off to deposit him somewhere further from her chosen nesting spot. The two of them breathed a sigh of relief once he was gone...and then immediately fell asleep.

Susie shoved some clutter off of the workbench, plunking down her computer and powering it up, with wires connecting it to Stock Mecha Knight’s back. She’d been trying to sleep, but she just couldn’t get this conundrum out of her head.

Setting diagnostics to run without her input, she heard the rustle of fabric in the hall, as Magolor came to investigate the noise she’d been making in the Lor Starcutter’s workshop.

“Hello? Is anyone there? If you’re there, don’t touch my Gem Apple Replicator or else I’ll-!” His head rounded the corner, eyes widening before he relaxed. “Oh! What are you doing on my ship so late at night, Susie? I thought you’d be asleep!”

The scientist bowed her head. “Sorry if I woke you. Lor let me in.” She gestured at Stock Mecha Knight behind her. “I’m just trying to understand something that happened earlier today. This unit activated unexpectedly and came to my aid.” She turned back to inspect the machine. “Its AI is incomplete, and no one else has touched it since I wiped Star Dream’s tampering.”

A familiar voice called down from its nest on the ceiling. “Maybe look for magical influences?”

Susie rolled her eyes. “Thank you, Taranza, for stating the obvious.” Her computer buzzed as it continued to work. “Ugh...this is going to take all night...and I won’t get to sleep with this on my mind...”

Magolor hummed. “Taranza has dreamless sleep-inducing spells, if you want to rest. He can even set the time that you’ll wake up after!”

“I’m not letting him of all people...” She stopped herself mid-sentence. Taranza actually looked hurt, from the little she could see of him. “Sorry, it’s just...I don’t like spiders. I’m still trying to get over it as far as you’re concerned. You’re fine just the way you are.” Taranza perked up a bit at that. “But, if you don’t mind, I’d, um, appreciate it if you could...”

She trailed off, but Taranza must have understood, because she felt a thick haze of exhaustion overtake her almost instantly, and she collapsed onto the nearest chair, magic weighing down her eyelids until they slid shut.

Zan Partizanne snapped bolt-upright in bed, sweating. That...that was just a dream...right? Kirby is...he wouldn’t say those things...w-would he?

She quietly slipped out of the room, careful not to disrupt the clay pillow-fort currently sheltering Adeleine, Elline, and Claycia as they snoozed away peacefully. Spear in hand, she exited the building and proceeded to a clear area, sliding into her usual routine, trying to calm down.

Spin, slash, thrust. You don’t understand. Block, twirl, dash, spin, dash. I don’t trust you. Rise up, slash, backdash, sweep, thrust, throw. I never want to see you again. Jab, uppercut, dash punch, retrieve, swing, thrust, twirl, block, thrust, spin, thrust, dash, thrust, thrust, thrust-!

“Rrragh!” Her spear stabbed into a tree, letting loose enough power to burn it to ash. Zan’s eyes widened as she snapped out of her trance-like state, flinching in shock. That proves it...I really can’t keep my temper in check...

She turned towards the nearby Lor. I need to leave...before I hurt someone...

“Zan? Are you alright?”

The thunder mage froze in embarrassment, turning to see a fairy beside her. “Ribbon? I’m very sorry if I disturbed your sleep, but what are you doing outside?”

She closed in, wings fluttering gently. “Making sure you’re not about to do anything you’ll regret.”

Zan sighed. “I won’t regret this.” She started to move, but Ribbon grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop. “Ribbon, I...let me go. Please. Before something regrettable does happen.”

“Nope.” The fairy shook her head. “I get it, you’re scared because you hurt Kirby’s feelings.” She flashed a gentle smile. “Listen, no one’s gonna be rejecting you. You’re on a team with the nicest people in our galaxy, if not universe! Compared to somebody like Marx, you’re a saint, Zan.”

That did make Zan feel a bit better, but even so. “Kirby...”

“Kirby will be fine.” Ribbon’s tone was a little stronger now. “And if you’re worried about that rage issue, you should see Gooey when he gets angry. Trust me, it’s way worse.” She giggled. “And if we can all be best friends with a piece of Dark Matter with a literal volcano for a temper, then you being a little snippy isn’t a problem! So just relax, okay?”

Zan’s concerns were finally fading. “Okay.” Ribbon was right, and she’d somehow cut through to the root of her worries and chopped it down in record time. “How did you do that? You just knew what to say to calm me down.”

The fairy smiled, dragging them back to the building they’d been sleeping in. “Habit.”

Shadow Kirby brushed Landia’s mane, comforting the dragon as they traveled. He wasn’t going to Alivel Mall, but they were flying over it now, just because it was on the way.

He wasn’t sure why he wanted to go this direction, but he had a strange gut feeling...nothing more than that, but it was enough to spur him into action.

Down below, he could see Carol, keeping watch from the crumbling rooftops. He didn’t stop, but he waved to the leopard, and saw her return the gesture. That brought a smile to his face.

Light Kirby was a better socialite, sure, but Shadow was always open to friendship. Companions came and went, but being temporary didn’t mean that it wouldn’t mean something.

It would always mean something.

Chapter Text

The next morning, the Star Allies gathered for the fourth time in three days, this time at the café rooftop tables. Marx was the last to arrive, grumbling about something under his breath. Shadow Kirby and Landia were nowhere to be seen, but Shadow had left a note explaining their absence.

Kirby cleared his throat, waving to everyone from the head of the table. “Alright! So now that we have everything taken care of, and the adventure’s finished, you all know what that means!”

Gooey was the first to say it. “Arena! Arena!” At his words, everyone, especially Rick and Dark Meta Knight, perked up.

The puffball nodded. “That’s right! It’s Arena time!”

Meta crossed his arms. “Kirby? Dark and I already conquered the Ultimate Cup, and Shadow took care of the Phantom Cup while we were busy with Leon. What do you propose instead?”

Kirby winked towards Adeleine, Elline, and Claycia. “Well...” The artists pulled out a poster-sized sheet of clay, marked in paint.

Most of the others stared at it, and Kirby reveled in their amazement. He could see the gleam of excitement in their eyes, and grinned. “So? Who wants in?”

A moment passed in stunned silence, before well over half the table raised their hands. Soon enough, the bracket was full, and it was brought to the Colosseum to be officially registered.

Kirby cheered. “The Star Allies Cup is a go!”

Kirby’s first round was up against Ribbon, and the two faced each other down within the Arena’s confines, Waddle Dees packing the stands all around them. The fairy winked dangerously. “You ready to dance, Kirby?”

“Yup!” The puffball dodged her first volley of crystal shots, swallowing one to spit back at her. It was a direct hit, as Ribbon spiraled down to the ground and charged her blaster, shooting a light beam that Kirby backflipped to dodge. A torrent of diamonds followed, forcing him to block with both arms raised as the fairy flew in close, taking aim.

As the ground at his feet was peppered with glowing crystals, Kirby took flight, puffing up and escaping the energy bolts arcing between the spent ammunition. When he exhaled, he aimed the puff of air directly at Ribbon and pushed her down into the floor. Landing nearby, a slide kick was enough to trip her up, keeping her too far off-balance to take flight again. One last Star Spit using a discarded crystal sealed the fight, giving Kirby the victory as it knocked her out.

After the puffball had made his bows, he helped Ribbon to her feet and they left the arena, letting the next competitors, Elfilin and Prince Fluff, take center stage.

The fairy rubbed her shooting arm, smiling. “You still pack a real punch, Kirby, even when you’re going easy on me.” The puffball felt himself blush, and she giggled. “I’m not hurt or anything, no worries! I wasn’t expecting to win anyway. It’s you, after all!”

Climbing up into the stands, Ribbon settled in next to Adeleine, while Elline and Claycia marked Kirby’s victory on the big bracket. Down below, Elfilin was giving Fluff a hard time, turning the area into a mass of portals and projectiles, basically blocking him out entirely. Even Tankbot wasn’t helping, and in fact Elfilin was reflecting the missiles to turn it into a disadvantage.

Kirby took mental notes as the psychic’s portal maze flung Prince Fluff’s attacks right back at him, blasting the Tankbot armor apart and knocking him out. So Elfilin was his next opponent?

Huh. That should be fun.

Zan Partizanne nodded to Eliflin as he floated out, carrying the unconscious Fluff. Entering the arena herself, she drew her spear and waited for her opponent, Taranza, to make a move.

...wherever he was. She couldn’t actually see the spider.

She did see his magic webbing stuck to the floor, and made sure not to step on the silk. It was probably meant as a trap.

Taranza’s giggle echoed throughout the arena, and Zan felt herself getting sleepy. But she’d fought through worse exhaustion than this, so she could resist it. Eyes glinting with sparks, her gaze caught on a rock that was slightly off-color, and took aim with her spear. A blast of lightning struck the false stone and blasted it away, revealing Taranza behind it.

The spider jumped in surprise before pulling one of his hands back, yanking the strands taut and pulling the web together, snatching Zan along with it. Her spear’s tip managed to stay out, poking between a gap in the strings, and that was enough.

Summoning a lightning storm, she called down one bolt to strike Taranza, bringing him to the floor, and then another to free herself. Zan lunged in to attack the spider, slashing through his barrier and whacking him with the blunt end of her weapon, knocking him out.

The crowd cheered, and the thunder mage bowed before carrying her opponent away, with Dark Meta Knight and the triple-team of Rick, Kine, and Coo entering around them and beginning almost immediately.

By the time they’d reached the stands, Taranza had regained consciousness, and the two stood vigil as the trio used their combination of elemental abilities to bash through Dark’s mirrors. Rick took hold of Coo, who had bunched up to resemble a bladed feather-duster, and clashed with the knight head-on while Kine shot cutter-waves to cover their blind-spots.

The thunder mage could tell that Dark wasn’t going all out, but that was understandable, given his...issues...with unleashing his full strength.

It took a while, but eventually, his defenses crumbled and Coo’s wing unfurled to slice the mask in two, and the knight made his winged retreat just as it shattered into silvery dust.

The spider’s eyebrows raised. “I...didn’t expect that.” He frowned. “Not that I mind, of course.”

“Hm?” Zan gave him a look. “Do you not like Dark Meta Knight?” She sort of understood why, of course, but...

He crossed his many (invisible) arms and averted his gaze. “...it’s complicated.”

Dedede adjusted his coat, walking into the arena with head and hammer held high. Susie was his assigned opponent, and the king didn’t feel that intimidated. Seriously, she wouldn’t be that tough, right?

Though that Business Suit of hers, which she was already summoning and boarding, might be a bit more of a challenge. Dedede gripped his weapon and jumped into range, swinging the mallet with all his might. The mech’s arm blocked the attack and knocked him back. Susie giggled and tilted into a counterattack spin, forcing the king to defend.

As Dedede hammered at the arms, parrying them, he eventually managed to dent the robot just enough to get a clear shot to its chassis, putting it out of commission as the impact flung Susie out of the cockpit. Of course, his hammer was pretty badly damaged at this point, but he ran at the girl to end the fight...

...only to be caught by a proximity trap and zapped. “Agagagagagagah! Hey no fair!”

Susie winked, whipping out her blaster pistol and taking aim. “All’s fair in love and war, and Star Allies work is both!” Then she opened fire, shocking Dedede even further.

Harnessing all his strength, he broke free of the trap and pounded the ground, kicking up a huge vortex of flames that engulfed the arena...and his vision. Whatever! He lunged at Susie, intent on clobbering her into submission!

Of course, that idea ended when his head slammed against the metallic fist of a pink Robobot Armor with crayon-scribbles on its arms, and he blacked out.

...

When he woke up, he was back in the stands, being fussed over by some Waddle Dees. Susie was nearby, keeping an even expression. “That was close. I’m rather impressed, Your Majesty.”

The penguin frowned, annoyed, but shrugged it off as he sat up. “Ya had a plan, eh?”

She nonchalantly began to inspect her nails. “It became necessary while working on your clone during the invasion. Many were imperfect and rebellious, so a strategy for defeating them was required.” She beamed. “I’d say I got it about right, wouldn’t you?”

Dedede chuckled. “Yeah, I guess ya did.” He peered down at the arena, watching as Marx and Magolor engaged in a black-hole duel. Marx seemed to be winning, and finally the wizard was sucked into the abyss, only to be spat out unconscious once the jester relaxed.

He smirked. “Well, yer up against Marx next. Got a plan for him?”

The girl flicked her hair back. “I think I can work something out.”

Meta Knight flew up to the arena’s outer wall. No real reason behind it, but he had a reputation to uphold. Not that he needed to leave a sword for Bandana Dee, of all people. He wielded a spear and he wielded it well.

Especially that new Heart Spear...it was fascinating to him, that someone who began life so unremarkably could recreate something so ancient. But how mighty was it, truly?

He wanted to know. And not that crystal version, he needed to see the real thing.

So when he turned to fly at Bandana, he was disappointed that the spearman’s weapon was still in its sealed state. Sure, he didn’t seem to have much control over that...but still, it was disappointing.

As his blade grinded against the spear’s edge, Bandana weaved around and slashed at Meta’s wing, forcing the knight to dash back and fire slashing waves of energy, which the spearman slid under to avoid. His weapon was glowing very slightly, letting Meta Knight know what he needed to do.

Pressure him until it awakens. Simple enough.

As he attacked with blinding speed, Bandana was just barely too slow to parry each hit. But that was fine, as he was striking mostly at the spear and not at him. He did cut the spearman himself a few times, but not deeply, only just enough to keep up the illusion of a real fight.

The spear shone brighter and brighter with every hit, and its crystalline shell was starting to break away, revealing the pure pink light within. Meta smiled beneath his mask. “Show me!”

At his words, Bandana took action, spinning the spear as it broke loose of its shackles. They clashed blades one last time.

Meta Knight realized a millisecond too late that he’d tired himself out, trying to break through the crystal, and thus brought himself down to Bandana’s level. Normally he would be able to win, by sheer power alone, but his thirst for a challenge had consumed rational thought.

And so, Galaxia faltered under the might of its rival, as the spearman pierced his mask as if it were butter, the knight blinded by the fuchsia flash of a Heart Spear’s unleashed might. All Meta could do was fly, flee, as Bandana earned his victory. Or rather, as the knight forsook his claim to it.

...well, he didn’t need to win. The Waddle Dees in the crowd had seen him fight enough times.

Watching Daroach and Gooey enter the arena from a distance, he smiled. He’d allow the spotlight to shine on a new challenger, whoever it would be.

The thief’s magic slowly but surely brought Gooey to his metaphorical knees, as the Star Allies Cup reached its halfway point.

Chapter Text

As Kirby jumped down into the arena, Elfilin flew down opposite him, glowing golden. The puffball was ready to evade, but Elfilin didn’t make a move, outside of his usual mid-air bobbing.

Kirby waited...and waited...and waited...but the psychic hardly moved a muscle. Well this isn’t all that fun. He took a step forward, expecting Elfilin to react.

He didn’t react. He just floated there.

Kirby frowned slightly. He knew he could beat Elfilin in a fair fight...Fecto Elfilis was an indication of that...but the psychic probably knew his fighting style better than most by now. He most likely had a strategy, and was following it.

Okay, fine. He hadn’t wanted to pull this out yet...but this would help. The psychic started to act once he saw the hat, but it didn’t make a difference as Kirby equipped Time Crash and brought the world to a halt, for long enough to slip past Elfilin’s opening wave of projectiles and slam into him with the barrier of residual energy, blasting him into the wall hard enough to knock him out.

As the remnants of the Time Crash faded to nothing, Kirby made his bows and gingerly lifted the KO’d critter, carrying him out. The psychic’s eyes fluttered as he regained consciousness, then jumped away and shook himself to get feeling back. “Wh-whew! I should’ve seen that coming, I guess!” He scratched his ear. “Feels weird to be on the other side of it, though!”

The puffball shrugged. “You get used to ‘weird’ in this group.” The Star Allies had seen their fair share of odd situations, although time control was kind of a new one. Probably. He couldn’t think of any event where he’d dealt with time manipulation...at least, not off the top of his head.

Oh wait, Morpho sorta froze time before absorbing Fecto’s soul. Right.

Meta Knight watched from above as Zan took on the triple-team of Rick, Kine, and Coo, fending off their attacks with wide sweeping slashes and fields of lightning. Then he turned and left the Colosseum. He had other things to worry about...and the Star Allies could protect town without him for a few hours.

Instead, he flew down to the near-abandoned square, letting himself into the Weapons Shop. It was cluttered, strewn with salvaged mechanical parts as Captain Vul worked, Sailor Dee helping him while making sure the central pathway stayed clear. The blacksmith had barricaded his own section and was working within, although on what Meta Knight couldn’t guess.

Vul squawked from within the mess of machinery. “Oi, Sailor! Where’s the five-eighths wrench?”

“It’s right behind your port wing, Captain!” The Dee carefully straightened a loose stack of metal before turning to the door and saluting. “Sir Meta Knight! What brings you here?”

The knight returned the salute, then released it in sync with the Waddle Dee. “I was wondering if either of you had received word from Shadow or Landia. Their sudden disappearance troubles me.” He shifted. “I’m aware they left a note, but...”

Sailor nodded. “I get what you mean, it’s a little weird.” He adjusted his cap. “What do you plan to do?”

“Scouting.” Meta Knight spread his wings. “Since Shadow left the note with you, I assumed you may have known which direction they’d gone.”

The Dee beamed. “Of course, sir! They went northeast, and I didn’t hear much but Landia was grumbling something about wreckage. I hope that helps!”

Meta frowed under his mask. Wreckage...that description applied to most of the continent. He wished it had been more specific.

...the whole building has collapsed since Fecto’s rampage...

“Sir?”

His eyes went wide. Of course. Without elaboration, he left the building and took flight, headed for Lab Discovera. If it survived once, it could survive again. And if Landia sensed it...

Then we are all in danger.

Susie brushed her hair back as Zan dragged the unconscious Rick, Kine, and Coo out from the arena all at once. She was visibly straining from the effort, but the thunder mage rarely did things halfway.

Now it was her turn, as she stepped up into the arena opposite Marx. The mad jester cackled and zoomed towards her, splitting in half as his mouth stretched into a black hole in an attempt to swallow her whole, only to gag on Pinky’s arm ramming through his gullet.

Susie’s blaster left small burns on Marx’s wings, trying to knock him out of the air, but the jester shrugged it off and kept up the pace, spitting out the robot’s arm and flying away to bombard the machine with ice bombs, freezing it solid while dodging her bullets.

She scowled. Okay, Plan B. Setting down proximity traps while retreating, she watched as Marx slid through the shadows, getting zapped along the way but hardly slowing down. 

The instant his face popped out of the shadows, she shot him point-blank before he could swoop up. Stunned mid-transition and stuck, the jester could do nothing but spit annoyance and lasers as Susie backed out of range and continued peppering him with blaster fire. Pinky thawed out behind her, stepping up and ripping Marx out of the ground like a carrot before slamming him down hard enough for a KO.

As the jester fell silent for once, Susie bowed to the audience and stepped out, Pinky carrying Marx behind her. That was too close. He woke up and struggled loose after a minute, flying off while audibly cursing. The girl smirked as he left to lick his wounds, then dismissed Pinky.

She had...other engagements to attend to, as a notification pinged in her earpiece. The scanning of Mecha Knight was complete, and a magic-based anomaly had indeed been detected.

As for what it could be...well, she left the Colosseum and made a trail for the Lor Starcutter. She would find out shortly.

Bandana Dee tightened his namesake, stepping up into the arena. He wasn’t super confident about this one.

Sure, he’d just beat Meta Knight of all people, but he’d clearly been off his game and fighting for the experience rather than for victory. Daroach wasn’t that kind of guy. He was aiming for gold.

Metaphorically, anyway. And maybe literally, to be honest.

As the mouse calmly stepped into the arena, the spearman readied himself for battle and-

“I forfeit.”

Wait, what?! Bandana blinked, stunned, as Daroach tipped his hat after his announcement and quickly left the arena. Once he shook out of it, he chased after the mouse and caught up with him in the hallway right below the stands. “Hey, what was that about?”

The mouse snickered. “Bandan, I ain’t stupid. I know I can’t beatcha right now. You took down Mister Reigning Champion, for pete’s sake, even if he wasn’t thinkin quite straight that’s way more than I got in me.”

Bandana’s eyes narrowed. “Susie beat Great King Dedede, though. I think you could...”

“I think that happened cause Susie is a bona fide genius and Dedede...and understand I mean no offense by this...is kinda dumb. Outsmartin him ain’t hard. Also, anytime you wanna call her robots weak to her face, you’re more than welcome.”

The spearman conceded the point. “Alright...but you’re really sure you can’t win?”

“Listen, kid,” Daroach said while smirking, “you’ve got an honest heart but that ain’t how I was able to survive fer so long. Where I’ve been, you learn to pick your battles. I could win against you, but it’s not worth the effort or risk.” He pivoted on his heel. “Just take it from me, mate, it ain’t always useful to bash against a brick wall until it works. It takes a special sort to manage that.” He tipped his hat. “See ya.”

Bandana didn’t respond as the thief wandered up to join his crew in the stands. Takes a special sort, huh? Wonder what he meant by that...

Zan Partizanne was able to catch Kirby before he entered the arena. “Before we fight, can I talk to you for a minute?”

The puffball paused for a moment, but nodded with a smile. “Sure, Zan. What’s up?”

“Well...” Zan was a bit lost for words, but his lack of open aggression helped put her at ease about it. “I wanted to apologize for, um, losing my cool the other day. You know, about Morpho and...”

Kirby quickly shook his head. “Don’t worry about it! You were just worried, that’s all, I get it!”

The thunder mage blinked. “R-really?” She was a little surprised about being let off the hook so easily, much less a second time.

“Honestly,” he sighed, “you have a point, I shouldn’t have gone after Fecto with just Elfilin and Bandana as backup. We could’ve stalled him for long enough for you guys to get back, I was just kind of stuck in the then-and-there.” He smiled. “So, I’m sorry too. Call it even?”

Zan smiled in return, as the last remnants of her guilt vanished. “Very well, we’ll call it even.” She turned towards the arena’s entrance. “Now, let’s give them a show-”

*crash*

Suddenly, a wave of panicking Waddle Dees stormed through the entrance, nearly bowling the heroes over. Zan and Kirby took flight to avoid the horde, the thunder mage zipping ahead into the open space of the Colosseum, spear drawn.

What she saw horrified her.

It resembled the form of Fecto Elfilis, but it wasn’t the same, fur stained with a kaleidoscope of familiar colors. The shadowed blue of Meta Knight. The rich red of Dedede. The sickly purple of Marx. The brilliant yellow of her own hair. And every other shade the Star Allies bore.

But its overall main color, the color that dominated its fur, the color of the claw holding Landia’s battered and unconscious body by its topmost throat...was a vibrant pink shade reminiscent of Kirby himself.

Species Born of Singularity

Genesis Elfilis

Chapter Text

Hi everyone! Parz here with a special announcement!

So, first off, a bit of bad news...I'm probably not going to get the next chapter out for another week or so. Some friends of mine are moving out of province and they need help making everything all nice and proper to sell the house. Guess you're just left on a cliffhanger haha!

I'll still sneak some writing in when I've got time, so this isn't a true hiatus, but it might be a little longer to wait than usual. Sorry.

I promise I will complete this story, and make more in the future. I love doing this, and you guys seem to love it too, and every time I get a comment or a Kudo it warms my heart. So thank you very much!

...

That leads directly into the main point of this post. See, Allies Evermore is gonna be a long-running thing, and probably my flagship series for a good while, which is A-Okay by me. But it's not all about me. That's why you guys are gonna get a bit of leverage here.

I have a few ideas for parts, but I seriously can't decide which one I want to do first, and it really is nice when the people in the audience feel valued. So! I've created a strawpoll with a few options. I want you to tell me what you're most interested in seeing!

The options are deliberately vague, as usual I'm keeping my cards close to my chest (after all, HiFD isn't even complete yet!), but if you've been paying enough attention they shouldn't be too hard to get the general gist.

Also! If you want to suggest anything for future plot hooks, feel free to leave it in the comments here! The penpal contest a while ago proved that some of you have pretty good ideas, so I wanna hear em! Who knows? It might get taken under consideration!

Happy voting!

And stay tuned! Poyo~!

-Parz

Chapter Text

Shadow Kirby struggled to his feet, wincing, the scar over his right eye burning. Where am I?

Looking around, the remnants of Lab Discovera loomed nearby. I’m...outside now? How bad did that thing thrash us? His eyes widened, registering the absence of his comrade. Landia!

“Shadow!”

His attention snapped upward, as Meta Knight touched down nearby. “What happened? Where is-”

The puffball shook his head, pointing towards Waddle Dee Town (or at least the basic direction) with one arm and pounding the other one into the stony ground, leaving cracks. We need to get back to town. Now.

He seemed to understand, placing Master on the ground and taking flight. Shadow wasted no time grabbing the legendary weapon and summoning his Warp Star, chasing after the knight at top speed. Master’s magical heat surged through him, preparing for the fight ahead.

Zan Partizanne eyed the mutated Elfilis floating before her, a scowl etching across her face. It seemed to be less than interested, more focused on the unconscious dragon in its grip and dropping them onto the arena floor, where they landed with a dull thud and moved no more.

The thunder mage spared Landia a very quick glance, enough to see that they still breathed, and then refocused on Elfilis. It hadn’t moved, and it appeared to be focusing on Kirby, somewhere behind her.

Okay, fine. She twirled her weapon and prepared herself, which drew Elfilis’ attention enough for it to bat her aside with its bone-white spear. She parried it, but barely in time, and it knocked her flying through sheer force.

Staggering to a stop in mid-air, all she could do was watch as Elfilis slashed at the puffball, who rapidly dodged while swallowing the trail of embers left by its attack, equipping Volcano Fire and blasting forward as a fireball to strike at the evolved life-form. The impact surprisingly left a burn on its fur, as Kirby bounced back and landed on his feet, but it healed itself instantly, readying for a second slash.

“Kirby!” Zan dashed in and blocked the attack just before it connected, straining to resist Elfilis’ raw might but hanging on just long enough for the puffball to jump out of range.

As she began to falter, being forced down by the monster’s spear, Kirby called out. “Zan, get out of there!”

“Kirby, get ready!” She flashed a grin into the life-form’s cold yellow gaze, as her body began to spark and shine with lightning, Raijin Drums forming behind her. “As for you...I’ll see you in hell!”

“Zanzan!”

Unleashing every bit of electricity she could muster, she and Elfilis were consumed by a storm of lightning that engulfed the entire arena in its radiance, turning irrelevance to ashes. She could smell the creature’s fur burning, and hoped this would be enough to kill it.

As she burned out and started to slip out of consciousness, Elfilis backed away, visibly smoking and charred. The wave of sparks died down while she nearly blacked out, but she could sense a trickle of life magic coming through and keeping her awake. Landia’s telepathic rasp sounded in her mind. “You are reckless with your powers. It will spell your end someday.”

So long as it keeps them alive, she thought back, then Morpho can come take me whenever it feels like it.

A moment of silence passed between the two, despite the chaos raging around them. “Hm.”

Dedede’s halberd slammed against the white spear of Fecto’s new form, halting the stab before it could skewer Zan. The life-form glared into the king’s grin. “You ain’t gonna win this, ya jerk!”

Spinning in the other direction, he knocked the spear aside and caught Elfilis, dragging him into a wall of hexes conjured by Magolor. Before it could be burned, it warped away, reappearing in the skies above and firing down laser blades, forcing the wizard to put up a magic shield.

While Dedede hunkered down under the barrier with Zan tucked under his arm, he noticed a red sparkle laying on the ground...a soul fragment? Before he could think, it zipped over and melted into his arm, and he suddenly felt a warm rush of energy. Huh?

A yellow fragment did the same for the thunder mage, as she snapped awake and struggled out of his grip. “Wha...what’s going on?”

The penguin stared at her. “Ya mean besides the demon chinchilla tryin ta stab us?!” Its rain of blades continued, even as Kirby returned fire with Space Ranger from somewhere in the empty stands, but Magolor’s defenses held firm.

The wizard’s eyes glowed as he glanced over to them. “It must’ve stolen bits of our souls! When you hit Elfilis, it forces your soul out of it and lets you get them back!” Dedede looked closer and noticed that his red and Zan’s yellow were gone from Elfilis’ fur.

Zan gripped her spear, adjusting to be ready to throw upward. “What happens then?”

He nodded, refocusing on his barrier. “I don’t know if it will make it weaker at all, but it can’t hurt to try, plus it’ll give us a boost!” With that, he moved one of his hands to the side, through a small rift, and struck Elfilis with a point-blank spike hex.

A cobalt-blue soul fragment bled out of the healing gash in the life-form’s torso, which Magolor snatched through the rift and absorbed, with his barrier strengthening right afterward. “See?”

Dedede gripped his halberd tightly, warming up its thrusters. “Then let’s keep it goin!”

Bandana Dee led the horde of townsfolk away, out of danger range. Sure, this new form of Elfilis was a threat, but the king had ordered him to get the other Waddle Dees away. So that was what he’d do.

Once everyone was well out of town, he took a moment to breathe.

“Hey hey hey!”

He glanced up as Marx flew down, mouth bulging. “Where’re you heading?! Dontcha have Star Allies work on your plate?”

The spearman nodded back. “Getting everyone else outta the way.” He pointed at the crowd of Waddle Dees, who were taking cover under the trees. “Somebody’s gotta look after them. And what about you? Shouldn’t you be helping Kirby?”

“Me?” Marx’s face shifted into something imitating an innocent smile. “Nah, I’m leaving. Places to see, things to do, y’know! Being a Star Ally was fun but it’s time for me to split, capiche?”

Wait, what? Bandana stared at him. “But then how’re you gonna get back?”

Marx cackled. “Why should I? This planet’s great, and it isn’t like I’m appreciated on Pop Star most of the time.” His eyes bulged as he glared back. “What, you got a problem with me doing that, Waddle Dee?”

Bandana quietly reached for his spear, and the jester noticed. “Oh? You’re gonna try to stop me of all people?” A small crowd of Waddle Dees, who had gathered to watch the argument, fled as Marx extended his wings and fangs to their full size.

The spearman prepared to attack...then shook his head. “No.”

Marx paused mid-laugh. “Huh?” An eye twitched. “You...you aren’t gonna try to stop me?”

“What’s the point? Have fun I guess,” Bandana deadpanned, “just remember that you aren’t off the hook if you do anything bad.” He released the Heart Spear still tied into his namesake’s knot and walked around the surprised jester.

“Wait.” Bandana glanced back at Marx, who promptly spat out a Warp Star from his mouth. “You might want this.” Then he winked and flew off.

The spearman looked at the Warp Star, which was twinkling softly, and readied his Heart Spear. I sure hope this works!

By the time Meta Knight arrived on the scene, the Colosseum was mostly abandoned and partly destroyed. Elfilis floated in the center, swinging its bone-white spear and raining wave after wave of cosmic energy down upon its opponents.

Kirby and Ribbon, taking cover within the overturned bleachers, took shots whenever it was safe. Magolor had a magical shield raised, deflecting as many attacks as possible, while Zan and Dedede struck ferociously with lightning bolts and fiery cyclones. Walls of paint and clay appeared from thin air, Elline and Claycia doing everything they could to protect the rest. Even Daroach had joined in, riding one of Adeleine’s signature Ice Dragon sketches and adding his signature frost spells to the beast’s frigid breath.

In a word, it was utter chaos. And Meta Knight didn’t hesitate to dive in, slashing through Elfilis and ripping a deep-blue soul fragment from the creature’s open wound, absorbing it to regain the energy he’d spent in flying to Lab Discovera and back.

The mutated life-form roared, rising into the sky and forming a psychic silhouette of itself, nearly the size of a mountain, which swung its spear down to strike the stands. Shadow Kirby dropped down from his Warp Star and parried it with an Ultra-upsized Master, saving Ribbon from being skewered as the fairy slid from cover, firing a radiant beam that cleaved the giant in half.

This left Elfilis exposed for another volley of blasts from both Kirby’s blaster below, and Zan’s electricity above, leaving the creature’s wings black from burns as Daroach and Ice Dragon coated its arms in ice to flash-freeze them, letting Meta Knight strike once more, stabbing Galaxia through its chest.

Portals opened all around, fencing him in with Elfilis, and Meta Knight could see a turquoise speck somewhere in the corner of his vision as Elfilin called within his mind. “Don’t let up!”

Sailing through the smaller psychic’s rifts, he sped through the air, crossing his own flight path countless times, only focusing on flying ahead as Elfilin’s portals altered his trail to pierce Elfilis again and again. The creature was unable to regenerate fast enough to fully mitigate his sword strikes, and eventually it began to fall from the sky.

As the portals around them vanished, Elfilis crashed to the ground, landing on its feet and letting out a distorted roar. Meta Knight circled his prey and dived, intending to finish it for good.

“Miss Susie, are you sure this will work?”

Taranza, dragging the immobile Stock Mecha Knight behind him, was frowning. Susie did her best to reassure him. “It will. You can set him down here.”

They were behind the Colosseum’s main stands, which were broken enough to reveal Elfilis and Meta Knight matching edges. The creature had been drained of most of its color, but it still stood tall, her magenta and Taranza’s green and Dark Meta Knight’s black and a dozen other shades still mixed with its pale pink fur.

Susie turned to Gooey and Fluff, who were following behind while carrying massive silver-plated batteries. “Okay you two, load him up!”

As the two slotted the batteries into Mecha Knight’s shoulders, Taranza gave Susie a look. “So what exactly is your plan here? I thought he didn’t have the proper programs installed.”

“Turns out,” she replied, “he only needed a hotfix.” Pressing the remote to trigger Mecha Knight’s startup, the machine’s core began to spark. Normally it would shut back off immediately, lacking any proper AI to instruct its next step, but she’d found a workaround. “Battery won’t last long but this should do it!”

The machine’s eye glowed violet, energy sword activating as the jets under its shoulders ignited with blue flame. Within moments, it had flown into the arena, clashing with Elfilis as Meta Knight backed off to fire waves of energy from his blade.

Fluff watched with a small frown. “So...how does that work, exactly?”

Gooey bounced, clearly overjoyed. “Ooh! It’s a soul! Soul!”

Susie nodded to the blob. “That’s right! There’s a soul fragment inside of Mecha Knight. I don’t know its origin yet, I didn’t have time to examine it, but I assume...” She paused as the machine unleashed a laser blast from its optic, engulfing the mutant life-form in violet plasma. “I assume it’s part of Meta Knight’s soul, from when Star Dream controlled him. It’s only a theory, but...”

Zan Partizanne’s scream interrupted their thoughts, as she summoned a bolt of lightning almost the size of the Colosseum itself, blasting the stands to rubble as it obliterated Elfilis entirely. Soul fragments flew out, spreading in every direction, with the magenta, green, aqua-blue and indigo returning to Susie, Taranza, Fluff, and Gooey respectively.

Susie spoke up, coughing against the smoke now clouding her vision. “Is everyone alright?”

Dedede’s voice sounded from somewhere in the arena. “Ya couldn’t’ve done that earlier?!”

The thunder mage yelled back, audibly exhausted. “That...takes a lot...out of me...it’s a last resort...uuugh.” She trailed off and seemingly collapsed.

Kirby said something too, but Susie couldn’t hear it as a strange sound began. It sounded like his inhale, but distorted and deeper. As the smoke cleared away, it revealed a sphere of pure energy, stained black, sucking in all the dust...and the puffball himself.

Susie’s eyes widened. “No! Kirby!” Several others, Ribbon loudest among them, echoed her statement.

Once the sphere had swallowed Kirby, it turned a bleached white color, rising into the now-black-stained sky, and roared in Elfilis’ voice.

Chapter Text

Meta Knight glared at the featureless white sphere that was now Elfilis, sword raised. It was no longer moving, simply floating in midair, even as the sky turned black from its mere presence.

“Give him back!”

A massive beam of light emerged from the arena’s crumbled stands, launched by an absolutely furious Ribbon. It dwarfed Elfilis and completely engulfed it for several seconds, but once it died down the orb was still floating in place, its outer layer twitching slightly but otherwise unharmed.

Then it burst into flame, careening downward at incredible speed, shredding through Taranza’s magic webbing as he created countless threads to slow it down. Upon impact, the Colosseum shattered, kicking up fragments of ashen stone and flinging the Star Allies into the air.

Meta Knight took flight, grabbing the still-unconscious Zan Partizanne so she wouldn’t fall. He didn’t have time to worry about anyone else as the cinders rained down, forcing him to focus on avoiding the attacks. The building below was melting from the sheer heat emerging from Elfilis’ infernal core.

The core then exploded into light, splitting into hundreds of tiny white fireballs that rose in a cyclone of destruction before striking down on them like a meteor shower...only to be caught and gathered by one of Magolor’s black-hole hexes, as Taranza immobilized the recombined Elfilis within a web as a painted Kracko, courtesy of Adeleine, unleashed a literal hailstorm of projectiles upon it, alongside repeated rounds of Daroach’s Triple Star and Fluff’s Tankbot missiles.

Meta Knight kept his grip on Zan, scanning for the others as the barrage continued. Dedede was hanging onto Ribbon...Magolor, Taranza, Elfilin, and Daroach were levitating via magic...Prince Fluff was being held up by Elline’s paint, along with Claycia, Adeleine, and Shadow...Susie stood on top of Mecha Knight as its jets kept them airborne...and Gooey...

Wait, where was Gooey?!

Bolts of black lightning rained down, stunning Elfilis as it broke out of Taranza’s ensnarement and bounced up with a bluish glow. Following its aim, Meta Knight saw the blob, surrounded by flame as his inky body began to shine red. Then, he erupted into a radiant inferno as a column of boiling magma fell from him, drenching Elfilis under molten rock and slowing its charge.

“Gooey!” Ribbon shrieked while almost dropping Dedede, eyes widening with fear. “No, don’t!”

Meta Knight examined the effect from afar. It didn’t look natural...in fact it looked wrong, but the warrior couldn’t place why. He flew in the fairy’s direction, giving her a look. “What is he doing?”

The fairy didn’t take her eyes off of her friend. “You know how Gooey is a piece of Dark Matter right?” He nodded. “Well this is a Dark Matter thing that’s really really dangerous for his positive energy! Last time he did it he destroyed the Rainbow Bridges again, just on instinct!”

Dedede stared up at her, open-mouthed. “Wai-wai-wait that was him?! Surely yer jestin!”

Meta Knight frowned under his mask, watching as Elfilis was encased in rapidly-cooling stone and severely weighed down, slowing to a halt as Gooey changed form, solidifying into a jagged green crescent-looking object and cleaving the sphere in half as he dived through it. It reformed behind the dark blob and roared, and Gooey morphed into an orange ball and stretched a liquid spike out to rapidly skewer Elfilis.

That was...Void Termina’s technique! Meta Knight’s eyes widened. “Hm, I see. How do we solve this?”

Ribbon frowned. “He’s mad because Kirby’s stuck in there, so if we get him out it should calm him down!” She dropped Dedede, forcing Meta Knight to quickly hook his robe with Galaxia (since the unconscious Zan was still being carried in his other hand), and darted in close to Elfilis while it struggled against the needle.

“Kirby! We need you! Please!”

...Ribbon?

Kirby shook himself awake, fighting against the heaviness in his body. He had to...help her...

A spark of crimson flashed through his slit-sized vision, and his eyes snapped open the rest of the way, suddenly alert. Despite the pure black surrounding him, he could see a familiar orange insect fluttering through the darkness.

Oh. It is you.

Kirby blinked, confused. Did the butterfly just...talk?! He cleared his throat to ask. “Morpho Knight?”

Indeed.

Okay, this was new. “Where are we?”

Within Genesis Elfilis. The insect fluttered its wings, slowing to stay in front of the puffball. It has created a world beyond the Forgo Dreams you have previously visited, where its new victims are imprisoned. Your comrades’ souls were also here, until recently.

He didn’t really understand, but focused on what was important. “How can I escape?”

You cannot.

Kirby frowned. “But they need my help out there! C'mon, there’s gotta be something we can do!”

Perhaps.

The void surrounding them shook, and somehow grew even darker in color. Morpho fluttered to Kirby and landed on his forehead, a familiar and strangely calming gesture between them.

Eventually the insect spoke once more. There may be a method of escape, but it will require a mutual pact to be forged between us. Do you care to listen?

The puffball almost nodded before remembering that Morpho was standing there and that would be kind of rude. “Okay, go on.”

Morpho fluttered its wings. We must reform my knightly body. To do so requires that my host be weak enough to be consumed by my larval state. However, if the host was willing to accept my presence, what would happen?

Silence stretched between them as Kirby thought about it, drawing a blank. “I dunno.”

Nor do I. But it may be worth attempting.

The puffball smirked. “So that would get us out. What happens then?”

Morpho’s voice, ethereal and weightless as it was, suddenly burned with rage. We kill Elfilis, for good. Then, I release you so long as it is not your time, and we part ways until our next meeting.

“Okay,” Kirby said with a smile, “you got a deal. Let’s do it!” He forced down his inner resistance against Morpho Knight, as much as he could manage to. At least that’s what he thought he was doing, it was hard to tell for sure. But as the butterfly began to glow crimson and catch flame, he figured he had to be doing something right.

As his body caught ablaze along with the butterfly, crimson light racing across his body, he didn’t feel any pain as the gold-and-red blade formed in his hand, with the horned helm of the knight appearing shortly after, complete with red-scaled wings on his back.

Red-scaled wings that, as they flapped, released ear-splitting waves of sound that washed the void away with blinding light.

“I won’t let you hurt Ribbon or my friends!”

As Elfilis shook loose from Gooey’s spike, Susie smiled as a pink blur burst out of the core and immediately dived down, slicing through the enemy with an explosion of crimson flame. “Nicely done, girl.”

As he spun in mid-air, though, she noticed that he’d changed. He was wearing Morpho’s helm and wielding Morpho’s sword. Did he...absorb Morpho? Is that even possible?!

As Gooey saw Kirby and reverted to his usual form, another swordsman pierced through Elfilis with crimson fire. Dark Meta Knight flew above, mask and gauntlets and one of his eyes glowing orange with raw heat. As Elfilis split into quarters, it screeched a truly incomprehensible noise.

The sky around it shattered and broke, portals tearing open in every direction trying to pull Kirby and Dark through. Elfilin shone gold and sealed them shut, but it bought Elfilis time to recover. It ascended further, turning black as it re-entered its black hole form-

*boom*

Then a rainbow-colored beam engulfed it, and Susie turned around to watch as the Star Allies Sparkler flew in, Bandana Dee piloting with Rick, Kine, and Coo riding behind him. He waved down at the others before continuing to blast away at Elfilis, which halted its black-hole attack and countered with a beam of its own, pushing back against Bandana Dee’s.

The spearman’s voice was strained as he put everything into the blast. “G-guys! Help!”

Kirby was the first to respond, flapping his wings as he rose to their height and fired countless waves of crimson energy from Morpho’s sword. Shadow, Dark, and Meta copied him with their own blades, adding to the onslaught. Ribbon's crystal shots, Fluff’s missiles, Daroach’s ice beam, and Gooey’s dark lightning joined moments later, and then Magolor's hexes, Taranza’s spells, Dedede's fire-cyclones, and Adeleine's Kracko's lightning bolts, attacks from every angle all focusing on Elfilis and clashing with its many beams of light. Susie’s blaster shots and Mecha Knight’s plasma beam joined in, trying to cut through, but its beams were still pushing back-!

Time seemed to stop as a single knife sailed through the air, past every attack, and nicked Elfilis in the side, just enough to make its beams falter for a split-second.

Kirby noticed it too. “Now!”

As Elfilis tried to recover its momentum, the Star Allies’ attacks surged golden as Elfilin poured every ounce of power he could into his friends, and slammed through the Ultimate Life-Form’s lasers, swallowing the sphere as it flaked away, completely and finally obliterated by the sheer power it had tried to stand against.

The power of friendship.

The sky cleared, revealing the orange evening sky that Elfilis had hidden. Susie finally released the trigger on her blaster, which was now melting. Mecha Knight floated down to the now-cooled floor underneath her, shutting off the moment it landed.

As she climbed off, the others dropped down in various states of exhaustion. Susie and Elfilin were still up and alert, but that was about it. Everyone else was either sitting or lying down, in varying degrees of consciousness.

Kirby was the first to speak up, audibly exhausted and with Morpho’s apparel flaking into loose embers. “Are...are they gone?”

Elfilin watched as small golden sparks descended from the sky, catching one of the larger ones and examining it. “He...he’s finished.” The ember quietly burst as its fragments merged into the psychic. “It’s over.”

Susie sighed, climbing down from Mecha Knight’s back. “Thank goodness.” She paused. “By the way, who threw that knife?”

A meow sounded behind her, followed by a smooth digitized translation. “Happy to be of service.”

The girl spun around to face the speaker. “Carol? When did you arrive?!”

“Moments ago.” She crossed her arms. “Vul and Sailor had been building a matter transporter and I chose to use it to warp here.” With a smile, she purred. “It appears I was just in time.”

Elfilin bobbed lightly in mid-air. “So that’s what those two were working on in Smithy’s shop...but how did you know what was going on?”

Carol winked. “A little cosmic-jester bird told me.”

Chapter Text

Kirby waved to Elfilin, the Beast Pack and the Waddle Dees that had decided to stay. “Bye! I’ll come back and visit soon, I promise!” Then he leapt through the portal back to Dream Land.

Traveling through Another Dimension was weird, but he was getting used to it.

Being the last Star Ally to go through, most of the others had already left by the time he touched down on familiar grass. Only Ribbon, Fluff, Adeleine and Elline were still around, although the Halberd, the Squeakship, and Dyna Blade were visible on the horizon, sailing out of sight.

The puffball stretched, appreciating the breeze. “Ah, there’s no place like home!”

“Yep!” Ribbon flew up into the air, eyes closed as she took it all in. “Dream Land is the best!”

Adeleine twirled her paintbrush. “Yeah, that world’s got nice landscapes and all but I’ll take not being mind controlled any day of the week.” Her eyes widened. “Oh! I just remembered that I promised to meet Vividria and trade paintings before the portals showed up! I gotta run!” She took off with a panicked sprint, calling over her shoulder. “Have fun you four! See you later!”

The artist sped over a hill and out of sight, only leaving the four of them there. Elline waved after her before giving the others a look. “Who’s Vividria?”

“A friend of ours,” Kirby explained, “she’s an artist too. We can introduce you later, but for now we gotta show you around!” He chose a direction at random and started walking. “C’mon! This way!”

Fluff caught up on foot while Ribbon and Elline talked while flying behind them. “So Kirby...where are we headed?”

The puffball shrugged. “Who knows?” He put a skip in his step. “But it’s gonna be lots of fun with you guys being here!”

He smiled, glancing back towards the fairies. “Yeah. Yeah, I guess it will.”

Bandana Dee put his arms behind his head, leaning back against the sleeping Whispy Woods’ trunk. The tree was usually hibernating around this time of year, and docile unless you stepped on his roots or something.

Coo, perched on one of Whispy’s branches, peered down at him. “You did well, Bandan. I have to admit I’m impressed with your performance.”

The spearman nodded drowsily. “Thanks...not like I could’ve done much without everyone else’s help. I’m just one guy.”

“Hey hey hey that’s not true! Don’t talk like that!”

Bandana’s eyes snapped wide open, glancing over at the unexpected interrupter. “Marx?!”

The jester smiled, settling down against another nearby tree. “Yeah, I changed my mind. That other planet’s actually pretty boring once you get past all the smarter animals. Er, no offense up there, buddy.”

Coo began plucking his feathers, seemingly disinterested. “None taken.”

“Cool.” Marx smirked at Bandana. “So listen, I getcha. C’mon, we had that whole heart-to-heart in the other world, and I’m gonna tell ya right now, you ain’t ‘just one guy’ or whatever. Buddy, if anyone deserves to be on the team it’s you. You killed Elfilis, for Nova’s sake!” He spread his wings and gestured widely. “Own it!”

Bandana blinked. Well this was a change of pace. “Heh...sure, Marx. But seriously, did you see how many lasers were hitting Elfilis at the end there? It honestly wasn’t just me. Heck, if Carol hadn’t been warned we would’ve lost anyway.” He winked. “Thanks for that, by the way.”

“I-” Marx froze, eyes bulging slightly as his wings retracted. “Er...you’re welcome?” He muttered something under his breath.

Coo chirped down at him. “Not used to being thanked, I suppose?”

The jester’s cheeks burned bright red, mortified. “Sh-shut up!”

...silence followed...

Then they all burst into laughter.

Dedede dusted off his throne and flopped down onto it. “Ah, home sweet home!” He glanced around at the crowd of Waddle Dees that had followed him in. “Alright, get this place back into the royal shape it oughta be! Get movin!”

“Yes, Great King!” His mob of orange minions split up and left. Luckily the throne room was undamaged so he wouldn’t be bothered for a while.

Leaning back in his chair, he let out a breath. “Every time I leave my room, I get possessed or brainwashed or whatever it is.” He frowned. “Why’s it always gotta be me...?”

“I know what you mean, Your Majesty.” Dedede yelped, turning to face the new arrival. “It does indeed weigh on one’s mind to lose control of it.”

The penguin chuckled, shaking his head. “Ya spooked me, Daroach.” He tried to act stern but failed miserably. “But yeah, I guess ya know what I mean. How’d ya deal with it the first time?”

“Well...” The mouse’s ear twitched. “I didn’t deal with it well. I still get nightmares. Usually I just gotta remind myself that everyone made it okay, and I calm down. It’s a tricky thing, trauma. It doesn’t follow logic, but ya can’t beat it by acting illogically, y’know?” He shrugged. “Maybe what I say won’t help you with yer issues, but what I’d suggest is to try not to be alone all too much.”

Dedede’s mind drifted to think of Sailor Waddle Dee, his company during the trek through Forgo Horns. He hadn’t been dwelling on this while his minions were around, come to think of it...

Daroach tipped his hat and turned towards the door. “Well, that’s all from me. I have a treasure hunt to attend to. Ciao.” With that, he sauntered out of the room, leaving the king to chew on his thoughts.

“Yeah,” he eventually said, to nobody in particular, “maybe yer right.”

“And the winner is...Meta Knight!”

In the rebuilt Colosseum, the champion raised his gauntleted fist and sword, Galaxia gleaming bright. Waddle Dee Town and the new world in general didn’t need his protection anymore, but training was training. How better to stay in practice?

Elfilin brushed the dirt off his fur as he floated back into the air, battered but beaming. “As good as always, Meta!” He tagged along on the way out of the arena proper. “Thanks for visiting. I was wondering how things were going.”

“Reconstruction has gone well,” the knight replied, “on all fronts. Although I do believe the king misses those of his staff who chose to stay.” Still, in the mere week spent on Popstar, progress had been remarkable.

“He would, huh?” The psychic, who’d had almost a month to train in comparison, had increased spectacularly in power. That, combined with a vast array of magic and psychic tricks, made him an odd but worthwhile opponent to test himself against, from time to time. This world would be secure, he was certain of it, with warriors such as Elfilin and Carol to defend it.

Meta Knight nodded. “In any case...I do have a favor to ask of you, if you aren’t occupied.”

Elfilin tilted his head curiously. “Oh? Sure, I can help. What’s up?”

He locked eyes with the psychic. “Have you seen Dark Meta Knight since we destroyed your other half?” It wasn’t something he’d thought about or noticed at the time, but his counterpart had completely vanished, and he didn’t know why. Presumably he hadn’t died, but...it did perturb him to an extent.

“Um...” He appeared to consider it. “No, I don’t think I did. Why? Do you think he’s still here?”

Meta Knight sheathed his sword. “I doubt it...but keep an eye open, just in case.”

Elfilin nodded. “Okay, got it!” He hummed. “By the way...lately, I’ve been wondering. Dark is another universe’s version of you, right? So...could there be a version of you and Kirby and everyone else in this world, too? Or a version of me and the Beast Pack on Popstar?”

The knight paused. That was a fair question. “I do not know. However, one’s counterparts are not always that direct. As an example, there is a whale named Acro residing in our planet’s oceans, while in the mirror world its equivalent was a shark.”

“So it doesn’t have to look the same, is what you’re saying...” The psychic’s eyes glimmered as he thought. “Kirby told me he was kinda like an opposite Dark Matter, through Void or whatever it was...maybe I’m the Kirby parallel for this universe, and Fecto was the Dark Matter one?”

Meta froze mid-stride. “Hm. That is an interesting theory.” Truth be told, that idea did have some merit. It was certainly a bit of a leap in logic, but not an extreme one. “So then, who is my or King Dedede’s analogue, in that case?”

Elfilin snickered lightly. “Carol and Leon, of course!” Meta Knight blushed under his mask as he realized the implications, though luckily Elfilin couldn’t see it. Then he remembered the psychic could read minds...and based on his laughter, he definitely had just done so.

Without another word, Meta Knight flew off into the sky. He was not talking about this.

Susie tapped at Mecha Knight’s monitor, patching up its code. Sure, the hotfix (which she had labeled as Soul OS...the irony wasn’t lost on her) was enough to get it moving, but if the soul fragment inside was to vanish or escape, Mecha Knight would be offline until this patch was complete.

Best to take care of it now. It’d keep her mind off of...other things.

She glanced over at Gooey, who was sleeping in the corner of her workshop. The blob seemed to have grown attached to her...not that she knew why, but she wasn’t going to argue. He made for nice company.

It was weird to believe that a Dark Matter of all things could be so lovable, and yet here he was.

As she turned back, her eyes snagged on the corkboard in her workshop. It was now crammed with theories and evidence about Elfilis and the beings that tormented it. She didn’t have much to go off of yet...but what she did have so far wasn’t painting a pleasant picture.

Still, she needed to know.

The next thing her eye caught on was the window, namely the tip of Taranza’s head poking up over the windowsill. The spider enjoyed gardening and Susie had a bare plot of soil that she wasn’t doing anything with, so she gave him permission to do whatever he wanted with it.

So far, he’d planted some very nice flowers and grapevines, nothing too intrusive of course, but she appreciated the extra touch of greenery. Also the grapes were a nice snack from time to time.

Refocusing on Mecha Knight’s code, she checked over what she’d written. No errors, it looked like it was done. She deactivated the terminal and stood up, stretching. Time to take a break.

Taranza seemed to notice her move, looking up through the window. “Oh, are you finished, Miss Susie?”

“For now,” she replied, “I still need to test it. But yes, I think I’m finished for now.” She didn’t have any real doubt that it would work, her code was always flawless, but diligence was in her nature.

The spider hummed. “Good!” He shook the soil off his gloves, then shot her a look. “It’s late, and you seem exhausted. Maybe you should get some sleep.”

Susie blinked, suddenly realizing he was right while holding back a yawn. This wasn’t his magic being used on her, she had detectors in her workshop and none of them were going off, she just was that tired. “Good idea. I think I’ll do that.” She curled up in her chair. “Good night, Taranza.”

The spider’s face brightened up as she closed her eyes. “Good night, Miss Susie!” Sleep came easily after that.

Zan Partizanne scanned through the book’s chapter on Rainbow Phoenixes, adding her own notes based on Dyna Blade’s behaviors. The tome was missing a few details that she could now add, and it gave her a nice feeling to be contributing to the Jamba library for herself.

She was careful to keep her penmanship legible and not overwrite any of Lord Hyness’ own notes. He was still an expert on most things, she was only adding a drop into the ocean of ink kept within his study, but they both knew he wasn’t infallible.

Finishing her annotations, she placed the book back in its proper place on the shelf and stepped out. Based on the position of the stars visible from the nearby observatory, her sisters would be asleep by now, but she was still wide awake.

A gleaming cyan ship sailed through said observatory window, prompting her to smile. Magolor dropping off Dream Land delicacies for her and her sisters to enjoy tomorrow, no doubt. He did keep them well-stocked when he wasn’t busy with other things, and she appreciated it.

Hefting her spear, she headed for the gym, planning to burn some of that excess energy away-

The observatory window shattered.

Zan was barely able to register and dodge in time to avoid whatever had smashed through the glass, quickly casting a rudimentary spell to seal the window and stop an explosive decompression. It wouldn’t last long but it would buy enough time to fix it properly.

Muttering mantras under her breath, she moved her hands around and magically brought the glass shards into proper position, melding them together and fitting the screen back in place. A few had blood on them, which she promptly magicked away while reassembling the rest.

Once the window was repaired, Zan sighed, turning to examine the culprit. To her surprise, it was a crashed Warp Star carrying none other than...Shadow Kirby?! “What’s going on here?”

The puffball staggered to his feet, visibly bruised, and held up a note.

As she took it and read it, her face paled. “Are you serious?”

Shadow nodded, and without further ado, Zan pulled the communicator out of her pocket and pressed the emergency button, sending a signal across the cosmos.

A Star Ally’s work was never truly done.

And she wouldn’t have it any other way.