I turned around, reflexively trying to figure out where the voice came from. I failed, as all I could see was the wall of the shield that surrounded us. Only the Air parts I could see through, and even then, there was little left to see. There was nothing remaining of the watermelons anymore, and it was so dark out there that I thought it was night. Even the river now glowed a bright
vermilion.
I looked back to Onyx, who had not yet lowered his hood and still was reared up so that his head touched the top of the shield. He still hissed quietly from time to time, and I don’t think he planned on stopping until he knew what was causing all of this.
“Get down.” Kinobator said suddenly. The moment he was finished, I heard something crash into the shield, roaring in pain from the Fire. Wait a second, roared?
I looked through the shield again, and a demon stood outside of it. The demon itself was similar to Wolfwrath in shape and size, only its fur was black, and the horns were blue. As with all demons, its eyes glowed almost the same color of the river.
Wait, how do I know it looks like Wolfwrath?
It was about to lunge again, but a glowing saffron star knocked it away. The demon roared again, and instead pounced on whatever had shot the beam. I use the word, ‘whatever’, as I could not see what it was. I could only hear its voice-
“GET OFF ME!!!” another star fired “GET FREAKING OFF OF ME!!!!!”
I knew that voice.
“Kirby?” I said aloud.
Kirby?!, Onyx’s voice echoed in my mind.
“TERAKKA!!! ONYX!!!” I heard in response.
KIRBY!!!! Oh, man it is good to see, –uh- hear you again!
“Oh, Kirby...” Was my only reply to Onyx’s comment.
The moment I uttered those words, a small gap appeared in the shield. I took immediate advantage of it and jumped through, the hole closing once I was outside.
I just stood there, frozen in fear. There was nothing left in the mindscape, only darkness and the vermillion river. The mountain in the distance was only a small hill of what seemed to be ash, but the memory base still glowed white and cast shadows upon the fading mindscape.
I turned to look at Kirby, who was holding... THE STAR ROD?! How the hell could he be wielding the Star Rod? That thing wouldn’t let anyone touch it if anyone bothered to try, but to wield it in battle? Almost unthinkable.
I was about to say something to Kirby, when an enormous tremor shook across the land and caused even the memory base to tremble. I was lifted a few inches above the ground from the sheer force of the thing, and that’s really saying something.
I was suddenly aware of a presence behind me. Turning around, I saw then what Nightmare’s true being looked like. He was a small sphere, not much larger than Kirby. Purple and blue stars rippled across his surface in a repeating, orderly pattern. And yet I could tell that if He was to die here, he would bring Kirby along with him into his eternal damnation.
Kirby looked towards Nightmare, who floated down from his spot in the air and said, I’m weak, but not done for yet, Kirby. Show me what you’ve learned in 23 long years, and show it to me at your best.
“You’re on.” Kirby answered with a smirk.
Suddenly the wolf demon launched its last bits of strength at Kirby, who deflected the assault with a star shot directly at the thing’s paw. The demon shrieked in pain, but didn’t fall back. It circled Kirby patiently, waiting for a chance to tackle Kirby again.
It’s simple, really. If you are unable to defeat my final creation, then you are worthy to fight me.
I can’t be sure if Kirby heard this or not, just that he twitched slightly, and then the demon took the chance. It leapt at Kirby, snarling and aiming for Kirby’s heart despite it’s injured paw. Kirby jumped out of the way, and the demon landed headfirst in the dirt. Now it knew that Kirby could fight, and it wasn’t about to make the same mistake again.
Kirby shot out a bombardment of stars at the demon, as it was still in shock from the fall. Every star hit, and one tore off the beast’s already wounded paw. The thing growled for a second, then fell to the ground like an old rag doll, unwanted, unloved, and battered from use. It chest fell and rose heavily for a few seconds, and then it was still.
