Chapter 11

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Kirby Dee |カービィディー

In unwilling obedience, my feet carry me, as if on autopilot, toward the place that has become a home of sorts to me over the past few weeks. Right before I enter the secret passage leading to Meta Knight's secret library, Kirby and Bandanna Dee appear from behind a hidden door in the wall. Sure, now that Hurricane Knight has died down, now they show up to help me out.

"Sorry, poyo," Kirby giggles apologetically, dancing happy circles around me, apparently expecting total, instant forgiveness.

Bandanna Dee touches his forehead to mine and adds, "Yeah. If we could've gotten you out of there without sticking around too long ourselves, we would've. We'll do better on that count next time; promise!"

Something in me wants to go off the wall at them, but they're just kids. I can't bring myself to do it. So, instead, I reply tersely, "Yeah, sure. 'Next time.'" When their happy expressions quickly disappear, replaced by stares of hurt, I add tiredly, trying to soften my scathing sarcasm, "Really, guys. It's okay. No worries, all right?" With that, I walk through the door into the secret passage, letting the door slam shut behind me. They don't follow.

After pacing around awhile to walk off the anger, I sit on my shelf in the library. Then I sit up reading (or learning to, anyway), until long after no more signs of daylight come through the many huge windows around me. Eventually, it gets to the point where I'm so tired that I can't concentrate, and therefore can't distract myself, any longer.

By now, the library is in complete darkness, minus the tiny bit of starlight that filters in through the glass of the window nearest me. Once I put my book down, the magical light around me dissipated, so I don't even have that anymore. I have no idea how late it is, and I don't know where (if anywhere) there's a clock in here.

With a heavy sigh, I try to clear my thoughts and force myself to sleep, but I can't. I feel too bad about disappointing Meta Knight. Well, that, and I'll freely admit that I'm more than a little bit concerned over my foretold 'punishment.'

Trying to simultaneously calm myself and break the oppressive, lonely silence which surrounds me, I murmur, "Sir Knight'll probably tell me what it's gonna be in the morning, so I should quit worrying about it." Turning so I'm facing a pile of books instead of the side of my shelf, I close my eyes and try again to rest, but just can't relax.

Soon enough, the wheels in my head are churning once again.

"I mean, come on. I didn't even do anything that bad," I mutter to myself, throwing my paws up in exasperation. Irritation quickly simmers down into being unwilling guilt once again. "Well, then again, he does have that Star Warrior 'code of honor' thing going on, whatever the heck that means. And, yeah, he's sworn loyalty to the King and stuff, being a knight and all. Chances are, he probably wants me to do the same." Making a face, I sigh and snuggle closer to the wall. It has a real tendency to be super cold in here, even though it's almost summer. I wish I had a blanket.

Unwilling to end the day on this note, the still-a-Waddle Dee part of me begs me to find something, anything to be thankful for, just like I've always done every night for years. I mean, I think I've always done it for years... I dunno. Like all Waddle Dees, right up until my 'shocking' experience less than two months ago, I only had a few-year-long memory span.

Brushing that fact off, I ponder deeply until I finally think of something good: There haven't been anymore storms since the day I received my powers, although there have been some soft spring showers, but those are nice. Pretty much everyone likes those; they definitely aren't scary at all, to be sure. All in all, the weather's been perfect and lovely. There's not been a single sign that a giant storm monster is coming who-knows-when. Well, great, now I'm nervous all over again.

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