Heroes of Dreamland Rewritten, Book 1: Stars Amidst Lightning

Chapter 19

Sakura Dee|桜・ディー

I don't think I've ever felt quite this deep of a terror before. The air I get in doesn't feel like enough, so I keep breathing heavier and heavier, trying to get enough oxygen. All I can feel inside is cold, a squeezing kind of cold that feels like something is trying to wring all the hope and warmth out of me. My heart races, each frantic beat resounding through my body like the crash of a drum. My brain can only manage to piece together one coherent thought amidst the chaos:

Run.

And that's what I do, feet slamming against the ground over and over, as fast I can press them forward, each footstep causing a ringing echo that syncopates with my heartbeat perfectly. Right behind me sounds the thundering of three more sets of friendly footsteps keeping up with mine, and behind them is no sound, only a pressing, choking darkness.

Far ahead is a dot of light, which is what we run for, but it doesn't seem to be getting closer. And what's worse, the darkness is overtaking us, aiming not to catch us but to toy with us, to make us keep running until it's had its fun and finally blocks off the only way out we have.

Clutching my sword tighter, I gasp out in a panic, "We're not going to make it!"

Meta Knight takes off in flight immediately above the other three of us, trying to shield the rest of us from any attacks from the darkness. Giving me a stern glance, he reproves, "Hush. We must stay strong for the young ones."

Gulping, I manage a weak nod. He's right. I'm one of the grownups in this scenario. I have to be one of the strong ones, the brave ones.

As we run towards the tiny hope of light, which seems to just keep getting farther and farther away, Kirby tugs on my Dimensional Cape. Risking falling down, I turn just enough to take in the look of sheer terror on his young face like a stab in the heart. Why did I ever let him be a part of this? Hero of Dreamland or not, this is no place for a child...

Voice trembling, he whimpers, "Scared, poyo. Please, make scary go 'way. Please!"

Trying to reassure myself as much as him, I give him a gentle glance and grab his paw. "We're going to be be okay. I promise."

The little one manages a weak smile and clings to my glove as we run. On my opposite side, Bandanna Dee does the same.

And then, somehow, we catch up to the light and dive through the hole into safety.

Gasping for air, I pick myself up and turn around to make sure we aren't being followed, only to be met with the sound of a pained cry as the hole seals—

With Meta Knight still inside.

"No!" I shout, panicking again, but the darkness has formed a wall I can't get through. Kirby and Bandanna Dee join me in fruitlessly attacking the wall, trying to get to our mentor and friend. Once again, I feel as if I can't breathe, like every breath I take only takes more oxygen out of my system.

Out of nowhere, a crack opens in the ground and swallows the three of us whole. My cape tears in two on the jagged, rocky fissure before I can turn it into wings, leaving all three of us helpless, as Kirby and I are both too breathless to puff up and float and Bandanna Dee can't air-hop against the force of whatever is pulling us down.

The two kids cling to me, as if there's someway I can help, fear-filled eyes turned on me, searching me, begging me to find a way to save us, to set things right.

But of course, there's no way that I can do that.

And as Kirby and I both let out hoarse screams of terror and Bandanna trembles violently, the darkness swallows us whole.