Heroes of Dreamland Rewritten, Book 1: Stars Amidst Lightning

Chapter 42

Meta Knight | メタナイト

The next morning, everyone is somber and quiet, even the children. Once I've quietly doled out some bread, dried fruit, and dried meat from our quickly draining supplies, everyone eats in silence. Everything we've striven for over the past weeks is finally within reach— the villain will be conquered, the light and rain restored, and safety and peace returned to Dreamland. This much is certain, for whatever happens, we cannot allow ourselves to fail.

The only question that remains, then, is at what cost this will all be achieved.

After we've finished our simple, bland breakfast, we gather together in a close group and head for the temple at the center of the cloudy world. Normally, Bubbly Clouds is a beautiful, airy place, filled with sunlight, nigh-constant cool breezes, and fluffy white clouds (which Kirby loves to nap upon whenever he gets the chance during quests up here). Under the influence of the Lightning, though, the world is now made of black clouds that crackle with static electricity every time you take a step or brush against them, and the clouds cover everything, even the sky, preventing even the smallest hint of sunlight from piercing through.

Normally, we'd be able to fly right to the temple, but with the clouds sealed over and around us like this, flight has been rendered impossible. So instead, we walk steadily toward the central temple, the one structure in this world made out of something other than clouds, filled with stars encapsulated in clear glass and many open, airy rooms. At the center is a great, wide, circular room, open to the air on the top, with a floor much lower than the rest of the room, a sort of empty pool that is said to flood with pure starlight instead of water on the clearest, brightest nights. Around the pool are several pillars that hold up the roof that runs around the edge, and an area of flooring equal to that of the rest of the temple. That room is where, typically, the local 'boss' monster usually takes his 'throne' of sorts. Today, though, it is the throne of the Lightning, the monster whom we are called to vanquish.

Before we know it, we have reached the outer edges of the temple. A flickering, bright light comes from inside, leaving us all blinking, unaccustomed to such brightness after the past weeks of darkness and dreariness. Here, the very air crackles and pops with hidden static, making mine and Sakura's capes both float behind us slightly. As for myself, I am very careful avoid brushing against any of my allies, not wanting my metal armor to give any of them an unwanted zap.

For several seconds, we stand in silence, facing the temple and the still-concealed Lightning. But Kirby suddenly reaches out a paw to Sakura and Bandanna both, on either side of him, and then glances between Sakura and I expectantly.

Giving me a glance, Sakura holds her glove out halfway, a clear signal that she won't push me if I don't want to join the wall of solidarity. After a moment's hesitation, I release my cape and take her glove in my own, completing the chain of the foretold four who will save Dreamland from the 'darkness such as it has never known.'

Voice trembling in a mixture of fear and determination, Kirby declares, "For Dreamland, poyo."

"For Dreamland," Sakura and I agree in unison, my voice steady but Sakura's also wavering. Bandanna Dee gives a firm nod and thumps the pole of his spear against the ground once.

Again, for another moment, silence reigns, until Sakura gently breaks our chain, voice still shaking. "Well, come on, guys. It's now or never, I guess." With that, she draws her sword and leads us into the first room of the temple.

The first room contains several Copy Pedestals, magical glass orbs that can each produce an unlimited number of pure Copy Essences. All Kirby has to do is touch one of them, and he takes on the power of the essence within. Around the room float six Pedestals, each containing a different Copy Essence: Sword, Fire, Water, Ice, Spark, and Leaf.