Tiers and Hopes, Book 2

Hear Me Roar

Luigi visited Kirby during lunch, and once again when the day's matches were over. The pink puffball's condition had improved, and how. That familiar bubbliness and energy was returning, he was less pale, and he was hooked to less machines. Dr. Mario told him that Kirby would be completely off the machines tomorrow. But what touched Luigi the most was the big smile on Kirby's face when he greeted him.

"Poyo poyo poy!" Kirby said cheerfully, expressing his desire to get back in the game.

"I can't wait to see you back on the battlefield, too," smiled Luigi.

Kirby smacked a "fist" into his "palm". "Poyo poyo poyo poy poyoyo poyo!"

"Language, Kirby," admonished Luigi.

"Poyo poyoy poyo poy poyo!" Kirby stated hotly.

"It's not just about getting revenge on your tormentors," said Luigi, "because revenge isn't the answer."

"Poyo poyo poy," said Kirby.

"I know you want to get back at them, but I know a better way than simply beating them to a pulp."

"Poyo?"

"Prove them wrong. Use their words as motivation and turn their own weapons back on them."

"Poyo poyo," vowed Kirby. He was done with feeling sorry for himself. He was the freaking Hero of Dreamland, for God's sake! So what if he was ranked unfavorably in some tournament?

Plus, Pikachu had finally seen the light, and Luigi was always by his side, so he didn't have to fight these battles alone, did he?

"Poyo poyo poyo?" he asked.

"Definitely—I wanted to get back at Fox and Falcon and those spectators for what they did," said Luigi, "and I did just that—by practicing every morning and mopping the floor with every opponent I was faced with. Heck, I won against Falcon by doing absolutely nothing. It didn't take long for the audience to stop jeering."

Kirby smiled at Luigi's words. Now he really couldn't wait to get out of the infirmary. The Star Warrior dared to imagine the looks on the faces of Fox, Falco, Koopa, Dorf and his other tormentors when he roared back into Melee. They wouldn't be so quick to toss reproaches in his direction then.

"Poyo poyo poyo," he mused.

"You're right," said Luigi. "Things are only gonna get better from here."

He gave Kirby a kiss on the forehead. "I'll see ya round."

"Poyo," Kirby replied.

Luigi smiled, turned on his heel and left the infirmary. It was almost time for dinner.

...

Two days later, Kirby was given a clean bill of health and released from the infirmary. All of his bandages had been removed, and all of his cuts had healed, save for some barely noticeable scars. To make things better, he was released just in time for breakfast. The puffball signed his discharge papers with a flourish and strode off to the cafeteria.

The first thing he saw was Fox, sitting there with Marth and Falco. But the Star Warrior didn't even acknowledge him; he was starting fresh. Instead, he sought out Luigi, finding him at a table with Peach, Mario, Yoshi, Ness, Falcon, Samus, Zelda and the two Links.

"Poyo!" he greeted.

"Welcome back, Kirby!" Luigi said brightly as the puffball dashed into his arms. "Thank God you're all right."