Category Archives: Kirby of the Stars Stories

Kirby of the Stars Stories

Music Camp Pt. 3

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Tiff glanced over at the Autherine girl, who was scowling as she gestured to her in-crowd, waving her hands wildly, looking very upset. “That girl doesn’t look very happy to be here,” she observed.

Lemu looked at Autherine, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Maybe she needs a friend.”

“She already has five,” Tiff pointed out.

But Lemu shook his head. “A real friend,” he said. “Not a collectible.”

Tiff thought that a very odd word to use, collectible. “What do you mean?”

“A collectible is one who merely acts like a ‘friend’ but doesn’t possess the true characteristics of one,” he said. “She needs someone who will stay beside her. Who will comfort without question. Who will give without thinking about their own needs. Who will have empathy even if they don’t fully comprehend the situation.”

Tiff noticed for the first time that he was staring at her as he spoke those words. “Why are you looking at me?”

“Because you’re one of the friends who completes the definition I just spoke,” he said.

Tiff read his mind. “Are you referring to. . .him?”

Lemu nodded.

“Well, hello,” Autherine said coolly, breezing over to the boyfriend and girlfriend. “What do we have here? A pair of lame lovers, I see.” She wrinkled her nose at Tiff’s plain green-and-pink zigzag outfit. “You know, Mr. Whatever-Your-Name-Is, you could have found a girlfriend who was real taste in style.”

“I love her for her selfless character,” Lemu said coldly. “Not for her appearance.”

Autherine was taken aback for a moment, but quickly recovered her poise. “And you are?” she asked Tiff.

“Tiffany,” she said softly, “but my friends call me Tiff.”

“Tiff?” Autherine snorted. “What a stupid name. My grandmother is named Tiffany, and I hate her beyond measure. Such a Jesus freak. No, sir! Not for me.”

“Explain,” Lemu requested.

Autherine smirked. “I’m an atheist.”

Tiff blinked.

“You’re a what now?” Lemu asked, looking surprised.

“An atheist,” repeated Autherine. “I don’t believe God is real.”

“Then where did this universe come from?” Lemu challenged.

Autherine turned a wary eye on him. “That’s still unknown to us.”

“Why are you here?” Lemu went deeper.

“We are here by natural processes,” Autherine said smugly. “But some of us are mistakes.”

“Like who?” Tuff chimed, overhearing the conversation.

Autherine glared at him, a peeved look on her face, but she continued, “The elderly and unborn are, of course.”

“What?!” Tuff exclaimed. “Girl, that’s crazy talk! Who says unborn and elderly are useless?!”

“We atheists believe such things,” Autherine said. “An unborn ‘baby’ isn’t really a baby; it’s a mass of tissue. And elderly are too much of a burden, so we have to dump them off our backs. It’s the circle of life, you know. Survival of the fittest.”

“Girl, a baby inside the womb is no different from one outside the womb,” Tuff objected. “Everyone is made in God’s image–even the elderly and unborn. Your parents are jacking you up. You need some serious mental help.”

“Tuff, shh!” Bella whispered, approaching her friend. “Be kind to her!”

“I can’t help it,” Tuff returned. “She’s such an idiot!”

“Is there a problem?” Meta Knight asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the group.

Autherine scowled at him. “And who are you, you freaky, nightmarish-looking fruit?”

The knight didn’t react. He had learned long ago that reacting badly to insults and bad situations got him into more trouble than he cared to mention. “Meta Knight.”

“Meta Knight?” she repeated. “What a ridiculous name.” She snorted and turned her back on him, stalking away. But then she turned back, pointing a finger at them all. “You Bible-believing freaks will never change me!” she shouted. “No one can tell me what to do with my life!”

The children stood dumbfounded as she left, amazed at what they had just witnessed.

To be continued. . .

Kirby of the Stars Stories

Music Camp Pt. 2

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Tiff stared at her mentor in surprise as he looked calmly back at her. “Meta Knight? What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice laden with surprise.

“I too have come to be a counselor,” he said. “It has been a while since I have been to a camp, and I thought it would be fun.”

“You? Having fun?” Tuff scoffed. “Yeah, right. And I’m a ballerina.”

“Shut it,” Lemu commanded. “Be nice. If he wants to be a counselor, he can be one. Okay?”

“Fine,” Tiff said contritely.

Mayor Len looked at the clock on his dashboard and smiled at the others. “The children should be here any minute now,” he said. “Get ready, all, ’cause these kids are going to be a handful, and you will want to be in control.”

The counselors stood and waited. Gradually, Tiff heard the faint sound of singing and chattering, and soon, five big orange buses pulled up near the campsite. The doors opened and children, most aged seven to thirteen years old, came pouring out in droves. Their talking and laughing was so loud that Tiff wanted to cover her ears, but the other counselors that had ridden the buses with the kids seemed pretty comfortable. They herded the kids into neat groups and helped collect their luggage.

“Okay, okay!” a young woman yelled out. The children quieted and looked directly at her. “If you can hear me, clap once!”

The children obliged.

“If you can hear me, clap twice!”

Again her command was met with obedience.

“All right, then! Now we’re going to go over a few rules,” the woman said. “First, there will be no violence, swearing, or bad behavior. This is music camp, and we want to keep our music and actions appropriate for those younger than us.”

“Who put this hag in charge?” a sixteen-year-old girl muttered to her friend, jerking her thumb at the woman. Her crony nodded in agreement.

“Second, you will obey your elders. We do not tolerate disrespect, and those who break this rule will be disciplined,” the woman continued. “And third, show respect for the land. Do not set fires n the woods or tear down rosebushes or mess with honeybees, you know, stuff like that. This is not our property; we are only using it through the permission of the landowner, so be cautious and respectful.”

The girl who had spoken badly of the woman faked a yawn.

“Okay, we’re done! Get settled and we’ll meet together for some activities!” the woman said.

Their excitement renewed, the children snatched up luggage and supplies and hurried to set up tents. But the sixteen-year-old bully didn’t move. Neither did her crew, which composed of three rich girls and two cute boys. The woman noticed them standing by and inquired, “Aren’t you going to get settled?”

“We’ll get settled when we’ll get settled,” the girl spoke rudely, hand on her hip. “But just to be clear, my friends and I are not sleeping in a tent. We’re of too high social status to hang around with the tent freaks.”

The woman crossed her arms. “Well, Miss. . .um, what’s your name?”

“Autherine,” the girl said disgruntledly.

“Well, Miss Autherine, I am sorry, but tents are all we have. This is the wilderness, where we can be free and have room to breathe.”

“You call this music camp?” one of the boys snorted. “Where do we sing?”

“There’s a makeshift auditorium a few miles down the beach,” the woman said. “At the end of two weeks, we’ll all compete against each other by seeing who sings the best song.”

“That’s great news,” Autherine said sarcastically, “but I am still not sleeping on the cold hard ground.”

“It’s summer, ma’am,” the woman said politely. “It’s going to be warm. And the campground is smooth, not bumpy.”

“I don’t care. I demand you find me a suitable place to sleep,” the girl ordered. “Otherwise, I am leaving.”

“Ma’am,” the woman said, her voice tired, “tents are the only lodging we have. You’ll have to make do.” She turned and walked away.

“You’re gonna regret ever saying that,” Autherine muttered under her breath to the retreating woman. “I will get my way.”

To be continued. . .

Kirby of the Stars Stories

Music Camp Pt. 1

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Tiff hurriedly stowed her hairbrush in her suitcase and closed it, snapping the clasps shut. She picked it up and ran out of her room, feeling excitement surge through her. Today was the first day of Camp Harmony, an annual summer camp that her dad, Sir Ebrum, and several other men of Cappy Town hosted just for children. Tiff has always attended in the past, as well as her younger brother, Tuff. But this year was different. This year, Tiff was going to be one of the counselors, as well as Tuff. Bella and Lemu Indiel were serving as counselors as well.

“Ready, Tiff?” Tuff yelled from downstairs.

“Here I am!” Tiff answered, darting down the stairs and almost tripping in her frenzied haste. She set her suitcase down beside the others. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

“Oh, there you guys are!” Bella said, skipping through the front door with her brother and mother, Diana. “I was wondering if you would show up. Well, here we are, ready to start!”

“Be good, children,” Diana said, hugging Bella and Lemu. “Listen to your elders and be gentle with the kids.”

“We will,” Lemu promised.

After Diana left, Bella turned to Tuff and smiled. “Hi, Tuff. I’m glad we’ll be together for two whole weeks!”

“Me too,” Tuff said with a smile.

Lemu grinned at the two lovers and then slipped his hand into Tiff’s. “Are you happy we’re gonna be together?” he asked in a tone so quiet Tiff barely heard him.

“I am,” she said, blushing.

“Hey! Are y’all gonna hurry up and go or just stand there all day?” came a booming voice to Tiff’s right. All four kids turned their heads and saw King Dedede, their ruler. His snail sidekick, Escargoon, was beside him. “You don’t wanna miss yo ride to Camp Harmonica!”

“Dude,” Tuff said shortly. “It’s Camp Harmony.”

“I don’t really care. Get movin’!” Dedede ordered.

“Dedede, Dad’s not here yet. He had to pick up Mom from the store,” Tiff said. “It’ll be just a few more minutes and then we’ll be on our way.”

“Fine, but hurry it along!” Escargoon snapped. As he and the king moved down the hall, Tiff heard Dedede mutter about “goofing off” and “all play and no work.”

“Man! Who does that obese idiot think he is?” Tuff muttered.

“He thinks he’s the greatest king ever and everyone has to worship the ground he walks on,” Bella giggled.

Just then, Sir Ebrum walked in the door, holding his wife, Lady Like, by the hand. Mayor Len was beside them. “Okay, children, get in the mayor’s car. I’ll be there in a moment. Len, can you walk out there with them?”

“Sure,” Mayer Len said agreeably. He walked behind the children as they carried the luggage out and stowed it in the car. As they climbed in, he said with a grin, “Is this all of you counselors?”

“It should be,” said Bella. “Are we missing someone?”

“Oh, not exactly,” Mayor Len said. He continued to grin, making Tiff suspicious. “What are you up to?” she demanded.

“You’ll see,” he said, climbing into the driver’s seat. He buckled up and yelled out, “Come on, Ebrum! Any day now!”

“Don’t be so impatient, I’m coming,” Sir Ebrum said, hurrying outside and jumping into the passenger’s seat. As soon as all were settled, Mayor Len started the car and drove off. Tiff turned around to take a last look back at the castle that had been her home for over fourteen years.

_ _ _

“Are we there yet?” Tuff asked for the fourth time as Bella smothered a yawn.

“Nearly,” said Mayor Len. He pointed to a shimmering expanse of turquoise blue. “There’s Cappy Ocean. That’s near where we’ll be camping.”

“I can’t see the camp from here,” said Lemu.

“You’ll get a clear view of it in a moment,” said Sir Ebrum.

The children remained silent as they kept peering over the line of trees. After a few more minutes of smooth driving, the car slowed and turned onto a narrow dirt road. For a few seconds there was relentless ruts and jars. Then as suddenly as it had begun, the jouncing stopped and the engine cut off.

Tiff took in the sight. Several tents had been set up in a large clearing. Pine needles littered the ground, permeating the air with a sweet, piney fragrance. A fire ringed with smooth, round stones was crackling in the middle of the clearing. Beyond the campsite was a small opening in the midst of the trees, and Tiff could see the ocean.

“I wonder if your boyfriend’s gonna want to scuba with you, Tiff,” Tuff teased, referring to Kine the fish. For some unknown reason, Kine had always liked Tiff.

Tiff scowled. “Don’t even start.”

“Okay, everyone out!” Mayor Len called. They were only too happy to oblige. Tiff was so excited she barely heard her father’s request to help with the luggage. She wandered away from the group, looking up to the blue sky and down to the grass carpet. She had never felt so alive.

“Hello, Tiff.”

Startled by the sudden voice, she looked up. . .and found herself looking right in the sunshine-colored eyes of her mentor, Meta Knight.

To be continued. . .

Kirby of the Stars Stories

Down

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The stars in the sky shimmered as the fireflies flickered and darted back and forth among the crowd of onlookers at the July 4th party being held in the Cappy Town square. But amidst the laughter and cheery chatter from the Cappies, there was a hint of discomfort and unease. Though they were now freed from Nightmare, thanks to the Halberd crowd, some felt a strange darkness still lay over their peaceful land.

Unfortunately. . .

. . .they were more right than they knew.

~   ~   ~

On the outskirts of the town, nestled on a little house, was a large castle. A young woman with bright blond hair pulled back in a bun stood on her balcony, her thoughtful emerald-colored eyes as bright as the fireworks exploding in the sky. It was Tiffany Ebrum, now a beautiful woman of eighteen with two children and a wonderful husband. She recalled how when she was younger, at one interval, on New Year’s Eve, fireworks had been popping just like they were now. She, as a twelve-year-old child who loved marine biology and reading, had been standing beside her friend, Meta Knight, as Kirby battled Sasuke, a monster sent by Dedede to wreck the Cappies’ New Year’s party. The dark conversation that had taken place between her and the soldier still remained in her mind and made her frown:

“Meta Knight, what are you doing here?”

“I came to wish Kirby a Happy New Year. . .if he makes it to the New Year.”

Dark humor, Tiff repeated silently, replaying those two words over and over in her mind. Actually, Meta Knight wasn’t the only one to make use of deadpan delivery. Starmonia often used it too, in her everyday speeches, usually in response to Dedede’s insults or Escargoon’s teasing.

And tonight might play out the same way as it did on New Year’s many years ago, Tiff thought dryly, just not quite in the same way.

~   ~   ~

The fireworks burst into showers in the sky should have given everyone a sense of independence and happiness, but it only made the atmosphere melancholy. Mayor Len’s eyes traveled to the castle, to King Dedede’s bedroom. It was impossible to believe the king was dead, gone from cancer; it would be a long time before anyone would recover from his untimely demise that occurred last Christmas. Escargoon, the king’s sidekick, was later revealed to have given the king a strange drug sent from Night Mare Enterprises that killed him, slowly but painfully. Mayor Len remembered the many visits Dr. Yabui had made to the castle; the sleepless nights Tiff and her family had spent watching over the king; the many seizures and breathless nights he had endured alone; Meta Knight and his subordinates standing silently together, talking in low voices; the fear of death that overshadowed everyone in Cappy Town.

Hana seemed to sense her husband’s thoughts and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Dear, I know you miss the king,” se said in her soft voice. “We all do. But we tried our best to save him. And even if it didn’t work, we can rest in the fact that we tried our hardest to help him.”

“It was all Escargoon’s fault, anyway,” Chief Bookem grumbled. “Man, was I glad to run that slimy creep out of town!”

“I can’t believe he actually murdered our king!” Kawasaki chimed in.

“Do not condemn Escargoon,” Hana spoke firmly but quietly. “What right have we to cast the first stone?”

The others silently respected Hana’s judgment.

~   ~   ~

Standing in the castle courtyard, unwilling to join the in the Fourth of July fun, Meta Knight and his subordinates talked by the fountain. It felt too much like the days when Dedede was ill and needed constant attention. It seemed to the knights they could still see Dedede lying in bed, his face pale; Escargoon’s leering expression and the mask of sorrow he placed on whenever he walked into Dedede’s room. The anger they felt when Chief Bookem declared Escargoon the murderer of the king still roiled in their minds.

“The world will never be the same without our king,” Sword Knight declared in a mournful tone.

“Then again,” came a familiar youthful voice from behind some blackberry bushes, “all of us have our death receipts. When our time expires, so does our life.” The speaker was little Ivene, who, though so small, spoke mountains of wisdom. She stepped out from behind the thorny leaves and spoke. “Hurry, the night is drawing to a close. July 4th only comes once a year. Sometimes the best thing to take your mind off a difficult situation is to have fun.”

“Child, you must understand that such a suggestion is not for everyone who has gone through something traumatic,” Sword explained. “We are still suffering from the king’s death.”

“As am I,” Ivene said, her brown eyes clear in the starlight. The rush of fountain water seemed to back her words as it peacefully bubbled into its marble basin. “But death is just the doorway to eternal life, God says. Dedede knows and he accepted the truth at the end. So let’s be grateful, my friends.” And with that, she was off, disappearing into the warm night.

“Aye, p’haps she’s right,” Blade said. Sword agreed, glancing at Meta Knight, who nodded a little.

~   ~   ~

“You look very distant,” came a voice from behind Meta Knight.

Meta Knight turned in surprise to face Tiff, holding her one-year-old daughter, Pamela, fondly nicknamed Pamu. “I am all right,” he assured her, but his trembling voice betrayed his words.

Tiff stared at him with those same green eyes that had always pierced at his soul. He recalled all too well, when she was a child, when he had been in pain or was going through a hard time. . .if he had lied to her about how he was feeling, she would stare at him wit the look that spoke plainer than any words, “You’re lying. I know what you are saying is not true.”

Though she was not a little girl any longer, those eyes still nagged at him, tugged at his conscience. He looked up to the sky as another firework whistled, its pitch getting higher and higher, until it finally exploded. It seemed to him that was how he felt. One moment he would be soaring higher and higher into the sky of delight and peace, and then his dreams would expire, explode, leaving nothing behind by smoke and particles of what he had once dreamed of.

Tiff walked up to him, shifting her child to her other arm, and she reached out and grasped his hand in a quiet, “I’m here” motion. The touch wasn’t much, but it sparked something in him he hadn’t felt in a while. . .the feeling of knowing someone was always there, always caring, even if he didn’t know it. He turned and hugged her tightly, burying his face in her shoulder as she knelt down and embraced him gently. A light gust of wind swirled past, ruffling Tiff’s dress and rustling the soldier’s cape.

“You’re not alone,” she told him at last. “We all miss Dedede, but we all rejoice knowing he’s okay.”

Meta Knight looked full into her face and smiled at her, though she could not see it. She smiled back, almost as if she knew how he felt. Even little Pamu seemed to sense the joy of the moment and gurgled, “Happy!”

Both laughed and then stood up to go down and watch the rest of the fireworks show.

~   ~   ~

By the time the threesome reached the square, most of the fireworks had already been shot off. But the biggest display was yet to come, as Tiff knew from previous Independence Days. As she and Meta Knight stepped toward the middle of the square, hanging back from the huge firework which Buttercup, Chief Bookem’s wife, was to set off, little Ivene grinned widely, leaped onto the statue of Dedede which had been erected in his memory, and paraded along the base of the throne’s armrest, singing:

“Sometimes it’s hard to see what is in front of me
I need a hand to pull me from the shadows
No shackles on my feet, they’re just a memory
I need Your strength to rise above the shallows.”

The Cappies lifted their voices and began to sing with her.

“I’ve walked through fire and weathered pain
Felt emotion like a hurricane
There’s gotta be a better way
Hear me when I say. . .”

Tiff and her husband, Lemu, joined in with their friends. Meta Knight remained silent, watching the happy crowd.

“I was a wreck
Oh, I was shattered and bruised
Then You tore down the dark
And Your love broke through
Down on my knees
‘Cause I couldn’t be found
Now I’m filled with Your peace
As Your love comes down
Down, down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down, down.”

Then Lemu sang solo.

“I was a broken man living in a broken land
Then You arrived, a love worthy to follow
I could’ve stayed in pain forever and a day
Then just in time, You filled up what was hollow.”

Meta Knight furrowed his brow. That sounded too much like what he had been like before God had come along and rescued him. The thought brought a smile to his lips.

“I’ve walked through fire and weathered pain
Oh, like a hurricane!

I was a wreck
Oh, I was shattered and bruised
Then You tore down the dark
And Your love broke through
Down on my knees
‘Cause I couldn’t be found
Now I’m filled with Your peace
As Your love comes down
Down, down, down, down, down
As Your love comes down
Down, down, down, down, down.”

“Let’s all sing together!” Ivene cried happily.

“I was a wreck
Oh, I was shattered and bruised
Then You tore down the dark
And Your love broke through
Down on my knees
‘Cause I couldn’t be found
Now I’m filled with Your peace
As Your love comes down!”

Meta Knight couldn’t contain himself anymore. As Buttercup struck the match and lit the fuse, he knew he had to sing and celebrate. A wave of overwhelming happiness struck him head over heels and he lifted up his voice to sing with his friends and family.

“I was a wreck
Oh, I was shattered and bruised
Then You tore down the dark
And Your love broke through
Down on my knees
‘Cause I couldn’t be found
Now I’m filled with Your peace
As Your love comes down
Down, down, down, down, down
As Your love comes down
Down, down, down, down, down!
As Your love comes
Your love comes down!”

As the huge firework exploded in a blend of red, blue, and white, everyone strongly finished out the song together:

“Down, down, down, down, down!”

“Happy Independence Day!” Ivene howled, leaping and jumping about with enthusiasm. And then Meta Knight, Tiff, and her family shared a beautiful embrace as the fireworks continued to pop around them, illuminating the warm night.

 

_     _     _

 

The song “Down” was written by Colton Dixon, Ben Glover, and Kyle Lee. All credit goes to them.

Kirby of the Stars Stories

Beauty in Brokenness

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Tiff paused on the castle wall, her jade eyes reflecting worry. Her frightened eyes contrasted sharply with the peaceful orange-and-pink sky; you’d think she saw a ghost. The birds twittered a few “goodnights;” the leaves rustled in the evening breeze; the golden clouds melted into orange and grayish-black. The Booma-Dooma Volcano’s shadows darkened from smoky navy to blurred violet. Dyna Blade’s metallic rainbow wings sparkled in the last rays of the setting sun as she and her chick settled down to sleep.

While the world was peaceful. . .

the atmosphere of the castle was not.

The tension inside the enormous building threatened to swallow the inhabitants whole.

The fear all felt could not be contained.

So what to do?

*   *  *

Tiff was not prepared for her long night, nor what the outcome was to be.

It all started before breakfast.  Tiff was in her room, reading a book, when her younger brother, Tuff, called her down. Reluctantly, Tiff marched down to the breakfast table and found her place, taking her seat just as Lady Like, her mother, waltzed in with the dishes.

“Good morning, guys!” little Ivene cried, leaping into the middle of the table and knocking the teapot off; thankfully, Sir Ebrum caught it before it landed on the linoleum and shattered to pieces. Starmonia sedately swaggered in, her green eyes glowing bright.

By the time the king and his snail sidekick came to breakfast, the rest were half-done with their food. “Hey, y’all could’ve saved some for the rest of us!” Dedede snapped. “Is this how my no-good servants behave toward me, the royal king of Dreamland?”

“Save your thoughtless words and you won’t get hurt,” Ivene, the outspoken one, retorted, her brown eyes flashing. “Maybe if you showed a little more respect toward your subjects, we would show some more toward you.”

Escargoon chuckled and elbowed the king in the ribs. “She’s a mouthy one, huh, Sire?”

“Shut your mouth, you insignificant snailbrain!” Dedede ordered, banging Escargoon on the head. “When I want your worthless opinion, I’ll make sure to ask for it, got it?”

“Okay, fine. Sheesh,” Escargoon mumbled, rubbing his bruised head.

Tiff glanced across the table at one plate still filled. “Um, Mom?”

“Yes, darling?” Lady Like turned from the sink, a puzzled look on her weary but cheerful face.

“Why wasn’t Sir Meta Knight at breakfast?” Tiff asked. “He’s normally here around the same time we are.”

“Maybe he got held up patrolling,” Tuff kidded. “With all the work Dedede makes him do, perhaps he’s sleeping in.”

“Dedede would never allow that,” Sir Ebrum objected.

“Then what the heck is he doing?” Tiff demanded, standing up from her seat. “We should go see!”

“Whoa!” Lady Like objected. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. First of all, you don’t know what he’s doing. And secondly, if he even is doing something, it’s rude to interrupt.”

“But Mom!” Tiff exclaimed in exasperation. “What if something happened? We have to go see him now!”

“If you want to see him, fine,” Lady Like said, returning her attention to the dishes. “Just make sure you knock first.”

“Of course,” Tuff mumbled as she left the room, Ivene, Starmonia, and Tuff behind her. “What else would I do before entering his room?”

*   *   *

Tiff reached the knight’s room and knocked on the wooden paneling. She stepped back, expecting the door to swing open. But nothing happened. The door stayed tightly shut. Tiff raised an eyebrow.

“Ummm,” Ivene said hesitantly.

“Tiff, are you sure he’s in there?” Tuff inquired.

“He’s got to be,” Tiff answered. “Sword and Blade told me he hasn’t been out of his room all morning.”

Tiff knocked again, more insistently this time, but still no reply came from within. Tiff was starting to get extremely bothered; why was her friend not answering? Surely he would have heard the knocks, unless. . .unless something had happened. . .

Tiff grasped the knob and tried to turn it, but it wouldn’t budge. The door was locked!

“The door!” cried Tiff. “It’s locked!”

“What?” Tuff exclaimed.

Tiff sucked in her breath. “That’s it!” she burst out. “I’m breaking down the door!” Ignoring the objections from her friends, she kicked in the door, sending a shower of dust and wood splinters flying into the air. The foursome rushed into the room, only to find it deserted.

“Did anybody check the balcony?” Ivene piped up.

Tuff ran out onto the balcony and came back a few seconds later. “No one’s there,” he reported.

“Then where the heck is he?” Ivene exclaimed, stamping her feet in frustration. “He couldn’t have just vanished into thin air!”

Tiff’s eyes roved around the room until they came to rest on the bathroom door. She frowned. “Um. . .”

“You’re not suggesting we check the bathroom, are you?” Tuff joked. “I, for one, am not interested in doing such a thing. If we are doing so, we should definitely follow Mom’s advice and knock first.”

Tiff hesitantly knocked on the door, but there was no answer. She reached for the knob and slowly turned it, and the door swung inward. She took one glance inside. . .and screamed at the top of her lungs, the blood draining from her face.

“What is it?!” Ivene shrieked, jumping to Tiff’s side. What she saw made her heart leap into her throat. She couldn’t believe it.

Meta Knight was lying unconscious on the floor in a pool of blood!

Ivene was speechless. She felt as though she were going crazy. All she could think of was that Sword and Blade absolutely could not witness this horrible scene; they would freak. After what seemed like an eternity, she found her voice and hollered, “Someone get Dr. Yabui!”

*   *   *

Tiff sat on the edge of Meta Knight’s bed and looked sadly at him. He seemed fine now, but there was something about him that didn’t seem normal. . .was it his color? His breathing? She was so scared she couldn’t think straight. She could never forget the red painting the floor of the bathroom. That image would remain with her for a lifetime.

Dr. Yabui snapped his medical bag shut and stood up. Tiff gazed up at him with worried eyes. “Dr. Yabui, what’s wrong with him?” she begged to know.

Dr. Yabui shrugged. “It appears to me he, er, threw up blood, though I really have no idea why. It seems to me it was caused by extreme stress or trauma, but I don’t know of anything terrible that happened to him, except for the losses and horror he experienced in the army.” He scratched his head. “Does anyone else know something I’m missing?”

No one said a word, but Starmonia noticed Tuff staring at her. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.

Tuff crossed his arms. “I think you know,” he said.

Starmonia stared at him. “Why me?”

“You seem to be keeping a lot of secrets from us,” Tuff replied, “and so I think you know.”

Dr. Yabui frowned. “Starmonia, if you know something we don’t, you have to tell us.”

“It’s not fit for children to hear!” Starmonia shot back. “And besides, I promised Meta Knight I would never tell.”

“You have to tell us,” Dr. Yabui persisted. “We have to know.”

Starmonia knew there was no use arguing with him. She scowled. “Okay, fine,” she muttered. “If you really have to know, there’s no use keeping it in the dark, I suppose.” She sighed deeply. “Sir Meta Knight was abused. . .badly! I will not go into details, but we’ll leave it at that! All right?!”

There was a stunned silence. Tuff looked at the floor. Tiff turned away from Starmonia and looked at the far wall. Dr. Yabui twiddled with his bag. Ivene rolled her eyes to the ceiling, a peeved expression on her face. No one knew what to say; they were all in complete shock.

A knock came on the door and Dedede poked his head in. “Hello, everyone. What’s up? A meeting?”

“Oh, be quiet,” snarled Ivene. “Nobody’s in the mood for your wisecracks. Why don’t you go away and leave us alone?”

Dedede stared round at the solemn faces. “Hey, what’s up? Why do you all look like you’re attending a funeral?”

Tiff sniffled, tears filling her eyes. She ran her fingers over Meta Knight’s limp hand, hating how still he was.

Ivene tossed her head, her eyes glowing with a defiant light. “If you don’t get out of here fast, Dedede, we’re likely to be attending your funeral,” she snapped.

“Whoa!” Dedede held up a hand. “Chill! I’m not here to do anything! I just wanted to know why Dr. Yabui was here.”

“None of your business,” Tuff responded.

Dr. Yabui seemed uncomfortable. “Umm, I think I’ll be taking my leave now,” he said quietly, slipping out of the room, but not before calling, “Call me if he gets worse or does anything like this anything.”

“We will,” Ivene promised.

Dedede was left standing in the room with three angry kids and a silent adult. He felt as though he wasn’t welcome here, probably because he wasn’t. In truth, he didn’t feel as though he ought to be there. But here he was, nonetheless. No one looked at him; no one spoke to him; no one acknowledged him. He felt as though he didn’t exist.

At last, Ivene turned around and her eyes pierced him like a laser beam. “What do you want?” she coldly asked. “If you’re here to make fun of us, then do so. But don’t just stand there saying or doing nothing. You give me the creeps when you do that.”

“Um. . .” Dedede fiddled with his fingers. “Um, well, I just wanted to know what was going on. You all seem kind of upset about something, is all.”

Ivene stood up, her eyes glowing with fierce anger. “Yeah? And since when do you care if we’re upset?!” she cried. “You enjoy making everyone miserable! Ever since my sisters and I first arrived here in Cappy Town nearly fifteen years ago, you’ve done nothing but bother, tease, and humiliate everybody here! You think you’re the star of this show, but you’re not! In fact, you’re lower than anybody I’ve ever met! Even Nightmare himself probably couldn’t hold a candle to you!”

“That’s not true!” Starmonia exclaimed before she could stop herself. Realizing what she had just said, she clapped a paw over her mouth.

Tiff stared at her through shimmering eyes. “What?”

“Uhh, it’s nothing. . .” Starmonia turned away and rolled her eyes, hating herself. . . “I nearly gave away the secret!” she muttered.

Dedede seemed startled. “What is she talking about?”

Before anyone could answer, Meta Knight suddenly stirred and opened his eyes. Tiff was so relieved he was waking up that she forgot Dedede for her friend. “Meta Knight!” she murmured.

“Tiff?” The knight sat up and grasped her hand. “Where am I. . .What are you doing in here?” He looked at the others crowded round the bedside and at Dedede standing by the door. “Why are you all in my room?”

“Ummm, it’s a long story,” Tuff replied. “But long story short, you threw up, passed out in your bathroom, and Dr. Yabui came to find out what was wrong. Starmonia told us you had been abused.”

“Tuff!” Ivene gasped.

Starmonia groaned under her breath. “Tuff, why. . .”

Meta Knight stared at Tuff. “She did what?”

Tuff rubbed the back of his neck, wondering if he should have said that. “Um, uh, she said you, uh, were. . .abused? I guess. . .” His voice trailed off.

Tiff brushed her hand across her eyes. “She said you were abused,” she said, her voice threatening to crack. “She said you wanted her to keep it a secret, but I don’t know why. It’s not like such a horrible thing can be kept in the dark forever.”

“Why did you never tell us?” Ivene asked.

Meta Knight’s grip involuntarily tightened on Tiff’s hand. “It was bad enough living through those memories once,” he whispered. “Why bring them up again?”

“Oh, I don’t think you ever need to bring them up again,” Ivene retorted. “In fact, I bet you think of them all the time and that’s what causes you to stress yourself out and throw up just like you did today. Isn’t that right. Sir Meta Knight?”

Meta Knight was so shocked he couldn’t answer.

“Ivene!” Starmonia hissed through clenched teeth. “Stop it!”

“You know,” Ivene went on, ignoring her sister, “the more you try to keep your bad secrets in the dark, the more they’ll show. And one day, they’re gonna spill over.” She scowled at him. “What else are you keeping from us? Huh? What else have you not told us?”

“Nothing!” Meta Knight replied, but his voice was shaking.

“You saying so doesn’t make it true! Not in the slightest!” Ivene shouted.

“Ivene, I don’t think. . .” Tuff began.

“Quiet!” Ivene ordered. “I’m not talking to you! This is between me and Sir Meta Knight!” Back to the knight. “If you have anything you’re suffering from, tell us now! Now is the time to spill everything that’s bothering you!”

“Nothing is bothering me,” Meta Knight spoke, but his voice was strained with emotion. “I-I’m fine.”

“Fine?!” Ivene shrieked. “Fine?!! I don’t call throwing up, being stressed, having bad nightmares and horrible flashbacks, and not being able to sleep being fine! That’s a total lie, and you know it!”

“Ivene, stop!” Starmonia ordered. “That’s quite enough out of you! And stop yelling! That’s not going to help anything in the slightest!”

Ivene stopped yelling and the angry look faded from her eyes. The room became silent. No one spoke. No one moved. Finally, Ivene looked back at the soldier. “Meta Knight. . .” she said, her voice as calm as calm could be defined, “. . .take off your mask.”

Meta Knight hesitated. He didn’t seem willing to oblige.

“Don’t you see?” Ivene insisted, a slight hint of impatience in her voice. “You’re getting all shut off with your mask on for ages and ages! You need to take it off.”

Meta Knight dropped his gaze to the floor, not knowing what to say. After a moment, he reached up and removed his mask, and for the first time since she was very young, Tiff saw his true face. She gasped in surprise.

Dedede took a step back, startled. He had never before seen Meta Knight unmasked. “Whoa! Uh. . .”

“And now do you see why I always wished to hide myself from the world?” Meta Knight asked, his voice quavering. “I am afraid others will hate me as I hate myself. I blame myself for everything that’s happened to me all these years. I am afraid others will criticize and make fun of me as those who have hurt me in the past did.”

Tiff was shocked by her friend’s words, but even more shocked by. . . “Meta Knight!” she gasped. “Are you crying?” She had never before seen him cry.

Ivene sighed heavily, her high-toned ears wilting. Starmonia sat beside her baby sister, Tuff standing beside the two of them. Dedede was too stunned to say a word.

“M-Meta Knight?” Tiff gently touched his hand. “Don’t cry. It’ll be all right. Really. It will.” Hardly thinking about what she was doing, she hugged him gently, soothingly. He leaned against her shoulder, his body shaking uncontrollably, tears seeping out of his eyes and onto her shirt. She didn’t care about herself; her friends were more important.

“‘It’ll be all right?'” Dedede softly repeated to himself. He pressed a hand to his head, suddenly feeling like he had heard that phrase before. . .many years ago. . .

_ _ _

“Dede?” Little Tiff, aged three years old, slipped into the king’s bedroom. Dedede was lying on his bed, facing the wall, his shoulders trembling. Tiff climbed onto the bed and sat beside him, tapping his shoulder gently. “Dedede aw wight?”

Dedede sniffled and turned over to see Tiff sitting beside him. He was honestly astonished to see her. He had never been nice to the girl and yet here she was, a sincere expression of concern on her face. He wiped his face. “I’m fine, Tiff.”

Tiff didn’t look convinced. “Why Dede cwy?” she inquired, her little face screwing up into a look of sympathy. “Happen?”

“N-No, nothing happened, child. . .” But it was not true. He had suffered from another nightmare about his father throwing him off the turret, but he did not want to admit it. “It’s nothing, r-really. I’m. . .”

Tiff touched his hand. “Dede, why cwy?” she asked again, her voice filled with sadness. “Why?”

Dedede couldn’t answer. He had never felt this before, but strangely, he felt as though Tiff really. . .loved him. Actually cared about him. He had never felt this way before in his life. Another tear slipped down his face as he reache d out and embraced Tiff, who patted him lovingly.

“It be aw wight, Dedede,” Tiff said softly. “It be aw wight. God wuvs you.”

_ _ _

“Dedede?” Ivene asked. “What’s wrong? Why are you spacing out?”

Dedede, startled, snapped back into reality. “Uh, uh, I’m sorry. I was just. . .” Why did I think about that now, of all times? he wondered.

Tiff wasn’t paying any attention to Dedede’s strange behavior. She was too absorbed in comforting Meta Knight. She could vaguely recall comforting several times in the past when he seemed stressed or traumatized, but never when he cried. In fact, she couldn’t recall him ever crying in front of her. But now he no longer seemed to be the strong, stoic knight she had always known. Now he seemed like a broken, fallen soldier who needed to be reminded how much he was truly loved. . .both by his friends and by God Himself.

“Meta Knight, I need to tell you something,” she said quietly, a lump in her throat. “I love you way more than you will ever know, and you cannot comprehend how much I appreciate you being my friend. I hate seeing you upset or unhappy, and I long to make you feel better, but I can’t if I don’t know what’s wrong. I know you have a lot of trust issues and I can respect that, but I wish to goodness you’d be more upfront and honest with me about what’s going on with you.” She sighed shakily. “I know you hate yourself for what happened to you all those years ago, but know God sees something in you no one else could ever see. . .beauty in your brokenness, my friend.” She held him closer as she spoke, and the tears she had been holding back finally spilled over and streamed down her face. “I really want you to know,” she choked out, “that nothing you do will ever shake my love for you!”

Dedede was touched by the scene. He had never really noticed it before, but Tiff and Meta Knight seemed to have a beautiful and intimate bond of friendship. They were always together, always talking, always hanging out, always training, always seeing the good in each other despite their faults. I wonder why I didn’t see it there before? he wondered.

He looked at them a moment longer, puzzlement clouding his features. Then he smiled.

He decided it didn’t really matter why he hadn’t seen their bond before. The important thing was that they had it.

They didn’t care about each other’s pasts.

They didn’t care about each other’s faults.

All they cared about was their loving bond for each other.

And that was how it was supposed to be.

 

-Starmonia

 

P.S. Let me know what you think of the story!

Kirby of the Stars Stories

Praise the Lord!

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(Set after the “Fright to the Finish” movie from Kirby! Right Back at Ya.)

 

It was a warm summer night in Cappy Town. Fireflies flitted about, the stars twinkled and winked at the townsfolk, and bullfrogs croaked loudly and splashed in the river. Tiffany Ebrum and her parents stood on the bridge outside of Cappy Town, watching the stars and commenting on how gorgeous the night sky was.

“A lovely night, my dear,” Sir Ebrum told his wife.

“Yes. I’ve never witnessed a more beautiful summer,” Lady Like replied.

Tiff did not reply. She merely gazed in silence at the water.

 

*   *   *   *

 

“Tonight, we stood on the bridge and watched the stars. They seemed to be smiling down on us. Often, I imagine the stars as angels, gazing down at us and guarding us, keeping us safe from all harm. Everywhere I go, I feel watched. . .but in a comforting way.”

Tiff closed her journal and snapped the lock shut. Placing the brightly colored book on her nightstand and setting the pen on top, she jumped off her bed and walked onto the balcony. There were the stars. . .watching over her just as she had written.

Tiff stood there a moment longer, thinking back over the events of the last few weeks. Recently, her town had been attacked by Destroya ships and had been wrecked to a pile of rubble. She and a few others volunteered to fight Nightmare in the Halberd, Meta Knight’s battleship. Unfortunately, the crew members had been trapped inside the fortress and were forced to abandon the Halberd. Tiff had been kidnapped by Dedede and Escargoon and then ended up in the hands of Nightmare. Luckily, young Kirby came to the rescue and defeated Nightmare with the Star Rod, the only thing the demon was susceptible to.

But now everything was back to normal. . .or was it?

Tiff knew everything ought to be back to normal, but deep down she knew it wasn’t. Something was off. Something was unbalanced. Something was not as it was supposed to be.

Dedede was acting strange, almost sick.

Escargoon was being sly and secretive.

Meta Knight was quieter than normal and never seemed to talk much anymore.

What was going on?

 

*   *   *   *

 

In the middle of the night, Tiff was awakened by a terrible scream. She sat bolt upright in bed, her eyes wide. The sound of running footsteps resounded out in the hallway, and she jumped out of bed and threw the door open. Several of the castle’s residents, including her parents, were hurrying past her room.

“Mom! Dad!” Tiff hollered, darting after them. “What’s going on? Who screamed?”

Lady Like skidded to a stop and stared at her daughter. “It sounded like the king, my dear. But we are not certain. We must check on him! Something could have happened!”

“Yeah, maybe he tripped over the toothpaste tube,” joked Tuff.

But Tiff didn’t laugh. She was beginning to feel fearful. She doubted Dedede would have screamed that loudly from so small an accident. . .What if something terrible had occurred?! Stepping up her pace a notch, she ran ahead of her parents and flung open the king’s bedroom door.

He was not there!

“Oh!” Tiff cried out. “He’s gone!”

Lady Like and Sir Ebrum reached her side and gasped upon seeing the room empty. “B-But I heard him!” Lady exclaimed in disbelief. “I know he was in here. . .” Her voice trailed off when she noticed the balcony doors open. “Why are his doors open?”

Tiff began to get a bad feeling—a really bad feeling—as she walked into the room. She stepped onto the balcony and looked around, but there was nothing unusual. Then she looked over the edge of the railing. . .and spotted Dedede lying on the ground below, unconscious.

Tiff screamed at the top of her lungs, terrified at such a dreadful sight. She felt herself collapsing from shock. She felt someone’s hand grab her arm as she went down, and that was the last thing she remembered.

 

*   *   *   *

 

When Tiff awoke, she was lying across the foot of Dedede’s bed. She shook her head and sat up, staring at Dedede sleeping peacefully. She could clearly see how swollen his head look and how bruised his hands were. She shivered. Though she had never been very sympathetic toward the king, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

There was a tap on the door.

“Come in,” Tiff called softly so as not to disturb the king.

In entered little Ivene, Starmonia’s sister. Meta Knight and Starmonia were with him.

“Hi, guys,” Ivene whispered.

“Hello, Ivene.” Tiff sat up a little straighter. “What are you all doing?”

“We came to check on the king,” Meta Knight said shortly, as if it were completely obvious. Tiff frowned at his tone. Ivene’s brown eyes narrowed.

Just then, Dedede stirred and opened his eyes. He stared blankly at each of them. “Why are you all in my bedroom?”

Tiff sat down beside him. “We heard you scream last night,” she told him. “And then I found you on the ground. Did you fall off the balcony or did someone push you?” But how can anyone push him, she reasoned, if no one was there?

“Um, I don’t remember,” Dedede mumbled, reaching up to touch his head.

“Do you recall anything from last night?” Starmonia questioned.

Dedede frowned, trying to think. “I know I went to bed and then got up because I heard something on my balcony, but that’s it. I don’t recall anything else.”

Tiff dropped her eyes to the bedcovers, feeling very sorry for her king. As she raised her eyes to his face, she again caught side of his head. She shuddered. It looked awful. “Doesn’t your head hurt?” she inquired. “It’s swollen.”

Dedede shrugged. “I’m used to it,” he said. “After all, that’s not the first time something like this has happened to me.”

“What are you talking about?” asked Tiff in a very quiet tone.

Dedede suddenly seemed very uncomfortable. “I’m not certain you want to know.”

“Tell me anyway,” Tiff replied.

Dedede sighed. “Okay.” He looked up to the ceiling, as if trying to gain his memory. “I was born in this very castle nearly thirty years ago. My parents and my older brother and I were a very happy family for nearly twelve years. . .until my dad began to drink heavily.”

Tiff’s eyes widened.

“From that moment on, we were afraid of him. He was loud and brusque and rough with us. He even threatened to burn my mom in her room when she was asleep. He almost followed through with that plan, but one of the servants stopped him. He was tried a few days later and was executed.”

Tiff placed a comforting hand on Dedede’s.

“My mom was heartbroken over my father’s death. She died one night while in bed. No one knows how she died—whether she poisoned herself or died of a broken heart—but she did die. My brother and I were cared for by the servants.”

“So where does your head injury come in?” Tiff gently asked.

Dedede didn’t look at her when he spoke. “It was a summer evening. My father, as was his usual habit, drank heavily. He came after me when I was up in the turret and accused me of being thoughtless and disobedient to his rules. I didn’t have any idea what he was talking about. I tried to get away from him, but he grabbed me and pushed me out the window of the turret. I hit the water, striking my head on a large rock. . .and then all went black.”

Tiff put her hand over her mouth. “Oh, how awful,” she whispered. “What happened?”

“I woke up. . .” The words came out in a choked whisper. “. . .but I couldn’t see anything.”

“Why not?” Ivene asked.

“I was temporarily blinded by my head striking the rock.” Dedede raised his head, tears streaming down his face, his body trembling. “I never forgave him for that.”

Tiff gasped. She didn’t know what to say. She felt heartbroken for her king. She had never known he had had such a bad life. Maybe that’s why he behaves the way he does, she thought sadly.

“I’m sorry that happened to you,” Tiff said softly, her own eyes filling with tears. “I had no idea.” Impulsively, she wrapped her arms around him and embraced him. He buried his face in her shoulder, sobbing. Ivene let out her breath slowly. Starmonia’s face remained unmoved, but her eyes glimmered with a light of sorrow. Meta Knight kept his head down.

“Why is it so easy for one to hurt you,” Dedede cried, “but it’s harder to forgive the one who’s wronged you?”

Tiff was shocked by his question, and in truth, she had no answer. She had never been able to figure that out herself. “I don’t know,” she replied, “but Dedede. . .” She drew back and looked into his blue eyes. “. . .it’s not about the other person. It’s about how we respond to the ones who have wronged us.”

Dedede looked away from her, fighting to catch his breath.

“Hope still walks with us all, Dedede,” Tiff said, “even when we’re in the darkest of moods. Even when we’re in the most desperate place in our lives. Even when we feel as if we can’t go on, as if we have no purpose.”

Then little Ivene began to sing softly:

 

“Joy still comes in the morning
Hope still walks with the hurting
If you’re still alive and breathing
Praise the Lord!
Don’t stop dancing and dreaming
There’s still good news worth repeating
So lift your head and keep singing
Praise the Lord!”

 

Tiff turned and stared at the child for a moment. Then a smile lit up her face. “Ivene, you’ve hit on it!” she declared.

“Hit on what?” Ivene asked, confused.

“The perfect song for the occasion!”

“Occasion? What occasion?” Ivene demanded.

“The place where we are right here and now!” Tiff said. “Why don’t you, Starmonia, and I sing it together? We know the words.”

So they all began to sing together, in voices that blended harmoniously:

 

“What holds your heart?
What stirs your soul?
What matters come to mind?
The cares you keep,
The thoughts you think,
It’s not all wasted time.

Seek and you will find:

Joy still comes in the morning
Hope still walks with the hurting
If you’re still alive and breathing
Praise the Lord!
Don’t stop dancing and dreaming
There’s still good news worth repeating
So lift your head and keep singing
Praise the Lord!”

 

Dedede listened intently as the girls’ lusty voices sang together.

 

“The years roll by,
We wonder why
We lost our way from home.
Our Father finds
The child inside
We left for growing old.

Awake, awake, awake my soul!

Joy still comes in the morning
Hope still walks with the hurting
If you’re still alive and breathing
Praise the Lord!
Don’t stop dancing and dreaming
There’s still good news worth repeating
So lift your head and keep singing
Praise the Lord!”

 

Ivene and Tiff sang the outside lyrics while Starmonia sang the parentheses.

 

“Let everything, let everything
Let everything praise the Lord (Let everything)
In the working (Let everything), in the waiting (Let everything praise the Lord)
Let it praise the Lord (Let everything)
In the blessing (Let everything), in the breaking (Let everything praise the Lord)
Come on, praise the Lord (Let everything)
In the dying (Let everything), the rising (Let everything praise the Lord)
Let it praise the Lord (Let everything, let everything, let everything praise the Lord)
Let it praise the Lord (Let everything, let everything, let everything praise the Lord)
Praise the Lord!”

 

Then all three sang the chorus together.

 

“Joy still comes in the morning,
Hope still walks with the hurting,
If you’re still alive and breathing,
Praise the Lord!
Don’t stop dancing and dreaming, (Don’t stop dancing)
There’s still good news worth repeating, (Sun is shining)
So lift your head and keep singing, (Shining)
Praise the Lord!
Joy still comes in the morning, (Ohh)
Hope still walks with the hurting,
If you’re still alive and breathing, (Oh)
Praise the Lord!
Don’t stop dancing and dreaming, (Don’t stop dancing)
There’s still good news worth repeating, (News worth repeating)
So lift your head and keep singing,
Praise the Lord!”

 

“Praise the Lord we’re alive!” Ivene declared, then giggled with joy.

_____________________

Note: “Alive and Breathing was written by Matt Maher and Elle Limebear and was released on October 10, 2019. All credit goes to them.