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Writing prompts

The Movie Moments

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What’s a moment in my life that felt like it was straight out of a movie?

 

My siblings and I often played together in our backyard. We did what we had always done since we were little children—”make something,” as we put it. In other words, pretending we’re in another time and place and we are different people or creatures.

As I have said before, one of my favorite childhood subjects was Kirby and still is to this day. We would often build our stories based on the anime, but develop it. . .whether it be Dedede falling ill with a mysterious malady and Starmonia and her friends discovering the truth behind Escargoon’s schemes, or Tiff and Meta Knight having an honest, heartfelt talk about whatever’s bothering them.

Those were the times—especially the beautiful, raw, emotional scenes we portrayed—that felt as if it could come right out of a movie.

Books

Book 4: Every Life is Beautiful

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Chapter Two: Baby Birds

 

“Mommy! Mommy!” shouted Cloudy, tearing down the last few feet of the stretch of road, a sense of furious urgency and panic revolving in her mind. Turning, she leapt the pasture fence and crashed hard to the ground, feeling a ripple of pain in her left shoulder, but she dismissed the injury and picked herself up, hurrying to her house.

Meanwhile, on the porch sat Springtime and Liloy, Meta Knight’s foster daughter. They had been contentedly chatting about the unpredictability of the weather and Liloy’s unborn baby when Cloudy’s shout had sliced the stillness of the air like a sword. Springtime looked in the direction of the road just in time to see her youngest child barrel the fence and fall hard on her shoulder.

“Oh my gosh!” cried Springtime, alarmed. She was relieved when a moment later, Cloudy picked herself up, closed the gap between herself and the house, and made a flying leap onto the porch, landing directly in front of the two women. “Hi,” she panted breathlessly.

Springtime and Liloy stared at her unkempt appearance, her tousled fur and askew bow. “What happened to you?” Liloy inquired.

It took Cloudy a full minute to catch her breath. “We need to take care of the baby birds!” she blurted out at last.

“Baby birds?” repeated Springtime. “What baby birds? What are you talking about, Cloudy?”

Cloudy tried again. “The baby birds whose mother was killed in the car accident!”

Liloy shook her head in confusion, her brow furrowed. “Maybe you should go back and start at the beginning, Cloudy,” she said gently.

At that moment, Star and Meta Knight arrived at the scene, the latter still clutching the nest. Springtime cast a bemused gaze upon the nest and then at the soldier. “Meta Knight, can you please explain all of this?”

“Magnus?” Scazzarda, Meta Knight’s mother, opened the front door and stepped outside. “What’s that in your hand?”

Meta Knight sighed and set the nest down on a lawn chair. “We happened to take a shortcut from Whispy Woods to the main road, and we saw a cardinal who was gathering food for her babies. Unfortunately, she. . .she. . .” The knight stopped talking and looked off to the far corner of the pasture.

Star, realizing his predicament, came to his rescue. “The mother cardinal was injured by a passing automobile and died on impact.”

“Oh, no!” Liloy exclaimed, putting her hand to her mouth, eyes wide. “How horrible!”

“Yeah,” Star agreed. “It was awful. Anyway, we dug a grave for the mother and buried her, and then Meta Knight took the nest and we brought it back here so we could raise the babies.”

“Now wait a moment, Star,” Springtime gently broke in. “I’m not sure that will work. First of all, we need to provide a proper housing environment and hydration, feeding, stimulation, monitor growth, and development for these birds, not to mention the healthcare and security they’ll need. Besides, I’m too busy raising you kids. Your father and I just don’t have the time to raise baby birds.”

“You have enough time to raise us, but not enough time to raise these orphaned babies?” Cloudy shot back, her voice rising with fierce determination. “So you’re saying if a poor, starving, abandoned child showed up at our door one day, you would turn him out? Huh? Is that what you’re saying?”

Springtime was momentarily startled. “N-No, that’s not what I’m saying at all! I just meant that. . .” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t know how to respond.

Scazzarda rested against one of the porch pillars, her green eyes sober, her face clouded with uncertainty. “Springtime,” she spoke. Springtime looked up at her. “I think we should give it a try. These baby birds at least deserve a chance to live, don’t they? Every life does.” She smiled slightly and quoted James 1:27, “‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.'”

Springtime mulled over Scazzarda’s words. She’s right, Springtime realized. All life does deserve a chance to live. She sighed. “All right,” she said, “we’ll raise the birds, Cloudy. We’ll try our best to make sure they thrive and live happy lives.”

Cloudy beamed her thanks. Then she frowned a little. “But we have to have the proper supplies and nutrients for the birds. I just don’t know if we can wing that, though.”

“I’m sure we can rustle up something, maybe from the attic,” Springtime smiled, chuckling inwardly at Cloudy’s pun. “In the meantime, let’s get the birds inside and set up a glass cage in the parlor. Then we’ll figure out what we need for them.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Cloudy said.

Scazzarda tenderly picked up the delicate nest, opened the door again, and they all stepped inside, with the exception of Meta Knight and Liloy, the latter asking to wait outside and speak with her father. When the door was closed, Liloy perched on the lawn chair and smiled at her father. “I’ve got the most exciting news!” she sang.

“Your baby will be born this month?” Meta Knight guessed, leaning against the porch railing.

“Well, yes, but I meant my other exciting news.” Liloy giggled in happiness, purposefully stalling just to heighten her father’s impatience. “I went to see Tilry today, and he’s doing much better; in fact, the doctors believe he may even fully recover and will live a healthy, full life!”

Meta Knight couldn’t believe it. This was the first he had heard about any of this. Still, he was overjoyed to learn of Tilry’s possible full recuperation. But he wasn’t about to show it. “That’s marvelous, Liloy,” he said, trying to sound composed and yet exuberant at the same time.

Liloy burst into laughter at his tone. “Oh, Father, stop trying to act all serious about the whole thing! Deep down, I know you’re really very excited, so why not just show it!”

Meta Knight had to laugh at her impudence. “As usual, Liloy, my daughter, you are right!” He scooped her up in his arms, lifting her clear off her feet. “I am very pleased that Tilry’s condition is improving rapidly.”

“Oh, so am I!” Liloy grinned and heaved a sigh of happiness. “I can’t wait for Tilry to see my little baby once it’s born. He’s going to be a dad, you know—and you’re going to be a grandfather!”

Meta Knight rested his hand on his daughter’s, and both embraced each other for the longest time. Liloy felt his grip tighten on her the slightest bit. She understood how much he hurt inside—over his abusive past, over his father Nightmare refusing to act paternally toward him and his sister. She knew it had taken a toll on him, physically, emotionally, and mentally. She wished she could help him, but knew that only God helped those who couldn’t help themselves.

 

* * * * *

 

“Okay, here we are,” Scazzarda announced, bringing into the parlor a sturdy glass aquarium and positioning it upright on the table. “This should be big enough to hold five wriggly, restless little hatchlings.”

“Now we need the heat lamps. I know we have three or four in the attic,” Springtime said.

Just then, Cloudy’s brothers descended the staircase and spotted the nest and aquarium on the coffee table. “What’s going on in here?” Sharkell asked, creeping forward and peering into the nest at the helpless, naked birds bundled together. “What are these?”

“Baby cardinals,” Star explained. “They were in an accident,” and she proceeded to tell them the entire story about the unfortunate death of the mother cardinal and how they were attempting to rear the babies. Sharkell and his brothers listened, fascinated, from beginning to end. But Sniper was unemotional, his face cold.

“Survival of the fittest, I guess,” was his unfeeling response to the heartrending story.

Star glared at her brother, disgust growing on her face. “Sniper, how rude! If your mother was killed in a car accident, would that be your reply?”

“No, of course not,” answered Sniper in a haughty voice. “But then again, I don’t have a bird for a mother, either. Good thing too, ’cause I couldn’t stand eating worms for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”

Yodi, ever the peacemaker, broke in, “Oh, forget him. Let’s just get these birds settled in and comfortable.”

Springtime arranged some clean towels on the bottom of the tank. “Sniper, can you go to the attic and hunt for those heat lamps your grandma gave us a few years ago? They’re in the gray box marked 2GX4.”

“Aw, Mommy! Why do I have to do it?” Sniper complained. “I do everything! Make Waffle do it; he never does anything!”

Springtime looked like she was about to retort, but then a sly smile spread over her face. “Hey, Sniper, what big event is later this month?”

Sniper raised an eyebrow. “Um, well, it’s my birthday—as well as my other siblings’.”

“Exactly,” Springtime declared. “And if you don’t bring those heat lamps as requested, you’re going to be spending a very unpleasant birthday cooped up in your room, along with no presents, no cake, no fun. . .”

Sniper swallowed hard. “Boy, you sure drive a hard bargain, don’t you, Mommy?”

“Take it or leave it,” ordered Springtime.

Sniper thought it over for several seconds, then released a dark sigh. “Okay, I’ll bring them.” He vanished upstairs and was gone for several minutes. After a time, he reappeared with the heat lamps and handed them to her.

“Good, you got them,” Springtime said, relief evident in her voice, taking them, plugging them in, and positioning them over the aquarium in such a way so that all three beams of light merged into one. Then Scazzarda took the birds and tenderly lowered them directly in the spotlight. Their little bodies twitched as they settled together, trying to get warm in the lights’ glows.

“What do we need now?” Cloudy asked eagerly.

“Since they’re not yet fledglings, we need some sunflower hearts, seeds, insects, and mealworms. These can probably be purchased at a local pet store,” said Springtime. “I’ll send Showerstorm into town for it later, but for now, we can probably feed them soft fruits. Star, go look in the pantry and bring me some strawberries and blueberries. Bring a kitchen knife too.”

Star did as directed and soon returned with the necessary accessories. Scazzarda cut them up and then put them into a tiny dish, which next to she set a shallow pan filled with fresh water. “They should be fine now,” she said with a smile. “We’ll have to keep checking on them several times a day, but it’ll be worth it if they survive and live normally. Every bit of effort counts if we want them to grow and thrive.”

Meta Knight and Liloy then entered the house. “Hello,” Liloy called. “Sorry we’re a little late. Are the birds okay?”

“They’re just fine,” Cloudy said. “They’re sleeping.”

Meta Knight walked over to the aquarium and glanced down at the vulnerable chicks. His eyes flashed dark green in anxiety. “They’re so small,” he murmured. “And defenseless.”

Liloy walked over to Meta Knight and placed her hand on his arm. “They’ll be just fine, Father,” she told him. “Just fine. They’ll grow up to be beautiful, healthy birds. You’ll see.”

Meta Knight didn’t seem convinced. “I don’t know,” he said. He shook his head—rather vehemently, Cloudy thought, as if trying to dispel unspoken, dark thoughts lurking within the recesses of his mind. “I just don’t know. They’re so young to be separated from their mother.”

Liloy rested her head on his shoulder. “They’ll be all right.”

Cloudy couldn’t figure out her friend. One minute he was so determined to take care of the birds and make them well again and the next he was uncertain, hesitant about their health, not knowing whether or not they would survive. Why was he always so guarded and pessimistic, she wondered. Why couldn’t he just learn that sometimes a positive attitude was the best medicine there was?

Or is something else going on? Cloudy suspiciously wondered as she watched her friend standing in front of the aquarium, head bowed, one hand clutching the corner of his cape. Liloy stood beside him, her gloved hand on his arm, a warm but worried smile on her face.

Was this a persistent whisper of. . .foreshadowing?

If so, what did it mean?

Writing prompts

The Perfect Ending

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What’s a show that had the perfect series finale?

 

My favorite show of all time is the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! series, which first aired October 6, 2001, and was concluded on September 27, 2003. It follows a baby puffball named Kirby, who crashes in Cappy Town while in his Warp Star. He basically becomes a baby brother to Tiff and Tuff Ebrum, the Cabinet Minister’s children. Together, they work to solve problems, help others, and guard their precious town from being annihilated by Nightmare’s forces.

The first ninety-five episodes were pretty straightforward and always ended the same way—the bad guy was beaten and Kirby always came out the hero. Simple. There were a few times of excitement, suspense, weirdness, and even horror, such as when Kirby battled Kracko; Meta Knight was paralyzed by Wolfwrath’s fang and nobody was sure he’d make it; the animators made a comedic, ludicrous anime of Tiff; and Dedede even tried to murder Tiff by nearly crushing her with his five-hundred-pound Dedede Stone.

With the last four episodes—which altogether made up the “Fright to the Finish” movie—the show got a little more intense. Tiff and Kirby were attacked by Destroya ships, Cappy Town was wrecked, Meta Knight revealed the Battleship Halberd, the crew stormed Nightmare’s fortress, Nightmare kidnapped Tiff, Kirby fought Nightmare while in a dream, and the crew escaped before the bomb they set up exploded. Cappy Town was rebuilt, and everything turned out happily.

But in the Japanese version—titled Kirby of the Stars—as Tiff and Kirby fly away, Nightmare’s voice resounds throughout the air, telling them that as long as fear was in the hearts of the villagers, he would surely return someday. The series ended on a mysterious note as to whether Nightmare would come back. There was talk of a sequel being made to the anime, but it never occurred.

In a way, I debate whether that was the proper ending to the story of Cappy Town and its destruction and fear by Nightmare. On one hand, I wish the story had continued. But on the other hand, maybe it’s best to leave the story the way it is for now. I dream of someone coming along and finishing what the Japanese started. Maybe it’ll start with my writing of Starmonia and her adventures. Maybe it’ll start with someone else. I don’t know.

I believe in this case, it’s not about whether the ending is perfect or not; it’s about how you define the ending.

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!

Writing prompts

Kirby of the Stars!

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What’s a thing I was completely obsessed with as a kid?

 

The thing I was most obsessed with as a young child—and still am now, to be honest—is Kirby. Kirby practically rocked my life! It started out small with the video games and then grew from there. When I was twelve, I created Starmonia, my first noncanon Kirby character, and discovered the anime. From these discoveries were born a whole new idea of bookwriting about the Kirby series—The Adventures of Starmonia!

Understand this, though—never let your passions take over your love for God. If God is the One who gave you the ideas for your dreams, then live them out for His glory! He knows where your dreams will take you if you trust Him. Don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise!

 

 

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.