Chapter Text
PYRRHIC VICTORY
The first boss fight
And finally
Kirby
Latan 'Gantakai issued his orders with a panic fervor, the last 2 artifacts had been, exceptional.
That 'Dream Maker' as the luminary had identified it and the broken painting which was simply described as 'Savior'.
If either were true, then it could potentially change everything.
This, along with all the other artifacts they had collected, made Latan feel it was worth it to retreat and return to high charity.
This battle was lost anyway, so he hoped the High Prophets could forgive him for his failure to succeed.
The ship rocked as another blast hit it, that masked ship, getting away from it was proving difficult.
What remained of the fleet couldn't help either as they were busy dealing with the smaller ships.
And somehow, as if this planet was cursed, humans had arrived and seemingly joined forces with the inhabitants of this planet.
His ship, the Rapid Reverence, couldn't just slipspace away and come back later. He needed to leave NOW.
Then a minor miracle, the fleet carrier arrived.
Latan didn't care if it was a retreat of if it was cause they needed help, it proved a great distraction.
Latan ordered the Rapid Reverence pulled off just as the largest enemy ship took aim at the Carrier.
As the Rapid Reverence fled it received a communication from the Carrier, the Triumph and Transgression.
"Rapid Reverence! Where are you going!?!" Screamed the Fleetmaster.
"We have several important artifacts in storage, we can't allow any of it to be recovered or destroyed. Please give us cover and reteat if you can."
The fleetmaster audibly growled, "Fine! But you will be blamed for forcing our-"
Then an object moving far faster then their systems could track slammed full force into the carriers shields, breaking through like a plasma sword through flesh and punctured the ships hull.
The fleetmaster fell over from the sheer force of the impact, before stumbling to his feet.
"What was that!" He spoke to someone out of sight.
"Unknown- wait, fleet master! We've been boarded!"
"Then get rid of whatever dares to enter the Triumph and Transgression so easily!" The fleetmaster turned back to the screen, "Rapid Reverence you have your order's, get out of here! We will follow."
"Understood fleetmaster! Fight well."
The communications cut off, both subconsciously understanding they would never see eachother again.
X
Thepink thingsquashed any and all foes it came across, Elites, brutes, hunters, even the use of Covenant vehicles inside their own ship couldn't slow it down for more then a minute.
It jumped and rolled out of the way of plasma and grenade fire, all the while armed with the Covenant's own plasma guns.
It was approaching the command center...the fleetmaster would face it down with what little forces he still had.
He turned to the Covenant under his command.
"Elites! Thatpink thingcomes. Today we shall show this misguided warrior just how powerful the Covenant are!"
The speech had it's in intended effect, with his elites roaring as if already assured of victory.
He knew better, this thing, whatever it was, would kill them.
They stood little chance, but they would fight, for the glory of Covenant!
X
These people were very mean. Like, they tried to hurt his friends and ruined his picnic. No one could hurt his friends and get away from it!
ThoughKirbyhad to admit, these weapons were very cool, he even got a new ranger copy ability out of it!
Covenant Ranger
Shame that it belongs to these meanies, maybe afterKirbygets all these people to stop being mean they can trade some stiff with Susie,Kirbythinks she'll like that.
Looking down at his new pop-gun weapon which Kirby had dubbed theNovaPistol,Kirbycouldn't help but wonder what cool things Susie could make from all this.
More of those tall ones came in, flanked by the smaller ones.
Blue, red, white, in the highest numbers he had yet seen.
Kirbyrolled out of the way of incoming energy fire as timed slowed, taking aim at the tall ones and charging it up, letting it rip as the hugestarshaped energy shot ripped through the tall ones, their cool shields unable to stop it, as it's energy arched through the smaller ones.
Seeing some had themselves rolled or jumped out of the wayKirbysummoned a arm-mounted shield thingy along with a new dubbedNovaRifle and sprayed at the remaining foes as they sprayed back, with some arm-mounted shielded people walking forward.
Jumping back and chucking aNovagrenade at the advancing enemies, sticking one and causing the others to panic as they tried to runaway from the grenade.
Thestar-likeexplosion destroyed the remaining enemies despite their attempt to get away.
Running through the purple interiors and breaking through a locked door.Kirbycame faced to faced with one of those tall ones, though this one had bright golden colors in comparison to the others.
"And so the warrior arrives, you have come far from your planet and so you deserve a worthy end. Yet the threat you pose, it's on the level of the curseddemons! You can't be allowed to leave alive, and so I! Fleet master Jeta 'Rerom, shall send give you the grandest end you could recive!"
...Sooooo Jeta wanted to fight? AlrightKirbywas more then ready for that!Kirbymoved to a fighting stance, ready for whatever Jeta could throw at him
The Fleet master pressed a button and sirens blared throughout the ship. "They ship will become your tome warrior, the explosion will rip you to atoms!"
Timed fight? That's bad! How will Jeta get out when this place is going to go boom!
Kirbydidn't have time to finish that though as Jeta pulled out an energy sword that Kirby has seen some of the other tall ones use and stance up.
Covenant Fleetmaster
Jeta 'Rerom
Jeta charged the pink puffball, swinging his sword to try and cutKirbyin 2. It was easily dodged, andKirbycountered with a flurry of plazma fire.
Raised his sword to block the incoming plasma as he slowly became more transparent, tillKirbycouldn't see him at all.
But it wasn't perfect, Kirby noticed Jeta hopping onto the holographic table before launching himself atKirby.
Kirbycharged and fired a low level charged shot from hisNovapistol, hitting Jeta directly in the chest, causing his shield to fizzle out but was not strong enough to stop the momentum of Jeta's attack.
Kirbyelected to block the attack instead of dodging, soKirbyraise his little nubs as awhite blinkingenergyalong with his energy shield surrounded his body, the sword still stung, but this left Jeta open forKirbyto smack him in the face with his foot.
Kirbyraised hisNovarifle but Jeta kicked the weapon away, then jumped away as he threw a grenade atKirby.
Kirbyresponded by tossing his ownNovagrenade, the 2 connecting in mid-air, sizzling for a second before exploding in abeautifuldisplayoflight.
Jeta jumped through the smoke, to late to realize thatKirbywas charging hisNovapistol, so slow to interruptKirbyas he reached max charge and let the weapon rip with a furious thunderclap!
Jeta tried to jump to the side but it was little to late as theStarshaped energy ripped right through the entire right half of Jeta's body, with the rest being fried from the the energy cascading into Jeta's body.
Deathwas instant.
...Kirbylooked at the body, a poor taste growing in their mouth.
They-
They didn't like this, they didn't think he'd be so...frail.
He looked at the body, wondering when it was gonna poof or vanish into smoke like so many of the other enemies kirby has had to deal with.
But then again, the rest were just like him, he'd barely registered it before but no one else on this ship poofed or vanished after he best them.
Did-
Was he?
No
No no no no NO!
They had a solution they just um-
Ah
That might work
Kirbyraised their arms into the air summoning thefriend heartfrom another adventure.
Tossing it onto the body of Jeta, Kirby watched as the magical energy flowed into him.
Kirbycould feel it, there was nothing there- but it wasn't the first time he'd felt that in one of his friends.
Kirbyplaced his hands on top of Jeta's body, wincing as the superheated flesh and armour came into contact withKirby'sskin.
They pushed theirenergyinto Jeta aslightfilled the room.
Then as thelightfell andKirbylooked at the body...nothing had changed.
SoKirbytried again, and again nothing came of it, and again, andagain.
Kirbyhad all but forgotten about the ship about to explode, this was far more important.
Kirbyrefused to give up, he closed his eyes and grabbed at whatever he could. He found...something,something leaving quickly.
Tugging it backand having hisenergyenvelope Jeta,Kirbyrefused to close his eyes as thelight grew brighter and brighter till it threatened to blindKirby.
Then it began to fade,Kirbylooked over the body of Jeta once more...and sighed in relief was ragged and pained breaths came out.
Kirbyreacted quickly, taking out a food capsule that contained a maximum tomato and basically shoving it down Jeta's throat.
Jeta couldn't help but stare in amazement as his burned and charred skin began to heal right before his eyes, his right arm and leg, which was completely vaporized byKirby'smax chargeNovashot, regrew in a matter of seconds.
What was pained and labored breathing turn into far less painful and much more normal breathing asKirbystood over him, relieved that Jeta didn't meet a unfortunate end.
Unfortunately forKirbythat might still happen.
The ship shaked and began to rupture as the self destruct system finished it's thing, causing the ship to begin exploding and filling it with great purple flame, burning anything still alive on the ship to cinders before exposing it to the vacuum of space.
Kirby, with barely a couple seconds to think took off his helmet and shoved it on top of Jeta's own helmet.
Picking him up and summoning thewarp starKirbylached onto it as it rammed through the ships hull just before purple flame turned the room into ash.
AsKirbyflew through spacs on thewarp star, Jeta clinged onto the side, the helmetKirbyforced onto his head helping him breath in space.
All the while questions screamed through his mind.
Why did this warrior save him?
Did the ship with the artifacts make it?
How did this planet produce such a warrior?
Why-
Why did things seem so clear?
X
After Kirby's victory over the Fleet master the rest were comparatively easy pickings, their were still loose groups of Covenant on Popstar, but none could threaten it majorly.
They'd be rounded up in time and peace could return to the planet.
And so Meta Knight decided to contect everyone to check up on the damages.
"Halberd to all allied, come in allies."
"We're reading you Meta Knight" came Susie's voice quietly relieved at how the battle turned out.
"Your clear Halberd" the Road Not Taken's commander responded still on guard.
"We're heading you loud and clear Halberd" came Hannibal in disbelief at the seemingly few casualties for their side.
"All systems up and running Meta Knight" magolor said with a cheer at having won the battle.
"Report, what are our casualties."
"Road Not taken reports no casualties...at all" if Grover Riggs was on the otherside he sounded surprised in the most positive way possible.
"It's much the same on the Hannibel, no casualties."
"The Lor Starcutter was barely scratched by those Covenant idiots. Dispite their inadequacies this was-" Meta Knight tuned the rest of what magolor said out as it was clearly not important.
Susie's voice came next, "My ships are beaten and bruised but not broken. We've suffered a few casualties unfortunately and one of my ships had to flee entirely. They were going to get reinforcements but it seems that wasn't needed."
Meta Knight mused about the information, all in all a resounding success he would say.
"So a total victory then."
"Not likely Meta Knight" Magolor said, "one of the shops got away, and seeing that it was the one that went towards the planet it likely took more then a few artifacts from Popstar."
The tone was almost accusatory.
"Then we must get ready to take after them, a meeting will likely be called to decide what to do and we can discuss it there."
"Not to chime in on your business but we should leave." Road Not Taken had stated, " the U.N.S.C must know of this for future endeavors."
Ah so they were leaving already.
Good, the sooner this U.N.S.C knows the better this will go.
"Then go Road not taken and hannibel, no one will move to stop you."
"Have a safe trip, I'd not want to fine the carcasses of your ships" Magolor cheekily said.
And so the group split, the Road Not Taken and Hannibal flying back through the portal as the Halberd and Lor Starcutter set down on Popstar, Susie's fleet remained in space as she would have to inform her reinforcements of the situation.
