Chapter 2

The HATE monster didn't just disappear after that day, but it ran throughout Cappy Town, destroying houses and crushing cars and people. Kirby could only watch in sadness, knowing that there was no way he could defeat it.

Tiff really felt sorry for him, but when he didn't touch his food (or anybody elses) at dinner, she knew he was REALLY down. So that night she went to visit him again.

He was there, crying again.

"Kirby, please don't cry." She said, sitting next to him. "We'll find some way to stop it, I promise."

He didn't even lift his head this time, and he continued to cry.

She was crying inside too. She hated to see this brave Star Warrior cry like this. She had imagined a Star Warrior to be tall and handsome, not pink and poofy… but she thought Kirby was incredibly cute anyway. And she really liked him.

She put her hand on his back. "Kirby, listen to me." The puffy boy obediently raised his head.

"We're going to stop this thing. Together. You and me."

He gazed at her, puzzled. "Oo and me?"

She smiled. "Yeah. I know that if you and I really try, we can do it!"

"Ow?"

Now SHE was puzzled. "What?"

" 'ow you know?"

He had just asked her a question! He really WAS talking!

"Well, because…" She found herself gazing into his large, sparkling eyes again. "It's just that… I don't know… I like you a lot, Kirby."

Now he was smiling. " 'ike you too!"

"Oh, Kirby!" She grabbed him and hugged him tight. "Let's go get that monster!"

"Shouldn't our little hate mongerer have come back by now?" Escargoon asked, looking out over Cappy Town through his binoculars.

"Nonsense!" said King Dedede, "That thing is like a well trained dog! He comes back when he's done doing his business!"

"And you're sure there's no way Kirby can defeat it?" the snail man asked, slithering back inside.

"Positive. Heck, even I don't know how to beat it. I don't think that monster salesman guy knows how!"

"Gooood. Then Kirby will have no choice but to run back home! Ahahahahah! ERK!"

"Yo, snail boy," Growled Dedede as he peeled Escargoon off the bottom of his mallet, "I'm da evil plotter around here, not you."

Tiff and Kirby ran towards where the HATE monster was resting, the eyes between the A and the T closed tightly.

"Okay, here's the plan," Tiff whispered, "Inhale those rocks over there, then while I distract the HATE monster, you crush him flat!"

Kirby smiled and winked. "Kirby!"

Tiff kissed his cheek. "Good luck."

Kirby jumped up and kissed her on the cheek as well. " 'ood 'uck!"

Tiff ran in front of the monster and pounded on it. "Hey! Hey, wake up, you big brute!"

The monster's eyes popped open. "Grr, I HATE being woken up!"

"And we hate YOU destroying our village!"

"I HATE your village!"

Tiff noticed Kirby floating above the monster's head. "Do it!" She cried.

Kirby started to glow, and he turned into a huge rock and landed on the HATE monster. Nothing happened.

"I HATE rocks!" It screamed, tossing Kirby over a cliff.

"Noooooo! Kirby!" Tiff wailed.

"I HATE you, too!" The monster picked Tiff up and also threw her over the cliff, where she landed hard, unconscious.

Kirby, being quite resilliant, had picked himself up from pancake form, just in time to see Tiff land on the ground a few feet away!

"Tiff!" He cried, remembering her name. He ran to her side and shook her. No respone. "Tiff! Tiiiiifff!!!" Still no response.

Kirby flew up to the edge of the cliff to call for help. "Kirby! Kirby Kirby Kirby!!! KIRRRBY!!!" But nobody came. Not knowing what to do, he flew back down, picked up the injured girl, and flew her back to his house.