Months have passed and gone…

And so, I was back on my own. However, I went to more places around Dream Land rather than Cloudy Park. I haven't heard lately from Kirby or any of his friends, but I was fine. Though this place was Dream Land, I'll always have a dream land that exists only within my mind.

I was at a quiet forest brimming with autumn, which was not too far from Kirby's Pad. It was a place where my creative thoughts could go external... well, besides making my creations come to life. I was on top of an excised piece of bark, painting the forest's beauty. Something about the forest didn't seem right when I came there… there was an uneasy air around it. It must be my imagination, though. After all, this is the first time I'm ever come to a place like this.

I suddenly hear a startling, odd noise. I look around, but only to find a dazzling crystal rolling by my feet.

"Huh? What is this…?" I analyzed it... I didn't look like it was from around here...

"Hmmm... this luminous object might inspire me further. Should I draw a night sky after I'm done with this? There's much I could do with a beautiful crystal like this!"

I turn back to my easel, but a strange shadow with a horrifying eye emerged from it! It was looking at my crystal...

The shadow lunges at me… and I become consumed by darkness. This was all becoming too familiar. I felt as if my mind was absorbing dark thoughts. But… why does it feel so good? Wasn't… Dark Matter composed of this as well…?

...

End of the Forest

"Oh... Agh... Huh?"

I regain consciousness... but... why am I lying on the ground? As I look around, a fairy flew towards me. I never saw anything like her around here...

"Are you okay?" the fairy asked.

"I... I think so. I was consumed by the darkness again…"

I turn my head to find Kirby celebrating with a Waddle Dee. Kirby seemed to be carrying the crystal that I found earlier. What was he here?

"Kirby! Is that you?"

"Poyo!" Kirby greeted me, and explained the whole situation.

Apparently, Dark Matter's conquest is not over, and he's causing more trouble outside of Pop Star this time! The fairy, Ribbon, is the only survivor of her homeworld, Ripple Star, which was taken over by Dark Matter. It seems that the crystal I found was a big threat to him, so he scattered its power to various worlds...

"I see. It seems that the galaxy isn't saved completely yet. How depressing. But... maybe I can help you in some way, Kirby! I would love to join you on your adventure! Maybe I could draw the credits when you defeat Dark Matter again! I'll call this: Kirby 64, the Crystal Shards!"

"Poyo!" Kirby invited me. Waddle Dee nodded with a serious expression.

The crystal I found was fusing with the other crystals that Kirby and Ribbon managed to find together. It seemed to have a mind of its own, since it flew to the direction where King Dedede's castle was. Does that mean King Dedede has some crystals in his castle? We decided to follow the crystal.

"Let's go!" I cheer, as I followed the crystal.

"Tee-hee! That boy is fast, as well as enthusiastic," Ribbon smiles. Kirby closes her mouth, but it was too late. I went all psychotic again.

But she managed to live afterward, so don't worry.

…

King Dedede's Castle

We infiltrated King Dedede's castle without the king's permission… we are all going to be in big trouble! However, Waddle Dee assured to us that it would be okay. I forgot he was one of the king's troops. All of us got lost in King Dedede's Castle, since it was quite a fortified maze. Fortunately, I was able to help Kirby when I encountered him. I threw him a Maximum Tomato I painted using my mobile easel.

We all managed to regroup later, and we made it to the roof of the castle, where the greedy penguin we all know well was at. King Dedede was observing Dream Land, until he found a shard of the crystal lying untouched on his castle top. He saw Kirby reaching for it, but he snatches it away and sneers. Kirby tries to persuade him... but Dedede showed no interest in his pleas. I glanced at Ribbon, who had fire in her eyes. Before she could intervene, something attacked both of them! It was... a minion of Dark Matter?

"T-That's the thing that attacked me!" I stepped back as I recognize the darkness.

The minion goes toward Dedede and possesses him the same way it did to me. He was like a completely different person... We have to save him!

Kirby swallows the dark-manipulated projectiles he tosses at him, and spits them back out. This was effective as usual… but possessed Dedede attacks us with a chomping attack from his dark-filled belly. I scream and dodge the attack. Kirby finishes him off with a Cutter attack.

The minion flees, and Waddle Dee went to see if his Highness was alive and well. Ribbon, Kirby and I went ahead and followed the crystal. It was... acting unusual. The crystal suddenly opened a portal that leads to a new planet... known as the Rock Star.

"Let's go in," Ribbon says. "There must be more crystals over in this planet as well."

We were about to advance, but then a prickly root attacked the three of us. Ribbon and I were unable to recover, and we became captivated in a cage of tree roots. What's going on?!

Peering through the cracks of the roots, Ribbon and I saw Kirby fighting Whispy Woods, who looked very violent. The forest king… he was a victim to Dark Matter during the first conquest. After Kirby defeated Whispy's minions, he proceeds to fight Whispy. Ribbon was fascinated as I looked in her gleaming eyes. Has she known Kirby for long?

Whispy was defeated… but he was free of the darkness consuming him. Ribbon and I were freed, and the other two followed behind us. King Dedede seemed to be concerned for Waddle Dee's well-being… but it sure took a lot of convincing.

After Waddle Dee and the King caught up, all five of us jumped in the crystal's portal that led to the Rock Star.

I already feel homesick...