Phazon: Okay, long story short, Kirby triumphed over Pix and the gang proceeded to Aqua Star. Their story picks up here, and I tell you here now, this Kirby 64 story will be fleshed out from top to bottom, regardless of how long it takes…or how many times I have to look over the game to remind myself of what was there. Either way, enjoy.

And by the way, a question for the readers: This whole thing with Ribbon acting like the mother figure to the brat Adeleine, I wanted to know if readers think I should keep this whole mini-arc thing here. As far as the whole spanking thing goes, no, I'm not some freak who has desires for that, nor am I some commandeering person who likes to abuse people. For those who do such things, I don't approve of it, in some senses. Anyway, it's all played for comical purposes, though I don't know when I'll actually have Ribbon do something to Adeleine, who, in this fic, is just a little brat. Back to the point, if you think I should do away with the whole thing altogether, let me know, though I do plan for something to happen a few times even before the gang reaches the end of their journey. Just let me know, because I want to make it as humorous as possible.

Disclaimer: The characters, storyline, setting and all of that in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards belong and are the sole property of Nintendo and HAL Laboratories only, and I don't have them locked away in chains anywhere. Best to get the legalities out of the way before someone tries to sue. I aim to give the readers something to enjoy, but not have my story deleted by an NOA executive.

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Blue Skies and White Sands

Adeleine knew something was wrong when she realized she had sand in her shoes and the waves were quietly lapping at her legs, but she was aware of one thing and one thing only: she wasn't on Rock Star.

"Well," she muttered to herself as she gathered her art supplies, "looks like we made it."

"And it's a nice time to cool down from all that heat, too."

Adeleine was surprised to see Ribbon floating behind her, a smile on her face and all. The painter cowered in fear, moving away from the fairy.

"Don't do it! I haven't done anything wrong…yet."

Ribbon placed her hands on her hips. "Adeleine, I've no intention of spanking you just yet, but due to your behavior on Rock Star, something is coming. You can count on that."

From a distance, Kirby, Waddle Dee, and Dedede were waiting for them while sitting in some sand chairs they had formed. Dedede sighed.

"How long until Ribbon actually makes good with her threat?"

Kirby shrugged what would be his shoulders and looked at the flying seagulls overhead. "Whenever she does, we'll always be the first to know. I don't wanna sound cheap, but it feels good to finally have beaten the heat."

Eventually, they were ready when Ribbon was dragging Adeleine by the ear, all prepared to leave.

"Okay," Ribbon said, giving a tug to the painter's ear, "let's get those shards."

The gang began walking the long sandy path until their feet left the sand and reached palm avenues. Though they were high up, they were surprised to see that there were fences lined in what appeared to be a deserted locale.

Up ahead was a Pompey, which was spewing rocks every which way, though it stopped with a quick flattening administered by Dedede's hammer.

Further down the lane was another sputtering and flopping Flopper fish, which got Adeleine's attention. She would have kicked the fish, but she remembered what happened when she tried a previous stunt on Rock Star, or what would have happened if she had continued with her stint.

They saw some holes in the distance, four to be exact, but nothing appeared to be in them. Waddle Dee cautiously approached one of the holes and was about to pass over it, when Whoosh! A Flopper came flying out of the hole and nearly swallowed Waddle whole, his body now covered with water from the splash made when it landed.

Kirby rushed to Waddle's side and patted him on the back. "Lucky you didn't get caught, but now you know."

It took no time at all for everyone to get across the traps, though Adeleine could've done without kicking one of the Floppers just for fun. Kirby absorbed the Bobo that was running back and forth and felt the need to combine it with a Kapar creature that was unsuccessful with throwing its crown. From this new mixture came the flaming sword, making another appearance since Ribbon first saw it on Pop Star.

Kirby charged forward, swinging the flaming sword through numerous foes and enemies. Soon enough, the sandy path came to an end and everyone came to a standstill. Ahead of them appeared to be an entrance to a cave, but they'd have to traverse a very skinny bridge with tiny islands throughout with Glunks inhabiting them. Kirby and Ribbon took the high route and flew over, though Ribbon had a bit more trouble, seeing as she wasn't planning to let go of Adeleine's ear. Waddle Dee and King Dedede were able to blaze through the barrage of Floppers and Glunks that got in their way. Soon, all five ventured into the mysterious cave.

Adeleine, who, for the moment, had been freed from Ribbon's grip, stared at the strange drawings of blue stars, rocks, and other things plastered onto the cavern walls.

"Well, I'd say that someone here obviously liked using their crayons."

Of course, Adeleine, being the painter, got stares from everyone else, who glared at her with suspicion in their eyes. She felt the need to defend herself.

"I didn't do this! I may be kind of bad…"

"Ahem," Ribbon interrupted, "kind of bad is an understatement. Now," Ribbon continued, glancing at the cave's structure, examining and looking for a way out, "the exit is probably up there, but what's with these strange green thingies?"

Ahead, up where a Kany was furiously pinching, above it was a mysterious green ball like thing, which appeared to have a gelatinous structure to it as it floated in midair.

Warily, but curious, the pink puffball looked to the Kany crab and asked for his attention.

"You there," he began, "what's with the green thingies?"

The Kany stopped pinching and looked towards the star warrior. "'Tis a launcher, my friend. Jump in and you'll receive a nasty surprise."

Before Kirby could respond, the Kany waddled around and shoved the puffball into the green ball, where he was suspended.

"Kirby!" Ribbon exclaimed. "Can you breathe in there?"

But Kirby didn't answer; he was soon launched from the green ball higher and higher and higher into the air where he landed on another platform. After regaining his composure, he looked over the ledge where the others were.

"They're safe," he called from above, "and they're not dangerous!"

Not taking any chances, Ribbon just flew to Kirby's level, but was happy enough to let her friends try the mysterious blob thing.

Adeleine looked to Waddle Dee, who looked to King Dedede.

"Rock, paper, scissors for who goes first," Dedede suggested.

"Deal."

"Got it."

And the short game began. One…two…three!

"Paper covers rock!" Adeleine shouted.

"Rock smashes scissors!" Dedede added.

"Scissors cuts paper!" Waddle intervened.

"Paper covers rock!" Adeleine shouted…again.

"Rock smashes scissors!" Dedede added…again.

"Scissors cuts paper!" Waddle intervened…again.

"WAIT!" Dedede finally said. "Adeleine goes first because…well, it's ladies first."

Adeleine was outraged and began to stomp her feet. "I won't do it and you can't make me, so nyah!"

Waddle smirked. "We'll see about that." He then looked to the platform where the others were. "Oh, RIBBON!" Fear was now in Adeleine's eyes. "Adeleine's not behaving properly!"

Ribbon's wings began to flap rapidly as she floated in the air. "Oh? Do I need to come down there and administer some--"

"I'm goin, I'm goin!" Adeleine interrupted, not wanting to incur any more wrath from what was now her mother on this voyage. The painter jumped into the green ball and was instantly catapulted onto the higher level alongside Kirby and Ribbon. Waddle Dee and Dedede soon followed suit. They followed up by hopping into the next green blob that launched them even higher.

Just as Kirby was about to jump into the next green catapult blob, Ribbon pulled him back and showed him the Crystal Shard, which was beginning to glow.

"Guess we better do some exploring around here first?"

"Pfft," Adeleine scoffed, "what you ought to do is look up?"

In an instant, Ribbon whipped around and slapped Adeleine on her cheek, throwing the painter off guard.

"What was that for?"

"For being a smart aleck!" Ribbon harshly replied.

Kirby tapped the fairy on her shoulder and whispered. "Um, Ribbon…there's a shard above us."

It was then that everyone except Adeleine looked up and saw that there was, indeed, a Crystal Shard fragment floating above them, just ripe for the picking. As usual, Ribbon seized the opportunity and grabbed the fragment, but she figured she may as well go ahead and stay at the top level. This meant that everyone once again had to use the catapults, though when Kirby was launched, he found himself blasting through not one, not two, but three Scarfy creatures in the process, which would certainly save him some time.

Finally, they could have a clear view of the exit, and the only thing in their way was a couple of floating platforms that could spell certain doom if one was to lose their balance. No worries, though, as the platforms were occupied by some peace loving Pteran birds.

Adeleine picked up a rock and chucked it at one of the Pteran birds to get its attention. "Hey, birdies, wake up and give us a hand!"

Okay, not so peace loving when an immature little brat is throwing rocks at them, but still birds nonetheless. They seized upon Adeleine's hat and flew off with it.

"Oh, that DOES it!" Adeleine growled, whipping out her easel and immediately painting herself a jet pack. She chased after her attackers and retrieved her hat…all while getting pecked in the process.

The others crossed the platforms and walked through the exit shaft of the cave, with Adeleine yet again being dragged by Ribbon.

They entered yet another cave, and immediately came face to face with an Emp; cute little penguins that scurried away when they sensed danger. Apparently, this one wasn't quick enough to evade being sucked into Kirby's mouth of no return.

Adeleine approached the puffball, who seemed to be turning blue.

"Kirby, you alright?"

She received no response, as Kirby turned full circle and sneezed on her. But instead of mucus and nasty germs coming in contact with the painter, Adeleine found herself covered from head to toe in icy goodness. She was frozen solid, showing that Kirby now had a new friend – Ice power.

"Hmm," Dedede pondered as he tapped the frozen statue of the painter girl, "I like it. I like it a lot."

"Me too," Waddle added as he began pushing Adeleine's frozen body.

They began moving steadily across skinny bridges that, for some reason, collapsed when one was on them for too long. Not even the Cairn creatures bouncing up and down caused the bridge to collapse, but the suspense didn't end there.

There were some strange holes within the walls with sets of eyes that followed the traveling group. Upon approaching one, Kirby was pulled back by Dedede before he was swallowed whole by the Glom frog that lived inside the whole. Its vibrant green skin and wild red tongue didn't go unnoticed by the gang.

"And this is why you always look both ways before crossing in front of the strange, kooky hole," Dedede said.

Continuing with their traverse across the skinny bridges, they found before them a Poppy Brother, armed with a bomb in both hands. Kirby removed the blue crystal and tossed it, and the Poppy was not quick enough to avoid. Thus, a blue and black elemental crystal was created.

"Well, guess we'll find out about this one soon enough," Kirby said.

Walking through entrance paved the way for…yet another cave, but something different about this one. Strewn throughout their paths were waterfalls, and a strange spear chucker perched upon a platform…chucking spears.

"Those are Yarikos," Waddle explained, "all they do is throw their spears. They never get into any real combat."

Kirby didn't notice the spear thrown his way until it was too late. He immediately embraced himself, unknowingly activating his new power combination: a frigid snowman that detonated when the arrow found its mark. Upon seeing the explosion, the Yariko, not willing to die that way, scurried off.

"Guess we know now," Kirby concluded.

It took no time at all to get pass all of the obstacles, Kapars, Galbos, and Flopper fish, as well as it took Adeleine to defrost from her frozen prison. They walked into the next room and the door behind them immediately was sealed shut.

Immediately, a giant Tick creature materialized in the center of the bridge. Its sweet, innocent eyes turned evil as a giant spike protruded from its top towards the ceiling.

Kirby began slipping under the bridge and saw a tiny platform directly under the giant Tick.

"If I can stand under it long enough, I can blow it up with this new snowman thing. Waddle, Dedede, you guys get the little ones."

"Got it," they called.

Waddle took the tiny Tick on the left, Dedede on the right, while Kirby became a ticking time bomb instantly underneath the Tick. He detonated a total of four times to destroy the creature, which opened the doors, but the platform Kirby was standing on began to descend until he came face to face with another crystal shard fragment.

Kirby smirked. "Well, what do you know? Looks like ice know how to find the shards."

"Bad…" Ribbon said with a figurative gray cloud above her head at Kirby's bad joke. "Let's keep going."

They found themselves back outside in the beach area, only having to contend with more of those meddlesome holes, but they didn't just hide Flopper fish this time, now they were hiding Kapars as well.

Soon, they found a large bridge like area with a huge waterfall surrounding it. Floating atop the bridge was a Zoos creature: little yellow guys that float in dark clouds and throw lightning bolts at their enemies.

Kirby, upon crossing the bridges, found he could slip through the bottoms and ended up at the bottom itself. He soon found himself staring at a strange black and blue checkerboard platform. He then realized that he had both an ice and bomb combo. Transforming into Frosty the Bombman once again, he stood over the platform and exploded, shattering the platform and falling into another one of those green blob thingies. It launched Kirby through the mountain structure and he was shot skyward, eying a shard fragment that he was able to eye just in time before he passed it.

Regrouping with the others, Kirby and the gang approached the end of the sandy beach path, not knowing where to go next. That is, until Adeleine approached the edge of the cliff and began prancing about.

"We've got three shards on here so far, they could be anywhere around here! And I mean--"

Adeleine lost her footing and slipped, her entire now body now overtaken by the full force of the waterfall she was standing by.

Kirby looked to Ribbon as they watched Adeleine go further.

"Ribbon, please tell me it's coming."

Ribbon just sighed and called for the others to jump down. When Dedede and Waddle followed suit, Ribbon looked to Kirby.

"I'm gonna need a hard belt for this one."

And now, the chase for Adeleine begins.

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Author's Note: Like I said, enjoy the chapters and another look at Kirby 64. Read and review, folks, and the next installment will be up soon!