Disclaimer:
I do not own Kirby. This story is only my imagination meant to serve as entertainment for wandering readers.
(This story takes place during the events of Kirby and the Rainbow Curse/Paintbrush, however the events in this story will slightly differ from the main story of the game.)
Chapter 1
It hadn't even been five minutes when he heard Elline's scream.
Her scream had been full of anguish and pain—one that made his insides churn and his body numb with fear. Without another moment's hesitation Bandana Dee took off, leaving behind the apples he took so long to pick. He could feel the boring gazes of Bronto Burts grazing curiously down his back like the edges of a sword.
Please be okay, he silently prayed as he ran towards the direction of the camp his travelling companions were resting at. His brown eyes hard with determination, he barrelled through the undergrowth, ignoring the painful cuts and stings he gained along the way. Please be okay. His friend's lives were far more important than his own.
Had it been a mistake to leave them alone? Bandana Dee's heart began to pound heavily in his chest, filling him with cold realization. Why did he ever think to split up? Elline wasn't exactly a fighter, and Kirby was feeling unwell. Of all times to split up, why had he suggested now? He thought it would have been best for Kirby to rest while he got some food from the forest. He knew Kirby always felt better after a good meal and a nap.
If Elline got kidnapped, it's all my fault, Bandana Dee thought miserably, his face casted towards the ground. Gripping his spear tightly, he cursed himself silently. I shouldn't have relied on Kirby. I knew he wasn't feeling well. And yet I still made him in charge of protecting Elline. Dejected, he added, What kind of a friend am I?
When he got back to camp, Bandana Dee was surprised to see the tiny figure of Elline rushing up to greet him, her hands holding him firmly. He could feel her racking sobs as her tears fell down her smooth, pretty face, her fragile wings fluttering softly in the air. The only thing out of place in the camp was the mess of sticks scattered across the camp, as if they were buffeted by the wind from the ditch they were originally placed in. Other than that, all was silent and peaceful.
Bandana Dee, seeing the tiny fairy safe and sound, relaxed, his grip on his spear loosening with relief. He had expected her to get kidnapped by the two menacing hands they had encountered earlier during the day. Letting out a quiet, thankful sigh, the Waddle Dee took a moment to rest, his blood pumping furiously in his ears. Despite the sudden loneliness in the air, he still hadn't realized that something was missing until Elline spoke up, her voice wavering with both fear and fatigue.
"They took him away, Bandana Dee," she said weakly. Bandana Dee blinked momentarily, confused, before he understood what she meant. Jolting in realization, the Waddle Dee stood up, his eyes widening in alarm. "They took him away," she repeated, her blue eyes shining with sorrow. They began to water.
"Tell me what happened," Bandana Dee commanded, trying his best to keep the alarm out of his voice. Without the presence of his best friend, the Waddle Dee suddenly felt much smaller, as if his spear had been snapped in front of him like a twig. He never expected his friend to get kidnapped instead of the trembling fairy in front of him. After all, they had originally been after her, not Kirby. "Tell me what they did to him."
What do they want with Kirby?
Opening her mouth, Elline began to speak, with Bandana Dee listening beside her, his gaze furrowed grimly. Above the two companions, the sky darkened, as if mourning the absence of the pink puffball through the form of rain and thunder.
I made a friend today! His name is Kirby, Elline wrote in her diary, a small smile making its way to her lips. Drawing the form of the adorable puffball, she continued to doodle in her diary; this time of her other friend. This guy is called Waddle Dee. She drew Bandana Dee and gave him a wide, big grin—until she realized that Waddle Dees were one of the many species without a mouth. She paused, frowning, before shrugging nonchalantly, admiring the drawing despite its flaws.
New buddies are the best!
"Poyo..." Elline looked up from her diary when she heard Kirby's faint cry. Tucking her diary away with a blush, she hopped away from her perch on the branch of a tree, making her way towards the voice of the puffball.
Their makeshift camp wasn't anything too special. In the middle of the camp was a ditch filled with sticks, meant to serve as a campfire if they were ever in need of warmth or light. To the side of that were long, spindly trees shielding the camp from the sky, protecting them from attacks from above. Only thin beams of sunlight escaped through the branches. The ground was a smooth layer of emerald grass, with multiple brightly coloured flowers to give the meadow a burst of life.
Kirby lay near the unlit campfire, his paws tucked neatly underneath him. Elline neared his body, and upon closer inspection, she saw that the puffball was shuddering, his chest rattling with every breath he took. Cold beads of sweat trickled down his head, as if he had a bucket's worth of water dipped onto him, and the air around him seemed warmer (both figuratively and metaphorically, Elline added with a blush). Elline felt a pang of anxiety for Kirby.
"Kirby?" Elline asked furtively, her gaze widening with worry. Kirby responded with a low moan, his cheeks flushed feverishly. The long stalks of grass stirred from where he lay panting. Suspicious, Elline bent down to feel his temperature, ignoring the excited fluttering she felt in her chest.
Just as she made contact with his skin, Kirby shuffled closer to her, pressing his face against her hand. He sighed dreamily, his pained face relaxing slightly.
Meanwhile Elline's hand was burning with pain.
Recoiling with a yelp, the fairy shook her hand, blowing on it to cool it down. Kirby's expression became one of agony once more.
That was when realization hit her like a truck.
It all made sense to her. Why Kirby refused to walk and instead preferred to roll around like a ball. Why he wasn't attempting to use his famous Copy Ability—the ability praised throughout the universe as the strongest power ever known. Why it was Bandana Dee who drove away the Grab Hands while Kirby stared on uncertainly, despite the latter being the famous hero of planet Popstar.
He's sick.
Bandana Dee must have known before her, and was why he left to find food without them. He knew that Kirby needed to rest.
To think that Kirby's sick...
Before she knew who Kirby was, she was aware of his accomplishments, like many others. She knew that he held incredible power unknown to anyone ever before, and that he was able to defeat any foe that came his way with ease. She knew of his accomplishments; from retrieving all of the food in Dreamland to saving the universe from a power-hungry god.
But what she didn't know was that he would be so cute! Those mystical blue eyes, his soft, pink skin... She suppressed a squeal.
"Po...yo..." Kirby mewled weakly, jolting Elline back to the present. Shaking her head, she scolded herself, feeling embarrassed she was caught daydreaming.
"Don't worry Kirby, I'll take care of you," Elline cooed softly, glancing around the camp. Disappointment gripped at her heart, but she made sure to hide it. She didn't want Kirby to see it, especially when he was feeling so unwell. If Kirby's sick, it means it'll take longer to save Claycia.
The mere thought of Claycia caused Elline's insides to curl with sorrow. Oh, Claycia. Why did you steal Popstar's colours? She was certain that something was wrong with her friend, and she was desperate to find out what. You were never so selfish before. What happened to you? What can I do to fix you?
Before she could ponder further about her friend, a loud rustle sounded from the direction of the forest, making Elline freeze. Turning around quickly, the fairy took a small step back, her little body quivering with terror.
Despite her apparent fear, Elline forced herself to speak. "W-who are you? Show yourself!" she squeaked. "I-I can fight, you know!" A lie. "Turn back before you regret it!"
A familiar chuckle resonated throughout the walls of the camp, causing Elline to take another step back. Her face paling, she watched as two massive hands slunk away from a nearby bush, their ivory gazes filled with sick triumph.
It's them, she thought. The two that chased me around the galaxy just to get a hold of me.
Claycia's most trustworthy minions: The Grab Hands Right and Left.
"We finally found you."
Shrieking in panic, Elline fluttered away from the Grab Hands, readying herself to flee if one of them made an attempt to snatch her. She tried to force down her panic but it kept rising up, building its way up to her throat. She could remember the panic she felt when she flew away from the Grab Hands after Claycia had ordered her capture.
"You won't catch me!" she shouted at the Grab Hands, her face masked with a tight frown. "I'm not going to let you have your way this time." She prepared herself to turn into a paintbrush the second she saw one of them move.
The Grab Hands stopped. They turned to each other. Then, together, they began to laugh.
"Catch you?" Right chortled, his voice full of amusement. "Little fairy, we have no use for your power now. You are useless to us."
Elline reddened.
"Then why are you here?" she demanded. She lifted her chin bravely, disguising her confusion behind a brave face. What could the Grab Hands possibly want if not her? "There's nothing here for you to collect."
Left grinned through his eye. "Except for him, that is." He pointed towards the middle of the camp where a small puffball lay, his eyes glazed with fever.
Elline gasped. They're... after Kirby?
Which also meant...
Claycia... What do you want with Kirby?
Right faced her. "That pink marshmallow has gained our master's attention," he informed her. "Our master has ordered us to capture him at whatever cost. After all, who wouldn't pass up the chance to capture Kirby: the Pink Demon?" Beside him, Left snickered. "When we first confronted him and the Waddle Dee, we couldn't help but notice how... sick he seemed. On our own, we would stand no chance to him. But if he were to ever fall ill..." Right trailed off, but Elline could tell where he was going even without the complete sentence. "Well, let's just say capturing him would be much easier."
Elline growled, putting herself in front of Kirby. Kirby looked up weakly, trembling under the tendrils of her shadow. "No. I won't let you take him."
The Grab Hands snorted. "And how do you plan on fighting us, little fairy?" they hissed, their fingers gnawing the air hungrily. Elline tried her best to ignore the stab of fear that made its way into her heart. "You have no fighting experience. Your power cannot be used to harm. To us, you are just as undesirable as that Waddle Dee with that pathetic little spear."
Elline felt an unexpected wave of fury wash over her. She did not appreciate the Grab Hands bullying her friend. "Hey! Bandana Dee's strong, you know: just like Kirby!" Elline growled, glowering darkly at the two hands, a blue fire erupting from the depths of her eyes. The two hands seemed to be unbothered by her outburst, fueling her with more rage. Behind her, Kirby winced, putting his paws over his head, as if her voice was hurting him. "And even if your claims were true, I suppose you both are worse than pathetic, since he drove you away with 'that pathetic little spear'!"
"Shut your mouth, little fairy, and know your place," Right snarled, and her brief flame of anger died out, replaced with a tide of fear. "That Waddle Dee is merely a nuisance to our master's plans. After all, Waddle Dees are only slaves. They are meant to serve, not to fight." Right barked out a laugh. "Your stupid Waddle Dee friend can try to play soldier now, but he will soon be ours to command."
Elline glared at the Grab Hands, enraged for her friend. "He'll never go down without a fight."
Left opened his palm threateningly. "Is that so? Then I look forward to breaking his spirit."
Behind her, Elline heard a small, quiet huff. Turning around, she saw Kirby struggling to stand, his feet trembling from supporting his own weight. His gaze glimmering with resolution, the puffball eyed the Grab Hands warily, his innocent features stern and serious.
Despite knowing what kind of a condition Kirby was in, the Grab Hands faltered, overwhelmed by the emotionless glint in Kirby's eyes. But their hesitation had only been for a moment, since the very next second they regained their composure, a taunting laugh escaping their lips.
"Still defiant until the end, Pink Demon?" Left purred, his voice strangely calm. "No matter. That defiance will be what will cost you your freedom." Without another word, both Grab Hands charged towards the hero, their open palms revealing their gleeful, victorious eyes.
Kirby swerved out of the way just in time as the two hands barrelled towards him, crashing into the ditch behind him. The makeshift campfire exploded into a storm of sticks, stabbing the hands painfully. The Grab Hands roared in frustration as the sticks pelted at them, tearing their skin brutally.
Kirby entered the fray with a loud, determined yell, and he kicked the hands from behind, causing them to collide with the ground. The hands twitched in agony, gasping for air as the pink puffball marched slowly towards them, his expression cold and distant. He raised his fists, preparing to pummel them further into the ground.
But the hands weren't about to go down so easily. They lashed out wildly at the puffball, trying to smack him away in order to weaken him. But Kirby merely hopped out of the way, watching the Grab Hands flail around aimlessly with a cool gaze. He danced around the Grab Hands gracefully, taunting them through his movements and precision. He seemed to know exactly when and where to strike the Grab Hands as they struggled, howling loudly in irritation.
Elline's felt her stomach churn with awe. Wow! Kirby... Kirby really is strong!
But her awe was soon replaced with fear when Kirby doubled over, his face blanched with agony. A feeble whimper escaped his throat. He began to convulse, his feet kicking the air desperately, as if he was trying to fend off something that wasn't there.
"Kirby!" Elline screamed, gliding over to the puffball, her hands wet with worry. She felt his head and flinched, feeling the same searing pain she felt earlier. He's still so hot! "Kirby, hold on. I'll get you out of here. Don't even think about fighting."
"You'll 'get him out of here'?" Elline froze, her blood pounding loudly in her ears. She felt her dread resurface. Right and Left had recovered from Kirby's blow and were now trailing behind the two, their eyes gleaming with savage joy. "Tell us, little fairy: how do you plan on doing that?"
Elline swallowed. I just have to wait for Bandana Dee to get here. He'll be able to drive these two away. But how long would it take for him to return to the camp?Could he even take the two hands down by himself? Had their first encounter with the hands been a stroke of luck? What if he can't scare them off like he did when we first met?
Elline held Kirby tightly to her chest. She narrowed her eyes, watching the Grab Hands closely. Underneath her grip, Kirby shivered, his body now a pale blue.
I know, Kirby. I'm sorry you have to go through this. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be caught up in this mess. Guilt began to eat her. So that's why I'm going to protect you. I won't let Claycia take you away.
The Grab Hands shot towards her, their fingers grasping the air. Shrieking in panic, Elline narrowly dodged getting grabbed by Left, but in the process slamming herself against a tree. Groaning, she forced herself upright, still clutching Kirby tightly to her chest.
"No matter what you do, little fairy, it means nothing. In the end, our plans will succeed."
Elline gritted her teeth furiously. "Oh, really?" she spat. "What is this so-called 'plan' of yours then? To rule over the galaxy?" She scoffed, her lip curling into a mocking sneer. "Real original! Like nobody has heard that before!"
The hands stiffened. "You dare mock our master?"
Elline stuck her tongue out childishly. "Your 'master' is my friend, and I'm going to beat some sense into her! And when I do that, you'll be sorry!"
The two hands glanced at each other slyly, and Elline felt herself bristle. "You do not know anything, do you, little fairy?"
"What do you mean?"
The hands ignored her, instead attempting to grab her again. Elline blocked the Grab Hands by turning into a paintbrush and drawing a barrier between them, although Kirby tumbled from her arms in the process. Pupils widening in alarm, the fairy tried to retrieve the fallen puffball, oblivious to the lurking threat that had managed to break through her barrier with ease.
Just as she was about to scoop up the puffball back into her arms Elline was knocked away harshly, her body making contact with a tree. Grunting in surprise, she crumpled to the floor, her hair falling over her eyes like a colourful blanket. She could faintly hear Right's menacing chuckle.
"See, little fairy?" She felt something lift her up gently by her head, and she found herself staring into Right's hostile eye. "You are nothing. Both you and that Waddle Dee." His voice rose with contempt, and Elline thought she could hear the edges of a snarl. "Where is that little bastard anyway? I'd like to pay him back for stabbing me."
Elline struggled in Right's grasp, but to no avail. She breathed heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "You won't win. He's much stronger than you think." Come on, Bandana Dee! Come and save us! "He'll stop you and whatever plans your scheming."
Right snorted. "A Waddle Dee? You really think that a Waddle Dee will be able to stop me—let alone our master?" His grip around her head tightened.
Elline cried out in pain.
Kirby lifted his head from where he lay. From the corner of her eye, Elline glimpsed Left sneaking towards the hero, his palm outstretched to snag the puffball. She tried to open her mouth to let out a warning, but Right closed a finger around her lip, silencing her. Hopeless tears fell from her eyes.
Kirby noticed Left approaching him. He stood up swiftly, ducking out of the way when the hand lunged towards him, his palm closing around nothing but thin air. Growling in frustration, Left swiped again at the puffball, missing him by only the slightest inch. Elline noted how sluggish Kirby's movements were; nothing like the clean elegance he displayed before. Watching helplessly, Elline could only pray for Kirby's safety.
Despite his condition, Kirby seemed to be fairing well. He twisted and swerved out of Left's grasp expertly by rolling into a ball; although he fell to the ground once in a while, panting for breath while the Grab Hand recovered. But even with the young hero slowed, Left was no match for Kirby's speed.
Right hissed in irritation, his warm breath washing over Elline's face like a hot gust of wind. "Alright, that's enough. Left, stand down."
Left sniffed and mumbled something under his breath—probably a curse, Elline decided—but he stood down, his eye filled with embarrassment. Elline resisted the temptation to grin. Ha! How do you like that, you stupid hand? You just got bested by a sick Kirby! But her joy was short-lived, for what the other Grab Hand said next filled her with horror.
"You see what I have in my grasp, Pink Demon?" Right said, shaking Elline's body like a rag doll. Kirby looked up and stared at the fairy, his eyes widening, as if he only saw her now. The Grab Hand chuckled. "Yes, that's right. Your fairy friend is at my mercy. If I wanted to, I could crush her skull right here..." His fingers closed around her head, and Elline gasped, feeling an immense pain erupt from her skull. Her wings twitched.
"P-poyo! Elline!" Kirby cried. He rushed towards her, reaching forward to grab the fairy. Right jerked her away from him, tutting him playfully as if he were a misbehaving child.
"I wonder what would happen if I gave her a tighter squeeze..." Right mused, his voice laced with triumph as the fingers around Elline's head curled even more tightly. Elline screamed, her body arching with pain. "Oh no! It looks as if that's hurting her." Right turned his attention to Kirby. The puffball was glaring angrily at him, although a misty fog had layered over his gaze, making his threatening scowl seem distant and empty.
"If you hand yourself over to us, Pink Demon, I will spare her life," the Grab Hand offered. "But if you refuse to cooperate with us... I suppose I'll have to sing your fairy friend good night."
Kirby tipped his head, bemused.
Left rolled his eye. "He means he'll kill her."
Kirby straightened.
Right cleared his throat. "So, what's it going to be? Will you hand yourself over to us? Or will you witness the death of your friend?" He squeezed his fingers firmly around Elline's head again. "It's all up to you, Pink Demon."
"No... Kirby, don't..." Elline coughed out when she saw Kirby looking around uncertainly, as if he still thought he could save her without having to give himself to the enemy. Maybe if he was at his full strength he would be able to come up with a plan, but at his current state, Elline knew he had no choice but to comply with the hands if he wanted to save her. "Please, save yourself. Get Bandana Dee and... warn him..." She cried out in pain when Right tightened his grip around her skull.
"Well?!" Right roared, buffeting the leaves of nearby trees with his yell alone. Elline could hear a flock of birds squawking in fear as they fled the forest, not wanting to get involved with the commotion that shook the ground and sent dirt flying in every direction. "What will it be, Pink Demon?"
Kirby hesitated before taking a step forward, his gaze glazed with sorrow. Elline's gasped in terror. The Grab Hands cackled, satisfied with his answer.
"No... Don't do it, Kirby!" she yelled, tugging against Right's hold. "I'm worth nothing; you heard them! Don't waste your life on me!"
Kirby didn't respond. Instead, he softened and met Elline's gaze, his alluring eyes shimmering deeply into her soul. She felt her breath stick to her throat, amazed by his beauty.
Even now, with my life on the line, I can't help but feel this way...
Everything around her grew quiet. From the swishing grass to the snarky laughter coming from the Grab Hands... The forest had gone completely silent. The only thing Elline was focused on was the puffball made up of her dreams. The puffball that she had been so excited to meet, but had to instead prioritize Popstar and Gamble Galaxy's safety.
Am I... in love? Elline wondered.
"I'm... so... rry."
Those were Kirby's final words before Left latched himself onto the pink puffball, wrapping his fingers around him firmly. Kirby stared at Elline for a moment longer before his eyes rolled to the back of his head, his body falling limp in Left's hold. His mouth was concealed by Left's limbs.
Kirby! Elline struggled desperately in Right's grip, trying to reach the puffball. No!
"Finally. I was wondering how long it would take for you to catch that puffball." Left snorted but didn't retort back. "Well, at least you got the job done. Now let's leave and return to our master."
"Of course," Left agreed. He turned to Right and nodded at the girl he held in his grasp. "And the little fairy?"
Right scoffed, looking down at her in disgust through his white, hollow gaze. "We have no use for her now. She has outlived her purpose." Tossing her away like a pebble, Right faced Elline, his pupil taunting her as he watched her slowly get up, her body trembling with effort. Her body, although free of injury, was feeling deathly sore after being knocked onto the ground countless of times; not to mention her poor head. "If it weren't for the Pink Demon's sacrifice, you wouldn't be alive."
Elline said nothing.
I let another friend down. Misery engulfed her like a wave of sorrow, rising up to claim her in its swirling hold. First Claycia, and now Kirby. Maybe that's why she went all evil. Because of me.
Because of how useless I am.
"We've completed our mission. Let's go, Left," Right ordered, beckoning him over. Left nodded, and with an unconscious Kirby in their clutches, the two flew away, breaking through the branches of the forest and bobbing lazily in the sky. Elline stared after them, her face wet with tears.
That was when she let out a scream that gained the attention of a certain Waddle Dee, who had been off picking apples.
This first chapter is mostly just Elline reliving Kirby's capture. It's mainly just here to support the oncoming chapters in the story. Also, some changes I made to the story from the original game:
1. The reason Kirby is stuck as a ball this time around is because he's sick. In terms of story, Rainbow Curse/Paintbrush failed to establish why Kirby was trying to save the universe as a ball (Still don't know how he accomplished it; I suppose the talk about Kirby being the strongest video game character to ever exist is not for nothing). Not only that, but in the multiplayer segments, Kirby does nothing to avoid capture from the Grab Hands, and instead relies on Bandana Waddle Dee(s) to save him. I thought that making Kirby sick would justify him being a ball.
2. I named the Grab Hands "Right" and "Left". The reason why I did this is because I don't always want to call them "Grab Hands", without anything to indicate their individuality. Let's give the Grab Hands some respect. :D
3. Finally, the biggest one: Kirby gets captured. Nothing like this ever occurs in the game, except for the Grab Hand segments during the level (although, again, this is multiplayer only). They try to make attempts to capture him, but never do they succeed. So, to say this is an accurate depiction of Kirby and the Rainbow Curse/Paintbrush as a fanfic is completely false. This fanfic just happens to use elements from that game while telling a different story.
Now that that's all done and said, I sincerely hope you enjoyed this chapter! It was a pleasure to write! I'll see you guys in the next chapter!