Chapter 4: Whispy Heart

(Back on Popstar)

Kirby, Bandana Dee, Adeleine, Ribbon, Tiff, Tuff, and Marx were moving through Green Greens as they were making their way to King DeDeDe's castle.

Bandana Dee- So Marx…you said someone informed you about this crisis that happened to Popstar 1,000 years ago. Care to tell us who this person was?

Adeleine- You still doubting Marx?

Bandana Dee- For all we know, Tabuu could've been the one who told him about this God of the Void who Kimberly fought.

Marx- If it was Tabuu, I would've paid better attention. No. It was some crazy jester who called himself Jayx that told me about this.

Kirby- Jayx…?

Marx- He appeared in my dreams and was pestering me about this. At first, I thought he was just crazy or I was just having a stupid dream, but he came back the next dream…and the one after that…and the once after that. Now I understand this was what he was trying to warn me about and I wish I paid better attention or took his warnings more seriously.

Ribbon- Shh! Did you hear that?

Tuff- Hear what, Ribbon?

Suddenly a Poppy Bros. Jr. jumped out of a nearby bush with a bomb in its hand. At first, Kirby panicked about the Poppy Bros. Jr. throwing the bomb, but then Kirby remembered that Friend Heart he used to heal Marx. Kirby managed to create one and throw it at the Poppy Bros. Jr. and suddenly it turned more friendly. The Poppy Bros. Jr. had hearts in its eyes, gave Kirby a hug, and it walked away without attacking anyone.

Tiff- Ok…that was strange.

Tuff- What just happened?

Susie's voice- That was the effect of the Friend Heart Kirby just created.

Then Kirby and the others turned to look where that voice came from and saw Susie, Magolor, and Gooey approaching them.

Susie- Oh, sorry about that. We didn't mean to startle you. Kyrin sent us after he realized there was a situation on Popstar.

Magolor- Hey! What's Marx doing here?!

Kirby- It's ok. He's agreed to work with us…for now…

Susie- Odd how you'd allow one of Tabuu's followers to travel with you?

Ribbon- I'll admit, I was skeptical at first when I met Gooey after what Dark Matter has done to my planet. But Gooey revealed he's not evil like Zero was. Perhaps there's hope for Marx too.

Marx- Tabuu doesn't even know about this. If he did, he might not like this. But I take it you know about the Jamba Heart since you also knew about the Friend Hearts Kirby created?

Magolor- Indeed, Kyrin has told us the story of what happened 1,000 years ago. That friend heart you made, Kirby, can counteract the powers of the Jamba Heart. Basically, turning anyone into a friend.

Susie- But Kyrin told us that the stronger the effect on their souls are, the harder it will be to set them free from their corruption. And Mario and the others are unfortunately received a much greater corruption than that one Poppy Bros. Jr. did.

Adeleine- That doesn't sound good.

Bandana Dee- It must've happened when Mario struck that Jamba Heart with Marco's sword.

Kirby- And do you know where they are now?

Magolor- We did hear Yoshi was in the Extra Eclair eating everything in sight, but we don't know where the others are.

Tuff- You mean what Marx told up about this God of the Void was true?

Susie- Apparently so.

Tiff- Hey, since Kyrin sent you to assist Kirby, maybe you three can join the Dream Friends that Kirby is reassembling?

Gooey's tongue stretched into a question mark at the mention of Dream Friends.

Magolor- After what happened to the original team, Kimberly brought together another team of her own to assist her in saving Popstar.

Susie- Well, given the situation, I don't think we have much of a choice.

Magolor- Still, might be best to keep an eye on Marx in case he or Tabuu try to pull a fast one.

Marx- I guess you guys still don't trust me.

Then Ribbon pats Marx on the back in a comforting way.

Ribbon- It's ok, Marx. Just give it a little bit of time.

Bandana Dee- But according to the map, Extra Eclair is not far from our location, but it will be out of our way to Castle DeDeDe. What should we do about this?

Kirby- If Mario were here, I think he'd suggest we split up. Ok, I think I got it! Me, Bandana Dee, Marx, and Bandana Dee will continue down this path to Castle DeDeDe. Meanwhile, Susie, Adeleine, Ribbon, and Gooey head to Extra Eclair and retrieve Yoshi. Is that ok with everyone?

Adeleine, You're the one calling the shots, Kirby.

(Extra Eclair)

It was a dark forest that appeared like it was night even though it was day. Adeleine, Ribbon, Gooey, and Susie arrived at this charming little part of the woods in search of Yoshi.

Ribbon- If I were Yoshi, where would I be in a place like this?

Susie- Yoshi likes to eat as much as Kirby. Probably where…

Then a swarm of Waddle Dee's ran past them like they were terrified of something. That's when they saw Yoshi using his tongue to pluck all the trees like they were daisies to get the fruits growing from them.

Susie- …where a lot of food might be…

Adeleine- Since when could Yoshi's tongue do that?!

Then Susie noticed there was a dark aura surrounding Yoshi, indicating he was possessed.

Susie- Must be a Jamba Heart piece from the one Mario struck. It's made Yoshi stronger, but he's also lost control. We'll need to be careful about…

Before Susie realized it, Gooey had already hopped over to Yoshi and slapped Yoshi on the back with his tongue, knocking Yoshi to the ground.

Susie- GOOEY! What were you thinking?!

Then Yoshi got up and didn't look happy!

Yoshi- Yoshi still hungry! Meanie try take Yoshi food! Yoshi punish for interrupting feeding time!

Then Yoshi wrapped his tongue around a nearby tree, pulled it out of the ground, swallowed it, and spat out the pieces like a machine gun. Luckily, Gooey spun his tongue like a propeller and managed to block Yoshi's attack. However, Yoshi then turned into a giant egg for his Egg Roll attack, only the egg Yoshi turned into was now fifty times bigger than before. Yoshi attempted to roll them over, but Gooey and the others moved out of the way. But not only was Yoshi's egg larger, but faster too. But then Ribbon saw something close by.

Ribbon- Adeleine, over here!

Adeleine- A row of canvases. How convenient for an artist like me.

Adeleine quickly pulls out her brush and paints several fruits to get Yoshi's attention.

Ribbon- Oh Yoshi! You feeling hungry?

Then Yoshi saw the mountain of painted fruit brought to life by Adeleine and immediately rushed for it. Those might've been created by Adeleine, but they seemed to satisfy Yoshi. Meanwhile, Susie pulled out a laser and managed to stun Yoshi while he was distracted.

Susie- Ok, now let's get him to Kirby.

(Fruity Forest)

Kirby, Bandana Dee, Marx, and Magolor continued to make their way to Castle DeDeDe with Tiff and Tuff following close behind.

Kirby- Ok, it should be a straight clearing to DeDeDe's castle once we get out of the forest.

Marx- You sure about that?

Kirby- This is how I get to DeDeDe's castle all the time.

Tiff- Kirby, is it just me or does this place seem a little…familiar?

Kirby took a look around and realized what Tiff meant.

Kirby- She's right! This is Whispy's territory!

Marx- You mean Whispy Woods?

Just then, a large tree was seen on the road and it eventually made a face appear in the trunk. Whispy Woods had awaken and seemed like he was ready to fight.

Kirby- Back again for another fight, Whispy?

Marx- Whispy Woods? You can't be serious! You kick his ass in literally every single game and he's usually the first boss too. He can't possibly be any threat to us!

Bandana Dee- I still wouldn't let my guard down if I were you. Whispy Woods is still considered a threat.

Whispy Wood made a few apples appear from his branches and launched them at Kirby and the others. Magolor and Bandana Dee jumped out of the way while Kirby inhaled half of the apples while Marx split himself in half to create a blackhole to suck up the other half. Then Kirby and Marx spat all the apples back at Whispy Woods. After Whispy Woods was pelted with apples, Whispy tried to spit a small gust of wind at them. Kirby and Marx jumped out of the way, but then Bandana Dee struck Whispy Woods with his spear and Magolor with a giant sword he conjured up with his own power. But just when it seemed like Whispy Woods was gonna shed a tear again, he did something completely unexpected. He actually jumped out of the ground he should've been rooted to grew several times bigger. When Whispy Woods landed, Kirby, Bandana Dee, Marx, and Magolor were launched into the air and they landed on different sides of Whispy Woods. Kirby and Magolor were on the right side of Whispy while Bandana Dee and Marx were on the left side. And neither was capable of reaching the others with Whispy Woods blocking the way. But then a dark aura appeared around Whispy Woods' body.

Bandana Dee- What the…

Magolor- It's a Jamba Heart! Whispy Woods must be possessed by one!

Whispy Woods began shaking his head like crazy and made so many apples fall from his branches that it was like the Jamba Hearts raining down all over again. Bandana Dee spun his spear like a propeller to block and Magolor created a shield out of his magic to block. But to everyone's surprise, Tiff managed to get a small stick to catch fire and tossed it to Kirby.

Tiff- Kirby, inhale this!

Kirby inhaled the flaming stick and transformed into Fire Kirby.

Fire Kirby- POYO!

Then Fire Kirby spat out some fire and it burned the leaves that were surrounding Whispy Woods. This caused Whispy Woods to catch fire and become charred like burnt wood. When the flames stopped, a single tear was dripping from Whispy's eye and he had that look of defeat he always makes in every Kirby game. But then a small purple heart shaped crystal jumped out of Whispy Woods.

Bandana Dee- Is that what I think it is?

Magolor- Based on what Kyrin told us, yeah, that's a piece of the Jamba Heart.

But before Fire Kirby could do anything to it, the Jamba Heart began floating away. Fire Kirby, Marx, Bandana Dee, and Magolor chased after it in hopes they could catch it before it got away.