Chapter 12: The Ice Mage Sister

(Inside the Jambastion Fortress)

The Jambastion Fortress was a huge flying space fortress the looked even more confusing on the inside than it did on the outside. Kirby, Shantae, Adeleine, Ribbon, and King DeDeDe were standing at the edge of a catwalk on top of the fortress' orbital ring.

Shantae- Why does this place have to be so big?!

King DeDeDe- I at least wish it had a less complicated way of progressing! It feels like we've been hitting dead end after dead end! And all while trying to open that big door in the main tower of this structure! At least in my castle, it's just a simple straight path to my throne room.

Ribbon- Maybe that's why Kirby is able to reach you so easily whenever you're up to your mischief.

Then King DeDeDe presses his face up to Ribbon's.

King DeDeDe- Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!

Adeleine- Clearly, they don't want us to reach their leader that easily. And this is probably a tactic to slow us down and stall for time.

King DeDeDe- I guess that makes sense. Good thinking, Adeleine!

Then King DeDeDe pats Adeleine on the head.

Adeleine- But was it wise to split up this early on in the Jambastion Fortress?

Kirby- It was Mario's suggestion to find out how to open the door to the Divine Terminus in time.

But then they heard Pit making a ruckus and they turned to see Pit, Medusa, Risky Boots, and Marx behind them.

Pit- Damn! This Jambastion Fortress is just as dark and gloomy as Medusa's Underworld Palace! Not just the atmosphere, the design of everything in here. Do all you evil gods have the same architect build your castles?

Medusa- No! I built my palace myself. Though I'm surprised how similar Void made his fortress to mine.

Marx- Uh…maybe we should head over to the west side of this fortress…I think I saw something over…

Risky Boots- How could you have seen anything?! We barely even made any progress in this place! Even before we all decided to split up!

Marx- Well…I saw something on the west side of the fortress on our way while riding the Lor Starcutter…hehe…

Viridi (telepathically to Marx)- Hmm…you seem awfully nervous there, Marx! Not to mention, you sure are sweating more than a human jogging on a treadmill for over two hours!

Ribbon looked at Marx from a distance and frowned a bit. Then she turned to face Kirby.

Ribbon- Kirby…do you think Marx is on our side?

Kirby- You mean if he's still working for Tabuu? Hard to say, honestly. Marx tried to kill me, more than once, even before Tabuu brought him back to life. But then I thought about how Kimberly trusted Jayx. Jayx did a lot of bad things and even served Tabuu…yet she believed Jayx deserved a second chance and Jayx didn't let her down. Who knows…maybe Marx can change just like Jayx did.

Ribbon (mutters)- I hope you're right on that, Kirby…

But then Palutena sensed something and immediately got everyone's attention.

Palutena (telepathically to everyone)- Guys…I'm detecting another Jamba Heart and it's close!

Then Pit looked towards the distance and saw a faint purplish glow.

Pit- I think I see it, Lady Palutena. Better grab it before it can cause more trouble!

Pit rushed over to grab the piece of the Jamba Heart, but it was suddenly snatched from him before Pit could even reach it.

Pit- Uh…what just happened?

Then Kirby and the others looked up and saw a mage in blue holding the Jamba Heart in her hand. She put the Jamba Heart away in her robe and then made some kind of bow towards them.

Mage in blue- Bonjam.

King DeDeDe- Bone…what now?

Palutena (telepathically to King DeDeDe)- I've just checked the wiki. It's actually in the langue of Halcandra and it means hello.

Mage in blue- Hehe…you're right. That's how we greet people on my planet. I am Francisca, one of the three generals of magic.

King K. Rool- Hang on…there's more of you?

Francisca- Yes. We call ourselves the Mage Sisters. Each of us specializes in different elements of magic. Mine is ice. And together, we command the Fortress of Shadows known as…Jambastion!

Shantae- Listen, that thing is very dangerous. They've driven so many people insane and…

Francisca- We already know. We're the ones who tried to bring the God of the Void back to life. We wish to assemble the dark Jamba Heart pieces that were scattered across the universe. And once we do, out most twisted visions will finally be…untwisted. Unthawed? Unfurled!

Kirby- You mean this is all your doing?!

Francisca- Not mine, but Lord Hyness. And you must be the Star Warrior he told me of. Your clearly not a Void Spawn, yet so much of Kimberly can be seen from you. Maybe the best way to put it is you're a spawn of a Void Spawn.

Risky Boots- Enough of this bullshit! We don't have time to waste!

Francisca- Very well. If you insist. I won't waste your time. Just know if you attempt to oppose us…

Then Francisca pulls out an axe made out of ice.

Francisca- I'll have not choice but to put you all on ice…FOREVER!

Francisca swung her axe at Shantae, but Shantae used her dance moves to dodge. However, Shantae felt the bitter cold from Francisca's ice magic just be being so close to that axe. And worse for her since most of Shantae's skin isn't covered up. Shantae cringed from the extreme cold close her exposed skin.

Pit- Shantae?!

Shantae- That axe…I can feel her ice magic even when it doesn't make contact…

Francisca- That is but a taste of how cold my magic will burn!

She swung her ice axe again, but Pit blocked it from hitting Shantae with his Palutena's Bow while it was in the two daggers form. And Pit could feel his hands feeling numb while holding back that ice axe. But then Medusa launched a few fireballs at Francisca from behind and the flames got to her.

Medusa- Best way to deal with ice is a little bit of fire.

However, Francisca put out the fire real quickly.

Francisca- It'll take more and your fire to melt my ice, witch!

Then we see Adeleine and Ribbon hovering just above Francisca while riding on a drawing of Kracko Adeleine drew and rained down lighting drops from above. However, Francisca held her axe over her head and spun it like a helicopter propeller to block falling drops of lightning. Then Risky Boots pulled out her pistol and fired a shot at Francisca that exploded in her face.

Francisca- Now you're asking for it!

Then Francisca created several icicles out of thin air and knocked them all over the place after whacking them with her axe like a baseball bat. When the icicles hit the ground, ice spikes began to spread around the area. However, Kirby managed to inhale one of those icicles and transform into Ice Kirby.

Ice Kirby- POYO!

Then Ice Kirby spat out a blast of ice and Francisca countered with an ice blast of her own. However, Marx spat out a beam from his mouth and blasted Francisca to the ground.

Francisca- Damn it! I can see why you've been causing us trouble in our quest to reassemble the Jamba Hearts…but this is not the end! And as for you, Kirby of the Stars…you will be coming with us to see our lord once he has been reborn into this world, whether by choice or force! After all, the God of the Void wishes to know his new family!

Then Francisca escapes with the Jamba Heart she snatched earlier.

Ice Kirby- New family? What does she mean by that?