Kirby and his friends waited several moments before a big golden star flew in the sky. The Warp Star landed in front of them, knocking Kirby into the nearby bushes. Kirby's friends climbed onto the Warp Star with Kirby jumping on afterward.
"Wait…" Ribbon said quietly.
The pink fairy flew to Queen Mary's lifeless form and took her hand one last time.
"Queen Mary…it's okay. You're wish hasn't fallen on deaf ears…"
Ribbon joined the rest of her friends on the Warp Star as it took off into the air. Kirby waved goodbye to the fairies, but the rest could only look at the queen of Ripple Star.
Adeleine sniffed. "On this adventure…I never thought someone would get…" She couldn't finish the sentence.
Waddle Dee sighed. "And to think that Dark Matter could have done the same to any of us."
Dedede imagined himself in the queen's place. He had been possessed by Dark Matter three times, and considered himself blessed that he didn't meet the same fate as Queen Mary.
The penguin king shook his head. "This is unforgivable. Dark Matter's gone too far…"
"We'll grant Queen Mary's last wish, poyo!" Kirby gripped the Warp Star harder. "Dark Matter's plot stops here!"
The group of five nodded in agreement. They would take down Dark Matter once and for all or go down trying.
-
(watch?v=Bkx2IbLhKsk)
Dark Star was truly different from the other planets the five man band traveled through. It's outer appearance was simply a giant ball of pitch black darkness. The interior was a puzzling arrangement of dull multi-colored tiles in the shape of honeycombs. A red eerie fog surrounded the artificial looking landscape.
"This place feels so barren and lifeless…" Adeleine murmured.
"What do you expect?" Dedede retorted. "Dark Matter made it, so of course it's not gonna look good."
Since there were no more crystal shards to find, the team didn't have to spend time exploring the planet. They could go straight to the source. They hopped along the tiled land, then reached what appeared to be a dead end.
"Something's not right… it shouldn't just end like this…" Ribbon said.
Waddle Dee hobbled around the area, then lightly nudged one of the tiles with his right foot. He grabbed the tile and tossed it to the side, revealing a passageway.
"How'd you know that was there?" Dedede asked.
"Well, in Dreamland I would forage for food, so I'm used to looking at the ground. You see things others don't recognize."
The group jumped down the hole and landed on another area of tiled ground.
"Wait, before we go any further Kirby should eat something. He's got a big battle ahead of him." Adeleine said, taking out her canvas to paint some tomatoes.
"Just beyond this area, Dark Matter is waiting for us. It's the very core of the planet. If we take it down. The entire planet goes with it." Ribbon explained.
"I think we need to think over the situation before we rush in there." Waddle Dee said.
"What do you mean, poyo?" Kirby said between bites.
"Something big is going on, though we already know that. I think they have something waiting for us at the end."
"Well, whatever it is we can handle it!" Adeleine cheered.
"No Dark Matter freak is taking over my body again! We're doing this so no one else ends up like Queen Mary!" Dedede raised his hammer.
"Oh, Kirby…I can't be queen…" Ribbon sighed. "I could never be as great of a ruler as Queen Mary…being in the castle with so many memories of her…I couldn't take it…"
"Ribbon…" Kirby took her hand. "If it's too painful to stay on Ripple Star, poyo…you're always welcome on Popstar… We'll take care of you, poyo."
Tears went down Ribbon's cheeks. She felt an odd mixture of grief and happiness. If she lost everything she had, she would still always have her friends. The pain of losing her queen was excruciating, but having them support her helped alleviate some of the pain.
"We…we can't grant her wish if we're just standing around, can we?" Ribbon wiped away the tears.
"Get ready, Dark Matter! We're coming for ya!" Dedede yelled.
The group of five continued on their short way, using one honeycomb panel as a spring to propel them to the final area.
-
The area was a void with it's only colors being black and red. The group didn't pay any attention to the void, instead focusing on the fact that they were surrounded by Dark Matter. Among the army of black creatures was the Dark Matter Swordsman and surprisingly Miracle Matter.
(watch?v=5S4h1gcCMBc)
"HeLlo AgaIn…MoNstEr…"
"But…b-but…you're supposed to be…" Dedede stuttered. "We saw you explode into pieces!"
"YeS, AnD EverY SiNGle OnE wAs SeNt HerE FoR RePaIr AfTerWard. ThANkS FoR ThaT bY ThE WaY…"
"So…are you wanting another fight with Kirby? Did you order the Dark Matter to fix you?" Adeleine asked.
"As MUCh As I WOuLD LiKE To DEsTrOy mY CoUnTERpArT, iT'S NoT My PlACe To BaTtLe ThIs TiMe…"
"Kirby will fight you, Dark Matter Swordsman, poyo!" Kirby challenged.
"Oh, no." Dark Matter Swordsman waved. "Miracle Matter isn't talking about me either. I've had enough Kirby for the rest of my existence."
"Then…then…if it's not you…" Ribbon pointed at Miracle Matter. "Or you…" She pointed at Dark Matter Swordsman. "Then…"
The group huddled closer together as the Dark Matter army grew closer, every single one glaring at Kirby.
"Kirby, some time ago you murdered Zero in cold blood…" Dark Matter Swordsman said loud enough for all the Dark Matter to hear.
"AcCoRDiNg tO tHe OtHer DaRk MaTter, iT WaS A SlOw AnD PaInFuL DeATh."
"But…Kirby didn't want to hurt Zero, poyo! Kirby didn't have a choice!" Kirby tried to hide behind Adeleine.
"AnD I Didn'T WAnT To HuRT YoU In OuR BaTtle…Oh WAiT…ThAT WaS A LiE."
"You couldn't give Zero the satisfaction of putting him out of his misery as we were." Dark Matter Swordsman spoke. "You had to draw out the pain and suffering of our creator."
The crowd of Dark Matter murmured amongst themselves.
"So you're out for revenge?! Is that what your plan is?!" Adeleine shouted.
"You could've done that without possessing us and taking over a planet!" Dedede yelled.
"Ah, but that was the objective. We orchestrated the entire takeover from start to finish." The swordsman clarified.
"But you couldn't of made that plan yourself! You have to have someone in charge of all of ya!" Dedede pointed at the duo of Dark Matter.
Dark Matter Swordsman made a noise that sounded like a chuckle. "We do have free will, you know. All of us exist separate from each other. We don't share the same brain."
The group gulped. They didn't think that Dark Matter had minds of their own. They had fallen directly into their trap.
"FiRSt, wE ToOk CoNtRoL oF RiPpLe StaR. We KnEw ThE QUeEn WoUld PuT ThE SaFeTY Of The CryStal OvEr HeRSelf."
"What we didn't count on was the Crystal of Joy being shattered to pieces." The swordsman continued.
"That was me! I did that!" One Dark Matter in the crowd shouted gleefully.
"Er…He's new." The swordsman cleared his throat.
"Anyway, we managed to turn that little mishap into an advantage. We wanted the crystal yes, but we also needed time. We knew that Kirby would help his little fairy friend find the shards, and that brought us some time to construct Dark Star while masquerading as the Queen."
"You're terrible! You're the reason Queen Mary…" Ribbon almost pounced on Dark Matter Swordsman, the only thing holding her back was her friends. For a little fairy she could put up a struggle.
"AfTer YoU ARriVed On RiPpLe StaR, A PlaN WiTh TwO PoSsiBle OuTcoMes WaS LaUnChed. IF I WoN ThE BaTtLe WiTh KiRby, I WoUld TaKe ThE ThEN CoMplEtED CrYStaL AnD We WoUlD Be RiD Of AnY InTeRFeReNCes."
"And if Miracle Matter lost, which is what happened, the crystal would still be complete and you would have no choice but to come to Dark Star. No matter which way, Dark Matter still would have won. If you hadn't found all the pieces, we would have won. The other Dark Matter would find the rest of the shards and have the crystal too."
Kirby and his friends all stared with mouths wide open in shock.
"No matter how you look at it, their plan is brilliant…" Waddle Dee mumbled.
"We've…we've walked right into their trap. No matter what, we would have fallen for it." Ribbon said.
"ExAcTLy! NO MaTtEr WhaT ThE OuTcOme, AlL oF YoU WoUlD Be FaIlUReS!"
"Except you forgot what would happen if we fought back here! I'm not giving up my kingdom to these freaks, and neither are any of you!" Dedede shouted.
"Dedede's right, poyo! We can't give up because this looks bad!"
"Yeah, now that we're here what do you have planned?!" Adeleine called.
"We can fight all of you! We fought you before and we can do it again!" Dedede waved his hammer.
"LiKe We SAiD BeFOrE…"
"Kirby won't be fighting us…" The Swordsman made the chuckle sound again. "You'll be fighting us…"
"Huh? We have to fight you? Why can't Kirby fight with us?" The penguin king questioned.
"You won't be fighting us, but the rest of Dark Matter. As for Kirby, he'll be preoccupied with someone else…"
"Kirby will fight to the end for his friends, poyo! Kirby isn't afraid of you!"
Miracle Matter and Dark Matter Swordman looked at each other and gave a dry laugh.
"You might have changed thoughts afterward…"
"wE HaVE SOMeONe WhO WaNTs To See YoU KiRBy…"
(watch?v=wr6TSRuisjc)
Suddenly, a white ball with two little dot eyes and a mouth appeared in front of Kirby. The creature had a small point at the end of it's body, almost like a tail. The pink puffball tilted his head in confusion, until the black dots faded away and the "mouth' opened fully to reveal a large familiar red eye staring back at him.
Kirby fell onto the panel surface and looked up in horror. "Ze-…Zero…?"
The white orb floated higher into the red and black void. The Dark Matter spectators watching in anticipation, while Kirby and his friends watched with a mixture of fright and awe. Zero unfurled a set of segmented white wings with red feathers at the tips.
Kirby noticed a large bandage on top of Zero's head, most likely from where his previous eye had been torn out. Kirby's attention from the bandage was soon taken away as a large golden halo formed above Zero's head.
This new form Zero had taken almost looked angelic, but still possessed a haunting aura. Zero was far stronger than before and it became clear that he had resumed his role as Dark Matter's ruler.
"Zero, poyo…Kirby though you were…"
"DeCEaSEd? EXPiRed? TeRMiNaTEd? SuRpRiSE…" Miracle Matter hummed.
Dark Matter Swordsman slowly spun around. "This is not the Zero you knew from before, but Zero Two! He ascended from his demise and has taken the form of an angel of death!"
"Welcome mortals…to Dark Star…" Zero Two said.
Ribbon looked to her side to see Kirby paralyzed with fear. He held his head in his hands and took deep breaths.
"Kirby didn't mean to, poyo…Kirby didn't want to hurt Zero…Kirby is sorry…so sorry, poyo…" Little tears were forming in Kirby's eyes and he continued muttering as if he was reliving a bad memory.
"Zero Two…" Ribbon cautiously approached the reincarnated being. "Why do you want Ripple Star and the Crystal of Joy?"
"Ripple Star is titled "The planet of love and happiness." Ripple Star also contained the Crystal of Joy. If I cannot feel happiness, then no one should. Every moment of my existence is nothing but agony and despair."
"But…taking away everyone's happiness won't make you feel any better…" Ribbon said quietly.
"You've never felt happiness once in your life? That can't be true…" Adeleine said sadly.
"You mortals will never understand…you have everything, yet nothing. Happiness is only temporary, when it fades, the frigid loneliness or burning anger arrives to replace the emotion. This painful reality must be faced by everyone in this galaxy."
"Zero…it doesn't have to be this way, poyo…" Kirby sighed.
"I have been given a new form, a new body. I have ascended from beyond death itself with only my grief and sorrow fueling this body. This conquest must be completed, or my ascension was for naught. Do you dare defy me?"
The group of friends made a small huddle.
"This guy looks really strong, Kirby. Can you handle it?" Dedede whispered.
"Kirby doesn't want to hurt Zero again, poyo…"
"But it looks like it's our only option." Adeleine sighed. "We either fight or let the entire galaxy fall into darkness."
"Not to mention that we have to fight the Dark Matter while you face Zero Two." Waddle Dee pointed out.
"Waddle Dee can't fight, poyo…You're still hurt…All of you can't fight, poyo…"
"Look, you don't worry about us and the Dark Matter." Dedede looked Kirby in the eyes. "We'll take care of it. You need to get rid of the source. The entire galaxy is on the line here."
"We'll take care of it Kirby." Adeleine nodded.
"You put your energy where it's needed. This is the final battle and we can't lose this." Waddle Dee said.
"Kirby, what do you think?" Ribbon asked.
"It seems…Kirby doesn't have a choice, poyo…"
Kirby and Ribbon faced Zero Two and the Dark Matter.
"Zero Two, we've decided we'll give you a chance to back out of your invasion plan." Ribbon said. "If not, then we'll fight you."
"So…you are defying me." Zero Two sounded disappointed. "Very well then, Dark Matter, begin your onslaught."
The crowd of Dark Matter swarmed King Dedede, Waddle Dee, and Adeleine. Dedede fought with his hammer, while Adeleine painted several different weapons to use against their attackers. Waddle Dee equipped a spear painted by Adeleine.
"Now…as for you, Star Warrior Kirby…our final struggle has commenced…" Zero Two floated into the void.
"Kirby…we don't have anything to fight him with!" Ribbon gasped.
Suddenly, the Crystal of Joy began glowing. It floated into the air and transformed into the Crystal Shard Gun.
"Kirby, hold this."
Kirby took the Crystal Shard Gun while Ribbon grabbed Kirby and flew after Zero Two.
"Good luck you two!" Adeleine yelled.
"Never give up, guys!" Waddle Dee said as he attacked another Dark Matter.
"We can handle things here just fine. Don't worry about us." Dedede called, swinging his hammer.
Kirby and Ribbon took one last look at their friends before flying into the dark void.
-
(watch?v=UALrmoYzZEc)
The duo and Zero Two floated in the void, both preparing for battle.
"This is your last chance, Zero Two." Ribbon said. "We can forget this ever happened and put everything behind us, or we can fight. We don't want it to come to that, but we will if we have to."
"Zero Two, poyo…please stop…we don't want to hurt you…please…"
"Your sentiment is wasted on me…there will be a new order in the Gamble Galaxy. I will entomb everything in darkness and solitude."
Ribbon shook her head. 'This isn't going to be pleasant at all, but there's no other option left."
Kirby fired the Crystal Shard Gun. It released crystal shards at Zero Two as an attack. The Crystal of Joy purified Ripple Star and drove the Dark Matter from Queen Mary, so it should be able to affect Zero Two.
However, it appeared to have no effect on Zero Two. The angel of darkness released his own attacks, yellow and red energy beams were hurled at Kirby and Ribbon.
"I had counted on Miracle Matter disposing of you,. I did design and create him based on your abilities. Miracle Matter has failed, so it is only natural that I, the creator of Dark Matter, defeat you."
They continued to fire at Zero Two with no results, until one shard hit him in the eye. Zero Two flinched and blinked, releasing another wave of energy beams.
"We've found his weak spot, Kirby! Keep firing!"
Kirby continued shooting crystal shards at Zero Two's eye, eventually a red substance came out of his eye in fumes. After a few more shots, Zero Two's body became slightly limp. His eye was now mostly closed with a thin red line trailing from it.
"It hurts…" Zero Two grunted.
Ribbon flew above Zero Two, noticing his halo. Kirby tried shooting the halo, it turned a light blue, then a deep red, then shattered. A green spiked appendage similar to a cactus extended from Zero Two's body. Kirby and Ribbon fired at the spiked area, damaging the creator of Dark Matter.
The angel of darkness flailed around helplessly in pain, his wings desperately trying to wipe his bleeding eye. As the spiked area was hit, green fumes were emitted all the while Zero Two was trying to move away from the Crystal Shard Gun's range.
"It hurts…it hurts…"
The spiked tail retracted into his body and the halo reappeared around Zero Two's head. He began shooting his energy beams at them again, along with smaller and faster light blue beams. The duo would repeat the process from before.
"It hurts…no matter what the circumstance…I am always brought nothing but anguish…I retaliate…I am hurt…I do nothing…I am hurt still…"
It became more difficult to fire at Zero Two, the blood flow increasing after another round of shards were fired into his eye. Zero Two went limp once again, leaving his halo vulnerable. The halo shattered, revealing his spiked green tail. The angel of darkness thrashed into the void, uttering sounds of pain as he was attacked.
"It is not right…not right…it hurts so much…"
"Kirby…he's in pain. I thought he would quit after he was hurt, but he's still fighting." Ribbon sighed.
"Zero Two will never give up, poyo…he didn't last time…"
They continued to fire at his eye once more, blood leaking out in streams. The halo was shattered again while his green tail was hit by crystal shards. Zero Two wailed in misery as he tried to brush away the blood in his eyes, only irritating it further.
"It will never end…my suffering will never end…I try with every fiber of my being…to be understood by these mortals…still happiness is out of my reach…"
Zero Two was coated in his own blood and the green substance. Still, he clung to life and attempted to attack his opponents. The tortured angel let out a cry as he began floating downward, letting the force of whatever was pulling him continue.
-
(watch?v=kn7g0wHAhNM)
The Dark Matter that were attacking Dedede, Adeleine, and Waddle Dee suddenly stopped short. They began to gather around in a large group as they did before, completely ignoring the previous fight. Dark Matter Swordsman gasped slightly before joining the rest of his kind.
"Great King…what are they doing?" Waddle Dee asked as he stepped in front of Dedede.
"I don't know. They seemed pretty eager to fight us a minute ago." Dedede answered.
"It…it sounds like their humming." Adeleine said.
The large group of Dark Matter were humming and harmonizing with each other. As if they had rehearsed and learned the piece by heart for this very moment.
Zero Two began to float upward, the blood around his eye still running down his body. He was ascending, the wounds on his body began healing on their own accord. The halo around Zero Two reappeared, shining in it's vibrant beauty. Zero Two began regaining consciousness, then unfurled his wings once more.
"He's…he still wants to continue?" Ribbon said in awe.
"But he's been through so much already, poyo…"
Zero Two grasped onto the little life he had left in his body. He created several white and red fire-like spheres from his wings, then threw them at Kirby and Ribbon. They almost fell into the abyss below, but managed to dodge each one. They couldn't grasp the true form of Zero Two's attack.
The two could hear a strange melody being hummed, they could hear the Dark Matter singing a hauntingly beautiful song for Zero Two.
"And I'll suffer endlessly.
This is why I have to be alone.
In darkness.
You denied my happiness.
And now I shall return the world.
To Zero. To nothing.
Because if I cannot feel joy.
No one ever will."
The angel of darkness summoned a wave of small round red spheres and larger blue ones. He hurled them at the fairy and pink puffball, one barely grazing Kirby's side.
"You are alone. The future holds nothing but darkness and isolation for you and your people. You shall become nothing more than a memory among the people who once knew you. You are a Star Warrior, your race was bred to act with bravery and strength. But what is bravery compared to madness itself? What is strength compared to perception? I have become the embodiment of discord. I will bring an era of chaos and mayhem to this galaxy. This shall be the end."
"No, this will be the end of Dark Matter, poyo! Kirby can't let this go on any longer, Zero Two." Kirby stared Zero Two in the eye. "I won't let that happen to the universe, poyo!"
It was the first time Kirby had referred to himself in the first person. He was afraid of his name being forgotten, that if he didn't say it, then his name would be forgotten by everyone. He realized that it was a silly notion to begin with. His friends would never forget him, whether he was here or not.
"Kirby…are you ready? This should be the final round." Ribbon asked.
"I'm ready, poyo. I never wanted to hurt Zero Two, but the galaxy's safety rests on us, poyo!"
Kirby fired the Crystal Shard Gun at Zero Two's eye, dodging small purple orbs that were summoned. The red eye was bleeding once more while he could only howl in pain and throw more projectiles at Kirby and Ribbon. They winced.
Two light blue blades of light were swung towards them, one lightly scraped Kirby's cheek. Zero Two's halo was attacked by the shards, while he flung a slurry of red tinted shards himself in defense.
The halo broke apart, sending Zero Two into another pain filled spasm. He writhed around the void as he flung every weapon or projectile he could summon. Yellow spheres, small green blades, red shards, and ghostly white fireballs were thrown about in the abyss. The creator of Dark Matter couldn't even see where he was flinging his attacks anymore, he could only hope he could hit his attackers in a stroke of luck.
The spiked green tail appeared once again, hit by the crystal shards fired from the duo's weapon. A large dark red laser beam was fired at Kirby's direction, missing him only by an inch. They continued shooting crystals, dodging their enemy's barrage of attacks.
Then Zero Two stopped resisting. It was as if he had lost the will to live, the desire to struggle was no longer with him. His body had stopped functioning, but his mind was still there.
(watch?v=UY4lnJ-RvEw)
"Is…is it over?" Ribbon asked.
"Zero Two poyo… if only you could see the joy of bringing happiness to others."
The Crystal Shard Gun returned to it's original form as the Crystal of Joy. Suddenly, a soft voice was heard from the gem. As the crystal spoke, it was as if time had been stopped for the moment.
"Zero Two…is not a monster." It said.
"Kirby, the crystal is speaking! Crystal of Joy, what words do you want to share with us?" Ribbon asked.
"I wish to tell the story of Zero Two. Zero Two is not a monster, but a being of loneliness. His only desire was to find happiness, but it always eluded his grasp. He couldn't understand love or happiness, friendship or delight. So, he created the Dark Matter as an attempt to make friends. He still couldn't understand."
Ribbon sniffed while Kirby's eyes began to water. It drove in the guilt of attacking Zero Two further.
"Eventually, he began to see the rest of the world as wrong. He grew jealous of everyone's friendship and happiness. He made the Dark Matter possess others so he could force them to like him. It still brought him no joy. Then, he decided to go to the source."
"Ripple Star and the Crystal of Joy…" Ribbon murmured.
"He thought that if Ripple Star and I, the Crystal of Joy, couldn't make him happy, nothing would. He went to extreme measures to obtain me, to gain happiness for himself. I hear the hopes of everyone in the Gamble Galaxy. I couldn't help Zero Two. It's too late to help him now."
The crystal's voice began to fade.
"Take me back to Ripple Star so that I may once again bring people happiness…"
Kirby and Ribbon gave one last tearful glance to Zero Two. His eye was bleeding profusely, his halo shattered, and his wings tattered. He had become a broken angel.
The broken angel whispered his last words. "Why…why did it not bring me happiness? I…tried to understand…I just wanted happiness…just once…"
Zero Two closed his eye for the final time. A small tear formed in the corner of his eye, not blood, but a genuine tear.
Kirby stood in front of the broken angel, gently wiping the tear from Zero Two's eye.
Kirby and Ribbon left the void with the Crystal of Joy and two heavy hearts.
-
The pink puffball and the fairy met with the rest of their friends outside the void, still on Dark Star.
The three only had to look at Ribbon and Kirby once to get a grasp of what had happened.
"So…it's over…" Dedede said, attempting to break the awkward silence.
"Yes…Zero Two…is defeated." Ribbon sighed.
"Well, we were doing fine with Dark Matter. Then they started singing…"
"We heard them, poyo…"
"They may have tried to take over the galaxy, but they sing beautifully." Adeleine stated.
"So…our adventure is over." Waddle Dee sighed. "It was so nice knowing you all…"
Dedede snickered. "Oh, stop that! You're acting like we're leaving you or something!"
Ribbon and Kirby smiled a little. Their friends would always cheer them up.
"Now, let's get outta here before it blows up or something." Dedede said, climbing on the Warp Star.
The others followed, taking their places on the Warp Star. They were about to fly away until something stopped them.
(watch?v=ByBpRkrg9SA)
"Stop." Something had grabbed the Warp Star, preventing it from leaving.
The Dark Matter Swordsman had a strong grip on the Warp Star. Miracle Matter was next to him, who was being strangely quiet for once.
"Ugh, you again! Enough with your revenge!" Dedede yelled.
"You defeated Zero Two…"
"Yeah, we had to. We had no choice!" Dedede tried to shake off Dark Matter Swordsman.
"I wanted to say…we're not as we seem. We have emotions too."
"Hmm?" Adeleine was puzzled. "You can feel positive emotions, but Zero can't?"
"Yes, we can feel happiness. Gooey is happy. We can feel positive emotions. We just chose not to feel them most of the time."
"But…why would you do that?" Ribbon asked.
"Because Zero couldn't be happy, we decided not to either. We wanted to share the pain with him. It's strange isn't it? He can't feel positive emotions but we can. It's unfair to him."
"So…what are you trying to say?" Dedede asked slowly.
"I want you to leave on good terms with us. This is most likely the last time we will meet."
"Are you asking for forgiveness, poyo?"
"All of our actions up to this point have been entirely for Zero. Now that he's gone, we have nothing left. It may not seem like it, but we do care for our creator."
"You were just being good vassals, weren't you?" Waddle Dee asked.
Dark Matter Swordsman nodded. "Even though Zero cannot feel positive emotions, all of the Dark Matter love him unconditionally. Myself included as well as Miracle Matter. We never will be loved in return, but we never asked to be loved."
An uncomfortable silence followed. "Dark Matter Swordsman…Miracle Matter, poyo. You can come home with us if you want…"
The rest of the group looked at Kirby in shock. Much to their confusion, both refused.
"No…we can't do that. I must stay here and meet the same fate as my creator. I will not abandon him."
At that moment an explosion sounded through Dark Star.
"Hurry! Go! You don't have much time!"
"But Dark Matte-"
"Go. Dark Star is about to explode."
Kirby stared into Dark Matter Swordsmon's single icy blue eye.
"…I forgive you, poyo."
Dark Matter Swordsman laughed quietly, then waved to them as they flew away.
"It'S BeEn FuN. Don'T CoMe BaCK. HmM hMm HmM." Miracle Matter chuckled, however it was good natured this time.
They escaped the planet on the Warp Star just in time. Kirby and his friends took one last look at Dark Star as it exploded, hearing the Dark Matter's song one final time.
"And I'll suffer endlessly.
This is why I have to be alone.
In darkness.
You denied my happiness.
And now I shall return the world.
To Zero. To nothing.
Because if I cannot feel joy.
No one ever will."
Author's Note: I added an extended scene to Zero Two's fight because the battle in the game felt so anti-climactic. Dark Matter's final appearance deserved to be grand and tragic. I decided to bring back Miracle Matter and Dark Matter Swordsman for the finale, because they needed to be with their creator. There will be one more chapter of this arc. The next chapter will show the aftermath of this arc. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be watching some Waddle Dees to recover with the heartbreak of writing this chapter.