Phazon: As those who've played Kirby 64 know, the game is split up into planets and different zones from there. For this story, I'm not going to ramble off each chapter as Area 1:2, etc, but I'm going to blend in as many of the levels as I can, possibly all of them. So whilst reading this story, expect to revisit some of the many familiar locales that veterans visited in the Crystal Shards.

It Begins

The light from the new morning sun radiated through the circular windows in a little cabin at the end of a dirt path. A new day brought new possibilities for the inhabitants of Pop Star, and the beginning of an adventure for two individuals was about to begin.

Coupled with the rays of the sun, a birds morning call awoke the tiny fairy from her slumber. Still drowsy, she shuffled back in forth, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and getting her clothing back in correct proportion.

"Well, guess I better get started on breakfast. We've got a long way to go."

Fairies on Ripple Star learned at a very young age to be very proficient in cooking and cleaning. Not so they could learn to be some housewife, but they enjoyed seeing all things in perfect order, and this was no exception. From the dusty comics under the beds to the later crackling of hot bacon on the stove, Ribbon had the house in a better condition than when it started, and the sun was still rising.

"No, I don't wanna go back to the Puffball academy."

Ribbon was startled at hearing Kirby's drowsy voice as he got out of his bed, did his ten second stretching, and walked over to the kitchen, still completely unaware of what was happening. Then he saw Ribbon floating before him with a plate in her hand, complete with a spread out breakfast platter.

"Eat up," Ribbon said, "this adventure will be no good on an empty stomach. Now dig in!"

Before Kirby could even protest, Ribbon began to fork up some food and put it in Kirby's mouth.

Ribbon explained she was just so eager to begin their adventure, and Kirby remembered the promise he made to her last night. So, with the Crystal Shard in tow, some extra food in case they got hungry, and full of hope, the two friends set forth, leaving the tiny home behind and embarking on a great adventure.

It was a lovely, crisp morning on Pop Star. You could hear the distant sound of little ones laughing, a birds wing cutting through the air, water lapping, but for Ribbon and Kirby, it was the sight of a Bobo running up and down the country lane, ablaze for them to see. It was then that Kirby realized that there were some baddies that had invaded the land prior to Ribbons crash landing, but they never posed any serious threat.

"We're going to have to blow this flame out first," Ribbon concluded.

Kirby chuckled at the bad joke before employing his signature move. Shuffling his feet, he took in the biggest breath he could at the moment, Ribbons grip on the crystal shard was hindered and she felt the wind blow harshly as the Bobo tried running away, but it was useless against Kirby. The creature gave one last screeching wail before it was in the depths of Kirby's stomach.

Ribbon slowly approached Kirby and was about to poke his pink exterior, but the second she tried to, that soft pink exterior turned into a flaming fireball as Kirby catapulted himself forward down the dirt lane. Ribbon gave chase after him, jumping over the columns and platforms, keeping up with the fireball the entire time.

A few feet later, Kirby regressed from his fiery form unharmed, while Ribbon finally flew to his side.

"You all right there, Kirby?"

"Just. Getting. Used To. The. Effects. To. That," Kirby panted. He explained that somewhere along the line, he could inhale his foes if he were able to, and should these creatures have a certain type of power, it would not be infused in Kirby until he disposed of the power or took advantage of it.

Continuing along, Ribbon saw a lone shard floating above them. Hastening, she flew up to it and retrieved the crystal, adding to the ever growing Crystal Shard. They arrived at the edge of the lane, jumped across the tiny ravine and were standing before a tiny cottage home being guarded by a pair of Sir Kibble creatures. They took their fighter stance and armed themselves with their plumes.

"Tally ho, my brother," Sirkibble 1 said to 2, "an intruder is what we have here."

Sirkibble 1 and 2 threw their plumes towards Ribbon, who flew out of the way. Kirby charged forward and tackled the second to the ground before incinerating him with the petite fireball attack.

"KIBBLE TWO!" Sir 1 exclaimed. He took out a lance and began to parry at Kirby, evading each attack.

Watch out, Ribbon warned her chum, but Kirby was more than confident. He withdrew the fire elemental crystalline from his mouth, waited for the right moment, and threw it towards Sirkibble one, causing a bond between the two elemental powers of fire and cutter into a green and red combination.

Kirby inhaled the new concoction, and in an instant, he withdrew a flaming sword, kicked in the door to the cottage. Nothing there

Ribbon floated towards the other entrance, but the door was locked. Up above her, a giant N-Z materialized and was falling towards her. Kirby came to the rescue and grabbed her before she was crushed. Kirby scoffed at the giant bobbing head thingy.

"These things are like critters, just run around and around and never do any good."

Fighting words are what those were, as the giant N-Z jumped into the air and caused the ground to vibrate when it landed. Still, the two were not impressed.

"I give you ten seconds," Ribbon began.

It took less than that, even. Kirby rushed towards the N-Z with his flaming sword, gave three forward slashes and a final cut. The N-Z was immediately disposed of and the other door immediately unlocked.

Ribbon floated behind Kirby as they continued down the path, coming upon some cannons that were firing into the air. Kirby tried slashing through them, but to no avail.

"Its no use," Ribbon said at last, "they must be made of some impenetrable iron or something like that."

Kirby grew bored of his flaming sword, so he disposed of it and threw it skyward. Ribbon was most displeased.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

"Ribbon, Ribbon, one power gone," he stopped as he heard an explosion and saw that a Poppy Bros. Jr was throwing bombs their way, "means another one is in store."

The fairy ducked as a bomb headed her way, while Kirby ran forward, bounced off of a Bouncy for leverage, and took a nose dive towards the Poppy Brother. The brother took out one bomb and lit it, but before he could throw it, both he and the bomb were engulfed by Kirby's monstrous suck up technique.

As Ribbon caught up to him, Kirby's stomach suddenly expanded as the bomb went off, but he was soon back to normal, albeit he coughed up some smoke in the process, as well as spit out a cap with a skull on it.

"Its a spicy-a meatball-a!" Kirby said, as he jumped over the next ridge and combined the power of the bomb with that of yet another fiery Bobo. Yet again, a new mixture had been formed.

Little Waddle Dee spent some of his days as a guardian at a castle a ways from where he was now. For the past hour, he was intrigued in a tiny diamond fragment that he had found. Like Kirby, he was drawn by its texture and mystical powers, but he wasn't alone.

A dark circle formed behind Waddle Dee and took the shape of a Dark Matter eyeball, just like the ones that caused Ribbon to land on Pop Star during her escape. Waddle Dee turned to his left and the eyeball was not there, he looked up, and he was dumbfounded again.

"Whatever-" he muttered to himself. This was his downfall. He did a complete 360 turn and stared the Dark Matter straight in the eye.

Subject has been located with Crystal Shard in hands. Preparing to go on the offensive.

The Dark Matter took to the skies, and Waddle Dee couldn't follow it without having to protect his eyes from the suns rays.

"I cant see," cried Waddle Dee, but the Dark Matter could see him. It took a nose dive and went straight for Waddle Dee himself.

When he could see-it was too late.

"Ribbon, stop playing in the water!"

The fairy pouted as she lifted out of the lagoon, tripping over a black framework situated strangely in the water. She tapped it, and it felt hollow. Suddenly, the Crystal Shard she held began to react.

Ribbon yelled out to her accomplice. "Kirby, get over here!"

Stopping on the road, Kirby, with his new fireworks ability, launched himself over to Ribbon. Each firework explosion he created was greater than the last, and it still had the bomb power in it.

"Something strange about this black fixture bothers me," Ribbon called out again.

As Kirby took the final jump, the chain reaction of fireworks reacted with the black fixture, destroying it and revealing yet another piece of the Crystal Shard.

"I think we better keep an eye on what powers you get," Ribbon said to Kirby as they continued along the dirt path. They chatted as they walked, though a butterfly soon caught Ribbon's attention. Kirby saw a little red puffball, shaped just like him, lying in the middle of the path surrounded by gates.

"That you, Waddle?" Kirby called out as he went over to tap his ally. The figure awoke, new life sprung into it.

Waddle Dee's vision was completely covered by a veil of darkness, as if someone had taken over control of his body.

Subject Ribbon has survived her crash with Crystal Shard in tow. Destroy subject.

A giant eyeball took the place where Waddles face would be. He lunged forward at Ribbon, but he didn't have wings and he couldn't fly. Taking the opportunity for an open attack, Kirby rushed forward and head-butted Waddle Dee into a nearby fence, sending him into a temporary daze.

As Kirby went to Ribbon's aid, Waddle Dee regained composure and jumped sky high, creating a shockwave when his feet hit solid earth. With Kirby shook up, Waddle sent a series of punches to Kirby's puffy exterior, causing minimal damage to the puffball. Kirby quickly counterattacked and Waddle Dee was sent back a few feet.

Angry as a bull, Waddle charged again towards the two. Ribbon and Kirby split and Waddle Dee ran smack dab into a fence, as two tiny stars materialized from his sides.

"Ribbon, grab one of the stars! I've got an idea!"

With his minor headache gone, Waddle Dee saw Ribbon standing at the opposite side of the battleground, presenting the Crystal Shard before her.

"Here you go, Mr. One Eyed Freak!"

Now redder than ever, Waddle Dee gave another charge, but at the last second, Ribbon threw the Crystal Shard into the air, which was captured by a floating Kirby. What was now in Ribbons hands was the star she picked up, and she flung it at full speed towards Waddle Dee, stopping him dead cold. Kirby threw the shard back to Ribbon as he charged his firework ability up. He was now set to go off at any second.

Waddle Dee got back up, battered and ready to give in, but the Dark Matter wasn't about to lose.

Subject is stronger than we determined. Must last this and retrieve fabled Crystal Shard.

Before he even noticed, his vision was now a mixture of greens, blues, reds, and blacks as Kirby was set off his attack. Waddle Dee was beaten and the darkness emanated from his body and flew away, dropping a Crystal Shard fragment.

Kirby and Ribbon rejoiced and gave a high-five, celebrating their victory. Waddle Dee rubbed his forehead and saw the two before him, but before he could say anything, Kirby waved goodbye- thanking him for the shard- and headed off.

Watching them go off, Waddle Dee made up his mind. He rushed towards the fence where he would catch up to them.

Ribbon's wings fluttered with new determination. "I've got a good feeling about this, Kirby! Let's press on!"

As they did, Waddle Dee appeared at their side, running alongside the two of them.

"I'm coming with you!"

"Then you better keep up," Kirby called, a grin on his face as the sun began to set, "we've got a lot of work to do!"

Stronger than ever and their faith reassured, the trio of Kirby, Ribbon, and Waddle Dee ran further, leaving the calm pathways and heading into the autumn forest.