Author's Note: And so, I cannot even keep my own promises. As it is, this will not be the final chapter of the story. Yes, it will wrap up the majority of the plot points of the Kirby 64 storyline, but there will be a final follow up to tie up a few remaining loose ends.

Chapter 34: Crystal Clear?

The familiar sound of something ready to explode grew as Kirby and Ribbon hardened their grips of each other's hand. The light continued to brighten. Ribbon ignored the lump in her throat.

Then they heard a voice.

"There they are! Guys, grab hold!"

The rumbling grew angrier, more impatient. Dark Matter stretched in several directions to break away from the planet, but no success. One last blood red eye struggled through the black void, but as the planet dragged it back, the eye caught a glimpse of a bright yellow star soaring away from the planet. On that star stood five individuals, all clinging to the star for dear life.

With nothing else to hide inside of, nothing else to corrupt or pollute, no more planets to defile, Dark Star, and all traces of Dark Matter within, exploded. From Ripple to Pop Star, one could make out a dark void cluttering space, but one could also rest easy knowing that same void exploded. Not flying to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, not taking the form of a Queen trying to defend her subjects. Gone.

For good.

Flying back and forth in the Queens room, Tara tried to assume a stern face and failed. Her wings fluttered with reckless care for the other fairies around her. She bit her right thumb and whirled around when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"I know what I saw!"

Emily held her hands up in defense, but wore a strict face. "Tara, calm down!"

"No, she's not kidding," came Pixie's voice from the window. "There is no more Dark Star. Like she said, it's gone."

"Splendid." Queen Gretchen leaned to one side and ignored the ache clawing at her legs. "Well, we best tell everyone."

Pixie flew over toward the Queen. "But my Queen, you are in no condition to travel. Dark Matter has been inside of your body all this time. We have to run tests, we need to check your blood and make sure it is not still corrupted, we must make sure you are suitable enough to rule-"

"Do not argue with me, Pixie." Gretchen caught the edge of the shelf as she caught her breath. "Dark Star is no more. What I need to do is go out there and lead this planet. No Dark Matter inside of my body." Gretchen's hand glided across the shelf until she found her crown, which she then placed on her head. She then made a sweeping motion with her hand. "Just us. Now, shall we?"

As the Warp Star sped through the galaxy, Ripple Star came closer into view.

"I can't believe it!" Adeleine threw her fist into the air and wrapped her other hand around Ribbon and Kirby like they were pillows. "You guys, us, we five-whatever! We did it!"

Adeleine then set the two down. Waddle Dee nodded in agreement while Dedede just sighed and set down his hammer.

"All right, I'll admit it: you did good, puffball." His attention zeroed in on Ribbon. "Fairy, what happened to your hand?"

Ribbon, still gasping for air, just pointed to it her broken hand and shook her head. The low, burned out flame in her body when she first fled Ripple Star grew into a flickering fire. It was over. No more Dark Matter. For the first time in a long time, she could look over her shoulder and not worry about darkness creeping up on her. Still too excited, unable to control the smile on her face and forgetting that she had wings, her legs went limp and she fell bonelessly backward onto her bottom.

"It's all over. It's all over. It is finished." She looked to the others. "No matter how many times I say that, it still sounds strange."

Ribbon must have struck a chord in Dedede because he gathered everyone in for a giant hug. For about five seconds. Then he set them down and regained his calm swagger.

"That did not just happen."

"No." Adeleine laughed like bells. "No one will know. Except for us. And all of the people that I tell." Adeleine felt Dedede's hammer at her back. "No one will know."

Ribbon chuckled and shook her head as the Warp Star entered Ripple Star air space.

Ripple Star. A peaceful, tranquil planet made obvious to many because of its heart shape. Many fairies lived there, but instead of going about their business, they spent the last few hours pushing Dark Matter away from their planet when it disappeared all of a sudden.

The sun burst forth from behind dark clouds as light passed over many fairies. They murmured and whispered instant rumors to each other when they heard someone clear their throat.

"Fairies of Ripple Star! The honorable Queen Gretchen!"

With Emily holding her hand, Queen Gretchen descended the stairs of her castle. The Queen gulped as a nervous bug bit at her stomach, but as the gaze of every fairy on the planet focused on her, she moved out of Emily's grasp and approached the center of the town square. Gretchen held a hand in the air and waited as the murmurs faded away.

Something about the stare in Queen Gretchen's eyes kept Pixie from speaking. When the other fairies turned to face the Queen, it seemed something very different stood before them. The somewhat clumsy Queen was gone, and in her place stood a more determined leader.

"Citizens of Ripple Star, lend me your ears. The Crystal Shard that came under attack by Dark Matter is in rightful hands, those of one our very own, Ribbon. For months, Dark Matter plagued not just our own planet, but other parts of the galaxy in an attempt to plunge us all into darkness. And some of us succumbed to that darkness." She paused and let out a heavy sigh as she felt a fairy's hand on her shoulder. She let it stay.

"I know not the full extent of what harm Dark Matter brought to you all or to Ribbon. But as you can see, the darkness has vanished from our midst. We must begin to rebuild, strengthen our hold over darkness and ensure a safe and secure future for ourselves and those who come after us."

The Queen's ears perked. She put a hand to one ear as the sound of rushing wind pierced the sky. She looked up and saw a shooting star grow in size as it sped towards her.

Dixie looked up. "Oh my word!"

"I know, I see it too!"

Emily's wings fluttered as a smile formed on her face. "She's back!"

The fairies looked to the sky as a bright star sped closer into view. The sound of Adeleine screaming grew louder until the Warp Star stopped just inches above the ground. Adeleine stopped screaming and let go of Dedede's leg.

Kirby jumped off first and handed the Crystal Shard to the fairy floating next to the Queen. Before he could address her, Kirby watched as the Queen walked past him and towards the Warp Star.

"My Queen-" Ribbon did not finish her sentence before Queen Gretchen took her in a long hug. She melted in the Queen's embrace as she felt the Queen squeeze her back with her hand. After a few seconds of being pressed against the Queen, Ribbon remembered the pain screaming in her hand. She struggled against the grip until the Queen let her go.

"My word, Ribbon. Your hand."

Before Ribbon could answer, the Queen had several fairies escort the five into the castle to the medical wing. Once the five vanished, she turned back toward the audience.

"Everyone, clear your schedules this evening. All should gather here at the sound of the first bell. Now, be on your way."

After an uncomfortable silence passed, the sea of fairies scattered in different directions as hushed conversations took over. Queen Gretchen turned to the fairy with the Shard and motioned her to follow.

The Queen and the fairy stood at opposite ends of the tallest chamber in the castle- the same chamber where Dark Matter once took the Shard before. The Queen motioned for the fairy to place the Crystal Shard back on the pedestal.

"How long, my Queen?" Lily paused and when Gretchen did not respond, she pressed on. "If we succumbed this time, what's to stop some other darkness from trying to steal the Shard?"

Queen Gretchen walked over and laid his hand on Lily's shoulder. "We keep going, Lily. The future has not been written yet. One stumble should not make us look weaker than before this invasion." She pushed up her glasses. "If anything, I must do more to lead you all against this evil. Ribbon's triumph is just an indication that fairies like you will help lead the charge should we come under attack again."

"The pink star warrior proved to be a great asset and ally to us."

Gretchen tapped her forehead like trying to find an impossible itch. Yes, this Kirby must have helped Ribbon a great deal, but this was Ripple Star's fight. The star warrior could be helpful, but the Queen could not just rely on him as a crutch. "I agree with you, yes, but before we focus our attention on seeking outside help, we must focus on strengthening our own resources, first."

"I understand, my Queen."

"Good. Now, we should start preparing for tonight."

"Pixie, I told you I'm fine."

"Would you hold still already, Ribbon?"

Pixie used one hand to press Ribbon back against her pillow and the other to finish sealing a pack. She then set the pack on Ribbon's hand.

Ribbon's eyes widened as something cold touched her hand. On instinct, she pulled back, but Pixie's iron grip kept Ribbon from retreating.

"Ribbon, I will not restrain you. Now, keep this ice on your hand for 20 minutes, and then take it off for 20 minutes. Repeat that process until it starts to feel better."

"And then what if it still hurts?"

"Then they knock you out!"

Ribbon and Pixie, along with everyone in the room, turned to the sound of Adeleine's voice.

"Yeah, they give you this pill, and you're like, 'Woooowww,'" she collapsed onto her bed, acting as if she had been sedated. "Then you wake up after they sew your hand back together."

Pixie, having newfound disinterest in young human beings, turned her attention back to Ribbon. "Do not straighten the hand at all. If you're still in pain when I get back, well give you some aspirin. That ought to help with the pain." She looked to the others. "Do any of you require assistance?"

Adeleine kept playing dead, while Waddle, Dedede and Kirby all exchanged looks for a moment before they turned to Pixie and shook their heads.

"Right, I'll be back in awhile to check up on you. Until then, just relax." She flew towards the door, and then paused with her hand on the knob. "After all, you've earned it."

Ribbon watched Pixie close the door behind her. She settled onto her bed and tried to relax, but her body remained tense. Her eyes wandered over to the others. They should have left by now. Kirby should want to head back to Pop Star. Dedede had a castle and empire to maintain, right? Waddle Dee had more exploring to do. And Adeleine, after everything she had seen, should want to get up and go back to the other planets to keep find inspiration for her artwork.

But no one seemed to notice the concern written on Ribbon's face. No one except Waddle Dee, who watched his friend, and spoke.

You can drop your guard, Ribbon." He rested against his pillow. "I know that look. No need to try and be the mother anymore. We'll get back to Pop Star soon enough. For now, we are on your planet, so relax."

Ribbon half-expected Waddle to say 'Right, Kirby?' if not for Kirby already being asleep. Instead, the fairy let her head rest against her pillow as she tried to collect her thoughts. Soon, sleep met her like a close friend in an empty bed.

Word of the end of Dark Matter spread throughout Ripple Star fast, covering the planet like a blanket of great relief. Night soon came as the fairies continued bustling about in preparation for that evening.

Desperation shot to the front of Adeleine's mind as she awoke from playing dead. The sound of muffled snoring filled the room while the artist shuffled out of bed, eager to answer nature's call.

Adeleine staggered into the hallway and spotted an emerald haired fairy heading towards the staircase.

"Excuse me! Do you know where I can find the restroom?"

The fairy stopped mid-flight and turned to face the human. "Last door at the end of the hallway."

"Thanks!" Adeleine rushed past the fairy.

"I hope you're using this time to freshen up."

Adeleine stopped. Well, rather, she hobbled from side to side and turned back toward the fairy. "Freshen up for what?"

"For tonight's ceremony, of course. Weren't you all informed?" The fairy waved her hand, dismissing the matter as she flew past Adeleine. "No matter. Just make sure that you, Ribbon and her friends come down to the grand hall when you all are ready."

Adeleine gave that some thought, while her wobbling legs moved toward the bathroom for her. When she came out, she walked back into the room and approached Dedede's bed. Unsure how to wake him up, Adeleine tapped his robe once and pulled back in an instant.

Except she didn't pull back. She froze in horror as Dedede's flipper caught her hand in a tight grip. Adeleine let out a high pitched wail as she dropped to her knees in pain.

"Who's there?"

"Food!"

Waddle Dee and Kirby shot up at the same time. Waddle realized someone had not knocked on his door and Kirby frowned when he did not see a plate of food in front of him. Ribbon, a bit faster than them, coasted towards the light switch and turned it on.

Dedede's eyes shot open and, upon realizing what he had done in his sleep, let go of Adeleine's hand.

Adeleine shook her hand like a fresh fish out of water flopping around for air, then blew on it for extra measure. "Gosh, penguin! If you do not like my art, let me know before you try to take my hands."

"Why did you wake us up, Adeleine?"

When the pain faded, Adeleine faced Kirby and Waddle. "Some fairy I ran into said we need to get ready and head to the grand hall. No reason why, though," she shrugged her shoulders, "but maybe the Queen wants to talk to us or something."

Kirby hopped off of the bed. "Well, I'm rested up anyway. Let's go see what she wants."

Darkness covered all of Ripple Star when the group arrived outside. Just a few windows inside the Queen's castle seemed reluctant to give up their light. Kirby pushed open the castle door and a long, empty hallway greeted him.

Ribbon flew to his side. "Those large double doors at the end. That is where we go."

With each step, Ribbon heard her heart pound in her chest like a war drum making its presence known. What would the Queen want with her? Just how many people knew about what had happened on Dark Star? Would she be tried for failing to protect the Crystal Shard from being shattered?

Kirby arrived at the double doors and, after taking a breath, pushed them open.

A cluster of different hair colors, wings and small dresses met the five as the eye of every fairy as far as they could see turned to face them. Queen Gretchen stood on a stage at the end of the long walkway between the crowds of fairies. As the five walked toward the stage, they felt the weight of the crowd's eyes on them. After a certain point had been reached, the numbers ceased to matter to Kirby. He just saw the faceless mass of a crowd.

Time seemed to slow as Ribbon saw the Queen come closer into view. As she continued flying toward the stage, she saw the eyes of other fairies follow her. It seemed for a second that, if she wanted to, she could count out the faces in the crowd around her, like so many flowers in a field.

Queen Gretchen motioned for Ribbon to fly to her side. Dedede walked up the steps and onto the stage first. Adeleine stood by his side, followed by Waddle Dee and Kirby. When the Queen told them to, they turned and faced the crowd. Silence filled the room as the Queen began pacing before the group.

"For so long, Ripple Star and other planets had been plagued by Dark Matter. Dark Matter stood as a symbol of pain and loss, seeking to plunge this galaxy into darkness." She walked past Kirby. "But others chose to fight against it. In the lives of brave warriors, great and small." She glanced in Dedede's direction

"Some chose to fight with brute strength, others with their creativity." As Queen Gretchen continued, Adeleine twirled one of her feet. "Others used their brains and their ever increasing knowledge of the galaxy around them, and some just refused to give up fighting no matter what the costs.

"Fueled by the wishes of one very brave soul," the Queen patted Ribbon's shoulder, "these warriors put their lives on the line for the sake of others throughout the galaxy." She looked to Emily and Dixie, who stood in the first row. "And sometimes, their friends and allies acted. As time passed, Dark Matter's presence in this galaxy would falter to a simple nuisance and from a nuisance to a pest that needed to be eliminated.

"Fighting, sometimes with their lives on the line, these five managed to destroy Dark Matter and ensure the protection of our Crystal Shard." She stood between Ribbon and Kirby and paused, an edge beginning to creep into her voice. "But the mere idea, the smallest inspiration that gave birth to darkness still runs deep in the farthest reaches of the galaxy. And the struggle to overcome it is not and may never be over. But for those of us who will continue to fight, we can draw inspiration from these individuals who fought back and proved that light shall always shine through the darkness."

The Queen motioned for Pixie to come forward. She did, with four red and white ribbons cradled in her arms. At the end of each ribbon lay a shining fragment. The Queen walked to Dedede and placed one around his neck.

"So a part of us shall always be with you." She moved onto Adeleine while Dedede, who promised himself he would not cry, just kept blinking.

Adeleine held the jewel in her hand, admiring its brilliant glow and happy at having something else she could recreate with her art.

Waddle's jewel came next. "We are forever in your debt." The Queen moved to Kirby and placed a ribbon around his body. "You shall always have an ally in Ripple Star."

While the Queen walked past Kirby, Adeleine caught a brief glimpse of expectation in Ribbon's eyes that vanished as soon as it appeared.

"Excuse me, your honor?"

"Your majesty," Pixie corrected.

Adeleine shook her head. "No, you don't have to call me that. I was wondering, what about Ribbon? What does she get for all of this?"

Ribbon chuckled. "Oh, I do not believe I will need a Shard as a gift, Adeleine. I live on Ripple Star. I shall have the pleasure of viewing the jewel in person."

Queen Gretchen cleared her throat. "Be that as it may, you shall not go without your own reward." She motioned for Ribbon to come toward her. When Ribbon came next to her, she took the fairy's hand. "My dear Ribbon, when you left this planet with the Crystal Shard, you carried not just the fate of the Shard itself, but the fate of our planet and the galaxy itself. That is a huge burden to shoulder alone, and an even greater one when the forces of darkness managed to shatter the Shard.

"But when you faced uncertainty, you found it in yourself to keep striving to make sure Dark Matter did not win." She looked to Kirby. "You cultivated bonds with friends who helped you through this dark period. And when you may have been at your lowest point, you found it within yourself to trust in them, and them in you. Ripple Star is grateful to have a fairy like you. Such determination is worthy of a true leader.

"Which is why today, in the presence of your friends and all citizens of Ripple Star, I hereby name you Commander of the Ripple Star Battalion. The next time our planet is under attack, I want you at the forefront, ready to lead our planet into victory."

Ribbon's wings froze as she landed on the ground. Shock made it way all over her face, on display for everyone to see. She tried to gather herself, but she felt her shoulders move up and down and her eyes start to water.

Then, while waiting for the tears to pour down her face, she heard the silence pouring from the crowd. The audience held themselves, quiet, tense, and tight, as if the Queen's declaration had struck them of their ability to speak. Then there came a murmur of sobs from Emily, Dixie and a few other fairies in the front row.

Then came the applause. A roar like leaping flame, like thunder after lightning.

Amidst the applause, Ribbon buried her face in her hands and wept. Not for the Crystal Shard that shattered under her watch and not for failing to protect her planet. Not for the sleepless nights spend worrying about her Queen and friends. She cried for the friends she had made and what they sacrificed, for the end of Dark Matter's reign and for the peace that the Crystal Shard once again brought to Ripple Star and all other planets throughout the galaxy. She became lost in her joy, not even noticing the Queen's arms envelop her or the crowds thunderous applause.

But when Ribbon managed to open her eyes, she saw Kirby cheering her on. Kirby, who had been there from the beginning, housed her, and gave her a bit of hope after the Shard broke. She saw his ever present smile and realized nothing she did could ever come close to paying him back for what he had done for her.

Freeing herself from the Queen's hug, Ribbon floated toward Kirby. Slow, but steady, she closed her eyes and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Kirby should have frozen in his place. Ribbon should have ended up with a girlish giggle, along with her friends at the rhymes they would soon make about Kirby and Ribbon sitting in a tree.

Instead, Kirby felt he had to dance. And he did. Kirby let himself twirl around and around, never noticing how close he was to the steps leading to the podium.

"Kirby, you might want to be careful-"

Waddle's warning did nothing. Kirby fell backwards down one stair. As Adeleine went to grab him, one of Kirby's feet got caught in her ribbon, which dragged her forward. That alone would be fine, except Adeleine had her hands outstretched, so one caught Waddle Dee in the back, shooting him forward, while the other grabbed hold of Dedede's coat, bringing him and his hammer, which caught Ribbon's damaged hand by surprise, into one jumbled pile at the bottom of the stairs.

Soon, Adeleine managed to crawl out of the heap and faced the fairies. Unsure what to do next, she bawled her fists and threw her hands in the air, as if she had won a fight.

The fairies, in response, waited with abated breath, then cheered.

Queen Gretchen tried to hide her smile, but failed. She raised her hand and the crowd silenced itself in response.

"If it pleases you all, let us move to the dining hall."

Most of the time, dinner at Ripple Star was smooth. Fairies ate either in silence or had hushed conversations with each other. Sounds consisted of silverware hitting plates and the dull thump of fairies pushing through the kitchen door with more meals. For the most part, dinner moved along at a fair pace with no problems. You ate, and if you were still hungry, you requested more, and then you turned in your plate and went on about your business.

"MORE STEAK!"

Not so tonight.

At the Queen's long dinner table, fairies sat in amazement as Kirby, Waddle Dee, Adeleine and Dedede feasted with no restraint. Finished plates sat to their left and right while they focused on two or three half-finished ones in front of them.

Kirby used one hand to devour a rib, the other a lobster.

Waddle Dee brought his fork to his mouth, but found his steak flying towards Kirby. Adeleine prepared to slurp down a bowl of fresh soup, but she lost out to Kirby inhaling it. She watched as it flew across the long table all the way to where Kirby sat.

Dedede noticed this and held his new steak a few inches from his mouth. Once Kirby began inhaling and Dedede's steak flew away from him, he also picked up his hammer and let that fly toward Kirby.

Kirby, too focused on what food he would get next, got a face full of hammer that knocked him out of his seat and onto the floor.

As empty plates went to the center of the table, more full ones came out of the kitchen. Some fairies watched from their tables in awe, others too dumbstruck to sit down.

"Where do they put it all?" one fairy asked.

"The Queen likes to eat with little to no noise."

Amidst calls for more food, bones flying everywhere, and various attempts to stop Kirby from stealing everyone else's food, Ribbon laughed. Hard. For the first time in a long time, she laughed.

When dinner ended and the fairies returned to their homes, Dedede and Adeleine lingered in the hospital room where they stayed.

"And just where do you plan to go, artist?"

"Dunno yet." Adeleine stuffed some more markers into a makeshift bag she painted. "Maybe head back to Pop Star. I never got to finish my work on the forest. Besides, what about you? Don't you have a castle to run?"

Dedede waved away the matter. "Please. They'll let me know when they need me."

Just then, Waddle Dee rushed into the room with a note in his hand. He paused to catch his breath then turned his attention to Dedede.

"Great news, Dedede! I got word from the others on Pop Star and they've just finalized the reconstruction on the castle after your battle with Kirby."

"It took that long?"

"This message is not new- it just took awhile to catch up to us. You know, flying around in a magical shard and all. But anyway, they say that you can return as soon as tomorrow or the next day and get back to ruling again."

Dedede froze in absolute horror. His stomach growled with the memory of delectable food being brought to him not that long ago, the treatment the fairies had done for him and the others, the comfortable beds, a Queen who knew how to rule a planet, and all free of charge. Now he would have to head back to Pop Star and just wait for Kirby to do something just to keep things interesting?

"Um, Waddle, write a letter to the others and let them know that I cannot make it in tomorrow. In fact," Dedede regained his confident strut and settled into his bed. "I think I'm busy all week."

Kirby and Ribbon sat atop the castle as fireworks shot into the air. Again, Ribbon found herself at peace. She let her body relax as she settled against the wall. The everyday lack of joy in her life that felt like a toothache she had grown used to had vanished. The night stood like warm velvet around them. The stars, burning diamonds in the sky against the colorful explosions, stretched for miles.

"So what happens to you, Kirby? Are you going to go straight home after this?"

The questions caught Kirby off guard. He had not considered leaving so soon, with Pop Star just a planet away.

"Hadn't planned on it. I mean, we're on your planet, the place that you kept telling us about. I wanna do some exploring here while I still have the chance. Pop Star is close, so I could head back when I wanted to. Until then, I wanna stay here as long as possible. And even if I did leave," he pulled out his Warp Star phone and placed it in Ribbons hands, "you know how to get in touch with us."

Ribbon's hands trembled as she cradled the phone.

"Well, maybe not Dedede since he's kinda weird, but me, Waddle and I guess Adeleine-"

Ribbon threw her arms around Kirby. He, in response, said nothing, but returned the embrace. Nothing needed to be said. He had met her at her weakest moment. She met him out of the blue. She had known him longer than any of the other friends she had made during this journey. True, she may have bonds with fairies she has known longer than Kirby and that is not something that Kirby could change, but there was an everlasting spark between the two that Ribbon knew she could not get from someone else. No one else could touch it, no matter how hard they might try. His light shining in her, and her's in him.

As Ribbon released Kirby, she ignored the fresh tears streaking her face as they stared back at each other without a word. Kirby realized how still everything was. Not a blade of grass stirred below. Even the sound of the fireworks now seemed muted, as if far off in the distance. Neither of them could tell the future, but now they are young, and friends forever bound by their adventures together, and both were too busy knowing deep in their hearts that they will never forget each other.

"Let's get some sleep."

All of Ripple Star slept with ease that night. Queen Gretchen did not even have to keep checking to make sure the Crystal Shard was still intact. Just the muffled sound of snoring echoed from one bed to the next, all across the planet.

All except for Kirby. He sat wide awake in his bed, while Ribbon, Adeleine, Waddle Dee and King Dedede slept. Eyes open, Kirby lay awake for at least an hour and heard the silence in the thick walls of the medical room. The silence was appropriate, as it wrapped other silences around itself. It was deep and wide as autumn's ending. It was heavy as a smooth stone in a river on Pop Star. Kirby blinked as he heard the unknown voice speaking to him in his mind again.

"You think you are the only hero in the universe?"

It was the realization that the pink puffball's adventures of saving the galaxy had just begun.