Kirby was happily playing with his friends - Fumu, Bun, Gooey, Marx, and Magolor - in a meadow that was a little too bright, though he didn't really care. Had their fun and laughter not been filling the area, it would have been completely silent, as they appeared to be the only life there…but no one noticed.

As they continued their games, Fumu and Bun began…growing. Aging up, year by year, until they were adults. When that happened, the siblings stopped.

Backing away, they turned and began walking off.

"-W-wait a minute, you two!", Kirby gasped, trying to stop them, "Where are you going!?" Though he could see both of their mouths moving, no sound came from either of them. Soon enough, they were out of sight. "…Fumu…? Bun…?"

He could feel a knot tightening in his chest. Why were they leaving? Wasn't playing around fun like it always was? Or…

"They're just checking on the preparations", Marx chirped, interrupting the puff's thoughts. His voice, however, was a little…off. Just a bit too quiet.

How had the puffball not noticed before?

Regardless, Kirby stared back at him, now more confused, "Preparations…?"

It was Gooey's turn to talk…but, his voice was so quiet that it was impossible to tell what he was saying-it sounded like gibberish!

"That's right!", Magolor suddenly said, having apparently heard the dark matter just fine, "You saved everyone, after all! You deserve it!" The halcandran's voice came out nice and clear, unlike the others.

Although worried about his friends' voices, he chose not to worry about the "preparations". It was obvious the three of them were grateful to him, so it couldn't be anything bad…right?

"Saved everyone…?" Well, he had protected Pop Star-heck, even the entire universe-several times. That had to be what they were referring to…

"…Yea…I suppose I did, didn't I?", Kirby smiled, actually feeling proud of himself for once. The only response he got were nods.

Looking between his friends, his smile eventually slid off of his face. All three of them were staring at him.

Glaring at him.

After a long, slightly awkward silence, he realized they were going to play anymore, and Fumu and Bun weren't coming back. The pink puff opened his mouth to suggest something (despite not having any ideas quite yet), only to be cut off.

"Yes…You saved everyone…"

Kirby focused on Marx, who had spoken up. To his shock, the noddy had begun…mutating.

A golden wing with two claws on it, and multi-colored "scales" of sorts began slowly tearing its way out of his side…only to distort, all the way down to the parts still inside the creature's body, turning the gold to violet and causing another claw to join the others. His initially tiny fangs grew, easily jutting out of his mouth.

The middle of Marx's body, however, began opening up like someone cut into it, gushing unnatural, bright green blood.

"Why couldn't you save me!?", the monster demanded, screeching in a distorted voice Kirby could never forget, "Aren't we friends Kirby!?"

Kirby backed away, horrified, panicking… "W-we are friends!", he stuttered out.

"Then why did you kill me!?", it shrieked, furious as ever.

The little hero glanced around desperately, hoping one of the other two would back him up…

But, alas, it's never that easy, is it?

Both Gooey and Magolor had started changing as well.

Gooey sprouted "wings" of his own. White appendages that split off into red "feathers". These ones clashed with the rest of him in such a way, they were obviously not meant to be at all. He floated up off of the ground, a bright yellow halo appearing over his head. As with Marx, he started bleeding as well-the crimson liquid flowed out of his mouth, and his sides where the wings were connected.

Though Magolor didn't lose a single drop of blood, he wasn't fairing any better.

His ears grew and curved at an awkward angle, splitting free from the fabric that had previously concealed them. His hands grew into sharp, claw-like fingers, and Magolor himself began to grow. Cutting off his collar with a single swipe, an eye had appeared in his now smiling mouth, making it glare down at Kirby. After that, it didn't take long for his face to melt slightly.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE US!?", the three grotesques roared in near-unison, "WE WERE SUFFERING TOO!"

"I-I-I…"

Kirby wanted to flee. Run away and never look back. But he couldn't even budge…paralyzed by fear, and guilt.

"YOU JUST TRIED TO KILL US!"

He felt tears run down his face. He couldn't deny the truth…he couldn't say anything in his defense…

He couldn't bear looking at his old friends any longer, despite being unable to do anything about it.

All the star warrior could do was give a small whimper. I'm sorry…

They closed in on him, each eagerly trying to get closer for an attack. Yet, he still couldn't move in the slightest.

I'm sorry…I'm sorry…

Marx was the first to get to him, sinking his fangs into the pink puff's flesh.

Kirby shot up, screaming at the top of his lungs.

Panting, he glanced around his room, ignoring the burning in his throat.

…Wait…his room…?

"…Just a dream…", he mumbled, laying back. The scene still replayed in his mind, even though he was finally awake.

Thinking it over, he couldn't help feeling rather guilty over what had happened in the past, though he knew there was nothing he could do about it.

Nothing except protect Ma-

Magolor! Kirby quickly sat up again, now filled with concern for his currently comatose friend.

Had the halcandran woken up yet? Perhaps now would be a good time to check…

He glanced outside, noting that it was still pitch black out. He had woken up at barely past midnight, if the puffball had to guess…which meant it'd probably be for the best he stay inside for now, lest he accidentally wake, and anger, Dedede.

LEAVE ME ALONE!

Kirby shuddered, leaning back.

Right, he also had to be worried about Meta Knight. Though the knight had agreed to leave him alone, the little hero wasn't sure about how much he believed it. MK could easily be stalking him right now, waiting for him to head over to Magolor…or, possibly worse, the ex-soldier could be at the castle instead of the Halberd, for once.

In that case, showing up in the dead of night was bound to raise quite a bit of suspicion-something Kirby needed to avoid as best as he could.

Besides, the alien was probably perfectly fine right now. Even Meta needed to sleep!

…Yet…even with that thought trying to reassure him, the sun eventually rose, with the pink puff still wide awake…