Ribbon Reunion

(BiggerBetterBarbie; idea by PartyMilk)

The citizens of Ribbon Star cheered wildly as they watched the teenage Ribbon step up on the podium. They quieted down once she made it to the top, standing alongside her glasses-wearing mother.
“Ribbon, my beloved daughter. You have worked very hard for this moment, and now it is my honor and pleasure to make you…” she said as she lifted the crown off the top of her head.
“...the new queen of Ribbon Star.” she said as she gently put the crown on top of Ribbon’s head, which made the crowd cheer again. Ribbon smiled and waved to the people that were cheering her on.

That was the scene about a couple hours ago, and Ribbon was happy and smiling then. Now… she stood on the edge of the castle’s balcony, looking down and watching the citizens go about their daily lives. Instead of smiling, she looked somewhat depressed. She was so depressed, she didn’t see her mother coming from behind.
“There you are, Ribbon!” Mom said. Ribbon gasped as she turned around.
“Oh. Hi, Mom.” Ribbon said.
“Oh! I didn’t mean to startle you. Were you in deep thought?” Mom asked.
“I guess.” Ribbon said as she looked at the crowd again, with her mother standing alongside her now.
“Is something troubling you, Ribbon? I thought you’d be very happy!” Mom said.
“Oh, I am, Mom. It’s just…” Ribbon said.
“Yes?” Mom asked.
“It’s been ten years since Kirby and his friends came. I would’ve thought they’d show up for the coronation party.” Ribbon said.
“Now now, Ribbon. That was just over 10 years ago. All living things have to move on at some point, although I’m sure Kirby would’ve wanted to visit if he could.” Mom said.
“Sigh… I know. I’m sorry. It’s just… I miss him so much.” Ribbon said.
“I know you do, Ribbon. We all miss him. If it weren’t for him and his friends… it would be Dark Matter ruling our star instead.” Mom said as she gave her daughter a hug. Finally, she walked away.
“So, Ribbon, aren’t you going to join us downstairs for the dance off?” Mom asked.
“Oh, that. You go on ahead. I’ll catch up later.” Ribbon said. Her Mom nodded as she left the balcony while Ribbon got back to staring both on the ground and into space.

A half hour later, and Ribbon was now back in her bedroom. She looked at a photo taken all those years ago when she was younger, and behind her was her mother, Kirby, Waddle Dee, Adeleine, and King Dedede. She smiled as she looked at the photograph, and then she looked at the crystal shard wrapped around her neck in that picture, remembering a very important detail.
She still had that crystal shard. Once about half her body size when she was a child, it was now wrapped neatly around her neck as a necklace. She grabbed it with her bare hand.
“Wait… of course! This crystal shard lets me do almost anything I want. Let’s see, what was the name of the star that Kirby and his friends said they hailed from?” Ribbon asked herself. She thought deeply, trying to remember the conversations she had with some of them, especially after warping from one star to another. And that’s when she remembered.
“Popstar! That’s the one!” Ribbon said as she removed the crystal shard from her neck and gripped it tightly in her hands.
“Great and ultra powerful crystal shard. Please take me to the home of Kirby and his friends, Popstar.” Ribbon said as she watched the crystal glow brightly in her hands. Before she knew it, her entire world vanished in a bright white light, and she felt herself floating in the air, watching as stars went shooting by from all sides.

A couple minutes later, the transport ended, and the light faded out. Ribbon was back on solid ground, and she looked in the distance at her new surroundings, recognizing a familiar building.
“Oh! That must be King Dedede’s castle. I suppose I should go there first.” Ribbon said as she started to walk towards the castle. However, she looked in her hands and gasped.
“What the… my crystal shard!” Ribbon said, watching as the shard seemed to be fading into dust, and curiously that ‘dust’ was floating through her clothes and into her body. Just before Ribbon could wonder what happened with her shard, she felt her body rumbling.
“What… what’s happening?” Ribbon said. That’s when she watched the world around her get smaller and smaller. It only took a short time, but Ribbon now towered over the beach at nearly 100 feet tall.
“I… I’m gigantic. Not only that, I feel the power of the crystal shard inside me.” Ribbon said as she looked around and admired her gigantic self.
“Heh… at least this will make finding Kirby easier, but first I need to visit the castle.” Ribbon said as she gently walked forward and approached first the town in front of King Dedede’s castle (Cappy Town).

Meanwhile, at Castle Dedede, King Dedede was busy beating up on a punching bag with a picture of Kirby attached to it. Bandana Waddle Dee came walking in and saw the king punching away. Although Bandana Waddle Dee was a friend of Kirby’s and it made him cringe to see Dedede slugging away at his picture, he still had to serve the king just like all the other Waddle Dees on this side of Popstar. And of course he wasn’t about to criticize the king on wanting to eliminate Kirby.
“Wow, your majesty! I’m impressed! You’ve been punching away for almost 30 minutes now!” Bandana Waddle Dee said.
“*huff puff huff puff* Hey, I gotta toughen up if I’m ever gonna slug that Kirby in a slugfest!” Dedede said.
“Do you think you’ll get him this time?” Waddle Dee said.
“As long as I don’t have to play some goody goody because something more dang sinister is out there in this here galaxy!” Dedede said.

Suddenly, the two heard thundering booms from outside.
“Hey! Who turned up the darn bass!?” Dedede shouted. Bandana Waddle Dee turned on the nearby television set and initially gasped.
“Yipes! Your majesty, look at this!” Waddle Dee said, with King Dedede running over. They both watched the screen as the giant Ribbon tiptoed her way around Cappy Town to avoid crushing anyone or anything. At first, the two didn’t recognize who the giantess was.
“Who is that, your majesty?” Waddle Dee said.
“I don’t know, but nobody darn steps all over Cappy Town except… well, never mind. Come on, we gotta issue her a warning!” Dedede said as he ran out of his throne room with Bandana Waddle Dee trying to catch up from behind.

At the same time, Ribbon finally made it off the grounds of Cappy Town and was standing just a few yards away from Castle Dedede.
“Whew… thank goodness I didn’t crush anything. Being this big will take some getting used to.” Ribbon said.
“Now listen here, giant girlie! I’m a giving you 30 seconds to leave this here town before I send in the cavalry!” Dedede said. Ribbon turned around and saw King Dedede and Bandana Waddle Dee standing on one of the highest balconies of the castle.
“Oh! King Dedede! And Waddle Dee!” Ribbon said.
“Huh?” they both said, getting a bit nervous as they saw the giant human lady lean in to get a closer look.
“It’s me, Ribbon! Don’t you recognize me?” Ribbon said. King Dedede and Bandana Waddle Dee traded confused looks.
“Are you trying to yank my chain, lady? I remember Ribbon being much smaller!” Dedede said.
“Sir, wait! Take a closer look! The pink hair, the fairy wings, the red bow on her head, the red dress… she’s just aged now! It has been 10 years…” Waddle Dee said, prompting King Dedede to study the giantess from head to toe. He compared images in his mind of what Ribbon was back then and the way Ribbon is now.

And that’s when it finally hit him.
“Ack! Well, by jove, it really is Ribbon!” Dedede said.
“Teehee… yep! Wow… it’s been so long, I was worried you totally forgot about me.” Ribbon said.
“Yeah, well… I forgot some species have growth hormones. Heh heh heh…” Dedede said as he laughed awkwardly. Ribbon couldn’t help but laugh herself as she next looked at the Waddle Dee.
“And Waddle Dee, that bandana looks nice on you.” Ribbon said as she winked one of her eyes.
“Er… thanks!” Waddle Dee said.
“Say, is Kirby inside with you?” Ribbon asked.
“Huh? Of course Kirby ain’t here! He’s… *ahem* I mean, he actually lives outside the castle in his own home.” Dedede said.
“I see. Could you maybe point me in the right direction? I’ve been wishing to see Kirby again after 10 years…” Ribbon said.
“We can guide you! Just let us ride with you!” Waddle Dee shouted.
“Oh! That would be most helpful! Thank you!” Ribbon said as she reached down and gently picked up both KIng Dedede and Bandana Waddle Dee by wrapping a hand around them. She looked down at the two in the palm of her hand as Waddle Dee pointed in another direction.
“If you head straight that way, you’ll find Kirby’s home.” Waddle Dee said.
“Thank you, Waddle Dee!” Ribbon said as she walked in that very direction, again making sure not to crush anything innocent. And she almost succeeded. She heard something go crunch under her foot, which she lifted up and saw the remains of King Dedede’s limousine.
“Oops… I hope that wasn’t anything important.” Ribbon said.
“Why you ungrateful walking titaness of terr…!” Dedede started to shout in anger, only to get feverishly tapped on the back by Bandana Waddle Dee.
“Ummm… your majesty, we did save her kingdom, remember?” Waddle Dee said.
“Er… um… yes. Not to worry, Ribbon! You’re right. That vehicle was nothing important.” Dedede said.
“Whew! Good to hear!” Ribbon said as she kept walking, even though King Dedede still mumbled beneath his breath how that was his favorite limo.

Meanwhile, Kirby was sleeping the day away with no big adventures to think about. He was even sleeping through the thundering footsteps that were progressively getting louder and closer.
“There it is! Kirby’s home!” Waddle Dee shouted from Ribbon’s hand.
“Wow… that’s all? I thought he might have a big castle or something for everything he’s done, especially to my star!” Ribbon said.
“Eh… some creatures just aren’t that needy.” Dedede commented, which was ironic given all he possessed at his castle. In any event, Ribbon kneeled down and gently tapped on the roof of Kirby’s home.
“Kirby? Are you in there?” Ribbon asked. Waddle Dee hopped down from the giantess’s hand and peeked inside one of the windows.
“Oh, it looks like he’s sleeping.” Waddle Dee said.
“No problem. I know a good way to wake him up, but you and King Dedede might want to cover your ears.” Ribbon said, with the two doing just that. Ribbon took a deep breath and then…
“KIRRRRRRRBYYYYYYYY!!!” Ribbon yelled with all her might.

Inside the house, that definitely got Kirby flying out of bed as he bounced off a few of the walls in his home. Once he regained his footing, he quickly ran outside. Then he took a look up and up and up, where he got his first glimpse of the giant teenaged Ribbon.
“Hi, Kirby! Remember me?” Ribbon asked. Kirby first looked confused.
“Don’t you recognize me? It’s me, Ribbon!” Ribbon said. After staring for a few more seconds and then suddenly recognizing the name, Kirby then jumped up and down in happiness.
“I think he just now remembered who you are!” Waddle Dee said. Ribbon then kneeled down and picked up Kirby, holding him (and Bandana Waddle Dee and King Dedede) in her hand.
“Oh, Kirby. It’s so wonderful to see you again. It’s been ten years.” Ribbon said. Kirby once again danced around in happiness, which made Ribbon giggle.
“Teehee… you certainly haven’t changed, Kirby.” Ribbon said.

The giantess then remembered something important.
“Oh, wait! Wasn’t there a fourth member of your party that saved Ribbon Star?” Ribbon said.
“Ah, yes, I remember! It was Adeleine, the artist!” Waddle Dee said.
“I wonder where we can find her…” Ribbon said. Kirby said a bunch of stuff, which Waddle Dee translated.
“Kirby says she likes to spend most of her day in the forest.” Waddle Dee said, pointing at said forest in the distance.
“I see. Then it’s to the forest we go!” Ribbon said as she walked away from Kirby’s house and towards the forest. Luckily, being out in a wide open plain, Ribbon didn’t have to be as careful when it came to crushing innocent things. She even admired the many hills that towered alongside her.

In the forest, as Bandana Waddle Dee pointed out, was indeed a teenaged Adeleine. She was putting the finishing touches on another painting. Adeleine backed away as she watched the creature come to life, jumping off her easel and going into a heroic pose. The creature resembled a human up until the head, which looked like a bowl of rice with eyes embedded.
“Haha! You certainly look like you’re ready to fight!” Adeleine said.
“Friiiiiied Ricer! Fry! Fry! Fry!” the creature apparently named Fried Ricer shouted as he swung his dual spoons around.
“Heh… Chef Kawasaki will think twice before trying to cook you.” Adeleine said. She then watched as Fried Ricer ran off, presumably to look after the forest like the rest of the creatures she had made.
Just then, however, she felt the ground tremble, having to hold onto her easel and paint supplies to keep them from tipping over. It made her nervous hearing some trees rustle loudly.
“What… what’s going on? An earthquake?” Adeleine asked.

Shortly thereafter, she found the source of the commotion. It was the giant Ribbon as she waded her way through the tall trees.
“Adeleine?” Ribbon asked as she looked down at the teenage girl artist at her feet.
“Y...yes?” Adeleine said.
“Wow, Adeleine! You grew up too!” Ribbon said. Bandana Waddle Dee, Kirby, and King Dedede all ran up to Adeleine and quickly clarified the situation.
“Adeleine, this is Ribbon! Remember her? The girl from Ribbon Star?” Waddle Dee said.
“Oooooooooh! Now I remember! We had a mini girl power thing, didn’t we?” Adeleine said.
“Heh heh, yeah. That’s what happens when we’re both kids, right?” Ribbon said.
“I suppose, but wow… you’ve grown up too! I don’t remember you being that big.” Adeleine said.
“Haha! Yeah, I don’t know how it happened really. I used a teleportation spell to come all the way from Ribbon Star to here. As soon as I arrived, the crystal shard I always kept with me suddenly absorbed into my body. The next thing I know… I’m this big.” Ribbon said.
“Wow… unlucky you!” Dedede said.
“Oh, I don’t know. Being this big does have its perks… like being able to protect all of you just as you protected me on Ribbon Star.” Ribbon said. With that, she picked back up all four of her friends (including Adeleine), and gently hugged them.
“Say. Perhaps you all could give me a tour of your home world?” Ribbon asked. Kirby once again happily spoke out.
“Kirby doesn’t seem to mind!” Waddle Dee said. Ribbon smiled as she gently walked out of the forest. Along the way, Adeleine couldn’t help but blush and smile as she looked up at Ribbon’s giant face.
“Aaaaaah… Ribbon looks so wonderful at this size. I’ll have to make sure to paint something in her honor.” Adeleine said to herself.

For the next hour or so, Ribbon walked around Popstar, admiring all the different landscapes that made up the star. It reminded her of the galaxy her world resided in. Such varied lands and a wide variety of living things. It made her appreciate her world that much more. She conversed with her friends, as she had done during the tour, as she returned back to the massive plain where Kirby’s home resided.
“Wow… this has been a wonderful tour. Thank you for guiding me through it, my friends.” Ribbon said.
“It was our pleasure, Ribbon! Anything for a good friend.” Adeleine said. Just then, however, the group looked up when a big shadow blocked out the sunlight that was shining down on them. Ribbon looked up and saw a big ship floating overhead.
“Oh dear… what’s that?” Ribbon asked.
“It’s that dang Halberd. I don’t know why Meta Knight doesn’t want to share that beauty of a ship with me!” Dedede said. The group then watched as a rope came down from one of the ship’s sides, and sliding down that rope was Meta Knight. He eventually landed on one of Ribbon’s shoulders, causing the giantess to gasp. She was about to reach up and swat him, but Bandana Waddle Dee was quick to intervene.

“Whoa, Ribbon! It’s okay! Meta Knight is on our side. Well… most of the time, he is.” Waddle Dee said. Kirby happily greeted his sometimes friend, sometimes enemy, sometimes sparring partner, sometimes however else you want to describe him as he slid down Ribbon’s arm and onto her hand with the rest.
“Yes, Kirby, it is good to see you too, but I come bringing news of an urgent matter.” Meta Knight said.
“What is it, Meta Knight?” Waddle Dee asked.
“Um… excuse me, but who are you?” Ribbon asked.
“His name is Meta Knight! He watches the galaxy making sure no evil threats try to invade our world.” Adeleine said.
“Otherwise he just lounges around my castle like he owns the joint.” Dedede said. Meta Knight just pretended he didn’t hear that… not that anyone could tell because his mask covered every single facial expression.
“It is a pleasure to meet your giant acquaintance, but I fear your presence has gotten the attention of evil forces from the stars beyond.” Meta Knight said.
“Huh?” everyone else said.
“The scanners on my ship have detected enemy forces made of dark energy. They are undoubtedly the last vestiges of Dark Matter’s evil army.” Meta Knight said.
“Dark Matter!?” Adeleine shouted.
“Ooooooh… I thought we’d seen the last of that shapeshifting one-eyed black hole!” Dedede said.
“We must prepare ourselves for battle with haste. I fear it will be any second before they…” Meta Knight started to say.

Only to watch as his ship, the Halberd, started taking fire. While the shields were doing a good job of protecting the ship, everyone looked up to see hundreds of normal-sized creatures covered in dark energy raining from above.
“Eeeek! Here they come!” Waddle Dee said.
“There must be hundreds of them!” Adeleine shouted.
“What will we do!?” Dedede shouted. Kirby didn’t appear scared though.
“Kirby is right. We must defend our turf no matter the cost!” Meta Knight said as he pulled out his signature golden sword. As Ribbon set everyone down on the ground, she put on a battle ready face.
“I will help you all in battle. I won’t let the minions take your home away like they almost did mine!!” Ribbon shouted.

Once most of the minions touched down (with more coming down from above), the fight was on. Everyone fought in their own signature style. Kirby and Bandana Waddle Dee stuck together (almost literally), with Kirby sucking as many monsters as his mouth could handle. King Dedede swung his hammer in almost every direction possible, occasionally jumping high in the air and crushing monsters beneath his belly. Meta Knight sliced and diced through the monsters, while Adeleine painted creatures of her own (in particular fire and ice dragons) to pit against the creatures.
Ribbon, of course, thanks to her magnificent size, stomped around and crushed creature after creature under her shoes. She too would sometimes show off an alternate attack, such as shooting laser beams from her hands. She felt the energy pulse in her chest, presumably where her crystal shard had been absorbed earlier.

Despite their efforts, it felt like they were getting nowhere. For every 10 monsters our heroes defeated, another 10-15 would come raining in from the sky. Fatigue started to settle in, especially for the normal-sized heroes.
“*huff puff huff puff* Can’t… keep… this… up…” Dedede said.
“No kidding… I’m out of paint! Ooof!” Adeleine said as she got pushed from behind and tackled to the ground, leaving her to ward off the monsters with just her paintbrush. It was breaking Ribbon’s heart to see her friends get overwhelmed, and she looked up in the sky to see more of the monsters raining down.
“I have no choice, my friends. I must summon the full power of my crystal shard.” Ribbon said.
“Are you sure, Ribbon!? It could be dangerous!” Waddle Dee commented.
“If we’re going to win this battle, I must take the fight to the source, and the only way to do that is to…” Ribbon said as she closed her eyes and concentrated on her inner crystal shard. Our heroes, and even the dark monsters, gasped as they saw the already big Ribbon grow even bigger.
“Whoa! She’s getting even bigger!” Waddle Dee said.
“Incoming foot!” Dedede shouted as he and the other heroes, including Adeleine who fought her way out of the pile, scampered out of the way as her footwear grew bigger and bigger and got closer to them. The rest of Popstar could only watch as Ribbon continued to rapidly grow. Interestingly, our heroes watched as the dark monsters would one by one explode, even if some part of the now giga-sized Ribbon wasn’t touching them. They figured Ribbon’s positive energy was rubbing off her growing body and eliminating anything that had as much evil as the dark monsters did.

When all was said and done, Popstar looked like nothing more than a twinkle in Ribbon’s eye.
“Oh my… maybe I overdid it on the growing? I must learn to better control these new powers the crystal shard has given me.” Ribbon said. She focused her eyes on Popstar.
“Still, this size will allow me to easily subdue the evil threat.” Ribbon said as she looked like she was going to pinch her fingers together and obliterate Popstar (which some citizens feared would happen), but instead, those same fingers glowed bright. Kirby and company had to shield their eyes from the bright light, but when it faded away… all the monsters were gone. The ones on the ground and the ones raining down from the sky? Zero trace of them.
“Woohoo!!! Take that, Dark Matter scum!” Dedede said as he danced rather poorly with Kirby and Bandana Waddle Dee (flailing them around in circles).
“Never before have I seen such an incredible display of power and strength.” Meta Knight said.
“I sooooooo have to paint a portrait of what I’m seeing…” Adeleine said, admiring the sky that was really Ribbon’s eyeball.

Ribbon’s work was not done, however. She turned around and saw many more dark monsters approaching. Ribbon assumed this was the rest of the army that wanted to seek revenge, but she wasn’t going to allow that today. She took a deep breath and aimed her hands at the monsters.
“You shall not spread your evil to another star in this galaxy! Ever again!!!” Ribbon shouted as she fired a laser that was worthy enough to completely destroy a planet if she wanted to. The monsters wailed as they faded out of existence, leaving nothing behind of their presence. Ribbon smiled and clapped her hands together.
“And that’s that.” Ribbon said as she closed her eyes and concentrated again.

Our heroes watched as Ribbon rapidly shrunk smaller and smaller. She eventually stopped shrinking until she was all the way back to her normal size, a size that didn’t require her to be careful with every step she took. Kirby and his friends all came running up to Ribbon.
“Alright! Way to go, Ribbon!” Waddle Dee shouted.
“You have saved us from the invasion of Dark Matter’s remains. For that, we are forever grateful to you.” Meta Knight said.
“Now that’s what I call serious girl power!” Adeleine shouted.
“Haha! Thank you, everyone. I just did what I thought was right. Still, this kind of power I possess… if evil hands were to take hold of it like they took hold of my mother that day…” Ribbon said.
“Hey now! Don’t you start thinking like that! Even I think positive every day!” Dedede said.
“Heh heh… Thank you, King Dedede. Still, I should be returning to my home world of Ribbon Star. Everyone there I’m sure is worried about me.” Ribbon said.
“Well, despite the circumstances, I’m glad we could have this reunion, Ribbon.” Adeleine said as she hugged Ribbon.
“Me too, Adeleine. Don’t hesitate to send me anything you paint with me!” Ribbon said.
“You know it!” Adeleine said.

Ribbon went around the circle and thanked everyone for what they did both past and present, even Meta Knight who she had just met. And then it was Kirby’s turn.
“Kirby… How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard? And yet…” Ribbon said. She then kneeled down and gave Kirby a kiss on top of his head, rendering him slightly dizzy as he spun around and blushed.
“And yet… with the power to come visit your world anytime… this is not goodbye. Just farewell for now.” Ribbon said with a smile. She then closed her eyes and started to fade away in a white light, prompting everyone to shout their last goodbyes for now.

As Ribbon flew through the fourth dimension to quickly return to Ribbon Star, she came to a realization as she looked around the nearly empty space around her.
“Hmmm… as enhanced as my size-changing powers are with the crystal shard within me, there’s no reason I can’t travel to far away universes as well. But that’s better to be saved for another day.” Ribbon said as she got back to concentrating on returning to Ribbon Star.

END