It may take 74 Crystal Shards to get there, but boy, is the full experience worth working towards for how delightful it is.
As a Heartwarming Moments page, Spoilers Off! You Have Been Warned.
- After Ribbon's crash landing on Pop Star following the Crystal's shattering, Kirby is concerned for her before getting distracted by one of the shards beaning him in the back of the head. Once she wakes up, he immediately offers said shard to her, making her own grow in size. But she is still sad, drawing his curiosity until she points to the sky, revealing the "meteor shower" Kirby had been enjoying was actually shards of the Crystal falling to Pop Star. This doesn't faze him, and he offers his help to gather all of them back. Ribbon is visibly touched before smiling and following him towards the rising sun.
- Each of the other residents of Pop Star joining Kirby and Ribbon on their quest:
- Waddle Dee, after being saved from possession, only thinks for a moment while watching Kirby leave before hopping the fence to catch up and offer his help, Kirby happily nodding in reply as the scene ends. The duo are later shown to have a near-brotherly bond from how they high-five each other later after freeing Adeleine, the artist also offering her help out of gratitude.
- King Dedede hadn't been too friendly to Kirby, holding the Crystal Shard that landed at his castle out of reach, but while the others were content to leave after making sure he was all right after being possessed, Waddle Dee stays and apparently asks if he's going to come. The king pointedly turns away, but peeks until he notices Waddle Dee still there and refuses again. But after Waddle Dee leaves, he growls to himself before turning to run and catch up.
- Any time Kirby's friends arrive in the middle of a level to help out. Waddle Dee will bring you a boat or vehicle to ride in and ride along with you or come up from underground, revealing a tunnel he dug/found to the next area, Adeleine will paint you either a 1-Up, Maxim Tomato, a lollipop, or a clue to getting a nearby Crystal Shard, and King Dedede will let you ride on his back and will use his hammer to smash things in your way or help send you to the next part of the level.
- The death animation when on King Dedede's back; King Dedede collapses and Kirby shakes him, trying to wake him up.
- When the group is getting ready to leave Neo Star, a volcano eruption makes them flee and forces them to make the portal a moving one as each of them runs in. Ribbon and Dedede make it no problem, but Adeleine is tiring out before Dedede reaches back through and pulls her in. Kirby makes it shortly after in a sprint, but Waddle Dee isn't fast enough. Kirby leans back out and improvises by inhaling Waddle Dee and catching him in his mouth (lodged in it instead of being enveloped completely) before returning to the portal and allowing the group to flee.
- After completing Shiver Star, the portal is opening once again, and it shows Ripple Star completely enveloped by darkness to Ribbon's horror. She looks to the other members of the party, apparently asking them if they're sure about continuing. Dedede is the first to nod, showing he's come to care for Ribbon's plight too, and Adeleine, Waddle Dee and Kirby don't hesitate to follow. Ribbon nods back in gratitude, and sure, it's immediately followed by the others using Kirby as a springboard to get into the portal, but it really shows The Power of Friendship.
- The Bad Ending manages to have a few moments despite ending on a Last Note Nightmare:
- The residents of Ripple Star have a minor festival to see the party (save Ribbon) off, and even gave them a spaceship to travel with.
- Kirby and Ribbon share a handshake, cementing the friendship they've made and promising to see each other again.
- King Dedede is seen visibly tearing up during the ship's liftoff at the farewell.
- The award ceremony in the Golden Ending:
- The heroes receive a shard of the Crystal each as medallions, with the queen giving them a heartfelt smile for saving their planet (as well as her) from the Dark Matter.
- After Kirby receives his, Ribbon gives him a kiss on the cheek in gratitude, resulting in a Luminescent Blush and a fluttering dance that sends him falling down the short stairway to the dais.
