//------------------------------//
// Chapter 25: Smile 
// Story: A Sweetie Dream Land 
// by Lucar 
//------------------------------//

Kirby slept peacefully in his bed, wearing his favorite sleeping cap. A well-earned rest after exploring seven worlds, fighting powerful guardians, and saving Popstar from a giant wish-granting clockwork comet and a mad jester with demigod powers.

But his well-earned rest was suddenly interrupted by a loud noise coming from outside his house, the one of a Warp Star crashing. He heard this sound enough time to recognize it. And since he wasn't the one crashing, for once, because of the fact that he was in bed, then this meant one thing. That was probably Sweetie Belle.

Why was she here, in the middle of the night? Had something happened? It may be urgent.

With that in mind, Kirby got out of the bed and ran toward his door, not even taking off his cap, before opening it. Once outside, he looked around, trying to spot the filly, until he heard her groaning. Following her voice, he saw her upside down, back against the bottom of the tree beside his house.

Sweetie then saw him and waved at him before saying, "Hello Kirby. Sorry for waking you, but you may be the only one that can help me." She then rolled on her side and got on her hooves, shaking her head. Kirby remarked that her horn was surrounded by the familiar green light of her magic and raised an eyebrow.

"Poyo?" he asked.

Sweetie answered him by pointing her right hoof up. "Look up, and you will see."

Kirby did so and saw a familiar silhouette floating down. It took him only two seconds to recognize Marx, sleeping and with burns all over his body. His jaw dropped.

"Poyo?!"

Sweetie placed Marx slowly on the floor beside her and said, "I know. He survived the explosion of Nova and crashed just a few minutes ago. I was walking outside, talking with Meta Knight-don't ask-, when we spotted him falling. I talked to him when he was still conscious, and I think... I think that I may be able to redeem him, so we don't have to kill him. But now, he needs a bed, but I don't dare bring him to the castle because of Dedede being angry at him, so I told myself that you could help me... And help him.

I know it may sound crazy, knowing what he has just tried to do, and with how powerful he is now, but I really want to try and help him. He may not be irremediably evil, and we may make him our friend... for real this time. So, do you accept, Kirby?"

She looked at him with pleading eyes. How could he say no? Not like he wanted to refuse. As long as Marx didn't try anything again, he will help him without problem. So he nodded, smiling widely, saying, "Poyo!"

Sweetie Belle smiled at his answer and hugged him, saying, "Thank you Kirby. I knew I could count on you."

The next minute was spent getting Marx in Kirby's bed. The puffball didn't have any spare bed, but he didn't mind sleeping on the floor, it wasn't so different from the times where he napped at the bottom of a tree. He put the cover on Marx and turned to Sweetie, smiling.

"You are sure you don't mind sleeping on the floor?" she asked.

He nodded.

"And..." She bit her lip. "Is it okay if I remain here too? Don't worry, Dedede gave me the day off tomorrow, and I will sleep on the floor too. I don't mind. I just want to be here for when he wakes up."

He nodded again. "Poyo."

"Thank you again." She then looked around and pointed at the fireplace with a small fire still burning. "Well then, I'm gonna sleep over there."

At that, she went in front of the fireplace and lay down on her side, making sure to face the bed, and using her magic to take off her cape and headband. Looking at the cape, Sweetie wondered how it hadn't been damaged with all the hits she took in her adventure. She remembered the same thing happened with Dedede's clothes when they beat him at Dark Castle. She will have to ask what was the material they used because she was sure that Rarity will want some.

Too busy looking at the cape and wondering about the reasons there were no cuts or burns, she didn't see Kirby approach her, and so was surprised when she felt him suddenly sit against her belly, putting his head on her as if using her as a pillow. When she looked at him, she saw that he was already closing his eyes, going back to sleep. Rather than saying anything, she just sighed with a small smile.

This puffball, really...

She decided to let him. Beside, at least, he will keep her warm. Finally putting her headband a little further, she then folded her cape and placed it under her head, using it as her own pillow, falling asleep while unconsciously curling around the ball.



When morning came, Kirby was the first to wake up, rubbing his eyes from the dust and yawning one last time. He then saw that he was not on his bed, but on the floor, but it didn't take him long to remember what happened last night, Sweetie Belle bringing Marx alive but unconscious to his home in the hope to give him another chance. They let Marx sleep in the bed while they slept beside the fireplace on the floor.

He could feel her hooves around him, and he understood that he was being hugged like a teddy bear by the filly. As nice as it was, he decided to slowly remove her hooves before going up, instead giving her his sleeping cap which should do the job in his place. Letting the filly sleep, he approached the bed to look at his unexpected guest still sleeping in it. He was still in a really bad shape, maybe he should go search a Maxim Tomato to heal him when he wakes up.

But first, breakfast. He took two strawberry shortcakes from his food stock, gobbled one, and let the other on a plate in front of Sweetie for when she wakes up. Once done, he walked to the door and exited his house, searching the healing fruit.

When he came back with the fruit, none of his two guesses had yet opened their eyes. No, scratch that. Marx was just waking up. He could hear him groan while he started moving, and before long, his eyes slowly opened. Kirby rapidly went beside the bed, putting the tomato to his right, before raising his left arm and saying, "Poyo!"

This startled Marx who tried to sit up in surprise only to lie back down groaning in pain. Yeah, they got him good... Kirby wanted to give him the tomato but he was not sure he should give it now, not if it was for him to go back into his 'crazy bat jester' mode. Even if they could probably beat him again, especially now that they knew his moves, he wanted to make sure that he could heal him without regret.

Marx then looked at him, and after a few seconds of silence, smiled and said, "Hey... hey... hey..."

"Hiiii."

Marx looked around and said "I didn't expect to end in your house. It seems nice by the way, cozy, but a little boring. Where is Sweetie Belle?"

Kirby pointed at the sleeping filly.

"Oh here she is. Look at her. Isn't she adorable? She is such a sweetie," Marx said before laughing at his pun. "I don't believe her. Despite what I have done, she decided to let me live. She is either too nice, too naive, or too crazy. Maybe the threes at the same time. Well, I'm not gonna complain. I love living."

At this, Kirby got his head close to Marx's and looked at him right in the eyes with the most serious stare that he could give. He then pointed at his eyes, then at Marx's, shouting, "Poyo!"

"Hey! Back off, or we are gonna kiss! And do you really think you scare me?"

Kirby opened wide his mouth, as if ready to inhale Marx.

"Come on! Nobody told you that it is bad to eat your guests? Especially when the guest is hurt and can't defend? What would Sweetie Belle say?"

Kirby closed his mouth and stared at Marx. Then, he smirked and took a feather from... somewhere. He slowly approached the feather to Marx, his smirk getting bigger at each second.

"Hey now... Are you really gonna do this?" Marx said, looking at the feather and sweating, as if seeing his doom coming.

It got closer.

"Stop."

Closer.

"Stop."

Clooooseer.

"Stop! Alright! I get it! I will stop!"

"Poyo!" Kirby nodded, smile wide and eyes closed. He then took the Maxim Tomato and gave it to Marx. "Poyo!"

"You are really giving me a Maxim Tomato?" Marx asked, surprised. "Just like that?"

He nodded. "Poyo!" He then glared at Marx and point at him, shouting, "Poyo!" and he smiled again, saying another, "Poyo."

That was the moment that Sweetie Belle chose to wake up. The two balls heard her and looked in her direction, seeing her stretching like a cat. She then got up, rubbing her eyes, and saw them. Seeing them, she smiled and spoke.

"Good morning you two! I'm glad that you are awake Marx! And Kirby, it's so nice of you to give him a tomato to heal!"

"Hi!" Kirby shouted before pointing at the strawberry shortcake beside her. "Poyo!"

Sweetie spotted the cake and took it in her magic. "Thank you Kirby. So, Marx, how are you?"

"Like I'm having the time of my life!" he said happily. Too happily. Yeah... That was hidden sarcasm.

"...Ok. That was a dumb question. Sorry," Sweetie said, laughing sheepishly and approaching the bed. She sat down at Kirby's right and started eating the shortcake. "At least, you will get better once you eat your reds," she continued, giggling.

Marx laughed. "I would throw that tomato at you for this joke, but I need it."

"If you do, then make sure to target my mouth."

"Right now, I'm targeting MY mouth!" he said, taking a bit of the tomato.

"Well, you could still target my mouth, giving it to me like Kirby took the habit to do."

"How so?"

"Mouth to mouth."

This caused Marx to spit some of the tomato before coughing, which led to Sweetie guffawing. Once he stopped coughing, Marx glared at Sweetie Belle for two seconds before rolling on the bed laughing too. "You got me!"

Kirby tilted his head, not sure he understood why it was funny. It was alright to give food from mouth to mouth, it helpped everyone being healed equally.

"Wait!" Marx continued. "Kirby really gives you food like that?"

"Only when it's necessary, like with the Invincibility Candies."

"Now I have to tell that to everyone!"

Sweetie smirked at the attempt to get at her and stuck out her tongue. "Too late." She looked away, blushing. "One Waddle Dee saw us in the action and told it to everyone at the castle. Now everyone teases me about it sometime." She then crossed her hooves, mumbling something about Kirby not being her coltfriend or something like that. Thankfully nobody saw the two of us sleeping together, or I wouldn't hear the end of it.

"Bummer. Oh well. when can I expect to animate your wedding?"

"Eep! Not you too!" she shouted, as red as a tomato. "Beside, I'm too young for that!"

This made Marx rolls on the bed from heavy laughter again. "Got you!"

Sweetie continued to glare at Marx before laughing too. "I should have kept my muzzle shut."

And yet again, Kirby didn't understand what was going on.

"And deprive me of such a good laugh? Please no!"

"So it's fun, uh?"

"Uh?"

"Laughing together like that, telling jokes, teasing each other. Don't you find it fun?"

"I... find it fun. Yes."

"See?" Sweetie asked. "It's nice." She then lost her smile. "All of this wouldn't have happened anymore if you had won. You would have laughed, but you would have been the only one laughing."

"Yes..."

"Didn't you like it, when you were making others smile with your jokes?"

"I... liked it... But I wanted more..."

"For a jester like you, there shouldn't be anything better than making others smile. You know, back in my homeworld, there is this pony named Pinkie Pie, and she has a song that is perfect for you."

"Sweet. I love songs."

"Then let me sing it to you. She sings it so much that I remember it entirely." She then cleared her throat.

"My name is Pinkie Pie  
And I am here to say  
I'm gonna make you smile and I will brighten up your day 
It doesn't matter now  
If you are sad or blue  
'Cause cheering up my friends is just what Pinkie's here to do 

'Cause I love to make you smile, smile, smile 
Yes I do 
It fills my heart with sunshine all the while 
Yes it does 
'Cause all I really need's a smile, smile, smile 
From these happy friends of mine 

I like to see you grin  
I love to see you beam  
The corners of your mouth turned up is always Pinkie's dream  
But if you're kind of worried 
And your face has made a frown 
I'll work real hard and do my best to turn that sad frown upside down 

'Cause I love to make you grin, grin, grin 
Yes I do 
Bust it out from ear to ear let it begin 
Just give me a joyful grin, grin, grin 
And you fill me with good cheer 

It's true some days are dark and lonely 
And maybe you feel sad 
But Pinkie will be there to show you that it isn't that bad 
There's one thing that makes me happy and makes my whole life worthwhile 
And that's when I talk to my friends and get them to smile 

I really am so happy 
Your smile fills me with glee 
I give a smile I get a smile 
And that's so special to me 

'Cause I love to see you beam, beam, beam 
Yes I do 
Tell me what more can I say 
To make you see 
That I do 
It makes me happy when you beam, beam, beam 
Yes it always makes my day 

Come on everypony smile, smile, smile 
Fill my heart up with sunshine, sunshine 
All I really need's a smile, smile, smile 
From these happy friends of mine "

She pointed her hoof at Marx. He understood and started to sing with her.

"Come on everypony smile, smile, smile 
Fill my heart up with sunshine, sunshine 
All I really need's a smile, smile, smile 
From these happy friends of mine "

She signed Marx to continue to sing the refrain while she sang.

"Yes the perfect gift for me 
Is a smile as wide as a mile 
To make me happy as can be "

She then signed him to follow what she said.

"Smile, smile, smile, smile, smile 

Come on and smile 
Come on and smile"

They ended the song, Sweetie hugging Marx with her left foreleg, under Kirby's applause.

Marx laughed before saying, "That was fun!"

"I know, right? She loves having fun. And for her, having fun means giving fun to the others. And everypony loves her for that, even if she can melt our brains with her crazyness. Not literally, of course. Even if she did give Twilight a meltdown once." She laughed at this.

"I understand..." Marx said. "I..." He sighed. "I'm sorry... I have been stupid. Thank you Sweetie Belle."

"You are welcome. Friend?"

Marx nodded. "Friend."

Sweetie then bumped his right foot to seal it. At the same time, just as the hoof and the foot were hitting, Kirby bumped them too, shouting, "Poyo !"

"But I still wouldn't mind freezing alive someone and use them to slip down a slope!"

"What/Poyo?"



Twilight was in her library, reading dozens of sheets of notes and formulas about how to use magic to successfully open a portal to another world without using a mirror.

And this led to nothing!

"Arg!" She threw the notes above her head in frustration. "Why is it so hard to open a portal without a mirror?! I have been able to send somepony to another dimension by accident, so this is not my power that causes problem!"

"You know, maybe you should try to create a portal with the help of technology rather than magic. A Star Gate, a portal gun, whatever, I'm sure it would work."

"Not now, Discord..." Twilight said, rubbing her forehead.

The draconequus then popped just before her, a plate with a chocolate cake on his claw. "Here is some cake. You have been at it for hours."

Twilight looked at the cake before sighing. "You are right... I won't mind a piece." She materialized a knife and poked the cake with it, intending to cut a piece, when it suddenly exploded like a balloon, because it had been a balloon! The explosion surprised Twilight, causing her to jump in shock before falling on her back, under Discord's laughter. She groaned. "Discord..."

"Oh come on. This is just a little prank to lift your spirit. Pinkie would do the same."

She couldn't help but smile. "Right... Thanks." She got up. "But I'm sure you haven't come just for that. You have some news about Sweetie?"

"Yes! Sadly, I have opened the window a little too late and missed her latest adventure, arriving just at the final battle. But what a battle! However, I wouldn't have liked to be at Sweetie's place. Fighting someone that love spamming Teleport? No thanks! But wait! I haven't told you the best part!"

"Then tell me."

"She reformed her first villain!"

"Really?!" Twilight shouted, smiling widely.

"Yesterday, they were fighting each other to the death. This morning, they were laughing together! If I didn't know better, I would think she was your apprentice."

"And how did she reform this villain?"

"She first had to almost kill him by sending him colliding with a planet-sized robot cat comet, making it explode. Then once he crashed back in Popstar half dead in the middle of the night, she talked to him, learned that he pretty much wanted to be like I was before, so she told him my tale, and chose to do like you and gave him another chance. And this morning, she has reminded him that he loves making people smile, and so she sang to him one of Pinkie's songs, about making ponies smile making her happy. And now they are friend!" He materialized a Sweetie plushy with a mortarboard and a diploma with written on it 'friendship', letting a tear fall from his left eye while looking at it. "They grow so fast."

"I'm so glad to hear this. Rarity will be so happy too. Maybe I will make her my protégée once we bring her back. Wait..." She looked at Discord in disbelief. "What was it about a planet-sized robot cat comet? And sending the villain colliding with it, almost killing him?"

"I have not seen this adventure, but I heard her recounting it to that king penguin, and I'm not sure you are ready to hear it. Your brain would just shutdown. Trust me, you are not ready to hear that they had to stop the living sun and moon from fighting each other by invoking that giant cat robot that could grant a wish by exploring seven different planets, only for the villain to come and wish to conquer Popstar. Oopsie! Did I say that? Twilight? Twilight?"