Character Profile: Star Rod Kirby

Star Rod Kirby is the ultimate Kirby mode! Mastering the power of the Star Rod, Kirby is capable of making a circle of stars with the rod before blasting his enemies with stars. He gets this ability by inhaling the Warpstar, and uses it to defeat the leader of N.M.E., Nightmare.

Since the games simply take place after the anime itself, my theory is that, after beating Nightmare and destroying all of Nightmare Enterprises, Kirby creates the Fountain of Dreams, seals Nightmare inside it, and places the Star Rod on the fountain's altar to keep him from escaping.