Excuse me, fellow Kirby fans, I will return in a moment... *Retreats to Japan and starts squealing and jumping around uncontrollably* It's too cute. TOO. FREAKING. CUTE!
It's called "Checkers Knights" and it actually debuted in the Japanese version of the Kirby Anime: Kirby of the Stars ( In Japanese known as Hoshi no Kaabii) Which first ran in October 2001. Kirby Air Ride Came out in 2003 if you were in Japan and the USA. But In 2004 if you lived in Europe (Like me) or Australia. So Checker's Knights was origionally part of Hoshi no Kaabii, but it transitioned over to the games and even appeared in Smash Bros. Brawl on the Halberd stage.
I'm a playstation idiot, and I liked it ;-; I have a dream...that all pc gamers, xbox gamers, and any other console/devices will get along and realize that we're all different individually, and not just by these devices. I have a dream! That one day all of the devices may work together to be compatible to the point where we may play together, like America with every race and culture, in harmony and yet without lag.