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Chapter Text

Shiver Star, during the events of Crystal Shards

Dedede wandered aimlessly around the colorful abandoned building filled with shops of various sizes. Ribbon and his destined rival Kirby had wandered off in the direction that the Crystal Shard was pointing, while Adeleine and Waddle Dee had found an old playground to hang around. Leaving Dedede to take in the sights. It was a pretty nice place, but the penguin noticed that the creatures inside the building didn’t seem to be the original inhabitants, but rather some poor souls seeking warmth from the frozen wasteland outside. Dedede rode a flight of moving staircases. ‘Pretty handy. Wouldn’t mind having a few back home.’ he thought to himself. He stopped in front of a store that had a logo of a book on the front. Dedede wandered in.

Some of the bookshelves were in horrible shape, and old books were strewn across the floor. Dedede reached down to grab a book, its front text written in a foreign language. He mindlessly flipped through a few pages, but not being able to understand a lick of it, he tossed it aside. He wandered through the store until the King noticed something odd. The front cover of this book depicted a large creature, with a white beard and red robes with white trimmings. “Must’ve been the king,” Dedede muttered to himself, noticing the similarities between their clothes. Dedede flipped through the book. It had pictures! He could at least understand them instead of the unfamiliar script. The pictures depicted this creature being fond of similar, smaller creatures, bringing them gifts in exchange for food. He flew through the cold nights and delivered the gifts when the children were sleeping. A bit odd, Dedede thought, but every kingdom had its own culture. He continued to flip through the book, until…

“King Dedede?”

Dedede jolted, finding the painter girl Adeleine standing at the entrance of the store. “Kirby and Ribbon found the last of the shards in the area, we’re moving on.” Dedede nodded, but swiftly stuffed the book in his robe, for safekeeping. As he walked alongside the girl, Dedede couldn’t help but notice that the painter and the figures in the book shared a similar appearance. But Dedede didn’t want to assume.

“There you are! We were beginning to think you ran off without us!” Kirby shouted, standing near the exit.

Dedede smirked. “And leave you all alone? You’d be hopeless without the Great King Dedede!” Dedede boasted, before charging on ahead, with Kirby following close behind. “Wait for me!” Waddle Dee cried as the race toward their next goal began.

Castle Dedede, Planet Pop Star, weeks later

Dedede was bored. After the hustle and bustle of their adventure to gather the Crystal Shards, the return to normalcy had caught Dedede in a slump. He had tried everything, from chess games, to an eating contest with Kirby. While all were fine distractions, the King found himself back to his slump shortly after. Dedede looked at the calendar in his room. The final month of the year was always such a drag “No events until the beginning of next year? This sucks.” the King bemoaned. He dragged himself to his throne and sat down with an unceremonious, “Hrmph.” He couldn’t quite get comfortable, so he reached into his robe to find the source of discomfort. It was the book he nabbed from the mall. He started curiously flipping through its pages again when a voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

“Reading something, Your Majesty?”

“GAH!” Dedede yelled as Meta Knight seemingly appeared from nowhere before him. “Dark and mysterious as ever I see,” Dedede commented dryly.

“I had come to report a finding I had to you, but if you are busy, I can leave,” the masked individual said, remaining stoic as ever.

“No, no, it’s fine, It’s just something I picked up when traveling. Can’t even read it anyway.” the penguin started to put the book away. “May I see it?” the knight asked, eyeing the book’s text. “Knock yourself out.” Dedede chucked the book at him. As Meta Knight flipped through the pages, he kept making small hums, as if understanding.

“Wait, don’t tell me you can read that thing?” Dedede gasped. Meta Knight quickly closed the book and handed it back to the King. “I make a habit of studying dead languages in my free time. I just so happen to recognize this type of writing.” Meta Knight stated matter-of-factly. Dedede snorted. “Nerd.” Meta Knight made no signs of recognizing the taunt. “So what’s it say?” Dedede asked, starting to flip through the book again.

“It details an ancient holiday known as…” Meta Knight trailed off as if trying to find the correct pronunciation. “... Christmas? I believe that it is how it should be pronounced. Anyways, the holiday takes place during the end of the year, when goodwill and comradery are shared amongst others. It is a special time for children, as this man,” Meta Knight points to the rotund man in red clothes, “Delivers their heart’s desires, so long as they’ve been good during the year.” Dedede looked at the man again. “So, he’s not a king?”

Meta Knight shrugged. “He does seem to be some sort of authority figure, leading a group of smaller creatures, but the translation may not be comparable.” Dedede thought back to his slump. Maybe this is what he needed, a holiday to end the year on! “Gettin’ stuff at the end of the year does seem pretty enticing. Y’know what? Let’s do it!” Dedede’s smile grew significantly as thoughts of good food and games entered his head. He quickly scribbled something on a page left on a podium nearby, and left the throne room, with Meta Knight staying behind, muttering something about giving that report later. He marched to the living quarters, searching for a specific door. When he found his prize, he banged on the doorframe. A lone Waddle Dee answered the door. “Yes, Great King?” Waddle Dee asked. Waddle Dee, the one that had traveled with Kirby and the others during the hunt for Crystal Shards, had asked to stay in Castle Dedede and enlisted in the Royal Army after returning to Pop Star. Dedede handed the page to the small orange figure. “Get a few other Waddle Dees and make some copies of this. Then post them to all the towns in Dream Land.” Waddle Dee was shocked at that. “ALL of them?” the Waddle Dee gulped. “Take as many Waddle Dees as you need, this is BIG!” Dedede laughed. He had finally found a way to get rid of his boredom.

As the King left, Waddle Dee looked at the paper in front of him. “By his royal highness’ decree, a new holiday shall take place at the end of the last month of the year. More details will be discussed tomorrow at Castle Dedede. Food will be provided.” Waddle Dee stared at that last part. Free food from the King? All of Dream Land would be knocking on Dedede’s doorstep tomorrow!

Chapter Text

Castle Dedede, Banquet Hall

To say that the banquet hall of Castle Dedede was crowded was an understatement. Citizens of all shapes and sizes had crowded around the tables to help themselves to the mountainous piles of food set up for the guests. Waddle Dee and King Dedede watched from behind a curtained area where the Waddle Dees would bring out more food. “Wow, Your Majesty, it seems like almost everyone attended,” Waddle Dee stated, as he watched some young Waddle Dees play around a large Bonkers, who seemed annoyed at the small nuisance. Waddle Dee’s eyes wandered to the pink elephant in the room, as Kirby seemed to be eating more than the chefs could keep providing. Dedede seemed to grumble at the fact that his rival was eating him out of house and home. “I’ll… try to get him to pace himself…” Waddle Dee quickly waddled off in the direction of the insatiable pink puff. Dedede wandered further back into the curtained area to make final preparations. 

The guests were extremely interested in what the King of Dream Land had to announce. It had been a while since the King had last announced a holiday. “It’ll probably just be another useless day where we celebrate how great the King is,” Sir Kibble complained. “I’m surprised he even put on this banquet, we know how the King is with food,” he added. “Now hold on,”  Broom Hatter interjected, “His Majesty has gotten better at his job lately, or at least, hasn’t been bothering us as much…” the large-brimmed individual trailed off. “Ha!” the gruff voice of Bonkers barked out a laugh, “It’s tough to forget about him stealing all o’ that food during last year’s spring. I’m just waiting to see how he screws this up.” The Bonkers then grew bored of the conversation and started helping himself to a large bunch of bananas. A Waddle Doo piped up in his place, “I’m sure the King learned his lesson after Kirby gave him a wallop.” The Sir Kibble looked over, “Eh. Doubt it, he’s still as conceited as ever.” the armored being said. 

“Nah, Dedede’s not like that anymore.” a new voice arose. 

It was the pink puff himself, Kirby, snacking on a nicely stacked sandwich. The other guests looked over to the puff, shocked that he had heard their small talk. “Dedede may occasionally pull a prank or take competitions too seriously, but he’s not so bad. After all, he’s sharing this food with us!” Kirby happily exclaims as he delves into a crisp apple. The other guests seemed to quiet their complaints after that, content to eat in silence.

“Attention citizens of Dream Land!” the booming voice of the Kingcalled. “Your King has an announcement to share with you.” Dedede walked out of the curtains and sat down at a head table. He scouted the room, spotting Meta Knight sitting towards the back of the room by himself. “I’m declaring a new holiday, that’ll take place in a couple weeks, on the 25th of this month. It’ll be called Christmas, where we’ll be a bit more friendly with one other. On Christmas, we exchange gifts with family and friends and have fun!” Murmurs started to pick up amongst the guests. Dedede continued, “Oh, the kids’ll get a kick out of this, there’s this guy, named Santa Claus, who’s a being of magic. He sets out in his sleigh and gives all the good children a gift on Christmas morning.” The few children in the audience seemed in awe at that. “So make sure to write letters to him and tell him what you want! Oh and leave him food so he doen’t get hungry on his trip” Dedede looked at the audience to see Meta Knight waving him down frantically. It seems he really wanted his attention, because he started flapping his wings to make sure Dedede saw him. Dedede waved back. “So during this holiday season, be good to one another and make sure to have plenty of fun!” the penguin laughed before diving into some of the food provided. 

The crowd wasn’t sure what to make of the holiday. A concerned voice arose, “So this Santa figure will be breaking into our homes?” a Sword Knight asked. “No, no, nothing of the sort, he magically comes down your chimney and leaves gifts, nothing to be concerned about,” Dedede said, as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. 

“I think it’ll be fun!” Kirby shouted. “Hey, Dedede! Will Santa bring me cake?” Kirby looked up at the King. “You eat cake every other day! Aren’t there any toys you want?” Dedede asked, incredulous. Leave it to Kirby to always be thinking about the next meal. Kirby put on a thoughtful look. “Nah, cake sounds good. Oh! Maybe he’ll bring ice cream as well, since he lives in the cold!” Kirby continued to daydream about various foods that he eats on regular occasions. ‘Guess I can’t stop him’ Dedede thought. 

“Sire, if I might have a word,” Meta Knight walked up and interrupted Dedede’s train of thought. “In private,” he added, looking at those around him. “Uh, sure,” Dedede replied, finish whatever he was eating, as they left to talk on a balcony away from the banquet hall. 

“I tried to get you to stop mentioning it, but there was a bit more to the Santa story than I told you.” Meta Knight started. “What about him? Hey, does he deliver to adults? Because I’ve been thinking about writing a letter, you see-” Dedede started to go an a tirade of his current wants, before Meta Knight added firmly, yet quietly, “He’s not real.” Dedede stopped suddenly. Huh? 

Meta Knight sighed. “I thought it was obvious, due to the fact he’s from a book that’s not native to our planet. Even if he was, I doubt that sleigh is space capable.” Meta Knight kept listing off various other reasons. “Unfortunately, I was trying to get your attention before you told everyone about him. So now we have two options. Tell everyone now, or let everyone be disappointed when the time comes. I think the correct choice is obvious.” Meta Knight supplied. 

‘ Aww, that’s no fun.’  Dedede thought. He just wanted a break from his boredom, was that so much to ask? Now he’s gone and disappointed everyone. He looked back to the banquet hall, seeing the children grouped together writing on napkins. Kirby sat next to Waddle Dee cheerfully discussing what to write the “Magic Man,” as he loudly called it .  He pulled the book from his robe. Looking at the now fictional figure on the front. Red robes with white trimmigns, and rotund frame…

Dedede’s mind was racing a mile a minute. Say, he stole all the food in Dream Land in one night. It wouldn’t be impossible to give something to all the people of Dream Land in one night, right?

“I’VE GOT IT!” Dedede yelled, earning looks from the guests inside. Dedede waved, before leaning towards Meta Knight to whisper. “You and me, WE’RE going to be Santa. It shouldn’t be too hard. We just need to get the letters from the kiddos. You’ve got that battleship, right?” 

“What?!” Meta Knight backed away, shocked at what Dedede was implying. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but this was your idea. I’m incredibly busy at the moment,” Meta Knight supplied, looking for any excuse not to be involved, “and in case you forgot, the battleship Halberd sank.” Dedede looked down at Meta Knight, and smiled, “Oh, right, and tell me, dear Meta Knight, how exactly did the Halberd sink again?” 

Meta Knight seemed to falter at that. “You said all was forgiven… Y-you wouldn’t…” 

Dedede shrugged before leaning on the balcony. “I dunno, Meta, a coup against the kingdom? Seems like the king should at least get a favor from the person who tried to usurp him. And I’m cashing in.”

Meta Knight sighed. “Alright, I don’t see the harm in helping. Maybe this will do some good for the kingdom? But my crew must not know of my involvement of this. And after this year, I will no longer be required to assist you.” Meta Knight stated. 

“Deal.” Dedede shook the knight’s hand. “Now, we’ve got plans to make!” Dedede shouted before returning to the banquet. 

Chapter Text

Castle Dedede, Main Hall

The Waddle Dees were aware that King Dedede liked to tinker when he had something on his mind. The King had even set up a workshop in the lower levels, often filled with scrap metal and schematics for, as Dedede called them, “super cool robots and junk.” But this time was different. Normally His Majesty would be barking orders for preparations for the new upcoming holiday in a few days, but it seems he trusted a lone Waddle Dee in his stead. “Um, banners should go over there, and that wreath should be a bit higher, I think,” Waddle Dee suggested as his fellow Waddle Dees walked about with newly created decorations. Waddle Dee had asked Adeleine for help, as he knew the King’s mood would sour if he knew Kirby helped with the decorations. 

“Does King Dedede normally give you stuff like this to do?” The painter girl asked, helping a nearby Waddle Doo with a large stack of boxes. Waddle Dee shrugged. “I’ve been getting more and more tasks to do lately. Especially since the Great King has been in his workshop for a few days now…” Waddle Dee answered. 

“Days? That doesn’t seem like him. You think he’d get bored at some point,” Adeleine said. The artist then got excited, “Maybe you’re getting a promotion!” Adeleine happily stated. 

Waddle Dee’s eyes bulged. “Me? A promotion? Don’t be silly. I just joined, and this stuff’s just me helping out.” 

Adeleine quickly stopped a box from falling over. “Maybe, but the King knows how much you helped out during our adventure. That’s got to count for something.” 

Waddle Dee had a doubtful expression in his eyes. “I really didn’t do that much…” Adeleine shook her head. “I won’t hear it. You were just as useful as everyone else.” 

Before Waddle Dee could argue back, King Dedede walked into the main hall, covered in grease stains. 

“Has Meta Knight been here today? There’s something I need to talk to him about.” Dedede stated as if it was completely normal that he showed up after being in the basement for days. 

Castle Dedede, Dedede’s Workshop

As, Meta Knight stepped into the work area, he was greeted by a bright red sleigh. “Ain’t she a beaut? I’ve been going off the pictures from the book, and have recreated Santa Claus’ sleigh, with some minor adjustments,” Dedede proudly proclaimed. 

Dedede quickly hopped into the seat of the sleigh and pressed a button. Two large jets protruded from a port in the back of the sleigh. Dedede wasn’t exactly a magic individual, so he had to improvise. “Since I don’t have easy access to magic beings that can fly fast, we’ve got these rockets instead! I know you said you could fly pretty fast, you sure you don’t want to pull the sleigh?” Dedede asked smugly. Meta Knight made no response. 

“Oh! I haven’t even shown you the best thing yet!” Dedede wandered further back into the workshop and stepped out in new clothing. His usual hat had been traded for a slightly longer one, with a fur bulb on the end, though he still wore his crown. On his face was a crudely attached beard. He wore his usual robes but now wore a sweater underneath with Christmas tree patterns along the sash. Dedede chuckled. “What do you think?” 

Meta Knight paused for a moment. “You do know you don’t have to wear that right? Dreamlanders are notorious heavy sleepers. You won’t get caught.” Meta Knight deadpanned. 

“Aww, c’mon! Have some fun! I could make you a little hat too if you want.” Dedede teased. 

“No.” Meta Knight replied immediately. 

“Anyways, I’ve also gotten a few older Waddle Dees to be in on this operation too, they’ll be the reindeer. Y’know, to complete the look. Did you get what I asked you to?” Dedede asked. 

Meta Knight pulled out a large sack from under his cape. Dedede looked inside to find it filled with letters. “I had asked the mail Bronto Burt to send all letters addressed to Santa to be delivered to me. These are the desires of all the children in Dream Land. 

Dedede clasped his hands together. “All right! We just need to get everything on these lists! Get prepared, my friend, because in a few days, Santa Claus is coming to Dream Land!”  Dedede laughed. 

Meta Knight sighed. Sometimes he wished he could live on a normal planet.

Chapter Text

Castle Dedede

Dedede had split reading the letters with Meta Knight, though he had sneakily snagged some specific letters he wanted to personally read. Namely, the letters of a specific Waddle Dee, artist, and his eternal rival. He made especially sure Meta did not see him swipe the latter’s letter when he found it. 

Reading through the letters, most of the requests were fairly basic. The requests ranged from stuffed toys and action figures to sleds and sporting equipment. There was one request from a young Wadldle Dee that had asked for a pet Nruff. That one was a hard request to fulfill, as keeping a Nruff in the sleigh might be tough. A compromise was made to give them a stuffed Nruff animal, as well as a letter attached, advising them to show how responsible they could be to their parents, and then asking them.

After some reading, he saved three letters for last.

Adeleine had only wanted some new paints and an easel. The painter girl’s handwriting was neat, though the writing was a little small, making it difficult to read at a distance. Dedede set aside the letter, opening up his Waddle Dee companion’s letter. 

It wrote, 

“ Dear Mr. Claus,

  Hello! My name is Waddle Dee. Though, my guess is that you’ve gotten a lot of letters from multiple “Waddle Dees.” That is actually one of the reasons I am writing you this letter. I have recently moved into the Great King Dedede’s castle, but can’t help but feeling like another face in the crowd. I know we Waddle Dees aren’t really individualistic, but after going on an adventure with Kirby and my other friends, I want to stick out more and help. I know Great King Dedede said to ask for toys, but I’m pretty content with what I’ve got. So, if it isn’t too much to ask, do you have anything in your workshop to help me stick out a bit more? If not, I totally understand. Thank you!

 

                                                                                                        Signed, 

                                                                                                     Waddle Dee.”

The handwriting was extremely neat and well thought out. Dedede thought long and hard after reading it through. Most Waddle Dees were content to be one in the many. But if Waddle Dee wanted to help out more, what was the best way to fulfill his wish? The penguin snapped his fingers. He had the perfect idea. He quickly rushed to find what he was looking for, and quickly wrote on a card, “Meet me after the holidays,” and stamped his emblem upon it. He stored the card and his gift for Waddle Dee in a box, and wrapped it neatly, ready for delivery. 

Then came the last card. Kirby’s card. Dedede couldn’t help but be curious about the pink puff’s wish for the holiday, so he quickly opened up the card and read it. And reread it. And read it for a third time. And a fourth.

Heavens above, this kid’s handwriting was terrible. Who taught him how to write? WAS he taught how to write? After a few more readings, Dedede thinks he got the gist of what his rival was asking for. 

And to no one’s surprise, it was food. Dedede's beak couldn’t help but smirk at the various treats Kirby had asked for, seemingly writing down each thought that came to his mind until he ran out of paper. 

“What are you reading Your Majesty?” a deep voice called out. Meta Knight had snuck up on him again. Dedede panicked and put away Kirby’s letter. “You really gotta stop sneaking up on me, you know that?” the King grumpily said. Meta Knight’s mask remained ever stoic, but an air of amusement had settled around his figure. 

“Do you mind if I read Kirby’s letter as well? I would be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in what he wrote,” the knight asked, outstretching his gloved hand for the letter. “Sure, take it. I couldn’t even read it anyway,” Dedede lied, handing the letter over. Meta Knight’s eyes squinted as he opened the letter. Then he held the letter further away from his face. “Excuse me,” Meta Knight said as he made his way over to a secluded area, Dedede heard the distinct clang of metal on the ground. 

Sheesh, was Kirby’s handwriting so bad that Meta had to remove his mask to read it? The knight shortly returned and only said one thing, “We need to get him a tutor.” 

“We? Last time I checked, I wasn’t his babysitter,” Dedede whined. Meta Knight looked over at the monarch. 

“Really? Because I’ve heard stories about your galaxy-wide escapade. Something about a piggyback through volcanic lands?” the knight asked, uncharacteristically smug. 

Dedede huffed, “Whatever, just help me get thing ready.” The regal penguin went to get to work preparing the toys for the children, with Meta Knight close behind. 

Christmas Eve, Dedede’s Workshop

“Everything is prepped?” Meta Knight asked Dedede, who was under the sled, giving the engines one last check up before flight. “Fuel’s green and the engines are revin’ so we are good to go!” Dedede boasted. 

The Waddle Dees, all wearing antler headbands, scrambled to their stations and hooked up to their rocket harnesses. Meta Knight flapped his wings, and landed in the sled. The Santa Impersonator gave the sleigh one last look, admiring the red sleek design and the cargo area stacked with toys and treats.

“Alright, let’s do it!” Dedede yelled, hopping in the driver’s seat, and started fiddling with buttons. At last, a large red button started flashing on the dashboard. Dedede cleared his throat. “On Dasher, on Dancy, on Nancy and Fix-it, uh, on Comet, on Cupid, on Donna, and…” Dedede trailed off. “Er…The last one!” and he slammed the button and they sped ahead. 

“You got only half of the names correct.” Meta Knight deadpanned. Watching the sleigh jet down the runway designed to discreetly launch them out of Castle Dedede. 

“Listen, memorizing names from a dead language you can’t read is hard, okay? Not everyone can be such a bookworm!” Dedede yelled over the roar of the engines. 

At last, they launched into the air. Snow wasn’t a common occurrence in Dream Land. Snow could usually only be found towards the latter months of the year. As Dedede looked down, he saw the snow-tipped roof of his castle, and gazed into a sea of white.

Meta Knight pulled out a parchment of paper. “I’ve mapped out the optimal path for us to visit every house in Dream Land within a single night. It’s best to start at the father reaches of the countryside before making our way inward towards Castle Dedede.” Dedede nodded and steered the sleigh towards their first destination. 

This was it, the first house. Dedede slowed the jets, and parked on the rooftop. He quickly grabbed the gift-wrapped box, and made his way towards the chimney. Luckily the chimney chute was fairly large, so the Santa-clad penguin sucked in his gut, and slid down the chimney. As he landed, a small cloud of soot was kicked into the air. The King shambled out of the fireplace, and located the tree to place the present under. After placing the present, he noticed a plate of cookies and a glass of milk set out for Santa. “ Well, who am I to turn down food offered to me? I am Santa after all!” Dedede thought to himself and downed the cookies and milk. Dedede scrambled up the chimney again and sat again in the driver’s seat. 

Meta Knight had an amused expression in his eyes. “You know that the door was unlocked, yes?” Santa’s little helper (emphasis on the little) asked. “Y-yeah of course!” Dedede stuttered. “I just wanna play the part. Don’t ruin my fun!” Dedede lied. Looks like he’s going to have to go down every chimney to keep up the lie. 

Delivering to the houses continued as normal, Dedede downing cookies and snack cakes and delivering gifts. The only hiccup so far was a particularly angry pet Scarfy. But Dedede managed to handle the situation with poise and grace, by quickly dumping off the present, and running for the hills. 

The King and the Knight made small talk along the ride. “I noticed that you already delivered to Castle Dedede. May I ask what you gave that Waddle Dee friend of yours?” the caped individual asked. “Nah, I think my gift to him is a bit personal, but you’ll see soon enough. I noticed you gave your little Waddle Dee assistant a gift as well.” Dedede pointed out. 

Meta Knight stiffened. It seems he wished to keep his secret soft side a secret. “Well, Sailor Dee has been invaluable to the Meta-Knights. He’s helped me organize again after the Halberd… incident.” Meta Knight seemed to trail off. 

Dedede smirked. “Looks like dark and mysterious over here isn’t as dark as he makes himself out to be.” Meta Knight’s mask remained the same, but it was clear he was a bit embarrassed. “You’re one to talk Your Majesty, you claim that you and Kirby aren’t friends, yet you insisted to oversee the creation of the cakes you are about to deliver to him.” Meta Knight shot back, steeling himself.

“Look, I know if the cakes aren’t perfect, the little brat will come whining to me!” Dedede yelled, hoping Meta Knight won’t catch his blunder. “That’s a ridiculous lie. You and I both know that kid will put anything in his mouth and be mostly content.” Meta Knight yelled back. 

The two started to argue about who is secretly softer than the other, before a large crash of thunder interrupted them both. 

“WHO DARES DISTURB MY SKY?” a loud, booming voice called out before a loud sniffle was heard. 

A large cycloptian eye gazed down at the sleek red sleigh. Dark clouds surrounded the eye with the ends of the clouds coming to various horns. It was Kracko, a very territorial being of the sky. 

Another sniffle was heard from the cloud monster. “WHO GOES BERE?” The boom voice sounded more nasally the usual. 

“Kracko? You okay there?” King Dedede asked the cyclops. “KING BEBEBE?” Kracko sounded confused. 

Meta Knight looked to Dedede, his hand on Galaxia’s hilt, unsheathing the sword slightly. Dedede shook his head and whispered to the knight, “Kracko’s often difficult and demanding, but if you give him what he wants, he’ll leave you alone.” 

Dedede turned to Kracko, “Sounds like you’ve got a cold there, pal.” The clouds sniffled again. 

“I HATE THE COLB WEABUR. ITB MESSES WIB ME.” Kracko once again sniffed his non-existent nose. Kracko let out a loud sneeze of thunder, and some snow fell from his cloudy body. 

“Well, sorry the hear that, but we’re on a bit of a time crunch to deliver these gifts, so if you just let us, we’ll…” Dedede started. 

“I WANT A PRESENB… A TAX FOR FLYINB IN MY SKY.” Kracko demanded. Dedede paled. If Kracko doesn’t get what he wants, he usually throws a grade-A tantrum by blasting whatever is in the sky to the ground. Kracko sneezed again. Dedede got the perfect idea. He rummaged through a compartment of the sleigh and brought out a bright red thermos. “I packed this chicken noodle soup in case I got cold, but it sounds to me like you need this to help that cold of yours.” Dedede held out the large thermos. The large eye blinked, and a gust of wind surrounded the thermos and brought it up to Kracko’s body. Dedede would’ve questioned how the cloud monster would eat the soup, but the King has seen enough Waddle Doo’s eat to question it. 

“THIS IS ACCEPBABLE. YOU MAY CONBINUE.” The nasally voice of Kracko floated away higher into the clouds. 

Meta Knight sheathed Galaxia. “Between him or Whispy Woods I can’t tell which one is more obstinate.” 

Dedede sighed. He packed that soup in case he got hungry. Luckily the cookies are help fill him up a little bit. 

There was no time to dwell on that as they were coming up upon Adeleine’s hut!

Chapter Text

Sliding down Adeleine’s chimney, Dedede hoped he wouldn’t wake the painter girl. She was smart, and would easily be able to tell that it was him instead of the jolly elf. He set down the paint cans and easel before helping himself to more cookies, no doubt a painting come to life from the talented artist. While the King of Dream Land would happily take any food given to him, his enthusiasm for the cookies was starting to wane a bit. Sure, he liked sweets, but he was a more savory kind of guy if you asked him. ‘ Maybe next year I can make something up to get a wider spread!’ Dedede thought to himself, then paused. Next year? Was he really committed to doing this year after year? ‘ Maybe I’ll tell everyone what I did after tonight! Yeah, lots of people will respect me for giving them free stuff! Then I won’t have to put any more effort in!’ Dedede happily thought. 

Right before Dedede left, his mind wandered back to where this who debacle started. The book from Shiver Star. He snatched the book from under his robes again. He thought it best to bring it with him in case of any hiccups with the process. Sure enough, the figures in the book looked alarmingly similar to the girl whose house he was currency in. 

When Dedede had asked Adeleine what she was when they first met, she wasn’t sure herself, having grown up on Popstar and raised by pair of Waddle Dees in the forest. She later left to explore Popstar on her own. Not many species looked like her, except maybe the fairies, and even then, the fairies had wings. Was she searching for those like her? It did raise some concerns in the penguin. If the book was from Shiver Star, and if the planet’s inhabitants were gone…Did that mean?

Dedede shook his head and tried not to dwell on it. He made his way back towards the chimney before pausing. He contemplated for a while, then quickly turned around, and set the book under the tree before making his way up the chimney. The King just hoped that the book could help the artist in whatever way. 

Meta Knight seemed to sense the somber tone from Dedede. “Is something amiss?” the valiant knight asked, eyes narrowing. “Nah, just came to a realization… Say, Meta Knight, you studied the Shiver Star language, do you, uh, happen to know what happened to the inhabitants?” 

Dedede asked nervously. 

Meta Knight shook his head. “In my studies, the people who lived there stopped writing up until a certain point. It’s as though they all vanished…” he pondered, wondering what brought that up, but then realized whose house they were on the roof of. The knight had never met the artist personally, but he knew she was unique. It clicked, and all the knight said was, “I understand your concern.” 

Dedede said nothing getting prepped for the next house. 

After a few houses, the mood was brought significantly up, and then they were approaching the house Dedede dreaded the most. Kirby’s little dome house. Dedede had grown… fonder of the pink puff, but still had that drive to best him in whatever way he could. Sure, one might say it is petty for a grown man to feud with a child, but he was the King! He didn’t have to respect your opinion. As he prepped the cakes that his rival had requested, Dedede encountered a huge setback.

“Uh, Meta Knight?” Dedede called out, voice dripped in panic. “Yes, Your Majesty?” Meta Knight asked, checking over his list of houses to see if they were making good time. 

“I’m stuck.” 

Meta Knight looked over the edge of the sleigh to see Dedede lodged in Kirby’s chimney. “I see that.” the winged individual stated. Dedede’s face contorted into a large frown. “That pink pest! First, he plagues me with his presence, now he can’t even own a house with a big enough chimney!” Dedede ranted on and on, somehow blaming the sleeping child down below for his predicament. 

Meta Knight was good at reading people. He could tell that the King’s words were nothing but a farce brought upon by his situation. There was no actual conviction in Dedede’s condemnation of the pink puff. Meta Knight motioned the Waddle Dees to help shove Dedede down the chimney, and after much effort, the penguin slid down the chimney. Landing inside the dome. Meta Knight flapped his wings and flew down after him. 

The one-room house was decorated both with trophies and collectibles from past adventures, as well as various decorations for the holiday. Kirby himself was sleeping soundly with a green nightcap adorned on his head. Dedede set down the cakes and took in the room. His eyes were drawn to a particle part of the room. Hanging up was Kirby’s medal he received in Ripple Star, as well as a photo of the pink puff, Dedede, Adeleine, Waddle Dee, and Ribbon. Dedede smiled slightly. This kid sure knows how to make friends. ‘Friends? ’ Dedede’s thoughts betrayed his conviction, ‘We’re rivals, ’ he thought to himself. 

Meta Knight nodded after the package was delivered and flew up the chimney. Dedede waited for a bit, before turning to the sleeping pink puff. 

“Merry Christmas, Kirby.” 

Before walking out the front door. He wasn’t about to mess with that chimney again. 

Chapter Text

Dedede and Meta Knight landed back at the workshop, after emptying the bag of presents, both individuals were ready for some well-earned sleep. Dedede especially felt a bit groggy. While he can rival Kirby with his ability to pack away food, Dedede’s stomach did have a limit. And with how many cookies the King had just ingested, he was nearing it. The Waddle Dees unstrapped their belts and headed upstairs for some rest. Before Meta Knight said his goodbye, he turned to Dedede. 

“If someone had told me when we first met that you traveled around Dream Land, delivering various gifts to the kids of the land, I would have guessed it was a lie. But after tonight…” Meta Knight trailed off, wrapping himself in his cape, then continued again, “You have shown considerable growth, Your Majesty, be proud of that. Perhaps tonight is not the last time I will be a passenger in that sleigh…” Before Dedede could get a word in, the caped individual walked out of the room. 

Dedede smiled to himself alone in his workshop. That big softie. 

Kirby's House, Christmas Day

Kirby heard the sound of banging on his front door. He had just finished his treats left by Santa. He opened the door to see his friend Adeleine, and a Waddle Dee wearing a blue bandana. He looked over to the hatted Waddle Dee, “Hi! Have we met?” The Waddle Dee and the painter laughed, “Adeleine asked the same thing. Kirby, it’s me! Waddle Dee!” the blue bandana wielder said. Kirby’s eyes shined with amazement. “Wow! What’s with the hat?” 

Waddle Dee looked a bit bashful before stating, “Santa gave it to me! I wanted to go with a new look and stand out a bit more. I’m even thinking about a nickname! Though I haven’t thought of anything cool yet…” 

Kirby put a nub to his… well, chin if he had one. “Hmm, Hat. No, bandana. Waddle Dee. Bandana Dee… Bandee!” Kirby shouted in glee, and Waddle Dee, no, Bandee’s eyes shone with awe. “Bandee! I like it! Bandana Dee is also pretty good. Kinda matches with my cousin, Sailor Dee!” Waddle Dee was nodding vigorously, very pleased with his new name and Adeleine smiled politely.  “Anyways, what did Santa bring you?” Bandana Dee tilted his head as he asked. “Cakes! They were pretty good!” Kirby said excitedly, patting his tummy. 

Adeleine laughed. “Finished them already? I guess that shouldn’t surprise me. Anyways, check this out!” the young girl brought out a book and pointed at the figures in it. Kirby was surprised at the figures that had a similar appearance to the painter. “Woah! They look like you!” Kirby extended a nub to the page. “I know right? Santa left it last night, and I didn’t ask for it. Wonder why he gave it to me?” the artist pondered. Bandee pointed at the figure in red robes. “Well, that’s Santa, right? Maybe he wanted you to know that he’s like you?” the bandana-wearing lad supplied. 

“Maybe…” Adeleine trailed off before her face shone as she had a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I know! Next year, I’ll stay up and ask him!” Adeleine supplied. Kirby and Bandee exchanged looks. “Is that a good idea?” Bandee asked while Kirby thought aloud, “I thought he only comes when you’re sleeping?” 

Adeline shook her head, “Well if he gave me this, then he must want to talk to me, and I have so many questions for him!” Adeleine started to list the various things she would ask him while setting up her easel for a portrait of Dream Land’s snowy landscape. 

If Dedede could hear this conversation, he would surely faint. 

Castle Dedede, Christmas Day

Dedede woke up late. Well, later than usual. He was no early bird. Getting dressed, he felt like something was missing. It was oddly quiet in Castle Dedede, with most Waddle Dees either in their rooms or with family for a holiday. As he walked into the main hall, he bumped into a young Waddle Dee, playing with their new toy, making fighting sounds as he imagined a terrible beast for their hero to conquer. 

“Oh, Great King Dedede!” the young Waddle Dee panicked, “Am I messing with your walk? I’ll go play somewhere else!” Before the young lad could scurry off, the King interrupted, “Nah, it’s fine, I’m just passing through. That toy from Santa Claus?” Dedede asked looking at the figure.

The Waddle Dee’s eyes lit up. “Yes, sir! He gave me just what I wanted! Did Santa get you anything?” Dedede smiled at the Waddle Dee, “Nah, he just delivers to kids.” Young Waddle Dee tilted his head, “Why?” 

Dedede had to think of something on the spot. “Well, I’m not sure, but it's probably because we adults have jobs ‘n stuff, and can afford to buy whatever we want.” the penguin lied quickly. Dedede then asked himself, ‘ When am I going to tell everyone that I’m Santa…?’  

The Waddle Dee shot up for a second, “Wait right here, I have an idea!” and ran off in a direction. He soon returned with another toy in their hands, the figure a bit beaten up, or rather, well-loved. “I think the person who told us about Santa should get something for it… And well, I just got this new toy, so… you can have my old one!” the Waddle Dee hesitated when offering it this figure had some sentimental value to it. 

Dedede’s heart melted. Then he laughed jovially. “I would happily accept this gift from you, kid! I’m proud of you for being so willing to give something like this up.” Dedede gingerly took the toy from the young lad’s nub. 

The Waddle Dee blushed bashfully, then asked, “Do… you want to play?” Dedede smiled some more. 

“I would love to!” the blue penguin started posing the figure in a battle-ready stance. “So what big bad are we fighting?” the King asked.

“A super powerful and evil wizard that can shoot magic from his fingertips. He’s plotting to take over the world! We have to stop him!” Young Waddle Dee supplied. After that, the duo was off to the races, both making up super cool fighting moves and banter. After a long time, it was getting late, and the Waddle Dee had to go home for dinnertime. The Waddle Dee said their goodbyes, before heading home.

As the kid left, Dedede looked down at his gift. He soon got lost in his thoughts before accepting his fate. He…can’t do it. He couldn’t tell everyone that he was Santa. That would ruin the magic for the kids. And darn it, while he was lazy, he wasn’t a monster. 

While nobody said anything, over the next couple of days, a few Waddle Dees noticed an old action figure sitting on the dresser next to the King’s bed.

And like that, the first Christmas of Dream Land was a relative success. To this day, they say that on Christmas Eve, if you listen closely at night, you can hear the jovial laughter of Santa Claus and his little companion, which sounds early similar to the King of Dream Land and a certain Knight, but there’s no way it could be them, right?

Chapter Text

Epilogue 

A few days after Christmas  

Now that the hustle and bustle of Christmas were over, Dedede had to prepare for New Year's Eve. Before even that, he had to talk to Waddle Dee. He hadn’t seen the Dee since before the holidays and was waiting for him alone in the throne room. The penguin would start to seek him out before a blue-bandana-clad Waddle Dee walked in. 

‘I see he liked the present. Good, I was half worried it wouldn’t be good enough..’  Dedede thought to himself. He sat up straighter on his comfy throne. “Ah! Waddle Dee! I see you got my letter!” The Waddle Dee nodded, but first said, “Actually, sire, if you don’t mind, I’ve been going by Bandana Dee or Bandee lately. Kirby gave me the nickname and it helps me stand out!” Waddle Dee stated happily. 

“Sure thing, Bandee.” The King smiled. “Anyway, I’ve called you here for a specific reason,” Dedede stated, leaning forward on his throne. Bandana Dee donned a noticeably nervous expression. Dedede chuckled, “Don’t worry, You’re not in trouble or anything!” 

Bandana Dee sighed a sigh of relief. Dedede continued, “After relying on you to help prepare for Christmas, I realized how valuable you’ve been in my servitude.” Bandee had a proud look in his eyes, “Thank you, Your Majesty! That means a lot coming from you.” 

Dedede hopped off of his throne and started to pace around the room. “And during our hunt for the Crystal Shards, you showed grit and craftiness in our search.” Dedede turned to face the smaller orange creature. He reached into his robes and pulled out a parchment, adorned with his signature and the royal seal.

“Which is why I believe you to be best for the position of my Royal Advisor and right-hand man.” The King offered the paperwork to Bandee to read over. As the Waddle Dee scoured the paper, he was speechless.

“Great King! I-I don’t know what to say…!” Bandana Dee still had trouble believing it. “Are..? Are you sure? There are plenty of Waddle Dees who have higher seniority than me…” Bandee trailed off.

“That is true, but after traveling with you, there’s no one I’d rather have by my side.” The penguin patted the Waddle Dee lightly on the head. Bandee looked up at his King. “...Would it still be okay if I’m friends with Kirby?” The bandana-clad Waddle Dee asked, understanding the two had…history, to say the least.

“That pink lump may be my rival…” Dedede sighed and grimaced as he started to reminisce. “...But he’s saved my keister more times than I’d like to admit. So if he wants to be friends with my advisor, I won’t stop him… or you!” He smiled softly.

“But, ultimately, it’s up to you, if you don’t want the position, I understand. It’ll be a lot of work. But if you do…” Dedede offered a quill from his robe. “All you have to do is sign, then it’s a royal decree.” 

Bandee stared at the quill, before taking it in his nub and signing the paper in front of him. “I… I won’t let you down sir!” the bandana-clad warrior stated confidently. Dedede chuckled, letting a smile at his enthusiasm. 

“Alright! You go ahead and rest before we make the big announcement of your promotion to the kingdom. After that, I want to debrief you on some big plans I’ve got for the new year coming up.” Dedede told the smaller orange creature. 

Bandee nodded, but then got a curious look on his face, “Oh? Any hint as to what that plan will be?” 

Dedede smirked while adorning a playful look on his face, “I’d hate to spoil the surprise, but let’s just say my next grudge match with Kirby will be ELECTRIFYING!” With that, Dedede laughed and wandered off, already going over plans in his head for a new hammer design.

Kirby wouldn’t know what'd hit him, but Dedede will.