Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

King Dedede sits atop his throne, eating his breakfast. It's been a slow morning so far, a day just like any other... That was, until Meta Knight flew in, carrying the morning mail.

"Sire, the mail arrived while I was training." Meta Knight said, speaking to the Royal Penguin. "The mail carrier gave it to me instead of the Waddle Dees. I do not mind, it is always nice to see you."

"Ah! What is it, Meta? Hand it over!"

"Very well..." Meta Knight gives King Dedede the mail, waiting for his next instructions... If there were any.

"Let's see here... Bill, bill, ad, bill... Wait. What's this here...?" A strange letter addressed to King Dedede was next... Carefully, the King opens it, curious about what's inside...

Meta Knight perches on the King's shoulder to see the note, letting out a gasp upon seeing the writing.

"Sire! You were invited to the Annual Royal Convention this year!"

King Dedede, confused, questions Meta Knight's mix of excitement and horror.

"The Annual Royal Convention? What's that?"

"It is a highly prestigious meeting of the royals across this galaxy! I cannot believe you were invited this year!"

King Dedede laughs, doubting that anything like this can make his Loyal Knight act this strangely.

"Hah! I've never seen ya so surprised! I'm sure this meeting ain't anythin' special!"

"Sire, if you were invited, you must act your best. But... There is an issue..."

"Eh? What is it?"

"They expect you to have a Queen and an heir to the throne at the meeting. They are not required... However, they may respect you more if you have someone by your side... "

With that, King Dedede slowly gets an idea... A smirk creeps onto his face... The King knows who his Queen should be...

Meta Knight, noticing the look on the King's face, feels an odd sensation settle in his gut... There's something happening... "Sire... What is that look for...?"

King Dedede's smirk grows wider as he begins to speak. "Hey... Meta... Yer very loyal to me... You stay by my side... And you keep me safe... So, how about YOU be my Queen?"

Meta Knight's shock grows. "Me? A Queen? I am not fit for that! Not only do most dresses not fit me, but I do not sound feminine at all!"

"We can alter a dress for ya! And 'sides, I can make somethin' up 'bout ya bein' mute."

Meta Knight lets out a sigh, defeated and now willing to dress up as a woman. "Very well... I shall be your Queen for the convention. When is it? I did not read the date."

King Dedede looks over the letter once more, noting the date. "It's in three days, and judging by where it's hosted, it'll take about a day to get there..."

"So be it." Meta Knight says with another sigh.

Chapter Text

The afternoon arrived more quickly than expected, leaving King Dedede and Meta Knight to prepare for the next two days quickly. That convention would arrive before they knew it... So, they made a list. The first order of business? Find a dress.

★★★★★★

"Ya doin' okay under there, Meta Knight?" The King asks, speaking to the Puffball hidden under his custom robe.

"..." Meta Knight didn't respond, instead shifting uncomfortably against the soft fabric.

"Meta-"

"Do not speak to me... I do not wish for anyone to be aware of my presence..." The knight spoke... Quietly, of course.

"Ah, well... Yer bein' real quiet... As always... I'd like ta know if yer doin' alright"

"I am fine." Meta knight finally said, exasperated.

Eventually, the pair reaches the dress aisle, beginning the search.

"Hm..." The King pondered which dress would match his Knight the best... Then he lifted an incredibly sparkly, blue dress.

"How 'bout this one?" He asked.

Meta Knight's yellow eyes peeked out of King Dedede's robe, looking the dress up and down.

"It is too... Flashy to be the dress of a Queen, Sire..."

"Too flashy? And what's with the fancy talkin', Meta? Yer my Queen for the next few days!"

"I do not wish to blind everyone with my appearance... As for the formal language... I will always speak in that manner."

"Heh... You and bein' respectful..."

King Dedede picks up a pink frilly dress. "How 'bout-"

"No. Put that away. I refuse." Meta Knight spat out, almost hissing.

"Okay! I get the message! No need to get all pissy! So much for bein' respectful..." The King muttered.

The pair looks around once more before Meta Knight sees a dress he could work with.

"Sire... Do you see that dress?"

"Yeah... I do, Meta... It sure is a beaut..."

The dress in question was dark purple, fading to navy blue with the short tulle train. It has fine glitter covering the entire surface and a yellow ribbon that is meant to literally tie the whole thing together... It was perfect.

"... Y'know..." Dedede pipes up. "That dress kinda looks like you, Meta..."

"I... Can understand how you see that, Sire..."

"So, is this the one we're buyin'?"

"Yes... I can alter this one..."

With that, King Dedede bought the dress, and Meta Knight only left the safety of King Dedede's robe after coming back to the castle, still stubbornly refusing to allow anyone to see him. Upon entering the castle, the Sworn Partners made their way to King Dedede's chambers... Where King Dedede could relax, and Meta Knight could alter the dress.

"Meta... Why're you in such a hurry? We have two days!"

"Altering this dress to fit me will take time... I also have to prepare your outfit, figure out which brand of makeup I should apply, train myself to retract my wings for long periods of-"

"Meta. Breathe... There's no need to worry. This'll be a fun thing! You should have fun at the convention with me!"

"I am not worrying..."

"Yes, ya are. You ain't alterin' that dress until you calm down with me. That's an order!"

Meta Knight sighs, knowing he can't disobey the King if he orders him to do something... So... He sits down on the bed, right next to King Dedede.

"Heh... That's better, Meta..."

King Dedede wraps his arm around Meta Knight, petting him to help the stressed Puffball calm down...

Soon, the afternoon turns to evening... And Meta Knight begins working on the dress, careful to not mess it up... With Dedede by his side... Maybe this convention will be as fun as Meta's king says.

Chapter Text

The night was like a blur; King Dedede fell asleep as Meta Knight altered the dress, only stirring as the Puffball hopped up and down on one foot to fit into the attire. Even then, Meta Knight couldn't stay awake forever. The last thing he remembers is waddling to Dedede's desk, reaching for the purple thread he left on it...

"Metaaa... Wakey, wakey!~" The King's sing-song voice was only met by a sleepy groan from Meta. Just how long did he stay up for?

"Meta Kniiight!~”

"..."

"META KNIGHT!"

"Ah!" The aforementioned knight finally awoke, flinching out of his sleep to find himself in a mass of blankets with no dress in sight.

"Meta! We gotta get ready!"

"Ready? For what, exactly?"

"The convention! Ya didn't forget 'bout it, didja?"

"You told me that we had to leave in two days!"

"Yeah! We DID... But you went and slept an entire day!"

"I WHAT?!"

"You heard me! You slept through yesterday!" The King said, getting a little bit impatient. "You were out like a light! Have you been properly sleepin'?"

In typical Meta Knight fashion, the answer was no. But he had no time to get lectured about that!

"OF COURSE I HAVE! WHERE DID YOU PUT THE DRESS!?"

"Here. Right here. Calm down." Dedede held up the dress, still annoyed at the Puffball. "Take it and doll yerself up."

Meta takes the dress and runs to his quarters, pulling off his armor and fumbling into the sparkly garment all while mumbling to himself.

"I slept an entire day? I could not have! The king must have been tricking me..."

As the knight mumbled, a voice spoke up...

"Meta Knight... I did not sense you yesterday... Are you well?"

Meta Knight knew that voice, it was all in his head... It was Galaxia.

Letting out a sigh, he speaks to the legendary blade.

"Yes, I am well, Galaxia... I slept through yesterday, it seems..."

"Ah... That explains it..."

Meta Knight applies makeup, trying to get a natural look... Galaxia can sense it... And almost feel the sensation of the brushes touching her wielder's face...

"... Galaxia?"

"Yes, Meta Knight?"

"You can alter your physical form, correct?"

"I can... Why do you ask?"

Meta let out a sigh, bracing himself for what he was about to ask...

"Could you... Perhaps... Transform to look like a crown?"

"A crown? I can... But why do you want me to be a crown?"

"I would prefer to bring you with me... Yet not as a blade... I believe bringing a sword to a Royal Convention would be rather... Not allowed."

"Ah... That is true... So be it, I shall be your crown..."

Galaxia transforms into a crown with a few crackles of electricity... Meta Knight eventually picks her up and gently places her atop his head... Then he puts on the white opera gloves that were meant to act as a differentiation to the dark color scheme of his dress... His look was almost tied together...

Then, there was a knock at the door... Followed by a voice— Dedede's.

"Meta? Are ya ready? Our ride is here!"

"I am almost there, Sire... I must put on my heels and take my "essentials"..."

The essentials were just a makeup bag, a backup pair of shoes, and the phone Dedede INSISTED Meta Knight got...

"Ah. So, yer changed... Can I come in?"

"You may..."

King Dedede entered Meta Knight's quarters, laying eyes on the Puffball dressed up. Meta Knight stared back, noting the sun-themed royal attire of his King... The sun to his galaxy...

"Sire... You look... Very nice..." Meta Knight said, almost squeaking the words out over a blush that was threatening to show.

"You... Do too, Meta..." The King felt the exact same way towards his knight... But their ride was here. They had to leave!

"Oh! Right! C'mon, Mety!" King Dedede grabbed Meta Knight and booked it outside the castle, the entire action only receiving a confused "Mety?" as a response.

"Here it is, Meta! Our ride!"

"A LIMO?! WHY IN THE STARS AND NOVA ABOVE DID YOU DECIDE WE SHOULD GO IN A LIMO?! THAT CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE!"

"Oh, shut yer trap, Meta... I'm the King! I gotta lot of extra money to use..." King Dedede knelt down, attempting to get in Meta's face and under his skin simultaneously.

"And why not use it on you... My Queen?~"

Meta Knight didn't respond, instead getting annoyed by the feeling of his fight-or-flight response kicking in at moments like this... And how all the blood seemed to always rush to his cheeks...

"Meta! C'mon! No time to waste!"

Dedede almost threw Meta Knight into that limo, wanting to leave as soon as possible. After Meta Knight was inside, then went the King, sitting down next to his "bride."

With everything prepared, the pair finally leaves Castle Dedede... Setting out on their journey to the castle where the convention is held...

★★★★★★★★★★

It doesn't take very long with the awkward silence for Meta Knight to fall asleep again... Where King Dedede finally gets the courage to speak...

"Stars, Meta... Ya look gorgeous... I hope ya knew that before fallin' asleep again... And I hope ya know how handsome you are without the makeup... Yer perfect no matter what..."

However long this journey may take... They will do it together.

Chapter Text

Nerves. That's all Meta Knight felt as he stood outside the castle that held the Royal Convention alongside his Sworn Partner.

It doesn't help that his fight-or-flight response was kicking in once again...

The King seemed to notice Meta's sudden shift in behavior and decided to check on his faux queen.

"Meta... You alright?"

"..."

"Meta Knight?"

"..." Nothing. Meta Knight has always been quiet... But never this quiet. How can such a brave knight suddenly get cold feet all of a sudden?

"Hey now... It's gonna be alright..."

Meta Knight still didn't speak. So Dedede let out a sigh and spoke up once more.

"Right. Now. We're gonna go inside. You insisted on not saying a word while we're here. Anything you gonna say...? Speak now or forever hold yer peace...?"

Finally, the knight let out a sigh of amusement and gently spoke.

"You are the death of me..."

The pair finally walks inside. Rendering Meta Knight silent once more.

Everyone's eyes land on the couple... Everyone was a stranger... Except Taranza. Who recognized the familiar figure of King Dedede's "bride".

One of the various monarchs speaks up.

“So… You're King Dedede… I didn't know you had a wife… What’s her name?”

“Er… Her name is…”

Suddenly, a familiar voice speaks up. Taranza.

“Her name is Celeste! King Dedede told me about her not long ago! She’s very kind…”

“Y-Yeah! Her name is Celeste!”

Both King Dedede and Meta Knight weren’t expecting Taranza to suddenly help them, but the gesture didn’t go unnoticed…

"Celeste, huh? Well, might I say... She looks lovely..."

The poor knight didn't want this in the first place... And his disdain for people only made this worse.

Being quiet was a bit of a comfort to him, along with Dedede. The penguin looked nice, especially to Meta Knight's standards.

★★★★★★★★★★

The convention wasn't especially eventful. The King found himself bored out of his mind. What was so important about this convention anyways? The most anyone was doing was discussing potential laws across Popstar, none of them stood out to the King. At least His Knight is a good distraction.

Speaking of, Meta Knight was listening intently and taking notes, he'd have to talk to the King later in order to fully decide on the Dream Land laws later.

But he was unable to respond. Only working with nodding or shaking his head in response to questions directed at him, the last thing Meta Knight wanted to be seen as was helpless and unwilling to participate.

Even then, Meta Knight still found himself annoyed with how they were treating his King, completely disregarding his opinion. King Dedede is not an idiot, even though it may seem like it. Meta found it unfair. Why was he invited in the first place if King Dedede was going to be ignored?

His mind began to wander, something unusual for Meta Knight, but things tend to happen after hours at a mind-numbing convention. Maybe he could invite King Dedede to dinner after it finally ends... He was getting a bit hungry anyway...

As more time passed, the later it got, and the darker the skies grew, it was finally time for the Sworn Partners to leave the convention.

"Meta?" King Dedede spoke gently to his Knight, doing a double-take to make sure they were alone.

"Yes, My King?"

"I just wanted ya to know... I couldn't take my eyes off you, you were stunning..."

"Oh... Thank you, Dedede. You looked nice as well..."

A moment of silence filled the air as Meta hesitantly began to speak again.

"Shall... We... Go out to dinner, Sire?"

"Huh... I guess we should, eh Mety?" The King playfully spoke as he gave Meta Knight a gentle nudge.

"Ya askin' me out on a date? I happily accept your offer."

"Thank you... I will try my best to make it the best night I am able to provide..."

"Meta... It already was! Now let's get in that limo, night won't get any younger!"

So, the King once again shoved Meta Knight into the limo, quickly sitting next to him. Meta Knight was determined to make the night better than the King said it was...