Chapter Text
Mid-afternoon found Meta knight sitting at his desk, mask in hand as he tapped a listless rhythm on the hard leather of a suitcase. The trip wasn't for another couple days, but he'd needed something to occupy himself with.
The Sailor Knights were scheduled to arrive this evening. Dedede was busy making room accommodations for them, while the waddle dees prepared a great feast in the kitchens. They'd be enjoying an assortment of meats and cheeses, several pasta dishes, salad, and tiramisu, Dedede had informed him. All things Meta knight found agreeable enough.
Daroach and his Squeaks were on their way as well, flying in on that pirate spaceship Meta knight suspected was acquired through illegitimate means, not that that would be anything new for the band of thieves.
His luggage was nearly ready, loaded up with the bare essentials, along with a few emergency items, a box of matches and a dull dagger among them. Considering the contents, he pulled away and returned with a well loved whetstone to shove into one of the side pockets. The dagger could use a touch up, and he'd been meaning to tend to his sword for a while now. The blade got prickly about its condition if he let it go for too long. Some down time during the trip seemed a good time for a sharpening session.
After slipping a few prized snacks into a secret side pocket, Meta knight grabbed the suitcase's zipper and tugged it shut. He gave it a self-assured pat and left it resting at the end of his desk. His eyes drifted to the clock on the wall, tracking the tick, tick, ticking of the hands. One o'clock was approaching. Perhaps he could pop into the kitchens for a snack. The waddle dees shouldn't have gotten too far along yet.
Meta knight vacated his room and got two steps out into the hall, only for a waddle dee to bustle past, nearly tripping over him in her haste. A hurried apology was squeaked at him, paired with a fussy readjustment of the fresh white towels in her paws, before she was off and disappearing into the crowd. The swordsman watched her go, blinking in bemusement at the swarm of dees that had appeared in the short time it took him to pack. They were immersed in a cleaning frenzy. Some dusted, while others wiped down and polished the gold trimming on the walls till it gleamed. A trio of waddle dees were rolling up a runner rug, running together in a line and followed by another group laying down replacements. A stray feather from a sweeping duster drifted under a passing waddle dee's nose, causing them to sneeze. Once, then twice. They rubbed at their face and glared up at the dee dusting above them with annoyance.
Dedede was really going all out here, ensuring everything was spick and spiffy for the guests. He always was a bit of a show off, more peacock than penguin at times. Meta knight understood the need for upholding appearances; It was important for a king to maintain a certain air of status, self-appointed or otherwise. In this instance, however, Meta knight was fairly certain it was just to flex his wealth on the Squeaks. A dangerous game he was playing, like putting fresh meat out in front of a starving Scarffy.
Side-stepping the controlled chaos that was always the result of waddle dees at work, Meta knight set a course for the kitchens, weaving between mop buckets and dodging dees. As he progressed, the pleasant aroma of dinner preparations drifted down the hall, something herbaceous and tomato-y. He hastened his steps, the smell prodding at his appetite. He'd missed lunch.
He found the kitchens to be in a similar state to the halls, crammed full of bustling waddle dees squeaking orders at each other over the sound of clanging pots and pans. Not wanting to linger and become a hindrance, Meta knight quickly slipped past the cooks in their little chef hats and aprons, and made a beeline for the walk-in cooler. He snagged what he wanted off a shelf and exited the chilly room, pausing long enough to ensure the cooler door was shut all the way, before making off with his gains. He walked briskly, listening to the bustle of the kitchen fade away until he reached a quiet, secluded corridor. Only then did he slip the edge of his mask up and sink his teeth into his frozen treat.
Light and fruity, the mango popsicle was polished off in short order. Kirby had shown him how to make them recently, a simple combination of mango puree, honey, and a touch of lime juice poured into molds and then frozen. He'd taken quite the liking to them. They served to satisfy his sweet tooth, while still holding nutritional value and being simple enough to make to a degree that even he couldn't mess it up. His expertise in a kitchen was lacking, to put it lightly, having one too many incidents of setting things on fire to be allowed unsupervised behind a stove. He chewed idly on the stick of his finished popsicle, absently mutilating the wood to splinters as he thought about whether he had enough ingredients to make more. There were only a few left in the freezer.
The distinct marching of a squad of waddle dees filtered in on his right, along with the familiar bark of Escargoon, the castle's prickly royal advisor. The knight's mask was down and over his face in an instant, popsicle stick vanishing in the folds of his cape. He'd throw it out later.
Before long, the pack of waddle dees appeared, dressed to the nines in the marching band getup, complete with extravagant feather hats, red and yellow coats, and brass instruments. A few were in the more ceremonial soldier garb, hefting their gold laced spears and walking stiffly in their blue dress tunics with dangling yellow aiguillettes.
Escargoon was leading the charge, muttering to himself about the struggles of waddle dee wrangling as he strided along. He was dressed in a smart green suit, a red tie hanging around his neck and a checklist of some sort in his hands. The snail caught sight of the knight, and slowed his pace. He signaled to the dees to keep heading down the hall, before he broke away.
"Well that's convenient. I was just looking for you," Escargoon began, fiddling with his tie as he approached the knight. "When you're done, uh, doing whatever it is you were doing here, his majesty wants you in the Throne Room in your formal armor." The snail fished a pocket watch out of his suit pocket and squinted at it as it merrily ticked away. "You've got about...say...forty minutes before the waddle dees put on their little show for our guests, and then I'll be bringing them into the Throne Room."
"Understood," Meta knight inclined his head in resignation. He'd foolishly hoped Dedede wasn't planning on having them dress up. His formal wear was more rigid than he'd like, rarely worn and tight at the edges. "Sire isn't going to be welcoming them?"
"Ha," Escargoon smiled, exasperated, but there was something fond there. "No. Said he'd do it himself, but he wanted to look down at them from his throne when they came in, the tyrant."
Meta knight deadpanned. "Sounds like him."
"Yeah, he's something. Bandana dee and Kirby are in there with him. You, him, pinky. Seems he'll take whoever on vacation, bar me."
Meta knight blinked. "Did he not extend the offer to you, as well?"
"Oh, he did, but with the pay he's offering me to run things here—which I already do anyways, mind you—he might as well not have." The advisor said breezily as he straightened out his suit. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some waddle dees to instruct."
With that, the snail strolled after the marching dees, twirling his graying mustache and beginning to hum a tune. It must have been quite the bonus.
Meta waited a few moments, listening as the sound of unified footsteps faded, before he set off down the hall, back to his quarters. Now, then. Where exactly had he stashed that suit of armor?
-
Meta knight slipped into a room, closing the door behind him with a quiet creak. He'd taken the lesser known side entrance, hidden away behind the rows of pillars lining either side. The supports were devoid of any and all dust, and the tiles underfoot were polished to the point he could faintly see his own reflection within them. Meta knight paused long enough to fiddle with his left pauldron, its polished gold trim gleaming in the dim light beneath the overhang, before he strolled out of the shadows and into the brightly illuminated Throne Room.
King Dedede, as anticipated, was lounging on his throne, cheek pillowed in his palm as he watched the front entrance. A more elaborate crown had replaced his usual headpiece, sporting two golden horns and embedded with gleaming topaz. He'd swapped his red robes for a stylish crimson cape; bespeckled white fur lined the top of his shoulders, connected by yellow tassels and pinned in place by a gold emblem sporting his peace sign symbol. He wore a lavender dress shirt underneath with pops of red, dark purple wrist cuffs, and an ornate collar.
Kirby and Bandana waddle dee were with him, positioned to the left of the throne and sporting matching outfits. Leather shoulder pads, flowing capes, short heels, and a touch of eye makeup, the pair were looking sharp.
Dedede spotted his approach and glared him down, gold makeup creasing at the corners of his eyes. "It's about damn time you showed up! I was starting to think you'd never be done getting ready."
Kirby waved with enthusiasm. "Meta knight! Look! Look! Did you see our outfits? Look, aren't they so cool?"
Hello sir!" Bandee chirped, also waving.
Meta knight came to a halt in front of the trio and dipped his head. "My apologies, sire. Bandee, Kirby, hello to you both. I quite like the capes. They're striking, I must say."
Kirby beamed and performed a clumsy bow, while sweeping out the cape with a paw. "I thought you'd like them. Mine's the same as your old one."
Meta knight blinked, giving Kirby's cape a closer look. It was indeed identical to his old one, minus the wear and tear and a slight alteration to the length. Bandana's cape was much the same, only it was colored a deep forest green. A warm feeling welled up inside him at the revelation, something like a mix of nostalgia and pride. It took him back to his more rambunctious days, time spent establishing himself as a formidable knight in the walls of castle Dedede letting impulsivity guide his decisions. There was flattery there too, of course. Sincere imitation was always endearing.
"And so it is. Consider me charmed," Meta knight smiled. "Bandee, your cape is looking smart, as well. Green was the right choice."
Bandee tilted his head up, and his eyes creased. "You think so? Kirby helped me with the colors. I'm glad I got to keep this, too," He said, grabbing at the edge of the blue bandana wrapped around his head.
That bandana, Meta knight couldn't recall the last time he'd seen Bandee without it. Dedede had given it to him several years back, and, old and worn out as it was, the dee refused to ever part with it.
"Hmm, have you worn that armor before? I like it. It's shiny." Kirby said, poking at Meta knight's gold trimmed pauldron with interest. "I kinda feel like I've seen it before."
"Wasn't it for that meeting you and the King had a few months back?" Bandana dee mused. "It was with those other Kings from the Sand Canyon region, right? I think me and Kirby saw you in the hall wearing it after it was over."
"That meeting...?" Meta knight drawled, tapping a finger against a swirl of gold embedded in his mask. "Ah, you mean the trade agreement with Pon and Con. Those two aren't kings, more like representatives of the region. I don't believe the Sand region has an official ruler. Do they sire?"
"Hm?" Dedede hummed, lifting his head out of the cushion of his glove. "No, those guys seem sorta disorganized over there. They don't got a King, just elected representatives that change all the time. Seems strange, but it doesn't much matter to me. I always get a good deal with them."
As it were, the burly racoon and fox duo had been quite pleasant to work with, past quarrels with Kirby apparently forgiven. They'd been enamored with the quality of Dreamland's lumbar, and, after a little sweet talking courtesy of Escargoon, they were more than happy to send over a ship full of exotic spices, rich fruits, and delicate glassware in exchange for prime cuts of treated wood.
Kirby was over the moon that day, getting to sample new fruits and spices none of them had ever tried before. Cactus was not something Meta knight had considered eating before then, the spines protruding from the plant's surface acting as more than a mild repellent, but apparently there was a variety that produced fruit. Sweet and floral, he recalled the cactus pears to be pleasant, though the flavor was too subtle and the seeds were more trouble than they were worth, not that that dissuaded Kirby. He'd watched the kid set aside 4 slices of the fruit, pour far too much seasoning on each one of them and then shove the entire horrid arrangement into his mouth. Dedede had doubled over laughing at the face he pulled.
Abruptly, a buzz of instruments filtered into the room, just barely audible through dense brick walls. Meta knight tilted his head, listening intently. Faintly, the call of trumpets and the thundering of drums could be heard. Loud horns joined the mix, and soon a full musical performance was underway.
Bandana dee spoke. "Sounds like they're starting. Guess that means everyone's here?"
"Seems like it," Dedede agreed and straightened out his posture. "You all be on your best behavior, got it? They already know why they're here, but I gotta make this somewhat formal. You know how it is. Go over the details and make sure everyone knows what's what."
"You mean you want us to subtly flex on them with the royal getup."
"Best. Behavior," King Dedede stressed, giving Meta knight the pointed look he deserved.
There was a final, drawn out harmonious note, trumpets singing, drums beating, before quiet descended. The welcoming ceremony was over.
In the minutes that passed, Meta knight habitually drew his cape around himself, fingers working at the fabric. He dropped it shortly after, remembering that he was to remain professional. Wrapping himself up would defeat the purpose of wearing his royal suit of armor. Trouble was, he was feeling rather restless, something between excitement and nerves buzzing within him. After all, it had been well over a year since he'd last seen them, his old crew.
There came a knocking on the door to the Throne Room, a quartet of hits that could only belong to Escargoon. The snail had the tendency to knock in the same pattern.
Meta knight reached for his holster and promptly drew his weapon. His sword appeared in an array of yellow sparks, quietly snapping and crackling with energy. In an instance, Sacred Sword Galaxia's hooked points, sharp blade, and blood red ruby eye materialized, shining in the Throne Room's lights. Meta knight held the sword aloft as he slipped into his usual guard stance at the right side of the throne. He pulled back his shoulders, stared straight ahead, clasped his hands around the hilt of Galaxia, and set the tip of the blade against the floor with a quiet 'tink.' It was a pose Meta knight had done a hundred times over, though the added height given by his heels was new.
Out of the corner of his eye, Meta knight caught Bandana dee staring intently at him, analyzing. With careful deliberation, the waddle dee adjusted to match the knight's stance the best he could. It was a little off, his feet set too wide apart and his spear not quite at the right angle, but it was endearing and the effort was appreciated. Kirby, at the waddle dee's left, held no such dignity, completely oblivious to the mood and staring with wide, eager eyes at the double door entrance. Bandee smacked Kirby's pauldron, snagging his friend's attention as he gestured meaningfully between himself and Meta knight. Kirby blinked, uncomprehending, head tilted, before letting out a little "ohhhh!" and changing his pose.
Once everyone was settled, and Dedede had smoothed a hand over a stray tuft of fur on his cloak, the king put on his best smile and called out a reverberant. "You can enter!"
The doors swung open, freshly oiled hinges free of any creeks, and in marched a pair of spear wielding waddle dees. Each guard split off and took up posts either side the door as Escargoon strolled in with his hands clasped behind his back. The guests trickled in behind him, taking in the spacious area that had been polished to shine.
"And here we are in the Throne Room!" Escargoon stepped off to the side and bowed his head in inclination towards the seat at the center. "Majesty King Dedede will be taking over from here. I hope you all enjoyed our little welcoming party, and we offer our gratitude for your help."
With that, the advisor bid the group farewell and saw himself out, shutting the Throne Room doors behind him with a rattle. It seemed he wasn't keen on hanging around, likely more worried about the mountain of confetti and streamers he'd be in charge of cleaning up.
Daroach, leader of the Squeak Squad was at the front of the group, a sly grin already in place and a spark to his gaze that had Meta knight wondering if the gold embedded in the walls would still be there by the time this whole thing was over. He was dressed in that same blood red cloak the first time he was here, only it had seen some wear and tear, the edges tattered and riddled with small holes. The golden feather tucked into his top hat was new, curling up and over one of his large ears.
A pace behind Daroach was one of his lackies. The large rodent loomed, head swathed in a red bandana and one eye covered by a black eyepatch. The shirt he was wearing was rather small for his stature. A fellow Squeak sat upon the large mouse's shoulder, yellow furred and cloaked in a red cape with crimson shades to match. The remaining minions were skittering around Daroach's floating feet, one yellow and one blue.
Meta knight took note of each rodent, still wary of the gleam in Daroach's eye, that cunning smile, before his attention was immediately snagged by the group he was far happier to see.
A waddle dee stepped up beside Daroach, and the rodent gave her an amiable smile and a quick wink. She tipped her head at him, then adjusted her white and blue hat. A golden insignia was affixed to its center, and honey brown eyes were creased in a smile. Those eyes met Meta knight's, and he could see his own anticipation reflected within them.
The rest of his old crew was spread out behind her. Trident and Axe waved wildly at him, armor clanking. He huffed a laugh and gave a subtle wave of his hand in return. Javelin was vibrating in place, the little red robot's enthusiasm manifesting externally in the form of little sparks that Mace was hurriedly stamping out. And finally, there was Sword and Blade. The pair both gave him a firm nod, one that he returned.
Meta knight found himself fighting against the temptation to forgo the formalities and immediately catch up with his old friends. Normally, he was quite good at maintaining patience during royal proceedings, well practiced and used to remaining still. This however, was testing his limits he had to admit.
Kirby appeared to be feeling similarly, struggling to upkeep the promise that he would be 'good' for the meeting. He was fidgeting with his paws, not having a weapon to hold and keep himself grounded with. Inevitably, he lost the battle against his joy at seeing so many friends and broke pose. He managed one whole step, before being bodily hauled back by Bandana dee. The dee whispered something sharply to Kirby, who had the decency to look chided before he was released. Meta knight glanced at the pair sidelong, exasperated.
"Alright. Let's get started, shall we?" King Dedede clasped his hands together with a grin, before his eyes narrowed in scrutiny. "Wait a minute, where's spider boy?"
"Uhh, oh sorry, sorry. Here, your highness," A voice called from behind the Squeaks.
Taranza floated up beside Daroach's other side, smoothing one of his many hands over white hair. He peered up at the throne, bags under his eyes and a small smile in place. The scarf around his neck was untied, ends hanging loosely over wrinkled green robes.
Meta knight knew the arachnid wasn't doing well, but he hadn't realized to this extent. He looked miserable, like he hadn't properly groomed himself in weeks. Out of the corner of his eye, the knight saw Kirby's brow furrow. The pair had a complicated history, but the concern on the kid's face, conflicted as it was, seemed to speak of a level of care for Taranza.
Dedede's beak twitched like it wanted to frown, and something like pity flashed across his face, before he smoothed his expression and took a breath. "Right. Business. Thank you all for coming! I know it was a bit of a trip for some of yall, so Dreamland appreciates and thanks you for that. I just want to quickly go over everyone's roles again so there's an opportunity for questions. Captain, we'll start with the Sailor Knights."
Captain Dee stepped forward a little and performed a bow. "Of course, majesty. We're happy to be here! Thank you again for calling upon us."
King Dedede smiled wide. "First off, it's good to see you all! Have you been well? Keeping out of trouble?"
Captain Dee blinked in surprise, as she eased out of her bow. "Well, yes, we're all doing great! Been doing just fine. Though I'd say that trouble... trouble sorta comes with the lifestyle, haha."
"Yeah, I'd guess traversing the galaxy is bound to drag you into some interesting situationships. You'll have to tell me about it sometime," Dedede said, then gestured down at his knight. "After this guy, of course. I'll bet you've got all kinds of things you wanna say to him, so I'll keep this brief."
Meta knight shared the same sentiment. There were a million things he could tell the Sailor Knights about the absurd adventures he'd experienced in their absence, and he wanted to know what they'd been up to in turn. But, more than anything, he just wanted to speak to them. Catch up. Ask how they were doing, see how Captain Dee was faring in her leadership role. Phone calls were a nice way to stay in touch, but his Galaxy Reach didn't allow for long conversations, only brief, impersonal reports. That, and nothing could compare to the tangibility of seeing them in person.
"The Sailor Knights will be acting as guards for the castle entrance, along with maintaining patrols at all hours," Dedede began, voice slipping into that authoritative tone he used for issuing commands and finalizing deals in trade meetings. It left no room for argument. "The waddle dees can cover most of the small stuff, but they, uh, aren't exactly suited to taking on major threats. And since Kirby ain't gonna be around, we're doubling security as a precaution."
Captain Dee nodded her head. "Just like the good old days, huh? We can handle that no problem, your majesty."
"Good. And, since I expect this place to be guarded round the clock, the Squeaks will be helping with that too," Dedede said, addressing Daroach, who flicked an ear in acknowledgement. "That means you two will have to cooperate and figure out who's patrolling where and when."
"Oh? I get to work with this lovely lady, then?" Daroach said, pleased as pie. He swept a clawed paw out to Captain Dee, and pulled a charming grin that Meta knight near rolled his eyes at. "Delighted to meet you dear. Call me Daroach. Whatever you need from me, or my squad, name it and it'll be yours in a snap."
"O-oh! Thank you. I'm Captain Dee." The Captain said as she took his outstretched paw to shake amicably. "And, likewise! If you guys need any help, just ask. I can show you around the castle once this is all over, if you like?"
It was a kind gesture, but Meta knight wondered if she might have trouble fulfilling it. All of the Sailor Knights would. There'd been some changes to the castle's layout since they departed. After the Haltman company blew most of it to pieces, several key support walls were taken out. Repairing everything to be as it was before was a lost cause, and Dedede had used the opportunity to make some changes. Walls were torn down and new ones were built up in their stead. Coupled with some expansions on the East and Southern walls, and the castle had morphed into more of a labyrinth than it already was. There was a good chance Captain Dee would wind up just as lost as Daroach if she tried to be the navigator.
"Well," Dedede hedged, aware of as much. "I wouldn't count on it. It's not really noticeable from the entrance to the Throne Room, but the layout's a little different. You'd end up walking in circles. That's why I had Escargoon chaperone you here."
There was a small chorus of "ohhhhhs" as realization rippled throughout the Sailor Knights.
"Ah, see! I knew something was weird. We would have turned right back there." Sword knight exclaimed. "I thought the ol' snail was pulling a prank on us."
Axe knight smothered a laugh into his fist. "Pftt! You really think Escargoon would be the guy to pull a prank like that? No way."
"It did seem strange," Sword laughed, armor clinking.
Meta knight had a couple memories hanging around in his head that would suggest otherwise. He'd seen the advisor pull plenty of harmless pranks on Dedede, usually more in line with Tuff's will than his own, but the point still held.
"Seems that covers the Squeaks and the Sailors. Any questions so far?" Dedede asked, sweeping his gaze over the crowd. When no one raised hand or paw, Dedede continued on. "That leaves you, spider boy."
Taranza perked up from where he appeared to have been zoning out. He swiftly clasped two sets of hands together. "Ah yes, Your Maje- Highness?"
Meta knight noted the slip up with mild interest. Majesty was just as fine as any other honorific. Perhaps it was his go to choice back when he served under that wasp queen, and the word now harbored sour memories.
"You're working with Escargoon. He's my advisor, real good about running the castle and town. I'd like you to assist with anything he asks of you. I know we got a merchant ship scheduled to come by while we're gone, and I'd like you two to handle it. Normally, ol' Ebrum deals with trade shipments and the like, but he ain't here right now."
"Yes, yes of course," Taranza inclined his head, untidy bangs swaying, before he clasped all three sets of hands together in inquiry. "A merchant ship, you said? Where from?"
Dedede lifted a hand to his chin and looked off in thought. "Mm, not too far. It's from Prism Plains, I think. 'Goon will tell you about it."
"Prism Plains? Spinni's from there," Daroach commented. "I wonder what sort of wares they'll bring, hm?"
"Ehh, nothing crazy going on over there," Spinni dismissed, waving a paw. "Probably just furniture, maybe some old books. It's nice quality stuff, though. Lot of it is handcrafted, worth taking a look at."
Taranza turned his many eyes on the yellow rodent, a sudden keen interest to them. "Old books? Any scrolls, perhaps?"
Spinni raised a paw to tug his shades down a hair and eyed the spider. "What, you mean like magic, or are ya just into readin'? Either way, it's up to whoever loads up the ship, ya know?"
"Magic," Taranza clarified, drifting closer. "If you have any knowledge about the types of spells your homeland uses, I'd be incredibly grateful if-"
The King coughed into his fist, cutting the arachnid off abruptly. His free hand then found a home atop Meta knight's head, much to the knight's indignation. He narrowed his eyes to show his displeasure as he tolerated the penguin's gall.
"Alright. Hold on. Save the yapping for dinner, would ya? I got one more thing to say here. Meta knight's gonna be in charge of touring you guys around tomorrow morning,' Dedede announced as he patted his knight on the head. Once. Then twice. Meta knight had half a mind to slice his hand off, annoyance heightened further as he watched Trident smother a laugh into his fist. "He knows his way around the castle best out of anyone here, so you'll be in good hands. I'm sure you'll want to check out the town, too."
This was news to Meta knight, though hardly the first time Dedede had dropped something on him like this. It was an easy enough task, at least, one he didn't mind doing. It gave him more time to interact with the crew, and the Sailor Knights shouldn't be too troubled by a few shifts in the castle structure. Cappy Town was something that he admittedly wasn't as confident with. He knew the layout just fine, knew where the important buildings were, but the residents were largely strangers to him. He'd picked up on names and occupations, but that was about the extent of it, nothing deeper. Besides, there was someone else in the room who was a far better choice for the matter.
Meta looked to Kirby, who was... currently struggling against Bandee, who appeared to be doing his best to get his friend to settle down. One paw was clamped down over Kirby's mouth, and the other was motioning for him to stop, spear wobbling. The kid was undeterred, trying to wiggle out of the waddle dee's grip and waving a paw wildly to be called upon.
Dedede caught sight of the minor commotion, and he sent a glare their way that promised swift repercussions if they didn't cut that nonsense out immediately. Kirby stopped squirming and stood still. A second later Bandana dee's face was contorting with disgust as he swiftly removed his hand. He wiped what was probably saliva off onto an unapologetic Kirby's cape. Dedede looked up at the ceiling, took a breath, then inclined a hand for Kirby to speak.
"Can I help with the tour? I'll be the best guide ever, promise!"
And that had Dedede's beak pulling in a way that told Meta knight that that was Not going to happen. Kirby was highly prone to distraction. He'd wound up lost in the castle's more remote areas on more than one occasion, and regularly wandered off on adventures. Granted, that was more due to him poking around in places he shouldn't, but still. Meta knight had a better idea anyway, one that would benefit all parties, so he cut in smoothly.
"Sire, if I might suggest? How about I cover the tour of the castle and Kirby handles Cappy Town? He's more suited to such a thing, anyway."
Kirby, content with that arrangement, turned those wide blue eyes on the king. Dedede considered, doing his best to avoid those Scarfy pup eyes, before he sighed in resignation. Saying no would be like kicking a napping waddle dee.
"Oh, alright. Fine. You can do the tour of the town, and Meta knight tours the castle." He raised his voice to ensure everyone heard. "How's that sound? Any disagreements?"
Kirby's paw shot up again. Bandee didn't try to stop him this time, just sighed.
"Anybody besides him?" Dedede said, hopeful. When no one said anything otherwise, he gestured for Kirby to speak, once again rolling the dice on what could possibly come out of the kid's mouth.
"Are we gonna eat soon? I'm hungry."
That earned the hero a few amused snickers and chuckles, though Meta knight doubted he was looking for laughs. Kirby was genuinely hungry, not that that was anything groundbreaking. If anything, it'd be more unusual for Kirby not to be hungry, such a rarity for him to turn down food.
"Why do I even bother with the formalities," Dedede lamented quietly to himself, pinching the bridge of his beak.
"Is food all you ever think about?" Daroach wondered aloud with an inquisitive tilt of his head.
"Yes," Bandana dee said bluntly, ignoring Kirby's indignant response.
"Well," King Dedede drawled as he got up from his throne and stretched. "Since it seems we're done here, consider yourselves dismissed. Dinner should be ready within the next half hour. Don't dawdle in here for too long."
With that, the King departed, likely to ensure everything was running smoothly in the kitchens. There'd be plenty of time for him to socialize over dinner, and they really didn't need another fire incident. As soon as the doors swung shut—held open and closed by the two waddle dees—Meta knight released himself from his guard stance. He sheathed Galaxia and rolled his shoulders, a touch stiff from staying so still for so long, then descended the Throne Room's stairs. He managed a whole two steps, before someone was barreling into him and locking him into a snug hug. His feet lifted off the ground a good inch and he grabbed onto his assailant's shoulder to steady himself.
"Captain. Nice to see you," Meta knight wheezed.
"Oh, I'm so happy to see you, sir! It feels like it's been ages!" Captain Dee gushed, grip tight. "How are you? Has everything been okay, here? You all good?"
Another Sailor Knight approached, indigo armor and a glowing red visor coming just into view of Meta knight's tilted vision. Mace Knight waved a greeting. "Hello to you, sir! Cap, you should put him down. You're crushing him."
"Sorry! Sorry!" The waddle dee hastily set Meta knight down, and he breathed a little easier.
"Quite alright," Meta knight assured with a short laugh. He smoothed a hand over the neck of his ruffled cape. "No harm done."
The remaining Sailor Knights convened on him, abuzz with energy. Trident knight was at the head, with Axe knight at his heels and Javelin knight floating a foot above. One of the horns on Axe's helmet was chipped, and Javelin was sporting what looked to be two news turrets either side it's visor. And there was Sword knight and Blade knight at the rear, the pair both having received some wear and tear on their armor and gear. It seemed the crew had been having quite the exciting time of it on their adventures.
"It's wonderful to see you all," Meta knight said, voice warm. "I trust you've been well?"
"Better than well," Trident knight exclaimed, walking over to clap a friendly hand against Meta knight's back, forcing the knight to shift his balance lest he take a tumble. That, was certainly a stronger smack than he remembered. "I tell you, it's been fantastic, sir! All sorts of stuff's happened. We went to this crazy planet, yeah? And-and Sword was- Oh, man it was incredible. He-"
"Hey, hey don't tell him that story!" Sword protested with a good-natured laugh. He gave Meta knight's pauldron an amicable punch. "Sir. It's great to see you. You well? Not too bored by yourself here?"
Meta knight huffed. "Hardly. We've been kept busy, I can assure you. That's why we've enlisted your help."
"Ohh," Trident prodded him. "There's been trouble?"
"The castle was remodeled, his majesty said," Captain Dee hummed thoughtfully. "And, you did mention something happened, no? Over the phone, an invasion of sorts was it?"
Curiosity rippled throughout the crew, all eyes trained on Meta knight to indulge them. It reminded him of past quiet evenings, spent in the castle or the Halberd, when he'd reminisce to them about his time before he lived in Dreamland, back when he was just a kid. They'd clung to every word as he weaved slightly exaggerated tales and shared knowledge. The story of how he'd met Dreamland's King was especially favored, but now wasn't really the time for that. He was sure all parties in the room were hungry by now. Famished, even, in Kirby's case. The hero was tugging on Bandana dee's arm towards the exit, who steadfast ignored him in favor of continuing his chat with Taranza and the Squeaks. Amusing, given that Kirby would have no trouble suplexing the waddle dee to carry him off into the dinning room.
Meta knight, instead, opted for placation. "It's something of a long story. Several stories, in truth. I'll be able to share in more detail after dinner, and his majesty is waiting. That, and...I'm not certain Kirby will tolerate waiting for much longer."
Sure enough, there was a shout of surprise, drawing the room's attention as Kirby's short wick of patience burnt out. He'd hoisted Bandee over his head to march to the exit, never-mind his friend's affronted cries. Fresh breadsticks were on the line.
"Ah, guess the scamp said it's time to go. We'll be holding you to those stories. Don't you go holding out on us, now," Trident knight waggled a finger at him as he began heading for the exit, the rest of the crew following.
Meta knight started after them, as Captain Dee fell in step beside him.
"He really does love a good story, that Trident! Hard to keep him away from what he's after, once he's set on it." Captain Dee laughed a little, though it was more wry than humorous. Odd.
Meta knight checked the Captain's expression, noting the way she quickly smoothed her features from sour to neutral. He slowed his steps to ensure they were out of earshot of the others, before he asked bluntly. "Has he been giving you trouble?"
"What! Trouble?" Captain Dee squawked. "No, nooo, of course not! Everyone is great! Yup! It's gooood."
Meta knight blinked, not having expected such a strong reaction. "Are you sure-?"
"What's on the menu, by the way?"
Deflection, once more. How strange. Now, what was he to do here? Something was clearly wrong. He could respect her wishes to leave it be and let her solve her own problems, or he could press the issue to fix it himself. Trouble was... he was no longer the head of the Meta Knights. Their interpersonal issues weren't his to manage now, more so given he was no longer in the loop. It'd be wrong to step in without directly being asked for help. He'd let it go, for now, though he wasn't above giving her a flat, unimpressed look, to which she opted to watch her feet.
Meta knight answered her question as they reached the door. "He's got three courses planned. There will be several pasta dishes, soup, salad, a few grazing boards, along with plenty of bread. I believe there will also be a small taste testing of various red wines as things progress, as well."
"Sounds fancy," Captain Dee commented, voice not quite reading casual, as the waddle dee guards pulled open the heavy double doors. She thanked them each, before walking through.
After giving the Throne Room a quick scan to ensure no conniving rodent had been left behind unsupervised, Meta knight dismissed the two dees with a nod. They cleared out of the way and waddled off as he pulled the grand doors shut.
-
Dinner was a relatively smooth affair.
It was filled with inquiries about the specificities of each person's role and snippets of gossip over the course of a few hours. Only one mishap had occurred, when bickering broke out amongst the Sailor Knights over who would claim the final breadstick. It was a dramatized ordeal. Swords were drawn, teeth bared, and the Captain's demands for them to behave for stars' sake fell on deaf ears. All pointed to the threat of a brawl, but the king, not too keen on filling his castle with more holes, quickly grabbed a stray waddle dee and sent for more. A shame as far as Meta knight was concerned. He would have liked to see how the Sailor Knights had improved over time, although, upon reluctant second thought, the dining hall really wasn't the best place for it. That, and the direct disobedience of their Captain's order had not escaped him. He recalled her odd behavior back in the Throne Room, and as he watched everyone polish off desert, he lingered on Captain Dee for a moment, searching her expression. She seemed well enough, eyes squinted in a waddle dee smile as she chatted across the table with Daroach, Storo, and Blade knight. Nothing seemed amiss. Meta knight tilted his head and surmised that this could be one of those instances where he was overanalyzing things. If you asked him, there wasn't really such a thing, but a certain penguin king and his annoying, disapproving finger waggle came to mind. Meta knight sipped at the straw in his water, discreetly stashed a remaining breadstick in his cape, and chose to table the incident. He'd come back to it later, as he would the breadstick.
By the time everyone was finished eating, full of gluten, cheese, and wine, any prior animosity was smoothed over, leaving behind a pleasant atmosphere that Meta knight was content to soak in. He had... missed this he could admit to himself. Missed Axe's rough laugh and Mace's well timed comments, Captain Dee's sharp wit. They'd only be here for a short while, and the majority of their stay wasn't aligned with his own, a fact that left him feeling... melancholic? Just a tad? Perhaps, in the time he'd been Dreamland's sole knight, he'd missed the company of his peers more than he thought.
So, when Trident knight and Axe knight cornered him after dinner with the request to hear more about what had transpired in their absence, the grand adventures Kirby dragged him into, who was he to disappoint?
-
"And... when it seemed Dreamland was doomed to a hopeless future..." Meta knight said gravely, voice just a touch above a whisper.
"Landia realized we weren't the bad guys and decided to help us," Kirby abruptly cut in from his spot atop Meta knight's head. "She let us ride on her to chase after Magolor. It. Was. The. Best."
"Woah, woah, you got to ride on a dragon? That's- that's unbelievable!" Mace knight exclaimed, leaning forward in his seat, robotic eyes glowing brightly. "Just finding a dragon is a crazy feat on its own. They're incredibly rare. And you got to ride upon one?"
"That's right," Bandana dee chirped from his position beside Meta knight.
After dinner was wrapped up, the knights, Kirby, and Bandana dee had gathered in Meta knight's living room, scattered throughout and perched upon chairs or bean bags. The castle was starting to take on a faint chill in the evenings, as was common this time of year, so the fireplace was seeing some use. Kindly lit by Javelin knight with a few sparks, a small fire crackled away. It filled the room with warmth, casting dancing shadows on the gray brick walls and high ceiling. The overhead lights had been dimmed to a faint glow, for "atmosphere" Sword knight had insisted.
"What's she look like?" Blade knight wondered aloud.
"She's really pretty. She's got these red scales and green eyes and this huge golden crown! Like, two of me and Bandee could fit in it." Kirby said, while holding his paws out as wide as he could. "And she's as shiny as Meta's armor!"
"And she's got four heads," Bandana dee added as he flopped back against a star shaped pillow, paws in the air for emphasis. "But, she can also separate into four versions of herself. Isn't that cool?"
"The coolest," Kirby agreed with all the certainty in the world as he smacked the rim of his perch's mask.
Meta knight tipped his head forward, sending Kirby tumbling head over heels off of him. The kid landed on his back and stuck his tongue out at the swordsman, earning some snickers from the room, before he rolled to lay beside Bandana Dee.
"What happened next?" Captain Dee asked. She crossed her feet, the wood chair beneath her creaking. "Was Landia able to catch up?"
"She was," Meta knight nodded. "Her wings are strong and swift. When we caught up to Magolor, he took control over his ship, the Lor Starcutter, and used it to battle us."
The Lor Starcutter, how sleek and refined it had seemed when they finally put it back together. Beautiful white wings, smooth curves, and a surface that seemed to glow. There was something strange about its presence, alive in a way Meta knight couldn't quite put a finger on. No such presence could be felt when Magolor took control of the ship using his new powers. It had warped to reflect its new master, colors darkening, edges becoming sharper, deadlier, till it was no longer recognizable as it once was.
"The ship wasn't too bad," Bandana dee recalled. "Landia blasted it with magic and flames till it went down. Then, we went after that stupid wizard, but... It didn't go too well."
When Kirby didn't pick up where Bandee left off, Meta looked to see his eyes were half-lidded with sleep. It'd been a hectic day. Packing, helping the waddle dees clean, getting to see old friends, and just the general excitement of the day had worn him out. Paired with a full belly, and a deep appreciation for sleep, it was no surprise to see the kid nodding off.
"While we were in pursuit," Meta knight continued the story. "Magolor knocked us out of the skies. Landia was injured and exhausted, so we persevered on foot."
They hadn't been faring much better than the dragon at the time, none of them without scrapes and burns, battered and bruised. Magolor was clever, having them wear each other out before swooping in to reap the rewards for himself. How foolish they had all been, to be so blindsided.
"We managed to catch up-"
"You mean the coward was done running," Bandee interrupted sourly.
"...We engaged in combat, and... what followed was an ordeal I won't soon forget."
Kirby breathed a laugh. A simple exhale that carried a far more complex emotional weight behind it. "Yeah."
Kirby was the one to deal the killing blow. It was not the first time he'd had to do such a thing, and Meta knight would be naive to think it'd be the last. Kirby knew death better than most, knew the finality of it, the lingering guilt, justified or otherwise. Magolor's death was not a painless one, pierced straight through his core by Kirby's Ultra Sword. Meta knight remembered the cacophonous, horrible screeching that erupted as the remnants of the wizard's soul finally burned out, the way it had struggled against death, slowly disintegrating into blurry pieces, then a fine mist, then nothing. He remembered Dedede clamping his hands over his ears. Bandee closing his eyes and looking away. The haunted expression on Kirby's face when it was all over. It was a memory he would much rather forget.
"Sounds like you had quite the adventure. Can't believe that slimeball made you do his dirty work just to betray ya in the end," Trident remarked. He then shouldered Mace knight's pauldron with his own. "What a scumbag, aye?"
Mace nodded sagely. "Indeed. Truly sinister."
Captain Dee stretched, letting out a little 'wanya' as she did. "That's quite the tale. It seems like you've all had your hands full here. Though I hope nothing goes wrong, we'll do our best to fill in should something happen. You lot deserve that much."
"Things certainly have a habit of getting out of control," Meta knight sighed. "I know you all to be capable, but you'll remember to call if a situation seems dire, yes? Whatever the reason, minor or catastrophic, do not hesitate. A vacation does not mean we will be unreachable."
Sword laughed a little, teasing. "That's just like you. You haven't even left yet, and you're already worrying."
Meta knight felt a faint flush warm his face, or perhaps he was sitting too close to the fire. "I am Not worrying. I'm only being logical. If something comes up beyond your abilities to handle, let me know, and we'll be right there. Understood?"
A chorus of 'sir!' sounded throughout the room, paired with straightened postures and perfect salutes. Meta knight blinked in surprise. "You all... needn't do that anymore."
"I'll of course extend the same courtesy to you," Captain Dee said, holding her salute a tad longer before dropping it. "I hope to the stars nothing goes wrong on your trip, of course, but in the event it does, please call us if you think we can help."
Gratitude welled up in his chest, and Meta knight inclined his head. "Of course. Thank you."
"Now then," The Captain clasped her paws and addressed the room. "It's late. We should call it quits, hm?"
"Aw, what? Come on it's not even eleven yet," Trident knight grouched. "We got time for one more. Look, Kirby's still up for it. You wanna hear about Ripple Star, right bud? Hear how Adeline and Ribbon are faring?"
Kirby yawned wildly and sat up, rubbing at his eyes. Bandee perked up at his side, focused on Trident intently. "You saw them?"
Captain Dee cleared her throat. "Trident. We really should be turning in. I'm sure the kids are tired, and-"
Trident knight waved her off. "Quit nagging me would ya? They're fine. They wanna hear what happened, see?"
From what Meta knight could see, the kids were barely hanging on. Kirby was already nodding off again, though he seemed determined to stay upright, and Bandana dee's sharp focus had quickly whittled away to scraps, eyes hazy.
Meta knight looked to Captain Dee, expecting her to point this out, command that it was time to retire, but she did not. A furrow formed at Meta knight's brow as Trident knight launched into a recounting of the events that occurred on their trip to Ripple Star. The other Sailor Knights chimed in with their own comments and exclamations in turn, and Captain Dee quietly sank back into her seat with a sigh. Three times now, as far as Meta knight was aware, that a fellow Sailor Knight had undermined her authority. A pattern. Meta knight chewed at the inside of his cheek as he listened to Trident talk animatedly to the kids. Perhaps this was a larger issue than he originally thought.