Double Sided Coin (chapter 3)
Title: Double Sided Coin
Chapter: 3/(?)
Rated: T
Summary: "You know what it is"
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Waddle Doo walked down the halls to the kitchen after being bluntly and quite loudly ordered to get the king’s meal. Though he hated being pushed around as such, the captain had no other choice but to obey it. He was just around the corner from the dining hall when he heard people talking. It was Fumu, Sword, and Blade, he decided.
They spoke of Sir Meta Knight, and his name was being used in a seemingly ghastly tone. Waddle Doo stopped walking and strained to hear their conversation. He picked up traces of Meta Knight having…wings?!
At first Waddle Doo didn’t know what to think-the ever-loyal and ever mysterious knight with wings? He tried to picture it; were they angel wings, bird wings, or airplane wings? He pondered telling the king what he had just heard.
He was ripped away from his thoughts when he heard chairs sliding across the floor. Panicking, Waddle Doo hid behind the last corner he had turned. He held his breath as Sword and Blade came walking by, not taking notice of the small orange ball on the floor. Once he saw no more of them, he quickly rushed to the kitchen, eager to break the news to the king.
In the kitchen he signaled the Waddle Dees to grab the food. They marched single-file into the king’s throne room and set all the delicious-smelling food onto the table. Dedede barged into the room and started waving his arms and hands, scattering all the Waddle Dees.
“Get outta my way! Shoo! Scoot!” The king huffed as he sat in his chair.
Escargoon came into the room next, gasping for breath. “Your majesty, you know I can’t run as fast as you…and how can you even go that fast in the first place?!”
“I get energy boosts when I think of food!” Dedede boasted before shoving a mouthful of food in his face. Escargoon sighed and slowly made his way to the king’s table. Waddle Doo came over to them excitedly.
“King Dedede! King Dedede!” He cheered.
“I’m eatin’ ‘ere! Bug me later!” Dedede shouted back.
Disgusted with King Dedede’s attitude, Escargoon urged the captain to speak. “What is it Waddle Doo?”
“Um…Well, I don’t really know, but Miss Fumu was talking to Blade and Sword Knight about Sir Meta Knight. And she sounded pretty mad. She even started saying things about Sir Meta Knight having wings.” Waddle Doo explained, trailing off after realizing how phony it sounded.
Escargoon blinked in deep confusion. But before he could say anything, King Dedede interrupted, “Why should I care what that bratty girl has to say ‘bout that guard of mine?”
“Yes, but she has proven to be quite the thinker, and she’s pretty good at deducting your plans.” Escargoon mumbled under his breath. Dedede shot a glare at him.
“What’s that supposed to mean!?”
“Nothing insulting sire, I was just suggesting to keep an eye on Fumu to see if we could get any dirt on Meta Knight so he’ll be more reluctant to work harder for you.” His voice raised.
“Since when was he not glad to work on my side?”
“You haven’t noticed? When ever Kirby defeats those Demon Beasts, Meta Knight isn’t too far behind to help.”
King Dedede pondered this for a moment. “Wait a minute!”
“Are you finally giving me a raise?!” Escargoon beamed, standing now on his chair. “I knew you’d see it my way eventually, sire! All you have to do is listen to me-”
Dedede growled. “No, you stupid snail! You won’t get a raise. But you are right about Meta Knight…but, who should I send the demon beasts after, then, if Kirby and Meta Knight are both my enemies?”
“Why don’t you just continue to send them after Kirby for now, but make sure Meta Knight’s there also?” Escargoon suggested. “Then both could be there and you could kill two birds with one stone.”
Dedede nodded vigorously. Now that the plan was set, all he needed was a good and strong demon beast.
~~ ~~ ~~
Later that night, Meta Knight lay awake on his bed. He had tried to go to sleep but something plagued his mind; that sinister laugh. No matter how many times he closed his eyes, he couldn’t get it out of his head; it kept reiterating itself, like a broken record.
Sooner or later it was bound to drive him mad. Sighing in defeat, Meta Knight got up and went outside, thinking that some fresh nighttime air would help him fall asleep. Once in the courtyard, he jumped up to the tallest balcony.
The tallest balcony, however, was too tall to be reached by foot. Once he was to the highest point in his jump, he twirled his cape around himself, and teleported further up. His feet landed steadily on the concrete floor.
Thunder crashed and lightening flashed. The storm still raged, but was considerably calmer than before. He looked into the clouds warily, letting himself get wet with the pouring rain. The sound of water trickling along the castle’s exterior calmed him significantly. That is, until a drop of rain slid into the eye opening of his silver mask.
The water almost hurt; the sensitive blue skin that was beneath it was almost foreign to such an element. Growling, Meta Knight turned around and began to walk inside. For some reason, something held him back from simply going back the way he came. To his dismay, when he turned around, there stood Sword and Blade.
Meta Knight gasped in surprise, thinking it was an enemy of some sort. “Oh, Sword, Blade. I didn’t know you two were there.” He composed himself and cleared his throat.
The two exchanged thunderstruck looks. “Really sir? You usually always know when were right behind you.” Sword replied.
Meta Knight could tell there was an air about the two that seemed to be concerned. He sighed, “You two seem worried. Do you mind sharing your thoughts?”
Blade shook his head, “No sir. It’s just…we’re worried about you.”
Sword agreed with that. “You, you didn’t seem like yourself at dinner.”
“Please, you two, don’t worry yourselves over me,” Meta Knight was taken aback, but he also didn’t want any suspicions to arise from his companions. “You just need to look out for each other and Kirby.”
Sword and Blade were reluctant to leave their master, but took the cue to do so and left. Meta Knight followed closely behind. The three split up when they reached Sword and Blades room. They bid each other good night, and Meta Knight was left to walk by himself.
~~ ~~ ~~
The next morning, the sky was still an ugly shade of gray. The rain softened into a drizzle as the day progressed; all the Cappies were outside now, assessing the damage around them from the storm. Fumu was helping Mable, the fortune teller, pick up pieces of wood, while Bun lent a hand to Chef Kawasaki in the restaurant. Kirby was scurrying around, helping out everyone as well.
Chef Kawasaki was having Kirby help him in the kitchen. He was having Kirby test some of the food he was now making with the leftovers from last night. Some of it was actually edible too; Bun even had a bite and actually remained standing. (Kawasaki was naturally pleased.) Bun and Kirby continued to help the other villagers all day until noon, when Fumu and Bun went back to the castle for lunch.
Kirby didn’t go with them, however. Instead, he went to go see his house to see the damage that the weather brought. Once there, Tokkori flew with him and barged into the hut, cutting right in front of Kirby. While Tokkori checked out everything, Kirby stood outside, not knowing if he should sneak off to find Fumu or stay and help.
“Hey! Kirby, get in here and clean up the place, you lazy puffball!” Tokkori yelled.
“Poyo!” He shrieked, sprinting inside.