Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

All around him, voices swarmed his ears. A millennia of echoes rattled his brain. Spinning, twisting. Everything was dark. Distant, muffled. And when the burning sensation faded, it just rang.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this, was it?

All that power surging through his veins…and he couldn’t even feel it anymore. He was sure he was doing something. Or rather, something was happening. But more than anything, he just wanted to go to sleep.

His head pounded. It did then. It did now. Something must’ve happened before, but whatever it was, it was nothing anymore. Sludge. And that voice. A piercing, pulsing cry. 

Kirby.

The only thought he could muster. Whether it reached him, he would never know. A fuzzy, bitter feeling encapsulated him. For a moment, he tasted stardust.

“Hey! Hey! Can you hear me? It’s gonna be okay!”

His brain tumbled around in his head. Something was happening, maybe–the light of day hit him, burning his eyes as he struggled to pull them open. 

Evaluate. That was always the first thing to do, right?

He lifted his hand, heavy as it was. Not too bad. He placed it back and squeezed it shut. Grass. A little soft and dewy. His ears pricked. 

Then…I made it!

“Woah, hey, don’t overdo it!”

Magolor pulled himself up and breathed it all in. It was real! The sunlight that stung him, the dewdrops that clung to the grass and leaves, the twisting yellow-green trees, the fresh air…for just a moment, everything numbed.

He stretched his paw. It was faint, but it was growing by the second. The magic surging in him, racing with his heart, bubbling under his skin. And with it, the memories returned.

He’d won, hadn’t he?

He was alive and he was strong. Just as he wanted. 

When he had first arrived in Another Dimension, it seemed cruel. Like he’d been judged and punished. But now he couldn’t help but smile, feeling as though he’d bested fate. He’d proven them wrong.

“Um, if you need a minute…” that voice continued and trailed off.

Magolor’s blood ran cold. Just his luck. He turned to Kirby, who held a hammer high. 

Kirby tilted his head, looking up at him. Magolor’s chest tightened. He couldn’t think of anything–he just had to get away. This wasn’t going to happen, not now.

“You’re not a monster, are you?” Kirby asked, in a voice smaller than he was.

Magolor stopped. They said it with no conviction.

“‘Cause, that other thing–!” He pointed to a heap in the grass. “I’m used to those. But you don’t look monster-y.”

Magolor’s fur bristled—he held his breath, forcing down any questions he had. Watching Kirby, he backed up towards the creature.

No reaction? I haven’t changed, have I?

He felt around behind him, and upon finding it, he dared to look. It was a sphere doomer. It didn’t even shine anymore. He pushed past the ache in his head. It looked hurt enough to vanish, but there was no sign of an energy sphere…

“They come through the sky,” Kirby said. “Oh, do you know them? The bird.”

Magolor stared at him.

“Why?”

“Huh? I mean, I found both of you here, and—“

Magolor shook his head. This was too weird. Kirby should’ve been doing something. Screaming at him, or asking a billion questions, at least. Or even trying to hit him with that hammer. 

Why’s he even using that thing? It looks old…

“I dunno, maybe they’re looking for something?” Kirby wondered aloud. His eyes lit up. “Oh, is that it?! Your name is Why?!”

Magolor’s ears twitched. Kirby’s eyes lit up, the same as always.

And that was it. It was just like before.

“W-Well, I don’t mean to be a downer, heh–but it’s just that the energy spheres I lost emit a powerful magic that…” Magolor waved his hand, “Maaaaaybe will attract these evil orb birds from across time and space..?”

“Psshaw, that’s nothing,” Kirby flicked their nub. “You’re in good hands, um…”

“Magolor.”

“Maggie!”

“I resent that,” Magolor slit his eyes.

“What?” Magolor asked.

“Hm, I thought it was why?”

“No,” he looked at them. “It–my name is Magolor.”

He bit his tongue. It would have to burst any second. This was Popstar, after all. Kirby would realize it, and then everything would happen as it was supposed to. That was just reality.

Right?

“Ah…” Kirby blinked at him. “Okay, then! My name’s Kirby. It’s good you remember your name; you had me scared for a second,” they laughed, softly, then gasped. “Ah, we should get you some help! You look rotten!”

Magolor couldn’t listen. He spotted a glimmer in the grass and he picked it up. The reddest, shiniest, least edible apple he’d ever seen. Just like that tree. Even through his gloves, it was cold to the touch.

He could see himself, plain as day, in it. He hadn’t changed, but he looked awful. This was awful.

When he turned to Kirby, his heart swelled in his chest. He didn’t want to realize it. He thought it was over, but…

“Hey, Kirby,” he said.

When did you get so pale?

“Where are we?”

Chapter Text

Magolor held the apple tightly as they walked. He pressed it closer to his chest, and he felt stronger…though stranger, too, knowing it was proof of what he had done.

In his many scratches, the violent touch of the tree god echoed against his skin. He wondered how many splinters he would have.

So I can’t be dreaming… he thought. Then, what is this?  If Kirby was there, it raised some questions.

Kirby–this Kirby, who seemed a little less rosy in the face, and maybe a little smaller, too–they kept looking back at him, holding their hammer ever closer. Magolor thought he’d heard them say a few words at some point and he hoped it was nothing important.

They might think I’m suspicious, the thought nagged at him. 

This Kirby, he noted, was staring at him a lot. That was normal for the other Kirby, too, but he usually smiled , at least.

They had asked if he was a monster…

Maybe this one’s smarter. Maybe he knows, after all…does he detect a sinister darkness in my heart? Is he about to fight me?!

No –Magolor shook his head. This Kirby only had a dinky little hammer. It looked like it was decades old and on its deathbed. Not like the one he used with his copy ability. And everything in Magolor was pulsing with magic.

I’m stronger than ever, he reminded himself. I faced generations of wrath and I won. I could punt him into next week! Probably literally!

“Do you always make funny faces?” The not-quite Kirby asked.

Magolor twitched. They bore no expression as they stared at him.

“I–” he stammered. “I mean, maybe?”

People did stare at him a lot…

“Does it hurt that bad?” They gestured to him. “Did you try to fight that monster? Is that why you’re hurt?”

Magolor heaved a sigh of relief. He doesn’t know, then? He let himself breathe.

“Yeaaah,” Magolor said. “I got scared and overestimated myself! Silly me!”

No reaction. Interesting.

“What was that thing, anyway?” he laughed. “It looked so weird, right? I mean, have you ever seen anything like that in your life?”

Kirby finally smiled a little, holding his hammer out towards Magolor.

“I call ‘em space chickens!” he giggled. “I don’t think anyone else does, though. They’re here all the time! These giant holes open up, and whoosh! So you gotta be more careful if you’re exploring by yourself.”

All the time? Magolor’s ears perked and tilted. What does–

“That’s why you can leave it to me!” Kirby beamed. “For the most part! I mean…”

Kirby kept talking, but Magolor set his sights ahead. Kirby offered–more like insisted–on bringing him “to town” and getting him to a doctor, but Magolor hadn’t really been to any towns on the journey through Popstar…it piqued his interest a little bit.

And maybe something there will explain what the heck is going on here, he had decided. Or I’ll just wake up on the Lor and realize the entire last year was a dream.

He could see it now–or at least, he assumed he could. The silhouette of buildings ahead of them, before a gentle orange sky. His heart beat faster.

“But anyway, just don’t get on their bad side, and you’ll be fine,” Kirby finished with a nod, pulling his hammer back over his shoulder.

“Uh…” Magolor really hadn’t caught any of that. “Uh huh. Cool.”

Kirby’s eyes sparkled as they beamed at him. This was more like the Kirby he knew, overflowing with joy…for some reason.

“Wait, you’re hurt!” Kirby gasped, suddenly. “We shouldn’t be standing around like this! Come on!”

Magolor had never once mentioned his pain to Kirby. He huffed, too prideful to laugh, and rolled his eyes.

As weird as ever, he thought.

-

The town seemed like a nice enough place. Quaint little brick buildings, some nice plants, the occasional light that painted the streets in a soft yellow…he still wasn’t used to the fresh air, or the humidity, and the humming cicadas made him jump, at first. If Kirby noticed any of this, he showed no reaction.

I wonder if this is normal, Magolor thought, seeing as he’d never seen Kirby’s home.

It did remind him of Castle Dedede–which was hard to miss, on the way through Cookie Country–and by the impression he got when they made a quick visit, the aesthetic seemed to match well enough. Though this place was a lot less colorful.

Kirby waved hello to the people they passed. 

It really is so similar, Magolor thought, remembering how Kirby had bounded through the castle halls, greeting every creature in sight. He had been trying to figure him out, then, too.

“We should get you looked at real quick. ‘Yer lookin’ mighty beat up.”

This place was a lot less pristine, sure, but the chattering that filled the air was the same. It overwhelmed him, before.

“Ah, you’re too kind!” Truthfully, no part of Magolor wanted to do it. “That’s not necessary, though. I mean, I’m not exactly from here, so we’d just be wasting everyone’s time, and…”

It would’ve only distracted him from his goal.

“No, you should!” Kirby piped up. “We’ve got a lot to do–you can’t do it sick!”

“I’m not sick–” Magolor winced, realizing that would’ve been the perfect reason to save his energy. 

“We should hurry before they get any harder to find!” he finished.

“Then–” a cold voice split the air. “I’ll take him. You three can go scope things out.”

He hadn’t said a word since they’d left the Lor. Since Kirby insisted he come. Glared at him, while they promised on his behalf.

Meta Knight’s gaze was piercing, and Magolor thought it might’ve been the first time he looked at him. It made his blood run cold. Like he’d been caught. Like he knew.

Magolor closed his eyes. He had told himself not to think about it. Sometimes it was all he wanted to do–replaying every memory he had–but he’d decided, in Another Dimension, that survival was more important. And that meant staying focused.

He rubbed his thumb over the apple, now. It was still important.

“Hmm, I don’t really know where the doctor is, since I’ve never been there…I know they have one, though!”

Magolor squinted. Even if they found them, they probably wouldn’t know what to do with him, just like last time. And– Wait, he’s never been to a doctor?!

“It’s okay!” Kirby nodded and ran ahead.

“W-Wait!” Magolor reached after him. “How is any of that okay?!”

Magolor raced after him, doing his best to ignore how it stung his muscles. That brat!

The street led into a clearing, paved with stone and dotted with benches and other niceties. Most noticeably, it was well lit with street lamps, there was a sizable bulletin board, and the stone broke away to make room for a gorgeously sleek and elegant fountain, near the center, where Kirby was talking to someone in a very animated manner.

“Do you know where we can find–”

“Please, can’t you see we’re busy?!”

Magolor stopped. He hoped it was just the air giving him shivers. Seeing their faces, he knew better.

Kirby was pleading with Bandana Dee–he assumed, though his namesake seemed different; less bright and patched up with cloths that looked entirely out of place there–and the one yelling looked to be another waddle dee, donning a sailor’s hat. 

Then, there was Meta Knight, directing another group of creatures and dees, totally confident. Magolor should’ve felt relieved to see someone doing something normal , but did it have to be Meta Knight? His stomach twisted. 

“Don’t ever show your face around here again, if you know what’s good for you.”

The words echoed in his mind. That was the last blow Meta Knight got on him, before Kirby struck with the Ultra Sword. 

Magolor struggled to stay afloat. He didn’t want it, either. Meta Knight should look at him and strike. He should yell at him and ask something dramatic, like ‘how dare he?’ But instead, he only briefly glanced in his direction.

“I just need directions!” Kirby whined. “Go mind your own business, I wasn’t talking to you!”

The sailor waddle dee prepared to snap, but Meta flicked his glance over to them, offering a curt “Sailor.”

Magolor watched as this ‘Sailor’ sighed and sulked over to his side.

“Thank you, Mister Meta Knight!” Kirby called. He turned to Magolor and gestured him over.

“I don’t think he likes it when people don’t call him sir,” the new Bandee said. Now that Magolor got a good look at him, he could see the bags under his eyes, and the clashing threads that lined the patches of his bandana.

“Huh, but it’s polite, isn’t it..?”

Magolor couldn’t remember his Kirby ever calling him “Sir Meta Knight” before.

“Anyway,” Bandee sighed. “Sorry to you and your friend, but I really don’t have time to show you right now. Sir Meta Knight said there was another opening in the forest, and–”

“I already took care of it!”

“...You know he’ll still want to investigate.”

Magolor looked back and forth, between them. 

“I just need the direction, that’s all,” Kirby motioned to him. “Don’t you see how pathetic this creature looks?”

Ow. But fair enough.

“Bandana,” Meta Knight approached them, and Magolor ducked back. He didn’t look any different. “Are you done letting yourself be distracted again?”

Bandana spoke in a small voice. “Yes…I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”

Funny, Magolor thought. Bandee was always hiding in Dedede’s shadow, and now it’s like he’s switched sides…Dedede probably wouldn’t like that. The notion amused him.

Meta Knight’s gaze flitted over to Magolor. He squinted his eyes.

“And you–?” He started.

“I saved him!” Kirby jumped between them. “There was a space chicken in the forest, and it beat him up, so I’m helping him! Do you know where the doctor is?”

Meta Knight flinched, placing a hand over the forehead of his mask.

“Northeast,” he said.

“Okay! What does that mean?”

He shook his head. “I’ve got a schedule to keep. Bandana, make sure this fellow gets something to eat, then join us in the forest, will you?”

Bandana stared at the ground, eyes glossed over. Meta Knight snapped his fingers at him.

“Y-Yessir!” Bandana jerked up. He turned to Kirby and whispered “Come on, I’ll show you where it is.”

Meta Knight started his way out of the plaza, followed closely by Sailor and a few others, varying in armor and hats. Magolor had to wonder if he’d meant to give Bandana an opening to show them the way. There’s that classic Meta Knight softness.

“And what are you doing here?”

Meta Knight raised his voice loud enough for the entire plaza to hear, drenched in unmistakable malice. Magolor turned around–all his underlings were on guard. Magolor froze; that cold feeling returned. He heard the loud, heaving footsteps first. He glanced at Kirby, who looked curious.

“Why–” this one stopped, gasping for air, and as he wiped the grime from his face, Magolor could only think of all the times he’d seen it smiling. “Why wouldn’t I be here–in–in my town?”

Magolor didn’t look. It was too much–he was caked in dried blood, hunched over like he was still trying to hold himself together. Singed feathers and a freshly scarred face. Too much like the last time he saw him.

“S-Sir! Dedede!” Bandana’s voice shook.

Chapter Text

“This is ridiculous,” Magolor grumbled. His ears flattened. “We probably look ridiculous. You don’t want that, do you?”


“No one else is here, ya goof,” Dedede said. “Stop talkin’ like Meta.”

“I can fly.”

“I thought so too, until you fainted.”

Magolor growled a little, tightening his grip on Dedede’s robe. He hadn’t been carried by piggyback since…well, ever. He cringed just watching Dedede carry Bandee and Kirby, and they were actually children.

“Whatever,” Magolor huffed. He buried his face in the fluff of the robe trim. “I have migraines, like, all the time. I’m used to it.”

“Mags…” Dedede groaned. Magolor flinched, biting back his guilt. Instead, he looked ahead to Kirby and Bandee, who were chasing fireflies. Meta Knight glided lazily beside them, and they seemed to be having a lively conversation. Magolor’s eyelids grew heavy.

“You know…I don’t care,” Dedede said.

“About..?”

Dedede’s pace slowed. Kirby waved back at them, showing off the firefly that chose to land on their hand. His shoulders tensed beneath Magolor’s paws.

“Just…let me do this for you, okay?”

Dedede had hugged him, once. It was so natural. Picked him up and just squeezed. Magolor had hissed and complained, but he had to admit, his feathers were so soft. He almost didn’t blame Kirby and Bandee for their constant affection. If he was friends with a pillow, he might be the same way. But they weren’t friends.

Still, seeing those same feathers bloodied and ruined, he thought it was a shame.

“Stand down, Bandana,” Meta Knight held out his arm, before Bandana could run up and hug him.

“But–but–” Bandana looked up at him, and Dedede managed a weak smile, just briefly. Sailor nodded at him.

“I understand, Sir,” he mumbled.

“Kirby, hey, should we be watching this?” Magolor asked, in a whisper, as he leaned over to them. 

Kirby blinked his wide eyes, like he hadn’t thought about it. “B-But this is important!”

Right, Magolor sighed, sinking back into place. That’s his…whatever. They’ve probably been worried sick, whatever’s going on here. He frowned. Guess I’ll just sit here and suffer.

“I-I mean–” he hadn’t fully realized Kirby kept stammering as he thought. “It’s Mister Dedede!”

Mister..? Magolor eyed him.

“I’ll give you thirty seconds to state your case,” Meta Knight said, unsheathing his sword. “Go.”

“Generous as ever, I see,” Dedede tried to deadpan, but wound up coughing.

“Sir Meta Knight, he needs medical attention,” Bandana trembled.

“He needs a damn good explanation, is what he needs,” he sharpened his gaze, pointing Galaxia at him. It shone the same as always. “You’re wasting time.”

“What, getting kidnapped isn’t good enough?”

“Your proof..?”


“Um, did you go blind while I was gone or somethin’?” Dedede gestured to himself. “Come on! This spider guy came and took me all the way to Floralia! Do you even know how many miles that is?”

“Spider–” Meta Knight flinched.

“Yeah, a wizard! Real pain! I had to fight all these people, and–”

“Hmph. That’s enough,” he said.

“Hey! I’m talking!”

“And? I have a job to do,” Meta Knight sheathed his sword. “Was this spider like the monsters we’ve been facing?”

Dedede sank, rubbing at his arm.

“N-No, he was just a wizard…but he worked with this lady–she wanted to start an empire!”

“I suppose the spider is an appropriate inclusion, since it sounds like you’re pulling this out of your–”

“I’m telling the truth!”

Magolor glanced back down at Kirby. He’s not going to step in? He hates it when they fight…

Meta Knight chuckled darkly. “This is just sad. You couldn’t even fight me if you tried.” 

Dedede’s feathers raised and he frowned deeply.

“I have nothing more to say to you,” Meta Knight flipped his cape and turned back to his team. “Let’s head out. Dream Land isn’t going to protect itself, even if some people act like it.”

“I didn’t do nothin’!” Dedede yelled after him.

Meta Knight flicked his wrist. “That’s the problem, isn’t it? Don’t do anything foolish and I’ll deal with you later.”

Dedede seethed with anger as Meta Knight led his team away, only stopping to exchange a word with Bandana. Magolor watched Kirby’s reaction closely, but their expression was just as blank as ever as they waddled over to Dedede.

“You’re in trouble,” they sang.

“No kiddin’,” Dedede grumbled, glaring in Meta Knight’s direction.

Magolor blinked.

“You’re not worried at all?!” He stretched out his hands. “Dedede looks half dead!”

“Huh? Yeah, you should see a doctor,” Kirby said. “We’re going, too!”

“Actually, it’s–” Dedede raised a hand, before Bandana threw himself at him and hugged him to the best of his little nubs’ abilities. Dedede reached down to pat his head, though he looked Magolor in the eye.

“Actually, it’s Lord President Dedede, but, ah…” That sounds ridiculous. “Yeah, nobody calls me that. ‘Specially not Sir Complains-a-Lot.”

Magolor could hardly pay attention to the words he was saying, he was so lost.

Dedede picked Bandana up and held him closer.

“He thinks he’s so special, just ‘cause he’s got that fancy title and everything…” He sighed. “I find it hard to believe. He’s probably faking it or somethin’...he’s not out to serve anyone but himself. Ain’t that right?”

Bandana squeaked.

“Aren’t you dying?” Magolor asked.

“Hurts like it,” Dedede grimaced. “What happened to you, kid?”

This is too weird, Magolor thought. When they’d set off on their journey, Meta Knight was anything but happy, sure, but it was nothing like whatever was happening here. And he didn’t even know where to begin with Dedede. Which, to be fair, was just like him…

“Monster attack!” Kirby explained.

“They just keep coming,” Bandana said, hopping out of Dedede’s arms. “It’s a lot of work…”

Dedede frowned, looking straight ahead. With a sigh, he reached over to pat Magolor on the head.

“Well, main thing is to make sure nobody gets hurt. Let’s get you some help, yeah?”

“You need it more than I do,” Magolor huffed.

“See how much I care?” Dedede sighed, dramatically, batting his eyelashes. “Would such a terrible leader do something like this? I love all my citizens so dearly…”

Oh, so that’s what it is. Magolor’s ear flicked.

“I don’t live here,” he said.

“Huh? You don’t?” Kirby gasped. “I don’t either, so I thought–”

“Kirby, you really shouldn’t be so trusting of strangers you meet in the woods,” Magolor snapped, without giving it much thought. That’s an understatement, isn’t it?

“You should ask him later, Kirby,” Bandana said. “They’ve obviously both had a long day.”


“Right, let’s go,” Dedede waved them along as he went to turn around. He stopped to look at Magolor. “You, uh—bringing that with you?”

Magolor had been holding it so long, he’d nearly forgotten about it. The apple. It must’ve looked funny to everyone else. But it’s not like he could just leave it. He barely knew what it was. It could be cursed, and if nothing else, it was surely valuable–which was something he forgot was important. So he nodded frantically.

“I kinda don’t know what it’s for,” he said, looking down at it. “It’s, um, sentimental. So even the part of me that wants to get rid of it…”


“You should sell it!” Kirby said.

Maybe this Kirby really is different. Magolor rolled his eyes. The four of them started walking, led by Dedede, who uttered a small “Yikes…”

“Haven’t you ever had something sentimental, Kirby?” Bandana asked. “You can’t just sell it. It’s special to you.”

“Hm…” Kirby thought for a moment. “No? And money is important, too. ‘Cause you gotta eat and stuff.”

Magolor noticed Kirby eying the bakery they walked past. The street lights cast a warm glow on his face.

“Sorry for bringing it up,” Bandana stared down. “I’ll treat you later. Promise.”

His voice dropped. “But feelings are also important. Friends…that sort of thing. That’s what I think.”

Kirby looked at Bandana, smiling and tilting his head just slightly. He stepped slower, swaying casually, like he was having fun. But he didn’t say anything. It made Magolor’s chest tighten. 

“Are they?” this Kirby laughed.

Chapter Text

Shoot, shoot, shootshootshootshootSHOOT!

Magolor zipped around the room, checking each of the Lor’s panels. His head was pounding, spinning as if they were still crashing, but–in spite of everything, she seemed intact. Thank goodness.


Shaking it off, Magolor rushed over to the control panel, reassuring himself with thoughts of “maybe it’s not so bad”, but the thumping in his head told him otherwise. A rock sank in his stomach as the screen displayed the numbers dropping. 

One hundred twenty…eighty…fourty…zero energy spheres.

Cursing himself, the damage report continued. The ship had been nearly obliterated…Magolor’s ear twitched at the thought. If it had been much worse, what would have happened to him..?


“Hey…” a small voice peeped up.

Magolor fought the urge to jump. Instinctively, his fingers curled, ready to summon his magic.

“Are you okay? No, of course you’re not okay. You don’t look okay.”

This–pink…dodgeball?—approached him, looking up at him with painfully innocent eyes. Magolor couldn’t meet them.

“Never a good day when your ship crashes…” Away from them, a worn voice mumbled, barely to be heard above the sound of struggling machinery.

Wait! That’s gotta be–

“Listen! Whenever something bad’s happening to me and I get really upset–” Kirby paused to demonstrate, taking a big breath and letting it sink through his body, “I take a deep breath, and I think about all the people I love.”

Magolor blinked. Whatever they were going on about, it didn’t matter–instead, a smile crept onto his face, and he thanked the stars it was concealed by his collar.

Kirby.

Today might be my lucky day after all.

Now, Magolor felt anything but lucky. It was hard to complain about pain with Dedede next to him, looking like he’d just fought a god of his own, and even if it wasn’t, he didn’t think he could choose what to complain about when everything ached so bad.

“I’m from a far off land…” he had said before, all eyes on him.

Kirby looked at him with wide eyes, holding the gem apple while a nurse waddle dee tended to some of his worse scratches.

“I’m…a traveler,” he said, and it was still mostly true. “I came a long way to get here.”

“All by yourself?” Kirby sounded amazed.

He tried to say yes, but wound up nodding. He flinched, trying to ignore Dedede squirming and writhing in the next bed. The doctor had their hands full with him, and he could tell it was distracting the nurse, who kept stopping to make sure they didn’t need more help.

The place wasn’t much of a hospital as much as it was somebody’s home office. The rooms were all very small and it was decorated as such. The doctor was even wearing a nightcap when they came in, but this was an emergency, so they leapt into action and called for the nurse.

At least it was cozy?

Magolor really couldn’t figure out how to cheer himself up anymore.

“It was hard,” he said, shifting back. “I think I’ve been gone a very long time. The whole world seems different…” he almost laughed when he said it.

“Oh, well…” Kirby thought for a moment, slowly kicking his feet. “The sky is still blue. The moon’s there, too. The trees are still twisty and there are stars at night, so it can’t be too different, right?”

Magolor winced, considering he didn’t know of any other place with trees that twisted in on themselves.

“Maybe so,” he said, instead.

“Did you want to come here?”

“No.”

“Are you gonna stay here?”

Magolor turned his head away. The nurse stepped back and wiped his brow, before passing a glance at Kirby.

“Please don’t distress him,” he sighed. “You’ll just make it worse.”

Kirby’s gaze followed him as the nurse hopped off his stool and towards the door.

“Sorry,” Kirby said, meekly.

The nurse only looked at Magolor.

“I’ll get you something for your head,” he said, and walked off. Magolor laid his head back. It hurt like hell, but he just kept thinking.

“Is it summer?” he asked.

“Mhm!” Kirby smiled at him. “But it’s getting colder, isn’t it? It’s so nice…”

Magolor hummed. It was this time of year when he last saw them, wasn’t it? Had any time passed? He really couldn’t piece it together anymore.

“Come on, it’s too hot to be adventuring! We should be at the beach right about now, barbecuing and getting sand in our eyes! You’re the only one who isn’t up for it.”

Between the long weeks they’d spent adventuring and the fact that they were finally near Onion Ocean, the spirit of the season had kicked in and Dedede had been becoming increasingly demanding about making the most of it. Kirby and Bandee were eager to join in, but Meta Knight wasn’t having any of it, and he pointed to Magolor’s indifference as reason that they “absolutely should not”.

With the discovery that Magolor was prone to passing out, Meta Knight was finally talked into giving in. 

Magolor thought it was pointless when they could be doing anything else, and he did his best to forget that day. But it had been his first time going to the beach, so how could he?

The sound of the ocean as it lapped against the shore, and how excited Kirby was at every seashell they found. Getting roped into making a sandcastle with him and Bandee, then discovering Kirby had a sand themed copy ability, having to be the one to tell Meta Knight how they discovered he had the sand ability…which made him shudder to think about.

Dedede’s unprompted touch, patting him on the back as Magolor learned he liked the whole barbecue thing. Magolor always hated how he did that, but he could never bring himself to tell him not to. 

They laughed a lot that day, he thought.

He would’ve done anything to feel that warmth, right then.

“We can’t go until we’ve named our sandcastle,” Kirby frowned, digging his feet in the sand. “And since it’s something special the three of us made, we all have to agree on it!”

Meta Knight muttered some words in another language that Magolor had to guess were less than pleasant, by his tone. Bandee was having a hard time staying awake, aside from the barrage of mosquitoes he kept swatting away.

“Kirby…” Dedede sighed. “Does this have to do with that whole ‘pride in your work’ thing I told you about? ‘Cause–”

“This is about friendship, poyo! It’s super important!”

“What if everyone wants to go, Kirby?” Bandee asked, half flopped over. “When we were trying to talk Sir Meta Knight into doing this, you wanted him to do what everyone else said, right?”

Kirby’s heart broke. “This isn’t important to you?”

While Bandee stammered and fought for his life, Meta Knight just sighed.

“Look—you just have to name it, right?” He stared at Magolor. “So please, just pick something.”

Kirby sank into his heels. “B-But Magma didn’t want to call it Fort Friendship…”

Dedede held back a pained laugh. Everyone turned to Magolor, and it made his face swell with heat. This is a coercion tactic..! He wanted to cry, but what could he do?

“I-I guess…I mean…if that’s what would really make you happy,” Magolor mumbled, his ears flicking, beyond his control. “A-And surely, you’ve gotta be running out of words that start with ‘mag’ by now…”

Kirby lit up with another big smile. He tried to hold back his giggles, but failed.

“I have a big i-mag-ination!”

He looked really proud of himself.

“Hey, Kirby,” Magolor sat up, taking the glass and pill from the returning nurse. He examined it closely. “Do you have any friends..?”

Kirby’s smile faded. He looked down at the floor.

“Not really,” he said. “Just Adeleine, but she’s not here right now. And maybe Bandana?”

Magolor swallowed. The nurse went to Dedede’s side and took orders from the doctor.

“Oh!” Kirby leaned forward on his stool, nearly rocking it over. “But he’s too busy for friends right now! Don’t tell him I said that!”

Magolor tilted his head. He didn’t get it. Why couldn’t he recognize what Kirby was thinking, right now? He always could, before. Kirby was just so simple. But he didn’t know this look in his eyes.

“I mean…I’m kinda also friends with the animals in the forest,” Kirby said, steadying himself. “But everyone’s more like a half-friend.”

“Kirby…”

What happened?

There was a knock at the door, and Bandana came waddling in with a basket of bread and a bag of who knows what. He handed a piece to Kirby, then held one out for Magolor.

“I don’t want your pity,” Magolor said.

“It’s not pity, it’s delicious,” Kirby said, through chews.

Actually– Magolor’s stomach rumbled, and he realized just how hollow it felt. Even with his enchantments, he wasn’t able to eat as well as he’d have liked, in Another Dimension. 

Even if it’s kinda super sad of me to take it, it only makes sense to take full advantage of this, right? He let himself grin.

“Thank you,” he said.

Kirby stared at him a little as he pulled down his collar and chomped. It was always a strange sight, and his Kirby had found it fascinating, too. Thankfully, this was short-lived as both they and Bandana turned to look at Dedede. He seemed a little calmer now. Less jolting. 

Magolor was relieved to have no eyes on him, after the day he’d had. He let himself breathe, and savored the warm texture of the bread in his mouth.

It’s nice, he thought.

Chapter Text

Eventually, after a long list of instructions was given to Dedede, they were finally able to gather up their things and go. When they stepped outside, they were hit with the coolness of night, and the moon was high in the sky. Dedede grumbled something about how late it was.

“Here’s your apple back,” Kirby handed it to Magolor. “Sorry if I was mean to it.”

“Um…no,” Magolor said, taking it. “I don’t care. I agreed with you.”

Which had to be one of the last things he ever expected to say to Kirby, but he did.

“What is that thing, anyway?” Dedede asked. “I’ve been dying to know.”

“Word choice, please,” Bandana whimpered. Dedede let out a laugh.

Magolor looked at it as they walked. It really did reflect beautifully. It wouldn’t look out of place at a jewelry shop, aside from the stem growing out of it. It was hard to believe it came from something so monstrous.

“I don’t really know, honestly,” he said. “I…got it on my journey. And it took a lot to get it. So.”

“You’re not gonna plant it?” Bandana asked.

“Um, does this look like a plant to you–” Magolor squinted at him. They stopped, near the edge of the plaza.

“Yes?” He blinked, visibly tired. “It’s an apple, isn’t it? Maybe not a regular one, but still–an apple? That’s what you do with apples.”

“That’s true,” Dedede nodded. “A tree like that…would make a lot of money!”

It sounds a lot worse when other people say things like that, Magolor noted.

“I guess…” Magolor said. “I don’t exactly know anything about trees, though. And I don’t think I’d like to learn. A-And I don’t have anywhere to stay…”

Dedede nudged Bandana.

“I know a thing or two…” he said, twiddling his nubs. “I wouldn’t mind helping.”

“Yeah, and we’ve got dirt right here!” Dedede said. “Ah, don’t get the wrong idea. I don’t wanna take it from you. But you’re welcome to try it! If they all look as great as that, maybe it’ll even bring tourists…”

Magolor looked to Kirby.

“Yeah, let’s do it!” Kirby grinned.

“It’s his choice, squirt,” Dedede said.

Magolor drew closer to the fountain. It was even prettier at night, with the moonlight beaming down on it. He couldn’t see his reflection in the water, and he decided he preferred it that way.

“Let’s do it,” he decided. “Yeah. Why not?”


It can have a second chance here. To become something new. That’s probably what Kirby would have wanted. It’s not like it’s of any use to me now, and it’s the least I can do after…

Magolor closed his eyes. He wasn’t going to think about it. He’d gotten so good at it. Whatever remnants of his unearned feelings remained, he would bury, with this.

It was peace. It was justice. It was rebirth, after all. The souls that had once reigned over the Master Crown could finally be put to rest.

Magolor and Kirby sat away from the fountain, in the dirt patch that surrounded it. They waved Dedede and Bandana off, and though Magolor had said Kirby didn’t need to help him, they sat in silence, digging at the soil as per Bandana’s instructions.

Finally, they got it settled firmly in place. Magolor cupped his hands together and scooped water from the fountain, releasing it over the sprout. He went back and forth a few times, and Kirby watched.

“Hey, Magolor,” they said, eyes, half lidded with drowsiness.

“...Hm?”


“You were alone for a really long time, weren’t you?”

Drip, drip. Another handful splashed against the ground.

“And now you’re not staying…” Kirby had said it, but Magolor suspected it was a question.

“I dunno.”

“I think I could be your friend, Magolor,” they said. “You could stay with me.”


Drip…

Magolor looked at him. They were smiling, just faintly, as they had earlier that day. It was an expression he wasn’t sure he ever saw on his Kirby, the other Kirby. Maybe a little cautious, but trying. He was sure this Kirby was trying.

Magolor’s mouth went dry.

“Is that…what you want?” he asked.

Kirby stood up. He looked at the sprout, sticking awkwardly up from the ground. Maybe after it grew, it would fit in there. Or maybe they’d just have to get used to it.

“I want a lot of things,” Kirby shrugged. Magolor could see it again, in his eyes–that strange thing, whatever it was.

Magolor pulled at his gloves.

“My last friend…” his throat tightened, and the words wouldn’t find themselves. Kirby looked at him.

“I wasn’t very nice to them,” he said.

“And are you sorry?” Kirby tilted their head.

Magolor frowned. That wasn’t a question he could answer.

Kirby crouched down to pet the sprout.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I think I would be okay with a mean friend. I’m tough.”

Yeah, you are. Magolor inhaled.

“I don’t know,” he said. “But I can stay for a bit. I’ve gotta figure out what I’m gonna do. Where I’m gonna go next.”

“Being a traveler sure sounds fun,” Kirby sighed, picking himself back up. They smiled up at him. “It’s gotta be nothing compared to the places you’ve seen, but I’ll show you everything I can! My house is a little far, but the walk is super relaxing, so—!”

Kirby held out his paw for Magolor to take.

“What are you doi–”

“This is what friends do!” Kirby nodded.

Magolor’s ears slouched. He’d never had to hold hands with them before. Not that Kirby hadn’t tried, but he always had Meta Knight or Dedede to get them to knock it off. And this one was even harder to say no to, when he looked so sad. 

He might’ve never held hands with anyone before in his life…! Maybe this Kirby would grow up to be a touch starved, miserable creature who shallowly drags other people on their quests for evil, just to feel something! 

Kirby blinked up at him. Magolor shook his head. He couldn’t keep thinking like that when there was someone waiting for him. With a sigh, he placed his hand over Kirby’s nub.

“Well…it is dark out.”

Chapter Text

It wasn’t long before Magolor’s injuries healed, with some help from his magic. He spent a lot of time outside, soaking up the sunshine he’d missed out on while in the abyss. Luckily, Kirby’s house was in the perfect spot–close enough to the forest, not too far from town, but with the right amount of open space for relaxing…and in such a secluded spot, he was able to let his guard down a little.

All that time alone was dangerous, though. It was never good for Magolor’s mind to wander.

It did confuse him, at first–he hadn’t heard the Kirby in his world talk much about having an actual house, and he had never been able to figure out if that meant he lived at the castle or not. He tried to figure it out from the conversations the others had, but it just confused him more…

But this Kirby, who was somehow isolated from the others (and was, apparently, broke) had a whole three bedroom, two story house that–while a little messy–looked far too nicely constructed to be left in the hands of a child. 

“It’s not mine,” they had said, while showing Magolor around. “I gotta be nice to it.”

While Magolor had to wonder if that meant Kirby was trespassing and living on someone else’s property, that also wasn’t something Magolor was innocent of, so he stayed quiet.

He had kind of hoped he’d be able to sense the Lor’s presence at some point, but even after joining Kirby on his walks through the woods…where the air sparkled with the promise of magic, and Magolor thought it would be his best chance…it evaded him.

He used to sleep to the hum of its magic. All that power was so comforting. He supposed he missed it. It was harder to sleep without it.

So a few weeks passed, just like that. Kirby was, for the most part, eager to talk to Magolor, and if he wasn’t trying to, he would just sit and stare at him for a while. They’d talk a little over bits of food, never fresh, and Kirby would tell him which of the villagers he’d gotten it from. Magolor was uneasy, thinking about it.

“Some people were nice to me, before,” they had shrugged, before taking another slow bite of his muffin. “But then I started fighting the monsters, and now everyone gives me stuff!”

Interesting… Magolor thought, his gaze, drifting over to Kirby’s hammer by the door. Whether it was beat up from use or if it was just poorly made was beyond him. The mud tracks on the floor, half scrubbed away, were less of a mystery to him.

Magolor found that following Kirby on his walks was a good way to keep himself busy. Kirby mostly stuck to the forest, talking to the animals and making sure they were safe, keeping an eye out for more monsters. And Magolor would walk at a distance, wracking his head over what this world’s deal was and why they even had a monster infestation.

Then, he noticed that these areas where Kirby reported he’d fought monsters were often speckled with litter. Mostly little things; bottle caps, garbage, things that were likely to be swept up in a breeze. 

And he had to admit, it was a little bit satisfying to watch Kirby struggle and flail around with his hammer every time he fought another creature–mostly sphere doomers. It wasn’t like he was incompetent… he did still win in the end, and without too many scratches. But he was anything but graceful. Like all that natural talent was gone.

Well, it wasn’t his problem. He wasn’t going to do anything about it.

But one day, as he watched Kirby slide around an enraged flame galboros, he had to admit it made his fur stand on end. Kirby was just barely able to duck away from its fire in time, but surrounded by trees, it would only take seconds for things to get ugly.

“Kirby!” Magolor called.

He quickly summoned a bomb and chucked it against the galboros’ side. It spun around and glared at him, growling mightily, but he shielded himself from it just in time for its next attack.

Kirby looked at him from across the battlefield, eyes wide. He wasn’t even holding his hammer right.

“Lead it to the river!” Magolor shouted. 

Magolor pressed his shield against the creature as it tried to slam into him, though the barrier was quickly fading. Heat swarmed his senses. When it broke, he dropped, quickly rolling away.

With Kirby leading, they drove the galboros towards the riverside–Magolor, using his spheres to direct it along. There, Kirby dropped into his best defensive position, tiptoeing around the creature and watching it closely.

There, Magolor heaved a sigh of relief. He peered back through the trees, but none of his senses alerted him of fire.

“Gah! That’s hot!” Kirby shrieked, dropping their hammer. Magolor whipped around to see them flapping their injured nub and hopping frantically. His jaw gaped at the sight–he felt a headache coming on.

Kirby dove and reached for his hammer yet again, but the galboros was faster, ramming into him and knocking him over. He groaned in pain and struggled to his feet, but–

“Wah?! It’s on fire?!”

Kirby held his hammer loosely by the handle, waving it as though that would do anything. There was a puff of fire from the galboros, and it lunged at him again. Kirby ran.

“I just wanna hit youuuu!”

Magolor blinked. If he had shoulders, they would’ve surely been sagging. He sighed, reflexively.

He had seen Kirby’s face many nights as he tried to sleep. How their eyes were swollen, their face flushed, painted with frustration, as they held that massive sword. Even so, they glowed. Magolor felt…something, everything , as the blade drove into him with the power of a million stars.

And now this other Kirby was here. Doing this. Being terrible.

You always make me waste so much energy on you, Magolor thought, shaking his head. He weighed the options for a moment, but it had been long enough for him to heal and he was doing fine. He pulled himself together, drawing magic to his hands, where it burned and built and he shaped it, carefully, pointing…

FWOOOOOOOSH!

The wave of wind and rushing energy hit them like a wave of starlight, and he grinned. 

Kirby’s head slowly turned to face him, though they were more or less flopped over on the ground. The galboros had faded away, leaving only scorches in its wake.

Kirby blinked at him, wildly, as Magolor lifted the hammer off the ground and dipped it in the river. He pulled it back out and examined it. It hadn’t taken too much damage, at least.

But yikes, this thing is really bad.

Magolor dropped it down in front of them. Kirby just stared, awestruck.

“Don’t tell me you’re gonna start crying,” Magolor’s ear flicked, and he looked away.

“You can do magic?!” Kirby shouted.

“No, that was the power bestowed upon me by a god of darkness,” a sly grin crept onto Magolor’s face. “I eat souls, by the way.”

Kirby tilted their head.

Right. Kirby.

“Hey, I’m kidding!” he said. “I dabble, that’s all!”

“Oh,” Kirby hopped to their feet. “You’re so good! It’s cool!”

Magolor cackled. “Yeah, I’m pretty talented. Say, where’d you learn to fight?”

Kirby glanced aside, smiling.

“Ummmm…at home?”

Magolor exhaled. It was as he suspected, but it didn’t make much sense to him. He knew Meta Knight had been his Kirby’s mentor, but they didn’t much act like it. Kirby didn’t seem to need many pointers on how to fight. They were overflowing with capability, and each new copy ability proved it to him.

Magolor found himself watching the water. 

“Have you ever…I dunno, have you ever–” this would probably sound really weird to anyone but them. “Tried, like…inhaling something?”

Kirby looked up from the wound he was rubbing.

“Like air?” They chirped.

So that’s how it is…then–can they not do it, or do they just not know how?

“Y’know what? Forget I asked,” Magolor chuckled lightly. Maybe it’s better this way.

He could always tell him later.

Chapter Text

Kirby asked to hold hands on the way home most nights, but that night, Magolor was grateful they were more focused on rubbing their burned nub. Their hammer dragged lazily behind them, occasionally scraping less than pleasantly against the ground. They hadn’t said a word since they left the forest. Sure, Magolor hadn’t either, but it was strange for Kirby. 

The other Kirby, he reminded himself.

They pouted ever so slightly as they watched the dirt road pass beneath their feet.

“Um…” Magolor found it unnerving, he decided. “Kirby, you sure are quiet tonight.”

“Huh..?” Kirby blinked wearily up at him.

“Come on, don’t you have anything funny to say?”

Kirby thought for a moment.

“It hurts,” they murmured.

“Yeah, it looked like it would.”

Kirby straightened himself, turning to watch the faint light of the village as it came into view, barely visible as the sun refused to go down just yet.  

“The doctor might help me,” he said.

“Yeah?”

“And I could get something to eat.”

Kirby stopped. Magolor wished they were a little more expressive, but they were once again, completely blank. Leaving him with only the smallest hint as to what they could want.

Thinking about it, he hadn’t been to town since coming to stay with Kirby. 

“You won’t come with me,” Kirby’s voice was small.

“I told you I don’t wanna,” Magolor rolled his eyes. “After how hectic it was last time? No thanks. I’ve got enough to worry about without all that drama. That Meta Knight’s just annoying!”

“They’ll be too busy fighting to even notice you,” Kirby said, albeit a little whiny.

“I don’t see why it matters.”

Kirby sank.

“That’s what friends do,” they mumbled.

Magolor’s ears flicked to the side. Kirby was a master of guilt tripping, whether he knew it or not. But Magolor was stronger now. He decided to keep quiet, only passing Kirby a brief wave when they parted ways near the house.

They always go to town alone, he thought, as he watched them waddle off and sink into the distance. It’s not like it ever mattered before.

Kirby didn’t say much else that night. He did try to smile, at least. And he thanked Magolor when he helped him apply the burn cream they picked up. They seemed a little more like themselves, after that. Magolor didn’t want to think about why.

“It’s fine, Magenta! I don’t mind, ‘cause I love you!”

They were in Cookie Country then. The same sights, the same scenery they continued to walk through every day, as they neared Whispy Woods.

Magolor’s whiskers stiffened; his ears pricked, fully alert. Meta Knight was quick to glare at him.

“He says that to everyone,” Meta Knight said, plainly. “Don’t feel flattered.”

Even so, Magolor couldn’t bring himself to respond. He agreed with Meta Knight–Kirby was foolish for it. But he thought about it, if only for a moment. That big, bright eyed smile of Kirby’s.

It must be what everyone else loves about him, he decided. Everyone else is wrong.

“Why shouldn’t I say it if it’s true?” Kirby half yelled, half asked, puffing out in a defensive position.

“You can’t,” Meta Knight insisted. The edge on his voice grew.

“That’s not a reason! In fact, Dedede says I can love whoever I want!”

Meta Knight whipped around to Dedede, who stared at them, mouth agape.

“We weren’t talkin’ about that,” he said, flummoxed. “Kid, that’s a different kind of love–”

“We’re not going to argue about this,” he turned back to Kirby, and Magolor could’ve sworn he caught him glaring at him again. “You can’t keep saying that to everyone,” he hissed, but Kirby stood firm.

“Why?” They asked.

“Because one day you’re going to get hurt!”

His voice was deafening; it echoed. Kirby shrank back, just a little, keeping their head low. They only frowned at him. At Meta Knight, as he stammered, struggling to steady his breath.

Magolor could only guess what he’s thinking, but he wasn’t sure even Meta Knight knew. But the missing words ached at him. His throat tightened. He felt pathetic. Magolor kind of thought he was.

Kirby got attached to people so easily. Magolor was drained just thinking about it. Where this Kirby stood on that matter, he wasn’t sure, but it was already too close for comfort.

Remembering that strange look in their eyes, he couldn’t be too upset. Only with himself. 

“Um…”

Magolor had made himself at home in his room and done a pretty good job keeping it clean. It wasn’t much to look at–Kirby had called it a guest room, after all. He liked it, even if the color scheme was a little boring, painted in white and decorated in shades of beige and eggshell. The white almost reminded him of the Lor, so it was more than comfortable enough. And the bed was practically fit for royalty.

Kirby poked his head through the door, wearing a sheepish grin.

“Just saying good night!” they said, before closing the door.

Magolor sank deeper into his pillow. He was pretty sure he knew what that meant, and he didn’t like it. That pink pest.

But how could he blame him? Magolor had done the same thing, latching on to the first people that ever…he stopped himself. He wasn’t going to think about it. He had been so proud of himself for telling Kirby no, earlier…

Suddenly, he was much more excited for their next walk. It really was such a good distraction.

-

“I’d never seen a fire monster before,” Kirby shuffled awkwardly in the grass, twisting his hammer. “I can handle whatever comes. Maybe?”

With how poorly Kirby had fought the other day, Magolor doubted it.

“Yeah, yeah. Just call for me if something like that happens again. It’d kinda suck if you died.”

Kirby nodded. “I’m the hero of the forest!”

Magolor squinted at him. “...Sure,” he blinked.

He felt Kirby’s gaze burning into him as he walked off through the trees. That kid has a real staring problem, he thought, with a wince. Even more than the last one…

But some time alone would do him good, he decided. Getting sent to another world could be a really stressful situation, and he was awfully sick of it. He closed his eyes and let himself hum, just wandering, enjoying the shade of the trees.

The trees. Right. He didn’t like to look at them too long. Something about them…the strange shape, and the vibrant colors of the leaves, such an unnatural bright green and blue…

Everything else was just perfect, though. He wasn’t sure if this place was also considered Popstar, but the seemingly always sunny weather was just like it. He wiped his brow; it was hot out, with summer refusing to give way to fall.

He heard a strange sound–sort of like squeaking, but…wetter? Coming closer, and it made his hackles rise. The grass rustled, but he couldn’t see anything–until he looked down.

“HOIIIIIII!”

“What the hell.”

This dark blue blob smiled wide and hopped up and down, greeting him? It moved like gelatin and squelched with every action. Its mouth took up the entire width of its face–and body, for that matter. Disturbing, he shuddered. Magolor prepared a sphere in his hands, but the blob only blinked its giant googly eyes at him. 

It didn’t seem aggressive. If he had feet, he could probably squash it.

Magolor tried to look it in the eye. He couldn’t figure out if it was more of a “person” (for lack of a better word) or a monster. It just made sounds at him, like a happy blubbering.

“I don’t need any company,” he said.

The blob closed its mouth and looked down. Disappointed?

Then, it slid itself over–Magolor moved out of the way, anticipating some sort of hug or an attack–but it only focused on examining the dirt.

Odd, Magolor thought. He contemplated leaving. Before this creature did anything stranger.

No, he had no reason to be worried. He could take it. Maybe it was that smile that threw him off?

Whatever it was, it was fascinating.

He looked around. Nothing seemed out of ordinary, and he didn’t sense any particularly powerful magic, so there wasn’t a dimensional rift open. With a sigh, he approached the blob.

“!!!!!!!”

The blob…he cringed at the realization…had something gripped by its tongue, and it struggled with all its might, trying to free whatever it was from the ground. Magolor didn’t even entertain the thought of helping him pull it out. He wouldn’t have to, either, because with one last pull, its tongue came flying back at itself, hitting it in the face. Magolor could almost laugh.

The blob frowned and peeled its tongue off its face. Then, it turned back to Magolor.

“You are not touching me with that thing,” Magolor said, though he wasn’t sure how much use it would be.

Ptooey! The blob spat out its catch: a rusty gardening spade. Magolor looked at it, and it looked back at him, expectantly. 

“For me?” Magolor feigned enthusiasm. It was covered in slobber.

Hm, but what’s this doing here? As the blob made chipper sloshing sounds, Magolor scanned the ground. Another peculiar spot caught his attention, and he patted it, tentatively. There was definitely something strange here. It was a little unnatural, at least in how the soil was laid.

The blob cheered and wobbled over, making quick work of the spot with his tongue. Magolor flinched at the sight, but when it was done, a sparkling treasure awaited them.

A coin. Okay, that’s not very exciting. Magolor had found quite a few different ones surrounding the litter piles that evidently accompanied the places where rifts had opened. Kirby didn’t seem to recognize any of the designs, so they were mostly worthless to him. This one was copper, though, so he picked it up anyway, just in case.

Wait, that… was there more junk under the ground, and he just hadn’t realized?

The blob’s calls grew fainter—Magolor looked up.

“Hey, don’t just run off!”

He raced after it, darting by and weaving in and out of the trees, but the little blob was nowhere to be found.

Just what the heck was that about?!

Magolor scanned the area, but there wasn’t a speck of blue in sight. He even checked the treetops in case it managed to climb them.

Mysterious blobs were one thing, yeah, but now he had no idea where he was and no one to guide him. Magolor slouched so low he nearly scraped the ground. He really hated being lost.

Well, only one way out of this…

Chapter Text

After what felt like hours (but was, in reality, more like just one) Magolor took a rest near a creek and cursed the heat as he tried desperately to cool his face. He decided he wouldn’t forgive that blob for ruining his walk. If he found it again, he’d just have to do something…mildly rude!

What a blob like that would find humiliating, he really didn’t know.

Magolor sat back. It would be evening soon. He was getting hungry…

“Oh—ooh, oof, it’s hot out…”

Magolor jumped, hearing an unfamiliar voice. He couldn’t see the source.

“Gooey? Gooey?” The voice called. “Everyone else wants to eat! Please come home!”

Magolor trusted his ear and followed the sound to the water’s edge. He still couldn’t see anyone nearby. Remembering earlier, he decided to look down. Nothing peculiar, though an oddly large shape in the water was floundering around—

“Gooey, please! It’s hot out! I’ll dry up like this!”

Magolor couldn’t help but stare. He dropped down low, watching as this fish flopped around in the shallow water of the creek. It was clearly not deep enough for them.

“Can I help you?” Magolor asked, though the bewilderment in his tone was clear.

“O-Oh!” The fish looked at him to the best of their ability. “Hello, there, creature! We don’t get many visitors, it’s not very safe, what with the monsters…unless you can defend yourself, I guess.”

Magolor’s expression was strained, for sure. This fish looked much too uncomfortable to be making small talk.

“Aha…” they tried to laugh. “I don’t suppose you’ve seen a little blue thing running around here..?”

“Oh, yeah. That thing.”

The fish smiled, oblivious to the contempt in Magolor’s voice.

“Hey, Kine!”

Magolor straightened himself at the sound of Kirby’s arrival. They ran up to the other side of the creek, then stopped.

“Oh, Magolor?” They blinked. “I didn’t know you’re friends with Kine!”

“What? I just—“ Magolor started, but it was no use.

“You should go home, Kine,” Kirby leaned over the water. “Rick asked me to take care of it.”

“Oh, whew, I thought I might die…”

Kirby smiled politely as Kine swam back towards deeper waters. They turned to Magolor and showed off a pouch of seeds and little things.

“Look,” they grinned. “My reward! I think there’s corn in here?”

Kirby hopped across the creek and reached for Magolor’s hand. Too busy processing, Magolor let him take it. Kirby dragged him along.

“Huh…” 

Magolor knew Kirby had animal friends, but somehow he hadn’t quite expected this. Or for one of them to be a sentient blob.

“Did you run out of monsters to fight or something?” he asked, a little dazed.

“There was this teleporting thing earlier,” Kirby said, thinking it over. “That’s it. So Rick gave me an errand to do!”

Rick..? Did Kirby realize he had no idea who he was talking about? Maybe it wasn’t worth asking.

“Gooey! Gooey! Come on, Gooey!” their calls pierced Magolor’s ears.

“Are you sure that thing understands a word you say?” Magolor scowled.

“Of course it does,” Kirby pulled his paw away. “I mean…Rick and Kine and Coo all understand him so well.”

Magolor narrowed his gaze.

“And you..?”

Kirby pouted. 

“Maybe one day…”

“Hm.”

Now that he thought about it, Magolor was pretty sure the other Kirby had mentioned a Gooey. They sounded close. At least on Kirby’s end.

“Oh! I know that sound!” Kirby ran off.

“Kirby—! Hey!”

No wonder Gooey’s like that! He groaned, pulling his whiskers before giving chase. What a pain…

Eventually, despite Magolor’s exhaustion, they found Gooey near a small stack of not so small rocks. He kept jumping at it, and when that didn’t satisfy him, he resorted to shooting dark matter beams at it…Kirby ran up to him.

“Hey! Don’t get yourself squished!” Magolor hissed.

Kirby grabbed Gooey and pulled them backwards, despite its blubs of defiance. They toppled to the ground and Gooey wailed in their arms. It fell limply, as Kirby hopped to their feet and placed it back on the ground. It was reminiscent of a blue pancake.

“What are you doing?!” Kirby yelled. “Don’t be bad!”

Gooey frowned deeply, shifting erratically in place.

“Everyone’s waiting for you!” Kirby continued, pointing away from themselves. “Go home!”

Yikes, Kirby…

Gooey shook and blubbered like it wanted to cry. Magolor sighed. This blob was probably a child, given what he knew. He couldn’t be too annoyed, even if he really wanted to be.

“Kirby, wait,” he stepped between them. “You should listen to him. Okay?”

“Huh? But Rick asked me—“

I can’t believe I’m doing this. Magolor shook his head.

“You don’t know why he’s doing this, right? You should try to understand, first,” Magolor said. 

Kirby froze and stared stiffly at the ground. Thinking, Magolor knew. He’d spent a lot of time figuring them out, after all. Even if this Kirby was a little more difficult, he knew that face. He’d been trying to understand him, too.

Gooey seemed a little more stable now. It stood still and its surface was undisturbed. It turned back to the rocks and made a deep rumbling sound.

“Right…” Magolor said. “You want those gone?”

Gooey jumped eagerly.

“Ugh…if it keeps you from trying to do it yourself. Kirby, give me some help?”

Kirby looked a little disappointed, but they nodded. Together they pushed the rocks away until Gooey was bouncing happily again. Magolor wiped his brow—he’d be feeling that tomorrow.

Beneath the rocks, the soil was uneven and very bug infested. Just the sight made Magolor shudder. Kirby hid behind him. In spite of all that, there was something sticking up out of the ground. Gooey approached it and grabbed, the way Magolor had seen him do before.

Gooey pulled and pulled to no avail. It stopped and turned to look at the two of them. Its eyes shone with sadness.

“Kirby, are you sure you’re not alike..?” Magolor half muttered the question, but Kirby was already halfway over. Reluctantly, Magolor joined them.

Kirby grabbed onto Gooey and Magolor grabbed onto Kirby. With a blub from Gooey, they pulled.

In one swift move, the item was freed. Gooey hopped up and down in front of Kirby, which made them smile, too. Magolor breathed a sigh of relief.

“Wow, Gooey, you found that all by yourself?” Kirby asked. Gooey nodded enthusiastically.

“I couldn’t do that!” Kirby grinned. “Magolor, look! It’s—“

Gooey picked up the sword by its handle and offered it to him. Magolor fidgeted, unsure of how to react. For being buried in the ground, it wasn’t too worse for wear. The blade was a little chipped and in need of love, and the crimson handle had definitely seen use. Magolor’s chest tightened—it was a really nice gesture.

But also, ew..!

“Gooey?” Kirby gasped.

“You!” Gooey’s voice wobbled.

“But—huh?” Magolor didn’t even know how to grab it, considering Gooey was already holding it by the hilt.

Kirby’s face lit up. “Aww, does it want to make sure you’re safe here?”

Gooey dropped the sword and nudged it towards him. Magolor didn’t know what to do with his hands. It’s not like he has a way to use it, I guess?

“I-I mean—“ he picked it up and cocked his head. “Thank you?”

Gooey opened its mouth wide and beamed at him. Kirby bounced on their feet.

“Cool! Are you gonna learn the sword, Magolor?” they asked, grinning.

“Uhhh…maybe?”

“Wow! I always wanted to try sword…”

Magolor smirked under his collar, considering Kirby could probably eat it if he wanted to.

“Gooey, are you ready to go home now?” Kirby spun around to face it. Gooey nodded. “Okay, then!”

Magolor held the sword rather clumsily as they walked. It was rather small, he noticed. It would be a little awkward to wield if he tried.

He glanced at Kirby. They were busy talking to Gooey, watching its reactions at every one of their remarks, seemingly amused by them.

Hm…maybe.

Gooey probably hadn’t realized Magolor could use magic, if his intention really was to protect him. 

Magolor’s gaze drifted down, remembering how Kirby drove his sword through him.

Chapter Text

Magolor sat outside the door of the house, sword in hand. The afternoon sun bore down on him, though he was grateful it was finally cool enough to sit outside. He leaned back and pulled his collar down just enough to give himself a moment to breathe.

Gooey had given him the sword about a week ago, and since then, it started following him more and more whenever they were in the woods. It took adjusting to, and it did irk him a little, but it wasn’t so different from having a quieter Kirby around. And Gooey was great at finding things. Most of it was junk, but it kept things interesting.

He hummed, returning to the task at hand, carefully wiping down the sword blade. He hadn’t decided what he’d do with it, but at least if he got it looking nicer, it’d be worth more if it came down to it. He never was much of a weapons person. Of course, Kirby seemed interested, but they didn’t know anything about restoration. So it was up to him.

Yeah, he could go into town and find a blacksmith to help, but…

“Hm.”

Maybe it would be worth it? He was pretty used to this Kirby, but the idea of running into Meta Knight or the others made him shudder.

“Heeeeeeeeeey!”

Magolor didn’t need to look up. Kirby ran up to the porch, hammer in tow. They got close and examined his work.

“Shiny,” they observed.

“You’re here early,” Magolor said.

Kirby sat down, hunched over. They took a huge breath.

“Break,” they said. “Mister Meta Knight’ll know if anything happens. And…”

Magolor eyed him. Those gears are turning. Kirby made a face.

“It’s better when you’re there,” they said, softly. “I bet Gooey thinks so.”

Magolor’s stomach lurched.

“I hate when you say that stuff,” he mumbled.

Kirby blinked down at the sword, fixed on it. Magolor caught them doing that a lot. He wasn’t sure what point there would be in entertaining the idea. Any idea, really. Evidently, neither of them knew how to use a sword. Yeah, Magolor had… but he didn’t really want to. Not now.

“Look, if it’ll make you happy, you can hold it,” he said, handing it over.

“I can?” Kirby held back giggles.

“Go for it, little dude.”

Kirby smiled–a little different, smaller, like he was feeling a joy that was only his own–and he swiftly set his hammer aside, in exchange for the sword. His eyes sparkled as he looked at it, holding it just in front of his face. 

“It’s so cool,” they whispered.

Hm…

“Don’t you like your hammer, though?” Magolor asked.

“Of course…” Kirby closed his eyes. “But imagine being able to use every weapon, ever…”

Magolor sucked a breath through his teeth. He shouldn’t say it, he told himself.

“You should get better with the hammer first,” he said. “I dunno. Start small?”

“Yeah…”

Disappointment flickered on Kirby’s face. Magolor’s heart panged. Maybe he was taking something from him. Why should he even care?

“Hm…I’ll have it fixed by then,” he nodded. “I think…”

Kirby froze. They looked at him.

“Do…do you know if there’s a blacksmith in town?” he asked. “I was, uhh…considering doing a little research.”

Kirby held their paws together, in thought.

“I’ve never been,” they said. “Mister Meta Knight must have one.”

Magolor scratched his cheek. That would make sense. His stomach churned. He could probably find a way to have it done while avoiding him, though…if he was lucky.

Remembering how much of a presence Meta Knight had in the plaza, he found himself wincing..

Kirby hopped to his feet. They held the sword close, looking at it with such warmth. Even so, they shoved it back into Magolor’s hands.

“Umm…” Kirby shifted on his feet. “We could go together.”

If Magolor had less self control, he’d have banged his head against the wall. 

This is gonna kill me. One of these days.

Groaning, he rose in the air. Kirby would owe him so much for this. He would have so much leverage. He couldn’t even bring himself to be happy about it when they looked at him like that.

“Okay,” he droned, cursing himself. “But only so you’ll stop asking.”

“REALLY?!”

Magolor’s ears flicked. He waved a hand.

“Yeah, yeah, keep your voice down,” he groaned. “You know anything we can carry this in?”

Kirby hushed his voice. “I’ll hold it!” 

Magolor normally wouldn’t feel good about letting a child roam through town with a sword they couldn’t even use, but Kirby hadn’t gotten any looks for lugging that hammer around with them, so it was probably fine. He handed it off to him.

“Okay…” Magolor took a breath. Kirby held out their paw.

Why do I humor you?  Magolor found himself asking that a lot. He took it.

Just until we get there.

“Dinner, too?” Kirby hopped down the porch step.

“Heck yeah, if it’s your treat.”

Kirby didn’t have money. They said yes, anyway. They hadn’t really heard the phrase before.

-

Thankfully, the town didn’t seem too busy that day. Most of the people they saw were perfectly content to ignore them, and Magolor had to wonder why. Maybe it was him? Kirby didn’t seem bothered by it. Maybe it didn’t matter.

A group of soldiers passed by, led by Sailor. She gave Kirby a look as they walked. Magolor’s ears pinned back without him even realizing.

“Oh, there’s Bandana,” Kirby said. 

Where were they? They’d been there before. He was pretty sure. He hadn’t realized it, but he was breathing funny. That headache planted itself right back in his forehead. He hoped they weren’t near the plaza.

Kirby waved Bandana over. Bandana glanced around, tightly gripping a scroll under his nub as he approached.

“Hey, Kirby…” he definitely wasn’t looking at Kirby. “You–you came to town today?”

“Um…that’s where we are, right?” Kirby tried to smile.

Bandana’s attempt to laugh came out as a squeak.

“Of–Of course,” he nodded, inching away. “Maybe you should go home, though. I don’t know if you wanna be here today.”

Magolor placed a hand over his throat. Kirby strained their expression.

“What? We haven’t even gotten dinner yet–”

“Just what do you think you’re doing?!” Dedede’s voice bellowed and flooded the streets. Bandana winced.

“That’s why,” he said.

“Oh.”

Bandana turned on his heel, scanning the area. He peered down the street corner, and Kirby followed along.

“What’s going on?” they asked, timidly.

“I tried to warn you,” Bandana said.

Swallowing thickly, Magolor joined them–they huddled around the corner, Bandana’s little head, shaking. Magolor didn’t think he’d seen a single person heading this direction today, he realized. That gut feeling only grew.

“Clearing the space, naturally,” Meta Knight said. He hardly paid Dedede a glance. His cape fluttered strangely, like it was about to transform.

A few of Meta Knight’s subordinates gathered around the fountain–gathered around the sprout–already starting to dig it up. Dedede towered over them, but they stood firm.

“Yeah? And did I give you permission to do that?”

Meta Knight scoffed. “It wouldn’t be worth anything.”

“Magolor…” Kirby whimpered, pulling on his cape. “That’s your tree. They can’t do that!”

Bandana frowned.

“He says it’s causing an obstruction,” he said. “But it’s not in the way of anything. I mean, I-I have to agree it’s not an ideal place for it, but still…”

Magolor hated how heavy his heart was as it beat.

“Bandana,” he started–this Bandee looked up at him. “What exactly is Met–Sir Meta Knight’s job?”

Bandana thought for a moment. He opened the scroll, holding it out for them to see. It was marked by charts and notes, all neatly written in ink-pen.

“It’s a little complicated…” he sighed. “The Department of Defense has been handling all the monsters and rift stuff. S-Since Dedede went missing, I had to work under him…”

Magolor’s whiskers twitched.

“And so–so he started doing more for the town,” Bandana went on, “I mean, who else was gonna step up..? All I can really say is…he has a distinct vision. And they don’t get along.”

“I can see that,” Magolor rolled his eyes.

Bandana stared at the ground. He looked so small, Magolor thought. 

Magolor had quickly come to some conclusions about these so-called “heroes”. Two of them were close friends, two of them had a friendly rivalry, two of them were very defensive of each other, two of them were student and very, very bitter teacher…and two of them did not get along and liked to make it everybody’s problem.

Yeah…Meta Knight and Dedede seemed to bicker every second of the day, if they weren’t simmering in their anger. That went on for some time, really.

But Magolor remembered something.

It was on the Lor. Everything had been so normal before it. Everything had just started to feel normal, even. He’d thought Meta Knight was finally getting comfortable with the group.

Magolor hadn’t been there for most of the fight. It made Kirby really, really sad. Which was strange–normally, they just got frustrated. And by then, they were ready to interfere. But this one had managed to break their heart, and so Magolor sat with him in another room. He wasn’t eager to be part of the conflict, either.

The lights on the Lor dimmed for the night. It was finally quiet, but Magolor’s heart just wouldn’t stop. They went back.

“Y-You know what I think?” Magolor stopped, hearing Bandee’s fragile voice in the next room. Part of him worried they were onto him. Maybe a part of him hoped they were.

“No,” Meta Knight said, firmly. “And I don’t ca–” he sighed. “But you should say it anyway.”

“I think you’re really friends,” Bandee said. “But you just won’t admit it, ‘cause you–you’d rather–look, I know it! You’d rather have him hate you than tell him you care!”

Magolor pressed his ear against the door. He could hear Bandee crying.

“And where did you get that from?” Meta Knight asked, gruff.

“That’s how it’s always been,” Bandee cried. “And Sailor thinks so too! I bet Kirby does! A-And you should be nice to your friends, right?”

Magolor wondered just how bad things had to be for a child to have to be the one to resolve this.

He should be ashamed of himself, he decided.

Not that he was any better.

“Mahogany, what are you doing?” 

Kirby rubbed his eyes. They were swollen and red. They were tired. So was Magolor.

Magolor had decided long ago that Bandee was a coward and that acknowledging him was usually a waste of breath. But he faintly recalled feeling proud of him, in that moment.

“It’s exhausting,” Bandana said. “I-I can’t say no to either one of them.”

Magolor turned back to the scene. Meta Knight’s subordinates seemed to have stopped, but they were on guard, awaiting instructions. Dedede and Meta Knight just kept rattling off at each other. Throwing out the most insincere words, each worst than the last. It was almost amusing, like some sort of game.

“I run this town, you know! That chair in town hall? That desk with my name on it? You gonna throw those out too?”

“No,” even masked, Magolor could see Meta Knight’s smug grin as clear as day. “That chair’s quite comfortable.”

“Excuse me?!”

“Do it,” Meta Knight turned to the crew. “He’s all bark.”

“Oh, you wanna bet?”

Meta Knight’s wings sprang from his cape and he flew right up to Dedede’s face, just where he could look down at him. Dedede didn’t break, didn’t blink. He scanned his eyes through his mask.

“I’d rather not disturb the peace of our lovely community, though it seems you have no issue with it,” Meta Knight’s glare was sharp as ice. “I have no energy to spare on a leader who abandoned those who needed him most.”

“I didn’t–!”

“And even then, you may as well be useless. Honestly, I had hoped you’d at least have the good sense to give up by now. But if it’s a thorn in my side you’ll be, I think I can excuse a little force.”

“And what’s that supposed to–”

Meta Knight unsheathed Galaxia and struck.

Chapter Text

Dedede blocked the strike, only sliding backwards–it didn’t do much, but it was better than getting sliced. With that sinking in, he grinned devilishly. Meta Knight growled. Dedede raised his hammer.

“Sir–!” one of the soldiers shot up.

“Carry on,” Meta Knight didn’t dare look away. “This won’t matter in a minute.”

“Heh, I wouldn’t be so sure,” Dedede smirked. “I fought my way outta an evil empire, I think I can squash a grape.”

Meta Knight’s sabatons clacked loudly as he landed down on the stone pavement.

“Bite your tongue or I’ll do it for you,” he spat.

Dedede barked a laugh and leaned down to pick him up, nearly scruffing him. His sword fell to the ground–he hissed and kicked in retaliation.

“I’ve given you plenty of time,” Dedede snarled. Magolor felt hot and sick with dizziness. “You stop this little power trip right here and now, and–”

Meta Knight hissed like he might actually bite him. He clenched his fists, boiling energy—

“Stop!” Bandana squealed, running into the plaza. Meta Knight tensed, seeing him. He went limp. Dedede cocked his head in utter confusion.

“D-Don’t hurt him!” Bandana looked to Meta Knight. His eyes were huge–he trembled as he stomped his foot. “And–and you shouldn’t either, President!”

Magolor had been there before, he realized.

It took him back–hearing Bandana’s fragile voice. Magolor wasn’t a part of that. He tried not to be.

Kirby pulled tighter on his cape until it hurt him. The crew returned to their tasks, shovels in hand, and started digging. Magolor took a shaky breath.

He never got to tell Meta Knight how pathetic he thought he was.

And just like that, Magolor found himself in the plaza. And everything—every burning feeling—just boiled over.

“Knock it off already!” he shouted.

Dedede dropped Meta Knight, who hit the ground ungracefully. Watching Magolor, he searched around for his sword.

“Aren’t you guys supposed to be in charge here? You’re making everyone else miserable! If you’ve got a problem, I don’t know, go get a coffee! This is just ridiculous!”

Dedede furrowed his brow, bewildered.

“You again?” he asked. “Why should it even matter to you–”

“I have stuff to do! I wanna be able to go into town without having to bear witness to a couple of–of temper tantrums!”

Heat swarmed to Magolor’s face as all eyes turned towards him. He didn’t know where to look. His paws were shaking, he realized.

Meta Knight straightened himself, tightly gripping Galaxia. He glared at Magolor, the way he had a thousand times before.

“And just who do you think you are?” 

The distaste, the malice. Magolor despised it. Like he was being talked down to. Like he was being judged. Like he was caught, and he knew everything he’d done.

Magolor looked at the tree–hardly a tree, in its state. That was his. Carefully planted with his own two hands and Kirby by his side. This Meta Knight had nothing to judge him for. He had no need to get so defensive. He inhaled.

He’d grown stronger. The magic that surged through him was more than it ever had been. He could take it.

“That tree’s mine,” he said. “I was told I could put it there, and I did. Get your claws off it!”

“Then I apologize,” Meta Knight definitely didn’t sound sorry. “But the one who gave that order had no right to do so. It’s an obstruction to–”

Magolor pointed at him. “Your ego!”

Suddenly, Dedede let out a snicker. He leaned down to their level, grinning, smugly.

“Awww, you hear that?” He nudged Meta Knight. “Your poor pride. You wouldn’t fight an innocent person, would you? You like pretending to be noble far too much for that…”

Meta Knight glared at Magolor as he reached over to grab Dedede’s beak and yanked it upwards. Dedede yowled and shook his head, scrambling to clutch his aching face. Bandana ran over to him.

“You don’t live here,” Meta Knight slit his eyes. His tone was careful, precise. “Nothing you say will change my mind. I don’t–”

“Then fight me.”

“Pardon?”

Magolor’s heart thumped in his ears. He tensed, knowing this was reckless. He didn’t care.

“You can’t!” Kirby ran over to them, flailing his arms in a panic. “T-That’s Mister Meta Knight! You’d have to be super strong!”

“Give me the sword, Kirby,” Magolor said.

Kirby looked down at the sword in his paws, trembling. They frowned.

“No!” they yelled.

“Kirby, please,” Magolor tried smiling at him. Kirby’s lip quivered and they held their head low as they passed it to him.

Meta Knight’s gaze flicked back and forth between them. He was definitely thinking.

“Interesting,” he nodded. “Stop the removal.”

Kirby stood up. Meta Knight’s crew seemed a little unsure, exchanging confused mumbles, but they did as told. Kirby couldn’t hide his smile.

“We fight monsters nearly every day,” Meta Knight eyed him. “And you think you can win against me?”

Dedede was grinning, behind Meta Knight. He gave Magolor a thumbs up. Magolor cringed.

“If that’s what it takes to fix this,” Magolor scowled.

“Interesting,” he repeated. “I wonder why that would be worth it to you.”

Magolor didn’t have an answer, but he thought of Kirby and his constant scrapes and bruises. 

“Meta Knight? What are you waiting for?” Kirby asked.

“Hm…for you to change your mind, perhaps?” Meta found himself speaking quietly, but he couldn’t bear to go any louder.

“Don’t you wanna help Magpie?”

“That one’s not any better!” Magolor hissed at the nickname. But…noticing Meta Knight rubbing at his mask, he slinked back.

Kirby had been so careless until now. Seeing this…didn’t feel right. Kirby looked so intent. Maybe that was the spirit of the warrior he’d been told about.

“It–It’s a very noble thing to do,” Meta Knight settled, at last. “But that’s not really how I do things…with people.”

“But–”

“The Meta-Knights don’t count. They understand that I’m like this. I’m not bound to them as they are to me.”

“Kirby, you’re a very promising young warrior, but if you’re going to be my student I need you to cooperate with me.” Meta Knight said. He stood taller, then. “And I expected you to keep to your word about training.”

Magolor fought the urge to clear his throat. Or leave the room.

“No one’s gonna get on your case just ‘cause you’re weird,” Kirby said.

“Have you met Dedede?”

“Yeah, but it’s not like–we all know what to expect from you, so it’s fine!”

Meta’s shoulders dropped.

He could still see Dedede outside the doorway. That was the problem. ‘They all knew what to expect from him’...perhaps he’d rather not be known at all. These were the last people he’d want to be stuck with, after all. He’d be caught in a web, for however long it would take to fix this mess…that was that. Meta Knight prepared himself to warp away, but–

“Hey, are you guys coming out anytime soon? Since my breakfast dessert was so rudely interrupted, I’m starving over here!”

Dedede poked his head through the doorway, shadowed by Bandana, as always. That brought a smile to Kirby’s face.

“Yeah. We are.” Kirby looked at Meta Knight, who sank at his response.

Meta couldn’t bring himself to look back.

“...I won’t promise I’m staying,” he decided.

And Magolor just watched.

It had taken a while for Magolor to really understand the bond between Meta Knight and Kirby, but he knew it was special. They talked about each other a lot. If Magolor had to guess, they shaped each other.

And this Kirby was so alone.

“If I win–” Magolor pointed the sword at him. “You leave the tree alone, you figure out whatever your problem is–no hissy fits–and…you take Kirby under your wing.”

Meta Knight only briefly glared at Kirby. He stared down the tip of Magolor’s blade.

“It won’t happen,” he said, plainly. “So, fine. It’ll do good to remind you three why I’m in charge.”

The crew whispered among themselves. Meta Knight gestured towards them.

“Five days,” he said, turning on his heel. “Assuming you can convince that buffoon to back down when I win.”

A growl rose in Magolor’s throat as Meta Knight walked off. Bandana looked around, unable to believe his eyes.

“Bandana, let’s go,” Meta Knight called.

“Thank you,” Bandana whispered as he hurried off after him. Dedede watched, folding his arms and grumbling.

“Yeah, well, it’s not a big deal,” Magolor muttered, but his heart was still pounding.

“Not a big deal? Kid, I’m the only one ‘round here who can take him,” Dedede huffed. “What chance you got?”

“He can do magic really good,” Kirby squeaked.

“Oh?”

“Magolor, say what you did in the forest!”

“What?” Magolor squinted at them. “Like when you almost caught yourself on fire?”

“Yeah!”

Dedede gave them a lopsided smirk. He wasn’t sure exactly what their deal was, but he was figuring it out.

“Well, any enemy of Meta Knight’s a friend of mine,” he grinned. “I’ll help ya any way I can! Let’s kick him off his high horse!”

The thought made Magolor’s stomach churn.

“Just tell me where the blacksmith is,” he said. “I can handle it myself.”

Chapter Text

Magolor watched closely as the Weapons Waddle Dee chipped away at the blade. They moved with swift precision, filling the air with sparks and clangs. So that’s how it’s done. Magolor narrowed his gaze deeper with every step the waddle took.

The waddle finally took a step back and returned to their notes. They started gathering their next set of materials–polish, by the looks of it.

“Excuse me, where can I get that?” Magolor asked.

The waddle gave him a funny look.

“I gotta ship it from the northwest corner,” they said. “Why, you want some?”

“Just thinking,” Magolor shrugged, trying to sound as bored as possible. Interesting.

“Well–” they said, turning back to their workbench. “Sir Meta Knight already buys it off me, so I wouldn’t see the harm in selling more.”

“Hm. Good to know.”

A weight pressed into Magolor's side, a trembling huddle of fur. He stiffened at the touch. Kirby covered the side of their head–as close to their ears as they could get–and shook lightly. At first, Magolor shuddered. But thinking about it, it wasn’t the first time he’d seen them get like this.

“Hey, Kirby, they’re almost done now. You can stop that.”

Kirby blinked wearily up at Magolor. Slowly, they pulled their paws back. Their lip was quivering, however, and Magolor dreaded that they might cry. He rummaged his mind for a solution.

“What…” Kirby half murmured, shrinking back. “What d-does ‘taking under your wing’...mean?”

Oh, Void, this is worse, Magolor groaned internally.

“Well, ah, it’s like…” how the heck was he supposed to explain it? He hadn’t exactly been specific with Meta Knight in his demands. “Looking out for someone..?”

Kirby’s eyes pooled with wonder. Crap, that’s not enough. It’s not like he knew what it was like.

But they had gone together most everywhere they went, Meta Knight offering words of advice and Kirby responding with ways to make them more fun. Meta Knight kept a very close eye on him. He talked with them more than anyone. Kirby could even make him laugh when the mood was right.

Magolor hadn’t wanted to look too hard. He couldn’t deny, now, that it hurt.

Was that mentorship?

He knew the answer, but it was more comforting to say that it was that and nothing more.

“He should teach you how to use that sword, at least…” Magolor wound up mumbling. “And keep you from getting hurt so bad.”

“Really?”

“Well, yeah!” Magolor huffed. “Maybe I’m tired of having to do it myself! You get in so much trouble!”

Kirby looked down. He couldn’t quite see, but he thought they were frowning, maybe pouting. He turned his head away before he could decide.

If…if he could just get Meta Knight to help them, Kirby would be back on the path of becoming a hero. It would be atonement, he decided. Then, he could leave, in peace. Before this Kirby got to be a thorn in his side.

Funny how familiar of a feeling it was.

“You shouldn’t–shouldn’t do it, then,” Kirby took a shaky breath.

“Too late now,” he mewed. “It’s a pain, but if that’s what I gotta do to get these people to do their jobs…”

Magolor ignored the thoughts that bit at him.

“You’ll get hurt,” Kirby cried.

“I already said I’m doing it!” he snapped. Kirby shrank back, his face growing redder. Magolor’s head pounded. He stammered.

“I did warn you,” he muttered. That’s why this is better. 

His ear flicked.

“Thank me later.”

The weapons waddle cleared their throat, laying the sword neatly on the counter. Kirby didn’t follow him to it. Magolor winced as he handed them the payment–courtesy of Dedede, though he hated to admit it.

“D’you carry sheaths here?” he asked.

The waddle glanced at Kirby, then nodded in understanding. With a friendly smile, they dug one up and presented it.

Looks expensive, Magolor frowned. It was warm brown, in leather, but it looked the right size. Suddenly, he hated Dedede’s generosity a little less.

“Cool,” he exhaled.

They finished the exchange. The sword was almost as good as new. Magolor turned to Kirby–they would be so excited. Instead, they stood in one place, staring at the floor. Magolor’s ears flicked. He yanked on their nub and they left.

-

Magolor did apologize. Sort of. He could’ve sworn one of those times he tried to mumble it would’ve been loud enough for Kirby to hear. They didn’t say anything, though. When they got home, they ran straight to their hammer and started practicing. Magolor didn’t know what to say, so he didn’t try.

It was like that for most of the week. Kirby talked a little more, but they kept to themselves. It made Magolor a little uneasy, so he focused on distracting himself.

The house wasn’t empty of books, but sorting through them was…disorienting, to say the least. There were children’s novels that he doubted Kirby could actually read next to books on archaic magic and wars of yore. Even then, the shelf was nearly barren, like it was missing half its contents.

He didn’t think he really needed to practice his magic, after what he’d done. Thinking about it just made him uneasy. He shot a few spheres to make sure it still worked, but what was the point? He’d already killed a god. At least studying might be able to help him understand this world.

That’s what he’d hoped, but when he read the books, he found only things he already knew. The same stories, the same wars. He read them anyway, but it was harder to bury himself in something he could already recite word for word.

There was one bright side to the whole ordeal–a waddle dee brought them three meals a day, tucked neatly into baskets, always with a note from Dedede. Most of them read “keep it up!” and similar phrases. That was Magolor’s least favorite part. It almost ruined his appetite, but it was the freshest food they could get, so he made sure to enjoy it.

He was definitely grateful to not have to go into town. Who knew what kind of attention that would bring.

-

The day of the duel came all too soon. Meta Knight had sent a letter with the details. “High noon” (which made Magolor roll his eyes) “in the northeast field.” With no idea what that meant, Magolor made sure to leave extra early to figure it out.

He hoped it wasn’t across Popstar, but the thought of Meta Knight going all that way just to be stood up made him giggle. After all, if Magolor couldn’t make it in time, there would be no helping it.

Kirby made sure to bring their hammer with them. They didn’t say much; just puffed out their little cheeks and walked. 

Magolor had to take about a thousand deep breaths. Maybe he believed he could do it, but he didn’t feel like a winner.

“Hey, there you are!” Dedede greeted them at the edge of town, grinning widely. Magolor could only stare at him in utter bewilderment as to why he was wearing a baseball cap.

“To have a total stranger do all this in my honor…” Dedede batted his eyes dramatically. “I’m so flattered! And a little humbled, but I think the doc’d appreciate it if I sat this one out…”

“You don’t have to give a speech about it,” Magolor mumbled.

“Nah, that’s what coaches are for!” Dedede said, tossing Kirby a wrapped biscuit. He offered one to Magolor. “Here. Gotta keep that energy up!”

Ugh. It was even harder to accept them in person.

“I’m fine.”

“You sure? It’s important,” Dedede droned, poking it in his face.

“Guh, whatever,” Magolor snatched it from him. He thought of many insults he’d like to use, but nothing he could bring himself to say. He unwrapped the biscuit and took a bite. He frowned because it was good.

“Right, let’s get goin’,” Dedede nodded. “If we show up even a second late, he’ll be rubbing it in our faces. We’ll get you settled in, warm up…”

Magolor scowled.

“That was great,” Kirby smiled politely, wrinkling the wrapper in his paws.

“Woah, already?” Dedede took it from him. “Dang, kid, you get scarier by the day!”

Magolor glanced at Kirby. They didn’t like that.

“Hey, maybe you could give that Meta Knight a run for his money, too,” Dedede laughed. “I’d like to see that!”

He gestured for them to follow. With a sigh, Magolor handed Kirby the rest of his biscuit. He really couldn’t bring himself to eat right then.

Chapter Text

Magolor couldn’t believe it. It could be hilarious, if it wasn’t so absurd.

“We’re having our duel in a baseball field?”

“How many big open spaces do you think we have?” Dedede asked.

“I don’t know! Isn’t there somewhere you guys train, at least!?”

“That’s Meta Knight’s deal,” Dedede gestured vaguely. “Besides—this way’s more fun. Just look!”

The stands were already dotted with onlookers, filling the air with a hum of excitement. Beside them, others were preparing refreshments and snacks.

“Plus, he’ll find it super embarrassing,” he smirked.

Magolor groaned and pulled at his hood, regretting everything he ever did in life to get there. Kirby hid behind him and scanned the area cautiously, but they were finally smiling.

“Go get yourself some popcorn, Kirby,” Dedede held out a few coins for him. Their eyes lit up as they took it and headed off. Dedede stood up straight.

“Right, we’re headed to the dugout!”

-

Something about being in the shade of the dugout made the sunlight that flooded in even harder to bear. Magolor unsheathed his sword and it glinted in the light. He sat down.

“Ooh, would you look at that?” Dedede whistled. “I thought that thing looked pretty wimpy before, but…”

Magolor’s heart swelled. It was a lucky find, he thought.

“‘Course, I dunno how it’ll do against him,” Dedede leaned back, straining his expression. “But if you’ve got your magic, I’m sure it’s fine. You been brushing up on swordplay, then?”

“Yeah, enough,” Magolor lied. It would probably be concerning if he said he knew Meta Knight’s moves well enough on their own.

“Nice, nice,” Dedede hummed. “Y’know, I thought you had a death wish, but I guess all I can do now is trust you.”

Magolor flinched. This was miserable.

“And anyhow—“ he patted a large bag beside him. “I won’t let him take a victory so easily.”

Magolor looked at the bag, then to Dedede. His whiskers might’ve curled if they were able.

Dedede unzipped the bag and pulled out his hammer.

“My baby,” he said. Magolor nearly choked.

I know he’s eccentric, but come on…

Magolor sighed and slumped back in his spot. He knew this was a bad idea. He knew, and he came anyway. He was so foolish. He always hated being alone with Dedede. He should’ve at least begged Kirby to stay.

“Nervous?”

Dedede fiddled with the hammer’s handle, examining it. Magolor’s attempt to respond wound up as a growl.

“Heh. Just keep cool.”

He leaned the hammer against the cage and handed him a tin of water. It was cold in Magolor’s hands. Biting back grumbles, he drank it.

“I come prepared,” Dedede’s laugh twittered. Magolor mumbled his thanks.

Really, it felt the same. His face warmed, thinking of Dedede’s unwavering friendliness, second only to Kirby. It was a lot…scarier, coming from him. He just had such a presence. He thought he could crush him with his thumb.

Or a word.

Magolor took another sip. Cold. Nice.

“I’d uh, offer to rub your shoulders, but, ah…”

“God, no.” This was mortifying enough.

“Okay, okay. I can take a hint…”

Magolor had never told them he had any magic. It would’ve raised suspicions, after he put all that effort into coming across as helpless.

It was annoying. When they’d cheer for him after a battle—he hadn’t fought much, anyway—and after getting across rough terrain.

It was how they treated Bandee. And it was so, so annoying.

But after they got the mast—

Magolor stopped himself. He didn’t want to remember any more of it. Not the words, not the face.

“Hey, Mister Dedede?” Kirby opened the gate and stepped inside. “Where’s Bandana?”

“Oh. Huh, well,” Dedede folded his arms and tried to smile, he really did. “He’s with the enemy.”

-

Across the field, Meta Knight leered at them from behind the other cage, surrounded by his subordinates. 

One, Mace Knight, thoroughly checked his cape for signs of stain or wear. One of the dees scrubbed at his pauldrons. Sailor sat in the back, entrusted with polishing Galaxia until she shone brighter than the sun. 

Bandana didn’t fully know why he was there. He was tasked with handling the water and carrying half their equipment. But anyone could’ve done that, right?

“Sir, are you really going through with this?” he didn’t really want to ask, but he had to. “I mean, that’s a civilian. He shouldn’t be caught up in this.”

“He doesn’t officially live here, does he?” 

It was hardly a real question, his tone, laced with spite, like he despised every word he spoke. Bandana grimaced.

“I just think…I just think maybe they have a point,” his voice squeaked. “This is too far.”

Meta Knight turned to him. He narrowed his gaze, glowing eyes, piercing through his mask. Mace flinched as his cape shifted against them, threatening to sprout as wings. Bandana told himself to hold still.

“Know your place, Bandana,” Sailor said.

“I just thought…” he ducked his head.

“That’s why you’re on our side,” Meta Knight nodded. “Thank you for the concern. You’ve been a great help, regardless of where your loyalty lies.”

Bandana certainly didn’t feel complimented. He fidgeted with his namesake.

“Yes…yes sir,” he said. He thought he understood why he was there, now.

-

Dejected, Kirby sat down on the ground and ate his popcorn in silence.

“Stealin’ my own Bandana,” Dedede shook his head, glaring out the cage. “Talk about low.”

Magolor scrunched his face. He watched as a bird-like creature trudged across the field and signaled.

“Five minutes,” he announced.

Magolor‘s insides rattled. Mentally, he replayed every battle he’d seen Meta Knight do.

I can do this. I have better range. I’m versatile.

“You gonna watch from here, kid?” Dedede turned to Kirby.

“Mm…yeah.”

“You don’t want a better view of all that? You’ll get to see your friend kick some butt, you know. I’d wanna see that as good as I could.”

Magolor huffed.

“Yeah, but…” Kirby glanced at Magolor. He scooted towards him. “It’s okay.”

“Ah,” Dedede smiled. “That’s cute.”

Magolor’s ear twitched.

“Be sure to run out there and hug him after,” he chuckled. “Really rub it in his face.”

“Huh..?”

Magolor looked up, unable to focus. He didn't want to, but he couldn't help but stare at Dedede. And think. How Dedede was actually enjoying this, somehow. He looked as happy as could be, and yet...

“If he’s gonna make this into a show of power, we’re just gonna have to remind him he ain’t got none. Break out the waterworks if you want to.”

Magolor’s cheeks were really starting to hurt from frowning.

“I don’t get it…” Kirby mumbled.

“Aw, geez, kid—“ Dedede sighed, facing them. “I’m sayin’—woah, what are you doing?”

“I’m leaving,” Magolor growled. He stood up, already grabbing the gate handle.

“You still have time—don’t you want another drink, or—?”

“No!” he spat. “You always do this! I’m sick of it!”

Dedede blinked at him. He laughed.

“Listen, I get it’s a lot of pressure, but what are you—“ he raised a hand.

“Oh, get it through your thick skull!” Magolor grabbed his sword and threw off the sheath. Dedede just stared at him as it fell to the ground.

“It’s not about you!" he hissed.

He slammed the gate shut behind him, floating off into the field. His vision blurred—the light stung him. He just kept his eyes on the center. Ignored how his hands shook.

Taking a breath, he spun around slowly. The stands were much fuller, Dreamlandians beginning to shout. His ears twisted. He turned to see Meta Knight strutting across the field.

Galaxia. He spotted the golden sword. Crescent shot...dimensional strike...the shuttle loop...he could play them all in his mind.

Kirby.

They knew the crescent shot, too. He'd seen them do it together.

As the crowd gathered and hummed their excitement, he caught Meta Knight's gaze. That was it, he knew. He had to do it.

“I won’t blame you if you choose to back down,” Meta Knight called, brandishing Galaxia.

Meta Knight stood across from him. Magolor inhaled bitterly, glaring him down with equal ferocity. His heart thumped in his ears.

The bird returned to the center, standing between them.

“Just don’t kill each other,” he said with a long sigh. “Met—Sir Meta Knight, please remember whatever treatment will be on us.”

“Thank you, Vul,” Meta Knight’s eyes flickered with something. “I haven’t fought something I haven’t had to kill in a while. It’ll be fun.”

Fun. Magolor scoffed. Lucky for him, he could say the same.

“Alright, then,” Vul backed up. “After ten.”

The crowd’s chatter flooded Magolor’s ears, drowning any thoughts with adrenaline. He gripped his sword tightly. Magic pulsed through his fists.

I’ll get the jump on him.

He bit his tongue as Meta Knight sank into a defensive position, eagerly pointing his blade towards him. The countdown kept going, but they just stared. Magolor shimmied in place.

I can do it. He’d just have to block out the memories. More and more. It’ll be over.

“Seven…eight…nine…”

Vul hurried off the field.

“Ten!”

Magolor pointed a blast at Meta Knight, but the air crackled with electricity. It hit nothing. He’d already vanished.

Chapter Text

Magolor whipped around, only to be immediately met with Galaxia’s blade. It clashed against his with a loud screech.

Dimensional strike, Magolor knew. He smirked, pushing back.

Meta Knight stepped back, circling him–they exchanged shots, matching each other step by step. Magolor summoned a bomb and threw it. Meta Knight appeared behind him, from the air, this time.

“Cheap trick you got!” Magolor spat.

His vision faded to darkness. In a panic, he sent up needles. Meta Knight hissed in pain, and the light returned. Magolor took aim.

A shock jolted him. Meta Knight pressed Galaxia against Magolor’s side; he gasped for air. Deeper, farther–he pulled more needles from the ground. Meta Knight leapt out of the way.

I just have to keep my distance, Magolor decided. Keep him away from me, then shoot…

He clenched his fists, boiling energy. Meta Knight eyed him–Magolor threw himself at him, surging through him. Meta Knight stumbled, shaken, then lunged forward. Magolor conjured a barrier, shattering into Meta Knight’s face, when struck.

Meta Knight didn’t flinch. He stabbed the ground and the sky roared with thunder.

“Huh, that’s new–”

A cold chill ran through Magolor as Meta Knight pointed his blade at him, sparking with lightning. His fur stood on end. His barrier took another hit. Three left. Crap.

“Trying to play god?” Magolor forced himself to grin, firing another sphere.

Meta Knight blocked. Magolor rolled out of the way before the next strike and Meta Knight followed him. No reaction?

Meta Knight dove at him before he could get much closer. Magolor lunged, landing awkwardly as Meta Knight veered away. Magolor coughed through the haze as another lightning strike cracked near his ears. He held himself together.

Shoot.

“Magolor.”

It was the first time he said his name. They’d just left the infirmary. Magolor’s head had been spiraling with pain ever since the crash, just earlier that day. Actually, Meta Knight hadn’t said a word to him before that. During the examination, he just…stared. Leered at him.

“Do you actually…know where you come from?”

Magolor looked straight ahead. He took in the scent of the castle. It didn’t seem…terrible here. They couldn’t already be suspicious of him, could they..? He shook it off, watching another group of waddles pass by. The castle was alive with the sound of “wanya”s. It was like listening to mewling kittens.

“Ah–” he realized, at last, where his mind had drifted. This could be risky. “Of course I do! Who could forget a thing like that?”

“You never know.”

Magolor stopped. That confident demeanor vanished, if only for a moment. He’d have to remember that. He calculated.

“I haven’t really seen anyone like me, though,” he shook his voice. Looked off, looked sad. And it wasn’t a complete lie.

“I wonder if I’ll die alone.”

Magolor watched closely.

Meta Knight flinched and glanced away. Not the reaction Magolor expected. What could he possibly be thinking? Beneath his cape, his hackles began to rise. He clenched his hands tight.

“Listen, it’s not a big deal–” Magolor raised his paws defensively, ready to back away from Meta Knight. But he remained stiff.

“No, that’s…” he struggled to rise above a whisper. “You have nothing to worry about.”

Somehow, Magolor didn’t believe that. But he’d learned a lot that day.

-

“Magolor.”

This time, he trembled. The skies over Dangerous Dinner rumbled and threatened to spill over. Faintly, he recalled someone saying they should call it a day. He was pretty sure they didn’t really want to–but Meta Knight hadn’t been the same.

“You’re not from Halcandra, are you?”

Magolor froze. His head flooded–reeling, briefly, and he fought his instincts.

“Meta, what are you saying?” Kirby jumped between them. “You don’t believe him?”

Kirby! Magolor finally took a breath. The others weren’t standing with him. So–

“Of–of course I’m from Halcandra!” Magolor smiled, tilting his head. “Why would I ever lie about a thing like that? I’ve been showing you around, haven’t I?”

“You must be tired,” Bandee grabbed at his arm. “Come on, we should go.”

“No,” Meta Knight ripped his hand away, grabbing at Galaxia. He stepped back, wings alert, staring him down.

Like some kind of monster.

“You–you have dimensional magic, don’t you?” his breath hissed through his teeth. “What does that make you?”

“That was the Lor–!”

“No, I saw you!” he held out the sword. Someone told him to stop. “You–you used it to save them–”

Shoot.

“You’re not thinking straight!” he just had to laugh. Make it natural. Make him feel delusional. His heart was in his throat. “Sheesh, dude, my feelings! You’re gonna scare Kirby–”

“Don’t you see it?!” Meta Knight looked around. He was alone. Dedede furrowed his brow, glaring at him. Meta stammered, desperately clawing at the words. “I told you. Dedede, I told you, don’t..!”

“Mags is one of us now,” his voice was cold and bitter. It gave him chills. “You can’t go doin’ that, Meta. If you’ve got a problem–”

“No–no, I can feel it! Listen to me, there’s something here!”

“Well,” Dedede scoffed. “I don’t exactly know where you’re from, and I’ve known you for ages. And I’m not accusing you of anything.”

“Guys,” Bandee said.

“You’re bringing that up now?! I’ve read about this! I know you bought that—sob story, but isn’t it all so–so perfect for him?”

“Helping people is what we do!” Kirby yelled. “He’s our friend, so stop it!”

“You don’t get it, Kirby,” he snapped. “I tried to tell you. This is why we can’t rely on you for these things. You’re still just a kid–”

Kirby gasped, tears brimming in his eyes. He latched onto him, despite Meta Knight fighting back.

“It’s not an insult! That’s just the truth!”

“I don’t care! I’m not letting go until you’re sorry!”

“Cut it out!”

“Say it! You love us–and you love Magolor, too! I know you do, because–because–you’re still here!”

Magolor knew what he should do. He should keep smiling, laughing–prove to them that they were wrong. Come up with a lie to cover his tracks. Do something rash, play at their heartstrings. But all he did was stand there.

Well. He did laugh, to himself. A pathetic little sound.

Someone towered over him and his insides shriveled. Dedede placed a firm hand just away from his neck. His hammer thudded as he tapped it against the ground. Magolor could feel it, even now.

“I’m sorry, Mags,” he said. “I get it. I do. Don’t forget for a second that we love you.”

Meta Knight knocked the wind out of him. Magolor scurried back, straining his mind. It was too muddled. He swayed. He had to think of something.

“Dedede!” Meta struggled against Kirby, looking at him, as best as he could. “What do you think you’re doing?!”

Magolor’s breath shuddered, warm against his collar. Dedede gripped him, then his hammer. Magolor braced himself–empty thoughts swarmed his head, but nothing happened.

He was cold and it was windy. The brewing storm echoed in his ears, drowning out his senses. But he heard it.

“We’re not gonna fight, Meta.”

Magolor tried to crane his neck upwards, but it only hurt. He wondered what Dedede looked like, as he said it.

“Please, don’t make me.”

Slowly, Bandee came and stood by them, head held low. Kirby held loosely onto Meta Knight’s side as he stared. Through blurry eyes, Magolor remembered something flashing across Meta Knight’s face.

Recognition.

Magolor winced as another bolt struck his barrier, and he struggled to stay afloat. Two left. He cursed under his breath. He should’ve known something would be different. Meta Knight had made the air his personal plaything, and Magolor was next. Once his shield broke, it would be over.

But this was still Meta Knight, wasn’t it? He never really knew him, and it’s not like he did much to understand. This was different. He’d been looking at it wrong, he realized.

It was time for a different approach.

He’d have to be quick. With a little focus, he could see where the lightning prepared to strike. He’d just have to keep an eye out. He surged past the next one.

First, pride.

“Is that all you got?” he called, sliding across the dirt as he dodged another crescent shot. His vision rattled–he couldn’t spot him.

“I didn’t think someone like you had to rely on gimmicks like this to win!”

Meta Knight dove at him and swung. With a quick breath, Magolor surged past him. He shot a sphere.

“Tch!” Meta Knight spat.

He warped behind him and tackled Magolor to the ground. The impact nearly blacked him out, but Magolor knew what to do. Smile. Keep laughing.

“Aww, are you going easy on me?” he grinned. 

A needle jabbed straight through Meta Knight. He tumbled off him, scurrying to his feet and grabbing his side. Perfect.

“You don’t want it to end like that, do you?” he giggled. Once more, Magolor lunged forward, landing ungracefully as his vision dipped at the corners. He told himself to breathe. Focus.

“Funny, I heard you were noble!”

He threw a bomb, preemptively blocking the next crescent shot. Meta Knight staggered. Magolor smirked, with his suspicions confirmed.

“Fine,” Meta Knight wheezed. “But I warned you.”

He threw Galaxia across the field, just behind Magolor.

“Wha–”

He tore off his gloves; paws, sparking with magic. The crowd hissed with excitement as Meta Knight snapped, thunder roaring, and lightning struck through him and towards Magolor. With a yelp, Magolor dropped his sword and threw up his barrier. The moment it shattered, Meta Knight warped behind him.

One left!

Magolor whipped around to strike, to no avail. Meta Knight flickered around the arena, weaving in and out as he teleported. He’d get a small hit in, then back out. Magolor growled, reaching for his sword–it shocked his fingers.

“That’s a coward’s strategy, you know!” he shouted, turning around. “And here I thought you’d make such a good teacher for them! But I see now why nobody likes you!”

He summoned a bomb, awaiting the next sneak attack. He counted his breaths.

Meta Knight appeared behind Galaxia, charging another shot directly at him. Bracing himself, Magolor tossed the bomb aside and surged away. He needed water. His head swang with vertigo–he needed a break, he knew, but he was already pooling his magic into something else. He’d just have to suck it in.

Suddenly, Meta Knight jumped in front of him, slamming a burning paw in his face. Magolor cried, wobbling backward. His senses rang, echoing with numbness. 

Just a little more! He conjured a needle, but Meta Knight was long gone. Magolor’s vision turned to fuzz. Moment of truth. His last barrier shattered against a lightning strike. Meta Knight would have to finish him off, now.

Magolor gasped for air, squeezing his lungs for all they were worth, as arms wrapped around him from behind, stinging him and singing his fur. He wheezed a laugh at the irony–it was the closest he’d ever come to receiving a hug from him.

“Do you–” Magolor panted, clinging to what breath remained– “Do you really think–this won’t make them hate you?”

Magolor’s body dropped to the ground, clouding the air with dirt. The electricity burned against him.

“It won’t keep them safe,” he rasped. “What you’re doing. They’ll get hurt because of you.”

Do what you do best. Gamble, then fight for your life.

He struggled to lift himself up, fighting the dust caught in his throat. He just had a feeling, really.

“Do you–really want to go back to being alone–?”

The shape of Meta Knight came closer. His eyes glowed with a thousand lights. Magolor felt a hand against his skin. He shook.

“You don’t know me,” Meta Knight’s voice crackled with the thunder. “Don’t you dare pretend to.”

“No, they’d trust you, I bet,” he could move his fingers. That would be enough. “If you’d just stop being scared. You could take that step. They’d love you. Someone deserves it.”

Meta Knight grabbed him by the collar–through the haze, he could see his eyes, frantically scanning.

That’s it. I win.

“Who the hell do you think you are?”

Magolor smiled, covered in dirt and patches of burned fur. His eyes could glow, too. That look…he could see it, faintly, on Meta Knight. 

“I’m Kirby’s friend.”

Magolor fired at him. His cannon rocketed into him, painting the sky like a comet. Meta Knight jolted back. His claws scraped against the dirt as he struggled to straighten himself, but it was too late–his mask shattered. He rolled onto his stomach, digging his claws into the earth and hiding his face.

The crowd erupted, taken in by the spectacle. Magolor could hear Dedede cheering from where he stood. But it wasn’t over. Hovering unsteadily, he picked up his sword and approached the shape of Meta Knight as it writhed on the ground.

“Sir Meta Knight?!” Vul cawed, crossing the field.

Meta Knight turned his head under Magolor’s shadow. The tawny dirt painted him in a pathetic light. The sky settled back into place, brighter than before.

“Don’t,” his voice was weak against the ground. “This is my last shred of dignity.”

He huffed, in sort of a laugh.

“I get it,” he closed his eyes. “You win.”

Magolor would’ve liked to mock him. Instead, he just breathed. His heart pounded against his chest. Unsure of what else to do, he pointed his blade at his shoulder, near the base of his wings. He was sure Vul was looking at him.

“Our victor,” Vul announced.

Magolor heaved a sigh of relief and flopped on the ground beside him. It was still less than dignified, but it was better than passing out, or worse. The clouds in the sky swirled, but he decided it was okay. His magic would restore quick enough. He could forget all of this soon, he hoped. 

They would be together, after all. Everyone else.

Maybe, just this once, Magolor could be a hero.

Chapter Text

“Magolor! You did it! You did it!”

The moment the gate opened, Kirby ran to him. Magolor’s head thumped against the ground as Kirby hopped up and down, holding his paws and offering quiet cheers. Dedede hurried over with a towel and water, but all Magolor could feel was sweat.

“Hey, how you feelin’?” Dedede’s voice was like a hum as he crouched down and gave him a look-over. Magolor mumbled indecipherably as he gently helped him up and pressed the water tin into his hand.

“That was a heck of a fight! No one’s gonna forget that, I’ll say!”

“It was so cool! Really cool! But a little scary, too…”

Magolor downed the cool water and basked in the feeling. Sure, everything else hurt, but at least it was balanced. He could almost feel numb, at that rate. Once he got used to the rhythmic throbbing, he could pretend it was normal. When he opened his eyes, it burned.

The stands were still full, he noted, though people shuffled around. What they were waiting for, he had no idea. He glanced across the field–Dedede was watching Meta Knight. They all were. From there, he just looked like a heap on the ground.

“Is he gonna be okay?” Kirby asked, softly.

“He better, after all that,” Magolor muttered, rubbing his head.

Vul leaned over him, whispering about something. With Bandana leading, the rest of his crew came over, keeping brisk pace. Sailor talked to him and rubbed his back as the others circled him. One took the remnants of his mask, another shielded him in a sheet.

“What a diva,” Dedede mumbled. He sighed. “But we’re just gonna have to move on from that, huh?”

What’s that supposed to mean? Magolor took the towel and wiped his face.

“‘Yer lookin’ pretty banged up,” Dedede said.

“Would’ve never guessed,” Magolor deadpanned.

“Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him go that rough on another person, not even me…”

Magolor’s ear flicked. Donning a new mask, Meta Knight returned, though he was unsteady on his feet. The crowd broke into hushed chatter. He cleared his throat.

“Well, you got what you wanted,” he said, staring at the ground. His wings twitched.

“Heck, yeah, we did!” Dedede grinned. Magolor shot him a look. “But, err, you should be more careful. I guess…”

Magolor heaved a sigh of relief. He turned to Kirby and stood at his level, sword in hand. Kirby blinked up at him.

“Go on,” Magolor held out the sword.

“Huh?”

“It’s yours now,” he said. “Take it. I don’t need it.”

Kirby’s eyes flickered and shifted through nameless expressions, until, gently, he touched the handle.

“Yeah, you do,” he said, quietly.

Magolor shook his head, nudging it towards him, but more than that, Meta Knight.

“C’mon,” he smiled. “This is what friends do.”

Slowly, tentatively, they took the sword in their nubs. Their smile was small, at first, but it grew quickly, and he beamed, chirping happily.

“Thank you! Thank you!”

They dropped it and leapt at him, wrapping him in a hug.

“Hey, hey, stop it! That hurts!” Magolor stumbled back, wincing in pain as he tried to push Kirby off. “Ugh, you little–”

“My friend! You said I’m your friend!” they nuzzled him. “You gave me a gift and everything!”

“Well, if I’d known you were gonna be this loud about it–!”

Kirby let go and bounced against the ground.

“Sorry,” he picked up the sword and admired it. “But I’ll work real hard. I’m gonna be cool, too.”

Bandana nodded, eagerly, from behind Meta Knight.

“I’m happy for you, Kirby,” he chirped. “And the sword is lovely.”

“Hey, all’s well that ends well, right?” Dedede said, patting their head. Kirby grinned up at him.

Magolor looked at Meta Knight. He insisted on watching the ground, it seemed. And Magolor thought he couldn’t get any more pathetic, until then.

Sore loser, he thought. Too bad I can’t tease him about it…

“D-Don’t you think so, Sir?” Bandana tilted his head towards him.

Faintly, Meta Knight took a breath, steadying himself.

“Talk to him,” Magolor nudged Kirby forward. They looked confused. “He’s your teacher now.”

“Umm,” Kirby looked around for help. Dedede shrugged at him. They held the sword in their nubs and approached Meta Knight, wary of each step. Meta Knight didn’t even glance at them.

“Hi,” Kirby said.

Meta Knight shifted uncomfortably.

“Don’t ignore the kid,” Dedede pointed at him.

He exhaled, sharply.

“Hello, Kirby,” he said.

Magolor’s nonexistent shoulders slumped. His ears flattened. Someone uttered a very unimpressed “wanya”…

“You lost the duel,” Kirby said.

Meta Knight sighed loudly.

Kirby looked away. 

“...Sorry.”

“I’ll be leaving now,” he announced, half grumbling, with a curt flick of the wrist. His crew jumped, alert, pulling their things together. “Bandana, give them the thing.”

“Right,” Bandana searched around, finally returning with a card in hand. He read, “You are to record any medical expenses here and return this form to Station Halberd whenever you’re ready.” He handed it to Magolor.

Kirby stood on his tiptoes to see it. 

“Pretty card,” he said.

“Also–” Bandana reached around and handed him a pen. “As for the deal, you can stop by and discuss the details at a later date.”

“The heck does that mean?” Dedede squinted, watching as Meta Knight hobbled across the field.

“That's all he told me,” Bandana frowned. “Oh! Does this mean I can go back to work for you?”

“Yeah, I reckon,” he said. “Doesn’t look like today, though.”

Magolor was sure his ears were flicking at their conversation, or maybe not. It just hurt.

“Magolor? Are you okay?” Kirby asked.

As if his pinned ears weren’t a sign of it. Magolor wanted to scream. On one hand, at least he humiliated Meta Knight; on the other, he hardly said a word in response! He’d expected something, at least–the sign of his soft side he always showed around Kirby, and yet–he was so rude!

“He’s such a jerk!” he slammed down a fist.

“True, true,” Dedede hummed. “But forget that! You should be celebrating. Tell you what–you go get yourself patched up, and I’ll find you the finest feast there is!”

Magolor saw it happen—saw how Meta Knight slammed the gate shut. He could see it rattling from there.

Maybe he’d made a mistake.

“I told you this was a bad idea,” he looked at Kirby. “But did you listen?”

“Hey, I’m talkin’ to you,” Dedede snapped. Meta Knight glared coldly at him.

“And I’m trying to get out of here before you say something you’ll regret,” he said.

“I only said you don’t gotta be so strict with them! They’re obviously not having fun anymore, meaning you’re killing the mood.”

“Fun? You think this is meant to be fun? This—“ he gestured to Magolor. “This one here just lost his entire ship, and you think he’s meant to be having fun?”

Magolor would definitely prefer that to whatever this was, but—

“There’s a concept, y’know,” Dedede folded his arms and leaned into his face. “It’s called making the best of things. I’m sure that’s just mind blowing for you to hear, but…”

“That’s how you wind up distracted,” Meta Knight sputtered. “And we’ve certainly no need for more of that!”

“What are you trying to say, hmm?”

“That—that you clearly have no idea of what’s best, and—“

“Excuse you?”

Magolor backed up. There was no interjecting now, he realized. It irked him. Seeing them so divided…it would make it a lot harder to manipulate them.

“Well,” Bandee sighed, rubbing his nubs. “Guess this means we’re making camp. Kirby, can you—“

“I’ll go get fire!” they nodded, running off in a hurry. They vanished into the trees.

Magolor raised an eyebrow as Bandee gathered their things and surveyed the area. He lit a lantern, passing one last glance at the argument behind them. He seemed to be frowning, but Magolor had a hard time telling, when he had no mouth.

“Are they always like that?” Magolor asked. 

Bandee thought for a moment.

“No…” he looked off. “I mean, I don’t know. I don’t think they’ve really spent this much time together outside of meetings, since…”

Bandee shook his head.

“I think he has the tents,” he glanced back at them, to Meta Knight. “Um…”

“Go make yourself useful,” Magolor sighed.

“…R-Right. I’ll ask.”

Magolor never got to find out what that “since” was.

Bandee approached them with caution, occasionally turning back to Magolor, like he thought he’d leave. Their piercing voices shook the forest.

“Dreamland this, Dreamland that–well, I've got news for you, Meta, you aren’t the king! Hey, didn’t I tell you to talk to me about stuff like that? Have you been holding out on me?”

“You don’t exactly make it easy to–!”

Dedede’s jaw gaped–Meta Knight pinched his cape in his fist, half-covering his already masked face. As Dedede stammered, Bandee stepped up to his side and tugged on his robe, gently. 

“Not now, Bandana,” he grunted, pushing him away with his hand. “If you won’t even be honest with me, what gives you the right to say any of that?”

“Because he’s my–!”

Meta Knight froze. He turned away.

“I’m leaving,” he said.

“Meta, for Nova’s sake,” something about the way Dedede said it…Magolor couldn’t place it, but it was so different. That was the first time he heard it–a glimpse into something else. It made him forget how to breathe, for a moment.

Maybe because it felt wrong?

“Don’t give me that,” Meta Knight paced his words. “I warned them. I told them.”

He flicked a glance at Bandee, who watched, timidly from behind Dedede. His wings twitched.

“Don’t you dare follow me,” he said, then took off.

Magolor could only laugh to himself in hopes that’d clear the air. Behind him, a rustling of leaves signaled Kirby’s arrival. He wore a gold crown that glowed with fire, and Magolor winced as they ducked through the greenery.

“I’m back,” they chirped, smiling. “Aw, you haven’t done anything? Was I that fast?” they giggled.

Magolor should’ve thought of something to say.

“...What’s wrong?” Kirby asked.

“Yeah, whatever,” Dedede flicked his wrist, dragging himself over to them. “He’ll be back in the morning, just you wait. He’s just being stubborn. Like always.” He huffed.

Kirby looked between everyone. Magolor cleared his throat, wishing the words would come to him. Kirby frowned and shifted on their feet as it hit them.

“He left?”

With Meta Knight gone, they had no choice but to sleep under the stars that night. Kirby said they didn’t mind. But they sure were cold. And while Kirby and Bandee were happy to climb onto Dedede for warmth and shelter under his robe–which Dedede only barely complained about, somehow–Magolor just had to toss and turn…and wonder.

Sometimes nothing felt right.

But in the morning, they were greeted by a basket full of berries and little treats that Kirby and Bandee ooh and awed at. The two of them had already painted their faces in juice by the time Dedede pushed them out of the way.

“O-Oh, you’re right, Great King!” Bandee squeaked. “I’m sorry! It could’ve been dangerous, and we didn’t even stop to think–”

“What? No, kid, we’ve gotta eat too!”

“Oh…”

Dedede took the basket, half glaring at it as he passed it over to Magolor.

“Besides, it’s obvious who this came from,” he mumbled, holding a chocolate cookie between his fingers.

Magolor found that interesting.

Meta Knight was back within the hour. He didn’t apologize. He avoided the topic, entirely, and stuck close to Kirby. But when Dedede did take him aside, Magolor strained his ears to hear them, and he was pretty sure he heard a “thank you”. And then they just kept walking.

“Magolor?” Kirby called.

Magolor shook himself.

“Yeah, I’m coming.”

Chapter Text

The food was great. Well, anything would’ve tasted good after nearly getting his brain fried, but Magolor was grateful, nonetheless. And as they ate, Dedede rattled on about how happy he was that someone stood up for him, and a hundred other things he was grateful for…

Dude’s a mess, Magolor had thought. But no one else was talking, so they were at his mercy.

At times like this, he definitely sympathized with Meta Knight, just a little.

Magolor couldn’t wait to get to sleep that night, and when it happened, he felt he could sleep forever. He was wracked with a droning pain and bitterly and slowly it faded, day by day. Before he knew it, it had been over a week since the duel. Like that stinging numbness, the time he spent waiting faded quickly.

“Hey, Kirby, just where are you going?” Magolor practically had to race to pull him away from the front door. Kirby squirmed in his grip.

“Outside!” they squeaked, pushing back against him—Magolor let go. “Sitting around is boring!”

Magolor had tried to meet with Meta Knight. As it turned out, “Station Halberd” was a wing in the town hall that they’d more or less taken over. So when he’d gone—

“Come on, come on! I expect things back to normal by the weekend, y’hear?”

—He found Dedede barking orders at them as they scrambled to clean it out. And when he asked, he said he hadn’t seen him. So Bandana said he’d find him and get in touch.

“And that could be any time now,” Magolor pointed at them. “So unless you don’t want to learn and become the greatest swordsman the world has ever seen—“

“That sounds hard.”

“Then I’d recommend you keep your little pink self right here,” he finished with a “Hmph.”

Kirby pouted as he held his sword tight.

“I could practice if I could go outside,” he said. “Why can’t you help?”

“I’m neither teacher nor tutor,” Magolor held his head high.

“You could be,” Kirby mumbled. “It’d be cool.”

They opened the door, glaring at him.

“This is weird,” they said. “I’m gonna go see Gooey and if you keep being weird I’ll—I’ll leave forever!”

With a stomp of their foot, they ran away. Magolor held back a laugh. Like Kirby would ever do that.

And it was a little funny to run away from a house when you could just kick out the person you’re irritated with.

Sometimes he really did forget just how much of a kid Kirby was. He shrugged to himself, dusting himself off. Tried to stop the fresh memory from replaying in his head.

Sat down. Thought about it.

There really wasn’t a point in sitting around and worrying about it, was there? And Bandana seemed diligent enough—he really should’ve heard from him by now.

He’d never been to town alone, he realized, with a flinch.

Dammit, Kirby.

Grumbling, he dragged himself out the door.

-

“Hmm…”

Magolor rubbed his hands together in an effort to warm them. Fall was coming fast and taking over. It would be soon.

Wait, then how long have I been here..?

He stopped himself from thinking about it. Instead, he followed the stone pathway that led through the center of the town. When he passed the plaza, the tree was in its rightful place, no shovels in sight. 

Phew.

It was tiny, but much less than the last time he saw it. It was already sprouting a few branches and growing into a real tree. Honestly, considering its origin, he hadn’t thought it would.

It took him a while to find the town hall the last time they went, but he could hear the chirping wanyas and see a steady stream of people heading in and out. That was it—the beating heart of the city. 

Just beyond the plaza, through the nicest streets, between street lights and flowering bushes. It wasn’t particularly shiny, but it looked well cared for. Homey.

Armored soldiers carried boxes out the main door, one after the other. They were headed west, it seemed. He just had to stand there and gawk at it, for a minute. He counted ten, at least. But when he went inside, it was worse.

The entire building seemed to be scrambling to move stuff around. He had to float carefully to avoid bumping into people, giving him no time to navigate…

“Hey, move it, would you?” he swiveled around at the sound of a waddle squeaking. “You’re blocking the way, dimwit!”

“Dimwit?” he echoed. “Ow, my pride.”

A stack of boxes stood in front of him.

“It’s the nicest insult I have,” they said. An orange head poked out from the side— ah…that’s that Sailor Dee.

“Stop wasting space,” they huffed, picking up the boxes. They carried on, leaving Magolor to simmer in his irritation.

For a moment, anyway.

“Say, that’s not very friendly,” Magolor grinned, catching up to them. What a jerk. “Don’t you think you should be nicer to someone you’re supposed to protect?”

“I don’t owe you anything.”

Magolor squinted, debating what to say. 

“What, mad you have to move your office space?” he snickered.

“Shut up,” they muttered. Magolor was pretty sure their face was red, too.

Embarrassment, he noted. That’s a good one.

They entered a wing, surrounded by other soldiers. Department of Defense, the sign read. It looked more populated than the last time he was there, now that they’d gotten more moving done.

Magolor found it hard to believe they ever needed to ditch this place, really. There was plenty of space, and yet they’d allegedly taken over half the town hall during Meta Knight’s little ego trip. He had to figure that’s what it was—just another senseless power move.

So they must’ve been humiliated.

And he had a good feeling that’s what Sailor was burning with as their steps quickened and they grumbled under their breath. They practically slammed the door to the next room shut, but not before Magolor could slink in.

“Ah, nice windows,” he nodded, looking around. “Very well kept.”

“Uh, hey, you can’t be here,” another soldier waved as he poked his helmeted head over a cubicle wall.

“Oh, I have business,” Magolor said.

Sailor dropped their boxes on a desk with a very loud thud. They glared at him so sharp it jolted him. Not out of guilt, but rather—that was a look he knew.

“He won’t see you,” they said, with a sigh. “He’s not seeing anyone right now. Apparently.”

Magolor prepared to speak but was cut off by the door squeaking open behind them. 

“Whatever you’re doing, you should knock it off,” Bandana said. He closed the door with his foot. Sailor gawked at him.

“You heard me,” he said. “You’re being all pouty with him, aren’t you?”

Magolor blinked. That wasn’t a tone he’d ever heard Bandee use before.

“What are you even doing here,” was all Sailor muttered.

“Just the report,” Bandana handed them a scroll. “And to ask what you did with the budget file.”

“Nova, he’s making him pay, too?”

Bandana shrugged. “Guess we’ll see.”

Huh…was he always like this?

Sailor narrowed their gaze and watched as Bandana spun around to face Magolor.

“Anyway—“ he said, “Have you been waiting this whole time? I’m so sorry! There’s just been so much going on, a-and with Sir Meta Knight gone—“

Ah…yeah. That’s him. Magolor nodded, mindlessly.

“But that’s no excuse…” Bandana heaved a sigh, slumping over. “I hope you can forgive me one day, though.”

Magolor blinked.

“Sheesh, I’m not gonna eat ya,” he mumbled. Definitely Bandee.

“I do have some diagnostics to run…” he said, putting a nub to his chin. “But our guest here clearly needs assistance, so it only makes sense…”

“Well, screw you too,” Sailor rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, but I outrank you now,” he smiled. Sailor turned away from him. She returned to her boxes and fiddled with the contents, not really doing anything but looking busy. And just slightly, her shoulders slumped.

“He’s at home,” she said. “But you better not make things worse.”

“Hey, we had a deal,” Magolor snapped. “He can’t act all high and mighty and then not follow through. He’s gonna have to talk.”

Sailor pulled down another one of their boxes and opened it. They didn’t look at him again. Scowling, Magolor smoothed down his bristled fur.

“Whatever,” he mumbled.

“Um…” Bandana looked over at him, then gestured. “We should go. If you’ll follow me, Sir.”

“Yeah.”

He hoped the heat would fade from his face. Whatever got into him… embarrassment was always worth hiding. His ears twitched erratically. Maybe it was that—and just for a moment—he realized who he sounded like. Either way, he needed to stop.

“Sorry about her,” Bandana said as they left the hall. “They can be like that. I hope they didn’t offend.”

“No,” Magolor huffed. “Let’s just go.”

Chapter Text

“Hmm, I was going to check in with the president before we left, but I don’t see him,” Bandana hummed as he peered into his wide office. “Oh, well…”

“Huh, that’s really necessary?” Magolor asked.

Bandana stepped back, considering it. He flashed him a smile.

“That’s how Sir Meta Knight did things,” he said. “But I don’t think Mister Dedede will mind!”

Magolor forced a laugh, though he fought to hold back a grumble.

Bandana passed along a message to the receptionist before heading out. They walked side by side down the street, and Bandana let out a little “brrrr” at the cold. He smiled and made small talk with Magolor as they went, but he was mostly met with empty “mmmhm”s and “yeah, for sure”s…

Magolor just couldn’t shake it. This Bandana was, in many ways, just as sad as the last one. He still didn’t understand how to talk to him, so that never changed. But at the same time…maybe he was more focused? Or something…

And then there was Sailor. He’d only heard them mentioned in passing, and he hadn’t much questioned it. Heck, he had no idea they were a waddle dee until he saw them for himself. Something about the whole thing—was he missing something? Or did he just never see it?

Either way, she was annoying. To look at him so lowly…that was his least favorite kind of person.

“And…” Bandana’s voice trailed off. He looked back at him. “Magolor? Are you feeling alright?”

“Hm, I’m fine!” he perked up. “Are we almost there?”

“Little more.”

“Ah…okay,” he relaxed. They kept going.

His bandana ties bounced behind him with every step. Magolor kind of wanted to bat at them.

“But I’m worried about your injuries,” Bandana said. 

“I mean, you got them checked out, right?” he looked over his shoulder—Magolor nodded, though he was watching his bandana sway.

“That’s good, then. You look pretty good for someone who got the lights knocked into them. Heh, get it?”

Magolor bit back an insult. Bandana held his chin low.

“Sir Meta Knight would’ve liked it,” he murmured.

Magolor’s ear flicked. Why him?

Bandana stiffened—he sighed.

“Magic users are so lucky…to be strong enough to take that many hits. It’s really so cool. I’d love to learn something like that, even just a little. I bet Sailor would, too.”

He walked slower. His voice was so quiet, so soft. More…familiar.

“Bandee…”

“H-Huh?”

Bandana turned to him, his face, twisted in confusion. He strained his expression like he was trying to smile. Magolor nearly choked on his breath.

He didn’t know why he said that.

“U-Uh, that’s what Kirby calls you!” he flailed his hands. “Why do you look so confused? He says it all the time!”

Bandana stared at him.

“He does?”

“Yeah, at home! Bandee this, Bandee that! He really looks up to you!”

At least it wasn’t a total lie.

Bandana blinked. His gaze flitted over to the grass, where dandelions sprouted, long dead.

“That’s a weird name,” he said. “I’d rather just be called by my real name, you know..? Nicknames can be so annoying. It's not very professional—”

“Oh, stars, yes! Tell me about it!” Magolor gasped, flying closer. “Kirby just never stops! It’s so annoying, I mean, what’s with them? It’s not like my name’s hard to remember!”

“B-But…I’ve never heard them call you a nickname?”

Bandana’s eyes widened. He stepped back.

…Right. Magolor cleared his throat and went around him.

“Anyway…” he tucked his hood lower. “Does, err…everyone call you Bandana, then?”

“Well, that’s what you do with names,” Bandana stared harder. 

“I guess I just thought Dedede wouldn’t, at least..?”

Bandana tilted his head so far it practically touched his feet.

“Why?”

“You’re close, aren’t you?”

Bandana stood up straighter. He glanced around, then folded his nubs.

“I wouldn’t say that…” he said. “I mean…I didn’t earn my rank for nothing, I should hope. I guess—when you live together, there’s gotta be some level of closeness…”

He turned on his heel, quickly covering his face. Magolor slit his eyes. Bingo.

“He looks out for us,” Bandana said. “I do appreciate it.”

He stepped forward, slowly. Of course, Magolor had seen it time and time again–just how deeply they cared. In every hug and laugh and bit of friendly advice Dedede threw his way.

And he’d found it so weird.

“So he’s your son?” Magolor finally got around to asking, when it was just the two of them.

Dedede squawked, frozen. He fussed with his feathers, stammering.

“Well…” he gave it a thought. “Not really my son, but my kid. Y’know?”

“That makes even less sense,” Magolor groaned.

“I-I know I’m biased,” Bandana started, and Magolor could see him fidgeting. “But I really do think people like him. And for good reason. I just wish…I don’t know. Why can’t everyone just be nice..?”

“That’s an awful question,” Magolor huffed.

“Yeah, I guess it is.”

Bandana led him across the street, to a rusted gate. He ran a paw over it, turning back to him.

“Well, we’re here,” he said. “I hope he listens to you.”

Bandana opened the gate with a loud screech.

Magolor flinched–Meta Knight probably wouldn’t want to hear him out. At all. And if it was coming from him, the Meta Knight he knew would be extra sure not to listen, just to spite him. That’s what he wagered.

“I’ll make him,” he nodded.

Bandana waved goodbye. Even after Magolor turned away, Bandana kept watching. There was something…a glint in his eye. When he left, he had to pry himself away.

Magolor entered, alone. He wished the sky wasn’t darkening–the clouds didn’t help, either. They cast the ground in a dreary gray light. The neighborhood hummed with voices, almost eerily so, until he spotted waddle dees, just hanging out. 

Little ones ran through the grass, shouting and squealing with wanyas. Not only them, there were some chillies out, soaking up the cool weather. He really didn’t know what to think, especially at the thought of Meta Knight living in a lively community like this. He just hoped no one was staring at him.

He wandered, suddenly regretting letting Bandana go. He just had to insist on doing it himself, didn’t he? 

Finally, he came across a house with a yard covered in boxes and…spare parts? Upon inspection, there were several of them, all in those signature drab colors. One box read “AXES–DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH (EVEN U SAILOR!!)” in bright red marker, so he had a feeling he was in the right place. He snorted to himself.

The house itself was something, alright. Two story–though not very tall–and probably long overdue for a paint job. He hovered over the porch, where a swing dangled idly from above. It was all so…normal.

He shook it off. With a breath, he reached and knocked on the door. He held an exhale as he waited, but nothing came. No answer. He strained his ears to no avail.

“Hey! Anyone home?!” he yelled, with all the strength he could muster.

No…just the same sound of the neighborhood, buzzing with voices. Magolor shook his fist.

He placed a paw on the door handle. He had told himself he wasn’t going to leave empty handed, and he had no plans on backing down. It was just Meta Knight, after all. There wasn’t anything to be scared of, so…

Gently, he pulled. 

What was Meta Knight gonna do? Smite him? He’d already proved he could take him. And anyway–this wasn’t about him. Kirby needed someone, and Meta Knight was the only person for the job.

He poked his head inside. It was…really cozy. Kinda old, though. The couches were floral and there were picture frames scattered across the wall. Inching inside, he spotted a quaint rug beneath him. He looked around–there wasn’t much light, and he didn’t see anyone…

He stiffened at the murmur of voices. But that had to be a good sign.

If Meta Knight wasn’t talking to anyone, there was a good chance he was in his room, right? He set his sights on the staircase. He could hear it clearer, there.

He floated upstairs, passing a glance at the portraits on the wall. Magolor recognized a few of them as Meta Knight’s subordinates, and there were plenty more of waddle dees, including Sailor. They looked much happier there.

The upstairs was just as homey, he noted, by the bookshelves and trinkets that lined them. There were several doors, and of the ones cracked open, they were mostly bedrooms. Peeking inside, there were bunk beds and scattered belongings on the desk and floor. In another, pitch black curtains kept the room shrouded in darkness. There were books everywhere, strewn about in what he guessed Meta Knight would call “organized chaos”. The bed was tucked away in the darkest corner of the room, unmade, like it was an afterthought.

Typical.

But he wasn’t in there.

Magolor backed up, squinting. No, the voices were coming from another room–and light poured through the doorway, just barely open. He ducked behind the door before anyone could notice.

“I meant what I said. If I really have to explain it to you, then there’s clearly no point. You don’t get it.”

Meta Knight. His voice was tired, his tone was practiced. Magolor tried to peer inside, but all he could see was him, sitting on the desk in what appeared to be a study of sorts. He shifted relentlessly, folding his arms and twitching.

“Don’t–that’s just stubborn talk,” Magolor’s ears pricked at Dedede’s voice, all low and exasperated, like he was pleading. He heard the shuffling of footsteps, and a lengthy inhale. He had to wonder how long it took to get to this point. They obviously weren’t yelling. 

“It’s what you’ll listen to,” Meta Knight grumbled.

Nothing.

“Don’t give me that look,” he added.

“You’re the one who won’t believe I was kidnapped,” Dedede huffed. “What, you’d think I’d fake that? Don’t–just look.”

Magolor pressed his ear against the door. He was cold–that feeling returned to him, of being in the forest, that night, when he heard it…

Quieter. Meta Knight’s voice dropped, barely a whisper.

“Of course not,” he spoke.

Magolor leaned in, and the door made a shrill squeak. Crap! He heard the thrashing of wings, and as Meta Knight dove to rip the door out from behind him, he saw Dedede rush to pull down his sleeve. Magolor’s blood ran cold as Meta Knight’s eyes flashed, burning into him, perhaps harder than ever.

Meta Knight’s wings raised, fully open, and he stared at him, more bewildered than anything. He hoped.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

Right–the reason came back to him. He tensed, thinking fast.

“I was told to let myself in,” he lied, feigning a smile. “And why shouldn’t I be here, when you owe me something?”

Meta Knight stared at him, unblinking. 

“Were you eavesdropping?” he tilted his head.

“Well, wouldn’t it be wildly rude to just barge in–”

“Unbelievable,” he let go of the door and turned around. Dedede glanced between them, furrowing his brow until his eyes squinted. Magolor came in.

“You just get worse and worse,” Meta Knight’s voice wavered. “Now I’ve got you to deal with too.”

“You haven’t left here since when?” Dedede looked at him, raising an eyebrow. Meta Knight started to pace.

“I don’t see why that matters,” he said. His wings twitched behind him. “You kicked me out.”

“Of my office!”

“Uh, hey! A deal’s a deal, I’d think someone like you would get that,” Magolor waved. “Have you seriously just been sulking in here all this time?”

Meta Knight shot him a glare.

“You’re kidding, right?” Magolor gestured. “Dude, don’t you know what it’s like over there? Your crew’s, like, all over! You know Kirby hasn’t been fighting, right? There’s gotta be more monsters than ever? And you’re just sitting here?”

Meta Knight stared at him, then pulled his wing around his face, less than gracefully shifting into a cloak.

Magolor stood back. He had to laugh, really.

“Are you really that ashamed ‘cause you lost one battle?” he scoffed, loudly. “Just gonna sit here the rest of your life, then? Come on, that’s just–”

“It’s not that,” he spat.

“Listen, Magolor, it’s not your problem,” Dedede said. Meta Knight flinched. “I already talked to him about this. You’ve done enough. Really. I can deal with him just fine.”

“Well, he’s taking too long! Kirby can’t wait any longer, and–”

“Then teach him patience,” Meta Knight growled.

“You do it! That’s your job!”

“Why?” he whipped around, facing him. “I don’t have time to train anyone, especially one so inexperienced! Why don’t you just take my money, for all I care!”

“He needs you,” Magolor pushed him. “Nobody else. You. I’m not leaving until you say yes!”

“I don’t care! I’m not letting go until you’re sorry!”

He bristled at the thought. It had worked on him then, hadn’t it? 

“I mean, he’s a good kid, even if he can be a pain sometimes,” Dedede shrugged, leaning back against a bookshelf. “Can’t you just have him tag along? I doubt anything you do is that serious you can’t have a kid around—“

“Oh, yes, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled by all the many tests we run,” he shook his head, dramatically. “I’m sure children just love looking at soil samples!”

“We had a deal,” Magolor repeated.

“If we lag behind on our work, everyone will surely suffer for it,” he sputtered. “Do you want the town brought to ruin by monsters?”

“And sitting around here is so much better?” Magolor rolled his eyes.

“I’ve been researching–”

“Oh, who cares! You’ve got responsibilities, dude!”

“Listen–” Magolor jumped as Dedede placed a hand on his head. With the other, he grabbed his beak and rubbed it, thoughtfully. He heaved a sigh. “If it’s that much of a problem, why don’t we just have Magolor help out?”

“Um, what–”

“With compensation,” he added. “I mean, that’d fix everything, wouldn’t it?”

Meta Knight stopped. He tilted his head, low. His eyes glimmered as he thought.

“That’s…an idea,” he said.

“Hmph. We can swing it,” Dedede pulled back. “But you gotta come back, no buts about it.”

“Hey, don’t I get a say in this?” Magolor asked. Meta Knight flicked a glance at him.

“Sure,” Dedede said. “I could have a contract written up by tomorrow afternoon.”

Magolor blinked. He wanted to feel insulted. He was, a little bit; being talked about like an object. A gambling chip. A growl rumbled in his throat, but…Meta Knight was quiet, at last. And Dedede was smiling.

Well…he hadn’t exactly been doing much, aside from his less than exciting adventures with Gooey. He and Kirby never had enough to eat, even when someone was generous enough to help, which was often. It was ironically a little bit exhausting, spending every day that way. Kirby kept him distracted enough, he didn’t have to think about it, but…

“If…that’s what it takes,” he said.

“Well,” Meta Knight straightened himself. “I suppose it’s worth a shot.”

“But you better pay me good!” Magolor pointed at them.

Dedede clasped his hands together.

“Great!” he said. “Does this mean you’re coming back?”

Meta Knight closed his eyes and hummed. He turned back to the desk, picking up his book.

“Something like that,” he said, softly, fiddling with the pages. “What was it you said…’it’s not about us’…right?”

Dedede blinked–he rubbed his neck, ruffling his feathers as he looked to Magolor.

“Yeah…” he sighed. “Something like that.”

-

By the time Magolor made it home, the stars were in the sky. He yawned, exhausted and so hungry, and he opened the door as quietly as he could. Kirby was usually asleep by this time, he was pretty sure.

They spent some time ironing out the details, after that. Or rather, Magolor listened to them iron out the details as they talked about him and who’d “get him” when. Of course, when it got late, Meta Knight needed to see his housemates, and Dedede needed to get home to Bandana.

And Magolor was surprised to remember that there was a chance someone was waiting for him too—unless they really meant it when they said they’d leave.

Without thinking, he smiled as he reached for the front door.

The house was dark, but a single candle drew him to the couch, where it flickered, low on the stick. Kirby laid there, holding a crumpled paper in his paws, breathing softly in his sleep.

“Po-po-poyo…”

He wriggled, burying himself in the cushion. It had been so long since Magolor had heard them snore like that, he thought.

Ah…

He hadn’t heard this one do it at all, until then.

With a sigh, Magolor went to fetch a blanket. He was grateful nobody knew how much he did for them. This child who beat the snot out of him. Maybe they were both foolish, putting themselves in this position again. But in these moments…

Magolor looked at the paper and wondered what it said. Maybe they’d tried to write a letter to tell him they were running away, but never finished. It was a nice thought; he smiled.

You won’t have to worry about that, soon, he thought, and went to blow out the candle.

Chapter Text

With Meta Knight’s deal settled and preparations underway, Kirby was more than happy to return to the forest, alongside Magolor. He still carried his hammer, knowing what was out there, but when they had a moment, they thrust it forward and struck like it was a sword. They wouldn’t say much whenever Magolor mentioned Meta Knight, but they seemed more chipper, having abandoned their plan to leave forever.

That’s what Magolor thought, but it confused him–they held that crumpled paper so often, giggling to themselves. Whatever the deal was, he refused to show him. Of course, not knowing just made Magolor antsier…he found himself rumbling, just thinking about it.

But the time passed in a flash. Magolor paid a visit to Dedede’s tailor and finally traded his gritty gray cloak for a fresh white one, lined in Dreamlandian blue. Standing in front of the mirror, he fussed with the collar, swaying and posing to watch his cape flutter in its reflection.

He looked different, didn’t he? Like a real part of the team. Maybe a little out of place, among so many waddle dees and other creatures that walked, but at least he didn’t look so scruffy. He even brushed his fur, to make sure.

“Well, Kirby, how do I look?” he spun around, posing. “Spiffy, right?”

“Hm,” Kirby stared at him. He slung his hammer over his shoulder. “Spiffy,” he echoed, like the word was new to him. Magolor let out a rehearsed cackle as he reached for the door handle, then stopped.

“Hey, what’s with the hammer?”

“We’re leaving?” Kirby tilted their head.

“Huh? Meta Knight’s gonna come get you,” Magolor squinted at him. “I’ve gotta go to town hall. For work.”

Kirby looked at him. A breath escaped him. Magolor had explained this to him so thoroughly, he was certain, and yet…

“Oh,” Kirby puffed their cheeks and exhaled. They waddled over to the corner of the room and propped the hammer up against the wall. “I forgot,” they said.

Magolor groaned. “Just go get your sword and come outside.”

Kirby twiddled their nubs, avoiding his gaze.

“You’re gonna come back, though, right?” they asked, watching the floor.

“Um, tonight, yeah,” Magolor said.

Kirby lightened up at that. They scurried off to collect their sword. Shaking his head, Magolor opened the door.

By the time Kirby made it to the porch, Magolor was gone. They looked around, scanning for any sign of cat ears, but he was already so far down the road. They frowned as they sat down, sword in hand.

This sucked.

That’s what it was, right? Magolor didn’t even say goodbye to him. He pursed his lips, running a paw over the blade’s fresh shine. His face was hot, he realized. He didn’t even know what he was supposed to do. Either way, his body didn’t want to move. He just breathed, deeply.

Adeleine wouldn’t have done this.

He whimpered, quietly. Maybe they’re not the same. Hmph. That’s ten points off the cool board. He’ll be so mad. Whatever this meant, even Kirby wasn’t quite sure. But it made him feel better.

He flexed and stretched his paws. It was always so quiet when Magolor was gone. Kirby could be good at thinking, sure, but…

He heard the flapping of wings, overhead, and craned his head up to watch as Meta Knight zipped towards the ground, then caught himself with a few flutters and landed softly. He looked at the ground, then to Kirby–more like, to Kirby’s side. Kirby blinked at him.

“Good…good afternoon,” Meta Knight said. Kirby thought he sounded weird.

“Hi,” he said.

Meta Knight’s gaze flitted over to the sword they held. He sighed.

“I don’t have all day,” he grabbed at his cape. “Let’s get moving.”

-

Magolor put on a confident face before heading into town hall. He slapped himself and flew briskly through the entryway, until he realized he had no idea where he was supposed to go. He sank at that and, head held low, he dragged himself over to the receptionist to ask, when–

“Ah, there you are! C’mon over, Magolor!” Dedede waved him over to the hall, shadowed by Bandana. “We’ve got a full day today!”

Right, he followed. Dedede seemed insistent on getting Magolor to work directly under him, and it sort of made him cringe to wonder if he was meant to be a second Bandana. Even then, does he have to make it such a big deal..?

Dedede whistled. “Uniform really suits you, huh? ‘Yer like a whole new you.”

“Please just shut up,” he muttered, covering his face with a paw.

“You’d better get used to it,” Bandana giggled, behind his scroll. “Come on, I’ll show you how to record this.”

Dedede spouted something or other about how excited he was to have Magolor around, then scolded him for his “grumpiness”, and there were probably at least five other points he made that Magolor didn’t catch…instead, he watched, mindlessly, as Bandana nodded along. 

They entered a wide room, filled with rows and rows of cabinets and speckled with drawing boards. It was enough to make any information nerd swoon. Magolor had to catch himself.

“This is the Archive of the Stars,” Bandana said. 

“Or the Starchive, for short,” Dedede chuckled.

“According to you,” he added, shifting the scroll under his arm. He glanced back at them, then headed for one of the desk boards. Looking around, Magolor realized a lot of the other workers were doing the same.

Bandana opened the scroll and smoothed it out. It was filled with notes–a series of numbers, a chart, a crude sketch of a monster.

“This was a portal that opened over to the southwest, just outside of town,” Bandana said, pointing to the coordinates on the parchment. “I’m gonna check it to make sure we have all the information we need. See, they ran these tests–”

He pointed to a list, which held its own statistics. Magolor’s ears perked.

“Which isn’t important right now,” Dedede exhaled.

“Right,” Bandana stopped. “Anyway, this one’s pretty normal. So let’s just tuck it away in the right file, and there you go.”

He picked it up and approached a cabinet, scanning the numbers on the side. Eventually, he found the right one and stuck it between a couple other papers. Magolor leaned in to read the labels.

“Holy crap, this is just from one day?”

“Yeah,” Bandana sighed. He looked around, as more people entered the room, diligently carrying scrolls of their own. “They’ve been increasing, too. It’s weird.”

Dedede tapped his foot impatiently, arms folded.

“Anyway, you’ll be able to do this in your sleep, before long,” Bandana said. “They drop them off after every patrol, so whenever you have time, it’s good to…ah…Mister Dedede, didn’t you say you wanted him on the field, too?”

“Yup,” he nodded. “I think that concludes this training! It’s time to get out there and do some real work!”

Dedede rolled up his sleeves. Magolor jolted upright–surely, he didn’t mean going out and fighting all those things–?

“Let’s go get lunch!”

-

“What,” was all Magolor could really say.

Dedede slid into the booth, taking up most of its width. Bandana sat on the other side, then turned to Magolor and waited.

“Is this really…” Magolor didn’t even know what words to choose.

“On the house,” Dedede said. “Of course. ‘Yer on the clock, after all.”

Could’ve fooled me, Magolor thought. He glanced around, heat burning in his cheeks as a few of the patrons turned their eyes to them. Cringing, he sat down.

It was a nice place, he supposed, with toffee colored tiles and a fan that kept the air cool and the chatter of the guests quiet. To his relief, there weren’t too many.

Wordlessly, a waiter dee passed them a set of menus. Dedede didn’t even look—just waited for Magolor to.

Magolor didn’t mind the excuse to break eye contact, so he hid behind the menu and pretended to read it. Bandana mumbled something about his own.

“Ahh, good choice,” Dedede hummed. “He makes ‘em great. You should do it.”

“Hmm…yeah,” Bandana said.

Magolor looked up—an uneasy feeling pricked at him. They seemed much more focused on this. He lowered his menu.

“Don’t we, y’know, have work to do?” Magolor stared at them.

“Hm, today’s for administrative stuff,” Dedede said. “Or it would be. We’re showin’ you the ropes!”

“And that means..?”

“Introducing you to one of the best restaurants in town,” he nodded, decisively. “Obviously, if you’re gonna work here, you gotta know this stuff!”

“Really,” Magolor deadpanned.

“Yeah! What kinda food do you like?”

Magolor squinted at him.

“I’m gonna try the steak burger,” Bandana squeaked. “It’ll make me feel good and strong, right?”

“Yeah, that’s the power of good meat for ya,” Dedede grinned, leaning over the table. “And no one does it like this here Kawasaki! He’s our pride and joy!”

“He’s not a child, Sir,” Bandana giggled.

Speaking of—

“Hey, is that who I think it is?” A voice called across the restaurant, and an orange fellow waved at them from the counter. “Good to see ya, Mister Dedede!”

“Ah, hey there, Kawasaki! Have you met Magolor, here?”

“Ooooh,” he leaned against the countertop, eyes wide with awe. “You’re the one who fought Meta Knight, aren’t you? I didn’t get to see it all, but what a sight…pretty nice knowing we have people like that looking out for us!” He laughed.

“Yeah, and Magolor here’s comin’ to work for me,” Dedede said with a grin. Magolor shrunk back. “So anythin’ you need, you just say the word!”

Kawasaki nodded, dutifully.

“Oh, well, then—“ he shimmied out from behind the counter, but not before ducking to grab a bag from beneath it. “You’re in touch with Kirby, right? You were together at the end of the duel, and…”

Magolor pulled his collar up past his cheeks.

“Anyway,” he placed the bag on the table, wrapped neatly in a twist tie. “I haven’t seen them lately?”

“It’s a bit of a busy time,” Bandana said, offering a polite smile.

“Ah, I see…well, that’s for my favorite little taste tester. But since you’re here, you should try some, too, Bandana!”

“M-Me?” Bandana blinked rapidly.

“Hey, hey, I’m the president,” Dedede said. “I’m supposed to be the one helping out around here, right?”

“I can’t help that your tastes are so refined,” Kawasaki shrugged, then folded his arms thoughtfully. “I need a kid’s expertise, you know? But that’s very nice of you to say. If you’re still feeling handy, the shop next door lost their sign in the last storm, and—“

“Okay, okay, I’ll look into it,” Dedede groaned. “You guys should really back me up, though.”

“I never agreed to being your yesman,” Magolor huffed.

“Would you, if the price was right?”

Magolor’s ears pricked as he turned to stare at him. Dedede grinned and waved his hand playfully.

“I’m just kidding, obviously,” he chuckled. “But your face! You should’ve seen it, Bandana.”

Bandana held the bag in his paws, fiddling with the twist tie.

“I’m sure it was great,” he said, unfocused.

Magolor’s ear flicked as he turned to the window, holding his chin in his hand. He could say something snappy. Complain about how much he was already dreading working with Dedede.

His view was obscured by Bandana’s bandana, but the stones of the street glimmered in the sunlight. He wondered what it was like outside. Or in the forest. He closed his eyes.

“I’d do it if you paid me right,” Kawasaki grinned.

“Yeah, no, you’d ask too much.”

“That’s the price of a lie,” he took his menu. “Since I’m here, are you ready to order?”

Magolor hadn’t even begun to make his decision.

Chapter Text

Kirby followed Meta Knight closely, saying nothing as they met up with the other members of his team. Meta found it strange that the child he’d so often observed to be talkative was just…not even looking at him. He’d taken him to the back of town hall and they’d shown no reaction.

Not many people outside of the staff were allowed back there, he was sure to point out, and yet…no interest.

Maybe it was normal, maybe it wasn’t. Not like he could tell.

It was just going to be a very long day.

They gathered outside the main office; Meta Knight and his closest subordinates. Axe Knight and Mace giggled between themselves, seeing Meta Knight with a kid so small. Sword seemed to be trying to ignore it, but his fidgeting made it pretty obvious to Meta. This would affect everyone. He hated that.

Meta Knight cleared his throat.

“Your attention,” he said. Axe and Mace hushed their laughter, and the others turned to him.

“We’ve received word of some monster sightings towards the grasslands,” he gestured to Sailor, who, with a nod, passed him a list. “They should be close together. Considering how strange this is, I must ask for your full focus. Keep your guard up. We leave in ten.”

“Close together..?” Trident echoed, bewildered. 

“Um, Sir Meta,” Axe waved. “You sure it’s a good idea to bring the kid along..? This is sounding pretty dangerous.”

Meta Knight glanced over at them. They stood still, holding their sword like it was the only thing in the world.

“They’re my responsibility,” he said. “I know it’s unfortunate. Please excuse the inconvenience.”

"Whatever, man…”

As the others scattered to prepare themselves, Kirby just kept staring at the floor. Meta Knight winced–he should probably do something, he realized. He turned to Sailor, but they’d already left. With a sigh, he approached him.

“Kirby.”

They looked up at him.

“Did you hear what I said?” his voice was strained, like he needed to cough. Ugh.

“Um, yeah,” they returned to their sword, stroking the finish. “Grass monsters.”

Good enough, Meta supposed.

“Well…” how were you supposed to talk to kids, again? For some reason, even his interactions with Sailor slipped his mind. “Would–would you like some water? Or something to eat? It’ll be a long walk, and there won’t be time later.”

“Hmm…”

Meta shuddered.

"Okay,” they said. What a confusing answer… but Kirby didn’t say anything else, so he backed away and headed for the water cooler. In times like this, he was glad this was the life he’d chosen. He didn’t know how parents survived.

-

Kirby ate a very stale muffin as they left town. Axe and Blade Knight tried to talk to them, making jokes and asking friendly questions, but Kirby’s responses were either kept short or…confusing.

Meta Knight understood few things about Kirby, but their strangeness was known to everyone. He had a feeling–dreaded that things would go this way. They’d interacted before, sure, but to have to talk to them…

“Let’s set up,” he stopped, once they’d arrived at the edge of the fields. Sailor got to work arranging their equipment and unpacking the machines they used for testing. A few of the others started to warm up. Kirby watched it all with big eyes.

“Scouting ahead,” Javelin announced, flying off.

“Right, then,” Meta Knight turned. “Kirby, show me what you’ve got.”

They stared at him.

Nova.

“Your sword,” he pointed. “Come on. I won’t hurt you.”

Kirby wiped their face. They tightened their grip on the sword, tilting it up at him. Meta Knight’s eyes glowed brighter.

“I’ve never used it before,” Kirby said.

“What…but–those monsters–?”

“I have a hammer at home,” he said. “I fought the other you with it.”

“Yes, and then I gave you my sword to use–?”

“Didn’t do it.”

“Huh.”

"I didn’t know,” Kirby blinked. “I always lose when we fight. I can’t use a sword.”

Meta Knight was at a loss for words. He grabbed at his mask, cursing himself and his overconfidence. This was getting ridiculous.

“But I wanna learn,” Kirby mumbled.

“Okay,” Meta Knight sighed, placing a hand on Galaxia’s hilt. “You’ll just have to stay back. Javelin will hold up the rear, so just stay with them. And if anything happens, you fall back immediately. Understood?”

Kirby shot up. “Aren’t you gonna teach me sword stuff?”

“I…” he stammered, then looked away. “I have work to do.”

“But Magolor said you would!”

“When we have time,” he snapped. “You can still learn something, I’m sure.”

Javelin returned, monitor, flashing. Meta Knight turned his cape.

“I’ll see to this,” he said. “Don’t go anywhere.”

Kirby’s cheeks puffed and he threw down his sword. They could’ve been having fun, right then. Or at least be spending time with Gooey. If Magolor hadn’t left, he…Kirby stopped himself, then rubbed his eyes. His face was warm. His paws hurt.

“Welcome to the club, kid,” Sailor huffed, fiddling with the knobs on the machines.

Meta Knight gave the order to move out. Javelin joined Kirby’s side, saying nothing, but beeping quietly. Kirby told himself he wouldn’t cry, but he wished he was with Magolor.

-

“That oughta do it!”

Dedede clapped, and Magolor finally let go and toppled to the ground. With a shrill squeak, Bandana rushed over to give him some water. Magolor’s breaths heaved, a little wheezy. He took it from him.

This is evil! Magolor gasped for air. He would’ve gladly taken fighting monsters (it was easy, after all) over any of this, and it stung at him. He laid on the pavement and questioned his life choices. Really, how did he always wind up in these situations..?

Powerless scum, he cursed himself.

“Sorry to make you do all that, but wow, your strength’s really nothing to sneeze at,” Dedede said. He looked fondly up at their–well, Magolor’s work. 

After lunch, they’d taken Kawasaki’s suggestion to help the neighboring shop hang a new sign. Unfortunately for Magolor, it was huge.

“I know, I know,” Dedede sighed. “We were supposed to be having fun. I’d have done it a lot faster, not to brag—but the doc said I gotta lay off my back, y’know…”

That really wasn’t the problem, at least to Magolor. He sat up. Maybe he could get a few hits on him before they got too mad at him…it would be refreshing. He whimpered to himself and considered leaving.

“Thank you so much,” a noddy, the owner of the shop, returned outside. She smiled warmly. “We could’ve never done that ourselves. How much do I owe you?”

“Nah, that’s more reason not to worry about it,” Dedede grinned at her. In spite of doing none of the work, Magolor thought, bitterly.

“Ah, you’re so sweet,” she blushed, eyes sparkling. She turned towards the door, two little noddies, waiting inside. “But I can’t just let you do this, really. Let’s get them something nice, okay?”

One of them jumped up, nodding, and ran off inside. Dedede tried to talk her out of it, but as Magolor sat, aching on the ground, he really hoped he didn’t succeed. Might as well get something out of it.

His head hurt. Bandana watched him closely, then sat down beside him.

Please don’t say anything nice, Magolor winced.

“Lady, please, that’s enough–”

“I’m not giving in,” she said with a “hmph”. The little one returned, carrying a bag in their mouth. They dropped it and nudged it forward. She looked inside.

“These are lavender scented,” she explained, and Dedede picked it up. They’d packed a few candles inside the bag. “They’ll help you relax and sleep. Of course, if that’s not to your liking–”

“It’s lovely, really,” he sighed. “I still don’t think it’s right, but…thank you.”

“We could all use a little relaxation,” she hummed, sweetly. Magolor could see Dedede shifting, a little flustered. He scoffed.

“We really are so glad you’re back,” she said. “I mean, it’s great how much you guys care about keeping us safe, but…” she glanced at Magolor, then to Bandana. “Thank you. For everything else.”

She went inside, and the door chimed overhead as she closed it. Magolor pulled his hood lower. His face was still overheated.

“And that’s why Meta Knight isn’t president,” Dedede smirked, almost to himself. He leaned over and offered his hand to Magolor. Magolor rolled his eyes, but Bandana got up and fist bumped him.

“Come on, let’s get back to it!” Dedede stood up. “There’s a parlor nearby with a great billiards setup! Or are you more of a chess guy?”

“We could play ping pong!” Bandana lit up.

“Oh, good one! Though, the table’s not really my size, so it might not be fair…”

“I hope you’re not too tired, Magolor,” Bandana turned back to him.

This is ridiculous.

Magolor grumbled under his breath as he rose into the air.

“Whatever,” he said.

-

Meta Knight hardly spared Kirby even so much as a glance. Kirby followed behind the others and watched as they fought monster after monster. 

At first, Kirby stood on guard, ready to swing his sword. But he soon realized nothing mattered. There wasn’t much to do in the back, and Javelin had everything covered a little too well. Even watching was getting boring. He didn’t want to get too close and get struck by a wayward lightning blast.

Whenever he went with Magolor, Kirby was the leader. The two of them didn’t talk much either, and yet it was so different. Magolor did his own thing. And Kirby knew if he talked to him, he’d talk back. It was so much fun.

He knew Magolor wanted him to do this, so they couldn’t leave, but…they were pretty sure they didn’t like it.

"There’s another, up ahead!” Trident Knight called. Kirby watched as everyone leapt into position again. “A gigant edge!”

“Right! Stay alert,” Meta Knight said. Briefly, Kirby caught his gaze, across the field. They saw Axe elbow him.

Kirby’s paws ached with feeling. They turned away, even as Meta Knight flew towards them. Kirby ducked into the field grass, and it brushed roughly against his side. He frowned, and to his surprise, it turned into whimpering.

“What are you doing–” Meta Knight tried to ask, but Kirby wouldn’t look at him.

“Kirby.”

They didn’t know why they stopped moving, but they did. Tightened all their muscles and felt small.

“Look at me,” Meta Knight said, coldly. Kirby inched himself further off the path. Meta Knight suppressed a groan, twitching as he put a hand to his mask.

“I was going to show you something,” he said, then muttered something under his breath. “If you’d rather go back with Sailor, you’re welcome to. They have snacks.” 

Nothing? “Kirby, I’m talking to you.”

Kirby didn’t like his voice. It was like he was spitting every word, and to be fair, he was.

Most people ignored Kirby, Kirby was well aware. That was how it was for a long time. He wasn’t used to being laughed at, or with, and they found that whatever they said usually made people unhappy. Kirby knew all of these things.

There was one person, though. He’d noticed him, and he’d talked to him. And Meta Knight, he’d…well, he’d won every duel against Kirby, and he always…talked like that.

Kirby turned, slowly, on his feet. He didn’t know why his eyes were so warm. Or his face. But he held the sword, in his hands, closer and closer. Meta Knight just looked at him. Kirby didn’t know why.

“You’re weird,” they squeaked, like a soft cry.

Meta Knight knew that. He sighed, wishing the words would find themselves–he started to speak, but his mouth went dry, and–

“It’s here!”

He whipped around, at Trident’s call. The gigant edge’s footsteps thudded, shaking the grass. Kirby shrank back and covered their head.

“Sir Meta Knight, watch out!”

With a frustrated grunt, Meta Knight dove to grab Kirby, before warping away.

-

Magolor discovered he was really, really bad at billiards. Bandana tried offering advice, but eventually, Magolor wound up passing his stick off to him.

Dedede, on the other hand, was a beast. He moved precisely, and though Magolor was half convinced he didn’t know the meaning of “restraint”, he had near perfect execution.

“Hey, that was a good one, Bandana,” Dedede said. He shuffled around to make his next move, then leaned over the table. “You’re almost giving me a challenge, now.”

“You’re not serious,” Bandana’s face warmed. “I mean, who else can match up to you…”

“Well, Meta Knight,” Dedede said. He shrugged. “Though, he said he taught Sailor pretty good, too. Dunno if that’s true or not.”

Magolor’s ears pricked. He’d resigned himself to the corner of the room, but this seemed worth his attention. 

“You…actually played together?” Bandana looked at him.

Magolor heard the balls clack together. Thudding.

"Hm, just once,” Dedede said. “Only ‘cause I challenged him. He can’t resist that.” he chuckled. “I mean, who could?”

“I could, clearly,” Magolor rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, that’s fine for you to say. You already kicked his…” he glanced at Bandana. “Butt.”

“But what?” Bandana asked.

“Nothin’,” Dedede smiled at him. 

Nice save. Magolor stifled a laugh, which just turned into a snort. He jumped to cover his face with his paws, but Dedede was already giving him a lopsided grin.

“There you go,” he said, before turning back to the game.

Magolor hissed under his breath. He wished he could hide his blush better. Growling, he pulled himself off his seat and joined Bandana’s side. He watched the balls shoot across the table. Mesmerizing.

“Hey, so…” he tried to speak, but the weight of Dedede’s gaze on him made him jerk backwards. “Err, if—if you’re gonna insist on being out here and talking…”

Dang it, sound cooler, Magolor!

Dedede raised an eyebrow.

“So, like, how well do you know him?” Magolor managed, at last. Dedede blinked at him.

“Meta Knight,” he confirmed.

“Right, you heard us, didn’t you..?” Dedede mused, not even looking as he lined up his next shot. “Hmm…I’d say pretty good.”

Clack, clack.

Magolor never asked the other Dedede, did he? He hadn’t wanted to risk opening a can of worms. It would’ve gone against his plan.

But what was the harm, here? He must’ve understood Meta Knight enough, to be able to provoke him in their duel, but…his mind kept drifting to Kirby.

“He’s lived here longer than me, right?” Bandana squeaked.

“Yeah, sorta. He didn’t really stick around until then.”

“Until what?” Magolor asked.

“Oh, a buncha stuff…” Dedede frowned. “I bet he thinks he’s so much better than me now, just ‘cause I made that mess one time.” He chuckled. “It’s funny. Kirby was the one who beat me up over it.”

Magolor’s ear flicked.

“Kirby?”

“Yeah, isn’t that somethin’? Little guy really is strong,” he shrugged. “But I got stronger. They haven’t.”

If that was what happened in his timeline, Magolor wasn’t aware of it. Either way…

Dedede glanced over at him.

“Say, you asked Meta Knight to teach Kirby, right? What was that about? I mean, he’s not exactly role model material.”

“Compared to you?” Bandana giggled.

“Yeah, compared to me! Sheesh, you want me to stop going easy on you?”

“I don’t mind…”

“Hmph. Boring reaction. Anyway—“ he turned back to Magolor, who was fully focused on watching the table. He blinked slowly, in an expression Dedede could only guess was thoughtful.

“Kirby deserves it,” he said, carefully. He traced the edge of the table with his finger. “Someone should look out for them.”

“Huh? But we do that,” Dedede looked around. “I mean, who do you think gave him his hammer?”

“That was a prototype, wasn’t it?” Bandana asked.

“Yeah, but—still…”

So you gave him borderline trash, Magolor wanted to say.

“I guess…for a kid, that’s probably not enough,” Dedede went on. “It’d be better if Adeleine was here more often.”

“I know I’d be sad, living alone like that,” Bandana murmured.

Dedede stood up. He set his pole aside.

“Yeah…” he said. “I guess I never really thought about it.”

“There you have it,” Magolor said. “Honestly, I don’t get it. They’re a good kid, and they do so much for you guys.”

Dedede rubbed his arm.

“I just think…” Magolor squinted. He tilted his head. “They belong together.”

Bandana hummed, considering it. Dedede’s face twisted in a smile, like he might laugh.

“Why, just ‘cause they look alike?”

“No…”

Kirby had dragged Magolor along, keeping him so close, but Meta Knight was always right there, beside him. In a different way, somehow, he watched over them. When they were in a battle, he never warned anyone else but Kirby. Maybe Meta Knight was being pulled along, the same way, but it was different.

And Magolor knew it so, so well. More than anything else.

“Maybe…” he closed his eyes and shrugged. “I dunno. Maybe it is that. Maybe they’re alike, and so…they can complete each other.”

“I see…” Dedede hummed.

“It’s none of my business, though,” it absolutely was. “But someone like Kirby…shouldn’t be alone.”

“Nobody should,” Bandana added.

Magolor had nothing to say to that.

Chapter Text

The stars burned through Kirby’s mind, all of space whirring within him, for one brilliant moment. When they emerged, he tumbled to the ground, and Meta Knight watched, eyes wide.

“I’m sorry–!” he gasped, jumping backwards as the gigant edge plowed towards them. Grass scattered everywhere. Within it, he lost sight of them.

“Sir Meta Knight!”

“Get it!”

The others’ shouts swirled together and they charged. Meta Knight watched, from the ground, as they dogpiled it, forgoing strategy.

“Careful! It’s gonna strike!”

“Everyone, back off!”

Meta Knight closed his eyes and got to his feet. Something in him twinged, almost like—guilt? His crew had this covered, and yet, Kirby…

Well, he certainly couldn’t use his lightning until he was sure they were at a safe distance.

“HAAAAAAAAA!”

Meta Knight jerked up–Kirby leapt at the monster, bashing their sword against it, again and again, scraping the metal with a piercing screech. A few of the others shrieked and demanded they get off.

Then, it jumped. Kirby shut their eyes tight, as they flew through the air. Their face was so red, Meta realized.

Without much thought, he spread his wings and shot himself towards them. They took a puff of air, before he grabbed them. Kirby squealed in protest. The gigant edge landed, ramming its sword into the ground, with a powerful shockwave.

Meta bit back a curse. He dropped to the ground, and Kirby jumped away.

He shot a look back at the fight, then to Kirby.

“Don’t do that!” he spat. His wings flared out, casting Kirby in a shadow. They squeaked, clutching their sword. Their eyes shone, like…

“I wanna fight!” they cried.

“Then wait– ”

Another shockwave blew through the grass, and he fought to keep himself steady. Kirby winced as the air struck him, chilling his bones.

Their eyes squinted, filled with tears. Their lip quivered in a strange frown, and they couldn’t bear to look anywhere but down. Their paws shook against their sword. And Meta Knight could only watch.

That…was how he usually thought.

“Kirby–”

They whimpered. A shrill sound.

Meta’s wings twitched, he knew, and yet he tried to fold them down. He dropped his shoulders, then sheathed Galaxia.

He’d fought Kirby before. Kirby had battled against several mighty foes, with that little hammer of theirs. They were so weak, and yet so strong. Meta Knight never bothered to try to understand, before. They were a child, after all. An astral, like himself. That, alone, should’ve been enough to draw them close.

He’d never had the time, though. He wanted to make those excuses forever, but that strange Magolor…

He couldn’t ignore it, now. They were a child.  

Kirby stood there, shrinking into his little feet, rubbing away tears. He squeaked, barely suppressing a cry.

They didn’t look at him. They didn’t say anything. They’d never had a reason to, before.

Meta had to, though.

“C-Come on,” he mustered. Kirby stepped away from him as he approached. He shook his head.

“Forget about the fight,” he said. “...Please. Let’s get you out of here.”

Kirby sniffled as Meta Knight nudged him away. Gently, he guided them deeper into the field, and despite their mewling, they shuffled along. Meta Knight softened, grateful for the cooperation.

The sound of the battle faded away, until it was nothing but an odd clang here and there.

Once they stopped, Kirby just cried. There was no hiding the tears on their face, anymore, and they gasped for air, desperately trying and failing to hold back sobs. Meta couldn’t bring himself to look, so he pulled at his gloves.

“I’m–I’m sorry,” Kirby’s voice shook and trembled as he cried. “I wan–I wanna fight!”

Meta Knight shook his head. “You’re not fighting today.”

Kirby’s eyes widened as he looked at him. They stepped closer, and Meta had to stop himself from flinching. 

“B-But–I gotta ,” they wailed. “You’re–”

“I’m not leaving.”

Meta pinched his eyes shut. He was breathless, and yet he had no reason to be.

Kirby sat down.

“B-But…” they stammered, through sniffles.

“It’s alright,” why was this so hard? “Just breathe.”

He took a breath, as though to demonstrate. Really, it was for himself. Kirby looked at him, and with a final whimper, they followed suit.

“There,” he nodded. “That’s good.”

Kirby’s paws burned with energy, and they pulled their sword closer. Meta looked around, but there was no avoiding it. With a sigh, he leaned in.

“You have my full attention,” he said. “Whatever you want to do, do it.”

Kirby blinked back tears. They always did such a good job hiding it. People hated when they cried. They got all quiet and weird. So, why..?

Understanding. Magolor told him that. Was that what he was missing? It had worked so well with Gooey. They were finally becoming friends. If Meta Knight was asking to understand, then…

“I wanna…” Kirby mumbled. Their throat hurt. “I wanna learn.”

“From me?”

Kirby nodded, without thinking. He’d rather have Magolor. Meta Knight always fought him.

“I haven’t done anything,” Meta Knight said.

“But you have a sword!”

“My techniques rely a lot on magic. I’m not sure…”

“I did, too,” Kirby sniffled. He looked at him. “I wanted to be your friend.”

Right…Meta sank. He used to give them candy. Their eyes would light up, and they practically glowed with energy. He had thought, then, maybe they needed them.

“I was busy,” he said.

Meta gave him a good look. They hadn’t been together like this in so long. They certainly didn’t talk.

Kirby was growing, he knew. They were a little pale, but they’d become a much brighter shade of pink, over the years. A brighter color than Meta ever was, at least. But they carried the bruises and scars of reckless fighting. And their fur was a mess—though to anyone but another astral, it probably didn’t look so bad.

He knew how to help with that, of course. But he told himself not to.

And anyway, they had Adeleine and her family looking after them. Focusing on handling the monsters was much more important. A little loneliness never hurt Meta. Kirby would be fine.

“I wish Magolor was here,” they frowned.

Magolor. Meta barely knew a thing about him.

“He gave you that sword,” he recalled. “And he won’t teach you?”

Kirby nodded, meekly.

“Gooey gave it to him first,” they said. “It’s my favorite thing ever.”

As Kirby moved their paws, he got a better look at it. The restoration had done wonders—in this light, he could really appreciate it. It glistened, polished with much care. And it was just the perfect size for them.

“It’s nice,” he murmured. “But you can’t just hit things with it. It’s not a hammer. You don’t want to break it.”

“Mm…but it was metal…”

“And that’s precisely why,” he said. “You couldn’t have pierced it like that. You should’ve aimed more carefully. And left it to us.”

“Hmph…”

Kirby stood up, slowly. They held out the sword, and tentatively, they raised it over their head.

“Twist it,” Meta Knight said. “You want to slice.”

Kirby wrinkled his brow. “Like a cake?”

“Something like that,” Meta Knight’s eyes squinted, and Kirby couldn’t recognize it, but he was smiling.

Kirby slashed and waved the sword around, testing. Their eyes filled with stars, fully focused on the task. Meta had almost forgotten that face. How easily it made you want to cheer for him.

“That’s better,” he said.

“Is it? It feels the same.”

“You’ll see, when we get you practicing.”

Kirby stopped. They inhaled, just a little, smiling eagerly. They looked at him. Meta’s heart panged. They looked at him like he was the whole world.

“I should’ve showed you sooner,” he said.

Kirby returned their gaze to the blade, and he bounced on his feet.

Missing words pecked at Meta. That tinge of guilt he thought he’d buried. He should apologize, he thought, for leaving them behind. There might be no one else who could understand what it was like. But Kirby probably wouldn’t understand the action. They knew nothing of where they came, and they were better off for it.

Magolor…certainly intrigued him. It didn’t really make sense, and yet, he had a point. Maybe Kirby needed him. 

In the distance, a burst of cheers erupted. Kirby stopped and turned in the direction of the sound. 

“They must’ve finished,” Meta Knight said. “We should go see them.”

‘Should’…Kirby mouthed the word, tapping his tongue against the roof of his mouth. He decided ‘should’ was better than ‘must’. And he didn’t mind that so much.

“Okay,” they said, holding out their nub.

Meta Knight stared at them. His eyes glowed brighter, then dimmer, and it made Kirby squint.

“Aren’t we going?” they asked.

“Y-Yes…” he leered at them.

Kirby didn’t really understand. Taking someone under your wing was like being friends, wasn’t it? Magolor always took his hand, now.

Meta Knight shook his head and walked on, only briefly motioning for Kirby to follow.

“Oh,” Kirby said. “Sorry, I guess you must’ve never had friends before.”

Meta Knight froze, struck by a jolt of brutal pain. Kirby ran up to him and grabbed his hand.

“There,” they said. “It’s okay. I’m learning, too.”

Then…Meta decided to let them, for the moment.

-

They followed the voices and emerged from the grass. Meta was sure to pull his hand away in time, and so Kirby kept to himself.

“Ah, Sir Meta, there you are!”

The others were gathered around, most recuperating by stretching or keeping hydrated. Javelin arranged the testing equipment on the ground, and their monitor flashed brightly as they signaled to Sailor. 

So everything was normal. Meta sighed in relief. Kirby took a step back, ducking behind him.

“Hey!” Axe spotted them, eyes wide, and came running over. He crouched down a little further, to meet Kirby’s height. “Kirby, are you okay? You could’ve gotten really hurt, you know…”

“I’m sorry,” they mumbled, dodging his gaze. Axe smiled and reached out to ruffle their fur, and they winced at the touch.

“It’s alright,” Axe straightened himself, hearing Meta Knight. His eyes squinted in what Axe recognized as a soft smile. He stepped back, at that.

“I talked to them,” Meta Knight went on. “I take full responsibility for what happened. Thank you for carrying on, in my stead.”

“Well, of course,” Axe nodded, prideful. The others watched from behind. “Can’t let you do all the work, can we?”

Meta closed his eyes. They were right, after all. It stung at him. Most of all, how foolish he’d been.

“Then I hope…” he looked around, to all of them. “I hope you can get used to it. There’s something that needs my attention.”

And then we’ll be stronger than before.

“I apologize for any inconvenience,” he finished. The others lit up with excitement. He cleared his throat, loudly, before anyone could say anything too embarrassing.

“Great work today, everyone. Let’s wrap up and head out.”

It was a little early for that, but no one complained. Meta suspected they already knew.

Without so many eyes on him, Kirby stepped forward. They looked up at him.

“We’re going back?” Nova, they sounded devastated. “I didn’t get to do anything…”

Meta Knight hummed, darkly, and he took them further aside.

“Maybe it’ll teach you not to throw yourself into battle,” he said, half grumbling. Kirby gasped, in a squeak.

“But…” his eyes dimmed. It was the right thing to do, but they don’t need to know that. That would make for a terrible habit. Even so, Kirby’s glare burned into him.

“You will, next time,” he settled. “Once you’ve worked on the basics.”

Good instincts, bad technique. That was how he’d come to see Kirby. But the time had passed, and none of it had changed. He supposed it was time, then.

Kirby pouted. Their eyes were so big. It was hard not to be endeared.

Javelin started beeping, loud and frantic. Meta Knight jumped, turning away. He quickly unsheathed Galaxia—the others were gathered in a cluster, where the battle had ended.

“Sir Meta Knight! There’s something strange!”

Sailor ran, pushing their cart with them, as fast as they could. The others made way for her as she unpacked the cart, in swift, rehearsed motions. But she was sweating, and her brow was furrowed.

Kirby looked up at Meta Knight. He narrowed his gaze. They followed him towards the circle.

“Stay back,” he said. Kirby wasn’t going to do that.

Sailor glanced at them as they entered. She kneeled close to the ground, device in hand. The ground was disheveled from the fight, but Kirby thought it seemed pretty normal.

“It’s different,” Sailor said, glued to their screen. “I’ve been getting traces of it, but this…is magic.”

Chapter Text

By the time they left the parlor, the sky had already darkened with clouds. The air had begun to cool and Magolor’s whiskers twitched. They’d have to hurry back before it started raining. To Magolor’s relief, Dedede said they’d get dinner and return to town hall to finish up for the day.

Somehow, in spite of doing so little work, Magolor was exhausted. Bandana yawned as he walked beside him. He’d been lagging behind for a while.

“Hey, Bandana?” Dedede turned back to him. “You good back there?”

“Yeah,” he blinked, slowly. “I don’t know why I’m tired.”

“It’s good weather for napping,” Magolor said. When they looked at him, his face grew hot. “Well, it is!” he hissed.

“Can’t argue with the truth,” Dedede chuckled. He crouched down to meet Bandana’s level. “Here, want me to carry you for a bit?”

Magolor couldn’t help but snicker, seeing Bandana’s face flush so bright.

“I-I can’t ask you to do that!” his paws flailed. “I-I mean–!”

Dedede cocked his head, frowning.

“Why not? It wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Yeah, b-but…” his voice dropped, and Magolor had to strain his ears to hear it. “I’m trying to be stronger.”

Dedede blinked at him. He gestured him over, and Bandana waddled closer.

Magolor had to wonder what they were thinking, when they stood like that. Bandana was so small and even the tears lining his eyes glittered brightly. He was exactly the kind of kid people loved to fawn over, almost more than Kirby, because he was so well behaved. And Dedede was…well, he was Dedede. Uncomfortably earnest, also like Kirby.

And yet they weren’t quite family, not in the same way as before. That’s what Bandana said.

“Scoop!”

Dedede picked him up, and Bandana let out a loud “eep!” Dedede grinned as he fussed with his bandana, and Bandana stuttered out a wanya. Straightening himself, Dedede glanced at Magolor.

“Y’know, I’d offer, but my back,” he said.

“Yeah, no.”

“Suit yourself,” he continued walking. “But I gotta treat my assistants well, don’t I?”

Magolor scowled to himself. He wanted to get on his case, complain that he was being treated like a child. Say that he shouldn’t be spoiling Bandana, either. And yet, Magolor kept thinking about their conversation, earlier–about Kirby. And he had to wonder if Dedede was thinking about it too.

-

It started slow. A little sprinkle here and there, the kind that made Magolor jump in surprise every time he felt it. But by the time they reached the restaurant and made their order, it was pouring steadily, and the stone streets sparkled with water. To Magolor’s dismay, they stood outside, sheltered under the restaurant’s awning. Apparently, they were remodeling.

Just my luck, Magolor thought. 

They said it would be another ten minutes, so he was really frustrated. His ears sank. Dedede hoped the rain would stop by then, but either way, Magolor found himself dreaming of the comfort of home…or the next best thing: Kirby’s home.

They’d be so happy to see him and hear about the day he had. They’d make such an interesting face when they saw the sample Kawasaki had for them.

Dedede noticed Magolor’s ears flip back to their normal position. He smiled and pet Bandana’s head, gently. He’d dozed off in his arms a while ago, and Dedede planned on treasuring every second of it. 

Bandana was so tired when Dedede had returned home, after all.

“‘Course he’d be tuckered out, running all over the place with those little feet,” he murmured, mindlessly, as he stroked him. “But you don’t gotta grow up yet.”

Magolor looked up at him. Dedede’s eyes were glossy, he realized, and he rubbed them.

“Just talkin’ to myself,” he said, and he tried to chuckle. Magolor recognized it, because he did it too.

“Whatever, old man,” he turned away. “You’re so annoying,” he muttered.

“Yeah, I probably am.”

Magolor’s ear flicked. He resigned himself to watching the rain hit the grass, drenching a nearby bush. Its flowers were already in bloom. He huffed. They didn’t need the rain.

“We didn’t even do anything important today,” Magolor grumbled. “I don’t know how you can keep…doing that.”

“Helping that lady wasn’t important?”

“I didn’t say that–”

“Yeah, you kinda did.”

A growl rumbled in his throat. Dedede watched him as his ears flicked more and more. It kind of reminded him of someone.

“Magolor,” he said, with a smile.

Magolor’s hood faced him. He always wondered what was going on, under there.

“What?” he growled.

“Isn’t it so much easier to call someone by name when you’ve gotten to know them? It’s your turn, now.”

Magolor froze. His mouth went dry.

“These nicknames are just weird! Tell them to stop!”

It was a futile request, but worth a shot, he’d decided.

Meta Knight had told him there was simply no controlling Kirby and their whims (but did he have to look so smug about it?!) and Bandee just giggled and said he thought the nicknames were cute. Magolor had garnered enough to figure that Dedede wouldn’t take him seriously, and yet he came to him, anyway.

“Really? But isn’t it so much easier to get along with someone when they’re calling you something special?”

Magolor cringed at how seriously Dedede considered this, going as far as to hold a finger to his chin. Truly, the ultimate sign of deep thinking.

“Know what?” he hummed. “I like that. I think I’m gonna start calling you Mags. You can give me one, too, if you’d like.”

Magolor figured ‘dead meat’ wouldn’t go over too well, so he had to come up with a way to refuse.

It did…feel weird. To hear Dedede call him Magolor. He twiddled his thumbs. His cheeks burned, being put on the spot, and thinking about it only made it worse. He hated it. But Dedede just kept looking at him.

Magolor sighed.

“D…” he closed his mouth. This was silly.

“Dedede…” he mumbled.

“What, no honorifics?” Before Magolor could finish shooting a glare at him, he laughed. “Hey, I don’t mind, really! You’re like a breath of fresh disrespect! Keepin’ me tough, I like that.”

“So that’s why you hired me,” Magolor groaned. “Wow, I feel so special.”

Magolor felt a hand hit his head, patting. His breath shuddered, and then it was gone. He slit his eyes and leered up at Dedede, who returned his attention to Bandana. Magolor huffed.

“Look,” Dedede said, giving him a glance, to make sure he was listening. Magolor’s ears pricked up. Dedede dipped his head. 

“I–I think it’s really great how you stood up for Kirby like that. But I gotta tell ya. I wanted to make sure we did this today–got to know each other and all that–’cause…I wanna invite you.”

Magolor stared at him. Dedede’s feathers began to fluff, and he continued:

“You’re not from here, right? I’m not about to pry, we all…pretty much everyone around here knows what that’s like. You’re at the vacation home, yeah? That’s a pretty long walk. And so I just thought…you know. You could come with us, if you wanted. Might be nice.”

Magolor wasn’t sure if it was him, or the raindrops slowed. But he stood still and watched. 

“I know you’re real excited to get back to your home planet and all that, but…you should come back and visit sometimes, alright? Or I’m gonna have to send you so many letters, until you feel so bad, you gotta. We’re gonna be waiting for you. And I bet Kirby won’t let me hear the end of it if you don’t come back. You know how that goes.”

Dedede watched as Magolor’s eyelids drooped. He fussed with his glove. Dedede could see the thoughts swirling in his head, and he took a breath to steady himself.

“I don’t know,” Magolor said, quietly. “I don’t know how long it’ll take for Kirby to get used to things.”

“Yeah?”

“And…” he chuckled, just barely, smiling at the ground. “They wouldn’t let me hear the end of it, you know?”

Bandana stirred, in Dedede’s arms. Magolor could hear him breathing deeply as he went back to stroking him.

“I know,” Dedede said. “You can think about it, though. My door’s always open.”

“Wanya..?” 

“Ah, you’re comin’ back to us?”

Bandana’s eyes squinted, and he blinked, sleepily. Magolor decided to keep quiet, stepping aside. Let them talk.

“Where..?” Bandana mumbled the question.

“Just waiting on dinner,” he said. “I’m gonna have to put you down to carry it.”

“No, let me…”

“Hmmm, vetoed.”

Bandana whimpered in protest, and they bickered about it for a little bit. Magolor wasn’t really listening. He wanted to be home, and…he still had something to say.

Finally, a bell rang, and their food was laid out for them. Dedede had the advantage of height, so he snatched their bags before Bandana could say a word. To settle the debate, he handed him a cup to carry. It was good enough, they agreed.

The rain was clearing up. Magolor was grateful. It pelted him, occasionally, but he only flinched. At least it wasn’t as bad as before.

Just say it, he told himself.

“Dedede,” he said. He couldn’t bring himself to look, but he noticed the splashing footsteps stopped. 

“I…I wouldn’t mind if you called me Mags.”

Dedede gasped, which turned into a huge, unstoppable grin.

“But not around a bunch of strangers,” he added, quickly. 

Whatever the terms were, Dedede would’ve accepted them, anyway.

-

Dedede had tried–and failed, dropping half of it–to eat what he could on the way over, but by the time they made it back to his office, they were famished and wasted no time digging in. As they ate, Bandana went over some of the day’s paperwork, and Magolor watched as the leftover raindrops clung to the window and dripped away.

“Hmm, pretty much everybody’s gone home,” Bandana observed. “Guess the janitors will be in, soon.”

“Gonna get dark, too,” Dedede said. He’d reclaimed his desk chair and swiveled on it, just slightly, to face Magolor, who insisted on sitting at the edge of the desk. Dedede had complained and protested, but he didn’t exactly have another chair for him, so…he’d just cleared away his knick knacks and hoped for the best.

Magolor narrowed his gaze, glued to the window.

“You can go, if you need to,” Dedede offered. “The kid’s probably waiting for you, right?”

He saw Magolor’s ear flick.

“Actually,” Bandana mused, flipping through the papers. “I’m pretty sure Sir Meta Knight hasn’t clocked out yet. Weren’t they supposed to meet up today?”

“Yeah,” Magolor frowned. He hadn’t said goodbye. They were just being too prickly. “Who knows how it actually went, though.”

“Second thoughts?” Dedede asked.

“Nah, Meta Knight’s just got issues,” he rolled his eyes. “And Kirby’s Kirby.” And if Meta Knight kept causing him trouble, he might have even more work to do. He heaved a sigh.

“Ah…”

Then, as if summoned, a firm knock resounded from the door. Dedede nearly choked, and Magolor jolted upright, while Bandana casually pulled himself up, dusted himself off, and opened the door.

“Welcome–” Bandana stopped, seeing Meta Knight’s expression. Cold, sharp, like usual–but furrowed and shifty. Without so much as a glance in Bandana’s direction, he stepped forward, shadowed by Kirby.

“Speak of the devil,” Dedede said, wide eyed. “You got an appointment?”

“He’s kidding!” Bandana interjected, flailing his paws.

“Don’t make me waste my time,” Meta Knight said. He turned back to Kirby and gently nudged him forward. “Go on, now.”

Dedede watched, his face scrunched in bewilderment, as Kirby left his side. They walked over, slowly, and looked up at Magolor.

“You’re not here to sulk more, are ya?” Dedede raised an eyebrow, glancing between them. “‘Cause we both know you’re not getting out of this.”

Bandana tensed up. Magolor knew he was staring at him. His whiskers twitched—he slid off the desk and stood by Kirby. Their eyes lit up, seeing him. Though they didn’t smile.

“I wouldn’t do something so pointless,” Meta Knight scoffed.

“Great. Then, Kirby, how was your day?”

Kirby puffed his cheeks, in thought.

“Oh,” they said. “It sucked.”

Dedede squinted at Meta Knight and gave him a very peculiar look.

“Kirby—“ Meta Knight cleared his throat, “did something very reckless. But we talked about it, and they won’t do it again. Right?”

“Be nice,” Kirby mumbled. They inched closer to Magolor.

Meta Knight sighed.

“I’m going to have to adjust the schedules, over this. Including your assistants’.”

Dedede prepared to speak, but Meta Knight was faster.

“Don’t complain about what’s your own fault.” His eyes dimmed. “Dedede—“

“Hey, what’s that smell?” Kirby said, in a peep. Meta Knight stared at him.

“We were just eating dinner,” Dedede said. “Why, you hungry?”

“Oooh…”

“He just ate,” Meta Knight said.

“Eating sounds so good,” Kirby hummed, swaying dreamily on their feet. Meta Knight froze, deeper. He was pretty sure his soul left his body. There was only so much Kirby-sitting he could handle.

“Ah, I have something for that,” Magolor realized. He shuffled around, looking for it. Bandana pulled the bag out from a drawer and passed it to him.

“Kirby…” Meta Knight‘s efforts to speak were futile.

“Thank you,” Magolor enunciated the words. He held it out to Kirby, who gazed up at him with wonder. “Doo doo doo! It’s from that chef guy.”

Bandana held back a giggle.

“Kawasaki,” Dedede clarified.

Kirby’s pupils dilated and practically doubled in size. If nothing else, they glistened brightly. Their face did too—turning a warmer pink, and they smiled.

“Baby donuts,” they whispered, in awe. They pulled one out and examined it. Looked at it like it was the whole world. Meta Knight flinched.

Kirby stuffed it in their mouth. Then two, then three, and the entire rest of the bag.

“Dang, kid! You sure we’re not related?” Dedede said, with a bit of a smirk, and pulled himself off his chair, leaving it swiveling in place.

Kirby’s face was covered with donut. When they grinned, their tiny, barely sprouted fang was, too.

“I don’t look like you, though,” they said.

“He’s just joking, Kirby,” Bandana explained. “If anyone here looks like you, it’s—“

“That’s enough fooling around,” Meta Knight said, quickly. Bandana was taken aback.

“Coward,” Magolor muttered.

“Come on, do you ever relax?” Dedede rolled his eyes. He crouched down, to meet Kirby. Bandana jumped up and passed a napkin along to him. Kirby took it.

“We were just about ready to head out,” Dedede said.

“Well—“ Meta Knight started.

“Little more, kiddo,” Dedede smiled at them, as Kirby missed cleaning half their face.

Meta Knight stepped back. He narrowed his eyes, just a little. Even Bandana tilted his head in confusion.

“Ugh, just do it for them,” Magolor groaned, when they continued to fail. “They don’t exactly have full hands, you know.”

“I’m fine,” Kirby mewled, shrinking back.

“Your face will get sticky,” Meta Knight said, exasperated. He pulled on his mask.

Dedede shook his head. “Right there,” he pointed.

“But that’s most of me,” they whimpered.

“That’s why it’s important,” Dedede laughed.

Meta Knight sighed and turned to leave. With a curt “one moment”, he warped away and then right back. Dedede gave him a lopsided frown, at first, but—Meta Knight retrieved a wet napkin and offered it to him.

“Excuse me?” Dedede asked.

“Not for you,” he growled. “It’s not cold. Now, I’d like to ask—“

“Oh,” Dedede blinked. “Wait, that—how did you know—“ he turned back to Kirby, who only barely winced as they took it. “Kirby, you didn’t like how that felt, did you?”

“Mmm,” he frowned.

Dedede looked at them, agape. He closed his mouth. Blinked, slowly. Magolor recognized it, but he wasn’t sure why.

“For a kid, that’s probably not enough.”

Dedede’s smile was soft and warm.

“That’s better,” he said. “Hey, are you excited for next week? You got the letter, right?”

“Huh,” Magolor said.

Kirby looked at him—they pouted, for a moment, then nodded.

“Coo helped me read it,” he said. “I really like it.”

“Yeah? You better get that house cleaned up,” Dedede rustled their fur. “Or you’re gonna make me look bad!”

“Hmph,” Meta Knight turned away.

“Don’t scare him, Sir,” Bandana said.

“Excuse me, will someone explain to me what the heck is happening?” Magolor asked, turning between the group. Dedede stood up.

“You mean you don’t know—?”

“Huh? Lady Ripple, Adeleine, and Ribbon are coming to visit,” Bandana tilted his head. “Nobody told you?”

“I was gonna,” Kirby said.

“No…” Magolor didn’t know what else to say. He’d heard the names, sure, but he didn’t know who any of them were. The way they talked, he was surely missing something.

He shrank back. That was weird.

“Hm, I mean, it’s on your schedule; you got the time off,” Dedede said. He glanced at Bandana.

“Yeah, but it doesn’t say anything,” he said.

“I just thought you wanted to ease me into this, I don’t know!”

Bandana winced. “That was a massive oversight. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah,” Dedede sucked in a breath.

“Time off?” Meta Knight echoed. “You’re taking time off? After splitting my attention—“

“Well, Kirby’ll be busy too,” he folded his arms.

“Yeah, I told you that,” Kirby said.

Meta Knight grumbled something, and his cape fluttered and twinged as it shifted into flared wings. Dedede held his breath as Meta Knight glared into him.

“I came to talk,” he hissed, lowly. “So dismiss them.”

Magolor snapped awake. Dedede was looking at them—him, Bandana, and Kirby—his feathers raised. Magolor decided not to risk it, if Dedede decided to be stubborn. He took Kirby and Bandana’s paws and ushered them out the door. Meta Knight’s cape draped back down, just before it closed.

“That was weird,” Bandana said.

It was dark in the hallway. Magolor closed his eyes. It was quiet, too. 

“I don’t think they’re gonna fight,” he said. But something in him ached, nonetheless. 

Chapter Text

Magolor had told himself he would regret coming along, and he was right. Why it bothered him so much, he was less sure.

He watched the trains pass one after the other, but theirs just wouldn’t show. And yet the air was alive with the murmur of excitement, people rushing across the platform to greet their loved ones when they came. Magolor hated the noise. The station was far too busy.

“I know!” Kirby looked up at him in a way that made Magolor frown on instinct. They couldn’t stand still, swaying and fussing with their paws, and they’d been rambling on all day.

“We can make s’mores tonight,” they went on, “Adeleine’s really good at it, a-and, um–”

Great, Magolor thought. Even at a loss for words, Kirby was still making that face. That little reserved smile. At least they were happier.

“That’s great, but you’re gonna have to ask what she wants to do, too,” Dedede said.

“Ooooooh,” Kirby hummed. He squeezed his eyes shut and thought about it.

Magolor sighed. Kirby had told him plenty about Adeleine, whoever she was. They would go off on tangents about things she taught him, but never why. They never gave context, and when Magolor tried to ask them, the answers were only even more confusing. And then Kirby would just stop talking.

Actually, they did that a lot. Back in Dreamland–or the Dreamland Magolor knew–Kirby would sometimes go silent, and then–

“Popoyo!”

Their face was flushed, he remembered. They hadn’t been crying, but his lip quivered like he might. It wasn’t the first time they’d gotten like this, and this was usually the point where they’d sob over how sad they were that they made everyone unhappy. It was a bit of an amusing sight, when they were donning a cowboy hat.

Magolor found it incredibly annoying. And no matter what Dedede said to comfort them, it never seemed to work. Neither “I royally decree that everything’s okay”, nor the bribes that usually worked on them. And threatening never went well, Dedede discovered.

“Aw, c’mon, Kirby, please!” Dedede groaned, already setting his hammer down. Bandee was at Kirby’s side, talking to him.

They were already lagging behind that day. Magolor fought back a scream. There was no way they were going to make it to the right wing anytime soon. And ignoring how irritating everyone was was so hard. He was suddenly much more grateful he quit theater—he was, apparently, awful at it.

He sucked in a breath and focused on watching Meta Knight, flying ahead of them.

But Meta Knight dropped to the ground, landing quickly. Magolor’s ears perked up as he strode past him, in long, eager steps. He could see the determination in his eyes, and Magolor grew hotter. They were going to argue, he thought. The sweat made his fur stick together. He steeled himself.

“Kirby,” Meta Knight said. He approached him and kneeled. Kirby responded with a tiny grunt.

“You don’t feel like talking, do you?” he asked. Magolor had to look–Kirby took a breath. 

“Do this,” Meta Knight said, and flapped his paw twice. Kirby tilted their head, his eyes brimmed with tears, but he mimicked him anyway. They didn’t stop.

Meta Knight stood up.

“Um, you wanna explain..?” Dedede stared at him.

Meta Knight only glanced briefly in his direction. He flicked the brim of Kirby’s hat upright.

“There,” he said. “You don’t have to talk. Just do that, and we’ll know you don’t feel like it. It’s not a problem.”

Kirby leapt to hug him, and they tumbled into the ground, spraying sand everywhere. Nobody liked that, and Meta Knight was huffy about it for a while. But as Kirby walked with them, in silence, they began to smile.

Mindlessly, Magolor found himself flapping his paw.

It was a little silly. For them to be there, when there was work to do. Magolor didn’t mind the work at town hall so much, even if Dedede wasn’t great at staying focused. It was a way to keep busy, after all. So he’d rather do that than sit around listening to other peoples’ excitement.

“Guys!” Bandana tugged at Dedede’s sleeve. “It’s the next one!”

Magolor leaned forward, tilting his ear to better hear the train approaching, just ahead. There was a chill in the air, now that it was fall, and the wind threatened to steal his hood from him. It ruffled Bandana’s fur, and he complained that he wished he’d brought his bandana. Dedede picked him up, and they watched as the train came into view.

Kirby turned back and forth to make sure Magolor was looking. They covered their ears as the train’s engine roared and it slid into the station, stopping with a deafening hiss. 

Bandana tapped Kirby’s shoulder as soon as it was quiet.

“Hey, Kirby, it’s done now,” he said. They uncovered their ears. “I bet you’re excited to have more people around, huh?”

Kirby nodded, though his eyes were on Magolor.

“I can’t wait,” they murmured.

The doors began to open, and Dedede ran across the platform, checking each one. Bandana giggled, and Kirby followed after him.

Magolor looked up from his hood, and away from him, another door opened. A strange looking girl in a giant sweater and beret walked off, hunched over under the weight of a large trunk. Dedede swooped in and engulfed her in a hug, and she laughed.

Magolor gasped. A species with arms, legs, and a mouth? No wonder Kirby found her so interesting.

Dedede stepped out of the way of the door, just before the scarfy behind him burst into anger. Whether Dedede noticed or not, he just laughed. And so did Adeleine. And Kirby. And Magolor’s ear twitched as Bandana cleared his throat.

“We should probably get the luggage cart,” Bandana said. But he kept watching them, Magolor noticed. He sighed.

“Not really a ‘we’ kinda thing,” he said. Bandana looked at him.

“I’ll get it,” Magolor grumbled.

When Magolor returned, Adeleine was crouched on the ground, smiling and talking to Kirby and Bandana. They all turned back to the train car, as a small fairy backed out of it, flittering around. As Magolor got closer, he realized she was motioning for another person.

“Okay, watch your step,” she said. “Oh, and let me take that–”

“For a pipsqueak like you? Nah, just leave it to us,” Dedede said. He stepped forward and took a suitcase from the woman in the train car, and Magolor took it as his cue to bring the cart closer. Dedede passed it off to him, and Magolor let out a quiet “phew”.

That was a work thing to do, and that meant Magolor wasn’t there on personal business. He regained his composure, with a smile.

The woman took a long step across the platform, and she wobbled when she crossed. She was about as tall as Dedede, which was a lot, and at first glance, Magolor thought she must’ve been Adeleine’s mother. But she had elegant, sharp fairy wings. Her long, dark hair flowed loosely against her, an awful contrast to her almost gray complexion. It made her look ghastly and ghostly. The cane she was holding hit the ground with a click, and she adjusted her glasses.

“Miss Ripple!” Kirby cheered, and she tilted her head ever so slightly, giving him a polite smile.

“Hello, Kirby,” she spoke, softly, and reached for something in her pocket. “Have you been doing a good job lately?”

“Of course,” he grinned. “Cleaned, too!”

She held out a bag for him to take–it was practically bulging, and when Kirby grabbed it, it rattled and clinked inside.

“Woah, hey, you don’t need to do all that,” Dedede said.

The woman—Ripple, Magolor assumed–just shook her head.

“I won’t let a good job go unrewarded,” she said. “This should cover your expenses, Kirby.”

“Hm?”

“You need to use that to buy food,” Bandana translated.

“Oh! I need that.”

“Everyone does,” she said and gave Dedede’s shoulder a pat as she walked off. “Speaking of, we should get going. If everyone’s ready, I-I mean.”

Magolor froze when she looked at him.

 “Ah, and you are..?” she asked.

“This here’s my newest assistant,” Dedede said, reaching over to rub his head. “He’s been a real help around here, so be good to ‘im.”

Magolor growled at the compliment and shooed Dedede away with his hand.

“Whatever,” he huffed. “My name’s Magolor. It’s nice to meet you.” His ear flicked. “A-And I’m Kirby’s best friend.”

“Huh,” Adeleine looked at him.

“Anyway,” Magolor took the suitcase and laid it on the cart. The fairy was definitely glaring at him, and by Kirby’s words, she must’ve been Ribbon. They were all watching him, he realized, and his cheeks burned.

“What was that about a job..?” he asked.

-

It was crowded on the walk home. It was always just Kirby and Magolor on this path, but with the six of them there, there was no choice but for someone to fall back. So Magolor followed behind them, luggage in tow.

“Adeleine was from here,” Ripple explained as she led the way.

“Well, I lived here,” Adeleine said. “About as long as I can remember.”

“Right,” Ripple looked at her. “So when you decided you wanted to stay with me, as well, that put us in a bit of a situation. But of course, we’d just allied with the president, here–” she nodded, turning to Dedede, “and I wanted to visit more.”

They arrived at the house. Ribbon spun happily in the air, and Adeleine gripped the hem of her sweater and smiled to herself. She took a breath.

“I still want to,” Ripple murmured.

“We know ya do,” Dedede said.

Kirby looked around to everyone, smiling brighter than Magolor had seen before, from them. He ran up to the door and jumped to reach the handle, swinging it open.

Wait, then… Magolor’s ear twitched, the more he thought about it.

Ribbon squealed in delight. “C’mon, Addy! Let’s get unpacked so we can start having fun!”

She grabbed Adeleine’s things and struggled to raise it into the air, finally succeeding with a victorious cheer.

“Aw, man, but I’m so tired,” Adeleine laughed, joining her.

“Don’t forget it’ll be time to eat before long,” Ripple called after them.

“We won’t!” Ribbon shouted back. 

Ripple’s shoulders relaxed, and she smiled. Kirby had already disappeared inside, and with a thumbs up of approval from Dedede, Bandana followed after Adeleine and Ribbon. Leaving Magolor alone with the last people he wanted to be left alone with, right about then.

He stared at the other suitcase and wondered if it would be appropriate to carry it in for them.

“I’m glad they’re excited,” Ripple said.

Magolor made up his mind. He reached for the handle, and yet…he couldn’t help but take a glance at them. He saw Dedede frown.

“Look, Ripple, I–”

“I think I need to lie down,” she said, raising a hand. “But you’re welcome to come in. If you’re not too busy.”

She left, and Dedede’s frown turned to the grass. Magolor picked up the suitcase.

“Are you gonna?” he asked.

Dedede squinted at him.

“You could, is all,” his voice quieted, and he shrugged. “It’d make things less awkward for me. Y’know.”

He couldn’t bring himself to look. Magolor cursed himself and went inside, and Dedede closed the door behind them.

Thank Void, he thought.

The house was already buzzing. Footsteps thundered from upstairs, and he could hear Ribbon’s giggling. With a loud sigh, Dedede flopped over onto the couch, taking up the entire space. 

Magolor set the last suitcase aside, and Bandana and Ribbon came down, soon after. Ribbon dug through all of Ripple’s things, and Bandana pleaded with her not to.

“You don’t wanna get in trouble–!” he squeaked.

“It’s my suitcase too,” Ribbon huffed, preparing a grand speech, when–

Magolor’s fur stood on end as a door opened–from his bedroom. Bandana and Ribbon stopped, wide eyed, and stared at her helplessly as Ripple stepped forward. Dedede looked up from the couch and shivered at her stern expression.

“P-Please don’t be mad!” Bandana cried.

Ribbon blinked. “It was his idea.”

Ripple only tilted her head at them, and then, realizing, she put a hand to her face.

“Kirby?” She called. Kirby came hopping down the stairs, followed by Adeleine.

“Yeah?” he asked.

Ripple gave the most polite smile she could, but it wasn’t enough, and her brow was furrowed. She held up a comb, and Magolor shrank back to hide behind the couch.

“Why…” she inhaled sharply. “Why is there cat hair in this?”

Chapter Text

Embarrassment. He should’ve been used to it by then. But as Ripple took Kirby aside—back into his (or her?) room—all he could really do was hide behind his collar and squeeze his eyes shut.

Of course it would turn out this way, he cursed himself. Kirby wasn’t great at foresight. He should’ve known there was something else going on, someone who knew better than he did. Someone else looking out for them. It was Kirby.

Forget not trusting strangers from Void freaking knows where, I never should’ve trusted you…!

He strained his ears to hear the faint murmur of voices from behind the door. He found himself growling. Feeling stranger.

“Well,” Dedede looked at him. “This is gonna be pretty funny one of these days.”

Magolor flashed him a glare.

“Not today,” Dedede said. “Got it.”

Magolor couldn’t make out the words. He dipped his head and dragged himself over to the couch. Dedede blinked at him, then, realizing, he started to shift to make room for him, but Magolor flopped on the ground.

“I can’t believe myself,” he grumbled.

Why were his eyes burning?

Light footsteps padded over to him. Bandana leaned over his face, concerned.

“Why?” he asked.

I’ve been wasting my time.

Magolor scoffed. “I trusted a kid, didn’t I? Maybe if I get a head start I can save up enough to ditch this town by spring.”

Bandana frowned.

“Now get out of my face,” Magolor sneered and pushed him away, before rolling onto his side.

“I didn’t expect Kirby’s best friend to be such a massive grump.”

Magolor’s ear flicked at the pitch of Ribbon’s voice and the unrelenting flutter of her wings.

“You better be nice to him,” she went on, “I don’t think he needs someone talking mean to him like that.”

Two black socks appeared in front of Magolor, then the rest of Adeleine, as she crouched down on the floor and gave Ribbon a strained smile.

“Ribbon,” she said. “You can have more than one best friend.”

“It’s in the title!” Ribbon gestured wildly. “Best! Who is this guy, anyway?”

Magolor rolled onto his stomach, pressing his face against the rug. It was scratchy.

“Aw, Mags,” Dedede said.

Don’t care.

“Okay, okay,” Dedede sighed. “I promise he’s not always this prickly. Just usually,” he chuckled. “Long as we’re sitting here, maybe you can tell each other about how you met Kirby, hm?”

“I don’t think Magolor is up to that,” Bandana said.

“Then we’ll just have to tell ‘em so good it’ll change his mind,” Magolor could practically hear the smirk in his voice.

When he glanced up, Bandana was climbing onto the couch, squished between the three of them. Ribbon wasted no time in asking to play with his hair, and he agreed. Sitting together like that, it looked so normal.

He pulled his cheek away from the rug.

“You’re gonna have to start,” he huffed.

“Ah…” Dedede’s feathers ruffled. “Well. If I gotta. But I gotta start by saying I know it was real awful and yadda yadda I should be ashamed.”

Magolor’s ear pricked. He raised his head to look at him.

“You won’t, uh, hate me or anything, will you?” Dedede asked.

Slowly, Magolor dropped back down. He wasn’t sure he had the answer to that. He already hated him, didn’t he?

The ground was hard. He didn’t like it.

“Don’t forget for a second that we love you.”

Magolor said no.

-

Bandana was halfway through his story when Ripple came out, holding Kirby in her arms. They were smiling, staring right at Magolor. He thought he should feel some relief at that–that at least Ripple didn’t look like she hated him. Kirby hopped out of her arms, and Dedede lit up, shooting halfway off his seat.

When Kirby realized what they had been doing, he ran to sit down beside Magolor. Then, Dedede scrambled after Ripple to talk to her about dinner.

Magolor could only wonder why. Why any of this had to happen, as he looked at Kirby.

…But also, where he was gonna sleep that night.

“I was pretty confused, to be honest,” Bandana explained, in a soft tone. “The president made him sound so scary, but that didn’t make sense.” He twiddled his nubs, avoiding Kirby’s gaze. “You were my age, just a little younger, and my height. A-And we…us waddle dees have to look out for each other. I thought Kirby might be the same.”

Kirby practically glowed at Bandana’s words, smiling so big it squinted his eyes.

“Well, it was pretty crazy for me,” Ribbon flew up and in the center of them all. “I thought I was dead!”

“Yeah, I gotta admit, I don’t envy that,” Adeleine said.

Magolor rested a paw under his cheek, on the floor. Dead? He wondered. 

There was a moment, briefly—after Landia sent the Lor into chaos, spiraling across dimensions—he had thought the same. Either crushed when they hit something, or slowly withering away to starvation in a space so deep no one would ever find him.

But he got lucky. Or unlucky. And he silenced the thought that followed.

“I’m glad it worked out, though,” Bandana said.

“It’s good enough for me,” Adeleine nodded. “I mean, I got a sister out of it!”

“You did?” Kirby blinked at her.

“Oh, wait, that’s right, your friend doesn’t know, does he?” Ribbon smirked in Magolor’s direction. He made sure to look away.

“Kirby helped me save all our planet,” she continued. “Kirby, Addy, Bandana, Mister Dedede and I all saved the day and got medals and everything!”

Magolor jerked up.

“That’s…” he couldn’t help but stare at her. “When did that happen—?”

“Oh, a few years ago,” Adeleine said.

“And it’s just the first of many, for me,” Ribbon added, dropping into a fighting stance. She punched the air vigorously.

“It’s really not a big deal,” Adeleine gave an awkward laugh. “Just that Ribbon was in serious trouble and we all wanted to help her out. You know? I mean…we were gone from Popstar a really, really long time, but…”

“It is a big deal,” Ribbon gasped. “We’re heroes!”

“It—it was just a lot of stuff,” Bandana said.

“We’re allowed to be proud of it,” Ribbon huffed.

“I-I just don’t think it’s very fair to Magolor…” Adeleine frowned, and she rambled on about ‘ feeling welcome’ and other things Magolor was repulsed by. He ought to correct them, he thought, tell them he wasn’t so fragile, and yet he was busy staring at the floorboards.

He counted. Five people.

And as they recounted their grand adventure, he found himself grimacing and twitching under his hood.

Sure—Kirby helped people all the time. Magolor knew that much. But an adventure with five people, spanning many months, across many places…

“Hey, guys, just so you know, we’re gonna be eatin’ soon,” Dedede stepped in to say.

“Aw, okay, guess you’re gonna have to hurry it up, Ribbon.”

“Mmmph! I’ll try!”

“Yeah, well, I’m not gonna wait for you,” Dedede said, as he left.

“Rude!”

“First come first serve!”

Magolor steeled himself. Obviously if the Kirby he knew…the Kirby back home, or wherever he came from…had been on some adventure like this, they’d have mentioned it, right? If it was really as big of a deal as they were making it out to be. 

But they had mentioned Adeleine, hadn’t they? No, there had to be some coincidence. Their stories were too similar. Someone would’ve had to have pointed it out. Dedede would’ve made a joke about it, and then Kirby would say something silly, and Magolor would think about it until he made himself sick, and then they’d move on with life.

He swallowed thickly, rubbing his paws together when he approached them.

“Kirby? Are you really…sure you’re okay with this?”

He’d asked them to do so much already. Landia was just too much. And he saw how Meta Knight glared at him when he asked.

“Of course, Maaaagaroni and cheese! I’m having so much fun! And it means we get to hang out longer!”

They hugged him.

“I promise I won’t forget any of it,” they said. “That’s the least I can do, right?”

Magolor just put on a happy face, but to force himself to say anything…he couldn’t even remember his response.

-

One by one, they took their seats at the table. Ribbon patted down her wings, and Kirby tapped his paws against the edge of the table as Bandana arranged the plates.

Magolor had found it odd before, how the chairs at the narrow ends of the table were shorter than the rest, but as Ripple lowered herself into hers, he understood. They sat at much more equal heights. Dedede insisted Adeleine take the other short chair, so he had to duck his head to keep from hitting the ceiling.

It must have been amusing, because they were laughing.

There was a fork in front of him, Magolor noted, and he twirled it in his fingers while the others spoke. Spoke of “how was your trip?” “how have you been?” and other things that might lull him into sleep.

“This is amazing, Dedede. Thank you so much for helping out.”

“With how tired you are, it was only fair—“

“It’s food that’s not enchanted, for once! Bandana, you get to eat like this every day?!”

“Umm…you don’t like enchanted food?”

“Sheesh, Ribbon, I can take a hint.”

A giggle. “Sorry, but yours tastes a little too much like paint. This stuff doesn’t need magic to be good! And the aftertaste of magic is, like…awful.”

“You’re just tired of it.”

“It’s true! It’s like ground up rocks!”

“Diamonds.”

“Well, they are rocks.”

“Better than magic, hmm? I’m just gonna hope that’s a compliment, then. Right? ”

“It’s what I said!”

“And you even put all this effort into it, huh?” Dedede mused, twirling his skewer.

The sharp and bitter smell of fish—cooked, but more accurately, burned—clung to the air. Kirby grunted and complained that they wouldn’t let him inhale it; his tiny fangs didn’t do much to tear the rough surface, but Meta Knight insisted. He sat farther away, near the edge, where the grass met sand and led to sea.

“Oh, don’t be a pain. This is the best he’s done yet, what do you want from him?”

They turned to Magolor, just slightly.

“You really feel that way?” Dedede tilted his head.

Magolor’s ears pricked and he wiped his mouth, before pulling his collar up. He’d done it again, speaking without thinking.

“I just want everyone to get along,” he smiled. He should’ve let them fight, he thought.

Meta Knight stood up from his spot and rejoined their circle. His skewer was empty, but stained with remnants of fish. He sat down next to Magolor.

“Thank you,” he said.

“I just don’t like fish all that much,” Dedede mumbled. “It’s like meat that can’t commit to being meat.”

“Like chicken,” Kirby chirped.

“Sorta, yeah.”

“That’s your favorite, isn’t it, Kirby?” Meta Knight asked.

“Everything’s my favorite,” Kirby nodded, decisively, taking another chomp. He held it in his mouth and stopped chewing. “…Maybe not this, though.”

Meta Knight’s shoulders dropped. With a “hmph”, he wrapped himself in his cape. Dedede couldn’t stifle his snickering.

“I’ll just have to teach ya,” he said, and Meta Knight winced.

“The way you do it? I’d like to see that,” Magolor had said. He was sure he had. “I’d kill to eat that good all the time!”

Dedede’s eyes lit up, and he prepared to speak—

“For someone so ungrateful…” Meta Knight closed his eyes, bristling. “You do have a knack for it. How you ever picked that up, I have no idea.”

“Well, someone was never much help keeping us fed when we were out on missions—“

“You should’ve been a chef! Too bad, really. If you hadn’t been born a prince, I mean. Fate is such a cruel mistress.”

Magolor had been talking, but thinking about it now, it felt like someone else.

Dedede raised an eyebrow. “But I wasn’t—“

“…You know, Sir Meta Knight,” Bandana glanced up from his fish. “Whenever it’s your turn, you always insist on foraging?”

“Or it’s something from your cape,” Kirby added.

“It’s very practical,” he dipped his head. “Though my storage is a little low, at the moment…”

Dedede elbowed Bandee and whispered something to him. He giggled, though he tried to hide it with his paw.

“Would you care to share that with the rest of the group?” Meta Knight leered at them.

“Nope,” Dedede grinned, smugly.

“He was just speculating,” Bandee said, a gleam in his eyes.

“…Ah!” Magolor shot up and pointed a finger at him. “You can’t cook to save your life!”

They laughed. Magolor glanced at Kirby, who was looking around, vacantly. They tried to laugh too.

“What’s so funny?” Magolor asked, noting how everyone was glued to them.

“It just was,” Adeleine said, face red. “And the way he said it!”

“Well, you know what?” Dedede said with a sly grin, “I bet that’s not what the N-Z thought.”

Ribbon burst into laughter. “I forgot about that!” she squealed.

“I still don’t understand why you find that so funny,” Ripple said, shaking her head.

“You just had to be there,” Ribbon shrugged at her, a bright smile and pink flush, painting her face.

Ripple’s smile vanished. Adeleine was quick to interject and change the subject. Magolor decided it was better to not look up from his plate. 

Weird reaction, he thought. Maybe they pitied him? They had no reason to, he thought. They were being too sensitive. Of course they were allowed to talk about their time together. Magolor just wasn’t feeling very hungry.

But, I guess…

When he closed his eyes, he remembered how Kirby looked at him. And the things they–all four of them–said to him when the others weren’t listening.

“No, but seriously. There’s only been more and more rifts opening as of late,” he heard Dedede say. “Are you sure you really wanna–?”

“It’s fine! I’ve been working really hard!” Ribbon said. “I’m gonna get stronger and stronger, and then I’ll protect everyone!”

“Me too,” Kirby said.

“Ripple?” Dedede asked.

Magolor pushed his chair back and got up. The others looked at him; he slid his half-eaten plate over to Kirby. 

“Magolor? Where are you going?” Bandana asked.

It didn’t matter. All of it was senseless. He mumbled out what he hoped would be enough of an answer, and off he went.

He closed the front door behind him and breathed the fresh air. It smelled like rain. He decided he preferred it.

“I’m off,” he said, too aware he was saying it to no one.

Chapter Text

“And that’s why I’m here,” Magolor finished, with a sigh. He was met with silence.

“What? Don’t give me that look.”

He poked Gooey’s side, but it just blinked up at him. Its mouth formed a nearly straight line, and he looked almost as if he’d just heard some very bad news. Magolor exhaled, almost a laugh–he looked so silly with its mouth hanging open and eyes wide as could be. Like a fish. 

Gooey rumbled and echoed with a sort of wobbly, erratic purring sound. Magolor sat back, propping himself up over the grass. 

“Know what?” he mused. “I like you, little dude. You’re easy. Everyone else expects stuff. Like, they wanna know where I’m going and what I’m feeling and bla bla bla. You, though? You just vibe. No thoughts. I like that.”

Gooey slid over to him and stuck his tongue out, just barely. Under his collar, Magolor “blepped” back. Gooey nudged his side, playfully, and Magolor always bristled at the touch. Its skin–if you could call it that–was cold and, of course, gooey. But it never failed to give him chills. Something about it reminded him of the power of dimensional magic, but a little different. It was a touch he felt so strongly, overwhelming his senses, and yet it was like nothing at all. Like reaching into a void.

“What?” he asked. 

Gooey frowned at him.

“Not you too,” Magolor groaned.

A call rang through the air, a long coo to signal Gooey home. Gooey turned back in its direction, the one he always left in, and it was then that Magolor realized the sun was setting. Gooey stared at him.

“Yeah, yeah, you have people who care about you, we get it,” Magolor rolled his eyes and lifted off the ground. He wiped the grass off his cape. “Enjoy it while you can.”

Gooey blinked, slowly, unsure what else to do. Magolor forced himself to turn around. They went their separate ways, and he found that the forest seemed much darker without someone beside him. With nowhere else to go, he went home.

Home? Kirby’s home, he corrected himself.

A faint light flickered in the window and he had to force himself to swallow his thoughts. If they asked any questions, he’d simply tell them he was with his bestest buddy Gooey. 

Smile, he reminded himself, before opening the door.

The living room was dark and empty, though he heard voices from upstairs. His ear flicked and he stood there, waiting for something he couldn’t even name. There was no greeting. No concern. 

Of course.

Heavy footsteps thumped against the stairs, and his ears perked. Dedede looked up from where he was walking.

“Oh, hey, Mags,” he said.

Magolor sank, just a little.

“Evening,” he wound up muttering. “What happened to Bandana?”

“Hm?” Dedede stepped off the staircase. “He’s gonna stay and catch up some more.”

Magolor suddenly wished he’d stayed outside. Even if there were bugs or if it rained.

“Huh,” was all he could say. “It sure is nice of you to let him do that.”

“Let him? He can do whatever he wants, he’s not my responsibility or nothin’,” Dedede gave him a funny look, eyebrow quirked, not that he could see it all that well with his head held low. “You’ve been real weird today, Mags. You okay?”

Dedede had folded his arms, which usually meant he was doing some thinking. Magolor didn’t like that.

“You’re a good kid, Mags. I don’t mind looking out for one more.”

In fact, he hated it. Without thinking, a hand crawled to his throat, and he was all too aware of his body. Like he could feel it breathing and it wasn’t quite his.

Dedede was staring at him. Magolor could just stay quiet—people usually gave up on waiting for an answer after a while. It wasn’t like he had anything to say to him.

“Anyway,” Dedede turned his head. “It’ll do him some good to hang out with someone his own age for once instead of a geezer like me.”

“So if it were up to you, you’d let him?” Magolor didn’t know why he asked.

Dedede frowned, or at least, he started to.

“Of course,” he said. “I know I’m president, but you don’t need my permission to do stuff. Is that what you’re—“

“I-I’d like to work tomorrow.”

He decided right as he said it. He could hear the voices from upstairs, and it made his skin crawl. He had to.

“Huh?”

“No, the whole week,” Magolor raised his voice, and aware of it, he cleared his throat. “I’m going to. Just so you know.”

Dedede looked at him and let out a huff. “You must be outta your mind for that.”

Of course, Magolor nodded. Going back there without Dedede could only mean one thing.

“He’s already giving me trouble for this,” Dedede continued, with a shake of the head. “But…yeah. Maybe it’s a good idea.” 

Magolor strained his eyes. What was that expression?

“Just…try to not make things worse,” Dedede said.

Magolor scoffed. These people were impossible.

-

The next day, Meta Knight stood outside his office door, mindlessly watching the wall in front of him and fussing with his glove. The hallway was empty, Magolor realized. 

Frick. They were alone and all he could think was frick.

“Ah.”

Meta Knight turned his head and caught his gaze, striking Magolor with the bright flash of his eyes.

“There you are,” he dipped his head. “I thought I might greet you while the others are preparing.”

“Congratulations then,” Magolor had to force himself to speak more than a mumble. He watched as Meta Knight shifted and squinted at him. “‘Cause you just did that.”

Meta Knight just blinked, studying him, almost. Like he was some sort of alien. Magolor could hear his voice echoing in his ears, just waiting for him to ask whatever question. To demand something of him, however gently, like always.

Instead, his gaze flicked back to the corner, a series of pots and plants against the wall.

“How is…” he began, quietly. Magolor strained his ears. There was a hum and the clear of a throat.

“How are they?” he asked.

Kirby.

“Oh, wonderful,” Magolor’s grin hurt his cheeks. “They’re just loving all the extra company, you know? He’s so happy to have his best friends around!”

Meta Knight tilted his head, just slightly.

“I didn’t mean—“ he stammered.

“Well, whatever,” Magolor huffed. “Awesome that you don’t hate him or whatever, but I didn’t come here to play around with you. Just give me a task and I’ll do it the best I can. You’d like that, right?”

Meta Knight narrowed his eyes. Magolor expected to hear a growl.

“I understand,” he said, plainly. “At least you’re not completely incompetent.”

“Thank you,” Magolor finished with a “hmph.”

With a sigh and a swoosh of the cape, Meta Knight turned on his heel and led him forward. The halls flooded with sunlight, drawing them to the outside. The exit door was surrounded by glass panels that glittered and blinded him until Magolor wondered if he might step into another world. Through the glass, he could see the other crew members stretching and warming up.

“I expect good work today,” Meta Knight said. “Regardless of where your heart lies.”

“Bleh,” Magolor rolled his eyes.

Meta Knight grumbled something.

“Just don’t start any fights,” he said, at last. “And don’t get Sailor upset. For everyone’s sake.”

Those were things he was less inclined to guarantee. Especially when that last one sounded so fun.

-

Magolor found that Meta Knight’s crew was almost as stuffy as he was. He introduced him to everyone and the reactions varied from some refusing to look him in the eye to stiffly greeting him and glaring at him when they thought he wasn’t looking. It kept Magolor’s ears perked and aching.

But why should he care what they thought? That’s what he told himself, as he moved further and further away from the group.

“Sounds like they’re done over there,” a sharp ding from the device in Sailor’s paws notified them of it. “Let‘s get going—“

Sailor stared at Magolor, who was crouched low to the ground, sifting dirt through his hand. 

“Hey, egghead,” she snapped. “Come on.”

Magolor reached his paw back down, deeper, this time. He pushed it against the dirt that collapsed back overtop of it, as if fighting the current. He sniffed, looking for a sign. And behind him, Sailor gaped at him like he was doing something ridiculous. Probably because he was.

“Aha!”

Magolor jolted up, pinching a bottle cap in his fingers.

“I knew there’d be stuff around here!” he cheered.

Sailor rubbed her temples. “Are you having fun over there?”

“Yes, actually!” Magolor straightened himself, and despite their distance, he could tell she was glaring. “You know there’s tons of stuff in this dirt?”

“It’s dirt,” Sailor said.

“But it’s good dirt,” he raised a finger. “And in my experience, all these rift hotspots are just filled with stuff under the surface! Hm, it’s too bad Gooey isn’t here. You guys should hire him.”

It occurred to Magolor that Gooey wouldn’t have time for that. Not when it had a family looking out for them.

Sailor rolled up their latest report and tucked it into the back of their cart. Thinking about it, she shook her head.

“I don’t think Sir Meta Knight’s all that interested in what’s in the dirt, you know,” they said. Magolor couldn’t help but roll his eyes. He placed the cap in the cart, right on top of the logbook. Sailor’s face scrunched up as they stared at his earth-stained gloves, practically scowling.

“You haven’t found anything weird, have you?” their eyes were squinted, just slightly, almost as if disgusted. Actually, it was a look Magolor had seen on Meta Knight.

“Just junk,” he bristled at the realization and rubbed his paws together. “It’s all pretty normal.”

“Nothing magical?”

“That–that’d be strange, for sure,” Magolor said. “Why do you ask?”

Sailor glanced back at their machinery, a device that flashed slowly.

“You’re not here to ask questions,” they huffed.

“Yeah, but neither are you, right?”

Something rumbled in Sailor’s throat, akin to a growl, and they turned back to their setup.

“You pick it up, then,” they said. “Take us to the next spot.”

Magolor’s ear flicked. His smirk twitched under his collar. 

“You just love having someone to boss around, now, don’t you?” he said carefully, lacing every word. 

He’d only barely watched when Sailor had set up and slowly, mindful of every step, assembled the machinery and plugged everything into each other just so. He’d forgotten half of it by then. 

“Must run in the family,” he shrugged.

Sailor sat on the edge of the cart, and he heard them scoff. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, you know.”

“No, I don’t,” Sailor said, but that quiet, icy tone betrayed them. The way they just slightly spat their words.

She turned her head.

“He’s not…bossy,” they mumbled.

Magolor pulled the cord connecting (what was, to him) one thing from another thing, a beautifully engineered thing, and less than carefully stacked thing on the cart. Dreamland technology, or whatever this was, was pretty different from what he was used to, like it was slapped together and only somehow made sense.

His ear twitched at Sailor’s shuddering inhale. 

“He just—knows how to do things right,” she nodded, decisively. “You can’t complain when he does a good job. And I mean, people listen to him. Not just anyone can do that.”

Magolor pulled back, finished.

“Like Dedede,” he said. “Can’t complain, hm?”

“Yeah, whatever. He—Sir Meta Knight did it better.”

Sailor hopped off the cart and grabbed its handle, briefly stopping to glare at Magolor.

“You’re pulling it next,” she said.

“Aww, you do care,” Magolor grinned. He hovered over and sat down on the cart. Sailor didn’t complain, to his surprise. They just looked ahead.

Don’t want me to see your face? It gave him a sense of triumph, in a way. He smirked.

“Yeah, see, you’re just like him,” he continued. “I can read you like a book. A very, very self righteous book.”

“Shut up”. He waited to hear it.

“You don’t know anything,” she mumbled.

How wrong she was.

“Why did you…” she stopped, rattling the cart. Looked out in the direction—they could both see it, the ongoing battle against an ice dragon. “No, nevermind. I don’t wanna hear it.”

Exactly, Magolor nodded to himself.

“Pssh,” he flicked his wrist. “C’mon, we have work to do.”

-

They’d made good time—the crew hadn’t even left the site of their latest battle when they caught up to them. Sailor stopped to talk to Javelin, leaving Magolor with nothing to do but wait. Meta Knight glanced at them, over his shoulder.

“I’ll take a look at things,” Magolor said, clasping his hands together. “Sound good, Magolor? Thanks for telling me, Magolor. You’re so cool and smart and thoughtful.”

Someone was definitely staring at him.

It wasn’t Sailor, clearly, since they didn’t even hear a word he said. Sighing, he left them to their own devices and approached the scuffled ground.

It was uneven with footprints from the battle. Impressive. If anything was buried, it might’ve shifted—he stopped. Anything? No, there was something there. He could feel it, buried in his nerves, in his whiskers.

The reader. He spun; it was behind him. Sailor was returning to the cart. Good. She could get it.

“Magolor.”

His fur bristled. Meta Knight stood beside him, over him. Magolor crouched back down to stare at the dirt.

Was that the first time he said it? His name? He didn’t know. Couldn’t look at him, not when the air was so thick.

“D-Do you need something?” He winced. Calm down.

“I thought you might notice it,” Meta Knight said. He lowered himself closer to the ground and patted it.

“The…magic?” Magolor asked.

“Yes,” he closed his eyes. 

Magolor felt it, like stardust in his paws. Wobbly. Sandy but untouchable. Meta Knight continued.

“What do you think could be causing this?”

“E-Erm…I mean, it has a distinct signature, don’t you think—?”

He nodded. “I thought someone like you would realize. Your magic is…interesting.”

Magolor’s fur stood on end, remembering the jolt of Meta Knight’s lightning.

“It’s becoming harder to deny,” he continued, swiping dirt away with his hand. Beneath it, the soil was even stranger. Almost firm and when Magolor touched it, it settled into a pattern. Like spiderwebs. “Someone is causing this. These aren’t just coincidence.”

Meta Knight inched closer.

Magolor held his breath. “Really?”

“It seems likely,” he said. “Whoever it might be…some strange wizard from a foreign land, or maybe someone in our own town…”

Magolor clenched himself.

Meta Knight stepped back. 

“I have some choice words for them, is all,” he finished.

Footsteps padded closer. Thank god. Magolor held back a sigh of relief as Sailor approached, scanner in hand. Meta Knight didn’t look away.

“I’ll tell them to stop for lunch,” he said. “We may be here a while.”

-

Embarrassingly, Magolor had taken a sandwich from Ripple that morning. He hadn’t given much thought to food, since Dedede was almost always so generous with it, and when they’d found out he was leaving, Ripple tasked herself with giving him something before he left.

He did try to thank her, but she was already doing too much for him. He’d slept in her bed, for star’s sake. Just thinking about it made him feel all sickly.

Ripple. Kirby. Ribbon. Adeleine. It was so much. He told himself not to think about it, but the only thing in front of him to think about was also…less than pleasant.

And Sailor was talking to the others. Casually. He suppressed a groan.

“And you’re sure that’s enough to eat?” Meta Knight’s voice made him flinch, and he sat down beside him, right against the cart.

Shoot.

“It’s what I have,” Magolor grumbled.

With a sigh, Meta Knight turned and reached into his cape, returning his fist with a delicately wrapped fruit tart in hand. By the packaging, it was from the local bakery.

“Don’t—“ Magolor started.

“You’re under me, I need you fed,” Meta Knight said, firmly. Sinking, Magolor took it from him. “Anyway, I’ve learned the importance of carrying extra with me, lately.”

Magolor’s ear tilted.

“Did Kirby tell you about me?” Meta Knight asked.

“Um, what would he tell?”

Meta Knight looked off. “We used to know each other.”

Magolor scoffed at the irony.

“Do you…” his eyes dimmed. He watched his crew, ahead of them. “Do you know his species?”

Strangely, Magolor could’ve sworn he sounded almost…sad.

“Do you know where you come from?”

He could picture it so clearly—the sunlight that painted Meta Knight’s face through the window, that day.

“No,” Magolor said. Well, he didn’t know much. Just bits and pieces he’d picked up over the years. He never really gave it much thought. Kirby was Kirby; everybody knew that. No, he’d been too focused on controlling them…

Meta Knight tilted his head. “Then, why..?”

He had to come up with something. Shrugging, he said, “I dunno, seemed pretty obvious to me.”

In the corner of his eye, he noticed Meta Knight’s wing flick. 

“Well,” Meta Knight took a breath. “These portals and monsters have been keeping me busy for a very long time.”

“So..?”

Meta Knight turned away. He held a glazed bread roll in his hands and carefully lifted his mask to bite into it. His wing faced Magolor, like a shield.

Honestly, it was hard for Magolor to feel like he was talking to a person. Not when he was like that.

“Otherwise, who knows?” Meta Knight sighed. “I could’ve done it sooner. You know.”

“But you were a coward,” Magolor said, chuckling darkly. “And now he has to rely on some creepy wizard, huh? Is that what you think?”

Meta Knight’s gaze bore into him. Magolor ducked his head back deeper into his hood, but his eyes were far too bright for it to matter. It burned him.

“What I think…” Meta Knight repeated, softly. His eyelids fluttered, for just a moment, and he stared back at him. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately.”

He eyed the tart , then Magolor. Waiting.

“Hey, you should know how awkward it is to eat in front of somebody,” Magolor huffed. Not that he ever gave it much thought, but with Meta Knight—

Who had also spent most of their journey saying he was fine, in spite of his injuries, and getting flustered when asked to eat, and Magolor really suspected it was out of embarrassment, especially when the notion of sharing was brought up—

“Mm.”

Meta Knight nodded, standing up. Magolor’s ears dropped down and then perked right back up, and it felt so much better that way. Because he was leaving.

“I’ll go speak with Sailor,” he said, watching them. “I think it’s best we look into this now. This can’t keep happening.”

He passed Magolor a glance as he walked off.

I hate you, Magolor decided. He wondered if he made everyone feel that way. All guilty and queasy. He half considered tossing the fruit tart aside, but he was hungry. So he took an aggressive chomp.

Dammit.

Why did it always have to taste good?

Chapter Text

Sailor turned to Meta Knight, and Meta Knight turned to Sailor. Javelin flashed its monitor, and the others gathered around, talking back and forth. Their movements were big—frantic. Maybe they were arguing, Magolor thought, but he had no intention of doing anything but watching from a comfortable distance.

Sailor…they had always mentioned them at the weirdest times. Now, she stared down at their machine, nodding and answering the others’ questions in short bursts.

There was no doubt about it. That cold look in their eyes, the stiff and subtle mannerisms. Nothing like Kirby. 

Because Kirby made sense. They needed each other. Kirby was a force to be reckoned with; once they got attached to you, you could never shake them off.

But Meta Knight looked at Sailor so casually. There was no anger, no bitterness. He never liked Magolor because he was strange and annoying. So why would he ever like Sailor? Why give them attention?

For some reason—and as quickly as he thought it, he shook it off—he just couldn’t help but think maybe he wasn’t good enough.

Suddenly, it didn’t feel so cold outside. Magolor’s frown hurt. Even as he joined their circle, he silenced his thoughts.

“I think that covers it,” Meta Knight nodded. “Any questions?”

He scanned the huddle, lingering on Magolor, who was staring off into space. He snapped.

“Did you hear a word I just said? Magolor?”

Beside him, Sailor swatted him with her nub.

“Yes!” Magolor shot up. “Stars, can’t a guy think in peace? It’s rude to pick on others, you know…”

He hoped no one heard his voice shake.

“It’s what he does,” someone muttered.

“Playing favorites,” another sighed.

Sailor cleared her throat.

“I’m trying to get everyone to do their jobs,” Meta Knight narrowed his gaze, leering at him. “That is all.” He turned to the others. “You’re dismissed. Good luck out there.”

Whoever was muttering, they were already getting a lecture from Trident Knight and Magolor didn’t envy them. Still, they walked off in groups, leaving just the three of them.

Shoot. The three of them.

“Sir—“ Sailor started.

Meta Knight raised a hand. “No. Whatever we find, I want to be first to see it.”

“Greedy much?” Magolor said, under his breath.

“Hold your tongue,” Sailor glared at him. “You’re setting a bad example.”

“For who? No one’s watching,” Magolor said, rolling his eyes.

Sailor just glanced off, eyebrows furrowed.

“It’s fine, Sailor,” Meta Knight said. “They have every right to doubt me.” He kept an eye on Magolor. “My attention’s been split, as of late.”

Sailor’s face scrunched up even deeper, almost as if they were scowling.

“Come on, then,” Meta Knight said, turning back to the site of the battle. He walked ahead and grabbed the scanner, then fiddled with the knob on it. Stalling, maybe. Sailor was too busy glaring at the ground to do anything about it.

“Aww, don’t be jealous,” Magolor grinned, before reaching over to pat her head. She jumped and flailed her paws like she might attack him.

“Don’t do that!” She hissed.

“Sorry, sorry,” he definitely wasn’t sorry. “But you know how it is. He’s very busy with his new pupil and it would be wrong to distract him from that, right?”

“Wh-what are you—“

“I know,” he sighed, sweetly, and adjusted his gloves. “You’ve known him practically your whole life and you want to repay him sooo badly. It really is touching. Too bad he’s got other things to do.”

“Magolor!” Meta Knight’s stern voice pulled their heads in his direction. “It keeps going!”

Magolor’s ear flopped to the side. He patted Sailor on the shoulder one last time before joining him where the battle took place.

“Do you feel that?” Meta Knight turned to him as he approached.

Like a delicate heartbeat, with a bit of focus, he could feel the magic pulsing in the air, like glitter in his blood. Like what he felt before, but more…unstable. It hadn’t dissipated yet; no, it was coming from somewhere.

“That’s odd,” he said. “It’s not usually so potent as to leave a whole trail…”

Meta Knight glanced at him. “So it’s as I suspected. There’s only one thing to do.”

“Ignore it?” Magolor considered saying. His ear flicked.

“I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up,” Meta Knight continued, looking back at the both of them—Sailor, who gathered their things in her paws and had only just caught up with them. “Let’s proceed with caution. I’ll be counting on your intellect, Magolor.”

“Pff, you sure you don’t have enough for the both of us already?” Magolor flicked his wrist. 

“It’s nice to have a second opinion, is all.”

Magolor hunched over. Of course you’d say that…

Meta Knight walked ahead, gesturing for them to follow. Magolor squinted his eyes as tight as he could and tried to imagine what it would be like if he made him trip right about then, but it would do no good to stand around, so he followed. Sailor had to resort to pulling the cart alone.

They traced the magic through the field and dirt paths that followed it. Meta Knight took the lead with the same brisk pace and commanding energy he always did, only briefly turning to make sure the others were keeping up.

Magolor always stayed within distance of his shadow—the perfect distance to lunge at him or run away from him if need be. But luckily, Meta Knight was focused on what was ahead, occasionally shifting his wings eagerly.

They ventured deeper, the dry grass crunching beneath Meta Knight’s sabatons, only to be crushed by Sailor’s cart when she finally caught up with them.

Eventually, Magolor was pretty sure they had passed quite a few signs. The air was sort of different; more dry. Wherever they were, it was far away from the others. His insides were hollow from all the hovering and it made him a little dizzy.

Find something. Anything.

“We’ve, uh, we’ve been walking for a long time now, right?” Magolor asked. Meta Knight slowed down to look at him.

“Yes, don’t you sense the trail here?”

“Y-Yeah, of course, but—just look at Sailor back there! She’s looking all sluggish, don’t you think?”

Meta Knight stopped. He turned over his shoulder.

“She’ll be fine, I’m sure, but this is getting to be a little silly, don’t you think—?” Magolor asked.

Meta Knight waved in her direction. “Sailor! Take a break! We’ll return soon!”

Magolor blinked. “Huh?” But it was too late. Sailor had already yelled her response—something between a groan and an “ugh, fine”—and Meta Knight just kept walking.

Magolor heaved a sigh. He really was good at creating trouble for himself, he thought. He floated low to the ground and dipped his head lower, where the bright afternoon sun couldn’t breach him.

Step, step, step.

How odd. The rhythm had shifted. Meta Knight slowed down.

“Magolor.”

His hackles raised. Meta Knight was watching him, over his shoulder.

“You’re staying with Lady Ripple, correct?”

“Uh…yeah. For a little bit longer, anyway.”

“I see.”

His gaze narrowed. He was calculating and Magolor knew it.

“Do you, like, know her or something?” Magolor asked.

“Hm, no. But I figured you might.”

“Please, I’ve hardly said two words to her…”

But they’d spoken of some sort of adventure, and it was obvious all of them knew each other. The others. He sort of assumed Meta Knight did, too.

“She’s friends with Dedede,” Magolor offered.

“Nova knows how,” he muttered.

Magolor’s ear flicked.

“He’s charismatic,” he said. “Obviously people are gonna like him. You’re not special just because you don’t.”

Meta Knight eyed him, before turning back around. 

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Magolor scoffed. “You sound soooo much like Sailor. It’s like I’m spending the day with two of the same person.”

He heard him huff. “You know he’s just pitying you.”

“What, don’t tell me you’re jealous?”

Something akin to a growl.

“No,” he said, flatly. “Just that he’s naïve and overly compassionate. Like everyone else in this town. He doesn’t even know the meaning of his title.”

“Yeah, whatever, I know you’re a softie—“

Meta Knight shot him a glare. He must’ve been walking slower, Magolor realized, because they were suddenly much closer.

“Overly,” he repeated, pointing a finger.

Magolor rolled his eyes. “What do you mean, anyway? ‘His title’.”

Meta Knight’s eyes slit, like little toothpicks. His gaze seized him, and he looked him up and down almost like he was sizing him up.

“You know one can’t exactly be president of a town, right?”

“Uhhh…” truthfully, Magolor only really knew of towns from books. “Well, I don’t see the problem with it.”

“Yes, well, no one else seems to mind,” he glanced away. “So I suppose that’s worth something. But it’s impractical. And…well, who’s to say what might happen?”

His eyes dimmed.

“If he can just disappear and leave everything to fall apart…”

His cape shifted. He might’ve not even realized, with his wings still folded and just barely twitching, held in place, almost the same as before, but they’d transformed.

“Oh my god,” Magolor gasped, softly. “You’re actually worried about him?”

His wings hiked and he muttered, quickly: “Ay díos, did you hear a word I just said?” He sputtered.

“I kept things going for months. This town is an administrative nightmare. Look at you, hardly more than a child and I’m dragging you out onto a battlefield. I don’t know how no one else is bothered by any of this.”

“Huh,” Magolor clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “I’ve never heard you talk so much.”

Except for that time you accused me of who knows what, but, hey…he shrugged to himself. Different worlds don’t count, I guess.

Meta Knight tilted his head, now fully stopped in his tracks. 

“Of course you’re no different. I don’t know what I was thinking.” He shifted his head away, unsure where to look.

“Cold, but coming from someone so high and mighty, I’ll take it,” Magolor said, folding his paws to the best of his ability. “What makes you so sure I’m so young, huh?”

Meta Knight glanced at him. “Plucky,” he mumbled. “And cocky in a way only someone who hasn’t been hurt enough times can afford to be.”

“Okay, asshole.”

Glare.

“Well,” Magolor shrugged. “Assumptions make an ass out of you and me, so you really can’t be mad at me for saying it, can you—“

“It was just intuition,” Meta Knight sighed. “You’ve butted in where you don’t belong, plenty, yourself. I still…can’t figure it out.”

Magolor raised an eyebrow at him.

“Magolor, do you think I hate you?” he tilted his head.

Magolor’s ears jumped and flicked wildly. He tightened his paws against each other—clenched his face in an effort to not make one.

Laugh, dammit!

“Why would I think that?” he smiled wide until it hurt his cheeks and let out his heartiest laugh. “You’ve only growled at me like, what, fifty times?”

Meta Knight’s gaze flicked off and he hummed. He stepped forward, then again, and motioned for Magolor to follow.

Magolor bristled, at first. He was cold and starting to get a headache, but all he could do was continue.

Meta Knight’s golden eyes shone no clear light on the dead yellow grass. His cape fluttered gently behind him, carried by the autumn breeze, until he picked it up in his paws and wrapped it around himself.

“Hate him?” Magolor repeated the words in his mind. “Hate him.” Was that right? Surely, Magolor hated him, as well.

Meta Knight closed his eyes and shuffled against his cape until he was cozy. He let out a long sigh.

Magolor had to laugh, and so he huffed. 

Look at you—even now, you’re literally cold. What a pain.

Maybe he should’ve stayed home, after all.

Home…

“To…to be clear,” he spoke, lowly–Meta Knight. “I do think…if there’s one thing—if—“ he sank, then shook his head. “Evidently, this town can only scrape by without him.”

Magolor didn’t think about it. “Aww, so you’re not all ego, after all.”

“I don’t know where you get these ideas about me,” he mumbled. “Unless it’s from him..? Nova, it’s not Kirby, is it?”

Magolor rolled his eyes. “Let’s just say I’m familiar with your type.”

“Ah.”

Meta Knight blinked, then softened.

“Hm.”

He could make fun of him, Magolor thought. It was the perfect moment. He must be tired from walking.

“Well, keep an eye on him for me,” Meta Knight said, at last, with a nod. “Both of them. I don’t know what’s going on with Dedede or why he’s suddenly playing so nice, but leaving Kirby with those people…”

“What, two kids and their mom?”

“And you,” he added.

“Sheesh, dude.”

“Until we have this settled, you can’t be too careful,” he said, looking ahead. The sky stretched forever, gray above dry, dry land. “I’m sure…they’re nice people, but especially with everything that happened…”

Happened?

He dropped his cape and readjusted his mask.

“Well, you get the gist of it.”

As they came across a sign, Meta Knight dusted some sand off its top, where it read “Raisin Ruins”. Magolor suppressed a shudder.

“I really don’t,” he said. “Get it. They went on some adventure, didn’t they? That’s why they’re friends.”

Meta Knight had his back turned to him, apparently more engaged with the sign.

“Like—“ Magolor scratched his head. “Like they spent all that time together, of course they like each other! Didn’t they save the world? If they did all that, I don’t see—just stop being so cryptic, for once, would you?!”

“For once”. He clasped a paw over his mouth.

“Magolor…”

He swiveled around—but of course, there was nobody for miles, so running would be no good. His ears flipped up and down, until they pressed so hard against his head it almost hurt, but worst of all, Meta Knight would be able to tell. 

He looked at him, over his shoulder.

“That woman was possessed by dark matter,” he said. “For a very, very long time.”

Chapter Text

Something panged against Magolor’s chest. 

There was a time, he thought, a sort of vague memory or a moment he just had to reach for and dust off and remember—when everything was dark. Distant and muffled.

He clutched at his chest and took deep breaths. He just had to feel it. The magic. Feel anything, really. But as long as he could still sense the magic, coating the air like some thick, nauseous poison—that was enough, right? He was there. He was in control.

“It might be horrible to say,” Meta Knight said, turning on his heel to face him. “But we can’t rule it out. It could happen again.”

But nobody said anything. Sure, Ripple—Lady Ripple, Miss Ripple, whatever her name was—she was deathly pale and struggled on her feet, but she was also so warm and bright when he looked at her. Everybody had surely forgiven her. There was no way she could’ve been really, truly possessed. Not like the sick way Meta Knight was talking about it.

Meta Knight held out a hand, watching it closely, and readjusted his glove.

“You never know who could be next,” he said, under his breath.

He turned out towards the path, where the horizon yellowed with the sand ahead of them.

“S-She’ll be leaving soon,” Magolor said.

“I know.”

Magolor stuttered, earning him a curious look from Meta Knight.

“Could you—could you tell me more?” Magolor asked.

“I don’t know more. You’re the one they like.”

“No, they…” he glanced down. “No, they shouldn’t. Like you said, everyone’s just naïve.”

A squint of the eyes. “You could ask them if you’d like to know.”

Magolor’s mouth was dry.

“All I can say is that Kirby really likes you,” Meta Knight continued. 

“Kirby likes everyone.”

“Except me.”

There was no way that was true. Magolor opened his mouth to protest, but—

“I have a feeling this magic runs deeper,” Meta Knight said, turning towards the vast sea of sand. “Don’t you agree?”

Right, the magic. It might’ve been stronger than where they started—but Sailor was the one with the detector.

Right. She must’ve been bored without them.

Probably a good thing.

“U-Uh, yeah,” Magolor said.

Meta Knight closed his eyes for just a moment, then whipped around and started walking the other direction. Back towards Sailor..?

No matter how he thought about it, Magolor couldn’t decide what it meant.

“Are we going home?” he zoomed ahead to reach Meta Knight.

“Yes,” he nodded. “We’ll file the report immediately, and…”

Magolor swallowed thickly.

Meta Knight looked up at him. “What was that place…with the spider sorcerer?”

-

By the time they gathered everyone up and returned to town, the sun was beginning to set. As per his orders, Magolor followed Sailor through town hall, to the archive, but neither said a word.

Ever since Meta Knight announced their findings to the crew—that the magic seemed to be coming from somewhere, somewhere deep in the heart of Popstar—everyone was quieter. No playful jabs at each other or anything. 

No, because how could they relax when Meta Knight insisted on handling it all himself? He said he’d be sure to take care of it. Assured them not to worry. Their talents were needed elsewhere.

And what could anyone say to that?

Magolor certainly couldn’t. He only followed orders and stood aside when Meta Knight told him he’d be back soon.

He was probably heading down the halls right then, to talk to Dedede about his plan, if he could even find him. So all Magolor and Sailor could do was sit and wait, and when they finally reunited with him, he simply bid them good night and told Magolor to go get some rest.

And then they went their separate ways, Sailor, shadowing Meta Knight as usual.

Magolor went home that night with a stomach ache and a sinking feeling. From not eating enough or what else, he didn’t know. But the thoughts of Kirby and his friends that he’d been trying to suppress…with a revelation like that, he couldn’t not think about it.

Maybe he shouldn’t have tried so hard to get away from them? It could’ve been interesting…to meet them.

He shook his head. They would be leaving before too long and he had pointlessly agreed to be working. There was no sense dwelling on it. Try as he might.

So with dry and brittle hands, he opened the door and was instantly blinded by the lights in the house. Ribbon and Kirby were talking in the living room while Adeleine laid on the rug, drawing in her sketchbook.

They looked perfectly normal and perfectly happy.

Magolor closed the door behind him and rubbed his paws together. He needed to change his gloves, he realized (because if nothing else, they were heavily dirt stained) but with Ripple in his—or more accurately, her room—he would have to bother her to ask.

What a pain, he thought.

“Wait, wait, wait, hold up, who’s Gooey?”

That was Ribbon, wasn’t it?

“Oh, you never met him,” Adeleine said, with a hum. She reached for a blue pencil and started sketching a blob. “He’s kinda creepy. But also cute! It just takes a while to get used to it,” she laughed.

“Oooh,” Ribbon cooed, leaning over her sketchbook. “That is cute, Addy! Is he nice, Kirby? He better be nice!”

Where does she get all that energy? Magolor rolled his eyes and set off to solve his glove problem, then maybe something to eat.

“Gooey is nice,” Kirby peeped up.

Magolor slipped off his gloves and searched around for something to clean them with.

Come to think of it, Kirby doesn’t exactly wear clothes, so where’s the laundry..?

“I didn’t like it at first. Gooey used to hurt people—“

He poked his head through a door and told himself to try to not listen.

“Rick told me it was just sad and upset, and that it needed a friend. But he wouldn’t be nice to me when I was nice to him!”

“Geez.”

“Even after we stopped dark matter?”

Magolor closed a cabinet.

Don’t, he told himself.

“Yeah…but we’re friends now! Just like me and Magolor! We’re all friends!”

“Talk about an odd group,” Ribbon said.

“Adeleine,” Kirby said. “Thanks for teaching me about this stuff.”

“Aww, Kirby, you don’t have to say that! I’ll always be there for you!”

Dammit!

He threw the door shut. Three drawers and he still couldn’t find the detergent, and he was hot and hungry and about ready to fall over. Worse than that, he could hear them giggling from halfway across the house.

A throat cleared.

“Um, may I ask—what are you doing?”

Magolor sank and dropped his head. He turned around slowly, where Ripple stood in front of him, barely visible even with the moonlight seeping in through the window. It sort of…illuminated her, just barely, like a ghost white halo. It made her wings shimmer, sure, but from there, Magolor could see just how pale she was.

Not quite like a vampire, who was meant to be gorgeous and ethereal. But definitely like someone just a little bit bloodless. Like a corpse. Like she might fall apart at the touch, or wilt.

“Magolor, are you alright?” She asked, gently.

He stammered at first. “I was—was just looking for something…” his voice dropped to a pathetic squeak. “To um, clean my gloves.”

“Oh,” she said, and her lips quirked in almost a smile. “I take it work was rough, then?”

“Y-Yeah…sure.”

Laughter filled his ears, and he turned towards the faint light that lead towards the living room.

“Well, I think we can fix that,” she said. “May I see them?”

“No” was what Magolor wanted to say. She had done enough, after all. But instead, he just placed his mittens in her hands.

“Thank you, then,” she said, and Magolor dipped his head away.

She took a breath and steadied herself, wings flittering behind her.

Magolor’s magic had always been dark and bright, full of indigo and blue sparkles, like starlight, but whatever she was doing was like nothing more than a gust of air. A breeze that ruffled his fur, just lightly, and then it was gone.

She handed back the gloves, hovering grains of dirt in the air with her other hand. She slouched over, if only for a moment, but stretched to straighten herself.

“How did you..?” The gloves were spotless. They looked freshly mended, even. “Holy cow!”

She chuckled. “I’d still recommend a wash, but it’ll do for now.”

Magolor blinked back his surprise and slipped his gloves back on. They even felt airy. It was nothing like that bitter, thorny magic they’d been tracing.

So it can’t be her causing this, he let out a breath. At least, she’d have to be some witch…

“I’m—“ she frowned. “You must be tired. Would you like some tea?”

Magolor’s ear flicked.

-

He insisted on doing it himself. He couldn’t keep letting his debts pile up.

“I can do things myself,” she sighed, shooing him off with her hand. He couldn’t exactly argue with that.

So instead, he sat at the table and folded his paws. For some reason, neither of them bothered to find a light. At least, Ripple didn’t mention it.

Maybe she got used to it. After all…

It wasn’t the kind of thought he wanted confirmed, so he didn’t say anything. Instead, listening to the chirp of laughter from the other room. He fussed with his glove.

“If you’d rather join them, you’re welcome to,” Ripple said, quietly. Running water.

Magolor needed to say something smart, he thought .

I’m not that pathetic. They were children, after all. I have other friends…like…

His ears flattened at the thought of Dedede.

“A-After the day I’ve had?” he said, finally, with a scoff. “I don’t need another headache.”

“Hm…” Ripple sighed. “I think I know what you mean. But it’s nice that they’re happy, isn’t it?”

“Are they?” Magolor mumbled, just barely.

When he looked up from his paws, Ripple’s shoulders were contorted, as she held herself up against the counter. Her long black hair sort of made her blend in better, in this lighting.

I wonder if it was always that color..?

“Ribbon was really looking forward to this trip…” she spoke in a quiet hum. “I hope she’s having fun.”

“Well, it sure sounds like she is,” Magolor grumbled.

She lit the stove.

“Yes, I suppose.”

He heard it so clearly.

“I just don’t want her to get lonely,” she said, turning around. Magolor caught her gaze and ripped away from it as fast as possible. She did look kind of…sad?

“She loves them, you know,” she continued, with a little shrug. “I-I just…she has her duties back home, as do I…”

Magolor’s ear flicked.

“But I wish…” she stopped, then shook her head. “Sorry, now I’m just rambling. Can I ask—how long are you planning on staying here?”

Great. I’d rather her ramble than turn this into an interview, if that’s how it’s gonna be…

He held his cheek in his paw. “I dunno,” he said. Not like I can go…wherever. “I have a job, and I gotta eat. That’s all.”

“That’s all?” she repeated.

“Yeah,” it came out a bit stronger than he meant, more bitter. “Might be nice to travel one day. I guess.” He laughed. “But what’s the point?”

“What’s the point?”

“Yeah, are you just gonna keep repeating me—“

“It’s a beautiful thing,” she said, leaning back. “To see the world. The galaxy. There’s so much out there.”

“Yeah, and then you just go home.”

“That’s…” she frowned. “Not always true. If Kirby hadn’t come to Ripple Star, I-I mean…”

She struggled to smile. Then wiped her face. Magolor couldn’t help but look away.

“Whatever,” he mumbled into his paw. “Besides, I already…”

He couldn’t bring himself to finish. He just focused on staring at the table. One of Ripple’s shoes squeaked against the ground. The kettle’s hiss scraped his ears, and then it was quiet.

Ripple rummaged around for something, and then she just stood there. Looking at him.

“You know,” she said, meekly. “Dedede told me some things. And about you.”

“Of course he did,” he mumbled.

She retrieved a pair of cups and set them down on the counter with a clink.

“And honestly, I feel a lot better,” she said, tilting her head towards the doorway. “He said…he was going to try harder,” she smiled.

Magolor found himself taking a breath.

“We went to the beach yesterday,” she went on. “And Kirby—“ she chuckled, “asked how I was feeling. Well, more or less. It’s funny, I don’t think he’s quite done that before.”

She poured the water.

“Maybe…things will get better here. It’s not too late.”

Magolor’s gaze drifted off. His mouth was shut tight, and yet it was sort of…numb. 

She was nice, wasn’t she?

Sure, Magolor didn’t deserve it. But she was being nice. She was probably well aware of how pathetic he was. She might’ve even been pitying him, and yet, for some reason…

“Why aren’t you mad at me?” he asked, staring at his paws.

“Mad—“ she turned back at him, eyes wide. “Why would I be mad at you?”

Magolor cleared his throat.

“Well, of course it surprised me,” she said, with a breathy laugh. “But now that I’ve heard the whole story, I guess…in perfect honesty, I’m so glad there’s someone looking out for them.”

Slowly, she walked over, carrying the two cups. She set them down and pulled back a chair. When she sat down, she sort of lingered on it—held her chin down, her bangs, almost blocking her face.

“Maybe I haven’t failed after all,” she murmured, to herself.

She glanced up and met Magolor’s eyes. His fur bristled and stood on end. She looked so tired.

“Here,” she said, nudging a cup forward. “Do you want any sweeteners?”

“N-No, that’s fine,” he said, without really thinking. He swiped the cup and took a drink, burning his tongue. He set it down as quick as he could and winced hard.

“Oh, goodness,” she gave him an apologetic smile. He couldn’t help but whimper and flap his paws a bit.

“Does it hurt very badly?” she asked. “I might have something for it, a spell, maybe—“

He shook his head rapidly.

“Suit yourself,” she said. “But I don’t mind. Especially if you’re worried, I mean.”

Magolor bit back a hiss. His face was a little bright, she noticed, and so her gaze fluttered off to her tea. She waited while he grumbled it out.

Magolor settled for biting his tongue, and as he looked ahead, he couldn’t quite name the expression on Ripple’s face. She seemed a little dazed, not quite smiling and not quite frowning, but a strange place between the two. Not even neutral. And when it was perfectly quiet, she spoke:

“If you want to use my room, that’s fine,” she said. “I just hope it’s a little cleaner next time.”

“W-What?”

She closed her eyes. “It would be a shame to let it sit unused for so long.”

Magolor wasn’t quite sure where to look.

“Stay,” she said. “Look after them. I’ll send you money.”

“Kirby has plenty of people—“

“No, and it hasn’t been enough,” she said. “Do you think I’ve liked the idea of leaving two children here alone for so long? Nova, I didn’t even know Dedede disappeared. To imagine if Adeleine had been here—“

Magolor jerked back. 

She shook her head. “You don’t have to do anything but be here. That’s all I really ask. I-I’m sorry for being so pushy, but…”

Tentatively, he reached for his cup and took a sip.

Is this how Meta Knight felt? He huffed to himself.

But she stared at him so desperately, and he had to wonder. In a way, it was kind of nice to be asked for something. She hadn’t looked his way all week. And hadn’t he been in her position?

Wait…what position was that, exactly?

“I knew you wanted something,” he mumbled.

She dipped her head. “I’m sorry. I’d have liked to have more time with you.”

Yeah, right, he wanted to say. 

“But I get it,” he said. “Everyone thinks you’re so cool.”

“What?” she wrinkled her eyebrows.

“Everyone…loves you,” he said, frowning deeply. Until it hurt.

What do I want?

“Magolor,” her eyes widened, searching his. She reached over the table and hovered a hand over his, and when he only glanced off, she laid it there. And squeezed.

“You’re the reason…” she blinked, glancing away. “Well…I could never do this.”

“Yes, you could.”

She doesn’t know.

“There’s far too much in the way,” she shook her head. “But you’re doing so much. It’s incredible.”

“No, it isn’t.”

Believe me. I’ve done nothing for these people, he scoffed.

She blinked, thinking it over, gently stroking his paw with her thumb. She lifted it, just slightly, and tightened her grip.

She looked at him. And she saw right through him.

“Please,” she said. “You don’t have to be alo—“

Magolor stood up.

“Well!” he clapped his hands. “How can I say no to a thing like that, huh? If you’re offering, I mean, how can I refuse? ‘Course, I could use the money, we literally never have enough to eat here between me and Kirby, and now that you’ve got your kid here—“

“Adeleine’s not my—” she stammered, eyes wide.

“Well, someone’s gotta stay and referee everyone, right?” he shrugged. “And it’s not gonna be Bandee, he’s way too timid for tha—Bandana, I-I mean!”

She stared at him.

“So, um—“ he took his cup, stealing another drink. “Thanks.”

Ripple opened her mouth, but the words escaped her. Magolor turned back towards the living room and the voices he heard.

“I’m gonna go back there, now,” he said, his voice growing quieter with each word. “You’re…good. Okay.”

Ripple stammered softly to herself as he ducked his head and turned away, leaving her in the dark. His cheeks burned. She was going to hate him for that. But at least the cup in his hands was warm.

“Did he say anything else?” Adeleine asked.

“Um…I’m a fast learner,” Kirby nodded. He turned to look up. “Ribbon…”

Magolor hovered in the doorway, watching as Ribbon swung Kirby’s bright sword like it was some sort of rag doll. Hard and carelessly. 

Adeleine held her chin in her hands, and Kirby frowned at her.

“It’s just so different! I can’t get it to shoot!” Ribbon said, with a frustrated grunt.

“You have to, uh, feel it,” Kirby said.

“But that’s not how magic woooorks!”

Adeleine sighed dreamily. “I wish I had some. Well—other than my painting. Kirby, you’re so lucky. Here I thought you were a weirdo like me…”

“Nuh-uh! Bandana’s weird too!” Kirby said.

Magolor rolled his eyes and scanned the room. With the three of them on the floor, the couch was wide open. Heck, the pillow and blanket he’d been using to sleep there were still in place. It sort of looked cleaner, now.

Ah…dammit, Ripple.

The three of them went silent as Magolor hovered onto the couch and flopped onto his side. He blinked back at them, meeting their wide eyed stares.

“What?” he asked.

“Hi Magolor!” Adeleine smiled at him. “Kirby’s been telling us about their adventures with you.”

Magolor sat up a little. “He…has?”

“He said you can explode things!” Ribbon pointed the sword at him. “And you fought a knight!”

Magolor fought off a smirk. “Well, I am quite the wizard. It’s kind of my thing.” He flexed his paw. “Back home they even called me—“ he stopped, blinking.

“Home”?

“Magnificent…” he finished, quietly.

Kirby had thought that was one of their best nicknames yet. It was silly, but maybe…had Magolor smiled at it? 

“I can’t believe this sword, either!” Ribbon gasped. “It’s so fancy! I’m so jealous, I can’t believe you fixed it up all on your own!”

“Well—“ that wasn’t true, but he was pretty sure he could’ve done it if he tried, so it was basically the same thing, right? 

“I had the time,” he shrugged. “Someone had to do it, and it’s such a nice sword…”

“I wish I had my own special weapon,” Ribbon swooned, holding the sword close. “Like a real knight to her ladyship.”

“What about your gun?” Kirby asked.

Gun? Magolor stared at her.

“Please, that thing has enough magic to blow up the whole star, I can’t use it,” Ribbon frowned, sinking in the air. “It’s for special occasions only.”

“She just wants you safe,” Adeleine reminded her.

“I want a gun! Or a bow, at least!” she groaned. “Magolor, can’t you help me? Make me something, anything? I could match with Kirby!”

Magolor’s ears perked. That was a pretty bold request. But intriguing, he thought.

“Ribbon, c’mon,” Adeleine looked at her. She turned back to Magolor. “I’m sorry. Please don’t feel pressured to do anything—“

“No, no, it’s okay,” Magolor said. Ribbon continued to stare at him with pleading eyes. Like a sad little puppy. 

He grinned. “But if you really want my help, maybe there’s something I could do…”

“Oh, really? Yay!” she clasped her hands together. “Thank you! You might be nice, after all!”

Magolor’s ear twitched. “Well, we’ll see.”

Adeleine mouthed a “thank you”. Kirby smiled wide, looking between all the happy faces in the room. And then they continued talking.

Eventually, Adeleine remembered to turn the lights down, but that didn’t mean they had to stop. They talked all about things that had happened lately, and Magolor corrected Kirby when they were stumped. Which almost always made Adeleine laugh.

Home…whatever that was, it wasn’t this. Magolor knew that well enough.

But he fell asleep to the hushed chatter of Kirby and Ribbon and Adeleine. And that was better than nothing.

Chapter Text

Magolor rubbed his eyes against the cold morning air. He was lucky to have his cape and collar in the way to protect him from it, but that didn’t stop the wind from chilling his face. For Kirby, it was worse, however, and he could see them shivering beside him.

Kirby pressed his paws together. They looked to Magolor—if he hadn’t been floating, they might’ve pressed against him for warmth—but Magolor paid it no mind. Instead, he watched as Dedede and Ripple talked to each other and Ribbon flittered back and forth to carry their luggage over to the train. 

“I should probably be doing more,” he muttered to himself, since he had nothing to do but fiddle with his gloves. Well, it’s not like anybody asked me.

Footsteps clicked against the platform, until Kirby’s eyes widened at a red scarf being wrapped around them. Adeleine turned in front of him to finish tying it, giving him a polite smile all the way.

Magolor barely glanced at her. 

Right…that’s how it’s going to be, now.

“There you go,” she said, stepping back to admire her work. It made Kirby look even puffier than normal—and smaller, with the scarf so much bigger than he was. “Let me know if you still feel cold, okay?“

Kirby stood on his tiptoes and gestured her closer, and with a giggle from Adeleine, they leapt into her arms. She held them tight as he buried himself in her sweater, and Magolor scoffed as quietly as he could manage.

Shouldn’t you be saying goodbye right now? He thought. It occurred to him he could be doing the same thing, but—no, why would he? He squinted at Ripple. It’s not like you know her.

…His whiskers twitched as Adeleine shuffled over to stand beside him. With him floating, it was almost like they were the same height, or at least at eye level. But when she tried looking at him, he didn’t look back. 

Bandana waddled up to Dedede and said something to him, but Dedede waved him off with a hand. He took a step back and the three of them—Bandana, Dedede, and Ripple—shot them a look from where they were talking. Almost…huddled together. Ripple smiled, and Magolor could’ve sworn it was directed at him.

“What do you think they’re talking about?” Adeleine asked.

There, in the back, Magolor spotted him. Meta Knight stood between Dedede and Ripple, watching them with narrowed eyes, his cape, wrapped around himself. When the others quieted, he spoke.

“You never know who’ll be next.”

Yellow eyes flicked in his direction. Magolor swallowed a breath.

“Who knows,” Magolor said.

Ribbon fluttered over to Ripple and nodded sharply, a grin plastered to her face. She’d been smiling all morning, really. Then Ripple turned to them—Magolor’s ears perked—and called them over. He dipped his head, instinctively, a familiar feeling burning under his skin.

“She wants a—“ Ripple had stopped, blinking, squinting. She stared at him. “A gun?”

It was only a couple days ago, when Magolor caught her reading on the porch swing.

His ears twitched. “W-Well, it’s her words, not mine.”

A hand trailed its way up to Ripple’s chin, and she sighed heavily, setting her book aside.

“I knew this would happen,” she said. “She just won’t give it up…”

Magolor couldn’t help but scrunch his face at that.

“And now Kirby’s learning so much, she’s going to fall behind and blame me and hate me…”

“Oh, I’m sure—“

“I really don’t…” she stopped, frowning. She scooted over and patted the space beside her. Magolor’s ears flopped to the side, but he dragged himself over and sat down anyway.

“What…should I do?” she asked, softly.

Magolor folded his paws in his lap and held his breath.

Thinking about it, he really wasn’t the person to ask. Ribbon and Ripple had something he never had, and would never dream to. Something terribly delicate and untouchable. To pretend he could give advice on that was silly.

He was enough on his own. He was.

“Tch…”

The morning air was cool and quiet. It was heavy and a little humid, and when he looked out, he could see how damp the grass was. A perfect cloudy day.

…Kirby loved to go out on rainy days. The Kirby before was always extra chatty when the weather was rough. This Kirby was a little scared of thunder.

Or…he twiddled his thumbs, remembering how they talked faster after each jolt of thunder. Maybe he was scared all along.  

Dedede didn’t like it either. He kept threatening to attack the sky—or some guy named Kracko?—and Meta Knight would just roll his eyes at the declaration, and he’d go on about how the rain was good for the grass and the trees…then Bandee would laugh, and he’d nudge Kirby, and things wouldn’t seem so bad anymore. 

Magolor looked to the sky. The clouds weren’t too dark. There wasn’t much use thinking about storms that day. And so he sat there…and breathed.

“She wants to protect you,” Magolor said, at last.

“I shouldn’t need help,” she shook her head.

He shrugged.

“And she wants to be an awesome warrior, I’m sure,” he continued. Why was he saying this? “Maybe that’s it—helping someone to become what they want to be.”

Instead of what..?

God, why was he saying this?

“Mm.” Ripple’s eyes searched ahead. “To want that—I think—it’s a quality of a leader.”

Magolor shrank back.

“No, it’s just your job as a—“ he squinted and turned his head. “I don’t know.”

They love you, he thought. He remembered. Whatever Ribbon wanted—well, the way they talked about her—all of them…

Before he knew it, everyone was saying goodbye.

Meta Knight watched carefully as Ripple lifted her cane and stepped off the platform, followed by Ribbon.

Magolor was pretty sure he—Meta Knight—was staring. Even as he went to join Dedede’s side, he didn’t stop. Even when Dedede leaned over to tell him something.

And Ribbon clutched her new dagger tightly, her bright smile matching its fresh shine.

…Yeah, Magolor really didn’t want to give a kid a gun. But he’d gone out to the forest just to try and see what came of it, and when Gooey pulled out an old dagger, engraved ornately at the handle, he knew he had to clean it up. It was a fine thing to do, anyway.

And a good place to start, he decided, and Ripple had agreed. Funny; as annoying as Ribbon was, he almost liked seeing her smile like that. Because of him.

“We’ll be back before you know it,” Ripple said, meeting Adeleine’s gaze with warm, warm eyes. She even reached over to straighten Kirby’s scarf. “In the spring. I promise.”

“You do what you gotta,” Dedede said.

Ripple frowned at him. “No, this time I promise.”

His mouth opened wide, ready to protest, but in the end he only looked down.

“I’ll try to have it better by then,” he said. “…Stubborn.”

She smiled and turned to Magolor.

They were all here for her. All came to say goodbye to her, he realized. Without thinking, his chin dipped lower, and then he saw it.

“I’ll see you,” she held out a hand. When Magolor showed no reaction, she lifted it and pet his head. His ears pressed back.

“Thanks!” Ribbon said, with a giant grin. “I’m gonna miss you guyssss!”

Adeleine laughed. “Why? We’re just gonna hang out so much later, you’ll get sick of me.”

She gasped. “I could never!”

“They’re going to get the door closed on them,” Meta Knight mumbled, and Dedede elbowed him. 

Ripple had already turned away and gestured for Ribbon, so she gave them one last wave—

“Okay, bye-bye, I love you, I’ll see you later!”

“Write me,” Adeleine called back.

They spotted a tiny thumbs up through the window, and the door closed soon after. Adeleine’s chuckle clouded the air with a white puff, and the train chugged rapidly, until, eventually, it started racing down the tracks.

Magolor braced himself, shaken by the roar of the engine, but it soon faded away until there was nothing left but the distant chatter in the air. And his thoughts, unfortunately.

Hm…

“Well,” Dedede clapped. “That happened.”

“Finally,” Meta Knight grumbled.

“Put a sock in it, Knight,” he shot him a glare, then turned back to Adeleine. “I, uh, I’m sorry I couldn’t hang out with you guys a whole lot. Someone’s trying real hard to keep me busy.”

A wing swatted his back.

Dedede folded his arms. “Anyway, you got everything you need, kid?”

“We made sure of it,” Adeleine smiled.

“That’s—good,” his gaze shifted, sort of. He sucked in a breath, glancing at Bandana. “I might be busy for a bit.”

Bandana straightened himself and turned back to Magolor.

“‘Busy’?” Adeleine asked.

“We have a meeting today,” Bandana said. “Sorry, Magolor. I’m sure we’ll fill you in later.”

He said that, but the way Meta Knight was leering at him made Magolor wonder how true it was. 

…Well, he wasn’t scheduled today, so asking might only make matters worse. 

His ear flicked. That would’ve only mattered before, wouldn’t it? Back when he was trying to fool somebody. He didn’t need to care what they thought of him anymore.

Hm…but he was still lying, wasn’t he?

“Boring stuff,” Dedede said. It didn’t sound quite boring. “But once it’s all over–”

“You’ll still have your job to do,” Meta Knight reminded him.

“Yeah,” Dedede nodded; he didn’t take his eyes off of them. “Yeah, I will.” His voice was…soft, not quite serious or stern or anything else but that.

And yet when Magolor looked over, Adeleine didn’t break her smile. Kirby hopped out of her arms and stared at Dedede with wide eyes, before pressing himself against his stomach. Dedede’s mouth hung open, for a moment, but he squeezed him tight.

“Thanks, kid,” he said, quietly. They pulled apart, and Kirby turned to Magolor.

“We’ll have fun too,” they said, and Adeleine gave a determined nod.

Meta Knight cleared his throat and stepped forward.

“Don’t forget your practice,” he said, eying Kirby. “I suspect you’ll need it. And Magolor–” he turned to him. “If you’re going to the forest, be careful.”

“I can handle myself,” he mumbled, but it was Kirby that Meta Knight was looking at.

Meta Knight closed his eyes. “It’s just a feeling I have. That dagger–”

“Oh, it’s so cool,” Kirby peeped. “Mister Meta Knight, he worked so hard on making it all nice and shiny. You should get him to do yours too.”

Dedede and Bandana shared a look that, to Magolor’s dismay, was very amused.

“You’re a real natural at that,” Adeleine said. “Think you could make me some fancy brushes?” She giggled. “I’m just kidding.”

Whatever Meta Knight was muttering, he wound up shaking his head. “I’ll…consider that, Kirby.”

Magolor’s cheeks burned with their eyes on him, but most distracting of all was just how eager and sweet Adeleine looked, and how fond Dedede’s gaze was. And of course, Kirby, who was bursting with a quiet excitement, happily tapping their feet.

“Hm,” he said, pulling at his hood. “Well, if you really need my help…”

“Oh, I didn’t mean–” Adeleine started.

…Thinking about it, it seemed like the only choice. 

“There’s no time to waste!” Magolor grinned, under his collar. “Guy’s gotta have some hobbies, right? You can count on me!”

Their faces lit up, and while he wouldn’t dare meet them, much less study them–it got his heart racing, somehow. Adeleine’s excited cheers, Dedede’s clapping.

“I don’t know if–” Meta Knight began.

“Ooh, are we going to the forest?” Kirby asked him, instead.

“You bet!” he made a show of snapping his fingers, which got Kirby laughing. “Or at least, I will, anyway. Gotta go looking for new wares!”

“Yay!”

Meta Knight certainly didn’t look impressed, and Dedede’s beaming smile might’ve been because he thought it was funny—foolish?—Magolor didn’t know—but they split up, bundled up in their coats and scarves and capes. And off to the forest, he went, with Kirby in tow.

Adeleine joined them, happy to go foraging for natural paints. She mostly stuck close with Kirby, playing with him and keeping them company while Magolor and Gooey ventured deeper into the trees.  

Gooey was a little quieter with Adeleine around, at first, but she wasted no time before starting to talk to him, and that helped. Magolor had to admit her presence was comforting, even if it was only because it meant he had to do less babysitting.

She said she liked the leaves on the trees. They were turning orange, after all. From a distance, Magolor could hear her talk with Kirby about it. They described them to each other, and he couldn’t help but listen in.

…Magolor definitely wouldn’t mind giving her paintbrushes, he decided. He might like to see them the way she did.

Chapter Text

A single white light kept him company while he worked, twisting each gear back into place one by one, until he was sore and aching. Whenever he stopped for a break, the Lor would comfort him, offering quiet purrs when he pressed his ear to the cold, cold floor. He decided to keep going.

After another few were installed successfully, he found himself yawning–it was probably late, after all. Paying a glance to the cool light of the monitor, his suspicions were confirmed. The sun would be rising in a couple hours, and then they’d be setting out again, right? For White whatsit. Meta Knight’s words had slipped his mind. He almost fell asleep right there, until the sound of a door closing jolted him awake.

“Huh?”

He peeked around the corner, where Kirby walked in, from the game room.

“Hi,” they greeted, with a wave. “What are you doing, Mag…pipes?”

Magolor’s ears flattened. He shut the Lor’s control panel and dusted himself off.

“Just some maintenance,” he said, and Kirby stared at him. “...Fixing things.”

“Ooh!”

“And then I can add to the copy ability supply,” he continued. “And maybe if we have time, a game…so what were you doing in there?”

Kirby smiled and came walking over. They giggled.

“Scope Shot’s pretty fun,” he said, and climbed up onto the counter. Magolor thought that might be rude, to a sentient ship, but the Lor always seemed to run better, happier, when there were kids around. “Only Dedede and me keep trying, but we can’t beat his robot. I wanted to practice, but I just can’t do it!” they whined.

“Huh, I was kinda thinking about getting rid of that one,” Magolor said, with a shrug.

“What, why?! It’s so fun!”

“Robots take a lot of energy,” he rolled his eyes. “I could make something else if I shut it down.”

“Oh…”

But…if Kirby had fun with it, that was pretty cool. Admittedly, most of his games were the result of boredom (and a few he made to get Kirby to shut up) but when he heard them say that, and when he heard the others talking about how much they couldn’t wait to keep playing–well, except for Meta Knight, of course–but when he heard them laughing together…

He smiled to himself.

“Say, what kind of game would you wanna play, Kirby?” he asked, as he got up.

“Oh, I’ve played lots of them! Let’s see, there’s Megaton Punch, and the egg game, the bomb game—that’s always funny—and Meta Knight likes the one with the swords…” he listed them off, counting on their nubs.

“Woah, woah, woah, I don’t know what any of those are, dude,” Magolor raised a paw. “You’re gonna have to explain them to me if you want me to understand any of that–”

“I don’t mind!” they chirped.

“Hey, quiet,” Magolor shushed them, then pointed to the other room. “Everyone else is asleep, you know? And you should be too! You know we have to get up soon, right?”



Kirby gasped. “Already?!”

“Time flies when you’re having fun,” he said.

Kirby frowned and held their paws together, staring at the floor until Magolor worried they might cry. The thought made his stomach churn; he didn’t want to deal with that again. Not when the others weren’t around.

“I just couldn’t sleep until I beat it,” they said, meekly. “But I really am sleepy.”

You’re impossible.

“That’s never a good idea,” said the one who had been determined to get all the freshly found energy spheres installed by the end of the night. He flinched. “But I’m sure–” was he? “—the others will understand. You’ll just have to take a nap tomorrow. Err, today.”

Kirby pouted. They kicked their feet, slowly, off the countertop. 

“But we have to get you home,” he whispered.

Magolor closed his mouth. He almost forgot that was the story he told them, sometimes. Until moments like this.

But he’d waited long enough to become ruler of the universe. It wasn’t like one more day would hurt.

“Well,” Magolor said. “I’m hungry. You can join me if you want.”

And into the kitchen he went, followed by little footsteps.

“I’m excited to see your home, Maggie,” Kirby said, quietly, as Magolor opened the freezer. “I bet it’s really nice.”

Magolor huffed. “It’s no paradise,” he said.

“Hm?”

Halcandra–which, at this point, Magolor was really unsure of how much he could call it any sort of home, not when he didn’t have one–was a wasteland of fire and ash and the ruins of what someone might have once considered “progress”. It was nothing like Dreamland, with its fresh spring breeze and sunny days. Or the rest of Popstar, which could be equally as fiery, in places, and yet still so tranquil. This place was far closer to any paradise than Halcandra was.

That must’ve been why Magolor liked it, he reasoned.

“Are we gonna see your family there?” Kirby asked.

Magolor winced at the cold touch when he grabbed a popsicle.

“No,” he said.

“Oh. Okay. I wanted to meet them.”

Me too.

“But that’s okay,” they said. “I don’t have a family, but I have a lot of friends! So if you feel lonely, that’s fine. You have friends, too. I just thought it would be cool to see one.”

Magolor exhaled softly as he unwrapped the popsicle, until he noticed Kirby was staring at it with sparkling eyes. Sighing, he reached in and grabbed another one for them.

“I won’t tell if you don’t,” Magolor said.

“About what?” they asked.

“Popsicles at 4:30 in the morning,” he grumbled. Kirby didn’t take it when he offered, and he groaned when he realized he’d have to open it for him. So he did.

Kirby’s eyes lit up and they practically shoved it in their mouth.

“Geez, take it slow, or what’s the point?” Magolor glared at them, though he supposed it was better than them just inhaling it completely. 

Kirby pulled it back out of their mouth with a pop of the lips, which were already turning the same shade of bright red. They giggled happily.

“I get it now,” they said. “Yeah, Meta Knight wouldn’t like this.”

“He wouldn’t yell at you, would he?” Magolor asked. Meta Knight’s disagreements with Dedede could be pretty loud, after all. Though they’d gotten much quieter as of late.

“Oh, no,” Kirby said. Magolor closed the freezer behind them, which only made the room darker. “Meta knows I hate yelling! And anyway, I think he’d just worry or something. I guess he likes to ask questions?”

“Huh.”

Maybe that’s what it was like. 

Magolor shifted his collar and started on his popsicle. There were some stools in the dining area, and so he took a seat at one. Kirby followed him slowly, more focused on savoring the popsicle and not letting it melt. He knew a lot of people who hated stains.

“So, wait,” Kirby said. “What are you going to do when you get home?”

Magolor glanced away from them.

“Stuff,” he said.

“I hope it’s fun,” they murmured. “Are you going to be lonely?”

His ears dug back. “Definitely not,” he said. “I’ll be really busy.”

“Oh, okay,” they said and wiped their mouth. “Um, Meta said I shouldn’t say this, but I’ll miss you.”

Magolor could feel a brain freeze coming on.

“And not just for the games,” they laughed, softly. “But if you ever want…and you don’t have to. But you could come back. ‘Cause I know I won’t forget you.”

You should, he thought.

“I love you Maggie, and I wanna keep playing together,” they said. “That’s all.”

Magolor thought many things, but none that seemed to have words to them. Really, his mind numbed, and he realized–decided that the craving he’d had wasn’t worth satisfying. All he was doing was pleasing an impulse, and he wasn’t even sure he was hungry in the first place. So he handed the rest of his popsicle off to Kirby. It was too sweet. Too much.

“You should tell me about those games you mentioned,” he said.

Kirby smiled. He had a lot to say about them; didn’t wind up getting a wink of sleep. They talked until the sun came up, that day.

Dedede was, at first, a little confused when he had to carry a sleeping Kirby into White Wafers, but they just couldn’t keep their eyes open anymore. Between him and Meta Knight, though, they seemed to have it covered. And Bandee was doing just fine.

Magolor, on the other hand, was colder than he’d ever been in his life and practically falling asleep every other minute. He’d close his eyes for just a second, and then he’d realize he’d stopped hovering, and sometimes even hit the snow. Meta Knight raised some questions, but he wasn’t about to get scolded for something he had every right to do, so he didn’t answer.

Before Magolor could succumb to hypothermia, he was–and he swore to himself he would only accept this because he was so god damn tired–coaxed into Dedede’s coat, in perhaps the most awkward way possible, to maximize warmth: pressed right against his torso and held very clumsily. He hoped everyone would just forget about it and spare him the embarrassment, but…at least Dedede was warm. He was pretty sure Bandee even joined them at some point, but he wasn’t going to try to think about it. Dedede was just happy to help.

Yeah… Kirby had a lot of people looking out for them. They wouldn’t even need to remember him once this was over. They’d be fine.

-

Magolor had returned from work a few hours ago. It was a long day of patrolling with Meta Knight, and a quiet one, at that. At least compared to their last outing. He could probably count on one hand the amount of times Meta Knight had spoken to him, today.

It had been about a week since Ripple and Ribbon left, and strangely, things were pretty uneventful, even with a new guest around. Kirby had been going to their lessons with Meta Knight–sometimes in the morning, sometimes, like today, in the evening–and Adeleine was pretty independent, often going to the village by herself and for the most part, taking care of her own needs. It was pretty weird, considering Magolor was there to help. Kirby needed so much attention compared to her.

Even then, they sat in silence in the living room, and Magolor almost had to wonder if she even noticed him. But she kept glancing over to watch him work as he cleaned up Kirby’s sword, sharpening it just a little and, when he focused enough to remember Ripple’s magic, lifting the grime from the nicks in the finish.

Adeleine laid back against a cushion on the floor and only looked away from her sketchbook to check on his progress, then she’d just scribble away. She said it was a light study. When he glanced at it, it was a scratchy drawing of the sword and how it caught the fading sunlight of dusk beautifully.

It wasn’t much longer before the front door swung open when Kirby returned, and Magolor twisted around to see them.

“Welcome back,” Adeleine’s greeting was sweet, but Kirby barely glanced at her before heading for the staircase. They thudded up the stairs in quick, heavy steps.

“Woah, Kirby!” Magolor called loudly and sat upright in his spot. He flicked his ears and listened—the thudding stopped.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he continued. Kirby padded back down the top of the staircase and blinked at him.