I didn't bring this up earlier, but I do not own Nintendo, the Kirby Franchise, or any of the characters. I don't own the cover image either. That belongs to the great web cartoonist, Matthew Taranto. I loved your comic, and please don't sue me! ^.^

Chapter Two: Heir to the Throne

"What. The HELL. Happened?!"

"Dedede, that's not polite language." Meta solemnly removed the mask. The orange creatures relaxed. He lent over to the nearest one, giving a small smile to show that he was harmless. "What happened to him?"

A different creature emerged from the swarm. He was a darker orange, had differently colored feet, and carried a small sword and a wand. The most unsettling thing about him was that he only had one eye, right in the middle of his face. "Turns out he was in here for days. Someone starved him to death."

Feeling slightly stupid, Meta asked, "Who are you creatures?"

The darker one spoke up. "These are the waddle dees, faithful servants of his majesty. You may call me Waddle Doo."

A shuddering sob was heard over to where the melancholy little prince was sobbing his melancholy little eyes out. "For days? You mean you hadn't..." He drifted off. Dedede's face had a feeling of ruined innocence to it. Dedede himself hadn't been familiar with the twisted ways of death, but when his father, the only person he had ever cared about, had died, something in him had died as well. Meta didn't want his new friend to have to talk about it if he didn't have to.

Dedede sighed. "I didn't see my dad very much. He was trying his best to rule a country, ya know? He used to tell me stories though; about our people and our original home. Almost every night. Other thn that, he was so busy. He was so committed to his job." He stopped there, and blew his nose on his sleeve. Waddle Doo gave him a reproachful look. "Sorry..."

The funeral of Dedede's father consisted of every waddle dee, Cappy, and creature in the land. The king was a kind old soul who was committed to his country and only child, Dedede. Dedede cried some more. It wasn't very fun.

Dedede was crowned king, and the coronation ceremony was the day after the funeral.

Dedede stepped out of his bedroom. He was wearing a long red robe that was way too big for him, a bunch if fake plastic medals, and an oversized crown on his head that looked like an urchin.

"How do I look?"

There was a short pause. "Great!"

All the Cappies were pretty much bored at the coronation. All Dedede ever did was make incoherent sentences when he was supposed to be making a speech, and Meta just awkwardly stood there.

The day after Dedede was officially known as King Dedede, he and Meta were debating in the castle throne room.

"I wish I didn't have to do this! I haven't had ANY proper training!"

Meta, who had been knighted the precious day, brought up a point. "Just give the crown to someone else; like a cappy who has good leadership skills."

The newly crowned king shook his head. "I can't do that. It's against the law here and they respected my dad so much. I can't just LEAVE. And no one else can replace me because I'm the only one of my kind left. My people lived on the other side of Dreamland, and they all died."

"Disease?"

"Famine."

"Oh..."

"Mom and dad took me here soon after I was born. Dad met everyone and became really popular. Then the queen there died and everyone wanted my dad for the throne. That's why we were here."

"Plus, I want to find out who killed him, and-" he made a very violent gesture. Meta agreed to help look for clues, though reluctant to let Dedede go back to the room where his father was killed.

The two explored the musty jail cell. All was dark and quiet. Everything was a deep, dull gray except for a few sparkly jewels by the cell door.

Jewels.

Wait.

Didn't MARX wear jewels just like that on his hat? And Marx was running in the opposite direction when Meta Knight and Dedede met him just a few days ago. He had been sweating.

All evidence pointed too-

"Marx." They said the name simultaneously.

Marx had been brought in for questioning.

"Where were you when...when...when it happened?" Dedede asked.

"Well, uh... I was headin towards my room, you shoulda known that, sire!"

A few meaningless and boring questions later, when Meta Knight was beginning to daydream, Marx said something interesting.

"FINE! MAYBE I DID KILL HIM!"

Dedede fell out of his chair, grabbed Meta Knight's brand new cape, and pulled him onto the tangle on the floor as well. Dedede's head peeped out over the table. "Huh?"

"Yeah! I wanted Popstar, the old man knew that! He didn't give it to me! And boy, when I want something, your majesty, I get it."

"Ok!" Dedede interrupted, shouting so he didn't have to hear any more. "Somebody get a straightjacket and chuck this guy in the looney bin! He's done lost his marbles!"

Marx would've been beheaded if Meta Knight hadn't stepped in and suggested that he be banished instead. And so it was done. Marx was banished from Planet Popstar, never to return.

"Oh, you just wait, your majesty. I will return, when you do not have indigo gumballs following your every move. You just wait."

"Well," Dedede said, shutting the main doors, "That was kinda creepy."

All went well for several months, and the king and the knight became each other's advisers as well as friends. Neither had had any friends before, and Dedede ruled under Meta's wise advice and guidance.

All went well until Meta received a letter from the Galaxy Soldier Army.

All went well until he had been drafted to fight in the war against Nightmare.

That increases our count:

5: Why Dedede has no apparent family

6: Why Dedede is overweight. Think about it. His parents both died of malnourishment and his people died of a famine. Geez, after watching the anime I never thought I'd feel sorry for Dedede, but I am...-sniff-

7: Why Marx wants to take over Popstar. He's bitter. He's also criminally insane. The insane part is probably the main reason he wants to rule, but the bitterness may be a small contribution.

Does anyone remember that one episode in Kirby Right Back at Ya where Dedede had a coronation anniversary and NOBODY showed up? Yeah, the outfit in this chapter was inspired by that...

I don't know why I remember that, maybe because his outfit was emotionally scarring? I dunno!

R&R!