Tiff and Tuff continued to show Kirby around the town, and every minute was filled with Kirby constantly getting sidetracked and getting a better look at everything he was shown. Eventually it got to the point where the two kids needed a break, sitting down at a bench, Kirby still checking out the clothing store, talking to a cappy who was trying to upsell every bit of clothes they had.
"Man… it's like he never been on a planet in years, like so many." Tuff sighed, plopping his back on the bench, Tiff nodding in agreement.
"Still, it's nice to have someone new around, even if he.. you know, kinda almost killed us with the ship crashing here." Tiff recalls from earlier, "Guess be careful what we wish for, huh?"
"Oh man, that was the most fun I've had in years! Wait.. I just realized something!"
"Huh? What's wrong Tuff?"
"Where's Kirby gonna stay? In his wrecked ship? I don't think we even have a motel here anymore!"
Tiff soon stood up, realizing what Tuff was saying. She thought for a moment, trying to figure out some options.
There was no motel, or an inn for that matter. The castle was for the royal family with its guards and other royalty members, so that wasn't an option. On top of that, she sincerely doubted that any of the town would be willing to share with Kirby given how he acted with food.
That also bothered her.
What was that whole thing, the whole inhaling thing? He didn't seem remotely stuffed by all the eating he did, and if anything he looked completely normal after inhaling all that food.
"Tiff? Is something wrong?"
Tiff shook her head as she slightly jumped from Kirby appearing in front of her, pulling her out of her deep thoughts, "Uhh! Nothing, just was-"
"We're thinking where are you going to stay after you wrecked your ship here on this planet and that you don't really have anywhere to go on here." Tuff interrupted.
"Oh…" Kirby looked down, he forgot about his ship since he landed in this wonderful little place, he liked it but he didn't realize he had nowhere to go in the slightest.
Tiff shot Tuff a nasty look before turning back to Kirby with a smile, "Listen, we'll convince our dad to have you stay in the castle for a bit, and then maybe we can work out a plan for you to stay somewhere. I don't think you're planning on leaving, right?"
Kirby shook his head quickly, "No! I love it here already! Everything is so coooool, poyo!" He giggles, Tiff and Tuff tilting their heads at the 'Poyo' he said at the end.
"Oh… it's also getting dark.." Kirby says, looking up at the orange sky above them.
Seems like the three lost track of time, but it was just as a good time to at least try and convince King Ebrum to have Kirby stay at the castle as a guest. Tiff and Tuff turn to nod at each other.
"Cmon Kirby, let's head back!"
Kirby couldn't shake off a weird feeling he had. Ever since they passed his wrecked ship from town, he felt like somebody was… following him? He couldn't figure it out.
The trio reached the entrance of the castle, the waddle dee guards opening the door for them all. Tiff and Tuff thanked them as Kirby followed behind them, only to stop and look upwards. He could've sworn he could see some glowing eyes stalking his every movement, trying to figure out who exactly was watching him.
"Kirby! Ya coming?" Tuff called out to Kirby who was still distracted. Kirby looked forward to see Tuff walking backwards to call to him, before looking back up at the glowing eyes, only to see that it vanished.
"Uhh.. yeah!" Kirby says, running towards the two heading down the castle hallways once more.
Kirby once again stood front and center with Tiff and Tuff standing behind him, talking to King Ebrum about trying to have Kirby stay for a bit.
"So no one wishes to share a living space with Kirby? Why is that?"
"Wellllll…. we kinda found out something about him."
"Is it bad? Are either of you hurt?!"
"No no no dad! Kirby has this.. inhaling thing, it's so powerful that he almost inhaled all of Chef Kawasaki's food!"
Tuff kept on going and going, overglorifying what Kirby was capable of doing, as Kirby spotted another trio walking on into the King's throne room, noticing a familiar face.
"Oh! Hi Bandee!" He giggles, waving away at Bandana Dee, who looked back at him, giving him a slight wave back. To his side were two other larger figures he had never met before, and the blue one was giving him quite the death glare.
"Oh, Dedede, Escargoon, and Banana Dee, what brings you three here, we're only discussing arrangements for our visitor here." King Ebrum says, questioning the three.
"As one of your army generals…" as Escargoon crosses his arms,
"...I say this threat has no place being in the castle!" Escargoon says in a matter of fact tone, with Dedede stepping forward,
"You crazy, old man? This creature here is invading and you're thinking of keeping him here?" The penguin said, Kirby making sense that this was Dedede.
"Dedede, hold your tongue how you address speaking to me." Ebrum said in a low, booming tone, sending shivers down everyone's spine.
"And this is why he's king and not you, Dedede." Tiff thought to herself, looking at Kirby who only looked more confused.
"Uhh… What are you talking about? The glowing eyes?" Kirby asks Dedede, seemingly confused.
"Oh. It talks." Dedede says without missing a beat in a monotone voice.
"It!? I'm a boy!"
"Whatevar you moron! And I'm talkin bout you, and I say you got no place bein here and I say you leave!"
"Huh? Why?!"
"Cause I say so!"
Bandana Dee watched as the two went back and forth, clearly seeing Kirby get more and more worried, he felt bad but he knew that Dedede had their best interests at hearts.. right?"
Ebrum then steps forward, pushing Dedede back, "That's enough from you. We have this under control, and you need to remember your place. Is that understood?"
Dedede bit his lip, growling in anger, "Yes…. your…. majesty…" he says, turning with his orange robe flowing upwards with his spin, stomping away in his failed attempt, Escargoon following soon after him while Bandana Dee stood in concern.
"Hmm… he is troublesome, but I believe he can still learn." Ebrum mutters to himself as he turns towards Bandana Dee, "You there, Bandana Dee, please escort Kirby to our guest rooms." He requests, the two kids smiling in response.
"You're gonna let him stay here?" Tiff asks.
"I don't have a reason to not trust him, and that trust better stay intact, understood?" Eblum says to Kirby, who nods instantly.
Kirby followed Bandana Dee towards the guest rooms, looking around at the castle. Bandana Dee was pretty silent the whole way which made Kirby feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Uh… why is Dedede so mean?" He asks the dee, who turns towards him.
"Trust me, he's not a mean guy… but he's just.. uh… um.." Bandee started, trying to find the right words to help Kirby understand, "Well you see, he's the Army General, he came here to Dreamland to take control but failed. He never stopped fighting though, even after we were defeated, so the King made a deal with him."
Kirby listened closely, nodding his head from the story.
"Well, that's pretty much it, I can tell he wants the throne, but I'm sure he'll get it someday! He'll rule good, you know?"
Kirby couldn't respond, he barely knew the penguin, but he didn't really have good opinions of him so far.
"You gotta admit, that went very poorly." Escargoon said to a steaming Dedede.
"I KNOW THAT!" Dedede's voice boomed, Escargoon trying to shush him since it was late at night
"Nnnghhhhhh… He makes me SO mad! I deserve to be king, then I can have everything go exactly MY way! But nooooo I have to deal with his stupid decisions!"
Dedede was on another triad again, Escargoon sighing. "Your highness, we still have a chance, we can try running him out of the town, get everyone afraid of him-"
"You won't."
Escargoon and Dedede jumped, but knew exactly what and where it came from. Dedede turns up to see the glowing yellow eyes.
"Oh.. you again, you know he saw you, right?" Escargoon says, as the yellow eyes narrow in response.
"Your waddle dee got a lot of info, but I was able to discover more." The deep, Spanish like voice spoke patiently, "Your attempts will be in vain. He is too kind and innocent to pin him for any smears. King Ebrum will also quickly connect it to you since the timing is too soon."
"Yeah?" Dedede began, "And what do you suggest?"
A deep chuckle could be heard from the voice above.
"We will test him. Dreamland may be peaceful, but there are still great dangers. We must see how defenseless… or how powerful he really is."