I don't own anything relating to Kirby. Ownership goes to their respective owners (Nintendo, Hal, etc) AKA not me
"Kirby?" Nodds asked, causing me to stop eating.
"What you need?" I was curious, what did Nodds want?
"I found a hat while we were exploring." A hat? "I have it with me if you want to see it."
"Poyo!" What would Nodds look like? This is exciting!
"Alright one second!" He went to another room, a minute passed. I thought about how he got his hat on, how is he going to get this one on?
"Hows... THIS?" I looked over at Nodds, he looked familiar. He was wearing a blue and red jester hat, with circles on one side, triangles on the other. A red bow-tie, and brown shoes. His skin was closer to lavender in the light, with big purple eyes staring at me.
A name forms on my tongue and I accidentally let an exclamation slip! "Marx?"
"Huh? Who's that?" Nodds didn't know about Marx?
"You look like Marx!" If Nodds didn't know who Marx was then...
"No really, who's that?" Nodds eyes were almost becoming sinister the more I looked at him.
"Nodds calm down! I don't want to fight!"
"Who said I was gonna fight you?" He gave a hurt look at me, and he was right. I could hardly move and I almost declared a fight against the same person who let me survive for the past few days.
"I'm sorry Nodds, I thought you were Marx."
"Please explain who Marx is, Kirby."
"How do you not know Nodds? He tried to take over Popstar!" Nodds sat down with his hat almost looking as confused as he was.
"When was it?" Nodds really didn't know who Marx was!
"Its no matter now."
Nodds was smirking. "What if, say, this Marx character, you said he looked like me right?"
"Poyo."
"What if instead of me, Marx was the one taking care of you?" I froze.
"H-he would have a-attacked me p-poyo!"
"Well what's important is that Marx isn't the one taking care of you, right?"
"Po-yo." Nodds really knew how to calm me down, so I continued eating. I slowed down, pondering the questions Nodds asked me.
"Wouldn't he have wait until you were vulnerable and trusting for him to attack you? Maybe, if you considered him a friend?" I looked at Nodds, he had a point. Almost like I... was... in a...
"NODDS!"
"Sorry Kirby, keep eating."
"HOW KIRBY SUPPOSED TO EAT WHEN YOU SAY THINGS LIKE THAT!?"
"I assumed Marx must have been clever enough to trick you, I mean, I don't think I would be able to 'rule over Popstar' without any arms." Nodds was right. Marx was clever and deceiving, but he was so nice before.
"What happened anyways?" I didn't think Nodds would ask this.
"Uh-h, Marx got the sun a-and moon to fight, and told me that the c-comet Nova was the o-only way to make them s-stop."
"Uh-huh."
"S-so I summoned N-Nova, it could make wishes come true. N-Nova said to me "READY. I WILL GRANT YOU ONE WISH." Then M-Marx bumped me out of the way w-when I was going to make the wish to stop the sun and moon from fighting. Then he said "Well, I want to control Popstar!""
The story rolled of my tongue like I'd told it a million times, but I was crying.
"You don't have to continue if you don't want to Kirby." I nodded. "One question though, why did he do it?"
"I d-don't know."
"Should I keep wearing this?" I shook my head yes, even though it did remind me of Marx. He found it and Nodds seems to like it.
"Thanks. I'm going off to get food, so you will be alone, alright?" I was scared again! "I won't be looong~" He said, teasingly.
"But Nodds, how will I defend!?"
"You won't need to Kirby, just hide." Nodds seemed confident about this so I tried my best to be confident too.
Click. Creeeak. Click. Nodds was gone, but I could hear something being dragged. With nothing else to do I looked around, and the chest was there unlocked. I could see where Nodds bit, the lock was mangled. If only I could move right now and see whats in there.
SLAM! I fell off the bed, I could move somewhat, so I took the opportunity to check the chest, it was full of random items. Candles, rocks, ice-pack, and paper, to name a few, and a sword at the bottom.
I groaned. The bed was so far away now, and elevated. I was out of energy, and passed out quick.
I woke up, the days flashed before my eyes, the sun and moon... fighting? Oh no. Kirby felt dread, for he knew what was happening.
Boink... Boink... Boink...
"Hey, hey, hey." He knew that voice! It was Marx! "Can you make peace between the Sun and Moon?" Kirby hopped with a turn, to face him, but only saw a yellow, blue, white and red striped ball. "You need to ask the giant comet Nova for help!" Kirby looked up, Marx was there, bouncing from foot-to-foot on the ball. "But first, there's something we must do. To ask Nova, we must gather power from all the stars around us." We? Kirby opened his mouth to interrupt but all that came out was a "Poyo!"
Marx now focused on me. "It will be difficult, Kirby, but you can do it! We are counting on you. Good luck!"
I opened my eyes. I was on a warp star heading into space. I looked back and saw the rest of Popstar.
"You should've killed him. You should've kept firing arrows. You should've left him to die. You're weak and you know it. Heheheheeeeee! See you next time 'Nodds'.
The voice had been tormenting him while he walked. As much as he wanted it to go away it always came back. So, he looked around, nice and slowly, but with his eyes extremely narrowed. "Hehehee." It started off as a giggle. "HAHAAHHAAHAAA!" Then a laugh. "HAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHHAHAHA!" Then out of control laughter came barrelling out. It was better than doing this in front of Kirby, but 'laughing it off and moving on' wasn't going to help, but he couldn't help it and had a smile stretched across his face. He couldn't conceal his voice forever but he managed.
There was a sound that woke Kirby right up, and it was laughter. It sounded like Nodds was laughing, but why?
KNOCK... KNOCK... KNOCK...
Was Nodds kicking a rhythm? "Nodds is that you?"
"Hehe what do you think!?" Oh that was Marx's voice, causing Kirby to go pale. All Kirby could muster was a muffled scream, his face against the floor. "Oh are you screaming in horror? How cute."
"NODDS WHERE ARE YOU!?" Kirby yelled out.
Click. Kirby tried to look as brave as he could be, but it wasn't very brave considering he had tears on his face.
Creaaaak. "Kirby, you alright in there?" Kirby wanted to scream out Nodds' name but was interrupted with
"KiiiiIIIIiiirrrrbbbyyyy~?"Another voice said with deadly curiousness. "EEP!" Nodds was in danger! Kirby used all his strength to get up. The door flung open with a BANG and Nodds fell in, looking to be unconscious.
That was Kirby's last line of defence! He knew any second Marx would come in and kill them both!
But in never did happen. Kirby stumbled over to Nodds and tried to wake him up. Prodding, Shaking, even pricking his paw on a fang, but he didn't get up. Kirby laid down next to Nodds and waited for his friend to get up.
Kirby looked over at Nodds and saw that he was shivering and convulsing. His eyes slowly opened and turned over to meet Kirby's.
"Nodds okay poyo?" He kept shaking. "Nodds?" and then he stopped.
"Oh hes okay. Just fine." It responded, a smile growing on its face. "But are you okay? You are crying and are hardly staying still, maybe you want to..." It's eyes slowly narrowed, the smile getting even wider, fangs seeming to be glinting in the candle light.
"RUN?" Marx's voice finished. Kirby wanted to do as Marx said, but he had no energy, and he was practically trapped. The jester was closer to the door!
...
"HAHAHA! I GOT YOUUU!~" Kirby looked over once more, it was Nodds.
"HOW COULD YOU?!" Kirby yelled back, fighting back the rest of his tears. "AND HOW DO YOU KNOW?"
"Relax. I found this out from one of the walls."
"But the voice?"
"Wild guess. Was it real?"
"Too real Nodds!" Kirby started crying again.
"Aw, I'm sorry." Nodds looked at Kirby, with round eyes again.
"How did you s-smile so wide?"
"I just can, Kirby."
"Show?" and Nodds did, thoroughly spooking Kirby.
"Hey, you asked for it."
"What were you kicking earlier?" Nodds had a fang showing, making Kirby think he was gonna bite him!
Tap... Tap... Tap... He tapped the floor with his fang.
"T-t-that." Kirby was trying to calm down.
"Well," I wanna control Popstar!
"I heard it, alright?"
"You lying poyo!" Nodds looked at me with hurt. "Where?"
"...Earlier." Nodds looked at me. "Why are you not in bed?"
"Chest poyo."
"I really left because I needed to think." Think? What did Nodds need to think about? I stared at his eyes, searching for an answer. I stared harder. They were...
"Nodds why eye color change?" His eyes were changing colors!
"It's n-nothing for you to w-worry abOUT KiRBY!" Nodds started coughing hard.
"He doesn't know that you are faking! Good job. Try not to scare him too hard. He might think you are being 'possessed' by 'Marx'"
"Is Nodds okay poyo?" Kirby looked like he was about to pass out.
"I'm perfectly fine."
"Whats wrong Nodds?
"It's just dusty. Nothing to worry about." I felt my eyes stop changing. Kirby must've seen it too, because he gasped.
"Nodds are you Marx?" They must be blue and red!
"Stop bringing that up Kirby, I already told you, I'm not Marx."
Kirby was thinking. Looking at me, taking in every detail.
"No you Marx!"
"I might've known someone named Marx."
"No, you are Marx!"
I looked at him fiercely. "I SAID I'M NOT MARX! Why don't you believe me!?" I ended with tears in my eyes. This frightened the puffball, not used to seeing 'Nodds' be so aggressive. I let out more tears, and then looked at Kirby. He was determined to find out who I was.
"I-if you really are N-Nodds, p-prove it!" I looked confused. Then one of my eyes light up, literally. The red one had a glow to it.
"One second, my friend, Kirby." I let his name drag out. He was frightened. Probably thinking of the worse things I could do to him, and so much more.
I went to the rummaged through the chest best I could, and pulled a sword out between my teeth.
"What you doing with that poyo!?" He was pale-faced.
"Here!" I threw the sword at Kirby, handle first. Thunk. "Wield the sword."
Kirby picked up the sword and had a very shaky stance. "Swing at me. I won't move, I sincerely promise you." I smiled wide, and lowered my eyelids, making them half closed.
"B-but..." Kirby was hesitant to swing at, maybe, his only friend, but did.
I could hear the sword cutting through the air, nearing my side, then stop. "Aw, come on, don't want to hurt me?" I chuckled.
Kirby picked up the sword and tried again. I closed my eyes this time.
I couldn't see, my eyes were too full of tears. I swung the sword Nodds gave me, aiming for his side. On impact I couldn't bear to open my eyes.
I hear what I thought to be a screech of pain. So I opened my eyes and cleared away the tears. Hoping to see Nodds there, only for them to overflow when I see he isn't there. I was all alone, once again.
"NODDS? WHERE ARE YOU?" I called out, in desperation. I didn't want to be alone down here! Especially since I was severely crippled, Nodds knew the caves well!
"Nodds?" I was choking the words out. I slowly limped over to the bed and lay where I usually did. I took off the blue hat I had, now light blue in the light, and laid it where Nodds would be.
"Nodds is okay right?" I asked the hat. "Marx not with me right?" I cried my throat out. Nodds would stop me before I went all out, but he couldn't now, I was alone. I tried to remember what he did to calm me down, but this stung like knives. Only the real thing would calm me down, and I killed him! Right?
I laid in bed for what seemed to be hours. My thoughts biting at me, wondering. I thought back. There was a body when Nodds killed something, so where was his?
"Nodds, where are you? You alive? I don't wanna be alone!" And with those last words I passed out.
I opened my eyes. I looked around, taking in everything. Statues, a door, and a tunnel. A bright light was shining from somewhere. I closed my eyes again. What was I going to do? I was a Waddle Dee. I had two short arms and stubby feet, like Kirby. My face was pale, and my body was covered in thin brownish-orange fur.
I had gotten lost trying to fulfill a request from King Dedede, which was to, in his words, 'Find that pink monster before everyone tries to overthrow me!'. I saw Kirby's campsite so I rushed after his footprints, and fell down a hole. My parasol kept me from hitting the ground, but it ripped and I was now standing in the middle of a statue garden.
"Hello?" I squeaked out. I didn't expect a response. This place was abandoned.
"Over here little one." A sinister voice called out, from the tunnel.
"W-Who are you?!" I shouted in it's direction.
... No response.
So I did what my name implied, and waddled over into the dark tunnels. "Show yourself!" I shouted, brushing past something as I walked.
"I am." It was behind me, and sounded all predatory like.
"Whats that look of fear on your face, Dee?" It can see my face? "I mean minimal harm to you~." That still meant some harm, but I was relieved.
"C-could you help me to t-the surface?" I choked out.
... "Maybe, Maybe not." the creature stated wryly. I felt something push against me.
"Move it. Someone wants company." It was the creature pushing me! I had no choice but to do as told.
"Who?" I asked, hopeful for someone I knew.
"He's pink, round, and oh so emotional now." It was making me guess who it was.
"Kirby?" I asked.
"Mayyybe~"
"Where are you taking me?" I was shoved through a door.
"Wait!" I cried out, only to get a response from... Kirby!
"W-W-Who are y-ou?" He was crying.
"Calm down Kirby, it'll be alright." He looked up at me with a pained expression.
"No you don't understand!" Understand what?
"Listen, Kirby, I... don't know how you got here, or how you feel right now, but we should get out."
"What about sniff Nodds?" Kirby held a sword, but soon threw it away from him.
"Who's Nodds?"
"His voice kinda sounds like this." Kirby tried to lower his voice.
"I don't think I heard that from the creature that threw me in here."
"What d-did you hear then?"
"This." I looked over towards the door, I hadn't said that, and Kirby certainly didn't, as the look on his face when he turned with me spoke fright and terror into my heart.
"Y-yeah?" Kirby thought I said that. Probably not a good idea to tell him I didn't.
"Why? You know him?" He stared into my brown eyes.
"A bit more than know." Kirby looked depressed. "I slept with him, and he bandaged me... fed me..." Kirby was crying hard now. "And I... I... I killed him!"
"Killed is a strong word there, sure you didn't just defeat him?"
"You're right, I didn't kill him..." Kirby looked at me, sadder. I was about to speak when Kirby shouted
"I m-murdered one of m-my own f-friends!"
Oh. "N-no you didn't Kirby.. I'm-m sure he just h-hiding around here somewhere!" I stuttered out. I didn't want a star warrior seeking comfort from a lowly Waddle Dee such as my self! It made me feel insecure!
...
"Kirby?" I looked over at him. He was passed out with his limbs close to his face.
I decided to sleep too. I'm sure Kirby will be better when he gets up!
Kirby explained his situation the best he could, with the limited vocabulary he had.
"A-and they would bully him and call him things like..."
This went on, not as long as majesty's speeches, but it went on, especially with Kirby sulking and crying through it.
"Then I swung sword and Nodds was gone! I passed out on the floor and woke up..."
"So, if I'm getting this right, Nodd f-"
"Nodds."
"Nodds fed you and took care of you, and revealed his past."
"Ya."
"And you feel guilty that you 'killed' him?"
"Very guilty, poyo!"
"Lets eat while we think."
"Okay, b-but could you do your trick again?"
"What?" Kirby still thought he was living with Nodds still. Kirby was about to break down into tears.
"J-just eat, I'm sure w-we can find him again!" I had false happiness in my voice. I was only ready for Dedede's emotional outbursts, not Kirby's!
I opened the only fridge here, wondering how it worked and got out a watermelon. Kirby grimaced. I put it down on the table and sat in one of the chairs, as Kirby did.
Kirby searched the melon, for something, but was disappointed when his search was done.
"I'm not Nodds."
Kirby sighed. "I know..."
The Waddle Dee got out of the chair and grabbed the sword. He thought he would use it to cut the melon, which he did. Kirby, with a sad look told him "Put sword away poyo, bad memories."
"Since there's no blood on the sword, uh, maybe he is hiding somewhere?"
No-one needed a bath, but Kirby wanted one anyways.
Click.
He grabbed the faucet and turned it on, where Nodds had it. Put bubble bath in, there was a hole in the top now, which reminded him of Nodds, and how he had to take a bath without Kirby's help. Kirby thought he should've helped Nodds. He wiggled a bit in the tub, and was guided by a voice which said "Now you just relax, maybe rub some water on yourself to get clean alright?" Kirby shuddered at the thought of Nodds being there to guide him. He imagined Nodds helping him relax, get clean... and... Zzzzz...
The Waddle Dee looking around for the 'Noddy' when he felt a sharp pain in his back, and thoughts rushed to him: I should have told Kirby where I was going, and now I'm going to die because of it..! But nothing injured him, so he looked around... and was backed up into a jagged stone. This relieved him, and started to dash back towards the room Kirby was in, but was halted by something he saw. There was a small glow in the darkness. As weird as it was, He mustered up the courage for a wave. The glow stopped then, so he took it as a hint to go.
"Hahaha! Silly Waddle Dee, do you even know where you are going?" It was the sinister voice before, but with amusement instead of being sinister. The laugh scared him though, and tried to run, only to bump into a wall.
"Why do you run? I'm only here to help you save Kirby's life."
"Whuh?!" This caught him off-guard. "Wh-why's he in danger?!"
"He might be exhaling water soon, that doesn't sound nice now does it?" Kirby might drown! But he was lost, and far away!
"What direction is Kirby in you bastard!?" The Waddle Dee went pale. He insulted his only guidance!
There was malice in the voice now. "Guess." and then it cackled. "Left."
I observed Kirby in the bathtub. He might drown soon, but I couldn't let him die. He thought I was his friend. I giggled at the thought.
I bit his hand, leaving two size-able marks there. Kirby didn't awake, just held an expression of great displeasure. I could taste his blood now, it wasn't bad and it had part of me wanting more, but now was not the time, get it together!
I dragged him out of the tub, ripping a small bit of his flesh. I got out a paper, tape, and pencil and wrote, leaving marks where I bit.
I ripped multiple pieces of tape off and taped it to the door, making sure Kirby would see it. I left the stuff where I found it, on a counter, and I hid in the cupboard.
I was woke up with a sharp pain in my hand. With my other, I felt where it hurt. Two sharp pains in fact. As I rubbed paw on paw I noticed they were holes. The only creature with fangs that I know was Nodds, but he was gone!
I let out a groan as I got up, looking around and saw a pencil and roll of tape with fang marks in them too, bloody fang marks. That meant the same creature who bit him also used those objects.
I turned around to the door and saw the note.
"Dear Kirby, I can't help but notice you nearly drowned! How sad that would have been, but I saved you. I don't have time to bandage you so you will have to do what I did earlier."
I was tearing up! That meant Nodds was still alive...
But how did Nodds get in the bathroom? The door was still locked! Wasn't Waddle Dee out there too? This didn't matter for now, because I have to heal!
Click. Creeeak.
I picked up the bottle and poured it on my other paw. It felt worse than when Nodds did it! He really knew how to calm me down enough to make that feel tolerable! I did what I could only do right now: scream in agony.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"
I grabbed the cloth, my hands shaking hard now. Just a bit longer and I'll be prepared to heal. I snipped at the cloth with scissors I found in the bathroom. The cloth was hard to cut, and me being way too shaky to handle sharp objects didn't help. I wrapped it around my paw, using my mouth to hold it still to knot it. Then it hit me. How did Nodds tie it? I thought about it, and I couldn't find out.
I knotted the bandage together, it was tight around my paw, but it had to be, to stop me from bleeding, right?
I looked at myself. I was still wet from the bath, and some blood was on the floor. I heard sprinting.
"KIIIIIRRBBYYYYYY!" A voice yelled, probably Waddle Dee.
It was, I knew because he came through the door, and almost collided with me.
He looked at me, my paws, my feet, my face, he looked me up and down, every part he could look at.
"Kirby! Someone told me you were about to drown, so I came back here running as fast as I could!"
"T-thank you but... Nodds saved me before I drowned, I'm not a murderer!"
"What?" I showed him the note. "Door was still locked, poyo."
I went into the bathroom, looked around and saw what Kirby saw. He had to be somewhere in this room! I searched around, looking for evidence to point to where he could be. The cupboard was the only hiding place in here. I was going to open it, but stopped, nervous about finding out who Nodds is.
"Where were you?" Kirby asked me, while I was hesitating.
"Exploring?" I replied.
"Without even telling me?" Kirby looked hurt!
"I t-thought I would be back before your b-bath finished!" I stuttered back.
I tried to open the cupboard, but it was stuck!
"Kirby, I need some help!" We were both pulling on the handle when suddenly I remembered the hand injury Kirby had. Looking over at Kirby only provided me with more pained expressions plastered on him.
Snap.
The cupboard door came flying off. We were sent back into a mess, having the door land in the bathtub.
"Hehehehehehe!" A voice snickered. I looked over at where it came from, the cupboard.
"NODDS!" Kirby cried out, trying to get up.
"Miss me?" I got off of Kirby. He was now up on his feet, once again. I soon followed.
"You're Nodds?" I peeped out. I hadn't noticed it before, but I was nervous.
"The one and only. What's your name, Waddle Dee?"
"Just call me Dee please!" I peeped a bit louder. Nodds walked out of the darkness of the cupboard now. He was grinning.
"Okay, Waddle De-de-dee!" There was a tooth poking out of the grin, shining in the candle-light.
There was a gurgling sound, Kirby letting the water out of the bath. He looked excited. He was running at the both of us, arms outstretched in a hug.
They all sat around the table. Dee spoke first.
"How come you scared Kirby like that?"
"Seeing if he cared." He looked hungry.
"Y-you not think Kirby care?" Kirby replied accusingly.
"Oh I, ah, wanted to see if you were just faking care." Replied Nodds, glancing at Kirby.
"Faking care? Kirby wouldn't do that Nodds!" The Dee shot back.
"Oh, I don't see that many down here." Nodds stuck on a sad look.
"Nodds, why I have nightmares down here?" Kirby questioned.
"Someone might be using the star rod, or I have a 'dark aura'." Nodds joked. "It can't always get through layers of terrain quickly."
"What that mean poyo?" Kirby urged Nodds to go on.
"Going through air is easy, we walk through it all the time. It covers the planet's surface easily. Us, down here, under layers of dirt, rock, and whatever else is above us, makes it harder for the 'dreaminess' to get down here."
The Dee interrupted. "The less stuff between you and the fountain, the better your chances of getting good dreams."
Kirby nodded, understandingly. Nodds was humming something, but got up and went to the fridge. He opened it, turned around and asked "You guys want anything?"
"We already ate." Kirby and Dee said, simultaneously.
Chomp. "If you guys need anything, just wake me up alright?" He laid in bed.
"Oh uh, what was the voice I heard in the darkness?" Asked Dee.
"Were you alone?" Drowsily replied Nodds.
"Y-yes?"
"Oh uh, get some sleep."
"You're saying its in my head?" Dee asked, unconvinced.
"Uh- ye-yeah." Nodds yawned.
"What does Nodds see when he sleepy?" Asked Kirby.
"You don't want to know." Nodds said, unhelpfully.
"Is it worse than Dee hearing voices?" Kirby gave a worried look.
"Do you want an example?" Dee was getting spooked, he did not want an example.
"Y-yes poyo!" Kirby tried his best to be courageous.
"Alright give me a second." He closed his eyes.
Ten minutes later and Dee said "Kirby, I think he just tricked us." Dee was smiling. Kirby started snickering, realizing he just got tricked!
"Dee, Nodds, Kirby will sleep together!" Kirby exclaimed.
Kirby and Nodds were sleeping. Dee was thinking. He was coming up with questions to ask Nodds when they all got up.
"Hey, orange, could you sleep? You're kinda shaking me a bit there." Nodds was still awake.
"Uh, sorry sir!" He said back.
A light chuckle came from Nodds. "Sir? I, uh, sure. I command you to sleep." Dee was embarrassed.
Dee started "I'm sorry I j-" "I get it, you're not used to sleeping with a great star warrior and jester." Nodds ended.
"Is Nodds your true name?" Dee questioned.
Nodds sighed. "I already went over this with Kirby, ask him."
"I'm sorry, its just that I'd like you to say it. You know more about yourself than Kirby does."
"Fine. Ask me when I'm not sleepy." Nodds sounded annoyed.
"T-thanks."
Dee was up first, followed by Nodds not long after.
"Now?"
"Fine, fine. Just come into the bathroom." Dee looked confused.
"Why?" Nodds looked into Dee's eyes.
"If I'm going to explain my name again, I want it to be private."
Creaaaak.
Nodds was closest to the door, with Dee being near the tub.
"So, since you and Kirby think that my name isn't Nodds, correct?" Nodds said calmly.
"Yeah."
"Well, tell me. Who do you think I am?" Nodds was looking at Dee directly.
"Were you the thing that was pushing me around?"
"Maybe, maybe not." Nodds answered. Dee got a bit nervous.
"What did you mean by 'minimal harm' before?"
Nodds looked shocked. "I said that?"
"Y-yeah you did?"
"I meant that in the moment, Dee." The Waddle Dee was trembling.
"M-moment?" He sputtered out.
"I needed a way for you to trust me, I wasn't being too dishonest, was I?"
"You're not going to kill me?"
"Don't tell Kirby." Dee's eyes were shaking.
"D-don't tell K-Kirby what?"
"My name."
"What's-s your name?" Dee choked out.
"Oh, take a guess, or do you want a-" His face spread into a smile. "Hint?"
"A h-hint p-please!"
"Hey, hey, hey."
"M-Marx?" He nodded, the hat bouncing with him. Dee wanted to run, but the only exit was blocked by the jester.
"Promise you won't tell Kirby." Dee had no option but to nod.
"Verbally and formally." He stopped smiling and looked into Dee's trembling eyes once more.
"I promise to keep your name, M-Marx, and anything else I learn, secret from K-Kirby." Marx walked up to Dee.
"Turn around."
"W-why?" Dee averted his gaze from Marx.
"Turn. Around." He said, forcefully. Dee complied and felt something sharp slide on his back.
"W-what are you doing?"
"You'll find out." There was a slight pain soon after, not much, but it was still pain.
"Aa- what are you doing s-sir?" The Dee choked out.
"Tasting you, silly." Dee nearly passed out at the words.
"W-why?"
"So you can't back out. A promise is a promise after all."
"But uh- t-tasting me, what does that do for you and m-me?"
"It's so you don't die."
"What do you m-mean? I don't quite understand."
"It means I could be doing worse right now, but I'm holding back because I'm sure you don't want to be a corpse, right?" Dee's eyes widened.
"I-I mean yeah, but-"
"I could let my other side take over." Marx said bluntly.
"Is i-it any nicer?"
"Would you like to find out?" Marx giggled.
"J-judging by your reaction i-it's probably best I d-didn't?"
"Correct." The pain stopped.
"What did you do to m-me?" Dee turned around.
"Nothing too noticeable. It just looked like you fell."
"H-have you done this before?"
Marx wryly said "Maybe. Now, what was your promise?"
"T-that I don't reveal any-anything that I l-learned in here t-to Kirby?"
"Good. Now go and sit down, you look like you're about to pass out." It was true. Dee wanted to just slump over and sleep.
I woke up and noticed my friends waiting for me at the table!
"Friends!" I got up and walked over. Waddle Dee has a strange bump on his back.
"What bump?"
Nodds answered me with "He fell while we were talking, the floor was a bit unstable."
"What are we having?" Dee wondered aloud.
I opened the fridge, I saw vegetables and meats, I didn't know the difference so I hauled out three of the meats and ten vegetables, and sat them on the table. I then got three extra vegetables for myself, and split the group on the table
I had six vegetables and one meat, Dee had five vegetables, and Nodds had two meats and two vegetables.
"Nodds, don't you need to cook meat?" Dee said, glancing at me.
"I don't, but Kirby might."
"How to cook?"
"Put your food on this." He motioned to a circular plate in the middle of the table with his hat. I did, and Nodds went under the table.
Click.
"Don't touch it while it's cooking though, it's hot."
Dee was almost finished eating, I was waiting for mine to cook, Nodds only had meats left.
The meats were soon gone, he ate them as soon as he came up. I looked over at Dee and she looked scared.
"Dee what's wrong?" I asked
"Can Dee not take me eating 'improperly'? If you can't already see, I don't have hands!"
"Heh, I guess you're right." Dee put on a small smile.
My food was done cooking, and it tasted really good.
Marx left, claiming he was going to get food. I built up the courage to try to tell Kirby the truth.
"Kirby could I talk to you?" I asked, as brave as I could.
"Sure thing poyo! What Dee want?"
My mouth opened, but heard a voice in my ear, whispering "You promised."
"It's about Nodds, how long do you think hes been down here?" "Good Waddle Dee."
"I don't know! Why don't we ask him when he's back?"
"Sounds g-good!" I smiled the best I could. I couldn't handle anything scary or stressful well.
Creeeeak.
"Nodds poyo, how long you be here?" Kirby asked, looking at the vegetables balanced on his head.
"I was supposed to keep count? I'd guess about a few months."
"Wow, you've been here that long?"
"Mm? I'm sure you've been in houses longer. What's the big deal?" He asked.
"This is a big scary cave with nightmares poyo!"
"Oh, I guess nightmares might be a big deal to you guys. How was your sleep last night anyways?" Marx was putting stuff in the fridge.
"Uneventful." I replied.
"Nothing." Kirby said, sadly.
"Hey, cheer up! It could be worse!" He said.
"We could have your nightmares?" Kirby replied.
Marx frowned. "Oh, you'd have maybe one of them." One of them?
"What do you mean?"
"Things that feel real. Say, you get hit with a rock or something. You then wake up with a pain where you got hit!" Oh. That's what he meant.
"Sounds bad." I gave him a small grin.
Kirby looked down at the floor. "Is it bad?"
"Very. Now I need to ask you, Kirby, a question." Kirby looked back up at Marx. "What's your fear?"
Kirby looked to be thinking hard. "Losing all my friends and being alone."
"And you Dee?"
"D-death."
"Is that it? I thought it would be deeper than that."
"Oh uh, being forgotten too." I tried to feel around my back but my stubby arms couldn't reach.
Silence.
Kirby looked to be wanting to ask what his fear was, but knew it might be a bit dark.
"I put up a camp further on, if you would like to come next time I go out."
"S-sure thing!" I nearly shouted.
"Nodds, is it alright if I call you something else?"
"Fine. You can call me Marx if you want to, if I look so alike."
"P-poyo." Kirby knew he was treading on thin ice.
There was a small fizzing sound in my ear, and then something fell off of me. I didn't catch what it was, but I suspect it was something Marx put on me.
I didn't notice Marx lock the door behind me.
"Kirby, I suspect that most of your memory is back, correct?" He asked.
"Poyo."
"Well, I know more about you than you know about me." I knew lots about him, right?
"That confused look says a thousand words, Kirby. I'm not just a really friendly stranger."
"Huh?" I replied.
"Hey, hey, hey! I'm Marx."
"S-stop joking around, that's not funny."
"Oh but I'm not. I know I've been bad in the past, but you can forgive that, right puffball?"
"I c-could try!" I said, hopeful Marx didn't hurt me.
"Well, you could try but I need you to. If you don't trust me, how can we be friends?"
"F-friends? Th-this isn't another trick, is it?"
"Why would I trick you again?" He was looking into my eyes. I tried my best to look back into his.
"T-to t-try to kill me?" He glanced away.
"That time has passed, I still have dreams and flashbacks, but I forgive you, do you forgive me?"
I looked everywhere but at him. "I -uh." this only got him closer to me.
"Look me in the eyes, and tell me-" He returned his voice to normal, he stopped pretending. "That you forgive me."
"I f-forgive y-"
"I said in the eyes." I looked at him in the eyes.
"I f-forgive you, Marx! Y-you saved me from dying and I- trust you as a friend!"
He leaned against me and closed his eyes. "Then relax."
I did, falling down onto the floor.
"Now could you st-stop scaring me Marx?"
"Just for you~" He said playfully, before letting out a laugh.
