8 July 2015

This took an hour and a half to write.

It is sadly pathetic.

20. Swimming

of an ocean that plants one too many onions for its own good.

"Do I really have to?"

"Have to what?"

"Do. This. Swimming. Thing."

Kirby, loaded with a bag twice his size, full of god-knows-what, shrugged with ease despite the monster on his shoulders. "In case your float fails you one day and I'm napping in the ocean, maybe? You'll never know!"

Bandana Dee, carrying nothing but a float, spear attached to his back, sighed in exasperation and tried not to stare at the capsule js following them down the route towards Onion Ocean. The seven of them had swung by the castle and held up a timer which read ten seconds and Bandana Dee had been conveniently keeping away his float and he had no clue what they meant until they hoisted him by his foot and carried him all the way to Onion Ocean.

Well, near Onion Ocean. Kirby had decided to wait at a disastrously far location (okay, not really. But they had to walk and that was enough discouragement) and insisted the stroll would be a nice warm-up exercise and Bandana Dee felt like he just got smacked by a sack of rocks.

"That should be enough—" Bandana Dee searched for the word "—motivation for you to stop sleeping out in the ocean. Your friend could get targeted by sharks."

"Are you still on the sharks thing? Do you wanna know something about the sharks? They're terrified of the colour pink, okay? Don't even ask me why, 'cause I'm not a shark."

Scoffing, the waddle dee didn't believe a single bit of it. "How do I know you're not just lying to make sure I get off your case?"

Kirby shrugged once again. "Er, you don't."

"I have the feeling you're the best-est friend anyone could have."

"I am!"

Kirby laughed, dropped his thousand-ton bag and lunged forward, and Bandana Dee was surprised (and horrified) to find that they had already ended up at The Shore. Which was Onion Ocean's most-used shore entrance. And it wasn't officially named The Shore, but enough people were using it for it to be recognised.

Obviously searching and clinging onto any reason to not swim, Bandana Dee spun on his heels to face the capsule js. He didn't particularly like them, but looking for an excuse was affordable in that situation.

And of course they conveniently brought cards.

"You're supposed to be swimming, too," Bandana Dee snapped. Okay, maybe they weren't, but if they were a way to wriggle out of it, he'd have to sound pushy. And bossy. Maybe. Just a little.

"Don't be duuuumb," Kirby drawled from where he was doing his starfish-shaped floating, as usual. "They're no good with swimming! Gets into their jets, and stuff. And you know, the water isn't acid, and it's pretty shallow! So you come swim!"

One of the capsule js laughed. They didn't make any sound, but the shape of their eye was enough for the telltale signs.

And it pissed Bandana Dee off to no end, obviously.

"Um, can I not get in there? I know you're an enthusiast when it comes to swimming—"

"I am an enthusiast when it comes to everything!"

"—but I don't like it. Nope, nope. I'll just, um, watch over your stuff, or something." Bandana Dee laughed nervously and sat himself down next to the mountain for a bag and leaned over his float, watching Kirby in anticipation. Because, you know, Kirby was bound to do something.

The pink puffball blew bubbles in the water, and Bandana Dee inched himself a little further away from the water. Why was he backing away from the liquid like there was a gooey skeletal killer whale in it, ready to lunge? Was it any childhood trauma?

Nah, it's just one of those natural fears you get just because you do. Don't think too far.

Bandana Dee observed Kirby for the next few moments, and the pink puffball suddenly obtained a very sneaky look.

"Duuuu!" he called, and Bandana Dee had no idea who he was addressing. "Kick him in!"

Without much time to register, Bandana Dee felt something on his back—a force, a push, and then he was sent flying towards—

Ohhhhhhh. No.

"Ican'tswimyoudastardlydisgusting—" Bandana Dee hurled out in a flurry of panic, flailing because, friend, friend, you can't just kick someone who has a fear of water into the water. It's kinda rude.

Outside the waddle dee's (brainless) gurgles, Kirby laughed. "Nice job, Du!" He clapped his hands. "Um, Band-Aid, you can do my starfish trick! It works for you, too, I think."

"Y—pfh—youthink?!"

"Hey, don't worry! If you die, I'll bring your nice float to your coffin!"