Kirby let out a frustrated grunt and kicked the stand.
"C'mon! Why doesn't it work?!"
"It's rigged, Kirby," Bandana Dee stated flatly, "I've been telling you this the whole time."
Kirby didn't respond, simply pouting and rolling his eyes. Dedede, however, let out a laugh behind them which only annoyed Kirby more.
"Stop laughing!" he said, turning around to face Dedede.
"Why? Only you'd be dumb enough to try and win a carnival game."
Kirby flared at the insult.
"Bet you couldn't pop as many as I did!"
Dedede stopped laughing and his smile shifted into a frown.
"Is that a challenge?" He spoke in a dark tone, contrasting his boisterous laugh from before. Kirby didn't say anything, his glare answering Dedede's question. They both stood in silence, awaiting each other's next move.
"Guys," Bandana Dee spoke up, bringing Kirby and Dedede out of their stare down, "They're rigged. It doesn't involve skill. You'll both lose!" The dee was begging with them now, but neither would listen. He turned to Meta Knight, hoping to find him frustrated with Kirby and Dedede as per usual, only to see he was amused by their antics.
Dedede stepped up and slammed a few cents onto the stand. "Give me the darts."
The waddle dee running the stand complied, nudging over three measly darts. Dedede picked one up and held it near his eye, inspecting the arrangement of balloons as he squinted and took aim.
The objective of Balloon Pop is to pop the balloons lined up on a wall. An index card that's left where the popped balloon had once stood determined the prize. Of course, that's assuming any balloons are popped at all. Meta Knight had observed that, like Bandana Dee had said, the game was not in the player's favor. The darts they gave the players were dull, and the balloons needed more pressure to pop since they didn't look inflated all the way. He stood by the group and watched as Dedede popped two balloons, which was more than Kirby had gotten on his first few tries but not enough to win a prize.
The penguin stuck his tongue out in Kirby's face, and Kirby promptly returned the gesture. Bandana Dee let out an exasperated sigh.
"We're going to be here all day at this rate," he complained. "Can we please go somewhere else now?"
As the other three bickered Meta Knight's gaze shifted to the balloon game, and then to the giant unattainable prizes hanging up on the rim of the roof. He debated the decision in his mind as Kirby took one last gaze at the stuffed animal prizes. Meta Knight saw the disappointment that laced his face before he turned away, then all the missed darts that were still stuck on the wall from earlier.
Meta Knight rushed up to the stand and placed down enough tokens to get five darts. As the waddle dee at the stand gave him his darts Bandana Dee stuffed his face into his nubs.
Kirby had already started walking away but was brought back by Dedede, who grabbed him and pulled him over. Kirby looked up at Dedede in confusion, but then spotted Meta Knight at the balloon stand.
Kirby tilted his head. "What's he doing?"
"Playing the game, idiot," Dedede whispered back.
"No, I mean…why?" Kirby was intrigued but also quite perplexed. Meta Knight would not go out of his way to embarrass himself. He was going to lose, so what was he trying to prove? To even get a prize he would have to make four of the five shots, which was asking a lot to begin with, and to win a decent prize the card had to be good too.
He threw the first dart. It curved down and landed towards the bottom of the wall. Kirby scoffed; typical rookie mistake.
But then Meta Knight grabbed his second dart and took aim, practicing his throw before hurling the dart at the wall. The dart flew in a flash, piercing the board straight-on. And it was just his luck two balloons popped instead of one.
Meta Knight pumped a fist in the air before resuming a throwing position. His next two darts weren't as successful as the second, but each still popped a balloon. As he picked up the final dart, the other three members of the group leaned in. They silently fixated on Meta Knight - even the waddle dee running the stand was anxiously awaiting his next move.
Kirby leaned over and got a glimpse of Meta Knight's face. He squinted in concentration as he skimmed the wall until settling on a specific balloon.
The knight arched his hand back and threw it. It felt like the dart was traveling in slow motion, and the whole team watched it cut through the air as it made its way to the board. Meta Knight held his breath as the dart came closer and closer to the balloon.
Then the dart bounced against the balloon's surface and fell to the ground.
"Aww," Kirby was the first to deflate.
A second later, the balloon popped.
The group erupted with shouts and rushed to Meta Knight. Dedede shook him as the knight stared into the wall and Bandana Dee leaped into the air. Kirby rushed up to him, cheering.
"That was awesome, Meta Knight!" the pink puff said, grabbing his friend's hands and throwing them in the air. Meta Knight reddened slightly, saved by the mask.
Once Meta Knight recovered from the affection he stood tall and flexed his wings.
"Thank you, thank you."
They laughed and almost carried on before the waddle dee behind the stand piped up.
"Um, sir?"
Meta Knight stopped and whipped around.
"Your prize?"
Meta Knight blinked. "Oh. Right."
The waddle dee gestured at the different rows of prizes. "You could get two small ones or one big one."
Meta Knight reviewed the prizes and trailed back to the ones hanging from the roof. He glanced over at Kirby, who simply smiled at him contently.
"I'll take…" his eyes fell on a plush bear while scanning the prizes. He shrugged. Why not?
"That one," he said, pointing to it. The waddle dee nodded and climbed onto the stand to get it down from its hook.
He handed it to Meta Knight, who was basically shielded from view with the thing in front of him. "That was really impressive, Meta Knight!"
He nodded. "Thanks."
The waddle dee hopped back over to the other side of the stand and continued business as usual while the group walked away. Meta Knight had trouble handling the giant stuffed animal, but his focus was also partially occupied with following Kirby. He would have bumped into several others if it hadn't been for Dedede redirecting him.
Meta Knight eventually stopped walking.
"Kirby."
The pink puff turned around. "Yeah? What's up?"
Meta Knight handed the prize into Kirby's nubs. "It's for you."
Kirby stared at Meta Knight, dumbfounded, as he took the prize.
"What? Why-"
Meta Knight's fists tightened. "I can't bring it to the Halberd, obviously."
He looked away. "It... would be embarrassing."
Kirby stifled a laugh. He shoved the bear in Meta Knight's face, who backed away.
"Aw, you're too cool to be seen with Mr. Bear?"
"That's what you're naming him?" Meta Knight promptly snapped out of his melodrama, smirking while he faked offense. "On second thought, no, I think I'll take him back-"
"Nuh-uh! No trade-backs!" Kirby pulled the stuffed bear away. "You already gave him to me! He's mine now. Go get another one since you're such a pro at rigged games."
Suddenly Dedede shouted at them to hurry up, bringing the pair out of their own conversation. The king and waddle dee were a little ways ahead, staring back at them.
"We're gonna get lunch at Kawasaki's!" Bandana Dee called.
Kirby lit up, instantly dashing over to them and surprising Meta Knight with how quickly he redirected. Meta Knight paused to gaze at Kirby, contemplating his strange mannerisms, then followed suit and ran to catch up.
Kirby kept his sights focused ahead but slowed his pace as he took another look at the bear. When Meta Knight appeared beside him, he noticed Kirby had taken on a contemplative expression.
"Grizzo?"
Meta Knight shook his head in disapproval.
"Buttons? Or - hm. Maybe he's more of a Mr. Stuffington."
"Kirby."
"What?" Kirby shifted the plush so he could see Meta Knight and was prepared to defend his names, but stopped short as he saw Meta Knight shaking his head and chuckling. Kirby cocked his head at the sight of Meta Knight laughing, but then shrugged and let his mouth curl into a smile.
As their laughter died down, Kirby smiled at Meta Knight in earnest, his features relaxing. Meta Knight looked over at Kirby when he noticed the absence of his voice.
"Thanks, Meta Knight."
Meta Knight nodded. "Of course."
Neither said a word, unconsciously drawing closer as their eyes interlocked. Meta Knight opened his mouth to say something, but fumbled; he began to reach out his hand, and-
"LUNCH!"
"Right!" They instantly broke apart, accidentally bashing their heads together at the sound of Dedede's booming voice and knocking each other to the ground.