A Smash of Kings

Chapter 4: Lord Kirby

It had been a few weeks since Kirby left Dreamland to aid the crown in the war against the Hylian-Toadstool uprising. Since his first day, Kirby had made much progress to get on King Ganon's good side; he suggested a further strategic retreat to the Gerudo Valley that would allow Mewtwo to unleash his alleged Pokemon reinforcements. In addition, he wrote many times to Warden Dedede (and received letters in return), detailing Dreamland's mobilization; what Kirby kept from Ganon was Dedede's refusal to pledge his support to the Gerudo-Koopa Front. After Kirby finished his reply to the Warden of Dreamland, he folded the letter and put the letter in an envelope. He walked out of his chamber in the castle and down the hallway, which had a shiny floor and several Gerudo-style antics and paintings. He handed it to a Gerudo guard to send out to Dreamland. When Kirby turned around, he saw the Queen, Rosalina, enter the throne room. He did not see her face, only the very end of her sky-blue gown and matching shoes. Curious, Kirby followed her inside.

Kirby walked behind her, seeing that Rosalina stood next to Samus Aran, both intently watching the King on his throne. Because he had been reading and replying to many letters, Kirby forgot that King Ganon was accepting the common folk Smashville into his keep and hearing their many qualms. The pink puffball took note of the great hall in which the Throne of Smash was in; the long hall must have been at least seventy feet in length with many sand-coloured pillars to support the incredibly high ceiling. Besides a carpet in the centre of the room, which led from the main entrance to the steps ascending to the throne, the main area of the room was scarcely decorated. Samus, Rosalina, and Kirby stood on an elevated balcony that was only about seven feet above the main area, where a small crowd of commoners.

"You must listen, Your Grace," a Koopa, wearing dirty rags, begged, "We haven't had any food in days; all we ask is for some bread for the week. The market and tavern prices have increased so much lately. So many of us small folk can't keep up."

"The Realm is at war," King Ganon said, slightly irritated. He adjusted the large golden crown on his head, which had fell slightly to his forehead, and leaned further back on the throne, "All of the resources in the city must go to our troops on the front. If you want to eat for free, enlist into the army; you're guaranteed three meals a day, even if you work in the munition factories."

"But Your Grace, can't you spare some food from one of the many feasts you have? There's basically a famine outside while you—!"

"Get him out of my sight!" King Ganon ordered loudly, his voice booming through the hall.

As several members of the King's Guard grabbed the poor Koopa and forced him out the throne room, King Ganon slumped in the largely uncomfortable throne. Samus, disgusted, left the throne room without acknowledging the King's fiancée. After Samus left, King Ganon sighed, got up from his chair and walked up to the balcony. There, he saw Rosalina, who looked as sweet as she always did, and Kirby. The King kissed her on the cheek, making her smile, and turned to Kirby. Directly below the balcony, Kirby heard the other White Cloaks ushering the common folk out of the throne room.

"Have you heard back from Warden Dedede?" King Ganon asked tiredly.

Kirby answered, "Yes, Your Grace. He's trying to organize his own army right now; the people of Dreamland are lazy, so it may take... Some time for them to mobilize."

"We've been at war for just over a month; how much longer do they need?" King Ganon asked again.

Kirby thought for a second then gave his answer, "Who knows, Your Grace? I'll do what I can, but written words only hold so much weight to the Warden. I'm better off pressuring him face-to-face."

The King, who was already annoyed and tired from taking requests from peasants, groaned in frustration, "My patience is wearing thing with the Warden. I'm beginning to think that both Lords Bowser and Dedede are plotting against me... They're as good for me as they are for the Hylian-Toadstool host."