The Adventure

The Antidote

Customer Service fanned the air around him on-screen, even though he hadn’t been affected by the blast as he was over ten light-years away at the time. “Well, it looks like it‘s my time to go, I have another call coming in,” Customer Service lied through his smirk, “Be careful what you do, 3D.” Customer Service’s laugh echoed through the throne room even after the screens had folded into the walls.

Kirby’s lip quivered as his old friend stomped slowly into the room.

Mr. Tick-Tock had changed. Mr. Tick-Tock’s face was gray, and his body was dark blue, the same blue as Meta Knight’s skin. Mr. Tick-Tock’s bells were the same storm cloud gray as his face, and his feet were orange. Mr. Tick-Tock’s gloves were tinted orange as well, the darkest shade of orange being where his knuckles would have been.

Mr. Tick-Tock stopped his advance into the room once inside the doors and glanced around with his eyes, surveying the layout skeptically. Mr. Tick-Tock’s scowling eyes rested on Kirby, who had a hand over his mouth to stop it from quivering so much and had also stepped back a bit.

Mr. Tick-Tock’s eyes glowed red for a moment before turning orange, the same color as his feet. Mr. Tick-Tock stomped the ground with one foot and an invisible shockwave of pure sound energy hurtled toward Kirby full force, knocking him off his feet high into the air, where Mr. Tick-Tock shot an ill-sounding music note that exploded the way a Bomber would once it made contact with Kirby’s body.

“Oh. Oh. My. G-Gordo,” King Dedede muttered when Kirby hit the ground, unconscious.

Mr. Tick-Tock turned away from his old friend and looked straight at King Dedede.

King Dedede tensed as Mr. Tick-Tock lumbered toward him, too terrified to move.

Mr. Tick-Tock stopped three feet away from King Dedede, looked at him for a moment, then bowed by flipping his right foot upside down with the toes pointing backwards. “The Pink Terror has been defeated, Great King Dedede. What service may you wish me to accomplish now?” Mr. Tick-Tock’s voice was metallic and raspy, like it hadn’t been used in a long time, and it had an undertone to it that made one want to be careful what they said to him.

King Dedede got over his shock, knowing Mr. Tick-Tock was in his command. King Dedede should have felt glad; Mr. Tick-Tock was his soldier once again. But all the king felt was regret, the part of his heart that spoke to him in the arena spoke to him again, “Dedede, gaze upon your work. You took Kirby‘s friend and turned him into your own personal servant. Shame. You have a choice; use this poor soul as your slave, or give Kirby his friend back. One of those ways will be helpful to all those involved. Now choose.”

King Dedede shifted. Something about that voice, the way it addressed him was unnerving. “Mr. Tick-Tock,” King Dedede hesitated on his next command, “I want you to fly to the kitchen and get a Maxim Tomato to give to me. And, also, if the two Chillies Matias and Danielle are in there, please tell them I know about their relationship.”

Mr. Tick-Tock nodded but corrected, “Your wish is my command, but I no longer go by the name of ‘Mr. Tick-Tock.’ Now I am Master Geartears.” With that, Master Geartears turned around and proceeded to lumber out of the throne room.

“Wait! I said to FLY to the kitchen!”

Master Geartears turned around with anger visible in his eyes, “I am no longer a member of the Tick-Tock species that possess that skill, as only a select few inherit this trait.”

Now King Dedede was scared a bit. Mr. Tick-Tock- now known as Master Geartears- used to be a perfect flyer. Now nothing remained but memories of who he once was.