The Missing Ally

Chapter 7 "Reminiscing"

As Escargoon began to walk around the party he still felt his anxiety of being around so many people bother him. Some people he knew and were happy too see him again, others were all new people who had no idea who he was but were happy too see him regardless. But his own nerves would not allow him to enjoy the party. I mean of course he was happy everyone cared about him making him the center of attention but it was still odd for him. It was too hard too take in.

"Sorry were late!" A voice called out from the front door. "Ah Tiff, Tuff I was wondering when you two would be coming. Usually Tiff would not allow herself to be this late." Meta Knight said as he watched the siblings walk into the party. "Yes well I prefer not to be this tardy! But Tuff took forever to put on a suit..." Tiff growled as she walked in to the table, her brother shortly following behind her. "It was uncomfortable Tiff! It hurt my neck! Bow ties were always a problem for me." Tuff murmured as he leaned on the table.

"Tuff you are not a child anymore! You are 14! You should at least be reasonable enough to put on a tie!" Tiff bellowed in complete annoyance at her brothers lack of know how. Tuff shrugged it off but felt the need to at least defend himself. "Well your 16 and you still talk like a bratty little 7 year old!" Tuff mocked. Tiff growled to herself once more. Meta Knight obviously knew he had to cool off the situation so he did just that. "You two there is no reason to argue over such a petty problem. You both are somewhat immature in ways. But you both have matured a lot as well." Meta Knight explained.

"I guess so.." The siblings said in unison as they glared away from one another. "Wow Meta Knight you sure do know how to put people in line~" Magolor beamed as a visible blush could be seen under his scarf. "Yeah yeah why don't you two just get it over with and kiss already, yeesh." Marx teased as he kept eating his cupcake. Magolor shot Marx a long glare as Meta Knight looked away blushing through his mask lightly. "I'm just saying! There's sparks there!" Marx suggested closing his eyes as he spoke.

"This situation isn't about that Marx.." Magolor snarled as he clenched his teeth. Meta Knight cleared his throat before speaking a blush still under his mask. "C-correct this party isn't about me or Magolor its about Escargoon. Who we should allow to have his moment in the spotlight." Meta Knight let out sounding a little less composed then usual out of shyness from the comments. "I agree! Escargoon is the one this whole party is for he should get the most attention!" Bandanna Dee replied sounding quite processional.

As the others began to talk again Escargoon decided to say hello to the two siblings that used too annoy him so,. But they looked like they had changed a lot since the last time he saw them. "W-wow. You guys look. Really different." Escargoon sputtered out not quite sure what else too say to them. "Well yeah, last time you saw me I was as short as Kirby!" Tuff commented looking very chill in his leaning position. "That's cause he sprouted up very fast. He complained the whole time it was happening." Tiff teased talking in her usual bratty type way. "Did not!" Tuff replied sounding peeved by her comment.

Escargoon actually chuckled at this. "You two haven't changed a bit." Escargoon smiled. Tuff began to babble a bit back. "Yeah you haven't changed much either! Man I remember when you used to get angry at us for even being around." Tuff responded as Tiff was quick to talk next. "Right its been so long I forgot how you used to treat me, Tuff  and Kirby but you seem to have. Warmed up to Kirby and hopefully us too?" Tiff hesitated wondering if Escargoon still wasn't a fan of them. Escargoon smiled as he looked away from the two. "W-well I don't mind you two much now. You guys aren't loud annoying kids anymore...No offense." Escargoon trailed off.

Tuff smirked a bit "Heh, we don't care it was a long time ago. But I mean I'm just wondering how you and Dedede are doing now after so long." Tiff nodded in agreement. "Yeah! I mean when you last left off he was always clobbering you and dragging you around like a personal punching bag." Escargoon felt a shiver go down his spine thinking about those days. The king had quite the temper back then.

"W-well I can assure you he's not doing that now..At least I think he isn't.." Escargoon supposed. "I hope so! What he used to do with you back then was uncalled for!" Tiff scolded, Tuff messed with Tiffs hair before talking once more. "Yeah it was crazy for you two back then! Remember all those times he would chase you with a hammer and stuff." Tuff chuckled remembering that as quite funny.

Escargoon thought otherwise. It wasn't funny at all. It hurt a lot back then to be chased around and sometimes clobbered. "Yeah that happened and I'm not fond of those memories... Surely that will not happen anymore though." Escargoon shuddered out of the thought of that kind of thing ever happening again. "Ya never know! He might be behind ya with the hammer right now!" Tuff teased as Escargoon frantically looked behind him. When he realized Dedede wasn't there he felt like a fool. "Tuff quit it! That's not funny!" Tiff barked at her brother to stop his teasing. Tuff just laughed and walked off. "Its not funny and you are not cleaver you half pint!" Escargoon yelled out as he walked off.

What the 3 didn't know was that King Dedede had heard the whole conversation. King Dedede had just kind of stared from one of the corners of the castle as all of this was being said. It was quite obvious. He was not happy with those thoughts being brought to Escargoon and scaring him with it as well. All these memories he didn't want brought up. Seemed to come back like karma. King Dedede ended up watching over Escargoon a bit more before leaving the main area completely. No one seemed to notice he disappeared.

As Escargoon was trying to relax after the little joke Tuff decided to pull, Kirby decided to run up to Escargoon once more. "Poyo poyo!" Kirby announced grabbing onto Escargoon's hand. "Wh-what is it now Kirby?" Escargoon asked smiling weakly. "Poyo poyo poyo?" Kirby asked, obviously Escargoon had no clue what he was saying. Meta Knight proceeded to translate. "He is asking you too follow him. He has a surprise for you Escargoon." Meta Knight replied. Escargoons eyes widened a bit, a surprise? That did sound interesting. "Oh. OK then Kirby uh...Lead me too it then." Escargoon smiled sweetly at the young star warrior as he was pulled into another room of the castle.

"I just hope this surprise isn't a room full of strangers.." Escargoon thought as he was pulled. Who knew what Kirby had in store for the Mollusk. Who knew?