Chapter Text
Escargoon is a servant who works as the right-hand man of the royal overlord of Pupupuland and planet Popstar, King Dedede. He serves as his most royal advisor, most loyal companion.
But companionship doesnโt last forever.
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"Escargoon!! I'm hungry, cook me something so I can fill up ma' belly. And make it snappy!" King Dedede sat at the first row of the dining table. He folded his arms and called out to his servant. Escargoon rushed over to the table.
"R-right away, sire!!" He did as he was commanded and went straight into the kitchen. Clanking pots and sizzling could be heard from the kitchen while several waddle dees were pushing a cart full of cutlery wares and platters, organising them on the table
After a few moments, the food finally finished. Escargoon pushed out a cart full of delicate food on neat platters and bowls.
The king taps his foot impatiently and grab the first plate of food he sees. "Horrible!" as King Dedede tried every spoonful of his meal, he spits it out and threw the platters onto the floor as it shattered like a stubborn child.
"All these dishes tasted terrible!!" he whined. At this moment, Escargoon was already having a migraine. Why, why couldn't he just behave as a king should behave??
" Then what do you expect me to do sire?! You're the one who told me to cook them!! You wouldn't even lay a finger on Kawasaki's cooking!" Escargoon face palmed, eyebrows creasing in an irritated manner.
"I don't care!" The king crossed his arms again and frowned over the shattered shards.
"Your majesty, I think it's best if you quit this little attitude of yours. No one would like you if you- you're this- obnoxious and stubborn!" Escargoon tried to advise the monarch. If there's anything, anything he wished to change is if the king would've paid much attention to him, to listen to him. But in the end there was always someone to blame for the monarch's own mistakes.
"Hmph. Who cares what people thinks if I'm like this when I'm the greatest king then any of them" King Dedede protested with pride. It's always like this, he never listens! Escargoon thought. The sudden thought of dealing with the king for the next 24/7 is gonna drive him nuts if he caused any traunts. At this rate, what's going to happen to Dreamland?
" Too bad your image doesn't stand out" Escargoon mumbled, trying to keep his act together.
"Hm? What was that?" King Dedede now standing on his 2 feet, towering above him. He knows this stance, he knows he heard him. He knows he's in big trouble.
"Uh- um-" Escargoon isn't scared of King Dedede's traunts, he isn't scared of serving and advising him. But the thought what he's going to do to him next made his hands trembled before him. He backs away slowly, step by step, and King Dedede follows.
"So ya think I'm no better than any other ain't I right? And you decided you could just underestimate me?"
King Dedede reached out for his hammer.
"S-sire, that's not-" Realising this, it was already too late. The penguin whacked Escargoon with his hammer out of fury, the snail went flying through the dining hall and crashed against a wall. It was only luck his shell hasn't break yet.
" Urgh... I should've kept my mouth shut..." Escargoon groaned before he fell face first flat on the hallway carpet.
" Hmph, well ya should've but ya didn't " King Dedede chuckled to himself. The subordinate had no idea what's so funny about, what's so funny about clobbering him. What's so funny about laughing at his pain and enjoying the suffering from others. He's sick of the feeling of being looked down.
"Waddle dees! Clean up this mess and I'll see right to it after I take a nap." the king yawned. He dragged himself out of the dining halls while the waddle dees meekly tidied the mess with brooms and dustpans. A few of them also came back with cloths to clean the stanches from the now wasted food.
But Escargoon, only took a glance at them and went away. He stood up to his own image ever since he has been elected as an advisor, to show how much power he has under one's position. To remind himself that he could still take over the low lives, to tower above them with all might. That's what made him feel great, it brings him back to his senses, it made him feel good. But he has gone numbed, fatigue has taken over him. There's no one he can talk to. No one who would listen to him. Not even the king would have the patience in lending an ear. Because he only listens to him.
Knowing this is hopeless, Escargoon made his way to the first aid kit. He opened it and got himself an ice pack to reduce the aching pain on his head. "Argh... My poor head..." he groaned through the pain.
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After what seems like a while, Escargoon decided to have a walk around cappy town. To see if it'll lighten up the mood. But the senses in his head prevented him to do so.
Huh.. I haven't seen Kirby and those meddling brats anywhere, Escargoon thought. No matter! It's best they don't bother him for now while he's out and about.
"WHAT?!?" Three familiar voices came from a tent. Must be from Mabel's tent. Wasn't he supposed to take a walk, why does he suddenly wanted to know what they were planning. Maybe it's against the king. Maybe something that had to do with Kirby. He knows he should be restraining himself, cus he doesn't want to get involved in another epic failure and put his 'oh so terrible fate to protect his majesty and clobber Kirby'
But curiosity overtook him and he slowly creeped over Mabel's tent and took a peek to eavesdrop their conversation.
"So you're saying King Dedede will be replaced?!" Fumu exclaimed. And Escargoon couldn't even believe what he's hearing. Dedede, the selfish monarch is actually going to replaced, but by whom?
"Who and when is it going to happen?" Bun interrupted over his sister. Mabel started to perform her magic again but it ended up in a miscalculated error.
"I'm afraid the fortune ball will not give me the answer" Mabel sighed.
" How?! H-how is this possible?!?" Tokkori was over beyond confusion. None of them could even believe if it's true or not.
" That's why I called you here, I have been getting strange signals from the fortune ball. It might not be real but it was in theory." Mabel hesitated.
" Someone is going to overthrow King Dedede"
Was that even possible? Escargoon gave a thought. Someone can overthrow the king? But what does Mabel know? All he knows is that she's a fraud!... But... Escargoon leaned in a little to hear better on what they're saying.
" Well I couldn't even think of anyone who's this brave enough to stand up to that slob" Tokkori bragged.
"Yea. I don't think anyone would dare to overthrow King Dedede. I'm sure Meta Knight wouldn't. Not even Escargoon would even try when he's always following him like a dog and get hits by him everytime!" Bun laughed at the thought while agreeing with Tokkori.
" Bun! That's rude! We shouldn't jump into conclusions about this. Like Mabel said, we aren't sure if this is real or not but it's just in theory." Fumu lectured her little brother, Kirby still in her hands. Escargoon hadn't even noticed he was actually with them.
" Yea but think about it sis, if there was a world with all of us and no King Dedede, wouldn't it be easier when he's not bothering us?" Escargoon came to a halt. No more yelling, no more tantrums and no more dreadful plans on getting rid of Kirby. No one would even order monsters from eNeMe anymore. He could live on better.
But I'm just a snail, what am I supposed to do? Escargoon still clutching onto the ice pack. He couldn't stop twitching from the state he was in. The memories of being with the king and the memories of which how badly he was treated all over the years. His feelings all mixed up in a trail of misleading emotions. All he ever wanted was his 'best friend' to appreciate how he treated him. But that never happened. He walked away from the tent, ready to head back to the castle.
"Why am I so afraid?" He grumbled. All he was known for a prideful coward, conjuring up his feelings. As if he never was ever mad at him. Maybe... he-
"LOOK OUT!" Captain waddle doo managed to grab onto Escargoon's hand before he trips over the edge of the roadway cliff, the pathway to the castle. Only then, Escargoon had snapped back from his own thoughts.
"You should be looking where you are going, sir" Escargoon steadied himself before looking at the waddle doo."You could've seriously hurt yourself!!"
Hurt myself? Pretty ironic. "I am looking where I was going, no need for your peasants concern" Escargoon shoved the waddle doo aside, pretending to dust himself off. Captain waddle doo rolled his eye of 'so done with this shit' and sighed. Clearly Escargoon knows the captain was practically tired of his unnecessary pushovers.
"Whatever you say, sir" but there was no grimace on Escargoon's face this time. Instead, he walked towards the castle doors and throdded all the way to his room.
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Escargoon went to his room and sat Infront of his study table. The room was aligned with a few shelves of books of all kinds. A plant encyclopedia was layed sat open on a study table. A huge globe also took place on the table. Reaching out to his diary, he beginned to write.
Dear diary,
Like any other day, I had to deal with the king's idiotic tantrums(and get clobbered again). But there was one thing amissed I've heard. Seemingly, the king might be replaced but who knows. In Mabel's tent, those two noisy brats, yellow bird and puffball were called to the tent to investigate an unconfirmed theory.
Clearly they were not certain either, they doubted anyone could be brave enough to stand up to his majesty.
Escargoon stopped writing, his hand gripping onto the pencil. Not even me, he thought. The last time he tries to take the king's place is when he tries to please his mom as she visits Cappy town. Now is different.
"๐ด๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก'๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐?" a voice rang in Escargoon's ear, and he spun around.
"W-who is that?" He called out, but there was no reply. So he tried shouting again. "Who's there? Show yourself!" Suddenly, his surroundings turned pitched black, it tensed Escargoon but he toughened up.
"I SAID SHOW YOURSELF" but no figure appeared, only his voice can be heard in a silent echo. The strange voice spoke again, the voice only becoming hoarse and eerie.
"๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐โ" it said.
"Who are you? What do you want? If you're working with those brats then you have no such use in scaring me. I'll have you know that his majesty is able to-" wait, it couldn't be. Could another beast have escaped from the monster transmitter?
"๐ผ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐กโ๐๐๐" the figure spoked." ๐ผ'๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐ โ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ . ๐ผ'๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข" Following me? Escargoon thought.
"๐ผ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐. ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ค โ๐๐, ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ก๐โ๐๐ ." the unamed figure continued on. Escargoon couldn't believe what he's hearing. It must be lie, it must be a trick, it must be a fraud.
" No, you're wrong" he tightened his grip. " I wouldn't do that to him, I obey his majesty, I respect him. We had bad moments but- he- he'll eventually change and realise-" they still have something good between them, their friendship. But Escargoon was sure this will not change his mind about him.
"๐ท๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐กโ๐๐๐ โ๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข?" The figure protested calmly. Escargoon was silent, he knew he wouldn't admit it but he knew he couldn't deny it either. "๐ฟ๐๐ก ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐" he was surprised by the sudden urge for the figure to request from him. He paid no mind to it. Yet, he still listens.
"๐ป๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ?" Now the snail was listening to him.
"๐ผ'๐ ๐๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ , ๐กโ๐๐ข๐โ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก. ๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ , ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐ข๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐." The voice went silent for a second. "๐๐ข๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ก ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก"
Escargoon flinched, his pupils minimised and he swore he could only hear his own breathing.
" How..." A sweat slid across his face. " How did you-"
"๐ผ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข, ๐ โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข, ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข, ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฆ" the voice of the figure continued. "๐ผ โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐, ๐คโ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐ผ โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐ข ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐ ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข, ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ค๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐" a mirage illuminated infront of the snails eyes. The figure wasn't lying when he said he was watching him. Everything infront of him, they were all what King Dedede did to him.
"๐ผ๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐... ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐โ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข" the voice tauntingly called out, still stayed in the same tone, convincingly. This doesn't moved Escargoon, he was right. "๐ด๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐?"
Escargoon sighed. "What do you want?"
"๐ผ ๐๐๐'๐ก ๐ค๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข, ๐ผ'๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐, ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ก ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐"the voice was slowly fainting away.
"๐๐๐ข ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ "
Escargoon gasped, droll was littering from his mouth and over his diary, making him realise he had fallen asleep. He felt a sharp pain and gripped at his wounded head, cursing. He spaced out and stared at his diary, remembering what the mysterious entity voice had said. He clenched his fists but it only made his mind swirled.
Endlessly swirling, a feeling he could not even describe as 'anger'.
"ARGGH!!" Escargoon slammed the table "๐๐๐ข ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ " the same sentence rang through his head and something clicked him.
"I get it now" he said to himself.
"All this time, I've been too afraid to oppose you. But I can see now that I'm in the wrong." Escargoon turned his head, he glanced at the picture frame that sat on the table, when he was promoted as royal advisor. In the picture, he was grinning from ear to ear.
But Escargoon could no longer smile like he used to. He was done with him. Groaning at the sight, he slammed the picture frame flat on the table.
"If what Mabel said was true," Escargoon took out his briefcase."Then I'll just have to make the first move."
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King Dedede woke up and the first thing he did was that he smelt something... terrible. Blarghh, what is that smell?! I'll sure have Escargoon clean whatever is making that. King Dedede thought to himself. It was an awful stench. He tried to get up but he couldn't.
As soon as his vision cleared, he realised he was all tied up with a rope and slumped against the chair of his throne room. The pungent smell grew stronger. Gasoline was all over him, all over the throne room and tanks of them were settled to the sides of the corner. "What in the hell?!"
A spilling sound was heard from above and King Dedede looked up. There stood his 'loyal' subordinate, standing on top of the TV screen that was used to call eNeMe.
"ESCARGOON?!?" the king exclaimed.
"Oh, you're awake", Escargoon dropped the last tank onto the red carpet.
"What in the hell are ya doin'?! Get me outta here or I'll clobbah you!!" King Dedede squirmed and tried his best to release himself from the ropes but failed.
"That won't be necessary, your majesty. No" Escargoon looked below at the king's now helpless and all. But it's still not enough.
"King Dedede, I won't be under your service any longer"
"What?..."
"I SAID, I QUIT!" Escargoon's voice boomed so loud that the whole castle shook under his voice. He huffed at the sight and continued. Inhaling a breath.
"If you're even 'worried' about the waddle dees, Captain waddle doo and Sir Embrum's family then don't 'worry'" he looked away.
"I've already evacuated the waddle dees, said it was an emergency and told to come get you, and Sir Embrum's family is not in the castle. But I doubt you even care about them, so..." Turning back while looking at the king again. He stared at him so menacingly as if his eyes were about to pop out at any moment.
"It's just us, you, me, only both of us"
King Dedede gulped. He had never seen Escargoon so unexpectedly mocking, he no longer looked like his friend with the sarcastic remarks and concerning tone. He was an entirely different person. But Escargoon was not amused enough, he decided to stand up for himself.
"You don't realise it, do you?" He takes out a box of matches. "Hear this Dedede, you're stupid, but you're just as dense as to take out your anger on me and even you know that I'm constantly used as your punching bag." He lights up a match and sets it aflame, with his final words, he begins
"It's a shame, my liege. Really an utter disappointment to have met you." The gasolines. The ropes tied around. The mockery. It was all connected! But as soon as King Dedede realised this, he only let out a roar of fury, "YOU TRAITOR!!" Traitor, huh? "Traitor sounds incomparable, I'd like to call this a rebellion. But anyways," Escargoon held the match to his face and looked at the flame.
"You're selfish, greedy, abusive, prideful, let alone I was a victim of you. Tell me, Dedede. Are you happy hurting your trusted advisor to the deepest depths till he snaps?" This time, he lets go of the match, it's as if time has paced in slow motion. And the match, slowly, it falls onto the gasoline.
"Are you?"
The throne room was set ablaze and King Dedede screams in agony through the fire that was set on him as well. Escargoon watches him beg. Begging for mercy. Saying he's done nothing to him. Saying he's done nothing wrong. Offering him anything in exchange for mercy. Crying remorsefully for help.
Everything else was starting to turn into ashes the fire was starting to trace towards another room. But what did the advisor do? He stood still on the TV screen. Looking down from above, he smiled to himself before he headed towards the vent above him.
"See you at the afterlife, King Dedede."
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Escargoon rolled out of the vent, coughing out the dust and removing the strains of cobwebs that stuck onto his hands. He gets up. "Heh... It was fun while it lasted." This was it. This was his freedom. No more mercy or regret has left for him. And this time. Escargoon went into a small hovering space ship where all his belongings were packed.
He's probably gonna be discovered soon enough that he has committed a crime. So he knew he had to move out. Turning on the teleportation machine and the timer set on the time bomb to clear off evidence.
He sets off, living elsewhere, living his freedom in another parallel universe.