A King I promise to Be
King Dedede / Kesuk
King Dedede / Kesuk
“A King will always protect his people, for if not, he is no king at all.”
His father would always repeat those words to him as a hatchling.
Grandy was once the beloved ruler of Dream Land. Under his rule and leadership, the people were well looked after, and taken care of. Anyone who harms his people will be labeled as an enemy of the king himself. He has shown that time and time again as he’d put himself in front of harms way to protect the ones he holds dear.
“One day, you will do the same, my son…”
—--
“Get up, and try again …”
Kes orders as she stands tall in front of the fallen penguin. It’s been less than a month since she and Meta Knight has taken him under their wing as his student. Typically, they train him and Kirby together, but this month is different. While Kirby is to spend the next several weeks with Meta to focus on strengthening his wings, Dedede is to spend his training with Kes. He didn’t think much of it, at first. If it’s anything like the past few weeks of training, it should be fairly simple. And yet,,,
It proved to be one of the hardest training sessions of his entire life.
Far off in Echo’s Edge, a warrior and her student have been diligently training. Far from civilization, she has been training him in an assortment of different categories- from hunting, to navigation, to cooking, to agility, to endurance, to survival skills- just about everything and anything a proper warrior should know.
But right now, at this very moment, he’s reached far past his limitation. From having to hunt for his own food, to learning how to cook it. From waking up early, and training way past sun down, to training in sub-freezing temperatures.
No.
He’s simply unable to do it anymore.
“I…I can’t...” He wheezes out. Body trembling, he drops his mallet and collapses back on the floor in fatigue.
“Yes you can.” She speaks, and walks over to extend her hand. “You can do this; I know you can.”
Standing in front of them is a massive wall of ice. A wall of ice where he must scale the entire thing with his claws. So far, he’s only managed to scale a quarter of it before losing his grip and falling back down. It was hard enough scaling it on its own, but he was ordered to carry his mallet as well- a mallet, mind you, that weighs over double his weight. He’s been at it all morning, and throughout the afternoon. At this point, he’s had just about enough of it!
When he sees her offer a hand, he immediately slaps it away. “Just….leave me alone, okay?! I’m sick of training, I’m sick of having to hunt for my own food, I’m tired, I’m sore, and I want to go home!” He snaps out of frustration, and throws his mallet several feet away from him.
He focuses on the floor, and avoids Kes’ gaze- he knows what he did was disrespectful, but for the love of Nova! How could she expect someone like him to scale a massive wall of ice, on top of lugging a giant hammer on his back to boot? He could hardly keep up with her during their morning runs, and when it’s time to spar, he always ends up flat on his face. How could she possibly think he’s capable of doing such a thing?
“I...” He mumbles. “ I’m not like you. I’m not fast, I’m not stealthy, I can’t keep up without tripping over myself half the time. I’m just…nothing…
He keeps to himself, but eventually, Kes moves towards him. He flinches a bit when he catches catch a glimpse of her claws forming on her hands. Nova, he messed up this time- she’s probably going to assign him to work throughout the night, or have him run laps until he collapses, or-
Kes motions her leg, and kicks the handle of his fallen hammer upwards so she can hold it. She stares down at him before dashing to the wall and begins to scale it. With one arm holding his hammer, she throws it upwards and begins to quickly scale the wall a few inches before grabbing the descending hammer again with her other hand. She repeats the process of climbing and juggling his mallet nearly 30 times before she finally reaches the top.
He couldn’t believe it, and stares above at the figure in awe. The mallet alone was probably triple her weight, but he watches as Kes holds the mallet in front of her, before throwing it back down where it crashes near his feet.
“If one truly wants to be King, they will have to carry the weight of their entire kingdom on their back, while scaling endless obstacles that will impede their way. You will make the sacrifice, so your people will be safe. Do not let this stand in your way, for you will face things far greater than this wall of ice.
She doesn’t move from her spot, and patiently waits.
Dedede eyes the mallet across from him. Her words, eventually sinking in. A King, a leader….
Slowly, he reaches out and grabs it.
Eventually, his claws meet the slick wall of ice, and he begins to scale it.
-------------------------------------
“I’ll prepare dinner, you deserve a good rest after today.”
Kes speaks to him as she enters the ice hut with a fresh batch of fish, berries, and several hares in hand. He’s been recovering for the past several hours while Kes went off to go hunting. Bundled up in the new fur pelt she gifted him for completing her training, Dedede shakes his head and gets up to help her with the preparations.
“I think…..I actually like helping you cook.”
“Do you, now?” A twinge of amusement in her voice. Several weeks ago he wouldn’t get nowhere near a fish carcass, and here he is descaling, cleaning and filleting it.
“I do…” He says as he preps the fish while Kes makes the broth for the stew. He adds the fish once the broth begins to boil, and Kes places the lid over the pot to let it simmer and cook.
While dinner was cooking, Kes is busying herself cleaning their eating area, while Dedede heads back to his quarters to pack some of his belongings. It was the last week they were staying in Echo’s Edge, and in several days they will begin to make their way back to Green Greens. He honestly didn’t bring much- a lot of it was for his training; a leather bound book for notes, something to write with, a few (failed) hilts Kes was teaching him how to carve out of bone, and a few pelts from the wild animals Kes helped him hunt. After a bit of time has passed, he speaks to the elder.
“Umm…” He stammers a bit, and watches as she turns her way, and gives a hum of acknowledgment.
“I…umm, well, I just…” He eyes the soft pelt he was sitting on, and brushes his battered hands over it. “Thank you. For everything."
The elder walks over to him, and reaches out to ruffle his hair. “You have the makings of a fantastic chief, I’d say.”
Her praise couldn’t help but cause him to smile. “Is…that anything like being a King?”
Kes nods as she prepares their bowls. She scoops a hearty serving for the both of them, and she takes a seat across from him once she hands him his dinner.
“A Chief of South Nova is mighty. Willing to put themselves in the line of danger to protect their people and home. Powerful, wise, brave, and incredibly selfless. Because of those traits, everyone in the village feels protected under their watch. There isn’t a day that goes by where the chief isn’t admired and greatly respected. And even with such admiration, they are humble enough to know they are nothing without their people.”
Dedede stares into his refection in the bowl of soup in his hands. Quietly, he replies back. “Like…my dad.”
“Yes." She gives a heartfelt nod. "He was a wonderful King indeed. Everything a good leader should be.”
“Do…you…” He hesitates. “Do you think I’ll be anything like him?”
He truly doesn’t see himself like his father. His father was strong, powerful, kind..while many see him as a runt. Weak, spoiled, a failure….
“In time, you will be.” She speaks with confidence in her voice. Dedede looks up, tears forming in his eyes. Kes gets up, and gently presses her forehead against his. With a smile on her face, she speaks.
“And I will be there every step of the way until then. All of us. I promise.”
------------------------
“My King!!! Snap out of it!!!”
A hard slap to his face brings him back to the present. He looks around-
Rock, cement, and rubble are scattered throughout the halls of his castle. A large portion of the west wing has been damaged- and where the impact is, splatters of blood paints the walls.
He tries his best to focus, but his vision is starting to become blurry. He’s not sure if it’s from the rage that’s building up inside of him at the one who caused it, or the tears forming in his eyes- but he’s certain of one thing….
They will pay for what they’ve done.
He quickly orders his platoon of Waddle Dee to take her to safety, while he acts as a barrier until she’s taken out of the room. It’s only until everyone is out of harms way does he cast aside his cape, and grips his mallet with the intent to kill.
“Anyone who harms my people will be labeled as an enemy of the king himself!!!” He snarls in anger. “You have made the very grave mistake of attacking someone precious to me, and I will make sure you will regret your decision by the end of this battle!”
Battle scarred from years of training, he knows he’s ready for this. He runs towards it, and swings with all his might. The words of his late father echos in his mind.
“A king will always protect his people, for if not, he is no king at all.”
His father would always repeat those words to him as a hatchling.
Grandy was once the beloved ruler of Dream Land. Under his rule and leadership, the people were well looked after, and taken care of. Anyone who harms his people will be labeled as an enemy of the king himself. He has shown that time and time again as he’d put himself in front of harms way to protect the ones he holds dear.
“One day, you will do the same, my son…”
—--
“Get up, and try again …”
Kes orders as she stands tall in front of the fallen penguin. It’s been less than a month since she and Meta Knight has taken him under their wing as his student. Typically, they train him and Kirby together, but this month is different. While Kirby is to spend the next several weeks with Meta to focus on strengthening his wings, Dedede is to spend his training with Kes. He didn’t think much of it, at first. If it’s anything like the past few weeks of training, it should be fairly simple. And yet,,,
It proved to be one of the hardest training sessions of his entire life.
Far off in Echo’s Edge, a warrior and her student have been diligently training. Far from civilization, she has been training him in an assortment of different categories- from hunting, to navigation, to cooking, to agility, to endurance, to survival skills- just about everything and anything a proper warrior should know.
But right now, at this very moment, he’s reached far past his limitation. From having to hunt for his own food, to learning how to cook it. From waking up early, and training way past sun down, to training in sub-freezing temperatures.
No.
He’s simply unable to do it anymore.
“I…I can’t...” He wheezes out. Body trembling, he drops his mallet and collapses back on the floor in fatigue.
“Yes you can.” She speaks, and walks over to extend her hand. “You can do this; I know you can.”
Standing in front of them is a massive wall of ice. A wall of ice where he must scale the entire thing with his claws. So far, he’s only managed to scale a quarter of it before losing his grip and falling back down. It was hard enough scaling it on its own, but he was ordered to carry his mallet as well- a mallet, mind you, that weighs over double his weight. He’s been at it all morning, and throughout the afternoon. At this point, he’s had just about enough of it!
When he sees her offer a hand, he immediately slaps it away. “Just….leave me alone, okay?! I’m sick of training, I’m sick of having to hunt for my own food, I’m tired, I’m sore, and I want to go home!” He snaps out of frustration, and throws his mallet several feet away from him.
He focuses on the floor, and avoids Kes’ gaze- he knows what he did was disrespectful, but for the love of Nova! How could she expect someone like him to scale a massive wall of ice, on top of lugging a giant hammer on his back to boot? He could hardly keep up with her during their morning runs, and when it’s time to spar, he always ends up flat on his face. How could she possibly think he’s capable of doing such a thing?
“I...” He mumbles. “ I’m not like you. I’m not fast, I’m not stealthy, I can’t keep up without tripping over myself half the time. I’m just…nothing…
He keeps to himself, but eventually, Kes moves towards him. He flinches a bit when he catches catch a glimpse of her claws forming on her hands. Nova, he messed up this time- she’s probably going to assign him to work throughout the night, or have him run laps until he collapses, or-
Kes motions her leg, and kicks the handle of his fallen hammer upwards so she can hold it. She stares down at him before dashing to the wall and begins to scale it. With one arm holding his hammer, she throws it upwards and begins to quickly scale the wall a few inches before grabbing the descending hammer again with her other hand. She repeats the process of climbing and juggling his mallet nearly 30 times before she finally reaches the top.
He couldn’t believe it, and stares above at the figure in awe. The mallet alone was probably triple her weight, but he watches as Kes holds the mallet in front of her, before throwing it back down where it crashes near his feet.
“If one truly wants to be King, they will have to carry the weight of their entire kingdom on their back, while scaling endless obstacles that will impede their way. You will make the sacrifice, so your people will be safe. Do not let this stand in your way, for you will face things far greater than this wall of ice.
She doesn’t move from her spot, and patiently waits.
Dedede eyes the mallet across from him. Her words, eventually sinking in. A King, a leader….
Slowly, he reaches out and grabs it.
Eventually, his claws meet the slick wall of ice, and he begins to scale it.
-------------------------------------
“I’ll prepare dinner, you deserve a good rest after today.”
Kes speaks to him as she enters the ice hut with a fresh batch of fish, berries, and several hares in hand. He’s been recovering for the past several hours while Kes went off to go hunting. Bundled up in the new fur pelt she gifted him for completing her training, Dedede shakes his head and gets up to help her with the preparations.
“I think…..I actually like helping you cook.”
“Do you, now?” A twinge of amusement in her voice. Several weeks ago he wouldn’t get nowhere near a fish carcass, and here he is descaling, cleaning and filleting it.
“I do…” He says as he preps the fish while Kes makes the broth for the stew. He adds the fish once the broth begins to boil, and Kes places the lid over the pot to let it simmer and cook.
While dinner was cooking, Kes is busying herself cleaning their eating area, while Dedede heads back to his quarters to pack some of his belongings. It was the last week they were staying in Echo’s Edge, and in several days they will begin to make their way back to Green Greens. He honestly didn’t bring much- a lot of it was for his training; a leather bound book for notes, something to write with, a few (failed) hilts Kes was teaching him how to carve out of bone, and a few pelts from the wild animals Kes helped him hunt. After a bit of time has passed, he speaks to the elder.
“Umm…” He stammers a bit, and watches as she turns her way, and gives a hum of acknowledgment.
“I…umm, well, I just…” He eyes the soft pelt he was sitting on, and brushes his battered hands over it. “Thank you. For everything."
The elder walks over to him, and reaches out to ruffle his hair. “You have the makings of a fantastic chief, I’d say.”
Her praise couldn’t help but cause him to smile. “Is…that anything like being a King?”
Kes nods as she prepares their bowls. She scoops a hearty serving for the both of them, and she takes a seat across from him once she hands him his dinner.
“A Chief of South Nova is mighty. Willing to put themselves in the line of danger to protect their people and home. Powerful, wise, brave, and incredibly selfless. Because of those traits, everyone in the village feels protected under their watch. There isn’t a day that goes by where the chief isn’t admired and greatly respected. And even with such admiration, they are humble enough to know they are nothing without their people.”
Dedede stares into his refection in the bowl of soup in his hands. Quietly, he replies back. “Like…my dad.”
“Yes." She gives a heartfelt nod. "He was a wonderful King indeed. Everything a good leader should be.”
“Do…you…” He hesitates. “Do you think I’ll be anything like him?”
He truly doesn’t see himself like his father. His father was strong, powerful, kind..while many see him as a runt. Weak, spoiled, a failure….
“In time, you will be.” She speaks with confidence in her voice. Dedede looks up, tears forming in his eyes. Kes gets up, and gently presses her forehead against his. With a smile on her face, she speaks.
“And I will be there every step of the way until then. All of us. I promise.”
------------------------
“My King!!! Snap out of it!!!”
A hard slap to his face brings him back to the present. He looks around-
Rock, cement, and rubble are scattered throughout the halls of his castle. A large portion of the west wing has been damaged- and where the impact is, splatters of blood paints the walls.
He tries his best to focus, but his vision is starting to become blurry. He’s not sure if it’s from the rage that’s building up inside of him at the one who caused it, or the tears forming in his eyes- but he’s certain of one thing….
They will pay for what they’ve done.
He quickly orders his platoon of Waddle Dee to take her to safety, while he acts as a barrier until she’s taken out of the room. It’s only until everyone is out of harms way does he cast aside his cape, and grips his mallet with the intent to kill.
“Anyone who harms my people will be labeled as an enemy of the king himself!!!” He snarls in anger. “You have made the very grave mistake of attacking someone precious to me, and I will make sure you will regret your decision by the end of this battle!”
Battle scarred from years of training, he knows he’s ready for this. He runs towards it, and swings with all his might. The words of his late father echos in his mind.
“A king will always protect his people, for if not, he is no king at all.”
-End-
Artist Comment:
December 17, 2025
-----------------
DEDEDE ART!!! 8D
Since Dedede's mother died after he hatched, I like to think (aside from Kana) Kes is a suitable mentor/ mother figure for him. After training in Echo's Edge, Dedede gravitates to her a bit more during training/sparring. Of course, he still greatly respects Meta Knight, and is honored to train with any of them when given the chance.
After an incident where Kes was brutally attacked, Dedede quickly comes to her aid, and is willing to put his life on the line to protect her. She's done so many times when he was a child, and as the King of Dream Land, he will protect her at all cost.
December 17, 2025
-----------------
DEDEDE ART!!! 8D
Since Dedede's mother died after he hatched, I like to think (aside from Kana) Kes is a suitable mentor/ mother figure for him. After training in Echo's Edge, Dedede gravitates to her a bit more during training/sparring. Of course, he still greatly respects Meta Knight, and is honored to train with any of them when given the chance.
After an incident where Kes was brutally attacked, Dedede quickly comes to her aid, and is willing to put his life on the line to protect her. She's done so many times when he was a child, and as the King of Dream Land, he will protect her at all cost.
Species © Nintendo/ HAL Laboratory
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
