Kirby x Pokemon AU: Champion of Popstar

Bonus Chapter 2: Meet You At the Carnival!

Gotta run, gotta run, gotta run!

A certain jester was thinking to himself in the late evening, racing across an empty field.

Things seemed bleak for Marx, as he was now wanted by the law for his misdeeds from earlier that day. His plans to control the region of Popstar were delayed, which was also frustrating.

In the distance, a city on a tall cliff awaited. At the top, shining magnificent neon lights faintly glowed with beauty.

Marx held on to his hooded cloak and jumped onto an unauthorized ladder to get to the city without being noticed. He climbed up high, hearing the carnival music more clearly, the more he went up.

When he reached the top of the ladder, a colourful city of wonder appeared before him. The carnival rides glimmered with blue and pink lights, and the scent of delicious snacks was appetizing. Carnival Skylines was as beautiful as he remembered.

However, the jester was here for a certain someone and couldn't afford to wander the city alone. Marx and his Eeveelution twins tiptoed around the outskirts of the city.

A few minutes later, Umbreon shyly called to his trainer when he looked high at a lone, tall lamp post. Espeon teleported his trainer up high, right next to his friend.

"I knew you'd be up here away from all the fun," Marx giggled, holding his chest from earlier's pain, "...Typical Magolor,"

The trainer unhooded himself, revealing a young man with brunette skin and curly hair.

"Hmph, you know I can't be seen with you in a large crowd. I wish I was playing whack-a-mole and go-kart racing," 

"Right, 'cause you're a Frontier big shot! Can't be seen with a common, peasant trainer!"

Magolor turned his head toward his friend and scoffed.

"Marx, you're literally wanted from the law. I'll be fired by Leongar if I'm seen with you. The Battle Frontier is my entire life and I'll be in ruins if I'm caught befriending a criminal!"

"...Doesn't stop you from causing mischief," Marx held out his hand with a Luxury Ball, "By the way, here's your shiny Mismaguis. She helped with amplifying the illusions in Savoury Hills,"

Magolor snickered and accepted Marx's gift.

"Even though you got caught like an idiot, I couldn't be happier to hear you created lots of panic across the town," 

The two old friends snickered quietly as the neon lights pointed away from them.

"It was the most fun I had in a while, watching everyone running around as I acted like another innocent trainer. Still am sore though, I got punched in the ribs,"

"Oh, now that you mention it. You are moving a bit less than usual. How'd you get such an injury?!"

Marx paused and looked at the golden Ferris wheel for a moment. Then he turned toward the Frontier Brain, attempting to look tough.

"I lost my cool and was beaten up by my old neighbour,"

"Which one? Let me guess, the girl with an umbrella?"

"Nope, Kirby. I wanted to stick around and show him who's the scariest menace in all of Popstar. Too bad I wound up getting nearly caught thanks to his noisy Pokemon..."

"Ah, you mentioned he used to follow you around a lot. To think you'd make someone so mad, they turn on you so quickly,"

"Heh, the kid was admittedly physically strong enough to take me down. But he sucked at battling, didn't stand a chance,"

"If you're in no position to run, perhaps we should talk elsewhere?"

"Sounds like a good idea to me, Magsy,"

Magolor's yellow eyes sparkled with strange ESP energy as the engineer teleported himself and his friend to the barren outskirts of the town. The two friends sat on an old park bench near a cliff and looked away from the city.

"Remember when we first met?"

Marx was surprised at the sudden question.

"Geez, what's gotten you all sentimental?"

"I was only thinking, that's all. Your injury reminded me of when I first met you during the last day of the Spring Carnival when we were kids,"

Magolor stood up and let his cape flow gently in the wind.

"Right, the first big party Skyline Carnival hosted," Marx chuckled, "Heh, I remember I dragged you from a pile of flower petals! Clawroline accidentally spilled her whole basket of flowers on you, and we were all wobbly in the knees!

"To this day, I have no idea what was going through that Gym Leader's mind. Imagine being clumsy enough to-"

Magolor stumbled over a rock and nearly fell to the ground. Marx giggled at his overconfident friend becoming flustered.

"Oh, I CAN IMAGINE. You were very prideful when we first met, always talking about how you were better than everyone. Early school graduate, a skilled trainer, defeated all eight gyms at eleven years old... You made sure NO ONE forgot your impressive feats,"

"It is something to be proud of!"

"I never said it wasn't, genius,"

The two looked each other in the eyes. Their expressions softened.

"...So, you're now wanted by the law. What will you do?"

The jester stared off into the evening skies, mesmerized by the thousands of stars.

"Create more mischief, become Popstar's biggest menace. Never settle and-"

"So, you're winging it?"

"That's life, Mags. You can never predict what'll happen, and that's what makes living exciting!" Marx turned to his worried friend, "Look, I'm not aiming to get into so much trouble I'll die,"

"It still worries me. The last thing I want is for you to get caught and wind up..."

"Hey, hey, hey, don't you go thinking about that terrible scenario! You know that my Pokemon and I will always get out of trouble! I'm no dummy,"

"You can be impulsive at times," Magolor held Marx's prosthetic hand, "But, I'll take your word and believe in you," The two remained silent, feeling the cold air around them. Marx then got up from his seat and began walking away. "Ah, already leaving for your grand adventure?"

"Of course I am! Can't stay in one place forever. I'll easily be spotted by some random idiot on the street! Plus, I have some more ideas to ruin people's day!"

The jester's laugh echoed across the mountain range as his Espeon teleported him to an unknown location. "I hope you reign misery and distress upon everyone, Marx,"

...

The Frontier Brain got up from his seat and levitated the other way. When Magolor made it back to the big city, a tall person abruptly bumped into him.

This person was quite odd-looking. Sporting a fluffy, teal coat, pants with pink highlights and thick purple shades that obscured their eyes.

"Oh my, excuse me! I don't mean to bother you, but have you seen my son? He's the sweet boy in this photo I'm holding,"

The seemingly old photograph was of a similar-looking young boy with a bowl cut and a blue mouse hoodie. Magolor dusted off his suit and shook his head.

"I'm afraid I haven't seen the young fellow. Need for me to contact the park's employees? Perhaps they-"

The mysterious fellow was out of sight as soon as Magolor reached for the payphone. The Frontier Brain was then tapped on the shoulder, with a sticky note planted on his back.

I'll see you again soon! Next time I'll buy you some of your favourite candy apples! -Marx

End of Arc- Thank you!