Kirby x Pokemon AU: Champion of Popstar

Bonus Chapter 3: The Spider and the Golfer

Early in the morning, Elite Four Member Taranza woke up to the delightful scent of perfumes. He checked his schedule and rushed out of his room, preparing for the final day of his vacation.

His team of Pokemon were all politely sitting at the dining table, helping themselves to their savoury Poffins from the Sinnoh region. As Taranza walked into the dining room, they all began cleaning after themselves and sprucing up the cottage.

His Ariados and Vespiqueen organized the lavish furniture, Indeedee cleaned the dirty dishes, Octillery scrubbed and dried the floors, and Sirfetched greeted his trainer.

"Lovely morning to you all. Thank you for cleaning up after yourselves! After breakfast, we won't be returning to the cottage for a while, so make sure you leave nothing behind!" Taranza announced, "Ah! Galvantula!"

The Elespider Pokemon chuckled as they crawled through the front door, carrying a bag of seemingly random items.

"Let's see. Comb, spider hairpin, mirror, rose perfume... and Gracidea flowers! Perfect!" The Elite Four Member exclaimed with relief, "Come along!"

Palatial Town's grey clouds had begun to clear up, and the scent of perfume was strong as ever.

Taranza spotted Kirby and co and was about to greet the trio. They seemed to be in a hurry, speed walking out of the town, so the Elite Four Member decided to leave them alone.

The gentleman greeted the town's shop owners with a simple "hello" as he walked down the marble sidewalk. He made it to Grape Gardens and carefully trekked toward Joronia's statue.

He carefully placed the items gathered by Galvantula around Joronia's grave and took a deep breath.

"On this spring day, it's been officially ten years since your passing," Taranza looked up at the tall wooden carving, "How I wish you were still here with us..."

Taranza's Galvantula let himself out of the Luxury Ball and sadly gazed at the statue with his beloved trainer. The Elespider rested on the bench until he detected something moving in the distance.

Taranza's partner Pokemon barked before spotting his fellow Elite Four member in the distance.

"HEYYY!!! THOUGHT I STOPPED BY EARLY BEFORE YOU RETURNED TO YOUR DUTIES!" Elite Four Member Keeby yelled, "ALSO, I THINK I STEPPED ON A FLOWER!?"

Taranza's eye twitched, and he immediately turned his head.

"Dear Arceus, why did the kid show up? I'd rather be tormented by that moody artist or the even moodier pink knight..."

"Ey! I'm not a kid! If you keep talking like that, I'll tell Claycia and Galacta about what you said!" 

"I'd like to apologize..." Taranza hesitated, "...For my harsh and rude words,"

"That's better! So, are you up for a game of golf-"

"NO! I mean... Let's walk around the town instead!"

"You're not even going to challenge me to a battle for getting on your nerves?"

"I would, but I'll save that when I return to the Elite Four Stadium..."

"Hmph. Meanie!"

The young golfer and the gentleman strolled through Palatial Town, attempting to start conversations that essentially led nowhere. The crowd immediately took notice of Keeby and had been misled to believe Taranza was being nice and was showing him around town.

But the gentleman plans to get rid of the Golfer.

"Hey! Mister Fancypants, I'm kinda hungry. You got any burger shops around here?"

A random woman sighed to herself as the Elite Four Members turned the corner.

"Joronia used to love sneaking to the old burger shops..."

"No! Obviously not! Palatial Town is for sophisticated and distinguished foods only,"

"So, there's nothing good to eat here?"

Taranza scoffed at the rude remark.

"How could you say that? Palatial Town is home to loads of five-star restaurants that serve real food, like caviar and lobster,"

"Sounds boring! I'll eat this instead!"

Keeby reached into his comically large bag and began snacking on a half-eaten hamburger. The meal looked squished and packed with onions. Taranza shivered in disgust and turned away.

"Ugh, I think I lost my appetite..."

"Really? Over a day-old burger? You're really silly!"

"And your eating choices horrify me!"

The two had made it to the shores of Palatial and stared at the overcast skies ahead. Blanchet Island looked just as creepy as ever in the foggy distance.

"Hmph, wanna know something truly horrifying?"

"If it's food-related, I think I might cry!"

"Actually, it isn't... I'm talking about you-know-who,"

Keeby's smug expression faded, now visibly frightened. Taranza looked at the sulking golfer and immediately knew what was wrong.

"...No. Don't tell me,"

"Galacta's gone to find them again. I know it's been twelve years like you've told me a million times, but I think he's serious this time. After you left for vacation, it was tense at the Stadium,"

"Well, of course, Galacta is furious... Our Champion, whom he hates, appears once a year to beat us all in a battle, reclaims their title, and then leaves. When the Champion sent that retirement letter a month ago... that did not sit well with him,"

"Oh, you know he was absolutely enraged. You were there with your bags when he threw a fit!" Keeby picked up a stone and tried to play skipping stones as he listened to Taranza.

"It's so strange. I remember the old days when Meta Knight and Joronia were in the Elite Four. Galacta seemed like a tempered but different person than he is now. I guess being in second place for so long drove him mad,"

"What do you think will happen if Galacta finds our Champion?" Keeby nervously questioned.

Taranza remained silent and stared at the ocean waves. As much as he disliked the teen golfer, he did not want to burden him with worry.

"Keeby, whatever happens, will happen. Claycia and I will be by your side, in case a situation gets dire," Taranza pointed to Keeby's bag, "Plus, you have your Pokemon, do you not?"

Keeby's Altaria appeared out of its Poke Ball and happily coddled his trainer.

"Heh, guess you're right, Mister Fancypants! The only thing we can do is wait to see what happens!" 

"Precisely, but can you stop calling me that?" Taranza complained.

"What? I call everyone an obnoxious nickname!"

Keeby continued to walk by the coastline with his Altaria.

All seemed calm until the gentleman heard a buzz from his cell phone.

"Yes? Taranza speaking,"

"Taranza, I know you always complain about me being melodramatic, but I'm for once being completely serious about this!" Claycia spoke in a rapid tone.

"Huh?!"

"Galacta may or may not have gotten a lead on the Champion's location! I'm freaking out here. He's about to go on a power trip!"

"Is he going to challenge us again? Just for a warm-up?"

"I'm afraid so..."

Taranza hung up the phone and gave a big, anxious sigh. He looked toward Keeby in the distance, knowing the leisure in Palatial Town wouldn't last much longer.