A/N: This will be in two parts rather than three because of the story's flow.
I've never actually been to a real convention before, but I've always wanted to go to one. Well, sort of. My leg has been a problem. It sucked up my confidence like a vacuum cleaner. It was hard enough to go to school.
But now I was going to a convention with Fierce Fox with no leg problem. And not just any convention. PoptropiCon. It was a dream come true. I bounced up and down with excitement as we landed on the island. There was a large, grey, stony building - the convention center, the building we needed to enter. Near it were various stalls selling various things. A big, blue sign similar to the ComicCon sign was on the stony walls (obviously, since that's what the island is based on). A lady near a purple and yellow tent offered to teach us about customizing - being a self-proclaimed Poptropica expert, I passed.
"Most of this island is about changing your outfit," I told Fierce Fox. "That's why that lady was telling us about customizing. It's very important."
"Clothes, huh…?" Fierce Fox asked, with a small grin. She wiped it off. "Whatever."
"Come on." I led Fierce Fox to the glass doors. A line of people wearing various costumes was next to us. I think I saw someone dressed as me. That made my skin crawl.
"That's a really good cosplay," a guy wearing a steampunk costume told me. "You look just like the prophesied hero."
"Well, uh, I am the prophesied hero." I replied, feeling slightly awkward. The guy gasped.
"No way!" he shouted. He faced the rest of the que. "Guys! The prophesied hero - the real one - is up here!"
"The prophesied hero?" the lady that tried to tell us about customizing approached us. Her name is Tessa Turncoat. She works for the villain, spoiler alert. She wears blue, starry clothing and a large, blue hat. "Wow! If that's true… you should come in!" She opened the glass doors and amiably gestured at them.
"My friend too?" I asked, jerking my head at Fierce Fox.
"... of course!" Tessa Turncoat replied, her tone slightly forced. She gestured to the door again. "Come on in!" So Fierce Fox and I entered the convention center. It's what you'd expect for a convention center. It has tables with people selling or giving out objects, large statues, posters on the wall, cosplays and so much more. Fierce Fox and I walked along the blue, space-themed carpet, following Tessa Turncoat. She led us to a large, brown table in between Stan Ditko's table - this famous guy who made these popular characters - and this table called Wicked Cool News.
"So, what's happening?" Fierce Fox asked, observing the surroundings. There were a few levels with various people on them doing various things. I was eyeing everything with glee. There were so many bright and captivating things to look at - my inner geek was fangirling too hard. Fierce Fox seemed to be eyeing the costumes.
"You two can walk around until the convention is open," Tessa Turncoat told us. "When it does open, please stay here… for fans."
"We never agreed to this." Fierce Fox grumbled, folding her arms. Tessa Turncoat laughed.
"I know," she replied, biting her lip with an anxious grin. "But since you're here… you won't mind seeing some fans, will you?" I gave Fierce Fox a look. She shrugged.
"We'll do it." I said, feeling mixed emotions tingle my skin.
"Great!" Tessa Turncoat replied. She began walking off, her large hat swaying. "Enjoy yourselves. There's a costume contest on. I think you two should go. I'm sure it'll be… a blast." And then she was gone.
"We're not going to that costume contest." I told Fierce Fox, placing my hands on the table. "No way." I smiled. "Well, it won't bother us anyway. Just when it's on, we have to leave."
For a moment, I thought I saw a flash of disappointment in Fierce Fox's eyes. She said, "Yeah, of course. We don't wanna see some dumb costume contest." She looked around. "What do we do now?"
"Well, just hang around, I guess," I told Fierce Fox. I bit my lip. "For once, I'm not totally sure. But… I do know we can't trust Tessa Turncoat. Stay away from her." I sighed at Fierce Fox's expression. "Just go and do whatever you feel like, Fierce Fox. You can be your own voice this time."
"Awesome!" Fierce Fox cheered, making the big grin Poptropican emoticon. She gave me a look. "What if there's trouble?"
"I won't wander too far," I told Fierce Fox. "Just make some noise. I'll find you. Or try and deal with it yourself. But aside from Tessa Turncoat, I don't think there's any trouble."
"Even better!" Fierce Fox cheered, flashing another grin. She seemed very ecstatic about something. "See you back here for the convention, Alice." She raced off, her hair flowing behind her. I sighed and laid my elbows on the table, rubbing my temples.
"This is going to be interesting…" I mumbled to myself.
~THIRD PERSON~
Fierce Fox, like a bullet, zipped through the convention halls. She leaped over two Poptropicans putting a large poster on the wall. She felt different. She felt free. She felt excited. She felt every positive feeling wrapped up in a bundle. Yet, part of her… felt doubtful. She had lied to Alice about a few things. Her childhood. Her life before becoming a hero. And her favourite island. It wasn't Super Villain Island. It was Night Watch Island.
Fierce Fox had a secret interest in fashion. However, due to the way she appeared to others, she kept it secret. Especially to Alice. Right now, she was at a convention with costumes. She was overflowing with glee. She wanted to see them. And, plus, she liked Stan Dikto's characters. That's why she was headed to the cosplay section.
Fierce Fox leaped up a few levels. She came across a glass case full of masks for Omegon, the villain. Then she entered the exhibit hall, the room full of costumes. It was quite messy, full of boxes and foam pellets. Mannequins were lying around. Fierce Fox observed all of the costumes, feeling joy rise within her again. She so badly wanted to enter the costume contest. But Alice had said not to Fierce Fox gritted her teeth.
"Alice said she doesn't really know what's going on," she muttered. "She only said I don't have to trust Tessa Turncoat. The contest has nothing to do with her!" She grinned. "I'll go and see what this costume contest's about, make a costume, then wear it when it's time for the contest! I'll slip away when Alice isn't looking." Her grin turned slightly dark. "After all, she can't control me all the time."
~ALICE~
I had mostly been playing the Mighty Action Force card game while waiting for the convention to start. I was actually getting pretty good at it. I had a lot of good cards. Yet, at the same time, it was weird to do something so mundane. I was used to fighting people or going underground or capturing villains. Now, in a world where danger is nearly as close as my shadow, I was playing a card game. Weird. I couldn't imagine Fierce Fox doing anything more exciting. Yet, by the look on her face, it seemed she did.
"You look happy," I told her. "What did you do?"
"Eh, just looked around." Fierce Fox replied, a big grin on her face. I had no idea why she was so ecstatic. I chose not to ask.
"Well, the convention's about to open," I said. I stood behind our table, lacing my hands together. Fierce Fox, jittery, stood next to me. We stared at each other for a moment. Something was brewing in her eyes. Suddenly, the doors opened. People rushed in like cans of sardines. Pretty soon, people flooded our table.
"I had no idea the prophesied hero was gonna be here!" a young girl cried, squealing with excitement.
"Neither!" a young boy agreed. He and the girl approached our table. "Can we have a photo?"
"...Sure." I said. I stood behind the kids, kneeling down to their height. The girl's mom took a photo of us with a large grin.
"Thanks!" the girl told me, her eyes glowing. "Me and my friend think you're awesome!"
"I wanna be like you when I grow up!" the boy added, jumping next to the girl.
"Uh… thanks." I replied, feeling strange. I was used to being insulted, not complimented. Especially admired. I had never been admired before. I didn't know how to feel. The kids raced off with their parents before I could say anything more. Then, an old friend approached me, looking overwhelmed.
"Nate…?" I asked, recognizing the character from Big Nate Island.
"Alice," he greeted seductively. I felt awkward. "I didn't know you'd be here at PoptropiCon."
"Me neither." I replied, my breath slowing. He kept staring at me and brushing his black curls. I'm no expert in romance, but I could tell I didn't like him the way he liked me. I had never had a crush on anyone, really. Mom said it might change when I'm older, but I'm not really sure. Part of me doesn't want it to change. I asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I like the Elf Archer comics," Nate answered, seductively leaning on the table. "What about you?"
"I haven't read them, though I'd like to." I replied, still feeling odd. Suddenly, I saw someone I knew. "Hey! C.J!" I waved to my friend from Shrink Ray Island. She waved back and walked over to me. She looked the same as always: jacket, hair in plaits, lipstick.
"Hey, Alice," she greeted. She eyed Nate. "Who's this?"
"That's, uh, Nate," I replied. I gave C.J a glance. "My… friend."
"Yeah." Nate dreamily agreed, nodding. His elbow slipped off the table, causing him to fall over. "Uh, you didn't see that!" He raced off, disappearing into the crowd. I sighed in relief.
"Not too comfortable with him, huh?" C.J asked, chuckling.
"He's got a crush on me, C.J," I replied, pursing my lips. "But I don't like him back."
"Oh well," C.J shrugged. "Happens to the best of us. Anyway, how's it been going since the whole… uh… prophecy-incident?"
"It's been fine," I answered, my arms relaxing. "Fierce Fox and I went to a few islands, had a few problems... aside from that, it's been good. One guy tried to hunt us, though. That… is not an experience I want to live again."
C.J gasped. "That sounds awful!"
I nodded with wide eyes. "You're lucky your life is normal. Speaking of that, how are you going?"
"Nothing too exciting has happened, unlike with you," C.J answered, sighing. "We've got a new science teacher. I…" She frowned. "I know he's evil, but I miss Mr. Silva. It felt like he genuinely cared about my work. The new teacher is fine, but… she doesn't get it like he did."
"It's okay," I told her. "I understand. I mean, hey, science for life, right? Nothing can top that subject."
"Yeah!" C.J replied. We high-fived, then laughed. C.J frowned at the cue behind her. "Well, I don't want to hold everyone up. Enjoy the convention, Alice. I'm only here because my dad has a big crush on Elf Archer." She rolled her eyes. "Ugh, Dad. See you later." I waved goodbye as she left. With my breath caught in my throat, I signed a few books and pictures. It was going relatively well. After a little while, Tracy Turncoat approached me.
"The costume contest is starting now," she told me. "Are you going?"
"No," I replied, stretching my hands. I hadn't done so much signing - very little at all, honestly - in my life. "Fierce Fox and I are going now." Then I realized something. "Wait… where is Fierce Fox?" I looked around. She was nowhere in this room. I'd been busy the whole time, so I hadn't really paid attention to her. Did she slip off? Was she kidnapped? Fear overwhelmed me.
"Uh, I've got to go." I told everyone near my table. I raced through the convention, searching for my friend. She wasn't in the demo hall or room. She wasn't in the expo hall. She wasn't in the exhibit hall, either. My fear continued to grow. Is she at the contest? I thought. She can't be… can she? Reluctantly, I headed over to the contest. There was quite a crowd surrounding a large, black stage. Stage lights basked the stage in bright light. People cosplayed as Omegon were on the stage. Most of the costumes were terrible, except for one.
That person was Fierce Fox.
"Fierce Fox?!" I exclaimed, watching her onstage. "What the heck?! What're you doing in the contest?!" Suddenly, the whole room darkened. A vortex of bright, orange light opened mid-stage. The real Omegon climbed out, in all his glory: his yellow armour, his red eyes, his cape. Everyone aside from Fierce Fox and the host ran off stage.
"Amazing!" the host cried. "A surprise contestant - and what a costume! I don't even see any seams."
"Bow to Omegon!" Omegon boomed, shaking the whole building. He seemed to be staring straight at me with his deadly red eyes.
"Haha, terrific," the host laughed. "Well, I don't need to see anymore. We have a winner!"
"I have come to destroy the Mighty Action Force and the prophesied hero." Omegon boomed. I almost groaned. I really should've expected that.
"No need to milk it," the host chuckled, his lip twitching. "Let's get you your prize. You, sir, should unmask."
"I wear no mask." Omegon roared, glowing green.
"No mask? No mask!" the host exclaimed, sounding stunned. Omegon shot a ray of green energy at him, burning him. Everyone gasped in horror. Me included. Fierce Fox stared at me from the stage. I couldn't tell how she felt. Omegon caught her gaze and stared at me too. I stepped back; the crowd behind me backed away.
"There you are," Omegon boomed. "Prepare to perish." Then everything went black.