Kirby is currently sitting below a tree nearby his house, as he had just woken up from a nap where he rested in this exact same spot he is still sitting in.
Today has just been a lazy day so far. However... it appears something is starting to occur that might potentially change the rest of today.
Kirby begins to hear some sort of bouncing noise. He slowly starts to get up, as he's growing curious about what the noise is.
It sounds like it might be some sort of ball that's bouncing around.
The sound is getting closer and closer. It appears to be from the other side of the tree.
As Kirby gets up, he moves around to see what's making the noise.
"Hey, hey, hey!" exclaims a peculiar voice that greets Kirby as he approaches the other side of the tree.
Kirby becomes stunned to hear this voice. It's a voice that sounds familiar to him. A voice he hadn't heard in ages, which is the reason why he's stunned.
As he finally sees the person in question that made the voice... Kirby becomes extra stunned. He opens his mouth wide in shock. He recognizes this person! It's a purple puffball-like being that's bouncing on a beach ball... the bouncing beach ball is what's been making the noise. He's wearing shoes, a red bow on his body, and a jester hat on his head. Kirby has seen him before!
It's... it's...
MARX?!
IS THAT ACTUALLY YOU, MARX?! UNBELIEVABLE! WHAT A SURPRISE!
This guy literally just showed up out of nowhere. Unannounced.
The encounter that Kirby had with Marx was such an incredibly long time ago. To be honest, Kirby thought that Marx was dead! He thought that he ended up killing the jester when he punched him hard enough to send him crashing into that comet! He survived? It's a huge surprise to Kirby that Marx survived and has been alive this entire time. He thought he would've never seen him again... and yet here he is, alive and well!
"Hahahahahahahaha!" laughed Marx, as he watches Kirby being stunned at the sight of him. "Long time, no see, Kirby! Did you miss me?" He's been continuing to bounce on his ball non-stop.
"M-M-M-M-Marx?!" said Kirby, still in shock. "H-h-h-how did you.."
"Oh, did you think I was dead?" asked Marx as he interrupts Kirby. "Hahahahahahahaha! Nope, I lived. I know, I myself couldn't believe it when I survived! But here I am!"
Now that it's known that Marx survived, why is he now coming back to Kirby? Is he finally choosing to redeem himself? Or does he have something else in mind? Given what happened last time, Kirby knows that this guy is rather unpredictable.
"What are you doing now?" asked Kirby, as he's confused at the jester's presence at this point. "Is... is there a reason you're just now suddenly coming to me after all this time?"
"I came here to inform you that there are really big meteors far out in the galaxy that might eventually come this planet's way, Kirby!" said Marx in a straight face.
"Wait, what?" asked Kirby.
"They can certainly be stopped if someone like you were to go out in space and destroy them! Or, perhaps, you could even attempt to ask the giant comet Nova for help again!" Marx's face continued to be straight.
Kirby immediately squinted as soon as Marx said Nova. This is another trap. He's not going to fall for it this time. He continues to squint.
Marx smirked as soon as he noticed Kirby's squint. The smirk then turns into a complete smug expression, as his smile significantly widens. He then begins to chuckle.
"Nice, it appears you've caught on to my tricks since the last time!" said Marx as he continues to chuckle. He then jumps off of his beach ball. He turns, and then kicks the ball into the air. The ball breaks when it lands. He then turns to face Kirby again.
"I didn't expect for you to fall for it again, anyways." Marx followed up. "I just wanted to mess with you, really. Hahahahaha!"
Kirby's squint came to an end. Perhaps Marx does actually want to become a friend now, he thought to himself. That'd be great! Another person he can reconcile with. It was just earlier this year that Kirby had reconciled with Susie, several months after the Haltmann Works Company invasion was stopped and resolved. And then here's Marx that just shows up out of nowhere. Two former enemies he reconciles with this year? That's unusual! That doesn't happen every year!
"Hey, Marx.." said Kirby. ".. are we friends now? Can you be my friend now?" he has a smiley expression, almost like he's pleading for it to happen.
The two stared at each other for a few moments.
Then finally, Marx gave his response. "Yes." he said. "That's why I came here, Kirby. To become your friend. I am sorry for what happened before!"
That put a big smile on Kirby's face. During the long time period that Kirby thought Marx was dead, he wished that he wasn't dead so that he could befriend him. But now he no longer needs to wish that, because it's real!
Still, though, it made Kirby sad every time he thought he killed someone. He never intends to kill people and only just wants to stop them from doing bad things. Even to this day, Kirby still feels really sad about the deaths of Queen Sectonia and President Haltmann, two people who are completely proven to be dead. He really wishes that they didn't need to die in order to save Popstar and the universe, respectively.
He even thought Magolor was dead as well, until a long while ago when that guy came back and apologized. When Magolor came back to Kirby, he sat him down and explained to him that he never died. During those moments, Kirby thought that it would've been nice if Marx were to also come back and do the same, but he really did believe that the jester was dead due to how long ago that incident was and not seeing him since.
But here is Marx now. He's alive! Just like Magolor, it turns out that Marx never actually died. Kirby finally gets what he was wishing for, which is befriending Marx. He believed that there was something about the jester that would've made him redeemable and forgivable.
"Marx, you're forgiven!" said Kirby. "I was hoping you were around this whole time because I've actually been wanting you to become my friend for a while now."
That put a smile on Marx's face. "Well, I sure like to hear that, old pal!" he said.
After smiling, he then lightly hovers into the air.
He transforms his eyes, with his irises and pupils turning into a more slit shape. He then displays two fang-like teeth. After that, he opens up two large golden wings. There are claw-like fingers. A lot of hexagonal mirror-like scales spawn from below the golden wings.
He is laughing wickedly while doing all of this.
Kirby is shocked for the first few seconds Marx is doing this, because he didn't expect him to just suddenly do all of this. But he then remembers all of these things from before. He remembers these traits that Marx acquired from Nova. Remembering that the jester was displaying all of this when they fought. Why is he suddenly showing all of this now?
After a few more seconds, Marx then retracts the wings and comes back down onto the ground. He turns his irises and pupils back to their normal circular shape. He then retracts his fangs.
"Hahahahahaha!" laughed Marx. "That was just to show you that I still have all of the powers that the comet Nova gave me! But no worries, I won't try to take over Popstar again. I mean, I was surprised that I ended up surviving the last time! Not going to risk that all over again."
"How did you.. even survive anyway?" asked Kirby. "The way you crashed onto Nova. I thought that would've gotten you for sure. I didn't intend to kill you, of course, I just wanted to stop you. But I began to feel bad because I.. thought I ended up killing you. It looked like that killed you. But I'm glad you never died! I think you must have gotten really lucky in surviving."
"Aww, you were worried about my life? How nice!" said Marx. "Anyways, luck was probably it? Truthfully, I don't know. It was either that, or I just suppose that I can withstand more punishment than I thought I could. But regardless, I was in serious pain for a while. At first, I was floating around in space, struggling to do much. But then someone came around. They took me in and helped me recover."
"Someone helped you?" asked Kirby. "Whoever that was, I'm very glad they did it!"
"Yes. And that someone was a guy that you know."
"Really? Who was it?" asked Kirby.
"Wanna try to take a guess, Kirby?" asked Marx, with a grin on face.
"Umm, I don't know. I'm not good at making guesses like this."
"It was Magolor!" said Marx.
Kirby gasped. Magolor was the one that helped Marx heal up after he crashed into that comet? Wow! Apparently, Marx and Magolor know each other. They seem to be friends, as Kirby had absolutely no idea about that!
"Magolor? Yes I know who that is!" said Kirby. "Was it actually him?!"
"Indeed, it was." said Marx. "Also, I'm the reason he first heard about you. Because I told him about you!"
That received yet another gasp from Kirby, this time even heavier than the last one. Kirby does not respond just yet, as he takes a few moments to think about this.
Was that the reason why Magolor tricked Kirby and betrayed him? Because Marx inspired him to do so? As Kirby now thinks about it, it's... somewhat starting to make sense. Even previously, he's even noticed the similarities between Marx and Magolor, as they've both presented themselves as nice guys that stab him in the back later. They've both shown mischievous sides to them, too. Kirby thought he ended up killing both of them, until Magolor revealed that he survived, and now Marx reveals that he survived as well. Honestly, Kirby thought there just had to be some sort of connection between the two, even before Marx proves it right here. Magolor however has never said anything about Marx during all the times that he's talked with Kirby.
Except... hold on. Kirby is now remembering several lines that Magolor said.
He remembers when Magolor said these lines: "This same power gave rise to clockwork stars that soar across the cosmos...", "There may even be some folks here who have fought with you before.", and especially one line in particular: "I even know somebody who knows you quite well!"
It turns out... that somebody was Marx the whole time! Magolor didn't mention him by name, but it's now clear that the jester was the one who told him about Kirby! It made even more sense when remembering that Magolor mentioned about clockwork stars, since a clockwork star was involved in Kirby's past incident with Marx.
Perhaps the reason why Magolor didn't mention Marx by name at the time is because doing so would've made everything really suspicious, and that Kirby would've already detected that Magolor was planning a betrayal before he could've successfully pulled it off. In that case, it's understandable he didn't mention the person that betrayed Kirby before him.
What's being disclosed now is quite revealing to Kirby. It proved a few vague suspicions he had in the past.
"You doing good there, pal?" asked Marx, as he observed Kirby taking time to think.
"Yeah I'm fine." said Kirby. "I just had to take a bit to think. Magolor tricked and betrayed me just like you did. He apologized, though, but I take it that you inspired him to do all of that in the first place?"
"If I have to be honest with you, yes." replied Marx. "I told him about the fight between you and me. It motivated him into making his own grand plan by having you help him get the Master Crown. Of course, that doesn't matter anymore, since you beat him, and he said sorry. But yes, I did inspire him to do all of that in the first place!"
"He was wanting to take over the entire universe when he took the Master Crown!" said Kirby.
"Wait, what? He wanted the entire universe? He never told me he wanted to go that far. Huh. Well, now that's irrelevant ever since he started regretting it, as he no longer wants to wear that crown like a real master would. Hahahahahahaha!"
"Nice one.." said Kirby, as he couldn't stop himself from having a light chuckle after hearing that pun.
"Thanks!" said Marx, with a smirk on his face. "Anyways, it's all good now, since he's your friend, and I'm your friend. Here, want a handshake?" He then sticks out his right golden wing. The hands, of course, are the 'claws' in the middle of the wing.
Kirby sticks out his right stubby arm in response. "Yes I'll take a handshake, Marx!" he said. He grabs Marx's hand-claws.
After handshaking for a few seconds, Marx then decides to troll. As he sticks out his other golden wing as well as his fangs, he flies into the air, with Kirby being lifted up in the process as he still holds onto Marx's right hand. Kirby let out a shocked yell since he didn't expect this to happen. Marx laughs immensely. His irises and pupils don't transform shape, however, as they are still in their normal circular shape.
"Hahahahahahahaha!" laughed Marx. "Let's have some fun, Kirby!"
Marx, still laughing like a maniac, flew around Kirby's home area in circles, with Kirby still hanging on to Marx's right hand.
At first, Kirby was overwhelmed because he wasn't prepared for this. But then he started warming up to it. He can admit he's enjoying this. Marx sure is nuts in what he finds to be entertaining, though.
Marx stops going in circles, and instead goes across the horizon of Green Greens. He continues to laugh. Kirby has never stopped holding onto him.
After a while, Marx decides to end it. He lands right by Kirby's home. Kirby jumps off of him when close enough to the ground. As Marx lands, he retracts his fangs and his golden wings.
"Well, Kirby... did you think it was fun?" asked Marx.
"You know what?" said Kirby. "Yes. I'll admit it. It was fun, Marx. It really was!"
"Hahahahahahaha! Well I'm glad you enjoyed it!" said Marx. "Anyways, if you're curious as to how I found out where you live, it's because Magolor told me where your house was."
"When did you first come here in Popstar?" asked Kirby.
"Oh, I've only been on this planet for the last couple of days. I just felt like chilling out in other planets for a while until I chose to finally return here. I first met up with Magolor again when I came back here, and I've been hanging out with him until he told me where you live, and thus I came to you."
"Wait, so did you make any other friends, or is it just me and Magolor that are your friends for now?" asked Kirby.
"Uhhh..." said Marx. "It's really just you and him right now. I haven't taken the time to make more friends just yet, even though I've pranked some people here... hahahahaha! But I wouldn't mind making some more friends, if you're intending to give me that suggestion."
"I know people who can become friends with you!"
"Oh, nice!" said Marx. "Go ahead and direct me to them if you'd like!"
A warp star shows up nearby. Kirby begins gesturing towards it. "Come on, Marx, let's go!" he said. "I can find you new friends now!"
Marx had a chuckle, as he and Kirby then both jumped on the warp star. Kirby controls the warp star as he and Marx fly around Green Greens again.
As they spend a few minutes flying around Green Greens, they already find one of Kirby's other friends wandering around in the grass.
It's none other than the googly-eyed blue blob of Dark Matter defect; Gooey!
"That's one of my friends!" said Kirby.
"Oh.. what's his name?" asked Marx.
"His name is Gooey!"
As Kirby and Marx in the warp star approach the ground, Gooey notices them, focusing his pupils on them. Kirby waves at Gooey, who then responds with a smiley expression.
Gooey is very similar to Kirby when it comes to making friends, as he's also very friendly and easily forgives people for their past wrongdoings. He's a bit on the scatterbrained side, but he means very well and can still easily become one's friend! He wasn't informed about what Marx did to Kirby in the past, but it shouldn't matter anymore now since the guy is now friends with Kirby. Marx shouldn't have any trouble becoming friends with Gooey.
"Kirby!" said Gooey, as Kirby and Marx finally land onto the ground and hop off the warp star.
"Gooey! Hi!" replied Kirby.
"Who's this, Kirby?" asked Gooey while gesturing towards Marx. "Is this a new friend?"
"You'd better believe I'm a new friend!" said Marx as he approached Gooey. "Heh! Anyways, yes, I just became Kirby's friend. The name's Marx! Kirby told me that your name is Gooey, would that happen to be correct?"
"Yup, it sure is! I'm Gooey, alright!" replied the blue blob. "I am glad to meet you! A friend of Kirby's can easily become a friend of mine as well!"
"In that case, I can easily become your friend!" said Marx. "Kirby's helping me find more friends, since I'm new here."
"Well, you've come to the right place!" said Gooey. "Thanks for introducing this guy to me, Kirby. I'm always glad to make new friends!"
"Absolutely. It's always great when someone comes around to become a new friend." said Kirby. "Anyways, I think some other friends are down there over at Whispy's forest. Some friends that are animals!"
"That's cool. I wouldn't mind staying here with Gooey for now, though." said Marx. "I'll take my time in making friends. You can go find those other friends in the forest if you'd like, and let me know when you find them."
"Okay! I'll go find them now." said Kirby. "Both of you, have fun with each other for now!"
"Will do!" said Gooey.
"See ya in a bit, Kirby." said Marx.
Kirby then hopped on the warp star and went to Whispy Woods' forest, leaving Marx and Gooey behind to hang out with each other for the time being.
As Marx and Gooey faced each other, Gooey temporarily rolls around his pupils and sticks out his long tongue. After several seconds, he then focuses his pupils back to Marx and retracts his tongue.
"Woah.." said Marx. "What a really big tongue you have!"
"Yup!" said Gooey. "I'm quite the extraordinaire! I came from rather strange origins."
"Where'd you come from?" asked Marx.
"I come from Dark Matter, a large evil cloud that tried to invade planets with darkness. I'm a defect of it and broke away from their desires. Kirby stopped that evil cloud of darkness, and I gladly assisted him in stopping it. Dark Matter's desires, simply put, were of pure hatred and negativity, and it wanted everyone else to suffer the same negativity that it felt. I didn't like it at all when I came into existence! I went straight to Kirby and the others when I had the chance."
"Well, I suppose you could be called light matter." said Marx. "You're a matter of dark that then saw the light!"
That got a laugh out of Gooey. Gooey's laughter sounds hilariously adorable.
"Aww, I love the sound of your laugh!" said Marx. "Wanna hear another joke?"
"Sure, I like hearing jokes!" said Gooey.
"It's quite poetic that Kirby stopped that cloud of hate. He just Kirb-stomped it and replaced the hate with love!"
Gooey laughed again. Marx got himself to chuckle, because he likes how easily he can make Gooey laugh, as he loves the sound of Gooey's laughter.
Marx then leaped into the air, and spat out a beach ball from his mouth, revealing a new skill that he got when he made his wish to Nova a long time ago. He then lands on the ball and starts bouncing on it.
He forgot to show this new skill to Kirby, but he can easily just show it to him when he comes back.
"Wow!" said Gooey. "You can create balls?"
"More or less." said Marx, as he bounces on the ball. "I've got a lot of capabilities. I got them from a wish I made to a clockwork star known as Nova."
"Ooooooh!" said Gooey, as he was intrigued. "What other capabilities do you have? I'd like to see!"
"Hahahaha.." Marx laughed mildly, yet mischievously. "I'd be glad to show. By the way, Gooey, how much are you into mischief? If you like to mess around, then I'd be glad to have you join me into some fun! What do ya say?"
"Mischief is fun! I have partaken in some light-hearted tomfoolery with many friends of mine." said Gooey. "I wouldn't mind joining you in having some fun."
"Excellent!" replied Marx. "I'm always in for a great time. Anyways, I shall call you Goobert! You good with that?"
"I don't mind having nicknames! I've been given nicknames by a few others anyways."
"Hahahahaha!" laughed Marx. "Anyways, Goobert, let's go have some fun!"