Just so you know I WILL finish this story, unlike other authors who just write a really good story then just leave it unfinished. R&R! CREDIT TO Snake of the rose for helping me write this chapter and for reviewing and pointing out errors, give him a hand. ;) REVISED!
Lifting the Kurse
Chapter 1: A Reunion
Today was the anniversary since Krystal has become Kursed, She couldn't remember how many years, for she didn't care. There was no reason to celebrate; it only marked so many years of living her ruined life, years of pain and heartache. It shouldn't be celebrated, only forgotten.
Krystal had left the Lylat out of heart break and humiliation. In all the years of being alone and ruined, she eventually became a cold blooded bounty hunter taking on name 'Kursed' and became proud of her newfound life. The universe didn't know where she was and she was happy for that. But every now and again she wonders what could have happened if she had faced her same and accepted Fox's apology. It haunted her.
The blue vixen was walking down a busy pathway full of people on the dusty planet, Kew; it was much like a bazaar with people selling and trading goods left and right. Kew was a fairly dessert planet but it had some green plant life on it to keep it habitable.
Kursed was looking for certain man with a bounty on his head, as usual. She couldn't find the man, even after weeks of searching. There was no reason to hang around this part city any more, she needed to leave.
"Hey miss! Wait up!" She stopped with her eyes shot open; she hasn't heard that voice in years. It was the mercenary se knew once, Fox McCloud.
She continued walking, pretending she didn't hear him, but the vulpine ran up stopped her, "Hey, have you seen this guy? He's on my hit list."
The fox held up a familiar photo, which made Kursed sort of jump in surprise. The fat, ugly bulldog in the picture was coincidentally the same thug she was looking for. This certain individual was infamous for dealing bioenergy chemicals and other weapons of possible mass destruction to criminals and terrorists that littered various places of the Lylat System.
Kursed, not wanting competition in her bounty, quickly lied, "No, I've never seen this person before."
Fox crossed his arms and gave her a stern glare, in which Kursed remembered that Fox wasn't easily outwitted; his stubborn personality wouldn't allow it.
"Nice try, miss," Fox started, tapping his foot. "Now this time I'm going to ask you again, and I don't want you to lie. I've heard rumors about you, how you're one of the best bounty hunters in the system. I highly doubt you DON'T know who this man is."
Fox continued lecturing while Kursed spaced off into her own thoughts. Rumors? I must be more 'popular' then I thought. A small smile enveloped her muzzle.
She snapped back into realty once Fox had finished, "Sharp eye," she admitted, crossing her arms.
"I got to know my competition being a bounty hunter," the fox said proudly, crossing his arms too.
"Well then you got competition, bud!" She poked a finger at him giving him a warning stare.
"You'll never find him without me, I've been looking for this bastard for months on end." he yelled over to her, she was already a good distance away from him.
She stopped, "what are you saying?"
"You're the best out there. Together we can find him in no time."
"You're asking me to join you?" She marched into his face, "No! I am a loner; I will never join anybody, especially a rocket boy like you!"
The vulpine continued to keep a strong stance in front of her, "Face it, we'll never find him without help. I highly doubt you have equipment like me."
"Then I can look for someone else. Just stay the hell away from me!" Kursed was losing her temper again.
Fox smirked, crossing arms "Heh, I don't think that's like you, being a bounty hunter, with a price as huge like that you wouldn't have to work for the rest of the year."
That was true, she had become exceeding greedy since she left, and she would never turn down a bounty so large. The vixen had no choice but to join her old 'comrade'.
"Fine, I guess I'll join you. But if I have to wait any longer than I have to, I will personally kill you," After all, she thought, what can a little stay with an old memory do to me?
"Very well then, it's a deal. We'll split it fifty-fifty! Oh yeah, by the way, I never got your name," Fox extended his hand out.
She slowly took the greeting, shaking his palm with her own, "It's Kursed. My name is Kursed."
They arrived at the Great Fox by Arwing. The ship seemed more rusted and filthy than when Kursed remembered, but it still brought back too many memories to her.
Kursed cramped was in Fox's Arwing, she couldn't bring the Cloud Runner or else Fox would recognize it.
They flew into and landed on the bridge. The place was a mess, there were piles of machinery, a layer of dust and oil everywhere, and half the spare Arwings were laying in disrepair.
The Vulpine jump out of the Arwing, helping Kursed out, "Sorry about the mess, things haven't been kept since I left the Lylat."
"Forget about it, it's better than where I stay," Kursed said. It was really a half-truth. The real truth was that the Cloud Runner was her real home, other than that she stayed in mostly hotels.
Fox showed her around; they walked down the hallway, room to room. It refreshed her memory to see all of the area again. He they finished up they're tour after a while and stopped at the bridge.
He walked up to a robot and introduced her, "Rob, this is Kursed, she's going to be staying a while,"
"Greetings, Krystal," Cracked Robs mechanical voice. Kursed panicked on the inside, she knew the robot would blow her cover and revile herself to Fox.
"This isn't Krystal, this is Kursed. And please, don't bring her up again. You know how I am with her."
"Scanners prove incorrection, but understood Captain McCloud," the robot walked away.
"I'm thinking about giving him to Slippy, I have no clue how to fix his programming," Fox stated. Slippy… that brought back memories again. She shook her head to lock it out. "Anyways, I'm sorry, Robs been glitchy lately."
She felt a course of relief surge through he but she still kept her cool stance, "Whatever."
They walked out of the bridge. He continued to tour her around but she already knew where everything was.
They stopped at Kursed's old room, "this was my old teammate's room, you can stay here for a while" She told him thanks and walked in. She was at the verge or tears once she did. All those memories the flushed into her brain were just too painful. But it is built in her system to not cry. The whole room was just like it was a time ago, only there was dust everywhere and there was broken picture frame on the floor.
It was of her and Fox together, Fox was smiling, holding Krystal in his arms, sharing a piece of cotton candy together. Krystal was looking up at Fox, smiling at him, holding her hand over his hand. This was no pose, no, a pose is something you do to look good for a picture. This was a natural stance, of them being together. It disgusted her to know she was with him, but at the same time it made her heart flutter. She truly, from the bottom of her soul, did not want these feelings.
Kursed was curious why it was like that on the floor. She steadily picked up, putting her free hand to it and used her own telepathy to look at its past.
She saw in her vision Fox sobbing on her dresser holding the picture. Kursed heard him Mutter to himself. "I thought we could have a future together… I only wanted to protect you," he angrily threw the picture against the wall which broke the glass on it, and then ran out.
Kursed came out of the trance; a tear ran down her face, "What have I done?"
There was a knock on the door, "May I come in?" It was Fox.
Kursed quickly wiped her tears and permitted him to come in. He walked in and noticed she was holding their picture. "I can see you saw the picture of me and Krystal."
"Yeah…"
Fox took the picture from her, "You have no idea how much I miss her," Fox said sadly.
She hesitated at his answer, "What do you want?"
"Oh, uh, we'll be looking for our guy tomorrow, but for now let's get some rest. It's late." The brown-red vulpine turned around then walked out the room with the picture in his hand.
Fox couldn't understand why he was suddenly so trusting of some stranger. He took her into the Great Fox just like that. Sure they were both bounty hunters, but still, it shouldn't be done. Was it because she reminded him of his true love forever lost? The one person who he had left heart broken.
"Krystal…"
