Disclaimer: I don't own F-Zero, nor Pokémon; they mostly belong to Nintendo. Still I happen to be a fan of both. And I hope there'll be a future F-Zero game in the works.
Why should the fun end so soon? I've been keeping this project in my stash for about a few months now, and I'm glad to finally share it now that "Ending it All" is finally done.
The intro would be a few seconds into the main theme of GP Legend, then it'll shift to another melody from a certain song that'll be featured here. You'll see what I mean.
The reason why I brought up the latter was because this story has some familiar elements to a certain...event in the anime. This takes place after quite a few months from Black Shadow's/Deathborn's demise. I'm gonna let Rick do all the talking.
Lap 1
"My name is Rick Wheeler! The pilot of the Dragon Bird, the champion in the Elite Mobile Task Force, the savior of the universe, and the recent bounty hunter carrying Captain Falcon's legacy! Life has been going great over these past several months after I've destroyed the Dark Reactor. I've been quite busy since then as I had been involved in multiple assignments with the team as well as grinding for some loot. We've been adjusting to our new life nicely... Yep, that's right, I said 'we.'
"Me and Tinsel have become very close, to the point where I'm not just an expert pilot/bounty hunter/Task Force officer, but also a fiancée. I've finally proposed to Tinsel Steelus, my true love. She'd helped me heal my past wounds and we are engaged! My regrets have dissolved at last, and we're planning to do something very special; we're actually going to take a restful break from all the hassles, and decided to take a journey to Giant.
"Little did we know, our paths would cross with someone we never unexpected. And the results were not what we had hoped for..."
Tinsel had moved into Rick's apartment; they've lived there together for the past several months and things were a bit tumultuous, both career-wise and personal. However, all that would change as Rick made a surprising week's reservation to visit the Planet Giant. Needless to say, it was pretty easy since it was known to have a primitive existence. Some of the citizens weren't too friendly when it came to advanced technology, yet others were fascinated with F-Zero races. Ironically, this was the only inhabitance that didn't have a single track.
She was looking through the digital brochure on her tablet when she suddenly got a call on her key. "Hey, Jody, what's up?"
"Tinsel, this is urgent. Where's Rick?"
"He should be back by now, he's just getting some last-minute supplies for our trip."
"Well, he'd better hurry. There is a young woman who's being captured by a street gang near the outskirts. She must be saved immediately as she's crucial to the Galactic Space Forces; her name is Lily Flyer, and she's a young, yet a prestigious recruit. You and Wheeler must save her before it's too late."
The pilot nodded in affirmation. "Alright, Jody. I'm on my way."
"Be careful." The call ended and she was hesitant on whether she wanted to carry on the assignment with or without her partner. Still the call of duty was insurmountable, so she went with her gut and headed out in her Silver Comet.
The Bunny Flash was in clear view on her GPS and so was its pilot as she saw her get mangled. She tried her best to fight them off, but her petite structure made her an easy target. She fell to the asphalt on all fours and the gang was sneering as they towered over her.
Tinsel discreetly parked near the assault. She was loading her ice jets as she saw her clothes get torn. She aimed and waited until the punks made their move.
"Hey, street rats!" They all looked up at the man who insulted them. He jumped off his machine. "If you're looking for trouble, then you have found it!" He made a fighting stance within the alley.
"Rick Wheeler!" one of the assailants cried.
"What the hell's he doing here?!" another yelled.
"Let's show this bastard a thing or two!" a third wielding a knife shouted.
They stormed toward him and he fought them off with minimal effort, it was like they were underestimating him, that was until the one with the switchblade. He knew this one was a doozy since he was unarmed. "This one is serious." He avoided his charges and attempted to kick it out of the criminal's grasp. However he too was agile, and he punctured his shirt. There was a hole, but no gash. The former detective was knocked down and he was pinned. The knife was raised over his head, but his legs were frozen. He was surprised that he couldn't move, and when he looked down, they were encased in ice!
"Great time-freezing, Tinsel." She gave her friend a thumbs-up. "Time for you to chill your heels at the cells!" He kicked the stunned tramp in the abdomen and he fell back, never allowing any support from his legs.
Tinsel came rushing to Rick. "Nice work, partner." he congratulated.
"Here comes the cavalry." she said as she heard sirens. In a moment's time the assailants were taken into custody. And Rick almost forgot about the female victim.
"Are you alright?" he gave a hand to her.
"I'm fine. Thank you." she replied. "I appreciate the arrival, Rick."
"No problem, miss. You're safe now. I heard from my boss that you work for the Galactic Space Forces?"
"Yes. My name is Lily Flyer; I've been a recruit for the squadron since I was very young. I still have a lot to learn."
"Of course. Oh, this is Tinsel Steelus; she's also a part of the Mobile Task Force."
"Hi." she greeted with a handshake. Lily's was surprisingly firm from such a small tyke. Facing Rick she said, "I believe we should be taking her to headquarters."
"Right with you. Ah, although you should probably take your machine; I...kind of got a little compulsive. We're actually on our way to Planet Giant."
"Planet Giant?" Lily was astonished. "I, too, was just about to go there."
"You can tell us along the way. I don't like this place." Tinsel murmured.
It wasn't long before they reached their destination. Jody Summer was fortunate that Tinsel and Rick arrived in time. "Excellent work, you two. The crooks have been apprehended and Lily is safe. We wouldn't have it any other way now that she's been busy looking for one of the most nefarious dealers in the galaxy, Don Genie."
"Who is he, Jody?" Rick queried. "I've never heard of him before." Neither did Tinsel.
"Sounds like someone who just came out of a rusty lamp of sorts."
Everyone looked up and saw Jack, as boastful as ever. "Lily, allow me to introduce you to Jack Levin. He's one of our top F-Zero racers in the Task Force."
"So I've heard." she acknowledged.
"Aye, it's about time I saw a pretty face. We don't get many around here." he teased.
"Pipe down, Jack!" Lucy followed him in. Jody introduced the newcomer to all her teammates: the engineer, Lucy Liberty; the android, EAD; the high-flying medico, Dr. Stewart; the canny canine, Leon; the slippery cephalopod, Octoman; the Furikake pair, Gomar and Shioh; and the wild animal hunter, Beastman, aka Chris Annex.
"Nice to meet all of you." Lily brightened.
"So, what were you saying, about Don Genie?" Tinsel asked.
Everyone listened attentively as she described him as an illegal trader across the universe. He had such a bad reputation, nearly as infamous as Black Shadow's, though he was never caught. Rumors in the Force said he has retreated to the planet, Giant; home to the most underdeveloped extraterrestrials.
"Oh yeah, Baba used to live there." Tinsel recalled her and Leon in the Big Blue race upon his demise.
There was a bounty of a million space credits for Don's captor, and according to an ancient myth, he's planning to awaken each of the colossi and wreak havoc on the planet, so he could rule it.
"That's true. I've been there a few times, they don't have too many feral beasts, though." Beastman chimed in. "The prophecy is that of the Deity Beings. One is of a solid, one's a liquid, one is a gas, and the last one is said to represent plasma. But it's rarely seen. If the powers of the titans of matter are unbalanced, it'll not only annihilate the people of Giant, but affect the entire universe."
"Well, I guess it's lucky for you since we happen to be heading your way, Lily." Rick said. "As a bounty hunter, I'm up for the challenge."
She was amazed that he was. "I thought the props would go to Captain Falcon. Y'know, Douglas Jay Falcon?"
His face fell. "I'm sorry, Lily. But Falcon is no longer with us; he sacrificed himself as he forced Deathborn into the Dark Reactor Core. So, I will be taking his place."
"Rick was able to collect 50 bounties so far." Jody praised.
"Has he..? Then, I suppose this should be a personal mission for you."
"It is, Lily." he declared.
"If you're willing to go to a world where the people are paranoid and don't really root for technology, then I guess it's your destiny."
"I'll be coming, too." Tinsel offered. "Like we said, we were planning on staying there for about a week."
With a smile, Jody responded. "Then it's settled. Wheeler and Tinsel will have a new assignment. To prevent Don Genie from awakening the colossi in Giant, and save the inhabitants from turmoil. While relaxing at the same time, of course."
"Think of it as an opportunity, guys." Stewart stated.
"What about me? I'm sure all the pretty ladies will worship me there. They got some of the best livestock in the entire galaxy!"
"Lay off, Jack. This isn't your assignment." EAD intruded.
"Ah, you spoil sports ruin everything."
"Although, it would be nice to give us a buzz when the going gets tough." Leon suggested.
"You know we will. Just 'cause I'm a bounty hunter doesn't mean I'll exclude you guys." Rick assured. "We're still a team, no matter what obstacle we face."
A/N: Alright, the first Lap is done; that didn't take too long. So Lily Flyer from the Galactic Forces will be a sort of tour guide for Rick and Tinsel as they approach Giant. It seems their vacation spot has suddenly changed into a salvage mission as they're on a quest to apprehend the megalomaniacal man known as Don Genie from awakening the three colossi that's rumored to wreak havoc across the universe. Much like any loyal bounty hunter like Samus, Spike Spiegel, and his former mentor, Falcon, Rick decides to take up the dangerous assignment. Let's hope he'd succeed and make this the 51st bounty collected in his incredible career, while simultaneously taking in the sights of the primitive planet.