Starpups: the War for Lylat prequel

Prologue

I own an original story. This isn't it.

A/N: yes, i'm doing a prequel, and putting the main story on hiatus until this is finished. Saves me about 50 pages of flashbacks, so sue me.

Wolf was extatic. Never in his life had he thought that they'd let a former gang member into such a place as the Corneria Flight Academy, but here he was. He guessed he should thank his new father, who'd been pulling some strings for him. Then again, if a respected war hero says yes in the press, then who'd say no? And who wouldn't want the McCloud brothers? Yes, Wolf was very content whith what he'd gotten. A father who actually cared, and a brother who he was sure adored him. After all that had been before, he was finally on the right track. This was his time. His chance to redeem himself, and he was not going to blow to his left, his brother walked with him, behind, his father was watching over the mischievous couple.

"I can's believe how huge this place is." Fox said, gawking at the place. "Do you think Bill and Slippy are here too?"

"I think I heard Dad say they're in our year." he replied, looking at Fox's eyes, filled with wonder. "What I wonder myself is if Leon's joining too. I wish I could see him again."

"I'm sure you can someday." Fox said as they walked into the open air stage area, where many other students and parents were gathered. On the stage was a rabbit, gray with age. "So peppy's father still hasn't rolled over?" James commented, "he is really getting old. Especially for a rabbit."

"If my son's team mate would pay attention too, I can begin." the rabbit spoke into a microphone. "Welcome to the cornerian flight academy. Great to see so many of you this year. And looking at the parents I see many old and new faces. First time parents and parents of many who passed through here. This academy has trained pilots for generations, making no difference between gender or race, we have people from all over lylat here learning the arts of flight, but... this isn't a pleasure trip. You will be drilled, tested, and pushed to your limits to prove you got what it takes. Students, look at the person to your left, look at the person to the righ, look at the person in front and the person behind you. By the end of these six years of training, none of them will join you if you proceed in a carreed in the fleet or as a bountyhunter. That is how many flush out because they do not have the will, or the skill, or the ability. I will not keep you any longer on your last day of summer. Get your room keys and your schedules. Your parents will undoubtedly love to help you get situated in your dorms, and for those who want, there is a tour set up of our facilities. Catch you all at the barbeque." and with that, he hopped off the stage.

Wolf looked to his left, where Fox was standing. "you two go on ahead and take that tour," their father said, waving them off, "I got your dorm keys, so I'll start unloading the car, unless you really wanna help with that." James could barely finish speaking or his sons had gone off with the crowd of students. "If only they could stay like this forever." James sighed, heading back to his car, finally picking up a call he'd been getting for the last ten minutes. "Starfox. What? Where'd you find it? No way! I'll come to pick it up in an hour." then he opened the trunk of his car. "Make that two hours"

The moment they joined the tour, Wolf was tackled by an old Lizard friend. "Wolf, where the hell have you been? I missed you, buddy."

"Hey, don't choke my brother, Leon." Fox replied, and Leon quickly let go, looking away as Wolf coughed for breath.

"Nice to see you too, Leon. That plan about forming our own mercenary group still standing?" He asked when he caught his breath.

"Hell yeah." Leon replied, "You interrested too, Foxy boy?"

"Hell yeah" Fox replied, "I practiced, I can snipe through the hole of a coke bottle with a 50 cal."

"So now all we need is piloting skills." Wolf stated, like that would be the easy part. They continued the tour, though the simulator room, the hangar, the hall of heroes, which was a glorified trophy room, and lastly, the main hall again, where Peppy put up lists of who would be in which tutor group. As the borthers scanned the list, they each found their names on the same list, together with Leon Powalski, and three other guys they'd never heard of, some Falco Lombardi, and two guys, Storm and Ice, with no last names given. Lastly, there was a Katt Monroe and a Lucy Hare to round off their group.

Behind them, Peppy grinned. "I wonder... I hope this turns out the way we wanted. It's certainly is a gamble putting all the young talents in one group." He just stood and smiled as they left, before joining Lucy to her new home.

-Wolf's Den building, dorm 501, penthouse-

"Wow, I can't believe he got us the penthouse!" Wolf said, looking around. "It's so big compared to Bill's dorm."

"He's even unpacked some of our stuff. Too bad he didn't stay around though." Fox said, "oh well, not like he could stay and wait for the tour to finish. Now, how about we get ready for that barbecue?"

"I think a certain foxy here could use a shower, cause… we only just got the room, and it already reeks of you everywhere, stinky."

"that's so unfair!" Fox replied, "Just cause your nose is so sensitive you wanna boss me around."

"I believe I saw a jacuzzi." wolf muttered, and fox was off, leaving a trail of clothes as he went, which wolf picked up and tossed in a hamper. "typical"

When he got to the bathroom, fox was standing over the jacuzzi, naked, trying to get the temperature right, His tail swishing happily. "If you do that with others in the house, they might rape you, foxy."

"Yep," Fox replied, "but you won't, right, bro?"

"Never." Wolf smiled, jumping in the hot water as well, enjoying the warmth. "now, this is life. I wonder where dad went off to."