The Past Becomes Present Chapter 1
Crash Landing
Venom. The evil, lifeless planet of the Lylat System. There was rumors about Venom being a cursed planet, which was fitting due to its dark history. To Fox McCloud, it was nothing but depressing. The sight of the planet held enduring pain to Fox that he learned to bear each day. Not only was it a barren wasteland, but it had also been the place where he had lost someone precious. Fox had lost his father; James McCloud. It had been exactly ten years since Peppy Hare, a friend of James McCloud, told Fox of his father's fate.
With that news, Fox had immediately taken his father's place as the commander of the Star Fox team. Working his way toward his revenge against Andross, the mad-man who killed his father. Though, not only did Fox defeat Andross once, but twice. Fox had a slight worry that Andross still might not be dead, but it was a feeling that was easy to ignore.
At the current moment, Fox was flying just outside the Venom atmosphere. He was on his own since Falco and Slippy were on their own agenda and having dismissed Krystal from the team for her own protection. Thinking about Krystal gave Fox an ache in his chest. Shaking his head, Fox switched his concentration toward Venom. The grey planet seemed quiet and serene. It struck Fox as odd. This desolate planet shouldn't be calm, it didn't feel right.
Fox was just about to fly right past Vemon but made a sharp turn to enter the planet's atmosphere. But just as he made the turn, Fox felt his Arwing being pulled back in his initial direction by an unknown force. "What the heck?" he cried, having no control of his Arwing.
After trying in vain to regain control over his ship, Fox looked out his side to see where he was being pulled toward. Having known the Lylat System like the back of his hand, Fox was surprised to see a planet in the direction he was being drawn to. It was considerabley smaller that any planet in the Lyalt System, opaque-looking but seemed to shine like a gemstone.
Fox felt the familiar tremor in the Arwing as it started cutting through the planet's atmosphere. The pressure was a bit much for the Arwing and Fox could tell that it was being ripped apart slowly. In desperation, Fox turned the controls to try landing on the ships bottom, which would hopefully protect him from serious injury.
The Arwing bumped back and forth before finally landing on firm ground. It took a few moments for Fox to begin assessing himself. He felt like he was being crushed by rocks, but he was still in one piece with no bad sprains or breaks on his body. The pain also encouraged him that he was alive and for that he was thankful. He looked out of his Arwing but could only see a bunch of green due to the windows being cracked in several places. Knowing that green meant life, Fox lifted himself slowly out of the cockpit. Looking around, he saw that the entire area was nothing but green. In fact, it seemed like he landed in a forest of vines. Even the trees were wrapped in dark green vines that made the trunk nearly invisible.
Turning back to the cockpit of his ship, Fox decided it would be best to try sending a signal out. "This is Fox McCloud. On my way past Venom, I have crashed onto a planet right behind it. My Arwing is incapacitated due to the heavy gravitational pull and atmospheric pressure. I request assisst-argh-"
Fox was unable to finish his report due having his feet jerked out from under him. He slammed onto his back, knocking the wind out of him. He looked at his feet and saw that some vines had wrapped around his ankles. More of the vines began snaking their way around his arms and torso. He pushed himself up before they could get a grip and tried to kick his feet free, but the vines held him tightly and more began to crawl up toward his other limbs. He reached in his pack for his blaster and shot at the vines to get his feet free. He set off at a run but hardly got a few yards before more vines latched onto him from all sides and pulled him to the ground. Fox struggled, but that just seemed to encourage the vines to grip tighter. They crushed his torso to the point where is breath only came in short gasps. 'No...I can't die here...not this way... I don't even know where I am...'
He thoughts seemed to answer him as he felt something wizz past his ear and made a squelching sound into the vines. The vines loosened slightly but not enough for Fox to notice any real difference. But then he heard vines being sliced from around him and felt someone pull him to his feet. "Be quick!" came a sharp voice. Fox immediately grabbed for his blaster and started shooting the vines coming for him. He felt a light shove at his back. "Run quick and change angles every two footfalls." Without even looking back toward his rescuer, he bounded forward and followed the given instructions. For every two steps he hopped in a zigzags but making sure he didn't develop a pattern.
He finally made it out of the cluster of vines and dropped to his hands and knees, regaining his breath. He felt hands gently rubbing his back, which helped his breath to even out.
"Are you alright?"
Fox looked up at his rescuer who was crouched beside him. The rescuer was a female vulpine. She was young, most likely just a teenager. She had grey, almost silvery fur and long white hair that was loosely braided to the back of her head with a tail that hung over her shoulder. But the most noticeable feature about her was her eyes. They were an orange-amber color that glowed almost like a dull ember. "I'm alive...thanks to you." He replied.
"Why were you in The Slithering Grove?" She asked.
"That's what that place is called?" Fox said, turning to gaze into the green jungle of vines that looked more inviting than it seemed. "Figures."
"It is a very protective over its territory and of its fruit." She said.
"Fruit? I didn't see any fruit."
"That's because it only grows in few numbers within the deepest recesses." She explained. "The fruit has a shell as strong as a rock but its nectar is exceptionally nutritious. Each season one fruit is retrieved and is big enough for my whole village to take a sip of its nectar."
"And let me guess. You are the one who retrieves it?" Fox asked.
"One of few." She chuckles. "The fruit is a bit big and hefty for one person to carry."
"Well, you seem to think going through that hazard is worth it" He said. "But my Arwing crashed into it and is probably being destroyed as we speak."
She cocked her head to the side. "Your what?"
Fox staggered for a moment; everyone knew that the Arwing was the trademark of the Star Fox team. But her confusion was clearly genuine. He took a moment to look at her; she seemed very low tech. She wore a black tunic with a thick brown belt which held a small dagger and a couple of pouches that most likely held medical items. Her arms were bare except for bandages that covered her left forearm, hand and her shortest and longest finger. And instead of having shoes, her feet were wrapped up in thick strips of cloth, leaving her heel and toes exposed. Over her shoulder was a quiver full of arrows and a long, thin bow. "Have you never heard of a ship?" he asked slowly.
"Why yes, they sail the waters all the time. I enjoy watching them." She answered, but narrowed her eyes cautiously. "But there are no bodies of water around here."
"No, I mean a flying ship."
Her eyes widened. "You mean ships can sail the heavens?" She looked up to the sky in wonderment.
"Yes. Can't they here?" Fox asked.
"No one has ever reached the skies in any of our history." She answered.
Fox blanched. Not only was he ship-wrecked, but none of the inhabitants have ever left the planet. Which made him wonder..."Where am I?"
"Oh! I apologize. My name is Zel and this land is Orhea."
Orhea. Fox had never heard the name before. It baffled him; he had been pulled here from behind Venom. He looked up, wondering if he could see Vemon. There it was, almost as big as the moon on Corneria, except that it shone dark grey like a blot in the sky. It seemed haunted.
"You see The Dark Star." Zel stood beside him, looking to where Fox gazed. "There have been tales of it being cursed. They say it can turn one's soul from pure to evil."
"It's cursed alright." Fox mumbled. "Where I'm from, we call the planet Venom. It's lifeless and barren and has a bad history."
"Speaking of bad, after your ordeal I doubt you'd want to know what goes bump in the night in the forest. You may stay overnight in my village." Zel offered.
Tearing his eyes away from the darkening sky, Fox looked at Zel and agreed. Their trip through the forest was a quiet one. When Fox tried to make conversation, Zel shushed him. He guessed that she didn't want to disturb what could be potential predators because she held her bow ready as she walked.
It was dusk by the time the two arrived to the village. It was small, at least compared to communities like the one Fox grew up in. The housings were small huts which were obviously built so that they could be extended when a family grew and they were all made of wood. They walked through a market place with many fruits, vegetables, and plants which some Fox had never seen before. They also crossed black smiths and woodworkers who made weaponry.
There weren't many people out at the late hour but those who were all greeted Zel and gave Fox a friendly smile.
"Everybody here seems to know you." Fox commented.
"Yes, well my father was the one who brought this village together." Zel said. "If it weren't for him most of us would be dead. We all know and support each other here. Like for my friend Reid, his father died years ago, so my father and I make sure he and his family don't starve."
"That's noble of you." Fox said.
"Yes, and this is where I live. You can stay here."
The two arrived at a small hut made of a dark reddish wood. It hadn't been updated in any way so Fox could tell Zel and her father were the only two residents. Zel entered her house. "Father, I'm home...and I have company." She called, hanging her quiver down. She turned to Fox. "I just realized I never asked for your name."
Fox turned to her and was about to tell his name, but a familiar voice beet him to it. "Dad?"