Author's Notes: Wow, I guess this is my first real story attempt besides that crappy one that I wish I didn't do. I could still delete it, but I'd rather keep it in existence as a reminder of why I need to improve. So, where to start? A story about an OC, but this guy's a little different. Every OC I've seen seems to have something to be pissed about all the time, so I'm gonna do something different and have an OC who's still mad, but not quite as, um, dark. Anyway, I've been trying to work out how to start this forever, but I guess there's nothing for it now. Here it goes. I had an idea about a little gimmick for the story that involves associating a song with each chapter (I got the idea from Obsidian Thirteen's fic "Hero") and throwing bits of the lyrics into the chapter at random. We'll see how that works out. Oh, and by the way, I own almost everyone in this story, except for General Pepper, the members of the Star Fox unit, Emperor Andross, and a few other canon characters. They belong to Nintendo. Also, I make a few switches to third person in situations that don't involve the main character, but it's still being told by him as sort of a narrator. Just bear with me and critique in the reviews, please.
The song for this chapter is "More Than A Feeling" by Boston.
TROUBLES OF OUR OWN: A WAR STORY
By Viroxor
It wasn't the sun that broke the blissful darkness of my slumber. It was a sharp rapping at my window. When the first unwelcome sound came, I seemed to simply turned over but continued to ignore it. The second and third ones it seemed I pretended I never heard at all. It wasn't until a fourth, heavier one came that I, a boy in my early twenties, opened my eyes and swung my legs over the side of my one-person bed with an exasperated sigh, obviously irritated at my inability to sleep through the knockings at my window, on the second story. That could only be one person. Who else would come to see me?
I walked to the window gracefully, as is the nature of all our kind, and opened it. My room was pretty nondescript, plain brown walls being ordinary except for the posters for different types of bands on some of the walls. Down below, I could clearly see the smiling face looking up at me. I reached over to a stereo just to the right of the mid-sized window and pressed a button, causing some soft but lively jazz music to begin playing. It soothed my soul, although I felt there was little that could ever bring me more pleasure than her. Serena Albany. Everything about her from the gentle, delicate curves of her body to her angelic voice to her attitude and just the way she carried herself-I loved all of it. Despite how many years I'd known her, I could never get my fill of her. She was everything I wanted. And now she was shouting to me as loud as she possibly could without the risk of waking the denizens of the small town. In other words, pretty softly.
I looked out this morning and the sun was gone
Turned on some music to start my day
I lost myself in a familiar song
I closed my eyes and I slipped away
"Louie! Come on, we're gonna miss everyone going to the concert!" Yelled the angel to me. Damn! I thought. We're going to the Revolvers and Violets concert today! I forgot! Revolvers and Violets was a popular rock band that all the young people in the town had been listening to for a while. They were playing a concert in nearby Hartman City, named after a figure from Katinian history. Everyone was driving out there to see them. Originally, I hadn't been planning on going, since most of the 'kids' (although they were grown up) didn't know me that well, and it would be awkward. It's not like I was a total recluse or anything, I talked to people, but I didn't know them too well. Except Caleb. And he could hardly be called a friend. Caleb and I had been at odds since we were small children, mostly because we were constantly competing for Serena, which, although never stated, had always been the case.
It was Serena who had invited me. Of course she was going. Serena was beautiful and intelligent, the envy of everybody. Everyone loved Serena, she had always been well-accepted by everyone. In fact, her friendship with me was probably the reason everyone was so comfortable with me coming. They were actually pretty cool people. I just hoped they'd get the same impression of me.
I swiftly strode over to my dresser and threw on some real pants and a white T-shirt with a navy jacket, then opened my door and descended the stairs, arriving in the kitchen to see mom fixing breakfast and dad leaning casually on the counter. I still lived with my parents, as almost everyone my age in the town did, not because of any particular inability, but more because Katina had been going through some rough times recently, and a place to stay was incredibly expensive, especially in one of the bigger cities like Hartman City. The only one bigger on Katina was the capital city, Katina City. It was massive, although nowhere near as big as the capital of neighboring Corneria. After saying a quick goodbye to mom and dad, I opened the door and hopped outside with a grin, prompting Serena to playfully punch me in the arm.
"Dork! You almost slept in. We're leaving in a few minutes. Your feathers are a mess." She said, quickly ruffling the feathers on my head that acted as hair. Her touch was soft and gentle, like everything about her.
"What would you do without me, Lou?" She asked jokingly.
"I think I could fare just fine." Came the good-humored reply, although I clearly knew it was a bold-faced lie. I could never live without Serena.
--
The drive over was eventful, to say the least. I drove Serena and two of her friends, Abby and Nick. There were four other cars as well, each of them being driven by a member of 'the group' as all of us, including myself, had come to be called regularly and containing a good number more in the other seats. If there were any cops on the desolate road between Redrock (the name of our beloved town) and Hartman City, they probably would have sent us all to the slammer for some of the stuff we did. I can't recall any time since that I've had a group switch cars mid-trip while the cars are moving. It was fun, though. I had a few laughs.
The concert was even greater. Revolvers and Violets rocked even better than they had on their debut album, Appetite for Death. We were one of the rowdiest groups there. Wow, I couldn't remember the last time I'd had that much fun while listening to GOOD music. Caleb was surprisingly not as antagonistic as usual. Of course, the cronies and slightly attractive harlots that swooned over him were as annoying as ever. Then again, I guess you don't get quite as annoyed at the fangirls when you're a guy. Because I know Serena was having a harder time putting up with them than I was. But unfortunately, Caleb only had eyes for Serena, apparently, just like me. I guess when it came down to it, Caleb and me really weren't very different.
Its more than a feeling, when I hear that old song they used to play (more than a feeling)
I begin dreaming (more than a feeling)
till I see marianne walk away
I see my marianne walkin away
--
But the rolling good times were about to get brought to a screeching halt.
The bartender of the town saloon, whose feathers were a little more of an off-white color than most of the others, looked up to see the man walk into the loud and busy place. The burly ape was wearing a big black overcoat, unfitting for a place with as temperate a climate as Redrock. He and a few others watched the man with interest as he came to the bar and requested in a gruff voice "Ale," pointing to a specific bottle on the wall. The bartender nodded and got it for him after accepting payment. The man subsequently took a seat near the wall. Still, the bartender was curious as to what a simian like him was doing in a town inhabited by all avians.
--
The next day
Man, yesterday was a lot of fun. Rumors had been going around about a strange outsider staying at the saloon, but I tried not to worry. My morning today started about the same as yesterday. Serena threw rocks at my window until I woke up. But today, she had something a little different in mind. She suggested we go to the creek. The town was pretty dry, but there were woods nearby, and the creek (really more like a river) therein was usually a popular hangout spot. But today, it was empty, so Serena suggested we go there and hang out. I couldn't think of any question to which I would have responded "Okay, sure" faster.
It was about 2:00 in galactic standard time when we got there after a long period of walking through the woods. Serena acted tough sometimes, but she was delicate, and despite the fact that she seemed to love trekking the creek and the woods, she always ended up getting wrapped up and frustrated. But I guess she loved it anyway because it was our nature to love the outdoors, especially wet areas. We were waterfowl, after all. Anyhow, when we got there, she was already thoroughly exasperated, with a few twigs stuck in her feathers and a lot of effort showing on her face. But in her eyes, it was clear that she still loved it immensely. It's one of the few phenomenons I've never quite been able to explain: Serena and the outdoors.
I was doing okay, though I was obviously a little tired myself. The creek was a sight to behold. The bank they came out on was a sharp drop to the water, though not very far. Exposed roots protruded from the eroded side of the bank, with a few fallen trees laying across as makeshift bridges. Hanging from one of the trees overhead was a rope, which was commonly used to swing across. It was great fun.
"Ah, you got twigs stuck in your feathers!" I exclaimed with a small laugh, looking at her. Even in such a condition, her beauty was still flawless. If nothing else, the struggle and scenery made her look even prettier than usual, a feat I didn't usually think possible. I went to work on removing the intruders from the graceful plumage of a rather embarrassed-looking object of my affections. She protested and gave her share of remarks, but when I was finished, I think she appreciated the favor. After the moment, she walked and sat at the edge of the bank, her legs hanging out over the edge. I walked over and joined her, sitting there next to her. If I didn't know better, I would have thought she was an angel. I think I still did anyway. The way she sat, the way she stared at the surrounding nature and fidgeted with her hair, she was the picture of beauty: graceful, feminine, serene. It was why she was named such, I assume.
So many people have come and gone
Their faces fade as the years go by
Yet I still recall as I wander on
As clear as the sun in the summer sky
"Serena, I just want you to know, I appreciate you inviting me to the concert yesterday. It was a blast." I finally got up the courage to say. She looked at me and smiled.
"Even though Caleb was still kind of a dick? No problem. Anyway, thank you for getting me through those thorn bushes back there. And getting the twigs out of my feathers. And for...coming with me out here in the first place. It's, um, it's nice to have company." She said. Then came that moment. She looked at me, I looked back, the feeling was there, the silence, everything about it. It was the time.
So we kissed. It came kind of naturally. It went on for an eternity, for I would have it no other way. I opened my eyes and saw her, looking back at me. In her eyes, I found peace. She was my eternity, and I could have stayed there forever. Maybe I died on the way to that concert. Because everything about this moment was something only found in heaven.
I was happy.
--
Mid-afternoon struck the always busy town saloon. The townspeople chatted away about daily happenings in their everyday lives. All but one. The enigmatic man in the black overcoat grinned. It was now or never. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a metallic object and rose from the spot he had regularly occupied for the past day. Standing at his full imposing height, he bellowed out in his intimidating voice. "Attention, people of this town! Keep your seats, for I have a small announcement!"
And that's chapter one. What do you think? Good? Bad? Ugly? Critique away! I need it in order to improve. By the way, if anybody guesses which band I was referring to with "Revolvers and Violets", I'll use one of their songs for a future chapter.