Chapter 1: Solitary Beginnings

Corneria

Corneria, the fourth planet of the Lylat system, a luscious blue plant that stood as a hub of peace for all of Lylat. In order to uphold such a reputation the planet also possessed the largest military force in the entirety of the system, the Cornerian Army. An armed force which featured the talents of persons of all shapes and sizes all looking to protect the Lylat system from her more dangerous residents. It is no small task however, to become a member of the army and any prospective soldiers must first graduate from the most elite institute in all of Lylat, lovingly dubbed The Academy. Here men and women alike go through rigorous training in ground operations, such as hand-to-hand combat and weapons handling, Landmaster operations, and most importantly, training in a star fighter. Combat had evolved since the beginning of times and with the recent discovery of the mystical G-diffuser system, war had taken to the stars. Rather than wars between countries, Lylat had witnessed wars between planets and it only looked to grow as more inventions were created and time went on. Our story starts in this very academy, where a young vulpine takes his first steps in order to protect this ever growing galaxy.

Corneria: The Academy

"Holy cow Fox! That's a new record for the academy!" An excited green frog shouted. This is Slippy Toad a mechanical genius and current cadet at The Academy. He is shorter than most of the other cadets and a bit portly. He is the son of the great Beltino Toad one of the minds behind the G-diffuser system and as such has a natural habit for tinkering and inventing.

"Oh C'mon Fox this is why I wanted to go first; now I'm gonna have to break your record right when you got it!" A gray bulldog commented. Enter Bill Grey a bulldog born and raised on Corneria. He possesses a natural talent for strategic operations and is considered by many to be the number 1 cadet at the academy. He carries himself with an air of unwavering confidence and rightfully so.

"Oh please Bill, as if you could ever beat me in the skies! Besides you can barely get 200 hits let alone 305 haha!" A young vulpine chuckled, removing a helmet that seemed to connect to some kind of virtual reality training simulator. Fox McCloud, the son of Lylat's greatest hero James McCloud. Following his father's footsteps, Fox joined The Academy in order to prove that he is the greatest pilot to ever soar through the skies. The other cadets, knowing both his history and his skill, believed that Fox McCloud was a being destined for greatness.

"C'mon guys I'm sooooo hungry! Can't your little competition wait until after we grab some yummy treats?!" Slippy was holding his stomach as it grumbled savagely. Fox held his stomach as well which grumbled in response; the intense battles in the flight simulator did always make him hungry.

"Slips is right Bill, by the time you're done in there that bright orange fox in unit 7 would have eaten everything already."

"Running away McCloud? It's okay if you're scared to see my amazing piloting skills; just don't go making –" Bill was interrupted by the growling of his own stomach as his face immediately adopted a warm shade of red. Fox and Slippy both began to laugh as Bill quickly walked between them towards the cafeteria.

"What's wrong Bill did the number 1 cadet forget he needs to eat in between missions or are you just scared?" The vulpine laughed. Bill embarrassingly turned around to face his brightly colored friend who was laughing at his expense.

"Just you wait Fox! Once I get some grub I'm gonna blow that shiny record out of the air!" Bill not looking where he was going hit something solid and fell to the ground. "Aw jeez watch it ma-ma-ma-ma" Bill had begun to stutter and both Fox and Slippy quickly entered a saluting pose towards the imposing figure and Bill began to beg for forgiveness. "I'm sorry, no super sorry, no wait even more sorry than that. Please forgive my rudeness General Pepper sir!" The leader of the entire Cornerian Army. General Pepper was the model for military personnel everywhere, but is also considered the kindest man this system has ever known. Pepper wore a strong frown, a default facial expression for him due to not only his age, but because of his years of living on the battlefield. Bill enter a salute alongside his fellow cadets. Pepper cleared his throat to speak to the cadets.

"All is forgiven cadet, you were obviously very excited to get to wherever it was you were going. It makes me proud to see such young cadets trying their very best at everything they do."

"You are too kind, thank you sir!" Bill stiffened up more, he had never talked with THE General Pepper before and it practically made his day, regardless of the circumstances. The general turned his attention towards Fox who in turn gave him a questionable look.

"Ah there you are , I've been looking for you all day please follow me there is something you need to know. As for two cadets please be along your way."

"Sir yes sir!" Slippy and Bill yelled in unison and as they began to jog to the cafeteria took one last look towards Fox who quickly flashed them a thumbs up and a smile. General Pepper put a hand on the young cadet and motioned for him to follow. Fox couldn't place the feeling, but General Pepper gave off a more somber feeling than normal even if his facial expression never changed. Fox began to get butterflies in his stomach, but promptly followed the general.

Corneria: Outside General Pepper's Office

The walk over had been completely quiet and was killing Fox. What did General Pepper want? Fox couldn't go any longer without knowing, he had to ask.

"Um excuse me sir?" General Pepper turned his head in acknowledgement. Fox took this as a cue to continue. "Where are you taking me, did something happen?" It was only for a moment, but Fox could've sworn he saw a tear starting to form in General Pepper's visible eye. This was not a good sign and caused Fox to start worrying.

"We are going to my office cadet, as to why, well… you'll be informed by the person waiting there for you." The person waiting there for him? He had no idea what that meant. It didn't matter though because after a few more second of walking they were in front of the mighty doors that lead to Pepper's personal office. As the door swung open Fox was able to see who Pepper was referring to earlier. A gray bunny was sitting in a lounge chair with crutches leaning against said chair, and an eye that was covered in multiple bruises. All of these signs of a thrashing.

"Uncle Peppy!" Fox ran past the general and right to the side of the aged rabbit. The rabbit coughed and took a look towards his godson. "What happened to you? Where's dad? How come no one informed me that you guys had returned from your mission? Hey wait, Pigma isn't here too? He promised to have a dogfight with me when you guys back!" Fox was going to continue, but Peppy put a hand on his shoulder and stared into Fox's eyes and that's when Fox noticed how dry Peppy's eyes had become. He must've been crying for a long time, but for what reason.

"I'm sorry Fox, I tried I really did." Fox's eyes began to become heavy with water, this scene was all too familiar to him, but he wanted to deny the truth.

"What do you mean Uncle Peppy?" Peppy slammed his fist on the table

"Darn it don't call me that anymore! I've let you both down once again I don't deserve your love!" Fox stumbled to the ground, tears had begun to stream down his face. He had been here before, he had done this before.

Papetoon: 5 years earlier

"No Mom No! You have to wake up! You just gotta!" A young vulpine was shaking the limp body of a beautiful young woman. Behind the boy was a hover-car that was on smoke and burning brightly. Another hover car quickly pulled up on the scene with a younger looking Peppy and a vulpine that looked like an older version of Fox.

"We were too late James!" Peppy shouted in terror. The vulpine known as James ran up to the boy and picked him up cradling him in his arms and began quickly mumbling a combination of sorrys and please forgive mes.

"Dad! Mom got hurt, the car exploded and Mom isn't moving anymore!" James brought the boy into a tighter hug. The young boy couldn't see his mother anymore, only the white of his father's jacket. "Dad! I can't see Mommy any more, why won't you let me see mommy? We gotta help Mommy, Dad!" Tears began to fall upon the young boy's head.

"I'm sorry Fox, I tried I really did."

Corneria: General Pepper's Office Present Day

Peppy stood up and saluted General Pepper "Mission Report for StarFox mission 325, information of our operation was leaked to the enemy by former member Pigma Dengar of Starfox. As such we met heavy resistance before even touching ground on planet Venom. In the ensuing chaos leader James McCloud was shot down by enemy forces and crashed into the side of the planet. I was sent back here by the enemy's forces in order to relay a message from the previously exiled scientist Andross Oikonny stating for Corneria to prepare itself from the oncoming storm. Mission 325 has resulted in failure with status of Pigma Dengar turning AWOL and with James McCloud being considered MIA, but more likely than not KIA." Peppy felled to his knees and began mumbling what sounded like I'm sorry, but all fox heard was white noise and a ringing in his ear. Fox's mind couldn't process all the information he just heard, betrayal, death, abandonment, it was too much all of it was just too much Fox quickly got up from his spot and ran out of the office. Tears filled his eyes and depression began taking hold of his body, he could hear the cries of General Pepper and Peppy calling out to him, but he didn't care he had to run, they could be next.

Dark alleyway in the Heart of Corneria City

Fox was huddled in the alleyway, the tears wouldn't stop streaming down his face. Fox couldn't get the image of his mother's burnt body out of his mind. He was on his own now, both his parent's lights had been extinguished. He was alone in this world now and the thought was crushing. Fox felt himself breaking, how could he go on? Fox then came to a realization.
Wait Peppy didn't see my dad died! What if he was captured by Andross' forces, what if he is still alive! I need to go help him, I need to save him! Fox was lost in denial, his only family left couldn't be dead, that wouldn't be fair. He truly believed he had to go save him from the clutches of Andross, but how? He had no ship and he couldn't take on an army by himself could he? Fox was back to square one again, considering himself useless for being unable to save his father. Fox continued to sob in the alleyway he couldn't handle being alone, he couldn't handle what his life had become.

"So they teach you cadets to cry now huh?" Fox quickly turned his tear drenched fur at the person who dare insult him now of all times. It was a large wolf, with a bionic eyepatch covering one of his eyes. He had a very intimidating presence and Fox couldn't help, but wonder what this lupine wanted. "Hey can you hear me in there crybaby?" Fox's fear was replaced with anger instead.

"I'm not a crybaby!" The wolf lit a cigarette and began to take pulls from it. Fox thought smoking was disgusting, besides it would affect his lungs while he flew. What a lowlife

"I beg to differ kid, you're fur is drenched and it ain't even raining. I'm guessing something bad must've no man would cry like that otherwise." Fox didn't know why, but he began to open up to this complete stranger.

"Yea uh, I just found out my dad – " What was he doing? Why would this person care? He didn't even know if his dad was dead! Fox decided not to finish his sentence and instead let a few more tears roll down his face.

"So the famous James McCloud has finally kicked the can huh?" Fox was caught off-guard by this and gave the man a questionable look.

"I didn't say anything about his name, how did you know he was my dad." The wolf tossed the cigarette to the ground and stomped on it.

"Let's just say I owe your dad a lot of favors kiddo, the name's Wolf, Wolf O'Donnell the pleasure is all yours." Fox chuckled a little bit, placing a smile on the wolf's face.

"I'm Fox, Fox McCloud, the best pilot you'll ever meet!" Wolf began howling with laughter.

"You seem to be mistaken kiddo I'm the best pilot in the Lylat system, I've seen more combat than you've ever dreamed of. I haven't been shot down once!" Fox's mood became somber once again.

"Doesn't matter now though I'm leaving the academy to do my own thing my way." Wolf placed a serious face on his mug.

"You're gonna try and avenge your father aren't you kid?"

"Maybe, what of it?!"

"Last time I checked, cadets weren't issued their own star fighters and something tells me you don't have a spare million credits lying around to go buy a semi-decent Starfighter or am I wrong?" The most annoying part was that he wasn't. Fox bit his lip and clenched his fists. Why did this lupine know so much and why did he have so much information. All of a sudden the wolf stretched out his hand and looked Fox dead in the eyes.

"What? What are you doing Wolf?" The lupine cracked a wide smile.

"I've been looking for a third member, Fox McCloud come join my new team Star Wolf!"

(A/N: Thank you for reading my new story The Black Arwing. This is a story that I thought about based on the black arwing you can use in Star Fox Zero. I hope to hear what you guys think and hopefully its good enough to continue the story for a long while. Leave a review and let me know what you think!)