Chapter 6

Metamorphosis

Falco and I sat on the bed once again. He turned to me with a serious expression.

"I'm going to begin where we left off." He started.

"And where's that?" "Asteroid Belt." I slightly gasped. That's where...

"I thought you were just joking around, but when I called you the next day...you didn't pick up. I was starting to get worried."

I tensed. Did Falco end up like this...because of me?

"I went over to your house, but no one answered the door, so I assumed no one was home. I asked Krystal to call you to see if you were home, and you were. Now I knew that you were ignoring me."

I do remember Krystal calling me, but I told her I wasn't in the mood to talk. I looked up at Falco, who didn't feel any emotions, just stating the facts about what happened.

"This went on for quite a while, until I stopped contacting you altogether. Fox and Bill were constantly telling me to keep trying, but..."

I could see his eyes slightly water, but he shook it off.

"Apparently your friends were all depressed because of...the...event...so, they were all telling you to forgive me and all of that. So you forgave me, and I wasn't as stubborn as before, but I still...felt..."

He was breathing hard again. Every time he talked about his feelings, he was getting moody. An interesting change from before.

But...maybe he was like this, just was never able to talk about it with someone else. Falco cleared his throat.

"So Fox and Krystal got...married...and I saw you there again, but I didn't talk to you. Fox purposely made seating arrangements so I would be somewhere near you. And that's where you noticed me. You didn't talk to me, but you definitely noticed me. After the wedding, I decided to work for Corneria, taking up jobs. After seeing many new planets, I quit and I came to Peppy. I told him I would-"

"I know. He told me." I cut in.

"Right. So I came to this planet, Uxx. This planet was in turmoil. Chaos and disorder was everywhere. When I came here, it was under the power of a tyrant, Lonew Corrup, who was a devastating dictator. He made the citizens of Uxx work under his power, for a very little, unreasonable wage. I, just quitting fresh from Starfox, had plenty of money to survive, but watching the others in pain was just not right. I've...felt...what they felt..."

Falco trailed off again. He lowered his head. Did...did I really hurt him that much?

"...Anyways, I gained the trust of the Uxxians, and they, one by one, began to join my side. Then, I led an attack against the main headquarters and altogether, the whole planet revolted against that one leader. I created a democracy, and things are running smoothly. I'm here to stay, until..."

Falco stopped right there. Until what? Grr, why must he hide everything from me?

"So that's my story. Any questions?"

How does he do that?! A complete change from depression to strict teacher?

"Yes. What is your name?"

"Oh right, I forgot to tell you that. You'll find out."

What?! Are you kidding me?! He's not going to tell me his name?! I know that he hasn't kept his real name, Falco, from my first encounter with him, but what would he change his name to?

Falco turned to me and watched me, waiting for me to say something.

"Hey, are you going to sleep in your Cat's Paw II?" Falco asked me unexpectedly.

"Yeah, probably, since there's no where else for me to go-"

"You can sleep here." I froze. Here? With Falco?

"Not in the same bed, I have a different room you can stay." Falco's voice seemed brighter, like before, but the feeling quickly faded away.

"I...I don't know if I should-"

"Well, where else do you plan to go? I'm sure you didn't come to Planet Uxx for nothing." He hinted.

He did have a point...wait, how did he know that I came to look for him?

"So, what's your choice?" Falco asked again. He...he seemed like he wanted me to stay, but for what reason? I guess I only have one choice...

"Okay, I'll stay with you." I confirmed. Falco had no reaction, which was strange, by the way he was acting before.

"Good. Here's a change of clothes-" He handed me a neatly folded pack of clothes.

"-and I'm ready when you're ready." Huh? What was the change of clothes-

"Oh, the clothes are so you fit into the scenery. I wouldn't want anthros staring at you."

He said that he wouldn't want that. Did he still care about me...?

Falco got up from the bed and motioned for me to follow him.

The room was on the other side of the house, which was quite big, and was at a hallway left of the doorway. He led me in, and closed the door behind him. The room looked exactly the same as Falco's room, only the candlestick was longer.

I quickly undressed and unpacked the clothes Falco had given me.

What? He expected me to wear this?

It was a black dress, long, but narrow, and it was sleeveless. It slightly brushed the ground, making it elegant, and it was accompanied by a black diamond necklace and earrings. The earrings were my favorite out of the whole set, since each earring was just a diamond, which made it look simple, but classy.

I quickly dressed and I noticed a dressing table, so I instantly walked over to it. I looked in the mirror, and I was surprised at my own reflection. It fit perfectly, but I didn't have any type of shoes, besides my suede boots I had worn from the journey to Uxx.

I heard a knock on the door and I rushed towards it. Falco opened the door slightly and handed me a pair of black shoes. They had a bit of a heel, which was how I liked to wear dress shoes. The door closed as I slipped on the shoes. I walked out the door and Falco had changed as well. He was wearing a black collared shirt, with different black pants and black shoes.

Wait, was this-

"Come on now." I followed him outside the house.

The town had dramatically changed from old and beat-up, to modern and new.

I grabbed onto Falco and jerked him back, but he only stopped and leaned his head back so our faces met.

"Where are you taking me? What is this supposed to be?" I asked him firmly.

"It's not what you think it is." I pulled him again, this time he took a step backwards.

"I'm not kidding Falco, what are you doing?!"

"Shh, don't say my name out loud around here. You can only call me that when we're in the house."

"What? So I'm going to be living with you? Does this mean that we're now marri-"

"No, just-"

"Is this a date?" I suddenly asked him.

He paused, almost troubled, and quickly regained his cool.

"It's anything but that." I felt my heart almost shatter at what he said. But then again, he's not Falco, right? But, did that mean...he's given up?

We neared the main city, and anthros started coming out from all of the different shops and restaurants, and waving to Falco. Falco stopped at one place, which was more beat-up than the rest, and walked in. What did he think he was doing? I trailed him into the residence.

"Hey Friidom, how's it going?" One pitiable dog called to Falco.

Wait, what? Friidom? He named himself Friidom? Now, why in the world would he name himself Friidom? Is that what he was hiding from me?

Falco, no, Friidom, no, Falco, just raised a wing and kept walking. Anthros were all glaring at me, suspecting something of me. What could they suspect of me? At last, Falco stopped at the entrance of a room. He walked in, but I hesitated before entering. I have a really bad feeling about this...

I followed him into the room. It was darker than most other rooms, but I tracked Falco's footsteps in order to keep up. He stopped, and so did I. The lights suddenly turned on. I was partially blinded from the light, but quickly recovered so I could get every bit of what he was going to say.

"Katt...why did you come here?" His voice tone changed dramatically, from ominous to loving, like what he was before. Before...

"I came to find you." I stated firmly.

"Why?" I couldn't help stop the tears forming in my eyes.

Falco noticed my clouded eyes, but he didn't react how he was supposed to. I turned my head away, and he looked directly at my face.

He closed his eyes.

"You came because you missed me. Because you expected me to come running back to you, just like Fox did, and expected despair to all end, and life to go on as a happily ever after. That's what you wanted. You wanted everything to end up just like Fox and Krystal. I'm not the same, Katt, and neither are you. I can get by at where I am now. I...I..." He paused.

"I don't need you...now. You can stay until tomorrow, and then leave. Don't come back. You've seen me, I've told you all that's happened to me, now go back and tell Peppy and everyone else that Falco's, not, coming, back." I gritted my teeth.

I didn't move. All emotions rushed up to my throat and choked at me. But I wasn't going to run off and cry. Not in front of Falco.

"Interesting how you've gotten stronger without me. I hope you understand." Falco said at last.

At last...Friidom at last...was this his freedom? Free of me? Was going on in life without me better for him?

"Do you want dinner now, or do you want to go back to my house?" He asked unexpectedly. I didn't respond. I started walking out, and Falco followed me.

I headed back home, no, Falco's house, and closed the door to my room. I changed out of the clothes Falco gave me, and changed back into my original clothes.

I planned to leave early tomorrow, so he wouldn't see me. I swiftly packed the black dress and jewels and placed it on my bedside table. Feeling drained physically and mentally, I hopped into bed and entered a dreamless slumber.

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Hey, I'm really sorry for my updating habits, it's just that I got a virus and it's screwing everything up.
I won't have to discontinue anything, just a little extra work is necesary.
Oh, the name Lonew Corrup, is spoofing "the new corrupt", just to let you know.
What has happened to Falco, the good old guy that we see bragging and showing off?
Attitude problems, and mood swings, he's got it all.
But what of Katt, who is heartbroken and torn apart by Falco's actions and words?
Seems like you'll have to wait for the next chapter!