Disclaimer: All rights go to Nintendo, Shigeru Miyamoto, and all of the other Japanese producers whose names I cannot pronounce.

Author's Note: Hey everyone! It's clearly been a long while since I've updated, so I thought I'd surprise you guys by updating at 10:10 PM on 10/10/10! :D Hope you enjoy, and thanks to everyone who has waited patiently for this chapter to arrive.

Chapter 9: Revenge

Fox arrived at the encampment to find Dash and Falco awake and readily equipped for battle. Dash had his staff slung on his belt whereas Falco had his blaster. Both were standing idly, waiting for Fox to appear.

As soon as Fox was visible, Falco shouted out, "It's about time you got here! I was on the verge of thinking Star Wolf captured you!" He then proceeded to punch Fox, rather harshly, on the shoulder when he got within arm's reach.

"I'm sorry," Fox replied, rubbing his arm, "I was...er...getting some fresh air."

Falco and Dash just stared at him. Fox realized his excuse was nonsensical and hastily said, "The point is, I found out where Wolf's encampment is. In the North, near the mountains."

Dash cheered. Falco opened his mouth but Fox cut him off, "I'll tell you how I found out later. We need to act now! Before they get a chance to escape. Not even Bill will be able to intercept them for very long."

It wasn't a suggestion, it was an order. The other two colleagues silently agreed and packed up the rest of their supplies in the camp. Fox checked his blaster. Satisfied, he hesitantly looked at Krystal's staff, which was sitting in the cockpit of his concealed Arwing II. After contemplating for a few minutes, Fox walked over and hooked it into his belt. It felt right at home, reminding Fox of the days back on Dinosaur Planet. It's now or never, Fox thought grimly, The time has come for this to end.


Panther and Leon were on watch. Krystal had been missing for quite a while, and the assumption was that Star Fox had taken her captive. Wolf had put the two on strict orders to remain at the edge of the clearing and wait for their enemies to appear.

They were therefore surprised to see Krystal alive and well, entering the camp looking quite unharmed.

"Where in the world have you been?" Panther ran over to Krystal and embraced her.

Krystal quickly pushed him away and headed toward her ship. "I was informing Amanda of her loss."

"We know that!" Leon objected, "But surely it cannot have taken all night to have done that?"

Krystal stopped short. "I...um...got a little side-tracked on the way back."

Before Leon or Panther could inquire of Krystal's response, Wolf had returned from his Wolfen and loudly announced, "Star Fox is about to attack on land, according to my scanner. Get ready. Krystal, I want you to get out of here."

"No!" Krystal retorted, "There is no reason-"

"You're going to be Fox's number one target!" Wolf interrupted, "And I don't care what you've got to say! We can't risk it. Get on your ship and leave the planet to our new hideout. They'll most likely have someone posted on the outside orbiting Aquas, so use the new cloaking device we smuggled."

Krystal could tell that nothing else she could say would change Wolf's mind at this point. Furious, she stormed off into the undergrowth in the direction of her ship.


Fox signaled Dash and Falco to stop. Everything was dead silent. The three comrades were still, looking ahead intently for signs of movement. Star Wolf was ahead. They could all sense it. Another moment of observation, and then they continued forward.

It only took a few minutes for Star Fox to arrive in the clearing. They were facing the very base of the mountains, in which a few large rocks stood in the middle, making for the perfect battlefield and giving Wolf's team a slight advantage.

Wolf, Panther, and Leon stood in front of these rocks, their blasters drawn and held at their sides. All three were staring at Fox, clearly not surprised at his appearance. Krystal was nowhere in sight. Good, Fox thought mildly, No distractions.

Fox wasted no time in getting his message across, "By order of the Cornerian fleet, you three are under arrest for grand theft and murder. You may surrender now or be taken into custody by force."

Wolf snorted. "Skip the pleasantries, Fox. You know very well what my answer is."

"So be it." Fox pulled out his blaster. Falco did likewise while Dash unhooked his staff, which extended to full height.

Wolf and Leon darted behind the rocks, blasters at the ready. Panther, however, stayed put. Tossing his gun aside, he pulled out what appeared to be a dagger. It extended like Dash's staff and turned into a double-edged metal spear with a curved flat blade on each end. He then assumed a battle stance, motioning Dash to come forward.

Dash glanced at Fox, to which he whispered, "It's alright. I'll take care of him." Dash took a few steps forward and assumed a position of his own.

Fox nodded to Falco, and both pointed at the rocks Wolf and Leon were hiding behind.

Everything was still and silent for a moment, and then the fight had begun.

The sounds of blasters and the metallic clangs of staffs could be heard all around as they echoed off of the rock face of the mountain. Wolf had fired first at Fox from around the rock, which Fox easily dodged and began rapidly firing back. Falco was similarly engaged with Leon on the other side of the clearing. Dash and Panther were locked in combat in the middle, both fiercely twirling their weapons around. Panther had an interesting style of attack, in which he would spin his spear above his head and strike forward, before jumping back into a defensive pose. He was evenly matched by Dash, who effortlessly blocked each advance Panther made and struck back every once in a while.

Not bad, Fox noted mentally as he charged another shot in Wolf's direction.

It was to this extent that the fighting continued for at least an hour. Neither side seemed to be making much progress, but both were determined to remain resolute and win.

Things began to change when amidst all of the chaos a scream occurred. Falco had somersaulted to the side and struck Leon, right in the shoulder. Leon had now fallen into a fetal position, boldly trying to nurse his wound. It was obvious that he would no longer be able to continue in the brawl. As Leon had dropped his weapon from the sheer pain of his new injury, Falco swiftly rushed forward to collect it. Just as skilled with two blasters as he was with one, Falco now advanced on Wolf from the other side of the rocks, leaving Wolf with no cover and forcing him to concentrate on the firing from both Fox and Falco.

This small victory was short-lived, however. In the middle of the battlefield it was plain to see that Dash was beginning to get tired. Panting heavily, he was no longer able return the blows but rather block the attacks from Panther, who was still full of energy and eagerly advancing on Dash.

Fox sensed something was wrong and turned to see the duel continue. At that very moment he was forced to watch helplessly when, as if in slow motion, Panther swung his spear around and struck Dash's head with the flat side of his blade. Dash was flown to the side and hit the ground, unconscious.

All of the anger and hatred that Fox had been trying to keep contained suddenly seemed to explode within himself. Panther. Panther, whom Krystal had run off with and convinced her to come back to Star Wolf. Panther, who had fired the PQ-7 and ultimately killed Slippy. Panther, who now gazed at the vulnerable Dash with cold eyes and a sly smile across his face.
Fox could not contain himself any longer. Holstering his blaster, he pulled out Krystal's staff and ran forward, screaming a cry of rage. Panther reacted immediately and held his spear in front of him. Fox struck out with his own and began dueling Panther like he had never done before.

Twirling the staff with skill and accuracy, Fox landed several blows to Panther before his opponent was able to strike back. Enraged and fueled by his hatred, Fox continued on mercilessly. Nothing else seemed to matter. Images passed through his mind and all he could think of was the many events leading up to this moment. Slippy's ship, hurtling through Aquas' atmosphere. Dash, unconscious on the ground. Krystal, her face full of tears as she refused Fox and ran away from him...

It was this thought in particular that aggravated Fox the most. After striking at Panther once again, Fox lept up high and brought the staff down at full force, breaking the soft ground beneath him and sending vibrations outwards. This massive ground smash brought Panther to his knees, his spear flying out of his grasp. Exposed and powerless, Panther looked up in horror at Fox, whose countenance was twisted and infuriated.

Fox tossed Krystal's staff aside and pulled out his blaster. He took three steps forward, bringing up his gun against Panther's forehead, right between the eyes.

"No more," Fox growled. Every fiber of his being felt inflamed, burning with a passionate hatred. It was over. Nothing could stop him; He was going to get his revenge. He was going to pull the trigger.

"NO!"