Chapter 10: The Tortured Spirit, PART 1
This is helpless. I've been walking without end for so long, and still…nothing.
Her eyes wondered senselessly around the area, hoping that she would finally see something other than the misty blue that constantly surrounded her. During her few short visits here prior to the final battle with Scales, the Spirit Realm's foggy atmosphere was more of a curiosity and a mystery, but now, after having resided within for however many countless days, it was this same blue encompassment that was slowly driving her mad.
Taking a moment to herself, the vixen sat carefully onto the non-existent ground, taking a deep breath as she closed her eyes and leaned back onto her hands.
How am I to find this sacred place within the Spirit Realm if all I can see is this never-ending fog? If only I had some sense of direction…perhaps it will take a great many years in this place to finally understand it. But if that were true…then Fox's journey may end in vain before it starts. No matter how hopeless it seems, I cannot simply…
"Doctor! Come quick! Something's happening!"
The vixen's head snapped towards this sudden voice as it echoed past her and deep into the mist. As it did, a sudden white light quickly flashed several times in the distance, until it became a steady, yet somewhat dim, glow. Taken aback slightly by this sudden discovery, the spirit remained seated for several seconds to more closely survey what had so abruptly appeared before her, however, this light was simply too far from her current position to accurately assess.
Could this be what I am looking for?
This simple thought was the only thing that passed through the vixen's mind as she gradually rose to her feet, never taking her eyes off of the distant anomaly.
Her subconscious made her take the first step towards the light, but her mind quickly stopped her as previously spoken words, a warning from her departed father, suddenly flashed through her head.
"The second of these two stipulations will bring you much pain, pain that you have never known before. These visions are accompanied by the embodiment of the individual's doubts, causing happy memories to become tainted, or making terrible memories even more unbearable…"
She cautiously drew her foot back.
If that is so…if I am to be faced with a vision of my past, then I must face it, no matter how painful. But am I ready to see such things? I've lived through many difficult times…and to think that they could very well be made worse. How could bearing witness to one's worst moments in life be means of making them stronger?
"Hang on, Fox! Doctor, life signs dropping fast!"
…Fox?
Whatever inhibitions the vixen had about avoiding this impending vision were quickly abandoned as she quickly ran towards the distant light.
Her speed, however, didn't seem to matter as the light suddenly overtook her, causing her to come to a rather abrupt halt just outside of a doorway in a predominately white room. Confused slightly by the sudden change in atmosphere, she apprehensively glanced around the immediate area. Looking to her right, she could see that she was standing within a long, wide hallway, which was occupied with many different types of medical equipment. Among all of this technology, the vixen could also see a handful of white-garbed animals, each of whose faces, for some reason, displayed obvious emotions ranging from fear to anger to desperation as they hurried along in and out of sight. Turning around, she could see nothing but a sturdy wall in front of her, which was adorned with large window, through which she could see a strangely familiar city. It was this view that momentarily distracted her as she slowly approached the transparent surface, scanning the bustling and busy scene that played out in front of her. However, as her eyes trailed up from the street, she could see, far in the distance, the peaks of several mountains, which were accented with yellow and red as the setting sun gradually fell behind them.
It was as she witnessed this familiar sight that she realized where she was.
…Corneria?
The vixen tore herself away from this comforting and memorable view as quickly turned back towards the lively corridor, trying to place it within her memory.
But…I don't recognize this place at all…
"This…shouldn't be happening! He's only lost trace amounts of blood since the finishing operations! What's wrong with him!?"
"Doctor, if I knew that we'd have taken care of him by now! There's no reason he should be dying, but he is!"
"Fox…don't give up on us now."
...Is this?
Taking a slight step backwards, the vixen peered reluctantly into the room from which these desperate voices were coming from. At first, she could see nothing but a small mass of white robed animals encircling a singular point in the room. She may not have been able to see exactly who it was that they were giving so much attention, but this fact became rather trivial as she abruptly sensed a familiar energy coursing through the room.
The Energy of Life…I can feel it. Fox…that must have been how he survived the wounds he sustained on Katina…It was the energy within himself that kept him alive…but…
"You…you failed me, Krystal!"
The vixen's attention was quickly removed from her thoughts and was replaced instead by this weak yet aggravated voice. Looking up in its direction, she took a sudden surprised gasp as she saw that everything had frozen in place; the doctors, the monitors, even the vehicles and animals that could be seen through the window only a short distance away. Her head quickly snapped back into the small medical bay, just in time to see the previously frozen doctors suddenly fade away into nothing, which revealed a sight that she could never have been prepared for.
His restrained arm raised up off the medical bed as far as he could manage before weakly aiming his finger at the startled vixen, "You did this…"
As soon as her eyes met with the mostly exposed and greatly battered body of Fox McCloud, she placed her hands upon her mouth and turned away with a muffled gasp.
Seeing this, Fox slammed his fist back onto the bed and responded in anger, "Look at me, Krystal! Look at me and see what you've done!"
Never before had she heard such anger, such hatred coming from Fox, especially not when addressing her. It frightened her, and she merely shook her head in subtle reply.
…This isn't real, this isn't real. This isn't Fox, he wouldn't…speak like this. I have to be strong and face my fears…I have to be stro…
"…You! Don't turn your back on me again!"
Her eyes winced and her shoulder's flinched at his words, an action that betrayed the courage she was summoning to actually face him again. With a few final words to herself, she slowly lowered her hands from her mouth and gradually turned to face Fox McCloud.
And there he lay. The vixen looked on with subdued horror as her eyes surveyed the dilapidated body of her love. Upon several places on his chest sat open wounds, each of which had suddenly began to release blood into his sweaty matted fur. Then there were the wires, needles, and all manner of equipment that the vulpine was connected to. Each ran from his beaten, dirty body to a different machine, all of which seemed to be responding with the same low, unencouaging beep.
He rose his head up as far as he could manage and looked at the vixen with dead-looking eyes, "Can you see what you've done to me? You could have stopped this from ever happening."
Feeling she had seen enough, she quickly turned her head to the side and spoke back quietly, "Fox…don't talk like that. It's not like you…"
"It's not like me to speak the truth? Do you need me to make it clearer for you? If you hadn't been so secretive about my power, I'd have the ability to keep myself alive. The Energy of Life is the only reason I've stayed alive for this long, but now it's leaving me, and I can't stop it. Not only that, but you're the one who put me in this position when you shot me on Katina. Was there really no other way to defeat Scales, or were you just too weak and cowardly to think for yourself?"
The vixen gave a restrained shake of her head, trying to keep herself from giving in to her growing emotions, "You have absolutely no idea how hard it was for me to shoot at you Fox. I did it because I trusted you…because that's what you thought was best."
The vulpine let out a malicious chuckle, "Is that what you keep telling yourself? Don't act like you actually think that. You've questioned yourself more than once if there was another way, but in the end, you chose the easy way out. By simply shooting me and risking my life, you were protecting your own. How heartless can an animal be? …And to think I pledged my life to you."
A single tear formed in her eye, "Fox…stop it. I'd never do anything to put you in danger. You…you know that."
"Then why am I here, Krystal! Why am I here hooked up to all these machines, dying!?"
Her words came out muffled and uneven as she slowly consumed with emotion, "I…I don't know…Fox. I never…I didn't want this…I…"
Fox's whole body tensed painfully as he yelled out at the struggling vixen, "Shut up! How can you expect to save the universe when you can't protect the animals closest to you! I was wrong you let you join the Star Fox team! You are the most pathetic, weak minded animal I have ever known. Just…get out of my sight and let me die without you being the last thing I see. I never want to look at you aga…"
The shouting vulpine was suddenly cut himself off as he felt the touch of a delicate female hand against his blood-soaked chest. Looking down from above him stood a watery-eyed vixen, who smiled at him. "I…made a promise to never leave your side Fox, and even here and now, I will not leave you."
The restrained figure of Fox McCloud quaked at her touch and let out a growl, "Don't touch me! I told you to leave me alone!"
Even as his harsh words continued, her body did not waver. She gently shut her eyes and spoke in a calm voice, "…Relax."
It looked as if Fox were about to speak out against her once again, but he was silenced from doing so as the same hand that was placed upon his chest began to glow with a soothing blue light.
"Fox…" She began, a single tear falling from her eyes as she continued softly, "I'll help you through this. …You'll be alright."
The tense vulpine stared spitefully towards the calm, yet still rather troubled face of the vixen above him, not wanting any of this attention. However, as the light from her hand slowly began to filter all throughout his body, Fox's hate-tainted face gradually softened as his head fell back onto the cushioned surface beneath him.
"…Thank you…"
Krystal's still sad eyes snapped open with delighted surprise as he heard those words; words from the voice that she remembered.
As she motioned to look towards his face, however, she suddenly felt an immense energy returning into her body through her hand.
It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. Unfortunately, she could not see exactly what was happening, as the room was quickly filled with a fiercely vivid blue light. With her vision no longer a factor, she could only understand what she felt, and even that did not come easy. As the energy flowed into her hand, it quickly coursed up her arm and spread throughout her body, pulsing and fluctuating as it went. The vixen could do little but let out several aggrieved moans as her body gently trembled along with the energy. It continued on in this fashion for several seconds, until she simply depleted herself of the will she needed to handle such a sporadic and forceful experience. However, it was at that same moment that she was about to fall to the ground that it all ended.
Quickly withdrawing her hand into her chest, the startled vixen breathed heavily as she cautiously surveyed her surroundings. Just as it had come so suddenly, it had gone in the same way. Now there was nothing. No light, no energy, just an empty medical room, filled with only four walls and a medical bed. Upon that cushioned, bloodied surface sat the completely healed body of Fox McCloud, who looked back at Krystal, but not with the same anger or spite that he displayed only moments before. Instead, when she met eyes with him, he smiled.
"You…saved me. Didn't you?"
The vixen looked down at Fox's body, not really knowing what to say after all that had transpired. Her expression was a mixture of happiness, confusion, relief, and nearly everything in between. Having to respond after all that seemed too sudden, too overwhelming. However, that seemed to be just as it was meant to be, as Fox continued on, "I can tell by the look on your face that it's true. And if that's so, then there's no time left to explain. Listen close to what I say, for you are the first, last, and only spirit I'm able to pass this on to before I fade to nothing."
The already substantially bemused vixen shook her head furiously as if to make sure that what she was seeing and hearing was correct, and upon coming into focus once more, she could see that nothing had changed, which immediately spurred her on to ask in a rightfully perplexed voice, "W-who are you? What do you...?"
"Be still. I'm sorry, but I have no time to waste. Just…please, listen to my last words. They will help you on the journey you are no doubt undertaking."
It's not exactly what she wanted to hear, but Krystal displayed her understanding of "Fox's" words and allowed him to continue with a simple nod of her head.
The vulpine's head nodded as well, an action that was followed shortly after by somewhat hurried words, "The one I am portrayed to be, this Fox McCloud, is not my true identity. In my former life, I was once known as Sabre, a vulpine known for his power in the Energy of Life. However, for thatvery reason I fear, I was fated to become what you see before you. No doubt you've heard of the recent disappearances here in the Spirit Realm. The spirits themselves flash red and go mad, completely insane, then they leave this place, forever. Where they go, I know not, even though I was one of them. However, I was spared from being whisked away into the nothingness beyond this realm, only because I could be of some use to him."
"Him?" Krystal subconsciously interjected.
Fox nodded, "Andross. The one that assimilates himself into both the realms of the living and of the spirits. He aspires for complete domination, no matter the cost. Just recently, I suppose because of some recent threat to his plans, he's been ripping spirits away from this realm to keep us at bay, so that we could not come together and rise up. However, he spared four of the strongest spirits to keep a close guard on the four Spirit Links that connect this realm with the other. He made me into this creature you see before you, apparently in hopes of keeping you away from here. You must be very important for him to make such provisions for you alone. No one else would have been affected by this ploy…only you. That must mean that you and the one I embody are the two destined to save both real…!"
The vixen took a step back as a violent red light suddenly enveloped the body of Fox McCloud; a light that quickly vanished almost as soon as it had appeared. That brief flash of light however, had apparently taken a great toll on the one that had been speaking, made obvious by his frequent, involuntary spasms and pain-stricken face.
"Sabre! Are you alright?" Krystal shouted out while taking a few worried steps to his bedside.
He shook his head, "No, I'm afraid not. I'll be taken from this place seconds from now. But I…can't leave without you knowing this first. These names, remember them well, for without them, both you and the Hero of Time will be lost, along with both of our realms." Sabre winced hard and took a moment to himself before he was able to continue on in a greatly strained voice, "The first…Xantia. From there, Krux, Sauria, then finally…the S.C.K.Y. Once the four are released in order, so will your power be, and then, the final battle…"
Understandably feeling that the time for questions was growing short, the vixen placed a comforting hand on the vulpine's shoulder as she spoke quickly in a rather calm voice, "Sabre…the power you speak of. Is that what I experienced when I freed you?"
Sabre's body pulsed red once again as he let out a muffled scream, but he managed to subdue the pain enough to address her question as simply as possible, "Yes. Part of…my energy has been passed to you…my girl. With it, you can now summon the Hero of Life. Teach him what you have learned, and what he must do…Lean down to my hand, quickly!"
The vixen was slightly confused by the sudden change in conversation, but she did not hesitate to drop to her knees, placing her head directly at his still confined hands. Noting this, Sabre swiftly placed a single finger upon her forehead, which began to glow with a very weak and throbbing blue color, "With this song, bring him here. An…ancient Cerinian song that transcends the realms!" Sabre's voice rose sharply at the end of his sentence, which escaladed to nothing short of a scream as he continued, "You must not fail! Everything…depends on you and your journey here! Now! Bring him here and take one step closer to saving us all…!"
At those last words, the dark red light returned once again, pulsing so fiercely that it pushed Krystal to the ground, and it was there that see remained for several moments as the malevolent red energy filled the room.
After managing to creep onto her side, however, she cracked her eyes open only slightly to see what exactly was happening in front of her. The blinding red greatly obscured her vision, but through it, she could see the body of Fox McCloud slowly deteriorating from atop the medical bed.
"Sabre!" Krystal yelled while managing to regain her feet, and then quickly after attempting to return to his side.
The vulpine shot a harsh glance over to her, however, and screamed back in a greatly distorted voice, "No! Not a step closer! I have no idea what this energy is capable of! If you touch me now, you could be…AHH!"
With that final, blood-curdling scream of pain, the body of the false Fox McCloud vanished, taking the entire room with it, leaving the vixen alone, once again, among the endless blue mist.
She wanted to collapse, fall to the non-existent ground beneath her and let all that she had been forced to absorb overwhelm her. However, there was something that did not allow her to do so, something in her mind, in her very being that kept her from being too weak to stand. It was something she was not used to, and she could feel it.
It's as if…my power of will has been strengthened. That I can stand when I should not be able. Perhaps this is part of the energy that was transferred into me…but there was more. A song…that could summon him. Could there really be such a…
Krystal shook her head from thought, feeling that conjecture was nowhere near the best method of testing theory.
With a deep breath, she reached into her mind and found the ancient lyrics that had been inscribed there by the departed Sabre. She showed no hesitation to begin this song she had never heard, and her voice confidently carried on deep into the blue haze…
No semo kewokxoh uj edo udt fhojodk eih Odohwo, kxo loho jeihso ev eih caloj je kxuk no muo shejj kxo rehtoh.
Wet'j, walo ij kxo jkhodwkx, efod u wuko ke kxo ekxoh nehct je kxuk no muo semmido uj edo.
Wiato ij kxheiwx cavo udt toukx, je kxuk no muo calo nakxeik vouh ev kxo idsohkuadko kxuk caoj uxout.
Rhadw ij scejo ke kxejo no celo, udt scejoh ke kxo edoj no'lo cejk.
Whudk ij kxaj fenoh!
Krystal's beautiful voice echoed for a great while after she had stopped, putting even greater emphasis on the power those words seemed to have. To cross the border between worlds, and bring those we love and those we've lost closer; it was truly a stirring melody, especially in the Cerinian's native tongue.
The vixen remained still as she heard her own voice fade completely into the distance. However, just as her song had fully been quieted within the blue sea of fog, a new anomaly appeared before her. Only a few feet in front of her sat a small ball of white light, one that did not seem to have much purpose other than to spark the Cerinian's curiosity. If that were the case, then it was successful, evidenced clearly as Krystal closed the distance between the two of them and slowly bent down to get a closer look at the light, only to see that it really was nothing more than a simple glowing ball.
Not quite satisfied with that being the entire truth, Krystal reached out cautiously and took it into her hand, and it was then that it's true purpose was revealed.
Reacting to the energy inside of the vixen, the formerly small ball of light expanded exponentially and dissipated the area of its blue color, replacing it instead with a pure white. Just as she had been trapped in a sea of blue for the duration of her stay here in the Spirit Realm, now she was surrounded by an unending veil of white, a color that seemed to have a strangely calming effect. This sense of calm, however, was perturbed slightly by the feeling of uncertainty. As she surveyed the area, there was nothing in sight but, of course, the color of misty white. So instead of trying to make sense of it with her eyes, she retreated into thought.
This is certainly a welcome change from the blue shroud I constantly find myself wandering within, but what now? That Cerinian melody must have summoned this light, and it reacted to my newly acquired energy when I touched it…but is this all? I thought that the song would bring…
"…Krystal?"
The vixen thoughts were instantly broken as she heard this voice. She turned, slowly, as if she could not believe what she would see next. However, her hesitance was unfounded as she saw him standing there, looking back at her with the same expression of disbelief.
"Fox…"
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Sadly, that's where I have to stop. I know, I said we'd see a fuller reunion this chapter, but I got a little mixed up, so…one more till we see the result of this Spirit Realm reunion. And apparently, my new chapter update speed is once every two months now. Wow. At that clip, I'm dropping six chapters a year. I just fly through these things, huh?
MAIL CALL:
SkullFox
I really think you should go with more action...You're an amazing writer so keep the updates coming...just try to be a bit quicker...Kay?
FoxMC: Ya, I hear ya…on both accounts. Luckily, at least on the first, I am planning a lot more action sequences in this story. Without Krystal, it's kinda hard to make this a romance, so that's on the backburner for now. Action will be seen, all kinds, actually. Updates…no guarantee, sorry.
Random
Another chapter! Wonder how Fox is going to react when/if he gets to talk to Krystal again, or even if he gets chosen by the gate.
You really should try to get these in more sooner...
FoxMC: Yes, I know I have to update sooner. I probably never will though…heh, I saw this after having sat down for about 6 hours and completing a whole chapter.
PhantomX-91
A much darker chapter than usual, I could get used to that. But I'm more interested in what happened to that girl and her father. It kinda just seemed to skip what happened to them after Klyph said Fox was gone. I cant help but wonder what happened in Kaya's past. It seems so sad, damn now I made myself upset...
FoxMC: Well, not making any promises, but you might see the girl and her father later. And Kaya, yes, she has a very interesting past. Almost a whole chapter's worth, I'd say. Not that I would know…
Allan Pike
well things are definatly intreasting
FoxMC: Yes, yes they are. And they will continue to be so.
LilGstryker
To lazy to log-in. So bloody; I had to cover my eyes! I actually hope that Kylph lives, he seems like a good person. Wolf is such an to him. Can't wait for the next chapter.
FoxMC: Ya, more blood then was in Echoes of the Future in its entirety. You'll see as the chapters go on that this is a much darker Star Fox story…but I can't say too much about it.
SPG inc.
Yay, an update. And at last some understanding of what's wrong with Kaya (but fortunatly it's not a bad as I feared it would be). And thank you for writing a chapter which isn't as impossibly depressing as the last, because so far this fic has tempted me into opening my wrists several times. And Fox is AT LAST making a stand; I guess I'll give him a 2nd chance if he keeps this up, but Falco is still on my hit list. Hope to see the next chapter soon (although, to be honest, I've completely lost track of what's going on. Who's Klyph?)
FoxMC: Plainly, a downside of my lazy updating habits. If you read over a chapter and wait 2-3 months until the next chapters, I can understand how you could get lost. Klyph is Wolf's brother. And I'm glad Falco's still on your hit-list, that's how I like it.
starfighter-105
Sp far I like where this is going. I look forward to seeing more. Keep it up.
FoxMC: Great, and I hope to keep updating so that you can see where it goes.
Silver Shields
Hey, awesome chapter! I know I should've done this years ago, but I read Echoes of the Future and I couldn't keep my eyes off it, it was awesome! And this story of course is awesome! There are a few things that make me wonder though, what's up with Kaya anyway? Was she a mercenary of Star Wolf at one point? At first I thought she was a rape victim, but after reading this chapter, it's made me find out more about her. Anyway, when are you going to get back to Krystal?
FoxMC: How about a few minutes ago? And yes, I'm glad people are interested in Kaya. Again, chapter after next, we'll see who Kaya really is.
Yamagata
I don't know if Krystal will come back to life.
And the longer Panther stays alive the more Fox's tears will never dry.
FoxMC: Regarding Panther, he'll probably be back to give Star Fox some trouble. Regarding Krystal, don't be sure of anything.
Brampson123
Man ur storys are great. But i want to point out just 1 of the things that was bugging me about the story. Fox is a vulpine/cerinian mix, and Krystal is a full Cerinian. They are not both vulpine. Other than that and a few minor things the story is great
FoxMC: While that is true, Krystal is still a fox, so she is a vulpine. She's just from Cerinia, just like Fox is Cornerian.