Star Flight Adventures

Chapter 25: Fox vs. Bird

The healing pods were in a room right next to the waiting one, so Nicholas and Lucas arrived while Mitch and Ichigo still waited for the field outside to be changed. When they did, they saw that Sarah was waiting for the younger vulpine.

As soon as she saw him, she went over, and wrapped her green arms around him. Lucas hugged her back.

"You did well; I'm so proud of you," said the vixen.

"Yeah; I still can't believe I lost."

"There's always next year. I'll know you'll do better next time."

"Thanks babe," said Lucas, and kissed her.

The matches continued with surprises at every turn. Mitch lost to Ichigo, Pecker moved up, and so did Hui-Ying. Then Nicholas fought against Mitch's opponent and won, putting him in the semi-finals. Sarah, Pecker, and Hui-Ying also made it to that round as well.

The older vulpine was impressed that Sarah had made it this far. He didn't plan on losing to Pecker. He wondered who he would fight against in the final round; Sarah or Hui-Ying. Only time would tell.

Suddenly the announcer's voice was heard. "It's time for the first semi-final of the tournament! Let the stage change!" The arena morphed until it became a jungle.

"The next round will take place on the jungle field!" said the crocodile. "Will Nicholas McCoy and Pecker Davidson come on out!"

"So it's my turn again?" asked the vulpine.

"Good luck!" said Mitch as the fox and the avian left the waiting room. They both walked out and faced each other. Pecker had a staff like weapon colored silver on his back. His upper torso had a white shirt with the sleeves cut off. On it were four red dots surrounding a light blue colored gem. The shirt left the lower part of Pecker's torso exposed to reveal a blue body, the same color as his mother's arms, and a chiseled six pack. He wore long white pants that had red dots running down them. His shoes were also white and had three red dots on them. Finally on both of his biceps was a red colored arm band that had markings on them. Each had one sapphire on it.

"We've seen both of these contestants have incredible fights!" said the announcer. "Just who will go on to the final round?! Now begin!"

Nicholas and Pecker activated their beam weapons. Out of the avian's staff like weapon came a red colored spear head. The vulpine knew this would be a difficult match with the weapons they currently had since the fighting style would be very similar. They took a ready stance.

A nut from one of the field's tree fell and hit the ground right between the two fighters. The two then charged at each other and their beam weapons met. With a growl, Nicholas swung the bottom part of his weapon up. Pecker simply dodged the attack.

The eagle then launched out with a combination of thrusts and strikes. Nicholas evaded the attacks and took a couple of jumps back. The vulpine then picked up another fallen nut from the ground. It was the size of cherry. Using his sped booster technique, he threw the nut at his opponent like a missile from a slingshot. Pecker was barely able to dodge it. Nicholas used this distraction to get the avian with a kick to the stomach. The eagle staggered a few steps back.

"So how's that?" asked Nicholas. "You shouldn't underestimate me seeing as how I've made it this far."

"That was a cheap shot," said Pecker. "I didn't think you would sink that low." The vulpine snapped as a pissed off mark seemed to appear on his forehead.

"It wasn't a cheap shot; it's called using the terrain to your advantage! A smart warrior does that! Instead of complaining you should be complementing me on my genius!"

"Not until you beat me," said the avian. He then straightened up. "But it doesn't matter. I wanted to see how much stronger you've gotten. I'd say you have by a lot."

"So have you," said the vulpine and took a ready stance. "Now show me more of what you can do."

"Very well." Pecker replied. The avian twirled his spear beam and charged at the vulpine. Their weapons met in a clash. Nicholas brought the lower part of weapon around, and shot the end down at Pecker's right foot. The bird used his speed booster technique, and got behind the vulpine.

The beam spear came down in an arch, but the fox was prepared. He brought his weapon behind him, and stopped his opponent's move. Nicholas then did a spin attack and began an assault against Pecker. The bird just blocked all of his opponent's blows.

Everyone else was just watching in amazement at the two warriors. Somehow whenever Nicholas went against someone, his fights were some of the most impressive and intense.

Meanwhile, Pecker was trying as hard as he could to land even a blow on the vulpine. He then got an idea. With his weapon, he cut off a vine that went to the ground. Placing it in his left hand, the bird used it like a whip. The plant was sturdy and strong enough to do so. Nicholas, totally surprised by this maneuver, was caught off guard.

The vine came whizzing at the fox, and managed to wrap around his beam weapon. Pecker yanked, and the double bladed beam wax came flying out of the vulpine's paws. It went spinning to the side.

Pecker struck again with his crude whip, but Nicholas jumped back and caught a hanging vine from a tree. He began to climb up it. The avian used his speed booster technique to get under the fox's vine. He lashed upward at his opponent with the whip. Nicholas jumped off the vine and landed behind Pecker.

The avian whipped around and lashed out with his crude whip. The vulpine dodged the weapon, and grabbed it with his left paw. With a mighty jerk, he brought Pecker to the ground, the vine coming out of his hand. Nicholas wasted no time in striking.

The avian rolled to the side to avoid the whip, and sprang back up. The vulpine lashed out with the crude weapon, but the bird stepped to the side. He then used his speed booster technique to get right in front of the vulpine, and struck him in the stomach with the butt of his beam spear weapon.

Nicholas gasped in pain, and staggered back. Fara and Luna just covered their eyes. The avian struck with a kick which sent the vulpine on his back. The fox landed with a thud. Pecker brought down his weapon to try to make Nicholas go unconscious. He rolled out of the way, and got back up on his feet.

Pecker brought his spear beam weapon down. Nicholas used the vine to block it by stretching it out in front of his body. The spear sliced through the plant. The vulpine was surprised for just a second, but then jumped back. He tossed the pieces of broken vine to the side. He put up his fists in a ready stance.

"You want to try to fight me with your bare fists?!" asked Pecker. "Bring it!" He then charged at the vulpine; both fighters had a grin on their faces.

Pecker did a lunge with his spear, but Nicholas dodged the attack. With his left fist, he grabbed the handle of the weapon. With his right, he got the avian with an uppercut. He used his speed booster technique so that the bird didn't have time to respond, and so that the punch would have power behind it.

Some blood came out of Pecker's mouth as he went up into the air. The attack from Nicholas was so strong, the bird actually let go of his weapon. The vulpine tossed the spear to the side, and when the avian got close to the ground, he lashed out with a kick to the stomach.

Pecker went flying into a tree and hit the trunk. Celestia let out a gasp and covered her eyes. The bird landed on the ground; not moving.

"And it looks like Pecker is down!" said the announcer. "One… Two… Three…"

"What a shame," thought Nicholas. "I didn't get to fight against his Cerinian weapon."

Suddenly Pecker got up. The audience cheered for the avian. He spat out some blood from his mouth and it landed on the ground.

"So you've still got some fight left in you," said Nicholas. His opponent let out a grin.

"That was a good attack," said the avian. "You've really gotten a lot stronger. It's pointless for me to try to out match you in hand to hand combat. But now let's see you try this!" Pecker then raised his right arm up, like he was holding a sword.

"Scrape the surface of the mountain, Águila!" Pecker glowed with a red and white colored field of energy as he brought out his Cerinian weapon which meant eagle in Spanish. Nicholas took a ready stance, while everyone else felt the energy coming from the avian. The fox then had to move as his opponent struck out with a much faster and stronger attack.

"What did Pecker do?" asked Yuki.

"I can't see his Cerinian weapon," said Dash.

Meanwhile, Nicholas was running through the jungle. His opponent was chasing after him from the tree branches. Pecker had gone up there by climbing the vines that hung all the way to the ground.

The vulpine then used his speed booster technique to avoid some Fire Projectiles that were shot at him. He then came out into a clear surrounding with trees surrounding him. The fox turned and got hit with a Fire Projectile. Everyone could hear Pecker laughing. Nicholas got up on his feet since his opponent's attack had knocked him to the ground.

"Finished already?" asked Pecker as he came out of the trees, and everyone could see him. "That's just pathetic, Nicholas!" Then the ones watching saw his Cerinian weapon. It had two sapphires on it, and the handle was like his beam weapon, except that it had markings on it and was golden in color. The end of it had two long blades that curved inward, with eight smaller points below the blades. Three of them stuck out to the side on each side, and the other two came down in a curve toward the handle. The metal gleamed with a silver color, and it looked very sharp; like it could cut you.

"But then again, it's probably no surprise since I have Águila out," said Pecker. "I'll crush you with my weapon!"

"Don't count on it," said Nicholas. "Fists of Cerinia." His weapons came out, and he then got surrounded by his field of energy. "Let's go."

He shot a series of Fire Projectiles at the avian in the trees. The bird just used his weapon to block the attack, by swinging it like a baseball bat. Pecker then jumped down and caught a hanging vine. He started to climb down while deflecting the Fire Projectiles that were still shot at him.

When Pecker was close enough to the ground, he jumped and used his speed booster technique to cover some more ground so that he was above the vulpine. His Cerinian weapon began to glow with energy. Nicholas saw this and moved as quickly as he could. The bird made contact with the ground. The fox was not there, but the avian sent out a shock wave as he used the Ground Quake ability.

Nicholas jumped so that he wouldn't get hit by the attack. After landing, he gave Pecker a smirk. "You're just wasting energy for those attacks."

"Then try some of this," said the avian, and rushed forward with his weapon ready. It came down and the vulpine met the attack with his let paw. A shower of sparks came off the weapons. Pecker then began a series of swipes and thrusts, but the vulpine just blocked each approach. He then did a back flip away from his opponent.

"Did you think that you could catch me off guard with that?" asked the vulpine. "I wield a beam weapon similar to your Cerinian Weapon."

'Then try some of this," said Pecker. His weapon began to crackle with red and white colored energy. Everyone, even the non Cerinians could feel the energy he was channeling.

"No way," thought Nicholas. "I won't be able to dodge that. I can only block it. But that's way too much energy. If I take that, I'll be knocked out of the arena since were close to the edge. I have no other choice but to use that." The vulpine reached deep down to the very core of his being to gain access to the power that would help him survive this.

"That idiot," said Bryn who was watching this form the waiting room. "My brother is pouring all of his magical energy into this attack. If this doesn't work, he will have just wasted it."

"Maybe," said Celestia. "But that's a risk he'll have to take."

Meanwhile, Fara and Luna were seeing this with horror on their faces. If Nicholas took this it could be bad.

The vulpine released the inner power he had and used the force field ability just as Pecker used the Cerinian Beam technique. The blast met the fox head on creating a huge explosion and dust.

"NICHOLAS!" screamed Fara and Luna; tears were in their eyes. The avian was just standing there, painting as everyone else looked on with shock.

"That should have knocked him out of the arena," he thought. "There's no way that Nicholas could have stopped that."

"Amazing!" said the announcer. "Pecker has just launched a huge attack at Nicholas! Will this decided the match?!"

Everyone waited as the dust began to clear. They then noticed something in it that was glowing. Then everyone felt shock and disbelief as they saw the force field of Nicholas surrounding the vulpine; completely unharmed.

"No fucking way!" said Pecker. He then noticed the vulpine move his arms so that the avian could see his left eye. It opened, and the bird saw that it had changed. Suddenly the vulpine used the speed booster technique. The avian completely lost sight of the fox.

The next thing Pecker felt was the hit that sent him flying up and out of the arena. He landed to his shock and everyone else. They hadn't seen this coming.

The crocodile announcer quickly recovered. "Pecker has been sent out of bounds! The winner is Nicholas!" The audience then roared. Fara and Luna just breathed a sigh of relief. The avian slowly rose up and got back on the arena. Nicholas was walking towards him. The bird looked closely out the foxes eyes. They were back to normal.

"What the hell was that?" Pecker wondered. "It was just for an instance, but Nicholas's left eye was not its usual color. It was black and red." But he put that thought into the back of his mind as he and the vulpine met.

"That was a good fight," said Nicholas. "You've gotten stronger."

'So have you," said the avian. "You got me. I hope you do well in the final match."

Bryn and Celestia just watched this from the waiting room. Although Pecker had lost, they were still proud that the bird had being able to hold his own against his opponent.

X

After gathering their beam weapons and healing up, Nicholas and Pecker went back to the waiting room to watched Sarah and Hui-Ying's match. The female panda won it, so the vulpine knew that he would fight her. He didn't plan on loosing.