Immortal Star Fox
Chapter XXVI
It sounded like wind was flowing through a warehouse.
The gentle howl of it was what woke up Fox. He slowly opened his eyes and blinked a few times to get his surroundings in order. He felt like he was laying down so when he tired standing, he just felt his legs kicking in the air.
Fox opened his eyes and saw a purple sky. He shook his head and sat upright. He placed his hands on his head and rubbed his temples. He felt his brain pulsing in his skull and that it wanted to escape its prison. Fox was dazed from the previous experience.
"Wait… am I…" Fox said as he looked at his hands.
The whole area he was in felt like he was on a cloud of some sort. Fox was slow to stand and his legs were shaking. He was about to fall over when he was able to catch himself. He stretched his arms out and he heard his back crack. The overall feeling in the area felt empty and hollow. Fox looked at the surrounding and didn't see any landmarks for miles.
He started to take small steps and it felt like tile floors. His boots would echo into the emptiness and after a few seconds, it would reverb back to him. Fox made a circle as he walked from his original spot. He was trying to find a point of interest to lead him to a landmark, or to anything.
Fox was going on and he felt like he was walking in circles. The area he was in was either going on forever or he was just walking in place. Either way, Fox felt himself slipping from his sane self. Each time he walked more, he felt like he was getting nowhere. It was starting to get on Fox's nerves. He wanted to yell but he couldn't.
Fox took in a breath and looked at his body. He couldn't see any marks from his battle with Andross…
Fox stopped there. He remembered what happened in the short time he was here. His previous life, was this the afterlife? Fox had so many questions that his head started to hurt. He felt his brain start pulsing again and he rubbed his temples. His mind started to bring back the recent chain of events. How he threw himself blindly to Andross' base. How quickly overpowered he was and now, trying to figure out where he is.
The tod was looking at his surroundings, but if he was told which way was left and right, he would have a tough time. The area stretched on forever and Fox was coming to the realization that he didn't want to believe.
His boots continued to echo and reverb to him. Fox stopped dead where he was and just tried to listen. Listened for anything, something, or someone. There was nothing around him, except for the low howl of wind, but Fox didn't feel any flowing on his fur. He started to get a headache from being here.
Was he trapped in some sort of limbo? Is this where everyone who met their fate goes to? Or was all this just in his head before the next step. Either way, Fox's head was throbbing, but the pain was dying down. He shook his head to get rid of any more pain and kept walking, that is if he was walking in the first place.
The purple color didn't change, so Fox wasn't sure if he was going anywhere. He felt like he was just repeating everything since he got here. Walking around and wondering if he was moving. Fox touched his chest and he could feel his body. He placed his hand where his heart was and did feel a steady beat. He was at least, what he thought, alive.
"So… what is this place?" Fox's voice echoed in the purple world.
If there was anything in here, he would hope that it would hear his voice. Fox heard his voice reverb back to him, asking the same question. He sighed as he thought that nothing else was coming.
"Just got to find something."
Fox felt like he was walking for hours, but he didn't feel tired. He felt the opposite. His mind was focused on figuring out where he was and how he can get back, if there was a way. The more he walked, the more frustrated he was getting. He was going nowhere and by now, he was about to break.
The only other thing that kept him going was another orange dot at the horizon, but Fox wasn't paying it much attention, until now. His face went blank as he saw a color that wasn't purple. A circle out in the distance, so Fox started to jog that direction. His jog turned into a run when he saw that the dot was getting bigger.
Fox turned into a sprint as he kept getting closer to the dot. Anything here was better than nothing, so Fox had to see this for himself. As the dot began to grow bigger, Fox slowed down. His eyes tried to adjust to what the dot was now morphing into. Fox could see the faint outline of a figure standing.
The figure was wearing a white jacket and green pants. It was identical to what Fox wears, except the jacket, it looked much older. Fox's vision was getting strained from looking at the figure for so long, that he decided to confront it.
"Um… what are you, and where am I?" It was the only thing Fox asked and it was enough to make the figure turn around.
Once the figure was facing Fox, his eyes went wide and he could see the reflections of his reaction in the sunglasses the figure was wearing. Fox took a step back and the figure had to do a double take on Fox.
"No. Not again." The figure finally spoke.
"Dad?" There was no doubt in Fox's mind that he was talking to his father, James McCloud.
"Stay back!" James went for his blaster and aimed it at Fox.
"Wait, dad! It's me!" Fox pleaded.
"I'm not falling for it again." James was aiming at Fox's head. "You just like messing with my mind. It's disgusting that you have to be my son."
Fox was totally confused. But it brought another thought. Something must have brought them here. James looked frantic, sweat was starting to seep out from his fur and the howling wind started to get intense.
"Dad. It really is me." Fox started to walk closer, but James didn't lower his blaster. Fox picked up his hands to show that he didn't mean no harm.
"Alright." James looked around, as if there was something coming for them. "When Fox and I went to see the Cornerian Crashers on his tenth birthday, which player gave him a signed baseball?"
Fox was thrown off by that. "Dad. You can't be…"
"Answer the question!" James' booming voice echoed.
Fox backed a little, but now he was starting to understand what he was doing. Questioning him and if he was the real Fox, then he'd give him the real answers. Fox had to think back to that day. It was a hot, summer evening. James surprised him with home plate tickets and on-field access.
"Um… it was…" Fox was having a tough time remembering. He knew that the player was a towering bear. That's when it snapped.
"Yogi Beara! The catcher." Fox yelled out.
There was a dead silence from them. James didn't move and Fox was hoping that his own father didn't pull the trigger.
"Okay. Next one." James said, but his blaster was lowering slightly. "For Fox's fifth Christmas, what did I give him?"
Fox had to think back to another earlier point in life. To when Fox was learning new colorful words, no thanks to father. But Fox made the sudden realization that it was the first Christmas without his mother.
"It was our first Christmas without mom. You wanted to make sure that I was happy during that time." Fox approached James slowly. "I knew that missing mom was a big hole for both of us, so you wanted to fill it, for my sake."
Fox slowly went up to James' blaster and lowered it. James breathing was getting heavy and it was getting clear to him that he was talking to his son.
"You got a pendant of us. I still have it. I carry it all the time, so I know that both of you are always with me." Fox let go and James put down his blaster. "Dad. It really is me."
James had to take a step back and give Fox a look over.
"Why? Why are you here?" James' voice was cracking.
"I went in blindly. I should have waited for my team, but…" Fox had sudden flashes of Andross over him. "He was too much for me. I failed everyone."
Fox began to sink down and buried his head in his hands. James knelt next to him and tried to comfort his son.
"No haven't failed, Fox. If it is true, why you're here, it'll make them fighting in your name that more meaningful. Ol' Peppy will make sure of that." James gave a small chuckle.
Fox just shook his head and looked up to him. He stood up and James followed him. Now there was the question as to why his own father was pointing a blaster at his own son. There must be something else that's been bothering James.
"So, you mind telling me why you were so trigger happy?"
James just gave a sigh and looked down at his blaster. "I wanted to make sure you weren't one of them."
"And define 'them'." Fox wanted more than just a simple sentence.
"It's really hard to explain without, you know, you have to see them for yourself." James scratched the back of his head.
As if on cue, both Fox and James heard a siren from the distance, and what sounded like trumpets. The sound echoed to them and it died as soon as it got to them. Fox could see in the distance a group of white dots coming close at an alarming rate.
"Looks like you'll get to meet them firsthand." James primed his blaster and aimed it towards the dots.
There were about five white dots. The dots started to gain a form and Fox was able to see what they were forming into. The white figures landed around them and Fox had a tough time trying to figure out what they were. They were slender and had a white cloak on them. They were carrying a long, silver staff and had small heads with small beaks.
Fox was lost and had to ask. "What are they?"
"Angels." James said.
Fox nodded, then did a double take to his father, his eyes were almost bulging out. "A-Angels?"
"Well, from what I can tell and their looks, I've labeled them as angels." James turned to face the two that were circling them. The angels had their staff at the ready and Fox reached down and gripped his blaster, but didn't pull it from its holster.
"Where's a witch when you need one?" Fox asked.
"Just strap your blaster to your boots and you'll be fine." James quipped back.
Fox held back a chuckle, but a small exhale came out. He looked around and saw the angels' staff were normal in appearance, though with his recent experience, it probably had a magical ambience to it. Both Fox and James waited for the angels to strike first.
Which they did.
With no warning, the angels attacked the foxes. Fox and James were quick to move out of the way and James fired into the pile that the angels were stacked on. One got hit and the pile of angels worked quickly to get off one another and go to whoever was shooting at them. Three went to James and the remaining two went to Fox.
Fox could see their staffs were normal and didn't have any powers to them, so that was one thing he didn't have to worry about. The main thing was the angels using them to hit Fox. He would evade them and eventually grabbed the staff and tried to strip it from the angel, but it had a hard grasp on it.
The angel pulled to get its staff back, but Fox went along with it and jumped and kicked it with both his boots. The angel still didn't let go and Fox fell on the ground and tumbled up. Fox could hear shots going off behind him, believing his father was shooting his way out of this. He heard a high pitch screech and that hurt his ears.
He covered one in grimace and quickly looked back. He could see that one angel was down and twitching before the white glow faded out. Fox turned back to the angels and swung aimlessly at Fox. He dodged to his left and brought up his blaster; he took a few shots at the exposed side of the closest angel.
The lasers hit the angel's side and it screeched in pain. Fox picked himself up and ran behind the one angel he shot. The other angel stood in front of Fox and gave him a good whack, since he wasn't expecting it.
Fox fell and the angel jumped on him. Fox blocked the angel's staff and started to fire his blaster. The lasers missed the angel and Fox flipped his blaster and used the grip to slap the angel. The angel stumbled off and Fox was able to take a few chest shots at the angel. It screeched loudly before falling back and the white glow around it disappeared.
The other angel swung his staff, but Fox rolled away and fired at it. The lasers grazed its arm, it fell back and Fox quickly got up and he threw a punch. Fox heard more shots from behind him, thinking his father had the other two angels dealt with.
The angel began blocking Fox's punches. So, Fox stopped him so that he could see what the angel was going to do next. It started using its staff to jab Fox in different parts of his body. Fox saw an opening for attack and didn't falter when he saw it. The angel used both hands to swing down, but Fox blocked it with his arms. It hurt like hell, but he was able to sweep under the angel's legs and yanked to staff out from it.
The angel fell and Fox looked at the staff. It was plain and silver, no defining features and looked like a standard issued one that Corneria would use.
"I know a blue vixen who's better with a staff than you are." Fox threw the staff away and pointed his blaster at the angel and didn't hesitate to fire at it.
The angel did spasm for a while before it gave way. The white glow around it dimmed and Fox turned back to see his father making use on the last angel. He was trying to wrestle the staff away, but was struggling due to his age, so Fox decided to be a good son and help him out.
Fox got the angel in a chokehold and James was able to strip the staff away. Fox let go and they both gave the angel a good roundhouse. It fell on its knees and James got his blaster and shot at it. The angel fell forward and the white glow disappeared. Both Fox and James were panting from the recent event that took place.
"The hell did we just do?" Fox panted out.
"We… we took out some angels." James was trying to catch his breath.
"I get that. But why?" Fox stood up and placed his hands on his hips. "Do they take us somewhere?"
"I haven't the faintest and I don't want to know," James said, bending over and placing his hands on his knees.
All in good time, Fox McCloud.
The voice echoed in the area. Fox and James were quick to get their blasters ready for another attack.
It has been a while since I last saw you, if you remember me.
"I don't think I've had the pleasure," Fox said, trying to find where the voice was coming from.
You have. Let's say fate has brought us here. You visited me, on Sauria.
Fox tried to piece together the little details that the voice was giving him. He met a bunch of EarthWalkers on Sauria, but he didn't hear about any of them dying when he was there. He never ventured out to the neighboring tribes to see what their kinds were like.
I told you the process, and it seems that it has become a reality.
The process. Fox's face was puzzled during this, but then it was clicking to him. He did meet something at Sauria. It did tell him the process, and now that it has become a reality, Fox finally realized what was speaking to him.
"You're the Krazoa. The one that was underneath the altar."
You've put that together nicely. Have you pieced together where you are?
The Krazoa's words made it sound like it knew the answer. Fox hadn't a clue to where he was or what to do, so he just wanted answers from the source.
"No, I don't know where I am." Fox raised his voice. "And I'm not in the mood for games, so why don't you just tell me."
There was an ambient silence. Hardly anything was moving or making a sound. Fox listened for something, but only heard silence.
This is your thoughts, Fox McCloud.
"My thoughts?" Fox looked around.
Yes. Your current state is in a rebuilding stage. Your body was damaged in your previous encounter with a certain revived figure. This Andross as they call him, he has been an interesting figure to watch.
Fox started to jog away from his father, trying to find where the Krazoa could be. His search was getting him nowhere and now James was following. Fox did feel like he was running in circles and stopped his jog. James came next to him and panted his way up to Fox.
"Krazoa? What is that?" James asked.
"It's a little difficult to say right now." Fox looked around for the Krazoa.
Why is it difficult to describe me to your father? In case you're wondering, those weren't what you call angels. This is all a figment inside your mind Fox.
"Figment? What are you talking about?" Fox was tired of the Krazoa toying like this.
You are not dead. Your body is badly damaged and is currently being restored. You need time to heal before you get sent back.
"So, I'm not dead and my body is healing. But what are we fighting?"
You talk as if your father is really here. He is not real, just an illusion from your mind being projected in here.
Fox looked at his father who was trying to piece what the Krazoa was saying. "I'm not real?"
This was all confusing for Fox. He wanted answers to what was going on. The last thing he wanted was some all-powerful being to be sassy with him.
"What is going on? I'm not asking again!" Fox's voice echoed and the area was silent again. The Krazoa's voice echoed again and Fox was finally going to get answers.
The process in which you partook in, is incomplete, or shall I say broken.
"Broken. How?" Fox put his blaster in his holster.
Do you not remember my words? "The one willing will be raised and its vessel will be pure." Those words. As I recall, you were the one willing.
Fox did remember that he did volunteer himself, to save Krystal. It was a thought he didn't want to remember, but it was vital to what was going to happen next. Falco came in to save him and shot Fetcher. Thus, Fetcher's body was used to bring Andross back.
"I did give myself for the whole thing. Is there something I'm missing?"
The process called for someone to be willing, which was you. Since the one who was body Andross currently occupies did not willingly give himself, there is a way you can loop around it. There is something inside both of you that can defeat him.
Fox heard the Krazoa's words and thought about it. If there was a loophole that the Krazoa created, then there was a possibility that Andross could be killed. A sliver of hope washed over Fox's face, but there was the problem of Fox in his supposed mind.
"How do I get out of here?" Fox questioned.
These angels you've been fighting have been your troubles, your demons so to speak. You need to defeat them in order to be pure again. You are almost done, but there is one more you need to face.
The Krazoa's voice died down when it said those words. Fox felt a shiver go down his spine and he turned back to his father. James was trying to process the same thing that Fox was hearing. James rubbed his muzzle and went under his sunglasses to rub his eyes.
"I'm apparently a figment of your mind," James said. "This is all in your head, and now you have to fight your literal demons to get out."
Fox nodded. "Seems like it."
"I never thought my son would have demons at this age." James stretched his arms.
"And yet, here we are." Fox groaned out.
"You really need to work out your stuff when you get back." James massaged his neck.
In the distance they heard another pair of screeches. Both Fox and James turned to where it was coming from. Fox could see just one white dot coming from the horizon. He and his father were ready for whatever it was that was coming. Only then, did the white dot turn into a different color.
The dot turned into a darker shad of orange and a low glow engulfed them. Fox and James covered their eyes as the light was bright for either of them. The light died down and the two got their blasters ready and aimed it at the light. However, once the light finally died, they saw who was standing in front of them. Fox and James were shaking at the sight.
"Fox. James. It has been a while." The voice of the vixen soothed them.
"Vixy?" James had to take off his sunglasses to make sure they weren't deceiving him.
She gave off a cute smile towards her husband. The same smile James fell for all those years ago. James slowly walked up to her and Vixy reached out and grabbed his hand. James felt her fingers slip through his and he closed his hand tightly to make sure she was there.
Fox started to walk next to James and looked at his mother. Vixy noticed his son and also reached out to him. Fox also reached out and felt his mother's touch.
"You've grown so much. I wish I could have been there to see it." Vixy's voice didn't sound sad, she sounded joyful.
"What are you doing here, mom?" Fox had tears forming.
"I am not what this being calls your demon, Fox. If that's what you're worried about. But there's one thing that you need to cleanse yourself in order to return back home." Vixy took a tight hold on James' hand and there was a soft glow coming from it.
James looked down at his hand and saw the glow emanating. James' face looked less strained and more relaxed. Fox was starting t get what was going on and wanted to say a few words to his mother and father.
"It has been tough not having you two there. I guess it means that all the problems that have mounted are because I needed some guidance." Fox closed his eyes.
James placed his free hand on Fox's shoulder and Vixy used the back of her hand to pet Fox's cheek. Fox felt the parental touch from them and felt their love flow through him. Fox opened his eyes and jumped forward to wrap them in a hug. Fox started to tear up, but composed himself.
"Your father and I will always be with you." Vixy started. "The next time you feel lost, look up to the sky and we'll guide you. Isn't that right, James?" Vixy looked over to her husband.
"You've grown into a fine pup, Fox." James gave Fox's shoulder a squeeze. "Like your mother said, we'll always be there."
Fox could feel their hold getting weak. He leaned back to see that both his mother and father were starting to disappear. James put back his sunglasses and Vixy rolled her eyes.
"You always have to look cool," Vixy said, interlocking her arm with his.
James gave a chuckle. "And you always have to look cute."
"Oh, hush you." Vixy turned away before looking back at her son.
Fox looked at them; a smile forming. Even in the end, they were still together.
"You have to go back, Fox." James said. "Everyone needs you. Do right by them, and make Lylat proud." James picked up his sunglasses and stared at Fox. "Especially that blue vixen."
James gave a wink and lowered his sunglasses.
"Vixen?" Vixy's eyes went wide and stared at Fox with interest. "Who's this vixen your father's talking about, and blue?"
Fox started to stammer in his words. "S-She's not… nothing's going on… we're just good friends."
"Nothing's going on?" James asked with rising voice. "If I recall, you were quite handsy with her."
"Handsy?" Vixy looked at Fox with a disgruntled look.
"Dad!" Fox had red forming on his cheeks.
James laughed. "I'm pulling your tail, Fox." James' laugh died down when he saw the look on Fox's face. "Wait, did you really?"
Fox didn't say anything, but James face was anything from disappointed.
"Attaboy Fox." James gave Fox a punch on the arm.
"James!" Vixy obviously didn't like what she was hearing.
"I gotta give my boy some props, hun."
Fox wrapped his hands around his muzzle and shook his head. "Even in death, you find a way to irritate me."
James placed his hand on Fox's head and Fox looked up. "Even in death, I'm still your father. And I won't relinquish that role."
"James."
He looked back and saw that Vixy was slowly disappearing. James looked down at himself and saw that he was slowly becoming transparent. He looked back at Fox and then went to his wife to join her.
"We love you, Fox." Vixy said.
"Don't ever give up, Fox." James said.
With that, James and Vixy vanished slowly from Fox. However, Fox didn't feel sad, he felt relieved. For the most part, seeing his parents was a great way to cleanse himself of any impending doubts and concerns he had. Fox had his mind cleared and set on one thing.
You have made peace with your parents, Fox McCloud. There is one thing left that I believe you need to do.
Fox knew what it was. The Krazoa knew what it was. And eventually, Lylat would know what it was.
This is your mind at peace. Everything that has happened before this has been building to this moment. You will return to your world with a new set goal and I hope you will make good of that.
"I will." Fox answered.
Then it is complete.
Fox felt a force go through him, as if he was being hit by a bolt of lightning. The ground beneath him was gone and Fox was now floating in the air, but moving his arms and legs felt like he was in water. The purple background was slowly turning white.
Fox felt comfort in the white that was now enveloping him. His breathing became rhythmic and he closed his eyes. The last thing he saw was the white covering him like a warm blanket.
A/N: We're almost there guys. A later than usual upload, but you know, work and shit. Before you comment, there was a MLB player named Yogi Berra (google him). It's not a play on the cartoon bear.
Until then, Stabby out.