Disclaimer: I don't own StarFox or the characters created by Nintendo.
Understand me? Good.
Introduction: I wrote this because if I continued on my other story, then things will get a lot less action-y. Everything is different, well, almost everything. Erm. History changed because some weird dude messed with a time machine. Yeah. Now, the start of this chapter is a flashback from Krystal's memory, so don't get confused.
"Huh?" Krystal squinted hard at the runes scribbled on the yellow parchment, "Um, scorpion, bite, worm?"
"Ugh, NO!" Kohan whacked his head on the table. The candles shuddered from the vibrations; "It's scorpion, bite, fox! Seriously, Princess Krystal, if you don't learn to read and write properly-"
"Then I won't be a good ruler, I know, I know. Geez, Kohan, if you hate this job so much, then why don't you just stop being a scholar and get back to your Prime Minister thingy job?" Krystal, the ten-year-old kit asked innocently. Kohan whacked his head on the oak table again. Tacker had to squeeze his snout to keep laughing.
"It's my royal duty, princess. I'm twenty-eight, Krystal, and when you take over the throne at age eighteen, or sooner if your mother dies, I'll be thirty-five. By then, I will have been elected over."
"So?" Krystal asked. Tacker, who was supposed to be nearby if Krystal needed anything, raced out of her room and into the hall. A second later, booming laughter echoed off the stone corridor. Kohan scowled.
"Well, that's not a prime age, Krystal. I'm the best teacher and general around here, and by forty, I won't be able to fight and I will just be stuck around the library, and you know how I hate that. The doctor says I'll be crazy if I spend any more time indoors than outdoors. That means I will have only two years if I decide to teach you late to make you understand the concepts of political organization!" Kohan rubbed his temple with a paw. Krystal nodded slowly.
"Right. And if you didn't have this job, you'd be a dead fox," Krystal said. Kohan sighed and Krystal furrowed her brow, "I still don't get it. You speak in riddles, old man."
"I do not!" Kohan glowered. Krystal giggled.
"All that time fighting rogues has rotted your brain, Kohan!"
"I don't fight rogues, Krystal, and neither do they fight us. They don't want to fight; it's their leaders who want to fight. Get that through your head, Krystal, and maybe you'll actually get the hang of ruling," Kohan sighed. Krystal thought for a moment, then shrugged.
"Okay."
**
Krystal didn't know what Kohan was talking about that day until now. She finally understood, after what Peppy and Fox said about the rogues wanting to escape, that the rogues were no worse than common people that she met on the streets of the village were.
"Be careful," Krystal whispered to Fox, "Your plan has so many flaws."
"I know," Fox whispered back, "That bar, you see? If something goes wrong, it's weak enough for you to break, so get out if you hear that I'm dead, okay?" Krystal grabbed him by the neck of his jumpsuit and glared at him.
"You are not going to die, you hear? I won't let you," she said, gazing hard into Fox's eyes. He smiled at her, and Krystal smiled softly back, "That guy looks tough. Challenging him to a duel could cost you your life. Come back in one piece, Fox."
"Will do, your highness," Fox rubbed his cheek against hers through the cage bars and went off, with every rogue in the camp looking nervously at him.
**
"Hey, you, Lain! Ya think you are tough, huh? I bet a little baby kit can send you crying!" Fox ripped back the tent flaps of Lain's little hut and threw a rock at the large fox's face. He growled, his thousand scars seeming to bristle in anger.
Lain was actually as tough as he looked, but only half as smart. He was well built probably twice the height of Fox with a thick winter tunic and heavy boots. His ears were both tattered and he wore rings on both of his hands. He stomped his foot from his large chair.
The tent was just like any other tent in the camp, just five times bigger. A large trunk locked away all of the weapons of the rogues, and his huge bed, desk, and chair decorated the filthy place.
"What the hell is wrong with you, runt?" Lain quickly advanced towards Fox, who remained unflinching, "You're asking for your own death." Striking out with a massive fist, Lain struck Fox below the chin and sent him hurtling a few feet away.
"Is that the best you got?" Fox sneered, swallowing his blood, "I bet I can kick your butt any day with a sword. Come on, fight like a dog!" Lain growled and kicked open the trunk. Taking out a large broadsword for himself and tossing a short sword to Fox, they marched outside.
"Fox," Peppy hissed, "What are you doing? I thought you would ask for your blaster back!" Fox shook his head while a ring of bystanders grouped around nervously to watch Fox and Lain. They would help if Fox got in trouble, but that would be after Lain kills him.
Yelling loudly, Lain charged at Fox and swung madly. Fox barely dodged all his swings, and Fox managed to nick a cut in Lain's chest while he was doing an upward thrust. The group around them remained silent as a trickle of blood went down Lain's chest.
Outraged now, Lain leapt at Fox and chopped even more madly. Fox tried to use his sword to block Lain's blows, but he found dodging much quicker. Since Lain was as dumb as a post, he didn't detect any pattern in Fox's movements.
"Come on!" Erik suddenly shouted. Someone else followed suit, shouting out Fox's name and cheering him on. Lain stared at his followers in shock. Fox took advantage of that and slashed a deep gash in his stomach. Lain howled in pain, but kept fighting.
The battle lasted for ten minutes before another vital cut was made. Fox had gotten unlucky and accidentally dodged too slow. Lain managed to slice a shallow cut in his wrist, making blood splatter out and onto the ground. Fox felt his energy leave him and his mind go dizzy as he fought.
"Not so tough now, are ya, runt?" Lain snickered. Fox gasped for breath as Lain clashed his sword against his and making sparks fly. Fox's blood was now staining his jumpsuit scarlet and black, his vital fluid staining the grass and dirt around them. His fur was tainted with the red liquid and the blood was still flowing out freely. Lain's cut was just as bad, with most of his tunic splattered with his and Fox's blood.
"No," Krystal whispered to herself as Fox was thrown to the ground with such force that it collapsed the tent he landed on. Groaning, Fox tried to get up and retrieve his sword, but Lain stepped on his paw.
"Oh, no you don't," Fox kicked Lain's stomach wound and sent his sword flying away as well. Fox dug his foot deep into Lain's cut and he screamed. Suddenly, Lain pulled out a dagger from under his tunic that Fox didn't see. People who play dirty deserve other people who play dirty. With a quick movement, Fox snatched his knife from the boot that was still digging into Lain's abdomen and shoved it into his neck before Lain could shove his dagger into his.
Gurgling, Lain spat streams of blood onto Fox's face before he fell limp on the ground. It took a moment for the rogues to realize their freedom and cheer loudly. Fox didn't have time to celebrate with them; he fainted a second after his adversary died.
**
"Get up, Fox. I know you're awake," Krystal's voice called. Fox tried to open his eyes, but the bright sunlight from the open tent flap made him close them again.
"Is this heaven? Is that an angel speaking to poor old me?" Fox humored. He felt his wrist. Someone had patched it up and it wasn't bleeding now.
"No, this isn't heaven, but this is an angel talking," Krystal bent down and rubbed her cheek against Fox's, "You've been asleep for two days now."
"Aw, crap," Fox sat up, feeling a loss of feeling in his limbs, and tried to walk around the tent. Krystal watched, amused, as he tumbled down again and again.
"I think we can reach the gas mines in three days, if we don't encounter any more trouble. We seemed to have headed more northward than I imagined," Krystal said as she followed Fox around the large tent. There weren't any other injured foxes around, so Fox got bored and opened his eyes.
"Shouldn't we be going?" Fox asked, stepping out of the hospital tent and into the fresh air. Krystal laughed and hugged Fox from behind. Fox blushed as he felt his weakened knees buckle from her weight, "What's that for?"
"A few hours after you won, your heart stopped beating," Krystal let go of Fox and handed him a piece of pig meat, "I thought I lost you." Fox gulped down the strip awkwardly.
"I didn't think you'd care," Fox joked as he was welcomed back to consciousness by all the un-rogue-d rogues. Most of them were planning to go home or just stay at the camp and live life as hunters and farmers. They gave Fox gifts, like salted pork and foods, but Erik handed Fox a long sword and a pretty scabbard to go along with it.
"Just in case. If you're going into the mountains, God knows what you're gonna see there," Erik said, smiling, but Fox knew he meant it. This planet wasn't nice, and it wants to make that obvious.
**
"I think you look dashing with a blade at your hip," Peppy said, chuckling. Fox unsheathed the sword and waved it around. Krystal laughed as he did lunges and thrusts.
"Where'd you learn all that?" Krystal asked. Peppy turned to Fox to hear his answer as well, with his own little dagger hanging with a small piece of leather at his belt.
It was suppertime once again for our heroes, and hungry they were. Since morning they had traveled, and they were dead tired. The sun was setting over the forest and the mountains yonder, casting an orange and purple array of colors up into the clouds. Fox stuck his sword back into its scabbard and sat near the roaring fire. They planned to just stay in clearings as long as it wasn't raining. Fox liked this because he could see the stars and the moons. He felt very stupid to feel that way.
"I really don't know," Fox took out his canteen and took a swig of rainwater, "Peppy? Maybe you would know."
"No, I wouldn't," Peppy shook his head, "Maybe it was in your blood. Your father and grandfather both loved sword fights, but I don't know why."
Fox shrugged at Krystal and watched one of the moons rise up from the eastern horizon to meet its brother in the now bluish-black sky. The stars appeared one by one in the distance, and they twinkled happily. It wasn't long before Peppy was snoring. Fox didn't feel like sleeping, but he didn't think it was the grass drug, though.
"I hate being an engineer," Fox said suddenly. Krystal looked up at him, starting to shiver because of her fine coat of fur and the freezing breeze that picks up every night.
"Then why aren't you something else?" Krystal asked.
"I don't know how do something else that pays good," Fox sighed, leaning towards the fire a bit. Krystal leaned against him in turn.
"Is that all you care about? Money?" Krystal rested her head on Fox's shoulder as she felt herself yawn.
"I care about other things, too," Fox whispered, barely audible as Krystal drifted into the dream world, a small smile planted on her delicate face.
**
A/N: It's coming along. I don't feel very descriptive today. I don't know what they'll encounter when the reach the edge of the forest. I think trolls will do, but give me an idea or two, 'k? I would like to thank everyone who is actually reading; this is almost over.
Introduction: I wrote this because if I continued on my other story, then things will get a lot less action-y. Everything is different, well, almost everything. Erm. History changed because some weird dude messed with a time machine. Yeah. Now, the start of this chapter is a flashback from Krystal's memory, so don't get confused.
"Huh?" Krystal squinted hard at the runes scribbled on the yellow parchment, "Um, scorpion, bite, worm?"
"Ugh, NO!" Kohan whacked his head on the table. The candles shuddered from the vibrations; "It's scorpion, bite, fox! Seriously, Princess Krystal, if you don't learn to read and write properly-"
"Then I won't be a good ruler, I know, I know. Geez, Kohan, if you hate this job so much, then why don't you just stop being a scholar and get back to your Prime Minister thingy job?" Krystal, the ten-year-old kit asked innocently. Kohan whacked his head on the oak table again. Tacker had to squeeze his snout to keep laughing.
"It's my royal duty, princess. I'm twenty-eight, Krystal, and when you take over the throne at age eighteen, or sooner if your mother dies, I'll be thirty-five. By then, I will have been elected over."
"So?" Krystal asked. Tacker, who was supposed to be nearby if Krystal needed anything, raced out of her room and into the hall. A second later, booming laughter echoed off the stone corridor. Kohan scowled.
"Well, that's not a prime age, Krystal. I'm the best teacher and general around here, and by forty, I won't be able to fight and I will just be stuck around the library, and you know how I hate that. The doctor says I'll be crazy if I spend any more time indoors than outdoors. That means I will have only two years if I decide to teach you late to make you understand the concepts of political organization!" Kohan rubbed his temple with a paw. Krystal nodded slowly.
"Right. And if you didn't have this job, you'd be a dead fox," Krystal said. Kohan sighed and Krystal furrowed her brow, "I still don't get it. You speak in riddles, old man."
"I do not!" Kohan glowered. Krystal giggled.
"All that time fighting rogues has rotted your brain, Kohan!"
"I don't fight rogues, Krystal, and neither do they fight us. They don't want to fight; it's their leaders who want to fight. Get that through your head, Krystal, and maybe you'll actually get the hang of ruling," Kohan sighed. Krystal thought for a moment, then shrugged.
"Okay."
**
Krystal didn't know what Kohan was talking about that day until now. She finally understood, after what Peppy and Fox said about the rogues wanting to escape, that the rogues were no worse than common people that she met on the streets of the village were.
"Be careful," Krystal whispered to Fox, "Your plan has so many flaws."
"I know," Fox whispered back, "That bar, you see? If something goes wrong, it's weak enough for you to break, so get out if you hear that I'm dead, okay?" Krystal grabbed him by the neck of his jumpsuit and glared at him.
"You are not going to die, you hear? I won't let you," she said, gazing hard into Fox's eyes. He smiled at her, and Krystal smiled softly back, "That guy looks tough. Challenging him to a duel could cost you your life. Come back in one piece, Fox."
"Will do, your highness," Fox rubbed his cheek against hers through the cage bars and went off, with every rogue in the camp looking nervously at him.
**
"Hey, you, Lain! Ya think you are tough, huh? I bet a little baby kit can send you crying!" Fox ripped back the tent flaps of Lain's little hut and threw a rock at the large fox's face. He growled, his thousand scars seeming to bristle in anger.
Lain was actually as tough as he looked, but only half as smart. He was well built probably twice the height of Fox with a thick winter tunic and heavy boots. His ears were both tattered and he wore rings on both of his hands. He stomped his foot from his large chair.
The tent was just like any other tent in the camp, just five times bigger. A large trunk locked away all of the weapons of the rogues, and his huge bed, desk, and chair decorated the filthy place.
"What the hell is wrong with you, runt?" Lain quickly advanced towards Fox, who remained unflinching, "You're asking for your own death." Striking out with a massive fist, Lain struck Fox below the chin and sent him hurtling a few feet away.
"Is that the best you got?" Fox sneered, swallowing his blood, "I bet I can kick your butt any day with a sword. Come on, fight like a dog!" Lain growled and kicked open the trunk. Taking out a large broadsword for himself and tossing a short sword to Fox, they marched outside.
"Fox," Peppy hissed, "What are you doing? I thought you would ask for your blaster back!" Fox shook his head while a ring of bystanders grouped around nervously to watch Fox and Lain. They would help if Fox got in trouble, but that would be after Lain kills him.
Yelling loudly, Lain charged at Fox and swung madly. Fox barely dodged all his swings, and Fox managed to nick a cut in Lain's chest while he was doing an upward thrust. The group around them remained silent as a trickle of blood went down Lain's chest.
Outraged now, Lain leapt at Fox and chopped even more madly. Fox tried to use his sword to block Lain's blows, but he found dodging much quicker. Since Lain was as dumb as a post, he didn't detect any pattern in Fox's movements.
"Come on!" Erik suddenly shouted. Someone else followed suit, shouting out Fox's name and cheering him on. Lain stared at his followers in shock. Fox took advantage of that and slashed a deep gash in his stomach. Lain howled in pain, but kept fighting.
The battle lasted for ten minutes before another vital cut was made. Fox had gotten unlucky and accidentally dodged too slow. Lain managed to slice a shallow cut in his wrist, making blood splatter out and onto the ground. Fox felt his energy leave him and his mind go dizzy as he fought.
"Not so tough now, are ya, runt?" Lain snickered. Fox gasped for breath as Lain clashed his sword against his and making sparks fly. Fox's blood was now staining his jumpsuit scarlet and black, his vital fluid staining the grass and dirt around them. His fur was tainted with the red liquid and the blood was still flowing out freely. Lain's cut was just as bad, with most of his tunic splattered with his and Fox's blood.
"No," Krystal whispered to herself as Fox was thrown to the ground with such force that it collapsed the tent he landed on. Groaning, Fox tried to get up and retrieve his sword, but Lain stepped on his paw.
"Oh, no you don't," Fox kicked Lain's stomach wound and sent his sword flying away as well. Fox dug his foot deep into Lain's cut and he screamed. Suddenly, Lain pulled out a dagger from under his tunic that Fox didn't see. People who play dirty deserve other people who play dirty. With a quick movement, Fox snatched his knife from the boot that was still digging into Lain's abdomen and shoved it into his neck before Lain could shove his dagger into his.
Gurgling, Lain spat streams of blood onto Fox's face before he fell limp on the ground. It took a moment for the rogues to realize their freedom and cheer loudly. Fox didn't have time to celebrate with them; he fainted a second after his adversary died.
**
"Get up, Fox. I know you're awake," Krystal's voice called. Fox tried to open his eyes, but the bright sunlight from the open tent flap made him close them again.
"Is this heaven? Is that an angel speaking to poor old me?" Fox humored. He felt his wrist. Someone had patched it up and it wasn't bleeding now.
"No, this isn't heaven, but this is an angel talking," Krystal bent down and rubbed her cheek against Fox's, "You've been asleep for two days now."
"Aw, crap," Fox sat up, feeling a loss of feeling in his limbs, and tried to walk around the tent. Krystal watched, amused, as he tumbled down again and again.
"I think we can reach the gas mines in three days, if we don't encounter any more trouble. We seemed to have headed more northward than I imagined," Krystal said as she followed Fox around the large tent. There weren't any other injured foxes around, so Fox got bored and opened his eyes.
"Shouldn't we be going?" Fox asked, stepping out of the hospital tent and into the fresh air. Krystal laughed and hugged Fox from behind. Fox blushed as he felt his weakened knees buckle from her weight, "What's that for?"
"A few hours after you won, your heart stopped beating," Krystal let go of Fox and handed him a piece of pig meat, "I thought I lost you." Fox gulped down the strip awkwardly.
"I didn't think you'd care," Fox joked as he was welcomed back to consciousness by all the un-rogue-d rogues. Most of them were planning to go home or just stay at the camp and live life as hunters and farmers. They gave Fox gifts, like salted pork and foods, but Erik handed Fox a long sword and a pretty scabbard to go along with it.
"Just in case. If you're going into the mountains, God knows what you're gonna see there," Erik said, smiling, but Fox knew he meant it. This planet wasn't nice, and it wants to make that obvious.
**
"I think you look dashing with a blade at your hip," Peppy said, chuckling. Fox unsheathed the sword and waved it around. Krystal laughed as he did lunges and thrusts.
"Where'd you learn all that?" Krystal asked. Peppy turned to Fox to hear his answer as well, with his own little dagger hanging with a small piece of leather at his belt.
It was suppertime once again for our heroes, and hungry they were. Since morning they had traveled, and they were dead tired. The sun was setting over the forest and the mountains yonder, casting an orange and purple array of colors up into the clouds. Fox stuck his sword back into its scabbard and sat near the roaring fire. They planned to just stay in clearings as long as it wasn't raining. Fox liked this because he could see the stars and the moons. He felt very stupid to feel that way.
"I really don't know," Fox took out his canteen and took a swig of rainwater, "Peppy? Maybe you would know."
"No, I wouldn't," Peppy shook his head, "Maybe it was in your blood. Your father and grandfather both loved sword fights, but I don't know why."
Fox shrugged at Krystal and watched one of the moons rise up from the eastern horizon to meet its brother in the now bluish-black sky. The stars appeared one by one in the distance, and they twinkled happily. It wasn't long before Peppy was snoring. Fox didn't feel like sleeping, but he didn't think it was the grass drug, though.
"I hate being an engineer," Fox said suddenly. Krystal looked up at him, starting to shiver because of her fine coat of fur and the freezing breeze that picks up every night.
"Then why aren't you something else?" Krystal asked.
"I don't know how do something else that pays good," Fox sighed, leaning towards the fire a bit. Krystal leaned against him in turn.
"Is that all you care about? Money?" Krystal rested her head on Fox's shoulder as she felt herself yawn.
"I care about other things, too," Fox whispered, barely audible as Krystal drifted into the dream world, a small smile planted on her delicate face.
**
A/N: It's coming along. I don't feel very descriptive today. I don't know what they'll encounter when the reach the edge of the forest. I think trolls will do, but give me an idea or two, 'k? I would like to thank everyone who is actually reading; this is almost over.