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.
"Oh, Fox, you dolt, why did you let me fall asleep in your tender arms?" Krystal asked while winking at Fox. Peppy didn't catch the wink, but he snorted and snickered into his berries anyway.
"Hmm, I guess I couldn't resist the touch of your silken fur against my longing paws," Fox replied, trying extremely hard not to lose his straight face. Peppy howled with laughter, rolling around on the ground, spluttering his breakfast everywhere.
The fellowship wanted to stay for a bit and eat, but Peppy was obviously having a hard time swallowing. The weather was fair and warm, with a gentle breeze to cool off from the blazing sunlight. Fox stayed up all night stroking Krystal, but he wasn't about to admit that. She'd probably notice later how well groomed her hair had gotten. Fox, instead of feeling tired and beat from lack of sleep, felt a strange happiness instead. Maybe he had gotten a little high on those strange coconuts a fox left him.
They set off a few minutes later, trudging through what is now still tree-full, but more rocky and steeper ground. They were heading into the mountain range, all right. By noon, they had reached the top of the rocky hill and were looking west, since they had already gotten north enough. This is where the mountain ranged ended eastward. The range extended in an L shape, west over the north of the royal kingdom, then north to where the old Duke lived and governed. Compared to the other provinces, the royal kingdom was the richest, but also the tiniest.
Cerinia only had one big continent, four provinces and the royal province. One province was to the north: The Duke's, one was to the east and the biggest, one was to the southeast, and one was to the south, the most plentiful in fruit. The royal kingdom was stuck in between the four and walled against the ocean. Only a twentieth of what the northern province was (smallest of the four provinces), the royal kingdom had the least farmers, just miners and merchants.
"It's getting colder here now, isn't it?" Peppy said as he sniffed the air, "I don't fancy mountain climbing in what I have on."
"Even less for the Queen here," Fox tugged on Krystal's thin tunic. She smiled and took out a heavy cloak from her pack and slipped it on.
"I'm always prepared," Krystal said as she dragged Fox and Peppy off into the mountains.
--
Mental journal, Fox McCloud, 2002 C.D., March 20, 9:46 AM:
I wonder why she said that. Maybe, just maybe, she likes me? I'd better not push my luck, because if I anger her, I'm positive a noose will be around my neck in an instant, friend or not.
I really have to fight back my urges until me and Peppy set off back to Corneria, but I'll definitely miss her. She was the best friend I had, excluding poor Bill Grey. I sometimes think that train driver ran him over on purpose. I like what my old teacher used to say, though it brings me so many bad memories: "Just because they have a license to drive or pilot, that doesn't mean they have the urge to kill." Which brings us back to my urges.
I really like her. She's gotten a lot more caring and friendly since we first met, and I still can't help but stare at her every time she comes near me. I had never been in love before, but I'm pretty sure this is it, and I hate it. It will pain me so much when I leave. I'll probably never get the chance to come here again, mainly because I have no idea which freaking galaxy we are in now.
She hugs me close and sleeps in my arms, but maybe that just means friendship, or it's because she wants to get warm. Every time she touches me, I get this uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach, but it isn't bad. I really like it when she talks to me; her voice is like music in my overly large, pointy ears. Her fur is like silk, really, and her touch is delicate and soft. How did she get to be a warrior, anyway? And most of all, how did I get to be a warrior, and since when? Well, I can fly my Arwing pretty well, but I don't get much practice nowadays. Maybe I should take up flying lessons when I get home.
Krystal can't come with me, that is for sure. She needs to be here, on Cerinia, guiding the people and making laws. That Kohan guy seems to know a bit more about politics and war than he does citizens.
Maybe I can stay, but Peppy sure won't. Being a lieutenant in the Reserve Army sure expects a lot of you, especially for you to come to work every day and train a few classes of pilots. If I stay, Peppy can't find his way back, and I can't go home, either. If I leave Corneria, it means leaving my dead parents behind, too, and I don't want that. I regret building that stupid warp drive now.
I wish there were something that I could do to stay with Krystal. Something, I really don't care what. At least, when I die and she dies, we can see each other in heaven, but killing those Venomian soldiers probably guaranteed my stay in hell. Oh, well, at least time is a healer. Maybe I'll get over her. Just maybe.
--
"What horrors await us in the mountains?" Fox asked curiously. Krystal stopped chewing on her meat for a second.
"Um, let me think. Cannibals, harsh weather, unexpected earthquakes and eruptions, and trolls," Krystal shrugged and warmed her feet by the fire. Under the starlight, Fox thought she looked even more beautiful.
"What trolls?" Fox asked. Peppy chattered his teeth, but Fox was sure that it wasn't from the cold.
"The big furry things who are really dumb and wield clubs," Krystal said matter-of-fact-ly, "We don't usually have much trouble with them, but they can get pretty hungry in the spring." Peppy chattered louder.
"Is that bad?" Fox asked, still unconcerned about Peppy huddling close to him and looking around suspiciously.
"Yep, if you consider being eaten alive and having the skin peeled off of you while your heart is still beating," Krystal gave Peppy a strange look and he cleared his throat and climbed into his bag, still chattering, "But we're not high enough in the mountains yet. Hopefully we'll last at least four hours in the mountains, because that's how long until we reach the gas mines. Do you see the lights over there? That's the village."
Peppy seemed to get a bit more relaxed at that, and started snoring soon after. Fox felt restless again, so he slipped out while Krystal was staring at the stars. She did seem very interested in them.
Hacking away at the dry bushes and grass with his sword, Fox went and skewered two pigs in less than two hours. Fox was beginning to wonder how they lasted in the plains and the forest. He wasn't hungry, but something in his bored, vulpine mind and his natural killer instincts told him to make blood appear on something.
When Fox made his way back to the camp, he noticed that Krystal had gone somewhere, probably nature calling. Fox fried the pigs for later use and waited for Krystal. After an hour, Fox started to get worried.
"Krystal?" Fox called, trudging through the grass, following the parting in the stalks that signaled a creature going past, "Krystal!"
"GAH!" Something big and furry jumped onto Fox and pinned him down. Fox panicked, as he couldn't reach his sword or blaster. The troll started gnawing on Fox's arm, and Fox yelped in fright.
"Get off, you fiend!" Fox tried to roll over, but the troll was too big.
"Ah, fiend? How dare you call me a fiend!" The troll said in a familiar tone. Fox gave out a sigh of relief.
"Where'd you get the suit, Krystal?" Fox asked, getting a better look at the 'troll'.
"The cloak was made of pig fur, in case you didn't notice," Krystal laughed, still on top of Fox, "And you know I was lying about the entire earthquake and troll part."
"Well, how'd you get so heavy?"
"Oh, firewood," Krystal shook herself and the cloak and several fat logs fell out and onto the ground, "I got ya, didn't I?" Fox smirked and quickly rolled, flipping Krystal over and landing on top of her.
"And I got you," Fox chuckled as he bit softly on Krystal's shoulder through the heavy cloak. She laughed and fought against him. They played for a while before both of them lay on the ground, beat and tired.
"Do you think it's sunrise already?" Krystal asked, sitting up and looking at the horizon. A bit of pink and yellow peeked from the mountains and the sun soon shined on both of them, covering the two foxes in warmth.
"I think Peppy's gonna want his breakfast," Fox smiled, helping Krystal from the ground and setting off toward camp.
**
"Caves, rocks, a little bit of grass, more rocks. This isn't exactly a tourist spot, is it?" Peppy panted as he used his front paws and crawled up the tall mountain, their last difficulty before they reached the mines, "I would suppose the view from the top would be a lot better, but who would want to climb this thing?"
"The brave and the strong," Krystal called down at him, "I can see that you're neither!"
"Quiet, you," Peppy muttered. Fox laughed and heaved himself up onto a ledge.
The mountain was nearly a mile of rock at a 90-degree angle, making it hard to climb, but at least there were plenty of ledges. Caves dotted the mountainside here and there, but they all led down back to the ground. The mountain wasn't exactly smooth, so it was easier to climb than the other mountains, which were just one, smooth rock that you can slip on. A little bit of grass here, and a little tree there, and you have a typical mountain and its range. The rest of the mountains were a bit easier to climb, considering the valleys are high and they were a bit even-er.
"Ugh! Lunchtime?" Peppy sighed as he was pulled up onto the large over-cropping of rock by the two foxes. Krystal nodded and took out some meat.
"You're not getting any, though. If you want a vegetarian diet, go down the mountain and eat berries," Fox pointed down the mountain, which they were four fifths of the way up.
"You are sadistic, really. You need to go to boot camp, Fox, when we get back," Peppy shook his head. Fox froze in eating his meat in remembering his predicament. The morning's tumble playing had taken his mind off of it entirely.
"One way or the other, I'm not going to boot camp, seriously," Fox said quietly.
**
A/N: Aw, crap. Now the action part isn't coming along well. Ah, who cares? Um, wait: don't answer that. One more chapter to go, I think, and then, I'm outta here and I'm gonna play my new StarFox Adventures game, or at least I think that's what my parents got me for Christmas...
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.
"Oh, Fox, you dolt, why did you let me fall asleep in your tender arms?" Krystal asked while winking at Fox. Peppy didn't catch the wink, but he snorted and snickered into his berries anyway.
"Hmm, I guess I couldn't resist the touch of your silken fur against my longing paws," Fox replied, trying extremely hard not to lose his straight face. Peppy howled with laughter, rolling around on the ground, spluttering his breakfast everywhere.
The fellowship wanted to stay for a bit and eat, but Peppy was obviously having a hard time swallowing. The weather was fair and warm, with a gentle breeze to cool off from the blazing sunlight. Fox stayed up all night stroking Krystal, but he wasn't about to admit that. She'd probably notice later how well groomed her hair had gotten. Fox, instead of feeling tired and beat from lack of sleep, felt a strange happiness instead. Maybe he had gotten a little high on those strange coconuts a fox left him.
They set off a few minutes later, trudging through what is now still tree-full, but more rocky and steeper ground. They were heading into the mountain range, all right. By noon, they had reached the top of the rocky hill and were looking west, since they had already gotten north enough. This is where the mountain ranged ended eastward. The range extended in an L shape, west over the north of the royal kingdom, then north to where the old Duke lived and governed. Compared to the other provinces, the royal kingdom was the richest, but also the tiniest.
Cerinia only had one big continent, four provinces and the royal province. One province was to the north: The Duke's, one was to the east and the biggest, one was to the southeast, and one was to the south, the most plentiful in fruit. The royal kingdom was stuck in between the four and walled against the ocean. Only a twentieth of what the northern province was (smallest of the four provinces), the royal kingdom had the least farmers, just miners and merchants.
"It's getting colder here now, isn't it?" Peppy said as he sniffed the air, "I don't fancy mountain climbing in what I have on."
"Even less for the Queen here," Fox tugged on Krystal's thin tunic. She smiled and took out a heavy cloak from her pack and slipped it on.
"I'm always prepared," Krystal said as she dragged Fox and Peppy off into the mountains.
--
Mental journal, Fox McCloud, 2002 C.D., March 20, 9:46 AM:
I wonder why she said that. Maybe, just maybe, she likes me? I'd better not push my luck, because if I anger her, I'm positive a noose will be around my neck in an instant, friend or not.
I really have to fight back my urges until me and Peppy set off back to Corneria, but I'll definitely miss her. She was the best friend I had, excluding poor Bill Grey. I sometimes think that train driver ran him over on purpose. I like what my old teacher used to say, though it brings me so many bad memories: "Just because they have a license to drive or pilot, that doesn't mean they have the urge to kill." Which brings us back to my urges.
I really like her. She's gotten a lot more caring and friendly since we first met, and I still can't help but stare at her every time she comes near me. I had never been in love before, but I'm pretty sure this is it, and I hate it. It will pain me so much when I leave. I'll probably never get the chance to come here again, mainly because I have no idea which freaking galaxy we are in now.
She hugs me close and sleeps in my arms, but maybe that just means friendship, or it's because she wants to get warm. Every time she touches me, I get this uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach, but it isn't bad. I really like it when she talks to me; her voice is like music in my overly large, pointy ears. Her fur is like silk, really, and her touch is delicate and soft. How did she get to be a warrior, anyway? And most of all, how did I get to be a warrior, and since when? Well, I can fly my Arwing pretty well, but I don't get much practice nowadays. Maybe I should take up flying lessons when I get home.
Krystal can't come with me, that is for sure. She needs to be here, on Cerinia, guiding the people and making laws. That Kohan guy seems to know a bit more about politics and war than he does citizens.
Maybe I can stay, but Peppy sure won't. Being a lieutenant in the Reserve Army sure expects a lot of you, especially for you to come to work every day and train a few classes of pilots. If I stay, Peppy can't find his way back, and I can't go home, either. If I leave Corneria, it means leaving my dead parents behind, too, and I don't want that. I regret building that stupid warp drive now.
I wish there were something that I could do to stay with Krystal. Something, I really don't care what. At least, when I die and she dies, we can see each other in heaven, but killing those Venomian soldiers probably guaranteed my stay in hell. Oh, well, at least time is a healer. Maybe I'll get over her. Just maybe.
--
"What horrors await us in the mountains?" Fox asked curiously. Krystal stopped chewing on her meat for a second.
"Um, let me think. Cannibals, harsh weather, unexpected earthquakes and eruptions, and trolls," Krystal shrugged and warmed her feet by the fire. Under the starlight, Fox thought she looked even more beautiful.
"What trolls?" Fox asked. Peppy chattered his teeth, but Fox was sure that it wasn't from the cold.
"The big furry things who are really dumb and wield clubs," Krystal said matter-of-fact-ly, "We don't usually have much trouble with them, but they can get pretty hungry in the spring." Peppy chattered louder.
"Is that bad?" Fox asked, still unconcerned about Peppy huddling close to him and looking around suspiciously.
"Yep, if you consider being eaten alive and having the skin peeled off of you while your heart is still beating," Krystal gave Peppy a strange look and he cleared his throat and climbed into his bag, still chattering, "But we're not high enough in the mountains yet. Hopefully we'll last at least four hours in the mountains, because that's how long until we reach the gas mines. Do you see the lights over there? That's the village."
Peppy seemed to get a bit more relaxed at that, and started snoring soon after. Fox felt restless again, so he slipped out while Krystal was staring at the stars. She did seem very interested in them.
Hacking away at the dry bushes and grass with his sword, Fox went and skewered two pigs in less than two hours. Fox was beginning to wonder how they lasted in the plains and the forest. He wasn't hungry, but something in his bored, vulpine mind and his natural killer instincts told him to make blood appear on something.
When Fox made his way back to the camp, he noticed that Krystal had gone somewhere, probably nature calling. Fox fried the pigs for later use and waited for Krystal. After an hour, Fox started to get worried.
"Krystal?" Fox called, trudging through the grass, following the parting in the stalks that signaled a creature going past, "Krystal!"
"GAH!" Something big and furry jumped onto Fox and pinned him down. Fox panicked, as he couldn't reach his sword or blaster. The troll started gnawing on Fox's arm, and Fox yelped in fright.
"Get off, you fiend!" Fox tried to roll over, but the troll was too big.
"Ah, fiend? How dare you call me a fiend!" The troll said in a familiar tone. Fox gave out a sigh of relief.
"Where'd you get the suit, Krystal?" Fox asked, getting a better look at the 'troll'.
"The cloak was made of pig fur, in case you didn't notice," Krystal laughed, still on top of Fox, "And you know I was lying about the entire earthquake and troll part."
"Well, how'd you get so heavy?"
"Oh, firewood," Krystal shook herself and the cloak and several fat logs fell out and onto the ground, "I got ya, didn't I?" Fox smirked and quickly rolled, flipping Krystal over and landing on top of her.
"And I got you," Fox chuckled as he bit softly on Krystal's shoulder through the heavy cloak. She laughed and fought against him. They played for a while before both of them lay on the ground, beat and tired.
"Do you think it's sunrise already?" Krystal asked, sitting up and looking at the horizon. A bit of pink and yellow peeked from the mountains and the sun soon shined on both of them, covering the two foxes in warmth.
"I think Peppy's gonna want his breakfast," Fox smiled, helping Krystal from the ground and setting off toward camp.
**
"Caves, rocks, a little bit of grass, more rocks. This isn't exactly a tourist spot, is it?" Peppy panted as he used his front paws and crawled up the tall mountain, their last difficulty before they reached the mines, "I would suppose the view from the top would be a lot better, but who would want to climb this thing?"
"The brave and the strong," Krystal called down at him, "I can see that you're neither!"
"Quiet, you," Peppy muttered. Fox laughed and heaved himself up onto a ledge.
The mountain was nearly a mile of rock at a 90-degree angle, making it hard to climb, but at least there were plenty of ledges. Caves dotted the mountainside here and there, but they all led down back to the ground. The mountain wasn't exactly smooth, so it was easier to climb than the other mountains, which were just one, smooth rock that you can slip on. A little bit of grass here, and a little tree there, and you have a typical mountain and its range. The rest of the mountains were a bit easier to climb, considering the valleys are high and they were a bit even-er.
"Ugh! Lunchtime?" Peppy sighed as he was pulled up onto the large over-cropping of rock by the two foxes. Krystal nodded and took out some meat.
"You're not getting any, though. If you want a vegetarian diet, go down the mountain and eat berries," Fox pointed down the mountain, which they were four fifths of the way up.
"You are sadistic, really. You need to go to boot camp, Fox, when we get back," Peppy shook his head. Fox froze in eating his meat in remembering his predicament. The morning's tumble playing had taken his mind off of it entirely.
"One way or the other, I'm not going to boot camp, seriously," Fox said quietly.
**
A/N: Aw, crap. Now the action part isn't coming along well. Ah, who cares? Um, wait: don't answer that. One more chapter to go, I think, and then, I'm outta here and I'm gonna play my new StarFox Adventures game, or at least I think that's what my parents got me for Christmas...