Author's Note: Sorry for taking so long to upload the next chapter, this
@#$% computer is soooo slow and can't keep me connected to the Internet!
(AAAAAARGH!) Okay. I don't anything here. All related to StarFox and
StarFox Adventures belong to Nintendo and Rare. Otherwise the only thing I
own here is the plot and the falcon woman, Serena, and her son, Starr. Oh,
and the dream. the last part of the dream belongs to my sister (she dreamed
of it in real life.) Please R+R. Thank you. ~~ Imagen ~~
*** Chapter 5: "Realizations"
"Forgive us, Fox McCloud..." Krystal said as she rose the staff higher and higher, the spear pointing down to the young vulpine's heart. "We know of your great deeds, and it'll be a great shame for you to die... but a must is a must... and you," She thrust the spear down, "Must... die..."
"NOT IF I CAN HELP IT!" a voice called out as Krystal felt a strong kick on the back of her head, right before the staff would even touch Fox's body.
Krystal fell to the ground in a thud then whipped around to see who hit her. Peppy, Slippy, and Falco were also shocked, and they searched about everywhere in search of that mysterious person. Krystal growled, the Krazoa's voice nearly taking over the girl's true voice, "Who's there?"
"A mere woman who'll stop you from killing more people!" a voice of a woman called out from the shadows. Before they would know it, Slippy fell down with a welt on his face, followed by Peppy then Falco. Flipping gracefully across the floor was the mysterious falcon woman, armed with only her martial art skills and a tasekkon.
Krystal growled then placed her hand over her nose, then looked back at it to realize she was having a nosebleed. She glared at the woman, her staff still in her hand. The woman spun the tasekkon, one of the sticks held fast to her hand and the other hanging by the chain. She quickly spun her weapon then held it back, letting her other hand take hold of the spinning stick, swing by that end, then grab again when she held it by her side, showing her mastery of the infamous ninja weapon.
"B!tch!" Falco exclaimed as he got up to roundhouse the woman. Before his foot would touch her face the woman ducked then grabbed the tiercel's leg, throwing him across the room. Slippy grabbed a nearby chair and rose it above his head to knock out the falcon woman, but she took hold of the frog's arm, squeezed it, and with her free arm she elbowed him in the chest, slamming him to the ground.
Peppy heel-kicked the falcon on her back, sending her flying a few feet. She jumped back to her feet then bent backward to her hurting back, glaring daggers at the old rabbit. "Amazing," she said, "for an old-timer."
The Krazoa's voice, the one within the old rabbit, spoke up despite the body's vocal chords. "The body is aging... but not the spirit," he said as he ran forward to send a mega-punch into the falcon's face. She quickly dodged the punch, flipping backwards away from him and by Fox.
She looked down at Fox, who was still sleeping peacefully. She thought aloud, "How could that moron sleep at a time like THIS?"
Krystal reacted fast, thrusting her staff into the falcon's shoulder. She jumped aside, but she was late, for the staff managed to slash her arm, crimson blood splattering everywhere. The woman held her arm for a moment as Krystal ran to stab her, but she jumped up, flipped over the vixen, then whacked her on the head with her tasekkon, a sickening crack sounding out and more blood flying.
Slippy and Falco teamed up by roundhousing into the falcon's skull, the Krazoa spirits strengthening them to attack with utmost skill. The woman fell, her temples pressed and bruised, dropping her tasekkon. Peppy ran forward and grabbed them before the lady would.
Krystal stood up, blood flowing from her nose and head, then stood over the falcon and pointed her staff at her neck. "You've been a very bad girl... yet so strong... you'll make a very good shell for brother Krazoa..."
However, when the vixen held the staff to the lady's neck, the grip was loose, and it slid back. Krystal gasped, "Huh?" Looking behind her, Fox stood over his mat, holding the staff like the warrior he is... yet with his eyes closed and slightly snoring.
"Evildoer... go away... we don't need you here..." Fox muttered as he raised his staff and smacked Krystal on the head with it. She held her head and wobbled back, astounded with Fox. The red furred vulpine snored as he slashed Krystal on the shoulder then kicked her three times, sending her to the ground then leaping into the air for the final blow. Krystal immediately rolled out of the way and in cowardice ran out. Neither Peppy nor Slippy nor Falco could hang out any longer... they knew that Fox armed with the staff would be nearly unstoppable... as they watched their Leader take a stance with the staff pointing to them, they felt they had no other choice but to run. Before the falcon woman would say anything they turned and ran, joining Krystal in their escape in the moonlight.
"What's going on?" Tricky yelled as he rushed into the room as soon as it was empty, save the falcon and the fox. Fox dropped the staff and fell back down on his mat, snoring lightly with his leg up.
The woman whispered, "Amazing... I never knew anyone who could fight in their sleep..."
"Hey..." Tricky muttered. "You're... you're that falcon lady... the one we mistaken for a CloudRunner guy!"
Suddenly Fox began to moan, twist, and turn, sweat dripping through his fur. Tricky ran to his side, worried. "Look, Fox is having a nightmare!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Fox screamed as he woke up in a snap. He opened his eyes, panting for breath and staring into space. The falcon lady ran to his side.
"Fox," she said in relief, "You're all right!"
Fox turned to the woman. "Oh... it's you..."
"What was happening, Fox?" Tricky asked.
Fox turned to Tricky, his face indicating fright. "I had a dream... no. a nightmare... a horrible, terrifying, dreadful, awful, terrible nightmare... a nightmare... to end ALL nightmares!"
"What is it? What is it?" Tricky gasped.
Fox paused before he divulged his "nightmare." "I dreamt I was walking ThornTail Hollow when suddenly I met Shabunga wearing a pink dress and saying, 'Ya know, I quit being a salesperson!' And then I said in disbelief, 'WHAAAAAAAAAT???!!!', then the WarpStone grabbed me and said, 'Are you ready to go to Krazoa Palace?', but before I would answer, he threw me into the sky like a baseball! And instead of flying to Krazoa Palace, I ended up in Walled City, where I landed in a giant porcelain plate with parsley, lettuce, corn, and gravy all over it. I landed and swam in the gravy, and when I came out, there was a purple RedEye with a fork and knife in his hands! Before he would eat me like a gourmet fox-flavored cuisine delicacy, the RedEye spoke like Barney and said, 'Oh, I'm sorry! You're not kosher!' And then he took out another plate with deep-fried Peppy, Slippy, and Falco dipped in mushroom sauced and sprinkled with chocolate chips and crushed Oreos! I begged the RedEye to spare them, and he said, 'Okay, as long as you marry my daughter!' All of the sudden these SharpClaw came outta nowhere and dressed me up as a clown, ya know, with teased hair, make-up, big red nose, and shoes too big for even a kangaroo to wear, then they placed me in a giant sling-shot and shot me across the planet! I landed in LightFoot Village, where these LightFeet tied me up to a totem pole, and the wedding ceremony began. However, when my bride-to-be unveiled herself, she was really that one elfin human from 'Legend of Zelda,' Princess Zelda! Before she would kiss me Link came outta nowhere and threw a bomb at my head. I thought I died, but I didn't, and Zelda came running to me and started kissing me like crazy! And then Krystal also came outta nowhere and said, 'What the hell are you doing, you b@$t@rd!', then I had to pull the staff from the stone dressed up like some Medieval king and fight, but I didn't fight her, I fought a big Pikachu balloon, and then... and then... IT BLEW UP! I landed in heaven, right by a rock that was inscribed, 'The Johnsons were here... or was it the Petersons?'"
Tricky and the woman stared. "Fox... that's not a nightmare... that's just a really... really... weird... dream..."
***
The sun rose that morning, just as it did like any other day. The golden rays fell down upon the earth in ribbons of warmth, shining in between the green leaves of the tall trees then into the water of the streams. White butterflies fluttered lightly in the sunlight, dancing like fairies that just awakened. Birds sang their morning song, some of them flying away from their nests to feed their young. Fox and Tricky ran aside when a "bird bomb" nearly fell on them, running about, not wanting any bird excrement dropping on them.
Fox glanced forward. The mysterious falcon woman kept walking, leading the way through the forests in Cape Claw. Fox shouted, "Hey! Where are you taking us? Why do we have to follow you around here? We know how to get to Cape Claw!"
"Well," she began without turning around to face the fox. "I need to get you away from your 'friends...' Besides, I have to tell you something very important, and I feel it's safer if I took you away from ThornTail Hollow."
"Why can't you tell us right here, right now?"
"I also need to bring you to someone..."
***
As soon as Fox, Tricky, and the falcon reached the camp, the woman's son ran happily to his mother's arms as soon as he saw her from atop of a boulder, drawing a picture of a SharpClaw fighting a RedEye with clay crayons. "Mama!" he shouted with glee.
Fox and Tricky repeated, "Mama?"
"Yes, he's my son," the woman said smiling as she stroked the boy's down. "His name is Starr. He's nine years old."
"Oh... where's his father?" Tricked asked out of curiosity.
The woman turned her face away. "I'd rather not talk about it..."
"Excuse me, but..." Fox started. "I never got your name."
The falcon turned back to him and smiled again. "My name is Serena Jenson, but Falco and others call me 'Diva'."
"Diva? Falco? You know Falco...?"
"Met him before nine years ago. People call me 'Diva' not because I'm a good singer (not that I'm not), but they think I'm always strutting my stuff. Katt, Falco's friend, once told me I was a female Falco."
'Except Falco always watched where he was going and never fell in holes,' Fox thought.
Tricky decided to butt into the conversation. "Miss Diva, h-how do you know about Fox's Team and Krystal acting all weird and all?"
"Remember the dream I told you of the falling stars?"
"Y-Yeah..."
"Those stars signified you and your Team. The falling of the stars and the rising of dark ones represented that they were replaced by a false Team."
"What?..."
"You know, that... nightmare you told us... the time you were, uh... fighting a big Pikachu balloon... did you say, 'Evildoer, go away, we don't need you here,' then slashed, kick three times, then leaped into the air for the final blow before it exploded?"
Fox was shocked to hear how Diva mentioned every single thing that happened in his dream. "Yeah..."
"Did you know you actually fought in your sleep?"
"I DID?"
"And you saved my life back there..."
"I WHAT? HOW?"
"While you were asleep, your 'friends' were about to kill you. I came in to kick @$$ before they even touched you, but they ganged up on me and were about to kill me in your stead. However, you stood up in your sleep, grabbed Krystal's staff (in your dream, from the stone... what are you, King Arthur?), then beat the crap outta them before they all ran."
Fox sat down on a boulder in disbelief.
"Fox," Diva continued, "Do you know why they were trying to kill you?"
"Why?..."
"Krazoa spirits possessed their dead bodies."
"What?"
"You see, several weeks ago, I had a dream of the Krazoa Palace. The Krazoa were speaking of their curiosity of the outside world... they had that curiosity for the last several months after you reassembled Dinosaur Planet. Finally, they decided to do something about it. When they sensed your Team, Peppy, Slippy, and Falco, dying on Dinosaur Planet, half of the Krazoa group decided to go and possess the bodies and pose as your Team, using their memory that came along with the bodies, but not the experience and personalities. Didn't you see a change in their behavior, Fox?"
Fox thought for a moment. "Slippy was no longer annoying... Peppy stopped lecturing me... and Falco respected me for once..."
"See what I mean? Now, if a person would change by his own free will, it would be gradual and subtle, not sudden and done overnight."
Fox was silent.
"However, few nights ago, the Krazoa Palace somehow caught on fire... THAT I don't know what happened. I saw that also in my dreams. When Krystal caught on fire, and you ran back to ThornTail Hollow with her, the Palace burned down to the ground and became completely destroyed. Do you remember when Krystal told you that lie that Peppy, Slippy, and Falco ran off to Mount Moon to search for a healing spell?"
"That was a lie?"
"Better believe it, fuzzball! What really happened is that one of their Krazoa brothers came along with them and possessed Krystal's dead body. Yes. Krystal really did die, and so did your Team. They never revived. They never healed. They were really Krazoa spirits possessing their dead bodies just so they can satisfy their curiosity of the outside world."
Again, Fox was silent.
Tricky asked, "Fox was possessed by Krazoa several times, yet they-"
"Never took control of him? Of course. Why? Because Fox, the owner of his own body, is still alive. You see, the body is like a car, with only two types of people who can be in it-the driver and the passenger. The driver is the owner of the car and is the one who controls it, while the passenger, i.e. the Krazoa, just sits back and goes along with the ride. However, if the driver is absent, then the passenger can take over the wheel and control the car... in other words, if the body's real owner is not in the body, or should I say is 'Dead,' then the Krazoa, who is the passenger, can take over that body, manipulate the living cells of the body to speed the healing process so the body can be use, and control it like its own."
Fox's lips trembled, yet no words came out.
"Now," Diva continued, "the Krazoa are out to kill Fox and one more mortal Lylatian so the remaining two Lylatians can possess their bodies, or how the Krazoa called them 'Shells.'" She looked up to Fox, and her tone become grave, "Fox, I know this is all hard to believe, but you must accept the truth-your friends are dead, repossessed by the Krazoa, and now they're out there to kill you to take your body."
There was a moment of silence. Diva and Starr sat there, waiting for the StarFox Leader to respond for five whole minutes. Perhaps Fox was thinking about the events that happened.
Finally, the mammal looked up to the two birds. His eyes showed slight anger, the same way in his tone of voice. "You're lying..."
"Y-You.............. You don't believe me?" Diva muttered.
"Of course, I don't," Fox said as he crossed his arms. "Your story is too far-fetched to believe."
"C'mon, Fox, why would I joke about this?" Diva yelled. "I'm talking serious here, the Krazoa disguised as your friends are out there to kill you!"
"I've heard stuff like that all the time..." Fox muttered.
"Yeah, in the movies!"
"I'm going back," Fox said turning. "Thanks for the... entertaining yet morbid story, Die-vah."
"It's DIVA to you, Mister!!!!!!!" she shot back.
Fox whistled as he walked further into the forests. "C'mon, Tricky, let's go!"
Tricky sighed then turned to look at Starr then Diva. He shook his head, "Sorry, guys... I have to go."
As Tricky ran to follow Fox, Diva stepped forward, but before she would run to catch up with the fox and dinosaur, a voice called out from behind. "Don't, Serena..."
"What do you mean by 'Don't'? You don't want Fox to learn the even harder way, do you?"
"Let us handle this, Diva," another voice spoke.
Starr turned to the tree behind them. The three shadows with halos over their heads stepped out. The little boy whispered, "Uncles..."
"Stay here and watch Starr, Diva," the third shadow spoke. "We'll handle this. Besides, there is someone we'll have to pick up at EarthWalker Palace. Don't expect us to be back too soon, though. Good bye." And with that, all three of the shadows vanished, figures, halos, and all.
Diva sighed sadly, shaking her head. She turned around to where Fox and Tricky left then cupped her beak to shout out one last message. "Their eyes, Fox! Look into their eyes! You'll see what I'm talking about!"
***
"There they are!" Tricky pointed to Fox. By the trees near the entrance to ThornTail Hollow are the tired StarFox Team and Krystal, panting hard as if they've been running the whole day.
The red fox ran to their sides, glad to see them, but his gladness turned to worry and anxiety when he saw them heavily wounded. "Guys... what happened?"
Tears streamed from Krystal's eyes and sobs rose from her throat as she ran to Fox and embraced him. Fox gasped as some of her blood dripped from her wounds to his shirt. "Oh, Fox," she choked. "I was afraid..."
"Afraid... afraid of what?"
"There was this falcon lady," Slippy told Fox as he panted for breath. "She came last night and attacked us..."
"Really?"
Peppy ran to Fox and placed his hands on his shoulder. Fox noticed that his gray hands were stained with blood. "My boy... she was trying to kill you!"
"WHAT???"
"She came in armed with only a tasekkon," Falco warned. "I have no idea how she'll be able to kill anyone with it, except to bash your head and crush your skull or strangle you."
Fox stuttered.
Krystal hugged Fox closer, her arms completely around him. Fox was so close he can feel her sweet breath and her heart beating inside her bosom. "Oh, Fox... we chased that woman away... thank God you're safe..."
This... this... Fox began to think, *uncensored* images dancing in his head. He shook them off by shaking his head, shuddering almost violently. This.... he thought, this isn't like her.......... Fox immediately pushed the vixen away and looked into her eyes, glaring. "Krystal... what's with you..."
Wait... something's wrong..............
As Fox's orbs gazed deeply into hers, he noticed a slight difference. In the anatomy eye, there is the iris (the colored part), the pupil (the black dot that reacts to light and actually "sees"), and the white (the rest of the eye). Normally pupils are black. Krystal's was purple. The rest of her eye was normal, but the pupils of her eyes were purple, making it look eerie but unnoticeable at first glance.
Krystal muttered, "What is it, Fox?"
Fox turned to his Team, who were standing there, staring. Good. Fox walked to Peppy first and looked into his aging scarlet eyes. His pupils were also purple. The fox turned to Slippy next. His pupils were purple too. Falco also had purple pupils when Fox looked into his eyes. Fox trembled. Normally if one would have discolored pupils he'd be blind... and these guys aren't blind...
"Your... eyes..." Fox whispered.
All of the sudden blood splattered over Falco's shirt, neck, and face. Fox gasped. What happened? He trembled again, his blood turning cold and hands becoming sweaty. He felt blood tricking on his clothes as well, but much more blood... in fact, he was drenched. Much of it dripped on the grassy floor, making a puddle. Fox slowly reached his own chest, his fingers shaking weakly. He could feel... cold... hard... stiff... the stiffness of Krystal's sharp staff. Fox looked down. The spear's end was through in between his chest and shoulder, literally through... a quarter of the staff was impaled through his body. Using only his eyes and not turning his head, Fox glanced at Krystal, who held the staff. She had a stern look on her face, her eyes glaring boldly. Why didn't Fox feel the weapon go through his body? Is it because it happened so suddenly and his chest became numb? Only for a moment. Fox finally felt his wound throbbing, stinging sharply in pain... He could really feel the blood flowing then dripping into a puddle. Fox's knees and legs gave out, and slowly he squatted then leaned forward, standing on only the balls of his feet.
"It hurts, does it?" Krystal said, the voice somehow slightly echoing like a deity. "That's the pain only mortals can feel... mortals with a body..."
Fox panted, his breathing becoming shallow. "You.......... that woman......... she was telling the truth..."
"Sad to say," Peppy said, "that woman was truly wretched... to defy the authority of the Krazoa.... the Krazoa that needs your strong shell more than you do."
Fox's eyes swelled with tears, the water dripping down his face then to the blood puddle... tears of both shock and pain.
"Falco?" Krystal spoke. The blue bird stepped forward with a SharpClaw ax he found in the forest held in his hands. Krystal then turned her attention to Fox, "Hold still. If you move, your death will be slow and ever more painful."
Fox sobbed as he closed his eyes, waiting for that ax to reach his neck...
((to be continued...))
Dun-dun-DUNNNN! Now that I've finished Chapter 5, what do you think? Please review and let me know!
*** Chapter 5: "Realizations"
"Forgive us, Fox McCloud..." Krystal said as she rose the staff higher and higher, the spear pointing down to the young vulpine's heart. "We know of your great deeds, and it'll be a great shame for you to die... but a must is a must... and you," She thrust the spear down, "Must... die..."
"NOT IF I CAN HELP IT!" a voice called out as Krystal felt a strong kick on the back of her head, right before the staff would even touch Fox's body.
Krystal fell to the ground in a thud then whipped around to see who hit her. Peppy, Slippy, and Falco were also shocked, and they searched about everywhere in search of that mysterious person. Krystal growled, the Krazoa's voice nearly taking over the girl's true voice, "Who's there?"
"A mere woman who'll stop you from killing more people!" a voice of a woman called out from the shadows. Before they would know it, Slippy fell down with a welt on his face, followed by Peppy then Falco. Flipping gracefully across the floor was the mysterious falcon woman, armed with only her martial art skills and a tasekkon.
Krystal growled then placed her hand over her nose, then looked back at it to realize she was having a nosebleed. She glared at the woman, her staff still in her hand. The woman spun the tasekkon, one of the sticks held fast to her hand and the other hanging by the chain. She quickly spun her weapon then held it back, letting her other hand take hold of the spinning stick, swing by that end, then grab again when she held it by her side, showing her mastery of the infamous ninja weapon.
"B!tch!" Falco exclaimed as he got up to roundhouse the woman. Before his foot would touch her face the woman ducked then grabbed the tiercel's leg, throwing him across the room. Slippy grabbed a nearby chair and rose it above his head to knock out the falcon woman, but she took hold of the frog's arm, squeezed it, and with her free arm she elbowed him in the chest, slamming him to the ground.
Peppy heel-kicked the falcon on her back, sending her flying a few feet. She jumped back to her feet then bent backward to her hurting back, glaring daggers at the old rabbit. "Amazing," she said, "for an old-timer."
The Krazoa's voice, the one within the old rabbit, spoke up despite the body's vocal chords. "The body is aging... but not the spirit," he said as he ran forward to send a mega-punch into the falcon's face. She quickly dodged the punch, flipping backwards away from him and by Fox.
She looked down at Fox, who was still sleeping peacefully. She thought aloud, "How could that moron sleep at a time like THIS?"
Krystal reacted fast, thrusting her staff into the falcon's shoulder. She jumped aside, but she was late, for the staff managed to slash her arm, crimson blood splattering everywhere. The woman held her arm for a moment as Krystal ran to stab her, but she jumped up, flipped over the vixen, then whacked her on the head with her tasekkon, a sickening crack sounding out and more blood flying.
Slippy and Falco teamed up by roundhousing into the falcon's skull, the Krazoa spirits strengthening them to attack with utmost skill. The woman fell, her temples pressed and bruised, dropping her tasekkon. Peppy ran forward and grabbed them before the lady would.
Krystal stood up, blood flowing from her nose and head, then stood over the falcon and pointed her staff at her neck. "You've been a very bad girl... yet so strong... you'll make a very good shell for brother Krazoa..."
However, when the vixen held the staff to the lady's neck, the grip was loose, and it slid back. Krystal gasped, "Huh?" Looking behind her, Fox stood over his mat, holding the staff like the warrior he is... yet with his eyes closed and slightly snoring.
"Evildoer... go away... we don't need you here..." Fox muttered as he raised his staff and smacked Krystal on the head with it. She held her head and wobbled back, astounded with Fox. The red furred vulpine snored as he slashed Krystal on the shoulder then kicked her three times, sending her to the ground then leaping into the air for the final blow. Krystal immediately rolled out of the way and in cowardice ran out. Neither Peppy nor Slippy nor Falco could hang out any longer... they knew that Fox armed with the staff would be nearly unstoppable... as they watched their Leader take a stance with the staff pointing to them, they felt they had no other choice but to run. Before the falcon woman would say anything they turned and ran, joining Krystal in their escape in the moonlight.
"What's going on?" Tricky yelled as he rushed into the room as soon as it was empty, save the falcon and the fox. Fox dropped the staff and fell back down on his mat, snoring lightly with his leg up.
The woman whispered, "Amazing... I never knew anyone who could fight in their sleep..."
"Hey..." Tricky muttered. "You're... you're that falcon lady... the one we mistaken for a CloudRunner guy!"
Suddenly Fox began to moan, twist, and turn, sweat dripping through his fur. Tricky ran to his side, worried. "Look, Fox is having a nightmare!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Fox screamed as he woke up in a snap. He opened his eyes, panting for breath and staring into space. The falcon lady ran to his side.
"Fox," she said in relief, "You're all right!"
Fox turned to the woman. "Oh... it's you..."
"What was happening, Fox?" Tricky asked.
Fox turned to Tricky, his face indicating fright. "I had a dream... no. a nightmare... a horrible, terrifying, dreadful, awful, terrible nightmare... a nightmare... to end ALL nightmares!"
"What is it? What is it?" Tricky gasped.
Fox paused before he divulged his "nightmare." "I dreamt I was walking ThornTail Hollow when suddenly I met Shabunga wearing a pink dress and saying, 'Ya know, I quit being a salesperson!' And then I said in disbelief, 'WHAAAAAAAAAT???!!!', then the WarpStone grabbed me and said, 'Are you ready to go to Krazoa Palace?', but before I would answer, he threw me into the sky like a baseball! And instead of flying to Krazoa Palace, I ended up in Walled City, where I landed in a giant porcelain plate with parsley, lettuce, corn, and gravy all over it. I landed and swam in the gravy, and when I came out, there was a purple RedEye with a fork and knife in his hands! Before he would eat me like a gourmet fox-flavored cuisine delicacy, the RedEye spoke like Barney and said, 'Oh, I'm sorry! You're not kosher!' And then he took out another plate with deep-fried Peppy, Slippy, and Falco dipped in mushroom sauced and sprinkled with chocolate chips and crushed Oreos! I begged the RedEye to spare them, and he said, 'Okay, as long as you marry my daughter!' All of the sudden these SharpClaw came outta nowhere and dressed me up as a clown, ya know, with teased hair, make-up, big red nose, and shoes too big for even a kangaroo to wear, then they placed me in a giant sling-shot and shot me across the planet! I landed in LightFoot Village, where these LightFeet tied me up to a totem pole, and the wedding ceremony began. However, when my bride-to-be unveiled herself, she was really that one elfin human from 'Legend of Zelda,' Princess Zelda! Before she would kiss me Link came outta nowhere and threw a bomb at my head. I thought I died, but I didn't, and Zelda came running to me and started kissing me like crazy! And then Krystal also came outta nowhere and said, 'What the hell are you doing, you b@$t@rd!', then I had to pull the staff from the stone dressed up like some Medieval king and fight, but I didn't fight her, I fought a big Pikachu balloon, and then... and then... IT BLEW UP! I landed in heaven, right by a rock that was inscribed, 'The Johnsons were here... or was it the Petersons?'"
Tricky and the woman stared. "Fox... that's not a nightmare... that's just a really... really... weird... dream..."
***
The sun rose that morning, just as it did like any other day. The golden rays fell down upon the earth in ribbons of warmth, shining in between the green leaves of the tall trees then into the water of the streams. White butterflies fluttered lightly in the sunlight, dancing like fairies that just awakened. Birds sang their morning song, some of them flying away from their nests to feed their young. Fox and Tricky ran aside when a "bird bomb" nearly fell on them, running about, not wanting any bird excrement dropping on them.
Fox glanced forward. The mysterious falcon woman kept walking, leading the way through the forests in Cape Claw. Fox shouted, "Hey! Where are you taking us? Why do we have to follow you around here? We know how to get to Cape Claw!"
"Well," she began without turning around to face the fox. "I need to get you away from your 'friends...' Besides, I have to tell you something very important, and I feel it's safer if I took you away from ThornTail Hollow."
"Why can't you tell us right here, right now?"
"I also need to bring you to someone..."
***
As soon as Fox, Tricky, and the falcon reached the camp, the woman's son ran happily to his mother's arms as soon as he saw her from atop of a boulder, drawing a picture of a SharpClaw fighting a RedEye with clay crayons. "Mama!" he shouted with glee.
Fox and Tricky repeated, "Mama?"
"Yes, he's my son," the woman said smiling as she stroked the boy's down. "His name is Starr. He's nine years old."
"Oh... where's his father?" Tricked asked out of curiosity.
The woman turned her face away. "I'd rather not talk about it..."
"Excuse me, but..." Fox started. "I never got your name."
The falcon turned back to him and smiled again. "My name is Serena Jenson, but Falco and others call me 'Diva'."
"Diva? Falco? You know Falco...?"
"Met him before nine years ago. People call me 'Diva' not because I'm a good singer (not that I'm not), but they think I'm always strutting my stuff. Katt, Falco's friend, once told me I was a female Falco."
'Except Falco always watched where he was going and never fell in holes,' Fox thought.
Tricky decided to butt into the conversation. "Miss Diva, h-how do you know about Fox's Team and Krystal acting all weird and all?"
"Remember the dream I told you of the falling stars?"
"Y-Yeah..."
"Those stars signified you and your Team. The falling of the stars and the rising of dark ones represented that they were replaced by a false Team."
"What?..."
"You know, that... nightmare you told us... the time you were, uh... fighting a big Pikachu balloon... did you say, 'Evildoer, go away, we don't need you here,' then slashed, kick three times, then leaped into the air for the final blow before it exploded?"
Fox was shocked to hear how Diva mentioned every single thing that happened in his dream. "Yeah..."
"Did you know you actually fought in your sleep?"
"I DID?"
"And you saved my life back there..."
"I WHAT? HOW?"
"While you were asleep, your 'friends' were about to kill you. I came in to kick @$$ before they even touched you, but they ganged up on me and were about to kill me in your stead. However, you stood up in your sleep, grabbed Krystal's staff (in your dream, from the stone... what are you, King Arthur?), then beat the crap outta them before they all ran."
Fox sat down on a boulder in disbelief.
"Fox," Diva continued, "Do you know why they were trying to kill you?"
"Why?..."
"Krazoa spirits possessed their dead bodies."
"What?"
"You see, several weeks ago, I had a dream of the Krazoa Palace. The Krazoa were speaking of their curiosity of the outside world... they had that curiosity for the last several months after you reassembled Dinosaur Planet. Finally, they decided to do something about it. When they sensed your Team, Peppy, Slippy, and Falco, dying on Dinosaur Planet, half of the Krazoa group decided to go and possess the bodies and pose as your Team, using their memory that came along with the bodies, but not the experience and personalities. Didn't you see a change in their behavior, Fox?"
Fox thought for a moment. "Slippy was no longer annoying... Peppy stopped lecturing me... and Falco respected me for once..."
"See what I mean? Now, if a person would change by his own free will, it would be gradual and subtle, not sudden and done overnight."
Fox was silent.
"However, few nights ago, the Krazoa Palace somehow caught on fire... THAT I don't know what happened. I saw that also in my dreams. When Krystal caught on fire, and you ran back to ThornTail Hollow with her, the Palace burned down to the ground and became completely destroyed. Do you remember when Krystal told you that lie that Peppy, Slippy, and Falco ran off to Mount Moon to search for a healing spell?"
"That was a lie?"
"Better believe it, fuzzball! What really happened is that one of their Krazoa brothers came along with them and possessed Krystal's dead body. Yes. Krystal really did die, and so did your Team. They never revived. They never healed. They were really Krazoa spirits possessing their dead bodies just so they can satisfy their curiosity of the outside world."
Again, Fox was silent.
Tricky asked, "Fox was possessed by Krazoa several times, yet they-"
"Never took control of him? Of course. Why? Because Fox, the owner of his own body, is still alive. You see, the body is like a car, with only two types of people who can be in it-the driver and the passenger. The driver is the owner of the car and is the one who controls it, while the passenger, i.e. the Krazoa, just sits back and goes along with the ride. However, if the driver is absent, then the passenger can take over the wheel and control the car... in other words, if the body's real owner is not in the body, or should I say is 'Dead,' then the Krazoa, who is the passenger, can take over that body, manipulate the living cells of the body to speed the healing process so the body can be use, and control it like its own."
Fox's lips trembled, yet no words came out.
"Now," Diva continued, "the Krazoa are out to kill Fox and one more mortal Lylatian so the remaining two Lylatians can possess their bodies, or how the Krazoa called them 'Shells.'" She looked up to Fox, and her tone become grave, "Fox, I know this is all hard to believe, but you must accept the truth-your friends are dead, repossessed by the Krazoa, and now they're out there to kill you to take your body."
There was a moment of silence. Diva and Starr sat there, waiting for the StarFox Leader to respond for five whole minutes. Perhaps Fox was thinking about the events that happened.
Finally, the mammal looked up to the two birds. His eyes showed slight anger, the same way in his tone of voice. "You're lying..."
"Y-You.............. You don't believe me?" Diva muttered.
"Of course, I don't," Fox said as he crossed his arms. "Your story is too far-fetched to believe."
"C'mon, Fox, why would I joke about this?" Diva yelled. "I'm talking serious here, the Krazoa disguised as your friends are out there to kill you!"
"I've heard stuff like that all the time..." Fox muttered.
"Yeah, in the movies!"
"I'm going back," Fox said turning. "Thanks for the... entertaining yet morbid story, Die-vah."
"It's DIVA to you, Mister!!!!!!!" she shot back.
Fox whistled as he walked further into the forests. "C'mon, Tricky, let's go!"
Tricky sighed then turned to look at Starr then Diva. He shook his head, "Sorry, guys... I have to go."
As Tricky ran to follow Fox, Diva stepped forward, but before she would run to catch up with the fox and dinosaur, a voice called out from behind. "Don't, Serena..."
"What do you mean by 'Don't'? You don't want Fox to learn the even harder way, do you?"
"Let us handle this, Diva," another voice spoke.
Starr turned to the tree behind them. The three shadows with halos over their heads stepped out. The little boy whispered, "Uncles..."
"Stay here and watch Starr, Diva," the third shadow spoke. "We'll handle this. Besides, there is someone we'll have to pick up at EarthWalker Palace. Don't expect us to be back too soon, though. Good bye." And with that, all three of the shadows vanished, figures, halos, and all.
Diva sighed sadly, shaking her head. She turned around to where Fox and Tricky left then cupped her beak to shout out one last message. "Their eyes, Fox! Look into their eyes! You'll see what I'm talking about!"
***
"There they are!" Tricky pointed to Fox. By the trees near the entrance to ThornTail Hollow are the tired StarFox Team and Krystal, panting hard as if they've been running the whole day.
The red fox ran to their sides, glad to see them, but his gladness turned to worry and anxiety when he saw them heavily wounded. "Guys... what happened?"
Tears streamed from Krystal's eyes and sobs rose from her throat as she ran to Fox and embraced him. Fox gasped as some of her blood dripped from her wounds to his shirt. "Oh, Fox," she choked. "I was afraid..."
"Afraid... afraid of what?"
"There was this falcon lady," Slippy told Fox as he panted for breath. "She came last night and attacked us..."
"Really?"
Peppy ran to Fox and placed his hands on his shoulder. Fox noticed that his gray hands were stained with blood. "My boy... she was trying to kill you!"
"WHAT???"
"She came in armed with only a tasekkon," Falco warned. "I have no idea how she'll be able to kill anyone with it, except to bash your head and crush your skull or strangle you."
Fox stuttered.
Krystal hugged Fox closer, her arms completely around him. Fox was so close he can feel her sweet breath and her heart beating inside her bosom. "Oh, Fox... we chased that woman away... thank God you're safe..."
This... this... Fox began to think, *uncensored* images dancing in his head. He shook them off by shaking his head, shuddering almost violently. This.... he thought, this isn't like her.......... Fox immediately pushed the vixen away and looked into her eyes, glaring. "Krystal... what's with you..."
Wait... something's wrong..............
As Fox's orbs gazed deeply into hers, he noticed a slight difference. In the anatomy eye, there is the iris (the colored part), the pupil (the black dot that reacts to light and actually "sees"), and the white (the rest of the eye). Normally pupils are black. Krystal's was purple. The rest of her eye was normal, but the pupils of her eyes were purple, making it look eerie but unnoticeable at first glance.
Krystal muttered, "What is it, Fox?"
Fox turned to his Team, who were standing there, staring. Good. Fox walked to Peppy first and looked into his aging scarlet eyes. His pupils were also purple. The fox turned to Slippy next. His pupils were purple too. Falco also had purple pupils when Fox looked into his eyes. Fox trembled. Normally if one would have discolored pupils he'd be blind... and these guys aren't blind...
"Your... eyes..." Fox whispered.
All of the sudden blood splattered over Falco's shirt, neck, and face. Fox gasped. What happened? He trembled again, his blood turning cold and hands becoming sweaty. He felt blood tricking on his clothes as well, but much more blood... in fact, he was drenched. Much of it dripped on the grassy floor, making a puddle. Fox slowly reached his own chest, his fingers shaking weakly. He could feel... cold... hard... stiff... the stiffness of Krystal's sharp staff. Fox looked down. The spear's end was through in between his chest and shoulder, literally through... a quarter of the staff was impaled through his body. Using only his eyes and not turning his head, Fox glanced at Krystal, who held the staff. She had a stern look on her face, her eyes glaring boldly. Why didn't Fox feel the weapon go through his body? Is it because it happened so suddenly and his chest became numb? Only for a moment. Fox finally felt his wound throbbing, stinging sharply in pain... He could really feel the blood flowing then dripping into a puddle. Fox's knees and legs gave out, and slowly he squatted then leaned forward, standing on only the balls of his feet.
"It hurts, does it?" Krystal said, the voice somehow slightly echoing like a deity. "That's the pain only mortals can feel... mortals with a body..."
Fox panted, his breathing becoming shallow. "You.......... that woman......... she was telling the truth..."
"Sad to say," Peppy said, "that woman was truly wretched... to defy the authority of the Krazoa.... the Krazoa that needs your strong shell more than you do."
Fox's eyes swelled with tears, the water dripping down his face then to the blood puddle... tears of both shock and pain.
"Falco?" Krystal spoke. The blue bird stepped forward with a SharpClaw ax he found in the forest held in his hands. Krystal then turned her attention to Fox, "Hold still. If you move, your death will be slow and ever more painful."
Fox sobbed as he closed his eyes, waiting for that ax to reach his neck...
((to be continued...))
Dun-dun-DUNNNN! Now that I've finished Chapter 5, what do you think? Please review and let me know!