Author's Note: Sorry for the long update again! 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 Diva and Starr.
Please R+R. Thank you. ~~ Imagen ~~
***
Chapter 7: "Uniting of Forces"
"Oh dear... oh my..." Diva whispered as she stroked her son to sleep. The three stars... the ruby, emerald, and sapphire... they've disappeared. And what's worse... another set of three stars... am aquamarine, an amethyst, and a jasper... their brightness are beginning to diminish. The woman's heart paced as she watched the glistening rays of the three other stars starting to dim. She especially gazed upon the aquamarine, knowing what it represents. "Please... don't.... fall..."
Too late. The aquamarine star completely lost its brightness, the twinkling becoming more than a speck of white before wholly disappearing. In its place, a dark spot appeared, darker than the night sky itself.
"Oh, no..." the young woman muttered, shuddering. The aquamarine star has already fallen, and the amethyst star seemed to be next to fall. "This... does not bide well."
***
Fox never noticed the falling stars. Instead, he was asleep, dreaming about them even before they were ever thought to have fallen.
*~*~*~*
"Papa," a small, three-year-old Fox McCloud whispered to his father's ear, "What's that up there?"
"Those are stars," James said with a smile as he lifted his son to his shoulders, setting him there.
"What's stars?"
"They're... um..." McCloud-san tried to come up with the best explanation he could give to a tiny child. "You see, they're giant balls of heat and lava that are compressed together. At a distance, though, they look really small, so all they do is sparkle and shine and act as natural night lights of the night sky."
"But isn't the moon the big night light?"
"Yes," James said as he squeezed little Fox's hand. "But sometimes the moon goes away, and then what happens? It gets dark. But the stars keep it from getting too dark. That's why they're there. Even one star cannot shine on its own. That's why there's so many."
Fox's eyes sparkled as he gazed into the stars. Yes, indeed, the light was beautiful. Their twinkling light was astonishing and breathtaking, their rays reaching out into the galaxy then vanishing in the infinite vastness. The little boy reached out to "touch" the stars, his hand covering the brightest star, the golden one that outshone three other of the brighter stars, a ruby, an emerald, and a sapphire. He gripped it, the twinkling disappearing in his grip. Fox closed his eyes then brought his closed fist to his chest, then reopened both his eyes and hand. Nothing.
James chuckled. "One day, Fox... you will be among the stars."
"Really?"
"Yes. In fact, you will fly higher than the stars. You can see them all that you like, and you can reach them and feel its brilliance."
"When, Papa? When?"
McCloud grinned at his son. What he meant by being among the stars was that one day Fox would fly along with him as a StarFox Mercenary Pilot. "When you grow up... you can join me and my Team."
"Team... are you really like the stars?"
"To shine together to bring light? Not exactly, Fox... not exactly... but if you think about it... yes. One cannot shine without the other to give light. That's why you have a Team. You work together for the benefit of others. Just like the stars."
***
Before he would do anything for the day, Starr placed on around his head a sweatband made of hemp. He painted his face with clay then looked into the stream. Once again, he had that forest native look. And he liked it.
Starr approached a large boulder with a pile of rocks on top of it and some leaves, berries, and fruits. He took the fruits and squeezed the juice out of them, pouring them in a bowl-shaped stone, then placed the berries and leaves into the juice. He mashed them together into a paste with a cleaned out rock, mixing them thoroughly. He checked once in a while to see if he crushed the seeds then took out the husks. He did this for fifteen minutes, making the paste as smooth as possible.
The little boy then slid down the boulder and strolled across the woods until he approached the sleeping Fox. He smiled when he noticed his peaceful face. He must be dreaming something nice.
Suddenly sinister cackling was heard in the air. Starr looked in all directions and spotted a Flying Creature diving in towards the young bird. The boy ducked, the Creature just barely missing. It headed towards the snoozing vulpine the started clawing him on the face, making him bleed.
Fox woke up in a start and started to panic, confused since all of this is happening so fast after just waking up. Starr grabbed the spear off his back and threw it at the Creature with great accuracy, the monster vanishing from the air as soon as the obsidian spear head skewered through its flesh.
Fox panted, "Whoa... good job, Starr!"
"Nah, it's no problem, Fox. Just target practice," he said as he approached the dazed fox and sat down.
The fox placed his hand on his face. He could feel the scratches the Flying Creature gave him. "Stupid @$$ creature... attacking while I'm sleeping! Ow!"
"Careful. You might get infected," the eyas said as he scooped up some of the paste. He gestured to Fox that he was about to apply it. Fox set down his hand and leaned forward so the boy can apply the home-made cream.
"What's that?" Fox asked. "Ointment?"
"Yeah, made of berries, leaves, and fruits from the Cape Claw palm trees and bushes. They have oils that quicken the healing process for a while. I made some for that wound on your chest, but I guess I have to put some on your face from that Flying Creature."
"Really? Who taught you how to make that?"
"My mama."
Fox smiled. Starr gestured to Fox to take off his shirt so he can apply the ointment on his chest, back, and shoulder. The vulpine nodded then slipped off his vest then his green shirt, allowing the boy to apply the cream.
"How long will it be until I heal completely?" Fox decided to ask.
"If you leave the wound to heal and not touch it and stuff, it'll take about three more days. That wound is pretty deep. Don't expect it to heal so soon."
Fox chuckled. "So, Starr, um... where's your mother?"
"Out to hunt for food. She'll come back with some fish in due time."
"Are you not scared when she's not around?"
"I can take care of myself."
"Then why don't you?"
Starr sighed. "Mama needs me. If I leave her, she'll be lonely. And so will I. And I don't want that."
"I see..." Fox thought about the song Diva sang to her son. "I heard her sing last night."
"Really?"
"She has a nice voice. She could really be a diva, no pun intended."
Both Starr and Fox laughed. Fox continued, "So, Starr, can you answer this question? I hope it's not offensive or anything..."
"Shoot!"
"Do you ever wish to get off of Dinosaur Planet?"
Starr paused. He looked up to the sunny sky, puffy white clouds floating across the blanket of light blue. "Sometimes."
"What would you like to be when you grow up?"
Starr smiled. "To be a mercenary. Just like you!"
"A... a mercenary?"
"I wanna help people across the galaxy! I wanna fight bad guys, save people's life, prevent them from suffering... maybe even prevent suffering like what my mama went through."
"I see..."
"Even when I grow up, get married and have my own kids, I would never abandon my mama. I'm not gonna leave her in some resting home; rather, she can stay with me. I know it's embarrassing, but I don't want mama to be all alone."
Fox grinned. "My... how noble. Maybe you SHOULD be a mercenary. You've got the heart of one."
"When you do go back to Lylat," Starr asked as he tugged Fox's arm. "will you take me and mama with you? I want to know what the outside world is like!"
Fox shuddered. 'Geez, he thought, that's what the Krazoa want. That's why they've taken my friend's dead bodies... and going home... will I ever go home?'
***
"There he is!" Krystal's voice sounded out from atop a cliff at Cape Claw. At distance, in the forests where many trees and bushes grew, a fox and an eyas were chatting. "There's Fox!"
"I see him!" Tricky exclaimed. He smiled, a menacing grin suddenly appearing on his scaly face.
"Uh-oh!" Slippy chuckled. "What's in your mind, Tricky?"
"I have an idea!"
***
Before Fox would begin to ask another question, an apple fell on his head. Fox flinched and rubbed his head as he looked up. Sky. All sky. Fox wasn't even under a tree. "Where did that apple come from? Did you throw that, Starr?"
"ME???" Starr squeaked. "I was in front of you! I couldn't have thrown that apple even if I had one!"
"Then wha- OW!!!" Another one fell on his head. Fox looked in all directions. Nothing but trees, shrubbery, and earth. "All right, Diva, that's not funny! Cut that out- OW!!!" And another apple fell on his head. Three apples. Yet Fox was not standing under a tree, and if felt as if the apple came from above. The vulpine looked up into the sky. Falling like a dropped bomb, a fourth apple fell, only on Fox's face. Fox slapped his hands on his forehead and yelped and fell, in pain and definitely confused.
Starr's eyes widened. "Where did those apples come from???"
"Don't look at me!!!!!!!!" Before Fox would even think of where the fruit came from, a whole shower of apples fell all over the fox, yet not on Starr or anything else. Pretty soon, Fox found himself buried in a pile of red, deciduous apples.
The vulpine dug himself out and gasped for breath. Starr laughed, pointing to Fox as if making him a laughingstock. "Ha ha ha! Loser!"
"Oh, shaddup!" Fox yelled as he threw an apple on Starr's head. Before that apple would hit the lad's face, it stopped in midair and floated. Fox gaped, "HUH???" He rubbed his eyes and looked again. Before he would have his eyes on the apple again, it shot back into his nose, ricocheting into the trees before hitting him on the back on the head.
Starr stared and looked around then started laughing. Fox was too dazed to even ask what he's laughing at.
By the time he came to, the apples were gone. It seemed he was only out like light for a few minutes. He moaned, "Where did those apples go?"
"Right there," Starr said, pointing up.
Fox looked up. The apples were floating again, all of them several yards above his head in a cloud of fruit. This hinted Fox to run, shielding his head.
Yet even as he ran, the apples followed him, as if the wind was carrying them in its delicate yet strong hands. It quickly threw them, each of them well aiming for Fox's head, back, rear, and tail. Ultimately the fox stopped running, but the apples didn't stop shooting. They ricocheted on his forehead, nose, shoulders, chest, and stomach like missiles, not knocking him but bruising him instead. By the time a few well-aimed apples were shot on Fox's crotch the young vulpine moaned and flinched, falling to his knees before falling.
Starr shook his head and approached Fox as the apples floated and stopped shooting, "Wow... how are you gonna have pups with Krystal now?"
"STARR!!! You have a sick mind!"
"And so do your friends," Starr said as he kicked Fox's side lightly. He called out to the air, "Okay, you guys! You can stop now!"
"Who are you talking to?"
"My aunt and uncles. They brought you here after the fake Krystal skewered you."
"What?"
***
It sat atop of the rubble. Red, menacing eyes that glared banefully across the wreckage. Teeth as sharp as swords were bared in that sinister smile. His scales as green as flawless emeralds shone in the burning sun. His armor, plated with red and gold, also shone, his one hand on a dagger that shed much blood and his other but prosthesis of two sharp claws. On his head was a large helmet, with two horns on it as sharp as the Devil's himself, with a heart to match. An evil heart that thirsted for blood. Death. And revenge.
His plan was infallible. Indomitable. Nothing can reverse it. How can it be? The arson was perfect. The curiosity of the Krazoa came in no better time. And the death of the majority of the StarFox Team and the Cerenian vixen... ah. All is sweet. As sweet as the revenge from the man who killed him.
That man.... who took away his dictatorship and tyranny as hopeful ruler of Dinosaur Planet.
As he strolled in the debris of the once beautiful architecture of the Krazoa Palace, now destroyed by the angry flames of arson, he thought about how time was crawling ever so slowly. What is taking those Krazoa so long? Have they not taken their shells already? All he has heard is that by far only four have found those shells. Nothing else. The other two are weakening. Have they not killed that... that... man... that "hero" of Lylat? The specter clenched his only fist fiercely as he thought about it. That fox, that rather short, furry, impatient, money-grubbing fuzz ball with ears and a tail... why isn't he dead yet? Why haven't the Krazoa used the bodies and memories of his dear old "friends" and destroyed him? Why hasn't he suffered? Why hasn't his blood been shed? The apparition growled as he picked up a rock from the earth and clenched it, his fury crushing the stone and turning it into dust. Oh, how he pines for the bloodshed of the StarFox Leader, his screaming from suffering and moaning from dying are but music to his dead ears.
As he released the dust in his hands, he feels the piercing gaze from a set of two, sinister eyes. The armored ghost opened his hand and expelled the rest of the crushed stone then drew out his blade. "Who are you?" he roared, his booming voice shaking the earth, the birds in the sky shrieking in horror then fleeing in terror of the demon below them.
The owner of the two eyes stepped out slowly then bowed humbly. He spoke with utmost regard, "I am merely a man who awaits your service, milord."
"Be gone!" the apparition barked like an enraged wolf, ready to rip to shreds his helpless prey. "Away from here, stranger! I speak to no one."
"But my lord," the second being groaned with humility. He stepped out further to the deceased tyrant, revealing that he, too, is a shade who has been deceased for ever so long. He continued to plead, "I am only here to ask to serve you as your servant."
"Spare me your lies. I have been tricked once. It will not happen again."
"Oh, but sir, my lord, I do not intend to trick you. What I seek will be found in my service to you, and doing it will satisfy both of us if you give me a chance," the second spirit said as he bowed to the ground, falling on his knees first then placing his hands on the earth, his face hiding in the darkness of his own shade.
The armored specter snarled. "What is it you want? '
"Those Krazoa... only four has taken their shells. Originally their plan was merely to experience life outside of Dinosaur Planet, yet since you've destroyed their palace, their plans have changed, and they must rebuild their home. You, however, did this for your own purpose, and that is to seek revenge. I only ask to help you get that revenge."
"What will you do?"
"I can deliver to you the death of Fox McCloud. In return, one of the Krazoa can take his shell. However, one last Krazoa would be left. Yet can the Krazoa take the body of a dinosaur?"
"You speak of ignorance. I have taken a spirit of the Krazoa. Upon releasing it I also released my soul and caused my body to decease and die thirsting for revenge."
"Yes, sir. I understand."
"And?"
The second shade stood up, but he kept his face hidden. "I know a good shell for the last Krazoa."
"Do you?" the armored ghost asked, almost sounding as if interested. He approached a piece of stone walls and sat on it. "What... shell... do you speak of?"
"Have you heard of the one who goes by the name of Serena Jenson?"
The first spirit thought for a while. "Ah, yes... the one woman who came to Dinosaur Planet and was stranded here and bore her child of violation. Her?"
"Yes. You may not know it, but despite her appalling clumsiness, she is rather a remarkable warrior, one with extraordinary martial art skills and mastery of the tasekkon. She'd make an excellent shell for the sixth Krazoa."
The armored ghost's sinister eyes widened. "Oh?"
"And in return," the second shade continued, "all I ask is the woman's soul."
"Her soul? Why would you want her soul?"
"As you can already see, my lord, I, too, have no body of my own, for it was devoured by a ravening RedEye. I have sullied both her body and her soul and impregnated her, causing the birth of that wretched child, yet even without my body I still lust for her. If I don't have a body, then I must have her soul. The body can be given to the Krazoa as a shell. All I want is her soul."
The powerful specter cackled. He stood up, a large, menacing grin on his face. "I like your plan. All right. We have a deal. Grant me the death of McCloud and Jenson, and you can take her soul as yours. All of it. Do we have a deal?"
"That is all I want, yes."
"I must have your name."
The shadow looked up to his lord, revealing the face of a red-tailed hawk. "My name is Kuro Youkai. And I am forever at your service, my lord."
((To be continued...))
Dum...... da DUM dum........... DUUUUMMM! Now that I've finished Chapter 7, what do you think? Please review and let me know!
***
Chapter 7: "Uniting of Forces"
"Oh dear... oh my..." Diva whispered as she stroked her son to sleep. The three stars... the ruby, emerald, and sapphire... they've disappeared. And what's worse... another set of three stars... am aquamarine, an amethyst, and a jasper... their brightness are beginning to diminish. The woman's heart paced as she watched the glistening rays of the three other stars starting to dim. She especially gazed upon the aquamarine, knowing what it represents. "Please... don't.... fall..."
Too late. The aquamarine star completely lost its brightness, the twinkling becoming more than a speck of white before wholly disappearing. In its place, a dark spot appeared, darker than the night sky itself.
"Oh, no..." the young woman muttered, shuddering. The aquamarine star has already fallen, and the amethyst star seemed to be next to fall. "This... does not bide well."
***
Fox never noticed the falling stars. Instead, he was asleep, dreaming about them even before they were ever thought to have fallen.
*~*~*~*
"Papa," a small, three-year-old Fox McCloud whispered to his father's ear, "What's that up there?"
"Those are stars," James said with a smile as he lifted his son to his shoulders, setting him there.
"What's stars?"
"They're... um..." McCloud-san tried to come up with the best explanation he could give to a tiny child. "You see, they're giant balls of heat and lava that are compressed together. At a distance, though, they look really small, so all they do is sparkle and shine and act as natural night lights of the night sky."
"But isn't the moon the big night light?"
"Yes," James said as he squeezed little Fox's hand. "But sometimes the moon goes away, and then what happens? It gets dark. But the stars keep it from getting too dark. That's why they're there. Even one star cannot shine on its own. That's why there's so many."
Fox's eyes sparkled as he gazed into the stars. Yes, indeed, the light was beautiful. Their twinkling light was astonishing and breathtaking, their rays reaching out into the galaxy then vanishing in the infinite vastness. The little boy reached out to "touch" the stars, his hand covering the brightest star, the golden one that outshone three other of the brighter stars, a ruby, an emerald, and a sapphire. He gripped it, the twinkling disappearing in his grip. Fox closed his eyes then brought his closed fist to his chest, then reopened both his eyes and hand. Nothing.
James chuckled. "One day, Fox... you will be among the stars."
"Really?"
"Yes. In fact, you will fly higher than the stars. You can see them all that you like, and you can reach them and feel its brilliance."
"When, Papa? When?"
McCloud grinned at his son. What he meant by being among the stars was that one day Fox would fly along with him as a StarFox Mercenary Pilot. "When you grow up... you can join me and my Team."
"Team... are you really like the stars?"
"To shine together to bring light? Not exactly, Fox... not exactly... but if you think about it... yes. One cannot shine without the other to give light. That's why you have a Team. You work together for the benefit of others. Just like the stars."
***
Before he would do anything for the day, Starr placed on around his head a sweatband made of hemp. He painted his face with clay then looked into the stream. Once again, he had that forest native look. And he liked it.
Starr approached a large boulder with a pile of rocks on top of it and some leaves, berries, and fruits. He took the fruits and squeezed the juice out of them, pouring them in a bowl-shaped stone, then placed the berries and leaves into the juice. He mashed them together into a paste with a cleaned out rock, mixing them thoroughly. He checked once in a while to see if he crushed the seeds then took out the husks. He did this for fifteen minutes, making the paste as smooth as possible.
The little boy then slid down the boulder and strolled across the woods until he approached the sleeping Fox. He smiled when he noticed his peaceful face. He must be dreaming something nice.
Suddenly sinister cackling was heard in the air. Starr looked in all directions and spotted a Flying Creature diving in towards the young bird. The boy ducked, the Creature just barely missing. It headed towards the snoozing vulpine the started clawing him on the face, making him bleed.
Fox woke up in a start and started to panic, confused since all of this is happening so fast after just waking up. Starr grabbed the spear off his back and threw it at the Creature with great accuracy, the monster vanishing from the air as soon as the obsidian spear head skewered through its flesh.
Fox panted, "Whoa... good job, Starr!"
"Nah, it's no problem, Fox. Just target practice," he said as he approached the dazed fox and sat down.
The fox placed his hand on his face. He could feel the scratches the Flying Creature gave him. "Stupid @$$ creature... attacking while I'm sleeping! Ow!"
"Careful. You might get infected," the eyas said as he scooped up some of the paste. He gestured to Fox that he was about to apply it. Fox set down his hand and leaned forward so the boy can apply the home-made cream.
"What's that?" Fox asked. "Ointment?"
"Yeah, made of berries, leaves, and fruits from the Cape Claw palm trees and bushes. They have oils that quicken the healing process for a while. I made some for that wound on your chest, but I guess I have to put some on your face from that Flying Creature."
"Really? Who taught you how to make that?"
"My mama."
Fox smiled. Starr gestured to Fox to take off his shirt so he can apply the ointment on his chest, back, and shoulder. The vulpine nodded then slipped off his vest then his green shirt, allowing the boy to apply the cream.
"How long will it be until I heal completely?" Fox decided to ask.
"If you leave the wound to heal and not touch it and stuff, it'll take about three more days. That wound is pretty deep. Don't expect it to heal so soon."
Fox chuckled. "So, Starr, um... where's your mother?"
"Out to hunt for food. She'll come back with some fish in due time."
"Are you not scared when she's not around?"
"I can take care of myself."
"Then why don't you?"
Starr sighed. "Mama needs me. If I leave her, she'll be lonely. And so will I. And I don't want that."
"I see..." Fox thought about the song Diva sang to her son. "I heard her sing last night."
"Really?"
"She has a nice voice. She could really be a diva, no pun intended."
Both Starr and Fox laughed. Fox continued, "So, Starr, can you answer this question? I hope it's not offensive or anything..."
"Shoot!"
"Do you ever wish to get off of Dinosaur Planet?"
Starr paused. He looked up to the sunny sky, puffy white clouds floating across the blanket of light blue. "Sometimes."
"What would you like to be when you grow up?"
Starr smiled. "To be a mercenary. Just like you!"
"A... a mercenary?"
"I wanna help people across the galaxy! I wanna fight bad guys, save people's life, prevent them from suffering... maybe even prevent suffering like what my mama went through."
"I see..."
"Even when I grow up, get married and have my own kids, I would never abandon my mama. I'm not gonna leave her in some resting home; rather, she can stay with me. I know it's embarrassing, but I don't want mama to be all alone."
Fox grinned. "My... how noble. Maybe you SHOULD be a mercenary. You've got the heart of one."
"When you do go back to Lylat," Starr asked as he tugged Fox's arm. "will you take me and mama with you? I want to know what the outside world is like!"
Fox shuddered. 'Geez, he thought, that's what the Krazoa want. That's why they've taken my friend's dead bodies... and going home... will I ever go home?'
***
"There he is!" Krystal's voice sounded out from atop a cliff at Cape Claw. At distance, in the forests where many trees and bushes grew, a fox and an eyas were chatting. "There's Fox!"
"I see him!" Tricky exclaimed. He smiled, a menacing grin suddenly appearing on his scaly face.
"Uh-oh!" Slippy chuckled. "What's in your mind, Tricky?"
"I have an idea!"
***
Before Fox would begin to ask another question, an apple fell on his head. Fox flinched and rubbed his head as he looked up. Sky. All sky. Fox wasn't even under a tree. "Where did that apple come from? Did you throw that, Starr?"
"ME???" Starr squeaked. "I was in front of you! I couldn't have thrown that apple even if I had one!"
"Then wha- OW!!!" Another one fell on his head. Fox looked in all directions. Nothing but trees, shrubbery, and earth. "All right, Diva, that's not funny! Cut that out- OW!!!" And another apple fell on his head. Three apples. Yet Fox was not standing under a tree, and if felt as if the apple came from above. The vulpine looked up into the sky. Falling like a dropped bomb, a fourth apple fell, only on Fox's face. Fox slapped his hands on his forehead and yelped and fell, in pain and definitely confused.
Starr's eyes widened. "Where did those apples come from???"
"Don't look at me!!!!!!!!" Before Fox would even think of where the fruit came from, a whole shower of apples fell all over the fox, yet not on Starr or anything else. Pretty soon, Fox found himself buried in a pile of red, deciduous apples.
The vulpine dug himself out and gasped for breath. Starr laughed, pointing to Fox as if making him a laughingstock. "Ha ha ha! Loser!"
"Oh, shaddup!" Fox yelled as he threw an apple on Starr's head. Before that apple would hit the lad's face, it stopped in midair and floated. Fox gaped, "HUH???" He rubbed his eyes and looked again. Before he would have his eyes on the apple again, it shot back into his nose, ricocheting into the trees before hitting him on the back on the head.
Starr stared and looked around then started laughing. Fox was too dazed to even ask what he's laughing at.
By the time he came to, the apples were gone. It seemed he was only out like light for a few minutes. He moaned, "Where did those apples go?"
"Right there," Starr said, pointing up.
Fox looked up. The apples were floating again, all of them several yards above his head in a cloud of fruit. This hinted Fox to run, shielding his head.
Yet even as he ran, the apples followed him, as if the wind was carrying them in its delicate yet strong hands. It quickly threw them, each of them well aiming for Fox's head, back, rear, and tail. Ultimately the fox stopped running, but the apples didn't stop shooting. They ricocheted on his forehead, nose, shoulders, chest, and stomach like missiles, not knocking him but bruising him instead. By the time a few well-aimed apples were shot on Fox's crotch the young vulpine moaned and flinched, falling to his knees before falling.
Starr shook his head and approached Fox as the apples floated and stopped shooting, "Wow... how are you gonna have pups with Krystal now?"
"STARR!!! You have a sick mind!"
"And so do your friends," Starr said as he kicked Fox's side lightly. He called out to the air, "Okay, you guys! You can stop now!"
"Who are you talking to?"
"My aunt and uncles. They brought you here after the fake Krystal skewered you."
"What?"
***
It sat atop of the rubble. Red, menacing eyes that glared banefully across the wreckage. Teeth as sharp as swords were bared in that sinister smile. His scales as green as flawless emeralds shone in the burning sun. His armor, plated with red and gold, also shone, his one hand on a dagger that shed much blood and his other but prosthesis of two sharp claws. On his head was a large helmet, with two horns on it as sharp as the Devil's himself, with a heart to match. An evil heart that thirsted for blood. Death. And revenge.
His plan was infallible. Indomitable. Nothing can reverse it. How can it be? The arson was perfect. The curiosity of the Krazoa came in no better time. And the death of the majority of the StarFox Team and the Cerenian vixen... ah. All is sweet. As sweet as the revenge from the man who killed him.
That man.... who took away his dictatorship and tyranny as hopeful ruler of Dinosaur Planet.
As he strolled in the debris of the once beautiful architecture of the Krazoa Palace, now destroyed by the angry flames of arson, he thought about how time was crawling ever so slowly. What is taking those Krazoa so long? Have they not taken their shells already? All he has heard is that by far only four have found those shells. Nothing else. The other two are weakening. Have they not killed that... that... man... that "hero" of Lylat? The specter clenched his only fist fiercely as he thought about it. That fox, that rather short, furry, impatient, money-grubbing fuzz ball with ears and a tail... why isn't he dead yet? Why haven't the Krazoa used the bodies and memories of his dear old "friends" and destroyed him? Why hasn't he suffered? Why hasn't his blood been shed? The apparition growled as he picked up a rock from the earth and clenched it, his fury crushing the stone and turning it into dust. Oh, how he pines for the bloodshed of the StarFox Leader, his screaming from suffering and moaning from dying are but music to his dead ears.
As he released the dust in his hands, he feels the piercing gaze from a set of two, sinister eyes. The armored ghost opened his hand and expelled the rest of the crushed stone then drew out his blade. "Who are you?" he roared, his booming voice shaking the earth, the birds in the sky shrieking in horror then fleeing in terror of the demon below them.
The owner of the two eyes stepped out slowly then bowed humbly. He spoke with utmost regard, "I am merely a man who awaits your service, milord."
"Be gone!" the apparition barked like an enraged wolf, ready to rip to shreds his helpless prey. "Away from here, stranger! I speak to no one."
"But my lord," the second being groaned with humility. He stepped out further to the deceased tyrant, revealing that he, too, is a shade who has been deceased for ever so long. He continued to plead, "I am only here to ask to serve you as your servant."
"Spare me your lies. I have been tricked once. It will not happen again."
"Oh, but sir, my lord, I do not intend to trick you. What I seek will be found in my service to you, and doing it will satisfy both of us if you give me a chance," the second spirit said as he bowed to the ground, falling on his knees first then placing his hands on the earth, his face hiding in the darkness of his own shade.
The armored specter snarled. "What is it you want? '
"Those Krazoa... only four has taken their shells. Originally their plan was merely to experience life outside of Dinosaur Planet, yet since you've destroyed their palace, their plans have changed, and they must rebuild their home. You, however, did this for your own purpose, and that is to seek revenge. I only ask to help you get that revenge."
"What will you do?"
"I can deliver to you the death of Fox McCloud. In return, one of the Krazoa can take his shell. However, one last Krazoa would be left. Yet can the Krazoa take the body of a dinosaur?"
"You speak of ignorance. I have taken a spirit of the Krazoa. Upon releasing it I also released my soul and caused my body to decease and die thirsting for revenge."
"Yes, sir. I understand."
"And?"
The second shade stood up, but he kept his face hidden. "I know a good shell for the last Krazoa."
"Do you?" the armored ghost asked, almost sounding as if interested. He approached a piece of stone walls and sat on it. "What... shell... do you speak of?"
"Have you heard of the one who goes by the name of Serena Jenson?"
The first spirit thought for a while. "Ah, yes... the one woman who came to Dinosaur Planet and was stranded here and bore her child of violation. Her?"
"Yes. You may not know it, but despite her appalling clumsiness, she is rather a remarkable warrior, one with extraordinary martial art skills and mastery of the tasekkon. She'd make an excellent shell for the sixth Krazoa."
The armored ghost's sinister eyes widened. "Oh?"
"And in return," the second shade continued, "all I ask is the woman's soul."
"Her soul? Why would you want her soul?"
"As you can already see, my lord, I, too, have no body of my own, for it was devoured by a ravening RedEye. I have sullied both her body and her soul and impregnated her, causing the birth of that wretched child, yet even without my body I still lust for her. If I don't have a body, then I must have her soul. The body can be given to the Krazoa as a shell. All I want is her soul."
The powerful specter cackled. He stood up, a large, menacing grin on his face. "I like your plan. All right. We have a deal. Grant me the death of McCloud and Jenson, and you can take her soul as yours. All of it. Do we have a deal?"
"That is all I want, yes."
"I must have your name."
The shadow looked up to his lord, revealing the face of a red-tailed hawk. "My name is Kuro Youkai. And I am forever at your service, my lord."
((To be continued...))
Dum...... da DUM dum........... DUUUUMMM! Now that I've finished Chapter 7, what do you think? Please review and let me know!