Author's Note: I don't anything here. All related to StarFox and StarFox
Adventures belong to Nintendo and Rare. Anything related to Japanese
mythology (Jigoku and the chains) belong to... well, Japanese mythology.
Otherwise the only thing I own here is the plot and Diva and Starr Jenson
and Kuro Youkai. Sorry if the plot strays a bit, I'm struggling to keep
face. I've been writing this fic ever since November, and it's near
completion now, but that doesn't mean I'll update my fic every day because
of school. Please R&R. Thank you.
~~Imagen~~
***
Chapter 10: "Resurrecting Hopes"
"FOX!!! BEHIND YOU!!!"
Fox quickly shot a glance as soon as he heard Diva's cries yet saw nothing. He did, however, feel a sudden chill on his spine, and he rolled out of the way, Scales blade only slashing down the skin of his back. It reopened Fox's wound, but thanks to Starr's homemade medicine only a small amount of blood was shed. He still cannot see Scales's ghost coming after him with his sword drawn, but he does know of an invisible evil out there to kill him. Fox rolled away and ducked under a pillar, then started running around the ruins as Scales chased him. The vulpine can hear the phantom's footsteps and his furious growls, which was the only way he can detect the ghost's presence.
Only the falcon mother and son pair, Diva and Starr, can see all the ghosts, but Starr was unconscious, and Diva was trying to stay away as far from the wreckage as possible. She knows that Kuro was out there, and should he see her she'll encounter her worst nightmares for a third time.
Kuro did see her, however, and he vanished from Falco's sight and reappeared in Diva's. Diva fell back in surprise, and Kuro reached out to pin her again when Falco quickly darted to him and kicked him down. The blue falcon noticed his comrades, Peppy, Slippy, and Krystal watching in bloody horror as Falco fends off Diva and Fox runs from General Scales. He shouted, "You dolts! Go after Scales, he's after Fox to kill him!"
Krystal may no longer have her staff (again), but she still has her empty- handed martial art skills. She and the rabbit and frog raced to the chasing SharpClaw and ambushed him, Krystal tripping him, Peppy roundhousing, and Slippy tackling. Scales let himself fall, and Krystal pinned him down like a wrestler. "Fox!" She shouted as she held up two fingers as a victory sign (even though Fox won't see it). "We got him!"
Fox looked around, seeing only rubble, Starr, and Diva. "Really?"
Scales only laughed, and even the StarFox Leader can hear it. The earth suddenly shook, and whatever's left standing toppled and collapsed, including Diva and Fox. Fox hit his head on the hard stone earth, opening his temple as he felt the ground quaking. He stumbled near Starr, who was still out cold. Fox's ears twitched when he heard cracking. "No... could it be...?"
The earth quickly opened her mouth, a fissure gaping on the ground. Fox watched as fire spat and smoke rose from the abyss, the smell of brimstone and sulphur burning in his nostrils. "What is this?" he gasped. "Could it be... Hell?"
"It is a good thing I had the gates of Jigoku opened... just in case," Scales cackled as a strange sound sounded out in Fox's ears... sounding like metal chains clanging together. The earth stopped shaking then suddenly thrashed and halted again as something was shot in the air. Steel chains from the flames of Jigoku darted like missiles into the sky then dived towards all the ghosts but Kuro, snaring them, wrapping around their arms, necks, and ankles. Peppy, Slippy, Falco, and Krystal struggled to pull them off, but not only were the chains heavy, it was also as if they were permanently glued to their souls. Fox cannot see the prisoners of the chains, but he could see the silhouettes of his late team formed by the traps. Whoever was at the other end of the chains then abruptly pulled them with massive strength, dragging the ghosts into the abyss. Both Fox and Diva watched in horror as the clumps of chains were hauled into the smoking chasm, Slippy going in first, then Peppy, then Falco then Krystal.
Just like the chains pulling them in, the StarFox Team linked together to prevent any of them separating. Krystal took a death grip on the ledge of the fissure, tightly grasping the earth before she or the Team would fall into a burning demise.
As Diva watched, she didn't notice Kuro closing in on her and pinning her down. Kuro glared into the falcon's eyes as he held her down with telekinesis. "I have had enough of this child's play," he said as he began rolling up her skirt once again. "Now it's down to business before I own you for eternity..."
"FOX!!!" Krystal screamed. Fox can't see her, but with the sound of her voice and the clumps of chains around her invisible arm, the StarFox Leader could tell where his comrade is being in peril. He raced to where he could see the chains, but more began to shoot everywhere. Fox rolled, leaped, and dodged every one of them, holding his shoulder where his wound reopened.
Krystal screamed back, "No, Fox! Don't come any closer!"
"B-But-"
"Just get Starr and Diva out of here!" Peppy hollered, his voice echoing in the chasm.
"B-But-"
"NOW!!!!!!!"
Fox looked back. The little boy, Starr, was regaining consciousness, kneeling and leaning on the boulder he fell upon, rubbing his head. Directly behind him his mother thrashing violently as the hawk lay with her in the shadows, gripping her as he did his business. The vulpine was confused at what he saw at first, but it began to make sense when he saw the woman thrash about with her body shaking violently like the earth under them before.
Starr had been witnessing it all this time. "No....... Mama... MAMA!!!"
"Don't look!" Fox shouted as he ran and covered Starr's eyes. More chains flew towards them, and Fox saw to it that he had no choice. He wrapped one of his arms around Starr's shoulders, his other covering his eyes, then began to retreat from the chasm. Starr pulled the arm down as he watched Kuro hover his hand over his mother's chest.
"Now to end it all," Kuro declared as he thrust his ghastly hand into Diva's chest. Fox was still running, everything happening so fast, but to Starr, it was as if everything was in slow motion. Kuro wrapped his wing around Diva's heart and began to crush it. The falcon woman felt her vital organ being compressed, every single feather around her heart, struggling to beat and pump the life through her veins. She began to sweat, and blood dripped down her beak, her eyes swelling and reddening. Kuro just kept crushing and crushing until he heard an imploding sound in his ears, the organ turning into crumbly mush. Starr witnessed it all. All of it. He watched his mother take one last look at her son, reaching out to him as he retreated with Fox before her hand became limp.
Both Fox's arms were around Starr, but from what he watched and heard he wished he could cover his own eyes and ears from the horrors approaching him in all directions, crashing down on him all at once like an avalanche of fear, confusion, and sorrow.
***
Nighttime. Tricky waited far too long. He paced around the WarpStone, patiently waiting for Fox, Diva, and Starr to return. He looked up into the sky. The sun had set long time ago, and the moon already rose with her companions, the stars, accompanying her. Crickets chirped, scarabs scurried, the river plodded, and the wind whispered into the EarthWalker's ears. Tricky's feet finally gave up, and he sat on his rump on the closest boulder to him. The WarpStone noticed the exhausted dinosaur, and he sighed, also anxious about the StarFox's long absence.
Finally the WarpStone felt them coming, and he held out his hand as green mist formed in his palm. Only Fox reappeared, with Starr being held in his arms.
Tricky leaped for joy and ran to Fox to greet him. "Fox! You made it, and ya got Starr! Where's Diva?"
Fox didn't speak, but instead held a moment of silence.
Tricky's voice began to tremble, "Oh, no... Fox? What happened?"
"I......... I couldn't save her......"
Fox bent down to place Starr on the ground, but the young boy held the vulpine close. Fox could feel the warmth of the child's tears soak up on his shirt and the shuddering of the boy's shoulders. Tricky nuzzled the eyas, and Starr finally turned his head to let out his grief, bawling and sobbing out his cries. Fox, Tricky, and even the WarpStone began to sympathize with the little boy. Even Fox began to shed a tear.
"Mama...." Starr choked out in between sobs. "Mama... Mama.... MAMA!!! MAMAAAAA!!!"
Fox held the screaming boy closer, more teardrops falling. Tricky joined in the grieving by nuzzling closer to Starr, and even the WarpStone bent over to place his hands over the mourning child. Starr lost all he had. His mother gave him companionship no one else gave him in his entire nine years in his life, and he even vowed he'd protect her even as a grownup. Now she's gone.
The sky looked down upon the child's sobs and lamented with him, the amethystine star falling like a teardrop from the silver moon.
***
Hours passed. Many hours passed. The false StarFox Team sat around in the forests right by LightFoot Village, waiting for the sun to rise. As soon as sister moon went to bed, her brother sun rose and yawned out his ray of golden light. The false StarFox sighed, glad and happy to live (in another's' bodies) for another day.
Yet as they sat there, the two remaining Krazoa flew around them, angered as their beings weakened. The fifth Krazoa flew through all four of them and whispered as if afraid that someone may hear it, "You still.... have not given us our shells..."
"Patience, brother," the Krazoa Peppy whispered back as he held up his palm. "We shall soon find you a good shell-"
"Shhhhhhhh, silence, brothers," Krazoa Krystal hushed. "A stranger comes."
In the shadows of the trees by the walls shielding LightFoot Village, a shady character drags a body out into the open. The one man who violated the stranded falcon woman greeted the Krazoa, who rested atop of the wall. Kuro Youkai smiled as he bowed and gave his salutations, "Greetings, my lords and lady Krazoa."
All four of the shelled Krazoa suddenly stood up, the two floating ones hiding behind them. Krazoa Krystal armed herself with her staff, her brothers with a katana, a mace, and a tasekkon. "How do you know of us? Be you a spy on us Krazoa Spirits?"
"Oh, no, not at all, please forgive me. I only but have knowledge of the Spirits who tragically left the Palace when an evil spirit destroyed it with arson's fire."
The Krazoa growled. Slippy stepped forward, his feet at the edge of the wall. "What do you come here for?"
"I bring you a gift!" Kuro said with a humble bow, presenting the body of his late victim. "Please, take it."
Krazoa Falco's eyes widened. "Isn't she the woman who ambushed us that one night...?"
"She is indeed. My Lord Krazoa, the one who possesses the shell of the blue falcon, if you dig deep into his memory the shell possesses in his brain, you should see the history of this woman."
Krazoa Falco lifted an eyebrow then turned to his brothers and sister. They nodded, and he closed his eyes, concentrating on his body's memory. Memories of war... bloodshed... pointless fighting and bickering, rash actions and regretful decisions... and at the same time, warm memories of love... happiness... and wonderful times of companionship and achievement... they've reached the Krazoa hidden in the tiercel's body. He dug deep into the memory and spotted the moment of time when he took in a falcon woman, who was impregnated by the same man who brought in her corpse, nine years ago. The Krazoa who possessed Falco's shell reopened his eyes and spoke to the hawk below him, "That woman... you sullied her nine years ago in the streets of...... Zoness, is it?"
"Yes, indeed!" Kuro replied. "That is the planet where Miss Serena Jenson was born and raised. Now that you have shells, perhaps you would like to know what it is like to live there other than this wretched planet of the dinosaurs!"
"Someday," Krazoa Slippy said. "However, we would like you to take back the word 'wretched,' for although we wish to see the life outside of Dinosaur Planet, this is still the planet we love and protect with all our being and spirit."
"I see... just asking, what would you all do once you satisfy your curiosity towards Lylat?"
Krazoa Peppy smiled. "It is simple... we return the bodies."
"What?"
"I sense that the true owners of these bodies are still present. If they make peace with us, we shall return these bodies without a fight. Because we have hurried the healing process from the shells' deaths, once we exit the ghosts can return with healthy bodies as if nothing ever happened."
"I see....."
The shelled Krazoa looked up to their free-floating brothers. "Would one of you like to take Miss Jenson as your shell?"
"I would," the fifth said as it flew over Diva's body. Upon entering it, it remolded the crushed heart of the woman, enabling it to beat once again. Diva's eyes opened, and she began breathing again then sat up. The Krazoa looked at her hands then began to stand, observing the movement of the shell.
"Well, my lord, or should I say my lady," Kuro started, "how does it feel?"
"Swell."
"Then, I must leave you for your own purposes. Farewell."
Before Krazoa Diva would give Kuro her thanks the dark phantom vanished. Peppy sighed, the wisdom of the rabbit adding to his knowledge, "What does that man have to do with us? How does he know of our curiosity? Surely he really isn't some sort of spy..."
Diva nodded. "Keep watch, my brothers and sister. It seems to me there is something behind all this... why would anyone just hand us a body just for our interest? Perhaps there something he wants in return...?"
***
It had been three days ever since the death of Starr Jenson's mother, Serena, or "Diva" as others known her. For those days Fox and Starr sojourned in the EarthWalker Palace, comforting the grieving boy. Fox join him in his lamenting, not only because Diva was a friend, but also because he too lost his mother at a young age and therefore sympathized the poor boy. Even Tricky ran to his mother and nuzzled closely to her, as in fear that he'll lose her. The Queen nuzzled back and lay close to Starr, embracing the child as he mourned.
***
On the third day, after breakfast, Fox ran back to the WarpStone. There, the giant slab of stone with arms and a loudmouth greeted him. "Aye, good morning, Fox!"
"Good morning, WarpStone! Is it safe to return to the Krazoa Palace Ruins?"
The WarpStone shook his head. "I'm afraid not! There is still great evil lurking in the remains."
"Damn," Fox mumbled. "What do you think is going on?"
"Well, what do YOU think?"
"Other than a vengeance-obsessed ghost who is trying to kill me is roaming about, and a big chasm in the middle of the wreck is waiting to open for my untimely demise, I can't think of anything else."
The WarpStone sighed. Fox continued, "Do... you know if my Team survived?"
"Of course, they didn't!"
"Not THAT kind of survived!"
"............... Oh, you mean their spirits escaping Jigoku's chains?"
"What exactly is Jigoku?" Fox asked. "I've heard of it somewhere..."
"It's the Japanese Hell, the one that onis, gakis, yuureis, and demons dwell to feed upon the flesh of the dead. They say if a ghost who cannot find rest will not find it within a certain time, the gates of Jigoku will open and snatch them away to transform them into evil spirits."
"But that's in Japan! THIS is Dinosaur Planet!"
The WarpStone only shrugged. Fox sighed with frustration and sadness wedded together, falling to the dirt then sitting in puppy style. "Do you think Peppy, Slippy, Falco, and Krystal were snatched into Jigoku? I mean, they didn't find rest yet, assuming why they're still roaming about in Dinosaur Planet."
"I doubt it's their time yet."
"But the chains were still trying to capture them-"
"They were too close to the opening! Somehow Scales was able to open it at his will!"
"Scales...." There was a long pause, as if Fox was thinking about what he'll say next. "When is Scales's time? ... How was he able to open the gates? ... How will he be able to find rest? ..."
"I can only answer one of your questions."
"Which one?"
"How will he find rest? Simple. By your death he'll repose."
"Geez, it's times like these I wonder if these guys know the meaning of 'Requiescat En Pace!'"
"What does that mean?"
The StarFox Leader stared blankly before he would answer the giant stone's question. "Rest in peace."
"Oh."
Fox jumped to his and pounded his fist. "There HAS to be a way to get rid of Scales's menace!"
"Simple! Kill yourself!"
"What kind of ally are you? I'm trying to find a way to stop him without the necessity of my death!"
The WarpStone only shrugged. "I'm sorry, Fox, but this I cannot help you with!"
Fox sighed again, holding his head and shaking it. "I think I'll go for a walk..."
***
Starr was done with his crying, but not with his mourning. As he took a stroll in the cliff sides of Cape Claw, memories of his dear mother came to his head. Her motherly kisses, her sweet embrace, the advice she gave, her gentle, tender care, her soothing lullabies.... They all danced in his head as he walked, the face of his lovely mother in the clouds. Starr sniveled and wiped his eye, then gazed back into the clouds as Diva's face vanished with the rest of the puffs of white, the child murmuring, "Mama..."
Out of the bushes, all of the sudden, a little creature, the Bafomdad, leaped out of nowhere and hopped on Starr's head. Caught by surprise, Starr panicked and wobbled about, waving his arms madly to shoo the Bafomdad on his head. He blindly inched towards the edge of the cliff, his foot twisting then stumbling off. The boy caught on the ledge before he plummeted sixty feet into the rocky earth below him, but out of tragedy and lack of luck the edge crumbled, Starr dropping a long way down before falling on his head upon a boulder like an egg.
***
"Starr? Starr!" Tricky called as he ran about in Cape Claw. It was about noon, after Fox was done talking to the WarpStone and Starr falling off the cliff. Yet the Prince EarthWalker was unaware of either, and he was worried about the fox and falcon boy when he realized they've been gone for hours.
Pretty soon the dinosaur reunited with the strolling fox. Fox noticed Tricky's worried eyes. "Tricky? What's wrong?"
"Fox! Thank goodness, you're okay!" Tricky sighed in relief. "But where's Starr?"
"Huh? Wasn't he with you?"
"I thought he was with YOU!!!"
"I'm right here, guys!" a voice called from a distance deep underneath where Fox and Tricky stood. Both ran to the edge and found the young boy, sitting next to a boulder dripping with blood.
Fox and Tricky found a *safe* way down and ran to the sitting boy. "Starr? What happened?"
"Well... ya know how my mama has problems with holes and cliffs, how she always fall down?"
"Sadly, yes," Tricky replied.
Fox raised his eyebrows. "Don't tell me you're becoming just like your mom!"
"I'll take that as a compliment, not that falling off a cliff is a good thing, though!"
"That boulder... is that where you fell upon?"
"Yes." Starr turned to the puddle of blood, where tiny footsteps from the Bafomdad that bugged him hopped about. "There was a Bafomdad that came outta nowhere and startled me... I fell off the cliff... I thought I died the instant I fell, but then that Bafomdad.... Fox, you know what Bafomdads can do to you once you die, right?"
"Um, they heal your wounds and restore life to you..." Fox looked up, as if trying to recall from his first adventure on Dinosaur Planet. "I remember now... I once held a Bafomdad bag that could hold up to ten Bafomdads... and every time I fell dead from a battle, fell off a cliff (not like your mom, mind you), drown, blah, blah, blah, one of those ten Bafomdads would come out and revive me before they vanish..."
Starr looked back at the clouds. Although the image of his mother was no longer there, he felt as if she is still watching. "It's as if... Mama was guiding me... as if to tell me something..."
"Tell you.... tell you what?"
Starr smiled, the smile from a confident and bold boy. "Fox, I have a new mission to embark!"
"A mission?"
"And I will need your help!"
"MY help???"
"I'm gonna look for five Bafomdads for Mama and your friends... and you're going to help me!"
"It won't be that easy, Starr...." a voice, low and melancholy yet beautiful, spoke as a shadow stepped out. Starr, Fox, and Tricky stepped back as a woman who looked like Starr's mother stepped forward.
"M-Mama?" Starr muttered.
"Not quite," the woman said. "But I have come here to tell you of your new quest, Starr."
"Really?"
Fox stepped close to the Diva look-alike and gazed into her eyes. Purple pupils. "Are you a Krazoa in Diva's body?"
"That's quite right, Fox. A mysterious man offered me this shell to possess. A red-tailed hawk, if I may add."
"Papa..." Starr murmured as he clenched two fists.
The Krazoa Diva continued, "You can't just get any Bafomdad to revive your dead comrades. They've been dead for over twenty-four hours, long enough to actually have the bodies rot and decompose. In order to revive corpses that have been dead for a very long time, you'll need a special Bafomdad to do so."
"Really?" Tricky questioned. "What kind of Bafomdads?"
"They are known as Golden Bafomdads, and they're as rare as jewels. I know where nine exist, one that roams about by itself and the other eight dwelling upon the eight dinosaur tribes. However, getting just five won't be any easier."
((to be continued...))
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ END OF PART I ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
((YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!! Part I is complete! Now that Fox, Tricky, and Starr are taught of a method of reviving the late StarFox Team and Krystal and Diva, how long will it be until they are resurrected? Will General Scales find peace? What will be of Diva now that she too is dead? And the StarFox ghosts........... What has happened to them? How much longer can Fox survive in this world of ghosts? And how much will Starr survive now that his mother is dead?))
Fox: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!! TOO MANY QUESTIONS!!! (Turns to Imagen) You are freakin' constantly putting me in danger of being killed!
Krazoa Diva: And the fact that she keeps killing off her characters...
Krazoa Falco: What say we put her in that same position?
(Everyone nods and take out their weapons, including General Scales and Kuro)
Starr: DIE IMAGEN!!!!
Imagen: (Runs) AAAAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!! (Tries to find a place to hide) I'm sorry, okay?! I have to build up tension so I can get more readers! (Hides under a rock)
(Everyone finds her, pulls her out and beats the living crap out of her)
Fox: (Stomps on her head) That has NOTHING to do with killing us off!
Imagen: *** @_@ *** Please review so I can continue on to Part II of "Falling Stars"!
~~Imagen~~
***
Chapter 10: "Resurrecting Hopes"
"FOX!!! BEHIND YOU!!!"
Fox quickly shot a glance as soon as he heard Diva's cries yet saw nothing. He did, however, feel a sudden chill on his spine, and he rolled out of the way, Scales blade only slashing down the skin of his back. It reopened Fox's wound, but thanks to Starr's homemade medicine only a small amount of blood was shed. He still cannot see Scales's ghost coming after him with his sword drawn, but he does know of an invisible evil out there to kill him. Fox rolled away and ducked under a pillar, then started running around the ruins as Scales chased him. The vulpine can hear the phantom's footsteps and his furious growls, which was the only way he can detect the ghost's presence.
Only the falcon mother and son pair, Diva and Starr, can see all the ghosts, but Starr was unconscious, and Diva was trying to stay away as far from the wreckage as possible. She knows that Kuro was out there, and should he see her she'll encounter her worst nightmares for a third time.
Kuro did see her, however, and he vanished from Falco's sight and reappeared in Diva's. Diva fell back in surprise, and Kuro reached out to pin her again when Falco quickly darted to him and kicked him down. The blue falcon noticed his comrades, Peppy, Slippy, and Krystal watching in bloody horror as Falco fends off Diva and Fox runs from General Scales. He shouted, "You dolts! Go after Scales, he's after Fox to kill him!"
Krystal may no longer have her staff (again), but she still has her empty- handed martial art skills. She and the rabbit and frog raced to the chasing SharpClaw and ambushed him, Krystal tripping him, Peppy roundhousing, and Slippy tackling. Scales let himself fall, and Krystal pinned him down like a wrestler. "Fox!" She shouted as she held up two fingers as a victory sign (even though Fox won't see it). "We got him!"
Fox looked around, seeing only rubble, Starr, and Diva. "Really?"
Scales only laughed, and even the StarFox Leader can hear it. The earth suddenly shook, and whatever's left standing toppled and collapsed, including Diva and Fox. Fox hit his head on the hard stone earth, opening his temple as he felt the ground quaking. He stumbled near Starr, who was still out cold. Fox's ears twitched when he heard cracking. "No... could it be...?"
The earth quickly opened her mouth, a fissure gaping on the ground. Fox watched as fire spat and smoke rose from the abyss, the smell of brimstone and sulphur burning in his nostrils. "What is this?" he gasped. "Could it be... Hell?"
"It is a good thing I had the gates of Jigoku opened... just in case," Scales cackled as a strange sound sounded out in Fox's ears... sounding like metal chains clanging together. The earth stopped shaking then suddenly thrashed and halted again as something was shot in the air. Steel chains from the flames of Jigoku darted like missiles into the sky then dived towards all the ghosts but Kuro, snaring them, wrapping around their arms, necks, and ankles. Peppy, Slippy, Falco, and Krystal struggled to pull them off, but not only were the chains heavy, it was also as if they were permanently glued to their souls. Fox cannot see the prisoners of the chains, but he could see the silhouettes of his late team formed by the traps. Whoever was at the other end of the chains then abruptly pulled them with massive strength, dragging the ghosts into the abyss. Both Fox and Diva watched in horror as the clumps of chains were hauled into the smoking chasm, Slippy going in first, then Peppy, then Falco then Krystal.
Just like the chains pulling them in, the StarFox Team linked together to prevent any of them separating. Krystal took a death grip on the ledge of the fissure, tightly grasping the earth before she or the Team would fall into a burning demise.
As Diva watched, she didn't notice Kuro closing in on her and pinning her down. Kuro glared into the falcon's eyes as he held her down with telekinesis. "I have had enough of this child's play," he said as he began rolling up her skirt once again. "Now it's down to business before I own you for eternity..."
"FOX!!!" Krystal screamed. Fox can't see her, but with the sound of her voice and the clumps of chains around her invisible arm, the StarFox Leader could tell where his comrade is being in peril. He raced to where he could see the chains, but more began to shoot everywhere. Fox rolled, leaped, and dodged every one of them, holding his shoulder where his wound reopened.
Krystal screamed back, "No, Fox! Don't come any closer!"
"B-But-"
"Just get Starr and Diva out of here!" Peppy hollered, his voice echoing in the chasm.
"B-But-"
"NOW!!!!!!!"
Fox looked back. The little boy, Starr, was regaining consciousness, kneeling and leaning on the boulder he fell upon, rubbing his head. Directly behind him his mother thrashing violently as the hawk lay with her in the shadows, gripping her as he did his business. The vulpine was confused at what he saw at first, but it began to make sense when he saw the woman thrash about with her body shaking violently like the earth under them before.
Starr had been witnessing it all this time. "No....... Mama... MAMA!!!"
"Don't look!" Fox shouted as he ran and covered Starr's eyes. More chains flew towards them, and Fox saw to it that he had no choice. He wrapped one of his arms around Starr's shoulders, his other covering his eyes, then began to retreat from the chasm. Starr pulled the arm down as he watched Kuro hover his hand over his mother's chest.
"Now to end it all," Kuro declared as he thrust his ghastly hand into Diva's chest. Fox was still running, everything happening so fast, but to Starr, it was as if everything was in slow motion. Kuro wrapped his wing around Diva's heart and began to crush it. The falcon woman felt her vital organ being compressed, every single feather around her heart, struggling to beat and pump the life through her veins. She began to sweat, and blood dripped down her beak, her eyes swelling and reddening. Kuro just kept crushing and crushing until he heard an imploding sound in his ears, the organ turning into crumbly mush. Starr witnessed it all. All of it. He watched his mother take one last look at her son, reaching out to him as he retreated with Fox before her hand became limp.
Both Fox's arms were around Starr, but from what he watched and heard he wished he could cover his own eyes and ears from the horrors approaching him in all directions, crashing down on him all at once like an avalanche of fear, confusion, and sorrow.
***
Nighttime. Tricky waited far too long. He paced around the WarpStone, patiently waiting for Fox, Diva, and Starr to return. He looked up into the sky. The sun had set long time ago, and the moon already rose with her companions, the stars, accompanying her. Crickets chirped, scarabs scurried, the river plodded, and the wind whispered into the EarthWalker's ears. Tricky's feet finally gave up, and he sat on his rump on the closest boulder to him. The WarpStone noticed the exhausted dinosaur, and he sighed, also anxious about the StarFox's long absence.
Finally the WarpStone felt them coming, and he held out his hand as green mist formed in his palm. Only Fox reappeared, with Starr being held in his arms.
Tricky leaped for joy and ran to Fox to greet him. "Fox! You made it, and ya got Starr! Where's Diva?"
Fox didn't speak, but instead held a moment of silence.
Tricky's voice began to tremble, "Oh, no... Fox? What happened?"
"I......... I couldn't save her......"
Fox bent down to place Starr on the ground, but the young boy held the vulpine close. Fox could feel the warmth of the child's tears soak up on his shirt and the shuddering of the boy's shoulders. Tricky nuzzled the eyas, and Starr finally turned his head to let out his grief, bawling and sobbing out his cries. Fox, Tricky, and even the WarpStone began to sympathize with the little boy. Even Fox began to shed a tear.
"Mama...." Starr choked out in between sobs. "Mama... Mama.... MAMA!!! MAMAAAAA!!!"
Fox held the screaming boy closer, more teardrops falling. Tricky joined in the grieving by nuzzling closer to Starr, and even the WarpStone bent over to place his hands over the mourning child. Starr lost all he had. His mother gave him companionship no one else gave him in his entire nine years in his life, and he even vowed he'd protect her even as a grownup. Now she's gone.
The sky looked down upon the child's sobs and lamented with him, the amethystine star falling like a teardrop from the silver moon.
***
Hours passed. Many hours passed. The false StarFox Team sat around in the forests right by LightFoot Village, waiting for the sun to rise. As soon as sister moon went to bed, her brother sun rose and yawned out his ray of golden light. The false StarFox sighed, glad and happy to live (in another's' bodies) for another day.
Yet as they sat there, the two remaining Krazoa flew around them, angered as their beings weakened. The fifth Krazoa flew through all four of them and whispered as if afraid that someone may hear it, "You still.... have not given us our shells..."
"Patience, brother," the Krazoa Peppy whispered back as he held up his palm. "We shall soon find you a good shell-"
"Shhhhhhhh, silence, brothers," Krazoa Krystal hushed. "A stranger comes."
In the shadows of the trees by the walls shielding LightFoot Village, a shady character drags a body out into the open. The one man who violated the stranded falcon woman greeted the Krazoa, who rested atop of the wall. Kuro Youkai smiled as he bowed and gave his salutations, "Greetings, my lords and lady Krazoa."
All four of the shelled Krazoa suddenly stood up, the two floating ones hiding behind them. Krazoa Krystal armed herself with her staff, her brothers with a katana, a mace, and a tasekkon. "How do you know of us? Be you a spy on us Krazoa Spirits?"
"Oh, no, not at all, please forgive me. I only but have knowledge of the Spirits who tragically left the Palace when an evil spirit destroyed it with arson's fire."
The Krazoa growled. Slippy stepped forward, his feet at the edge of the wall. "What do you come here for?"
"I bring you a gift!" Kuro said with a humble bow, presenting the body of his late victim. "Please, take it."
Krazoa Falco's eyes widened. "Isn't she the woman who ambushed us that one night...?"
"She is indeed. My Lord Krazoa, the one who possesses the shell of the blue falcon, if you dig deep into his memory the shell possesses in his brain, you should see the history of this woman."
Krazoa Falco lifted an eyebrow then turned to his brothers and sister. They nodded, and he closed his eyes, concentrating on his body's memory. Memories of war... bloodshed... pointless fighting and bickering, rash actions and regretful decisions... and at the same time, warm memories of love... happiness... and wonderful times of companionship and achievement... they've reached the Krazoa hidden in the tiercel's body. He dug deep into the memory and spotted the moment of time when he took in a falcon woman, who was impregnated by the same man who brought in her corpse, nine years ago. The Krazoa who possessed Falco's shell reopened his eyes and spoke to the hawk below him, "That woman... you sullied her nine years ago in the streets of...... Zoness, is it?"
"Yes, indeed!" Kuro replied. "That is the planet where Miss Serena Jenson was born and raised. Now that you have shells, perhaps you would like to know what it is like to live there other than this wretched planet of the dinosaurs!"
"Someday," Krazoa Slippy said. "However, we would like you to take back the word 'wretched,' for although we wish to see the life outside of Dinosaur Planet, this is still the planet we love and protect with all our being and spirit."
"I see... just asking, what would you all do once you satisfy your curiosity towards Lylat?"
Krazoa Peppy smiled. "It is simple... we return the bodies."
"What?"
"I sense that the true owners of these bodies are still present. If they make peace with us, we shall return these bodies without a fight. Because we have hurried the healing process from the shells' deaths, once we exit the ghosts can return with healthy bodies as if nothing ever happened."
"I see....."
The shelled Krazoa looked up to their free-floating brothers. "Would one of you like to take Miss Jenson as your shell?"
"I would," the fifth said as it flew over Diva's body. Upon entering it, it remolded the crushed heart of the woman, enabling it to beat once again. Diva's eyes opened, and she began breathing again then sat up. The Krazoa looked at her hands then began to stand, observing the movement of the shell.
"Well, my lord, or should I say my lady," Kuro started, "how does it feel?"
"Swell."
"Then, I must leave you for your own purposes. Farewell."
Before Krazoa Diva would give Kuro her thanks the dark phantom vanished. Peppy sighed, the wisdom of the rabbit adding to his knowledge, "What does that man have to do with us? How does he know of our curiosity? Surely he really isn't some sort of spy..."
Diva nodded. "Keep watch, my brothers and sister. It seems to me there is something behind all this... why would anyone just hand us a body just for our interest? Perhaps there something he wants in return...?"
***
It had been three days ever since the death of Starr Jenson's mother, Serena, or "Diva" as others known her. For those days Fox and Starr sojourned in the EarthWalker Palace, comforting the grieving boy. Fox join him in his lamenting, not only because Diva was a friend, but also because he too lost his mother at a young age and therefore sympathized the poor boy. Even Tricky ran to his mother and nuzzled closely to her, as in fear that he'll lose her. The Queen nuzzled back and lay close to Starr, embracing the child as he mourned.
***
On the third day, after breakfast, Fox ran back to the WarpStone. There, the giant slab of stone with arms and a loudmouth greeted him. "Aye, good morning, Fox!"
"Good morning, WarpStone! Is it safe to return to the Krazoa Palace Ruins?"
The WarpStone shook his head. "I'm afraid not! There is still great evil lurking in the remains."
"Damn," Fox mumbled. "What do you think is going on?"
"Well, what do YOU think?"
"Other than a vengeance-obsessed ghost who is trying to kill me is roaming about, and a big chasm in the middle of the wreck is waiting to open for my untimely demise, I can't think of anything else."
The WarpStone sighed. Fox continued, "Do... you know if my Team survived?"
"Of course, they didn't!"
"Not THAT kind of survived!"
"............... Oh, you mean their spirits escaping Jigoku's chains?"
"What exactly is Jigoku?" Fox asked. "I've heard of it somewhere..."
"It's the Japanese Hell, the one that onis, gakis, yuureis, and demons dwell to feed upon the flesh of the dead. They say if a ghost who cannot find rest will not find it within a certain time, the gates of Jigoku will open and snatch them away to transform them into evil spirits."
"But that's in Japan! THIS is Dinosaur Planet!"
The WarpStone only shrugged. Fox sighed with frustration and sadness wedded together, falling to the dirt then sitting in puppy style. "Do you think Peppy, Slippy, Falco, and Krystal were snatched into Jigoku? I mean, they didn't find rest yet, assuming why they're still roaming about in Dinosaur Planet."
"I doubt it's their time yet."
"But the chains were still trying to capture them-"
"They were too close to the opening! Somehow Scales was able to open it at his will!"
"Scales...." There was a long pause, as if Fox was thinking about what he'll say next. "When is Scales's time? ... How was he able to open the gates? ... How will he be able to find rest? ..."
"I can only answer one of your questions."
"Which one?"
"How will he find rest? Simple. By your death he'll repose."
"Geez, it's times like these I wonder if these guys know the meaning of 'Requiescat En Pace!'"
"What does that mean?"
The StarFox Leader stared blankly before he would answer the giant stone's question. "Rest in peace."
"Oh."
Fox jumped to his and pounded his fist. "There HAS to be a way to get rid of Scales's menace!"
"Simple! Kill yourself!"
"What kind of ally are you? I'm trying to find a way to stop him without the necessity of my death!"
The WarpStone only shrugged. "I'm sorry, Fox, but this I cannot help you with!"
Fox sighed again, holding his head and shaking it. "I think I'll go for a walk..."
***
Starr was done with his crying, but not with his mourning. As he took a stroll in the cliff sides of Cape Claw, memories of his dear mother came to his head. Her motherly kisses, her sweet embrace, the advice she gave, her gentle, tender care, her soothing lullabies.... They all danced in his head as he walked, the face of his lovely mother in the clouds. Starr sniveled and wiped his eye, then gazed back into the clouds as Diva's face vanished with the rest of the puffs of white, the child murmuring, "Mama..."
Out of the bushes, all of the sudden, a little creature, the Bafomdad, leaped out of nowhere and hopped on Starr's head. Caught by surprise, Starr panicked and wobbled about, waving his arms madly to shoo the Bafomdad on his head. He blindly inched towards the edge of the cliff, his foot twisting then stumbling off. The boy caught on the ledge before he plummeted sixty feet into the rocky earth below him, but out of tragedy and lack of luck the edge crumbled, Starr dropping a long way down before falling on his head upon a boulder like an egg.
***
"Starr? Starr!" Tricky called as he ran about in Cape Claw. It was about noon, after Fox was done talking to the WarpStone and Starr falling off the cliff. Yet the Prince EarthWalker was unaware of either, and he was worried about the fox and falcon boy when he realized they've been gone for hours.
Pretty soon the dinosaur reunited with the strolling fox. Fox noticed Tricky's worried eyes. "Tricky? What's wrong?"
"Fox! Thank goodness, you're okay!" Tricky sighed in relief. "But where's Starr?"
"Huh? Wasn't he with you?"
"I thought he was with YOU!!!"
"I'm right here, guys!" a voice called from a distance deep underneath where Fox and Tricky stood. Both ran to the edge and found the young boy, sitting next to a boulder dripping with blood.
Fox and Tricky found a *safe* way down and ran to the sitting boy. "Starr? What happened?"
"Well... ya know how my mama has problems with holes and cliffs, how she always fall down?"
"Sadly, yes," Tricky replied.
Fox raised his eyebrows. "Don't tell me you're becoming just like your mom!"
"I'll take that as a compliment, not that falling off a cliff is a good thing, though!"
"That boulder... is that where you fell upon?"
"Yes." Starr turned to the puddle of blood, where tiny footsteps from the Bafomdad that bugged him hopped about. "There was a Bafomdad that came outta nowhere and startled me... I fell off the cliff... I thought I died the instant I fell, but then that Bafomdad.... Fox, you know what Bafomdads can do to you once you die, right?"
"Um, they heal your wounds and restore life to you..." Fox looked up, as if trying to recall from his first adventure on Dinosaur Planet. "I remember now... I once held a Bafomdad bag that could hold up to ten Bafomdads... and every time I fell dead from a battle, fell off a cliff (not like your mom, mind you), drown, blah, blah, blah, one of those ten Bafomdads would come out and revive me before they vanish..."
Starr looked back at the clouds. Although the image of his mother was no longer there, he felt as if she is still watching. "It's as if... Mama was guiding me... as if to tell me something..."
"Tell you.... tell you what?"
Starr smiled, the smile from a confident and bold boy. "Fox, I have a new mission to embark!"
"A mission?"
"And I will need your help!"
"MY help???"
"I'm gonna look for five Bafomdads for Mama and your friends... and you're going to help me!"
"It won't be that easy, Starr...." a voice, low and melancholy yet beautiful, spoke as a shadow stepped out. Starr, Fox, and Tricky stepped back as a woman who looked like Starr's mother stepped forward.
"M-Mama?" Starr muttered.
"Not quite," the woman said. "But I have come here to tell you of your new quest, Starr."
"Really?"
Fox stepped close to the Diva look-alike and gazed into her eyes. Purple pupils. "Are you a Krazoa in Diva's body?"
"That's quite right, Fox. A mysterious man offered me this shell to possess. A red-tailed hawk, if I may add."
"Papa..." Starr murmured as he clenched two fists.
The Krazoa Diva continued, "You can't just get any Bafomdad to revive your dead comrades. They've been dead for over twenty-four hours, long enough to actually have the bodies rot and decompose. In order to revive corpses that have been dead for a very long time, you'll need a special Bafomdad to do so."
"Really?" Tricky questioned. "What kind of Bafomdads?"
"They are known as Golden Bafomdads, and they're as rare as jewels. I know where nine exist, one that roams about by itself and the other eight dwelling upon the eight dinosaur tribes. However, getting just five won't be any easier."
((to be continued...))
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ END OF PART I ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
((YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!! Part I is complete! Now that Fox, Tricky, and Starr are taught of a method of reviving the late StarFox Team and Krystal and Diva, how long will it be until they are resurrected? Will General Scales find peace? What will be of Diva now that she too is dead? And the StarFox ghosts........... What has happened to them? How much longer can Fox survive in this world of ghosts? And how much will Starr survive now that his mother is dead?))
Fox: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!! TOO MANY QUESTIONS!!! (Turns to Imagen) You are freakin' constantly putting me in danger of being killed!
Krazoa Diva: And the fact that she keeps killing off her characters...
Krazoa Falco: What say we put her in that same position?
(Everyone nods and take out their weapons, including General Scales and Kuro)
Starr: DIE IMAGEN!!!!
Imagen: (Runs) AAAAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!! (Tries to find a place to hide) I'm sorry, okay?! I have to build up tension so I can get more readers! (Hides under a rock)
(Everyone finds her, pulls her out and beats the living crap out of her)
Fox: (Stomps on her head) That has NOTHING to do with killing us off!
Imagen: *** @_@ *** Please review so I can continue on to Part II of "Falling Stars"!