Disclaimer:I don't own Star Fox. But someday... Someday!*evil laughter* Non Nintendo characters are mine, email me if you wish to use them.
*~
As Metramorpha headed in the direction the frog had gone, she sifted through Fox's memories. He had a lonely and painful childhood, much like her own. She felt pity for him. She had never felt pity for anyone before. She pushed her feelings aside. She had to comply with her father's wishes, no matter what her feelings were, and she had no say in her father's wishes.
Metramorpha considered how to best play on the frog's ideas. He was very skeptical of anything he thought to be supernatural. This would surely work to her advantage. His ego seemed bruised as well. That would be how she got to him.
"Fox!" the frog's voice broke into her thoughts.
Metramorpha searched Fox's memory for the frog's name. "Hey, Slippy."
"Are you okay? I mean, you were acting weird earlier and-"
Metramorpha forced a smile. "I'm okay now. I'm not sure what happened while I was in the portal, though. I blacked out. Next I knew, I was standing outside of the portal."
"Sierra said your brain waves changed," Slippy said.
Metramorpha feigned confusion, making a note to tell Irae that this Sierra was catching on. "And that means...?"
"That you're 'possessed'," Slippy hooked his fingers in quotation marks as he spoke the last word.
"I take it you disagree?" she asked.
"Right," Slippy said. "Everyone else thinks so, though."
She smiled once again. "I don't think I'm possessed. Or maybe I am and don't realize it. Or maybe they're possessed!"
Slippy laughed. "So you agree with me?"
She nodded. "Unless I don't realize it, I'm fine."
"Can you tell them that?" Slippy asked.
"They'll think I'm tricking you," she said. A dangerous statement, but necessary.
"You're probably right," Slippy said, oblivious to the truth of the statement. "I'm gonna work in my lab. Try to talk some sense into them, okay?
"Sure, Slip," she said, slipping back into Fox's quarters as soon as the frog was out of sight.
"He believes me," Metramorpha said, returning to her true form and adding softly, - The fox has an interesting background. -
"Do not look too much into his memories," Irae advised.
- I looked no more than I needed to properly portray him, - Metramorpha said. - And he is pained. His life was no easy. -
"You will need to bring the frog..." Irae began.
- Slippy, - Metramorpha said.
"What?" Irae growled.
- That is the frog's name, - Metramorpha said meekly. - I did not mean to interrupt, Father. Fox's memories are very strong, and... -
"It would do well for you to refrain from speaking the names of these creatures," Irae said. "No not grow attached, daughter."
Metramorpha dipped in a bow. -Why and I bringing Sli- the frog- here? -
"Argos is to possess him," Irae said. "A semi-possession, for without the soul intact, Argos cannot accurately represent the frog."
Metramorpha returned to Fox's form. It was simpler the second time.
"The female frog -Sierra- she knows, Irae King," Metramorpha said on her way out.
"I will deal with her," Irae said. "be swift."
Metramorpha was anything but swift. Her mind wandered through Fox's memories, and she found herself in the hangar. Running a paw along Fox's Arwing, she wondered what it would be like to fly it. She had never flown one before, or even seen one, but many of Fox's happiest memories involved flying.
- Metramorpha, what are you doing? - Lucah hissed, landing on Metramorpha's shoulder.
"What are you doing, Lucah?" Metramorpha snapped.
- The frog is in his laboratory and the door is locked, - Lucah said. - You cannot get to him at the moment. Return to the fox's quarters. -
Lucah left. Metramorpha stood by the Arwing.
"Their names," she whispered to no one, "are Slippy and Fox.
*~
- Metramorpha is too preoccupied with the fox's memories to help, - Lucah said, perched on a shelf. -You could call Mother... -
"Metramorpha takes after her mother in more than just abilities," Irae said. "She left for a mortal life long ago. Your mother is dead."
"We are not immortal, Irae King," Metramorpha said, entering slowly, still in Fox's form. "Or are you letting your ego run away with you?"
"It was long before her time," Irae said. "She left for the love of a mortal."
"She never loved you," Metramorpha said. "And you never loved her. Why do you care?"
"You have been cursed with strong emotions, daughter," Irae said. "I cannot feel love. Your mother had the same curse, and she abandoned her duties because of it."
Metramorpha returned to her form, slowly growing smaller until she disappeared completely. Irae turned to Argos.
"She will not remain loyal much longer," Irae said. "We must act now."
*~
Fox and Krystal, now dressed in silk robes, were cuddled up together, unsure of what to do. Krystal nestled into Fox's neck, and Fox smiled.
A point of violet light appeared close to Fox, who tensed up. The light turned into a vixen he had never seen before.
"Who are you?" Fox asked, nudging Krystal, who looked up.
"I am called..." the vixen paused. "My name is Metramorpha. I... Want to apologize... On behalf of my father."
"Not as formal as usual," Judex quipped, "but you still could loosen up a bit."
"Who's your father?" Fox asked.
"Irae," Metramorpha said softly. "Fox, I am truly sorry."
"She is sincere," Judex said. "She is most like her mother, blessed with emotions similar to that of your own."
Metramorpha smiled bitterly. "My father only moments ago called it a curse.
"Irae..." Fox muttered angrily. "He got me into this mess."
"He is bitter because Mother abandoned him for your universe," Metramorpha said. "He can feel that, unfortunately." She looked to Judex. "Why is Mireya not here?"
Judex's eyes fell. Metramorpha waited silently.
"She has been wounded," he said finally. "By your brother. She cannot come without great pain."
"I will deal with him," Metramorpha said solemnly, beginning to fade.
"You will do no such thing," Judex said, catching Metramorpha's paw. "You're so close to getting away from your father, so close to..."
Metramorpha smiled as Judex blushed. "So close to being with you," she whispered.
"Metramorpha will help us, I assume?" a vixen in fur of a soft blue, similar to Krystal, said.
"Mireya," Krystal whispered, wide-eyed.
"Even injured, I shall protect you," Mireya said, smiling warmly before looking Fox over. "Even with Judex as your Guardian Star... You will make a fine mate for Krystal."
The pair blushed. Metramorpha giggled, then looked startled.
"I can't think of the word..." she looked to Judex.
"Laughed," Judex said, hugging her. "You laughed. You haven't done that since your mother left."
"Emotions were not encouraged during my childhood," Metramorpha said ruefully. "And yes, Mireya, I will help."
*~
"All satellites are down," Rob announced tonelessly.
The team exchanged glances. Falco stood up.
"We have to do something," he said. "We need to help Fox and correct the satellite malfunctions. And I think they're connected, so we need to go talk to Fox."
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Peppy grinned. "You taking leadership lessons from Fox or something?"
"Ha ha," Falco said dryly. "Now let's go."
*~
Keep the noise to a minimum," Irae said. "If you do not catch him completely by surprise, he will not stop screaming until you take control of his mind."
Argos nodded, then walked down the hall toward the laboratory. His manner was confident, even though he had never done anything like this before.
But that's what makes him to good for this task, Metramorpha thought, hovering above the door. He doesn't have the skill to pull off a full possession, so there's no worry of destroying the soul.
Despite this, Metramorpha knew she had to make sure that Slippy didn't know what almost happened to him. But she would need patience. So she waited and watched, keeping her patience and waiting for Argos to lose his.