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.
*~
Mireya sat silently, staring into the mirror but not really seeing. The mirror showed only her sadness and pain, and she wished not to see them, but the mirror would not show her anything else, for there was nothing more to see.
She had faithfully helped Judex in every endeavor, wanting to win his love, for she had loved since she had the ability to feel such emotions. But his heart never belonged to her. Metramorpha had taken it, and Mireya could do nothing about it. Still, her love never waned, so she would continue to aid him until her love ran out.
"Mireya," Krystal said softly, "what do you see in the mirror that makes you so sad?"
With a soft smile, Mireya handed the young vixen the mirror. "Tell me what you see."
*~
Krystal looked into the mirror, at first seeing only her reflection staring back at her. But deep in her eyes was a story to tell, and the mirror told her of her love for Fox, how deep it was. She smiled.
"I saw... My love for Fox," Krystal said softly.
"That is your greatest weapon," Mireya said. "And also your greatest weakness."
Krystal was puzzled, but she pushed her thoughts from her mind as she felt Fox re-enter. The vulpine smiles, and Krystal's heart fluttered. She smiled warmly as she handed the mirror back to Mireya.
"Why did she take you to the Memoria Fields?" Krystal asked.
Fox glanced to Mireya and Metramorpha. "I'll tell you later," he whispered, taking her paw.
There was silence, during which many things passed between the minds of Fox and Krystal. Their bond was tight, and much was said with silence. Fox rested his head on Krystal's shoulder, his eyes half shut, looking completely exhausted. Krystal stroked Fox's fur softly.
Judex was speaking with Mireya, talking of Irae, but he kept glancing at Metramorpha, who was sitting quietly apart from everyone. She seemed frightened. Judex finally extended a paw to her, and she took it, standing up and allowing Judex to draw her close.
"Irae knows," she whispered, fear overcoming her as she buried her face in Judex's chest. "He will kill us if we do not act now."
Judex held Metramorpha protectively, trying to comfort her. He looked to Fox.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yes," Fox said.
*~
Falco awoke from his trance bound to Fox's bedpost. He saw Fox staring him down, but the feeling in the pit of his stomach finally betrayed a dark soul in Fox's body.
"Who... What are you?" Falco snarled, eyes narrow.
"I am Irae," Fox's voice said, his eyes on a bite mark on Falco's wing tip. "Lucah marked you."
"Is that her name?" Falco muttered. "I thought she was Deathspeaker."
- I go by that title, - Lucah said, flying in, a seemingly unconscious Sierra following numbly. - And you, falcon, whom do you allege yourself to? -
Falco blinked, then winced as his wound stung. "Fox, I suppose." His wound flared up. "Ahh! Shit, this hurts."
"His mind is stubborn," Irae remarked in a voice unlike Fox's.
- I shall break him, - Lucah landed on Falco's shoulder. - You belong to me, falcon. -
"My name is Falco, "Falco snapped. "And nobody owns me."
- That is what you think, - Lucah said, amusement in her tone as she nuzzled him, Falco trying to squirm away. - You are quite the stubborn one... Falco. -
Falco felt a calm spread over him. Lucah nestled into Falco's neck, cooing softly, telling him stories. Falco relaxed, a shudder passing through him as Lucah seized his mind and, to some degree, his heart. Lucah cooed again, and Falco didn't react.
- He's coming along, - Lucah remarked.
"Will you take him as your mate?" Irae asked.
- Perhaps, - Lucah said.
"What?" Falco yelped, struggling again.
Lucah looked to Falco. -You do not like this idea? -
"Katt..." Falco whispered.
- Katt? -Lucah looked as surprised as a dove could look. - A Felin girl? -
"Yes," Falco growled. "My Katt. She's beautiful and smart and at least as stubborn as me. She loves me and never stopped loving me, even when I pushed her away. And I love her."
- I am speaking only to you, -Lucah said to Falco. - This... Love... My sister has spoken of it. I do not understand. Show me what love it. Show me a memory. -
Falco did as requested.
*~
"Baby, what's wrong?" Katt asked, sitting beside Falco on his bed.
"Nothing," Falco said flatly, turning away from her.
Katt wrapped her paws around his neck, resting her head on his back. There was silence for awhile. Falco shuddered, holding back his emotions. Katt slipped into his lap, nestling into Falco's feathers.
"Stop beating yourself up," she whispered. "You're not made of stone, Falco Lombardi. Go on. Let go of your emotions."
Falco held her them, burying his face in Katt's fur. He cried. And Katt said nothing, letting him release bottled up emotions. Her love was unconditional, and Falco realized it best them.
*~
- Love... - Lucah whispered, awed. - I have felt something similar... With Mother... It was a little different... But it is similar. -
Lucah nestled into Falco again, needing comfort. Falco looked to Irae. He wasn't moving. Standing still, eyes closed, Irae seemed to be emitting energy. His eyes shot open.
"Fox makes his move," Irae hissed. "We must act now. Lucah, guard them."
- Yes, Father, - Lucah said. - What will you do? -
"Call the triplets," Irae said, and he began speaking in a language Falco didn't know.
- The triplets, - Lucah echoed, nestling deeper into Falco. - Not them. -
Three dark orbs appeared in the room, circling Irae, bobbing every time they completed a revolution.
"Metreusa, caller of the Dead," Irae said, and one orb left the circle. "Timea, prophesier of Death, Morié, Death itself."
The triplets appeared. All were vixens, and the appearance of one was the same as the other two. Their gaping black holes that served as eyes focused on Irae.
"What dost thou desire?" they asked in unison, calm and sinister at the same time.
"This land is righted mine, children three," Irae said. "I desire this dimension."
"So it shall be done," they said, and laughed. "So it shall be done."