Mission 21 – Army

Fox rode on the back of the WaveGlider, advancing through the waves with impressive speed. The large dinosaur seemed to be deep in thought, his great head glancing off in a distance. The fox felt he was completely surrounded by water. There was no land in sight.

"Hold on tight, Mr. McCloud," said the WaveGlider, glancing at Fox. "If you fall off, I might not notice."

"So how much longer is this going to take?" Fox asked, crouching down and taking a firmer grip on the dinosaur's scaly skin. He looked around him, and saw a small shadow underwater, trailing behind the WaveGlider.

"If I was swimming underwater, I should have arrived ten minutes ago." Said the dinosaur, "But since I have you on my back, we have another twenty minutes."

"Sorry Dad." The shadow erupted from the surface of the water. It was a juvenile WaveGlider. The small dinosaur gracefully dived back into the ocean, splashing McCloud with water. The large WaveGlider roared with laughter, and smiled nervously.

"Excuse my boy, Mr. McCloud." The WaveGlider chuckled, "Sorry if I haven't introduced myself properly. I am Mercury, royal guard of the King. This is my son, Quicksilver."

"Hello furry guy." Quicksilver piped at Fox, "How old are you?"

"I am twenty seven." Fox replied wiping some water off his fur.

"Wow, you are so small." Quicksilver giggled, "I'm only twelve and I am so much bigger than you. Wait till you see the king, he is even bigger than Dad."

"Err . . . Okay." Fox didn't know how to treat a kid bigger than himself.

"Quicksilver, behave yourself!" Mercury roared, and at once the small dinosaur was silenced, "My apologies Mr. McCloud, I have yet to teach him proper manners. He hasn't seen anyone who lives on land, let alone anyone from outer space."

"It's okay, I don't mind." Fox replied. Off in a distance he saw an island, remnant of an underwater volcano, weathered by age. "Is that . . . Where the king lives?"

"No, it is also our breeding ground. But since the queen's eggs are due in a few days, the king happens to be visiting the island." Mercury replied, "Every WaveGlider is born on that island. You will be the first stranger to set foot on our sacred ground."

"Will the king mind?" Fox McCloud asked nervously. The idea of sacred ground was not a pleasing thought, especially a sacred breeding ground. "I don't want to offend him or anything."

"Of course he will mind!" Mercury laughed, "Remember to take out the sacred conch before approaching the king, or he might think you are food. When you talk to him, do not look at him in the eyes, or he will think you are challenging him. Don't stand too close, or too far, so he doesn't have to move his neck too much. Don't talk to soft . . . I think that's about it. . . He probably won't mind about the standing too tall rule. . . Oh yeah, watch out so you don't stand on anyone's nests, or the mothers will swallow you like a squid."

Fox asked as they were entering the rim of the volcano through a small opening. Inside was the rim was a large semicircular beach, shielded from the wild waves of the ocean. The water was clear enough for Fox to see the fish and coral at the bottom, many yards below. The bay was occupied by a few scores of female WaveGliders, some guarding their eggs, some hunting for food, and some sunbathing. A few looked at Fox and Mercury curiously as the passed, speaking quietly among themselves and giggling.

"That's the king over there." Quicksilver pointed towards a significantly large male near the beach, half submerged in water. "Are you ready furry guy?"

"I-I think so." Fox stuttered nervously. The king had a row of back fins running down his back, a sign of age and authority. On his great head was a golden crown, made in the fashion of a pair of horns. As they slowly drew closer to the King WaveGlider, Fox realized that even Mercury was dwarfed by the king. The royal guard lowered his head to the water as he passed in front of the king, as a sign of submission.

"Your majesty, our most beloved, awesome, glorious, magnificent, and etcetera, I bring you Fox McCloud of Corneria." Mercury greeted the king with his head turned away and underwater from the king as he spoke. His voice was clear and powerful, "Fox McCloud had brought the sacred conch, Call of the Sea, as a tribute to your power. In return, he has an insignificant request."

"So you are the Fox McCloud who saved the planet? Most curious indeed. . ." The King WaveGlider eyed Fox, who was kneeling on Mercury's back, bowing his head respectfully. "I have three questions to ask in return of your insignificant request. Answer wrongly, and I shall devour you, along with Mercury, for wasting my time. Answer correctly, and I will consider your request. Are you ready?"

"Uh . . . Yes your majesty." Fox said with a quivering voice. He was not particularly in the mood for riddles. Mercury was also in fear, and Fox could feel the dinosaur trembling under him. "Ask away."

"Well then! Who is the strongest in the Lylat System?" The sea king questioned in a thundering voice. Many female WaveGliders gathered around Mercury and Fox, watching them curiously. Among them was Quicksilver, obviously worried for his father.

"Err. . ." Fox thought for a while, trying to think of the answer. Sweat drops began to run down his neck, and he could feel the king getting impatient. He raised his head slightly and saw the king's massive body. An answer came to his head, and he smiled, "You, your majesty, king of the WaveGlider tribe, are the strongest in the Lylat System."

"Correct!" The King WaveGlider's laughter rumbled throughout the quiet bay, drawing more spectators. A few female WaveGliders clapped at Fox's witty answer. The king smiled, and asked again, "Who is the weakest in the Lylat System?"

"I, Fox McCloud, am the weakest in the entire Lylat System." Fox prayed that it was the answer the King WaveGlider was looking for. He closed his eyes, imagining the sea king's hundreds of needle sharp teeth ripping though his body.

"Hmm. . .I heard Fox McCloud slew the RedEye King single handedly . . . Your answer is debatable, but correct nonetheless!" The king's mighty laughter roared again. A few of the spectators sighed in relief. There was one more question to go. "Lift up your head and look at me in the face, Fox McCloud. Who is the handsomest in the Lylat System?"

"Ah, the hardest of all three questions, my lord." Fox said with a smile, looking at the massive creature in the face. "Very debatable . . . Very difficult to answer . . . The handsomest . . . Who could he be?"

"If you cannot answer, then I shall devour you!" The king opened his mouth, revealing hundreds of small ivory knives.

"Ah! It must be you, your majesty!" Fox shouted with a grin, "Your teeth make you look most brilliant, the handsomest of all!"

"Correct!" The sea king smiled, "Very well then, you may state your request."

"Your majesty, I seek for an alliance between the WaveGliders, the EarthWalkers, and the CloudRunners." Fox said audibly, lowering his head. He could hear the spectators gasp in surprise. Even Mercury shuddered in fear beneath Fox.

"That is the most absurd request I have heard in many years!" The King WaveGlider roared angrily. The whole ocean seemed to shake in his anger "I suppose the two of you have some last words to say?"

"Your majesty, if my insignificant death could bring an alliance between the three ruling tribes." Fox knelt down in front of the majestic creature, "Then let your servant die."

"Are you not afraid of death?" The sea king asked, his voice claming slightly, "Is the alliance you seek worth dying for?"

"Yes, my lord." Fox replied, "If such alliance cannot be formed, then the entire planet is already doomed."

The King WaveGlider stared at the little furry creature in front of him, and the helpless WaveGlider that he was crouching on. The king glanced around at the crowd of spectators, then back to Fox and Mercury, "Tell me, Fox McCloud, what good will such an alliance bring to our planet."

"My lord, your enemy, Leon Powalski, had already conquered the EarthWalkers and CloudRunners. He will unleash an attack on your people soon." Fox paused. He could hear a few gasps from the spectators, which began to mumble among themselves, "Such an alliance will stop Leon Powalski or any attacker from invading Dinosaur Planet once and for all."

"Nonsense!" the king roared, "Who is this Leon Powalski? Why have I not heard of his name?"

"Look above you, my lord!" Fox pointed upwards into the sky, "The very sky is clouded with Leon's wrath. Will you let this treachery go unpunished, my most beloved, awesome, glorious and magnificent?"

The sea king looked up into the sky, and saw smoke. Everything Fox McCloud had asked him had violated his laws, and was punishable by death. On the other hand, the king could not let his anonymous Leon Powalski be more powerful than himself. The massive WaveGlider stared at Fox again, "Tell me more."

"Leon had slain thousands of innocents, burnt acres of forests, and even captured the King and Queens of the EarthWalker and CloudRunner tribes, your majesty. The very earth is reeking with death and stained with blood." Fox said, knowing that his words had reached the king successfully. "Bodies of the dead litter the ground, and rivers now flow with blood of the fallen, will you not deliver them, my lord?"

"Mm. . ." The king hummed thoughtfully, and then slowly nodded his massive head, "A reasonable request. . . But what will my tribe receive in return of this alliance?"

"The EarthWalkers and CloudRunners will praise your tribe for eternity; the whole planet will praise your tribe for eternity. In return, you only have to do one thing." Fox continued with a smile, "Rescue the royal families of the EarthWalkers and CloudRunners."

"Praise from the whole planet eh?" The king gazed around to his spectators, "What do you say to this request, people of my tribe?"

Several WaveGliders nodded, but most of them were mute. Mercury was the first to speak openly, "I agree to Fox McCloud's request, sire."

"And why would that be, my trustworthy royal guard?" The king said slowly, "Are you not afraid of death, to speak so boldly in front of me? McCloud's request brings war upon us. . ."

"My king, McCloud seeks to rescue the royal families himself. We only have to aid him, and send him to Krazoa Palace." Mercury gulped, hoping he didn't say the wrong thing, "McCloud seeks the sacred path to the Krazoa Palace."

"EarthWalkers and CloudRunners are held captive in Krazoa Palace. Leon had destroyed all the other routes, except the secret passage that only the WaveGliders know." Fox cut the king off before he could answer, despite the fact that it was a move that could easily bring death, "I beg your majesty to show me the way."

There was a long moment of silence in the bay, with the exception of some muttering among the spectators. The sea king was the first to move, a slow and gentle nod. "Let this be your lucky day, Fox McCloud. I will form an alliance between the EarthWalkers and the CloudRunners, and show you the secret path to Krazoa palace. In return, let this alliance last as long as the sun."

"Your majesty, I have one more request." Fox kept his face down, "I need the help of my comrades to aid me in my mission. I ask for your permission for them to use the secret passage to the Krazoa Palace, along with myself."

"One more question. . ." The sea king chuckled, "Answer correctly, and I will grant you your request. Answer wrongly, and I will grant you death."

"Ask away." Fox replied with a grin.

"Who do you serve, Fox McCloud?" The sea king bent down his massive head, his bright eyes staring into Fox's eyes. He could see that the little fox was in distress. The answer was simple, but Fox could not say it.

Fox looked into the sea kings crystal blue eyes, and saw the large dinosaur's intent. The WaveGlider King wanted Fox to serve him, but the vulpine served no one but himself, or perhaps Admiral Pepper . . . or perhaps Krystal. If Fox answered with any if those, the king would simply devour him.

"Come now, it is not so difficult." The WaveGlider was getting impatient. His enormous flippers generated waves as he moved closer to Fox, the dinosaur's ivory teeth just looming over the fox's head.

"Your majesty. . ." Fox slowly conjured his answer, "I serve those who I love."

"Hmm. . ." The WaveGlider King withdrew his massive head and reared his head, letting out a roaring laughter. The kind lifted one of his gigantic front flippers and slapped it on Mercury's back, in front of McCloud, signaling the fox to climb on his back. The dinosaur smiled, "You better love me then, little one."
Damon sat on a rock while Obsidian looked at the hybrid's wounds. The wolf unzipped Damon's jumpsuit, removing the red fabric and exposing his chest. Damon moaned, he stared at the gashes in his side and shoulder, and the scratches that ran up and down his arms. Obsidian patted Damon on the back, the older wolf could sense something was wrong, but the problem didn't seem to lie in any of his normal insecurities. Obsidian bandaged Damon's wounds and gave him a gentle hug. The wolf wanted to ask what was wrong, but felt it wasn't his place, so he left Damon alone.

Damon secluded himself from the group; he curled up under a palm tree and began softly crying. He pulled his blaster from his holster and glared at it. He began to loathe the weapon, the weapon that had been the tool of another creature's demise.

"Something the matter Damon?" a voice said from behind the hybrid.

Damon looked around the tree and saw Sirus lying casually against on the other side. Damon crawled next to him and immediately sunk his head in the wolf's lap. The young hybrid began tearing; he sniffled and began to cry, clutching his knees and hugging himself tightly.

"Tell me what's wrong Damon; you haven't said a word to anyone since you left that cave." Sirus stroked Damon's cheek softly.

Damon bit his lip, "Sirus, would you still love me, even if I did something awful?"

"Yes," Sirus said, "Of course Damon. I'll never stop loving you."

Damon paused for a moment, then softly spoke, "I-I murdered someone in that cave..." Damon's tears began to flow out more profusely.

"What?" Sirus said in disbelief, "I think you're confused Damon...'

Damon shook his head, "No, there was a little dinosaur in there. He tried to kill me when I took the call." Damon hugged himself tighter, "I tried to make him stop, but he wouldn't. It all happened so fast...I-I shot him. I couldn't finish him off, so I left my blaster by him and hid. He shot himself in the head."

Sirus bent down and kissed Damon on the forehead, "You aren't a murderer."

"He told me one of us needed to die, or we wouldn't get out. I feel just like Leon..." Damon sobbed.

Sirus pulled Damon to his chest and hugged him, "The fact that you're showing remorse is enough to show you're nothing like him. You're so sweet, and I know you would never intentionally hurt any creature if you didn't have to. Leon kills what he wants for his own gain."

Damon hugged Sirus, "I still feel like it's my fault..."

"Sometimes there are death's for a greater good Damon. You don't have to like killing, but occasionally it has to be done. You're not a murderer Damon, he would have torn you apart if he had the chance." Sirus stroked Damon's back, "You did the right thing Damon, I know it hurts now, but you did the right thing."

Damon nodded, "I understand...but I just don't ever want to become like Leon..."

"You won't Damon. You're not the kind of person who could enjoy death. You're a gentle soul, and that's why I love you." Sirus said.

"It's him! He killed my brother!" screeched a voice off in a distance with a thick accent. Sirus and Damon both turned instantly and saw a LightFoot pointing a finger at Damon. A group of LightFoots emerged from the razed foliage, followed by a few ThornTails and EarthWalkers. Before anyone could respond, they were surrounded by a crowd of disgruntled dinosaurs.

"I don't think they are too glad to see us." Slippy piped, looking at the leading LightFoot, who happened to be the Chief. Next to him stood Musclefoot with his arms crossed. Behind them a couple of LightFoots were carrying a stretcher, and upon the stretcher laid a dead LightFoot. It was the one that Damon killed in the cave.

"Leon said he will leave if we kill StarFox." The chief threw a spear at the team, which landed in between Slippy's feet. "I did not believe him, but now they killed my brother. . . I kill them!"

"They didn't do it! I did!" Damon cried out, stepping forward to meet the chief. The young hybrid was instantly pinned to the ground by a trio of vicious LightFoots. Obsidian and Jade raised their modified blasters at the surrounding dinosaurs, ready to start a skirmish.

"Bring the stinking murderer over here!" The three LightFoots dragged Damon unceremoniously over to the Chief, heaving the already shivering hybrid at their leader's feet. The Chief brought his foot down on Damon's cheek, grinding his face into the sand. "What do you have to say for yourself pathetic freak?"

Damon was silent as he gazed fearfully into the Chief's eyes. He let out a soft whimper and hugged himself as best he could. "I-I didn't mean to do it. . ."

"Well I don't mean to kill you either!" The Chief snatched a spear from one of his followers and raised it above Damon's head. Obsidian and Jade were about to squeeze their triggers, but a deafening roar rang out, "Stop!"

Everyone dropped their weapons in awe, at the sight of the King WaveGlider and his royal guard. Some of the LightFoots began to panic, but most of them stood frozen in their place. Never before did the King WaveGlider show himself to the creatures of the land. The crested head along with the golden horns make a majestic and frightful appearance. The king and his guard were clad in gold-trimmed armor, their long necks stood out from the water like towers of steel.

"The king of the sea monsters. . ." the LightFoot Chief muttered, and bowed down before the massive dinosaur's presence. All the other dinosaurs followed, not even daring to gaze at the creature's face.

"Mm. . . Not something that I was expecting to see as a greeting from puny lizards." the WaveGlider King hummed thoughtfully, smiling at everyone that bowed at him. Scores of WaveGlider soldiers began to surface after the king and his royal guard, their scaled skin clad with thick metallic armor. The king spoke, "I am here to bring all those brave enough to fight a glorious battle against Leon Powalski. Many lives may be lost, but many more will be saved. Do any of you wish to fight along sides with StarFox?"