I am deliberately not naming anybody, but several people decided to e-mail me their vote. It seems that the overwhelming result is… keep it PG-13. Also, one or two people questioned the need for a vote. So here it is. Here in Australia, and possible the U.K. as well, we have two ratings in between PG-13 and R. In order, they are M and MA-15+. I don't know if those ratings exist in the U.S. or not, but they don't exist on Fanfiction.net. So, in the U.S, Independence Day, to pick a random example, got rated PG-13, while here, it got M. What that boils down to is, basically, there is very little gray area between PG-13 and R on this site. Sadly, I have a basically truthful nature, so if I was to do all I wanted with this story, I would have to make it R. I know that a lot of people 'bend' the ratings rules on this site, but I can't do that. Of course, the PG-13 story will be just as good as the R. Maybe when I've finished, I can do some sort of 'Special Features' thing, with the R rated scenes, and the deleted/lost scenes. Sorry about the prudery, but while some rule bending is all right, what I had in mind would kind of make it an R by default if one of the Administrators stopped by. Or get it deleted, which I'm sure no one would want. Right. That's my rant sorted out. If there's anyone left, enjoy the story.

Nintendo owns anything and everything connected to StarFox. All other characters in this chapter are owned by… Nintendo! Except for Keller, who after a quick run through of the copyright laws is sufficiently different from Link to not be owned by them. So he's mine. No one else can use him without my express permission.

Chapter 9: Troubling Times

Part 17: Lylat Wars

                     "Fox!" The transmitter crackled to life. "Fox! Are you there?"

                     "I'm sorry, this is Krystal. Fox is in the shower right now."

                     "Right. This is Bill. We  need you guys as soon as you can get here!" Loud explosions could be heard on the transmitter. "Quickly!"

                     "Right. We're coming… As an aside, what happened to General Pepper?

                     "I'll tell you when you get here! There's no time!"

                     The Great Fox turned around and started heading for Corneria…

                                          *                   *                   *

                     The Starfox team leaped out of the Great Fox. A scene of devastation met their eyes. Falco turned to Fox, and said, "What happened? There's not even a trace of the defenders!" Most of the buildings were destroyed. Arwings and Landmaster tanks lay strewn everywhere. While thousands of Andross's robotic henchmen lay scattered around, it was obvious that evil had triumphed here.

                     "I don't know, Falco. Everyone, stay close! We should find our answers up at the General's base."

                     "Oh, but that would be a bad thing to do, Fox." The Starfox team turned around to see a wildly grinning Wolf O'Donnell, flanked by the members of Starwolf. "I'm afraid that our allies have ensured that there is no one left up there."

                     "What's the deal, Wolf? You might be twisted, evil assassins, but Starwolf has never been a team of mass murderers. What changed?" Slippy's hand was on his blaster. He was keeping a close eye on his opposing number, the Lizard.

                     "Oh, but you don't listen, do you? He said our new allies handled it. We're here to put an end to our teams' rivalry, by killing all members of Starfox!" Pigma laughed. "And I see you replaced that pathetic buffoon, Peppy, with a lovely female specimen!"

                     "What new allies? And so what if Andross has the planet, or the system! The Federation will never allow evil to take a planet!"

                     "Wow. You really have been out in the sticks, Fox. The Federation no longer exists. Emperor Ganondorf saw to that. He is the new master of the galaxy. And Andross, the governor of the entire Lylat system. Face it, Fox. Evil has triumphed!" Wolf threw back his head and laughed.

                     "Wait a second. Ganondorf? Wasn't he that evil guy we met at the tournament, Fox?"

                     "I think so, Falco. But he obviously was more powerful than we thought! Emperor Ganondorf? Hah!"

                     "And what's so funny, anthropoid?" A tall woman walked out of the rubble. The Starwolf members backed away. "Well?"

                     "Oh, nothing. Just Ganondork being emperor of the galaxy."

                     "You dare… to insult my master?" The woman was surrounded by a black nimbus. When it cleared, she was replaced by a giant spider. "Then die!"

                     "Oops. That's a big insect. But we can handle it, right?" Starfox grabbed their blasters. So did Starwolf. And the arachnid lashed out with one leg, shooting small orbs of darkness at the Great Fox. "Maybe not." The Great Fox faded away into nothingness. "Hey! Where did our ship go? Where's Peppy?"

                     "Your ship no longer exists. But don't worry, you'll join it soon enough." All of a sudden, in a smoky cloud, a bat appeared. It changed into a black figure. "What is it, Keller?"

                     "Veran, stop playing with your food. Let Starwolf handle it. The master wants to see us."

                     "But…"

                     "Now!"

                     "You don't give me orders, Keller."

                     "Oh really? Allow me to disagree." The black figure raised its left hand and pointed it at one of the remaining buildings. The building crumbled into dust. He then pointed at Veran. "Veran, I command you to come to the council chamber immediately. Failure to do so will mean that Ganon will have to find another Lieutenant."

                     "You make your point graphically. Very well, Keller." Veran disappeared.

                     "As always." Keller turned to Wolf. "As for you, take care of these pathetic buffoons. But first, I want to know where the survivors of our attack went."

                     "As far as we know, they have joined the other federation remnants on the Harvest Moon. But that system is too well defended for us to get in."

                     "That is a problem. I will inform the council of your service to the cause. After all, we might not need Andross around forever…" Keller faded away.

                     "Who were those two?" Krystal asked.

                     "The insect was Queen Veran. The man was Lord Keller. Veran is slightly insane. Keller's the one to watch out for. He's a vampire, and the only reason that you don't have his fangs in your neck is that he's in a hurry. On Venom, I saw him drink one of Andross's concubines. But enough about that. We have to kill you. Just like we killed Pepper."

                     "You killed Pepper? You monsters!"

                     "Oh, we're not monsters." Several dozen Moblins ran to them. "They are. We're just… facilitators."

                     "Well, this is the end, team. Looks like we're going to die. Falco, sorry about painting your Arwing bright pink. Krystal, I think you're hot. Slippy, I'm sorry I called you an effeminate toad."

                     "That was you? You bastard! Well, I was going to apologize for painting your Landmaster purple, but now…"

                     "Why, McCloud… I must confess, I've always felt the same thing about you."

                     "That's all right, Fox. I'm sorry I painted the target sign on your Arwing."

                     "If you goodie-goodie two-shoes' could stop being sickly sweet for a few seconds, we would like to kill you. That all right?" All of a sudden, a blast enveloped them. When it cleared, Starwolf and the Moblins were lying unconscious, and the Blue Falcon was hovering above their bodies. Captain Falcon leaned out and waved to them.

                                          "Let's move, people. We have to hurry and get to the Harvest Moon! Mario, prepare the landing sequence." The spaceship landed and extended the boarding ramp. They all ran up the ramp, and were about to make it to safety when…

                     "Slippy's hit!"

                     "I'm going down, Fox!"

                     Wolf and Pigma pocketed their lasers as the Moblins ran forward and picked up the bodies. Fox and Krystal could do nothing but watch…

Part 18: Let the Lord of Chaos Rule

                     This is a room in Hylia. We have seen it before, just before the Hylian nations fell to the onslaught of evil. Now it is once more a hive of activity. Ganondorf's lieutenants are awaiting with dread the orders of their master. Behind them, their servants sit snarling at each other.          

                     "You know what this is about, don't you. He wants to walk the real world again. Can't you see that?" Majora looks around at his partners. They all nod.

                     "It would mean an end to our freedom." Onyx noted sadly.

                     "It would mean an end to our lives! He won't need us anymore. And will one of you please pass me the bottle marked A-type?" Keller's servants hand it to him. He opens it and pours it into his goblet. "But what can we do?" He is about to start drinking but he stops. "I'm sorry, would you like some?"

                     "What is it?"

                     "Blood of Virgin. It's delicious."

                     "No, thank you. And we could… turn freelance…"

                     "Abandon the Great Lord in his hour of need! No! We should help him escape! He will richly reward us, I'm sure of it!" Veran snorted, "We should be pleased he wishes to return to the world! He could help us crush our enemies!"

                     "Hmph. All well and good, but what is involved in freeing him? Anyone know? Keller?"

                     "Well, we would have to kill the 8 sages. I've made a start, I killed Darunia myself, a large water dragon ate Ruto, Impa's dead, I think Emperor Ganon killed Rauru, Onyx, you killed Nabooru. That leaves", He practically spat the names out, "Zelda, and Saria."

                     "Then we have to find the Triforce of Wisdom, and unite it with the pieces already in Ganon's hands." Onyx shook his head. "An impossible task, because the minute we took Hyrule, it shattered and disappeared. Could be scattered anywhere around the galaxy."

                     "Followed by a royal sacrifice." Majora laughed its watery laugh. "That at least is simple. Arryl is still here, isn't she?"

                     "And finally, one of us, and by us, I mean our servants, has to pull the Master Sword out of its rock." Veran sighed.

                     "More trouble then its worth, my minions?" The four of them leapt to their feet as Ganondorf's image appeared in the crystal ball.

                     "Oh no, Great Lord! We would never dream of abandoning you!" Keller motioned to the others. They all jumped in with assurances.

                     "Good. Then perhaps you can clear something up for me, my most trusted disciple."

                     "Yes my lord. Anything."

                     "Where are the rebels hiding?"

                     "Barbells, my lord? We know of no Barbells. Perhaps you have been misinform…urk" Keller was lifted off his seat by an incredible force. "Oh, Rebels! They're hiding on the Harvest Moon."

                     "And why do we allow them to gather, Keller?" Onyx asked.

                     "Look, do I tell you how to run an army? No. So you shouldn't tell a vampire how to hunt live prey."

                     "Very good, my servants. But, stop bothering with them. Your earlier assumptions were correct. I do wish to escape my prison. To do that, I need the Triforce of Wisdom. Veran, Onyx, Majora. The three of you are to send forces to find it. You may use any means necessary. I don't care if you have to kill every other villain in the galaxy, just find it! Keller, kill Saria. If you need to, wipe out the entire Harvest Moon. You may use any magic, any warrior, any assassin you desire, just kill her." He fades away. The crystal ball shatters.

                     "Which one of you boneheads told him about the rebels?" Onyx demanded.

                     "Why does he always need to shatter those balls? They take a great deal of magic!" Keller gathered the glass together.

                     "Who does he think he is, treating us like common minions. He needs us more than we need him!" Veran said angrily.

                     "What did he mean 'if we kill every other villain'? They're all on our side!" Majora wondered.

                     "Where could those pieces be?" Veran, Majora and Onyx leave with their servants.

                     "When would it be a good time to kill Saria?" Keller and his servants become Keese and fly out.

Please R&R! Please!