Star Fox 5
Authors note: Star Fox first came out in the 90's on the SNES. The success would have led to the unreleased title Star Fox 2, but it didn't happen. The N64 came out and with that Star Fox 64 which had great graphics and the story of Fox V.S. Andross continued. It wouldn't be for a few more years till Star Fox Adventures would come out and creators planned on it being on N64, a good thing they didn't too. Fox's legend hasn't died yet, and with that here is the final chapter of my story. And in case you are wondering this is set after Star Fox Adventures (a while before Star Fox Assault). Read and review if you want.
CH.5: Corneria's key
"Wha…what happened?" Fox rubbed his head and found himself bandaged up and in a medical bed. Fox rubbed his nose and removed his hand after the strange feel it had. In the bed across from him was a bandaged Krystal who looked beautiful even when messed up. The last thing he could remember was Falco speaking then he fell to the floor like an Arwing caught him in the gut. He still could not believe he killed Wolf's dad, had the war changed him? "Hey Krystal wake up," Fox yelled to the other side of the room. The vixen moaned and rolled onto her side, a definite sign she was still alive.
"Told you he was a fighter dad," Slippy said as they entered the room with Falco and Beltino. "Fox my father has some news on our next assignment," he said. Fox struggled to sit up but decided to lay there and try to stay awake. Beltino Toad was an inch shorter then his son Slippy; Fox envied Slippy, to have a father, but Fox had avenged his father's death, and he knew his father wouldn't want him to be thinking about what ifs. So Fox listened to Beltino for their next mission.
"Corneria is a big world full of cities and attractions, it also has secrets too. Corneria was invaded 1,000 years ago by creatures that even today have no name. The Cornerian General then was Samuel Pepper, a forefather to the now General Pepper. He made an agreement with the bug leader to live in his city, the bugs agreed to stay out of the affairs of the Cornerian world; only if Corneria made no attempts to take Veran VI. However after Pepper died his son Grant Pepper sent an army there to collect rare gems said to harness extraordinary powers to make their weak ships stronger. The bug like monsters made no move, but on Veran VI the army sent there never returned." Beltino stopped giving the youngsters a chance to let this sink in before adding, "those bugs may sprout soon, so your next mission is to Veran VI and to destroy their leader. You must hurry or Corneria will be swallowed for good," Beltino ended.
"Team we have our mission so lets-." Fox lowered his casted arm and his eyes were blurry from tears. Falco led the toads out but held back and stared at Fox. Fox was Falco's best friend and even during their Venom campaign he always had his wing. Falco thought of his side adventures in his absence and still found himself here.
"Fox why did you kill him?" Fox looked up to see Falco crossing his arms and giving him the buddy concerned look. "He was the boss of the White Wolf fleet; does that mean anything to you? Did you even think about Corneria and the danger it could be in? Well Fox?"
"Falco…the leader of the White Wolf was Mack Wolf, the father of the late Star Wolf." Falco's jaw dropped at the revelation; though he had heard a blur of that when he was half conscious. "He took the news of his of his son's death just as I had done when my father was killed. The knife wounds will become scars, but inside I will never be the same. I may take sometime to heal, why don't you take a tour of wherever we-."
"Sure Fox," Falco said interrupting his friend. Fox watched as he left then threw his covers off and made his way over to Krystal's bed. Her blue furred body rose with every breath she took, why couldn't he say the three words? Their current mission would take them to Veran VI, where in the end they'd be rushing against time to destroy the lead plant and then destroy the White Wolf fleet in orbit. Over the next 2 days Fox spent his time in the gym and artillery range reacquainting himself with commando like skills. After sweating through 6 rounds of lizard conquer he rushed over to the shower. He stripped off his clothes and walked in only to find an already naked Krystal. Krystal looked down at Fox and Fox looked at her, then without saying a word Fox left. Both Fox and Krystal then after had difficulty speaking of their surprise in the shower and their conversations were quite small. In the ready room Fox stood once more near the podium and staring at his three teammates. "So Fox ready to destroy the fleet?"
"Sure Falco, but first we need to go over Beltino's notes on the planet Veran VI. It says here that Corneria prohibited exploring the planet and if they did they'd execute order 12. Order 12 gives these plants the right to consume Corneria, which means time is once again against us. On the surface will be Krystal and Slippy, up in orbit will be Falco and I. Krystal be careful where you walk, Slippy will help destroy things and with your telepathy may find the enemy's weak point. Let's prep the Arwings and jet to Veran VI."
"I'm a little shocked Fox, what about Krystal?" They were on their way to the hangar bay and Krystal was up ahead talking to Slippy. As they entered the elevator Fox crossed his arms and rested his nerves for the upcoming battle. Falco stood beside him trying to decipher his friend's restless state. "Hey Fox what are you hiding?"
"Nothing Falco, just a little disturbed. After killing wolf Sr. I felt all happiness drained and…well now I don't know how to feel. You and I can cause some major damage up there while Krystal and Slippy can take care of the botanical nightmare below." Each tapped their feet impatiently as the numbers scrolled down. Fox chose this time to continue, "their not bad pilots, its jut this maybe the last time you're my wingman," Fox said sadly.
"Hey its okay Fox, I mean we'll still be friends so why should a matter of wingman make that any different? If this is our last mission…let's give them one fight to live in their afterlife!" Shaking hands they exited the opening elevator and met Krystal and Slippy. "Fox any last words before we go?"
"Yeah….good luck," Fox said. Hopping into their Arwings Team Star Fox prepared for their final mission and hopefully they didn't go down too easily.
Slippy Toad checked his engines and found everything in 100 performing capacity. He then waited for the clamp to let go of the Arwing before he and Krystal began their attack on Veran VI. The familiar shock was sent through his cockpit and then he pushed the boost speeded his exit from the shoot tube. Krystal's Arwing flew beside him and he was ok with it. Krystal shot down the command ship on the 1st mission; all he did on his 1st mission was show Great Fox where to shoot. Fox and Falco broke off and it was only his brains and Krystal's new found telepathy entering the atmosphere of Veran VI. "Ok Krystal when we land make sure you keep close to me, who knows what-."
"Slippy I'll be ok," Krystal retorted. The atmospheric pressure shook their Arwings from side to side as they descended through heavy layers of clouds. Krystal instinctively lowered her landing gears and made a soft touch down on the hill. Slippy lowered his too late and one of his landing gears flew off. "Slippy…are you alright?"
"Yeah, just dandy," Slippy said from his dark cockpit. He could see now why Falco hated her so much. Flipping the reserve power switch lights came on shedding light on what damage was caused during his touchdown landing. For one he had one landing gear, which meant liftoff was near impossible. The others had to deal with short circuits and a loss of fuel. Entering his password a secret panel slid back revealing a gatling gun with the most deadly of rays. Popping the hatch finally he stepped onto one of the stones surrounding his Arwing, however, one was too steep and with that he flew forward until the mud broke his fall. "Krystal…do you sense anything yet?" He said sitting up with mud over his face.
"They seem calm," Krystal said, "it's as if they knew this was the place they'd die. But now I sense anger, bitter anger that will resolve in only suffering-." Four eyed plants lunged from the dark and Slippy rolled onto his back and with speed only an intelligent toad could have propelled himself up with a jetpack and soon he was facing winged horrors. "I wish I still had my staff."
"Krystal, your staff may be gone, but inside let go; and resort to another way to hurt them." Slippy squeezed the trigger and shot out rapid beams of gun fire all over the hill. The plants exploded in yellow and white guts and as Slippy landed there were no plants left standing. "You see Krystal…all you need is brains."
"Slippy I sense the leader is nearby, but it seems to want us to come. Should we contact Fox and tell him we're about to make contact?" Krystal stared at they young toad who had a hobby of fixing things and analyzing, he seemed too young for this job.
"We shouldn't tell him, not yet anyway, besides he and Falco will be too busy blowing up ships to worry about our current status. I am now beginning the analysis of the leader," he said before he became quiet. They proceeded across a moist bridge that emitted a blanket of fog every time they took a step. The leader was tall and had 17 arms waving around in the air. The mouth was split in four and the brain was pulsing with irregular activity.
"Welcome Krystal of the planet Cerina; and Slippy Toad of the planet Spiliany, what an honor to have you in my lair tonight. I'm sorry I didn't clean up, but as you can see I don't usually have guest." Springing before them were skeletal figures, and out of their bones popped badges, each said Corneria on them. "Are you here to stay?"
"No; just to get rid of your ugly hide, "Slippy said as he finished his analysis. Krystal pulled out her blaster and shot an overhanging vine above Slippy. "Tell your plants to leave Corneria, or you'll barbeque where you sit. The White Wolf is coming too, so your end is closer then you foresee," Slippy said staring at the leader.
"If you won't stay then leave my lair!" The leader whipped loose an arm and slapped Krystal into the mud. Slippy bounded across the bridge to help Krystal only to have his feet grabbed and soon found himself heading to a spiked lined wall. Using his intelligent he recalibrated his jetpack up and down movement and when he stared into the needle the jetpack's motion pulled him back. Krystal by now had recovered and with her blaster at its hottest she released a held beam that clipped 5 arms of the leader.
"Great shot Krystal; it seems the arms are its weak points. Now are you going to apologize?" The lead plant still had 12 arms left and used them to throw spikes. Slippy made an adjustment on his jetpack and zoomed forward pelting the arms two at a time, by the time he ran low on ammo; the leader had two on each side. "Yeah we beat the-."
"I don't think he is done yet Slippy, he seems to calm and reserved," Krystal said uneasily. The two remaining arms fell limp to the side and the plant popped from its rooting and as all four mouths opened, a bright purple beam began to form. "Slippy what do we do!" Slippy pounded on his analysis watch and saw what he feared. The map he had stored in there was full of spots, the planet was Corneria. To destroy the beast they'd need to go inside.
"Krystal he is overloading, if we don't destroy him now, then Corneria is doomed." Krystal had no need for Slippy to repeat it and rushing forward she slid down the 1st mouth. The tunnel swooped down a left path, then right, and finally dropped Krystal onto an uneven platform. Patting her clothing she came up and stuck her tongue out at the pink goo. Weird squawks were heard ahead and then they came. Krystal shot the lead down then rolled forward to get her back scratched. A beast with six wings confronted Krystal who swung the butt of her rifle into its eyes. Racing from platform to platform she shot one beast each platform she landed on. Up ahead there was a main chamber and in there a purple blob waited.
"Corneria is doomed; let it die as your Cerina did." Krystal rolled past an electrical tentacle then shot out a red beam. The beast swallowed the beam effortlessly. "Your whole planet and race destroyed; when you die you are the last of your race." Krystal leaped over the next tentacle and as the next approached she grabbed on.
"I won't…let you win," Krystal said weakly. Electricity ran through her body and as the tentacle raised her above its mouth she somersaulted onto its head. Setting her blaster to overload she placed it on its head and with a yell fell to the floor. The plant exploded sending purple parts everywhere. Krystal limped into another chamber and found Slippy shooting wildly at the pink blob. As Slippy flew to the air he pulled out a sniper rifle and close one eye. Taking aim he squeezed the trigger and the pink blob exploded. "Slippy…how-?"
"I calculated the trigger point and placed a sensor bomb on it, then with the sniper rifle blew it up. I see you took the hard way," Slippy noted. Suddenly the chamber rumbled and without screaming Slippy picked Krystal up and blew up an exit. The chamber exploded and Slippy and Krystal were hurtled into the forest. Up in the sky the battle just got intense…
Fox barrel rolled as a White Wolf fleet ship poured battery charged into his Arwing. After Slippy and Krystal left, the fleet had dropped out of hyperspace ready for action. Falco was hit by a tracking missile and had to return to the Great Fox for repairs. So Fox fought the first half of the battle on a roll and shoot score. Pulling back on the yoke he flipped behind an enemy ship and as the crosshair became red he fired. His green dual lasers shot the ship down and as he flew through the debris he met the fleet ship. Falco shot a target behind Fox before he realized it, but was still glad he was back. "Falco our lasers aren't doing enough damage."
"I told Rob to send out new upgrades, they should be on the other side of the fleet." Falco did a nosedive and came up under the fleet ship and there was the upgrade. Collecting it he did a u-turn and took down a carrier ship in blue flames. "Fox their sending carrier ships to the planet, hurry!"
"Got it!" Hitting the boost he sped by annoying ships and met 6 enemy carriers. Targeting the closest carrier he shot his new upgrades continually until it finally blew up. Bright orange lights caught his attention and as he tried to cool it down a carrier turned to reveal 6 armed missiles. Before Fox could react a brilliant red explosion swallowed it up. "Falco was that-?"
"It wasn't me Fox," Falco said as he blasted a carrier up. Over the comm. a very familiar voice yelled and both Falco and Fox were shaken by it. "Fox it couldn't be, it sounds like him too."
"Better believe it Falco!" Speeding past Falco's Arwing was none other then Peppy Hare himself. "Found retirement slow and when I talked to Beltino I headed out here to see if you guys need a hand." Peppy somersaulted over Fox and sent another nova bomb into the carrier. "I may be back in this Arwing now, but after this I'll be on Great Fox. Say I think the fleet is forming up," Peppy pointed out. Fox shot the last two carriers down before facing their new threat. They wouldn't-?
"Evasive maneuvers now!" Fox, Falco, and Peppy turned their Arwings on their side and slipped through the crevices of the fleet. The fleet did a u-turn and tried another attempt to ram them. Fox got a target locked and fired his blue lasers at the lead chipping away at its frontal shield. "Falco you and Peppy prepare to board the vessel when I have the shields down, be ready my friends." Fox pulled up on the yoke to avoid the next ram then shot away again until it exploded.
"Alright Falco follow me," Peppy said. Spinning his Arwing he avoided the belly turret and with an up thrust flew into the hangar bay. Popping the hatch he pulled out his blaster and watched Falco land his Arwing near his. "Before I left, Beltino gave me a sketchy map of the fleet ship. 2 levels up we have the control room, however the 1st level up we hit the baddies."
"Good to have you back Peppy," Falco said. Pulling out a machine gun he blasted the door apart and as the smoke cleared soldiers wearing oil brown saw them. Falco fired 20 rounds into the soldiers and rolled into the doorway as enemy fire came. Peppy stood in the hallway reloading his blaster. After what seemed like an endless climb they came to the bridge. "Who's in command?"
"I am," a commanding voice said. Falco and Peppy raised their weapons at the figure with his back to them. As he faced them they were both surprised to see an old wolf. "My son was killed, my grandson shot down, all by a team of the Great Fox. Now here I am, the last of the once proud White Wolf fleet, well if it must end here do it." The ship was rattled by another explosion and both Falco and Peppy held the rail to steady themselves. The grandfather of Star Wolf was ready to die, it seemed fitting but-.
"Sir come back to Corneria, tell your fleet to lower their shields and the charges won't be harsh. It doesn't have to end here," Peppy tried to reason to him. The old wolf seemed to consider it, but as he rose he brought out a blaster in a shaky hand. Falco couldn't bear to shoot the old wolf, but it was Peppy who finally did. "He chose to die with honor."
"Falco the White Wolf fleet is preparing to ram you, hurry up!" Hearing Fox's call both pilots rushed down the crowded hallway and after blasting a dozen soldiers they finally made it to the hangar bay. Falco jumped into his Arwing and powered up the engines and just as the fleet rammed them they boosted out and into space. Peppy was behind him and Fox awaited their return. "Let's go get our team back." Flying down they scanned for Slippy's analysis scan and found him and Krystal in a meadow. Fox popped the hatch and rushed and rushed over to Krystal and kneeled beside her. Krystal smiled and Fox hugged her, grateful she had survived. Slippy shook his head and saw Peppy and grinned weakly. All around them flowers began to bloom and out of the ground popped a hologram. Then it spoke:
"Before the Lylat War began the mystical spirits that was in the Lylat system wanted to build a world that was perfect. It was then that Corneria was formed, satisfied the mystical spirits left. However; if the planet were to be overrun and out of hope, the spirits would return and blow Corneria up. That is all…"
"Just like Dinosaur Planet," Fox commented, "without the Krazoa spirits and spell stones it wasn't complete. It was these mystical spirits that formed Corneria, they in the end would bring Corneria back to the beginning." A beep brought the crew to reality and as Fox opened his wrist watch he saw an image of Pepper:
"General Pepper here, congratulations on your success Fox, and Peppy, see I told you retirement wasn't everything. Veran VI has returned to normal and the White Wolf fleet is gone. Krystal, when you return to Corneria I am awarding you a medal. For the time being your mission will be to patrol the Lylat system. Great Fox will be handed to Peppy and Krystal can have a permanent spot on your team. That's all for now, Pepper out."
"Great now we get to baby sit the system again," Falco said sarcastically. Fox and Krystal were in each other's arms and Peppy was looking up at the sun setting on Veran VI. The team was back together once again and the Lylat system could rest easy. Peppy walked up the boarding ramp of Great Fox and shook his head. Then he walked down the hallway of Great Fox and sat in as he sat in the Captain's seat he rested his eyes a bit. Retirement will have to wait till he gets older. Great Fox roared into the sky past Veran VI's sun and back into the boring patrol of the Lylat system.
The End
(But since when has Star Fox had an end?)