Quick A/N: When I use the other word for Hades in this chapter, I really mean that fiery place. I don't use 'offensive' words unless I am using them for their dictionary meanings. Sorry if it really bothers you; I'm not fond of them either unless people are using them for their actual true meanings…

Arwing Academy

Chapter 2: Enter Starfox

Shoes treaded the rough pavement below them. The book bag on his back was heavy. Same old, same old… Fox walked the familiar path with monotony. One day he'd be out of this joint… Someday he'd be in the sky, not the ground. Actually, anything had to be better than this hell. If hell really existed, it was definitely the world he lived in.

As if hell heard his thoughts, the scent of burning wood reached Fox's nose. He glanced around in mild surprise, wondering what had caught on fire. Plumes of smoke rose above a few houses down in the neighborhood. A sudden fear seized Fox, and a lump caught in his throat. He began to run towards the fire's source.

God… no… Please don't take the one thing in my life…

His house was on fire. Dumbstruck, Fox stopped running and just stared. A small group of people had cumulated a fair distance away from his house. One of them noticed Fox, and made his way toward his friend.

"Wha…" Fox managed to move his mouth, but his eyes never left the burning building. "What…"

Strong arms –rather wings- gripped Fox's shoulders, commanding him to look into the owner's piercing blue eyes. "Fox," his voice was low. "Your house is on fire… but there are firemen on their way."

Fox was unable to hold his friend's gaze. "My dad… Is my father in there?" He forced himself to say it calmly. Inside, he was an untamed squall. But he knew if he voiced his rage, his friend would only hold him tighter.

"I don't know," the blue bird answered carefully. Fox stared into his eyes, and knew he was lying. His father was in there.

"Falco…" Fox began, but was unable to continue. He blinked back tears unsuccessfully. The house itself meant nothing to him. His father was the only person he had left in this world, though. No siblings or relatives… not even a mother. If he lost his father…. He'd be all alone…

When Fox didn't struggle against Falco's grip, the bird slowly released him. Bad mistake.

Fox tore into a sudden run, his destination the burning house. Falco tried unsucessfully to catch him. Even when they had been younger, Fox had always been the faster runner.

The vulpine victim mowed down the people who stood in his way. There wasn't enough time for subtleties; this was serious. As Fox reached the burning building, a gasp from the crowd arose. Knowing Falco was close behind him, Fox couldn't hesitate. He plunged into his house, panic's essence filling him with much needed energy.

Falco stopped at the doorframe, peering inside the hellfire. He could see Fox amidst the flames, but it was too dangerous to enter. The building could collapse any second. Where were those firemen! "Fox!" Falco called out in desperation to his receding friend. The bird shook his head at his friend's foolishness. Even if James McCloud was still alive, there was no way the two would have such luck on the way back. Falco closed his eyes, sighing deeply. No... He wouldn't let his friend go out this way. He'd drag him back if he had to.

Right as Falco made up his mind, a flaming beam collapsed, blocking the entrance. If Falco couldn't get in, that meant Fox couldn't get out! "Fox!" Falco cried out again, in even more desperation. "Fox! Get out of there!" But his words were too far for Fox to hear them.

Meanwhile, Fox experienced Hades first-hand. The smoke made his eyes water and lungs shake. His unprotected fur sizzled beneath the fire's intense heat while sticky sweat poured from his brow. "Dad?" Fox called. His eyes scanned his previous house, but everything was blurry. "Dad?" Fox tried again. The staircase was in flames; Fox seriously hoped his father wasn't up there. He could still search the kitchen, though... and the family room.

The kitchen's cupboards and pantries had all been set aflame. His father wasn't there. There wasn't much time left... His father probably wouldn't be alive by the time he found him. All he could do was hurry onto the family room...

Amidst the burning landscape, Fox picked out a fallen form upon the ground. Crying out in both relief and worry, the fox rushed to his aid. He kneeled down, frantically trying to lift his father's prone form. "C'mon, we gotta get out of here..." He spoke, feeling tears begin to flow from his eyes. His father wasn't dead. His father couldn't be dead. Fox just had to keep telling himself that, over and over again.

As Fox's hand grabbed his father's back, he felt something sticky. Not the texture of sweat, either... Fox laid his father back on the floor; another fear lodging itself in his throat.

Blood.

Lots of blood.

His father was bleeding?

That was impossible! When fire burns skin, the wound is sealed as fast as it is damaged. Therefore, there is no blood when a victim has burns of any kind...

A gasp escaped Fox, and his hands began to shake. No! No! No! I don't have time for this. Gotta get Dad out of here fast...

Heavy footsteps behind Fox interrupted his thoughts. Jerking around quickly, the form of an overweight pig greeted him. Fox sighed in relief. He didn't know what his father's business partner was doing here, but at least he could get some help...

"Mr. Dengar!" Fox greeted him, still kneeling by his father. "Please help me! We need to get my father out of here..."

The fat swine lifted his hand, pointing a gun straight at Fox's head. Fox stared at him with disbelieving eyes, as the facts clicked into place. More than ever, he felt the hot sweat upon his head and hands. Another shaken breath escaped Fox.

"Hee hee..." A very disturbing giggle came from the swine. Pigma Dengar clicked the safety lock off on his gun. "You've saved me the trouble of looking for you... James McCloud's son!"

Fox stared at him without understanding. But he knew he was going to die here... Die by his father's murderer. "W-wait," Fox shook his head, feeling panic rise within him again. "Wh-why would you want to kill me and my father?"

"Because now the Starfox legacy has no heirs... hehehe!" A malicious smile sprawled across Pigma's face. Fox still didn't understand, but there wasn't enough time to think. "Bye-bye!" Pigma waved cheerfully at Fox, before pulling the trigger. The house groaned in protest exactly at that moment, and the roof caved in between Pigma and Fox. The gunshot was muffled beneath the caving house.

It would have been a godsend if the roof wasn't collapsing on top of Fox and his father. There was no way out of this... there wasn't enough time to run. The burning building was burying Fox and his father in their graves...

"Aaahhhhhhhhh!" Fox closed his eyes, hugging his head closely to his body, expecting the final pain to come any minute; for his life to be over; to see God or angels or Satan or hell or something...

But the final pain never came.

I should have died that day...

"Fox!"

"Fox McCloud!"

"Fox McCloud, are you paying attention?"

Fox managed to tear his gaze from the awe-inspiring window of sky and focused on the teacher. "Not really. What were you saying?"

The frog speaker from yesterday, Mrs. Anura, was the arwing engine model teacher. She puffed herself up to twice her size and waved her very long index finger at her student. "You might think you're very funny, young sir, but I will not tolerate your…" She frowned, thinking of the right word. "Erm… lack of attention," she managed to fumble out.

Well she didn't exactly seem like the brightest card in the deck to Fox, either… "I thought we were just introducing ourselves or something… It wasn't like you were even teaching," the vulpine student pointed out.

The teacher suddenly had a complete shift of mood and decided to completely ignore Fox. Taking advantage of the situation, Fox let his mind wander again, while his eyes drifted towards the big blue…

"Hi, my name is Slippy Toad," some student was introducing himself. "I really like the design of the Arwings…" It was the last thing Fox heard before becoming completely immersed in la-la land.

The Arwing Engine Model class had ended. Fox found his way towards a different classroom, which was on ground level. As the students filed into their seats, the bell finally rang. Strange… Fox glanced around the room. The teacher wasn't there yet. …What class was this again? He hadn't been paying attention.

Well anyway, it was a good time to observe the fascinating window. Someone had been kind enough to leave the window open, and a gentle breeze flowed across the room. The peacefulness was interrupted when a figure seemed to appear out of nowhere, jumping through the open window, and onto the teacher's desk!

"General Scales!" The SharpClaw dinosaur cackled, showing his clawed hands to the class. "Coutoh, hicoh, udt k0hudk ev kxaj scujjheem!" (1)

All of the students, even Fox, stared wide-eyed at the deranged dinosaur. Fox couldn't help but wonder if someone mental had escaped from the psych ward…

Someone passed by the door outside. 'General' Scales noticed the animal, and quickly jumped down from the desk. He was just in time. The person did a double take, looked again, and rubbed his eyes when he saw Scales in front of the classroom like a normal teacher.

Scales turned his attention back to the students, and coughed slightly. "Your language teacher," he explained shortly, glaring at the class with suspicious eyes. Oh great, this crackpot was a teacher? Fox couldn't believe his luck.

"If I catch you dozing or goofing off even once…" General Scales lifted his lips into a sneer. "I'll send you to the dungeon, where you will be sentenced to have a 'learning' experience with medieval torture devices."

Fox couldn't take his eyes off this guy. Man, he was good. He'd have to be careful… Maybe even pretend to pay attention.

A sudden uneasiness crept over Fox, and it wasn't because of their mental teacher. Someone was staring at him… He could feel their eyes on his back. Closing his eyes and shuddering slightly, Fox tried to shake the feeling off.

The last class of the day wasn't as exciting as language, but this was the one subject Fox thought he might possibly enjoy.

Flyer's Education.

Finally, he'd get to pilot an Arwing. Well… probably not on the first day, but someday he would. The teacher wasn't as annoying as Mrs. Anura, or as mental as General Scales. He seemed vaguely familiar to Fox, actually.

"Hi guys!" The elderly teacher waved enthusiastically at the group of kids. "I'm Mr. Hare," the hare introduced himself. "And I get to teach you the fundamental aspects of flying! Whoo-hoo!" He seemed honestly excited about the course. "Don't worry, you'll be piloting in space in no time. It's like riding a bicycle; once you learn, you never forget!"

The rest of the period, Mr. Hare laid out the syllabus and explained the expectations within his class. Mr. Hare had timed the class perfectly. Right when he finished, the bell rang. Fox was about to hightail it out of school with the rest of the students; he was glad he had finally finished his day. However, an arm grabbed his shoulder, so the vulpine student had to stop his mad rush. He glanced back to see Mr. Hare beside him.

"Wait a second," the rabbit commanded him, smiling in a friendly manner. "I couldn't help but notice how familiar you look. Tell me, you wouldn't happen to know James McCloud, would you?"

Fox was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected something like that. "Um…" He finally nodded his head. "Yeah. That's my father."

"So you are Fox McCloud!" Mr. Hare's lit with excitement. "What an honor to have you in my class! Ha, tell me, what is your father up to? I haven't seen him in years! Tell him to drop me a line or two, would you?" Fox blinked, his heart beginning to grow heavy. He tried to interrupt the hare, but he just kept on going. "Why, James and I were both on the Starfox team, back in the day, yes sir. Flying against Andross and demolishing his army… Ah, those were the days. Speaking of Andross, have you heard about his return? Oh of course you have, what am I talking about; we're in a war against him, after all! I heard your father was considering taking to his Arwing again. Has he decided? Or are you going to take his place?" The friendly hare winked at Fox. "Practice hard, maybe someday you'll be as skilled as your father!"

Fox bowed his head slightly, dreading what he should tell Mr. Hare. If he was indeed a close friend of his father, Fox knew he had to explain James's death. Yet whenever Fox mentioned his father's death, the other person was fake kind to him. They were always full of superfluous guilt and pity; and Fox couldn't stand or accept pity from others. He hated pity because it meant people looked down on him; as if he was someone pathetic. Sure, loosing his father was tough… Fox never said it didn't make him depressed… if 'depressed' could even properly explain his intense sorrow…

By now Mr. Hare had realized something was wrong with his student. Mr. Hare's dark hazel eyes met Fox's green pair. The teacher was about to inquire about the fox's silence, but Fox beat him to it. "Mr. Hare," Fox cleared his throat slightly, trying to keep his gaze and voice steady. "My father is dead." Good, he'd managed to keep himself under control.

The kindly old teacher stared at Fox in disbelief. The small spectacles on his nose fell to hit the ground. "Wh-what?" Mr. Hare shook his head, eyes searching for any lie beneath Fox. "How? When?"

"L-last week." Shoot, his voice had quivered. "He died…" Fox blinked back tears, barely holding himself under control. He tried to speak, but only a small breath would come forth. Somehow, he couldn't say that his father was 'murdered'… "In a fire." The vulpine student gulped. It was easier to say it that way. Besides, that's what the police had 'concluded'…

Mr. Hare just shook his head his mouth slightly open. When he noticed Fox's eyes watering, the rabbit couldn't bear to watch him. He turned away, grabbing the desk for support, staring through the window; trying to make sense of what Fox had just said. Mr. Hare's mind was unable to comprehend the extremity of the events.

Well, the old hare had been right about being a close friend; Fox could see that clearly. His teacher was in such shock that he had forgotten to give Fox his pity party. Seeing an escape, the fox quietly left the classroom, leaving the teacher to find himself.

Fox was determined to enjoy the rest of his day. Maybe he'd find his fake ID and visit Buffalo's bar. Yeah… eat, drink, and be merry; or, something to that degree at least. Maybe he'd get to know some of the local yokels, too.

Reaching his dorm, Fox couldn't help but pause before opening the door. Last time, Roshi had played a prank on him. This time he wouldn't be caught off guard, though. Fox turned the doorknob slowly, preparing to sneak up on the red reptile. …But the door wouldn't open. Fox glared at the door accusingly. Had Roshi done something to prevent him from entering?

…Oh wait, the door was locked, haha. Slapping himself for his stupidity, Fox grabbed the keys out of his pocket. He fumbled for the right key, but it jingled. Loudly. If Roshi hadn't heard that, he was deaf. Knowing the element of surprise was gone, Fox sighed slightly. Well, guess he couldn't be subtle.

After the fox unlocked the door, he kicked it open forcefully! There was a shattering ka-bam buduh buduh budah as the door was slammed across the doorstopper's spring. No water fell or anything, so Fox assumed it was booby-free. Roshi was nowhere in sight, so Fox figured he had gone somewhere.

Sighing again (but this time in relief), Fox walked through the door. "Hey dude!" An all-too familiar voice greeted him. Fox nearly fell over in surprise when Roshi popped out from underneath the bed.

"What the heck?" Fox gaped at the dinosaur. "What are you doing down there?"

"Havin' a pizza party," Roshi remarked, as if it was common sense. "Hey you want any?"

"Is the pizza poisoned?" Fox glared suspiciously at the very strange compsognathus.

Roshi laughed. "Dude, I've eaten like, half of it. I sure hope not. 'Sides, that would make ya sick, I don't do stuff like that. And I already pranked ya yesterday; I found m'self other targets. Chill. I'm not gonna stalk only you."

"Ok, fine," Fox sighed for the third time. The pizza looked and smelled fine; so Fox decided that Roshi was telling the truth. There was only half left, but it Fox wolfed it down. When Roshi remarked that Fox ate like an animal, the vulpine student told him to shut up.

Fox was too tired to visit the bar. He could put it off for another day, he thought. Plopping down on his small bed, Fox prepared to take a small rest.

"You ok?" Roshi peered at his dorm mate curiously.

"Sure, why do you ask?" Fox asked tiredly.

"You seem… sad… or something."

Fox jumped slightly. He hadn't expected the dinosaur to be so intuitive. "I'm fine. Just tired is all." Shutting his eyes again, Fox closed out any further conversation.

But he really did miss his father…

(1) Fyi, General Scales said (in Dinosaur/Saurian language), "General Scales! Leader, ruler, and tyrant of this classroom!"

AN: Hi again. So guess what game I got after I just explained which games I've played… lol. Well actually I didn't really like Starfox: Assualt (Namco, what have you done?), so I will just be basing this story off of 64 and Adventures, as previously planned.

Acknowledgements: Namco and Nintendo own Starfox! …Namco? Ooh, scary, that isn't Rare.