FIRST CATCH
You know, I really do like the reception coming from this fanfiction so far, especially from within the discord. Glad to see that you guys actually read these XD Thanks nonetheless. Also, for those who are reading this, who thought Raidon was going to die the next chapter of That Sylveon, you're a herb! A HERB!
Luanastar owns nothing.
Falco switched off the engine to his Arwing after parking within the Great Fox, collected his plushie, and hopped out. He breathed a sigh of relief as he closed the cockpit to his vehicle, and entered the long hallways of the large space carrier.
The pilot looked at the orange-scaled dragon he had been holding in his hands. The tail that was alight on fire put a smile on his face, yet it couldn't compete with the bad gut feeling the pilot had within him.
Although, he heard footsteps that weren't his own, so the falcon halted, and stuffed his plushie in his… feathers, and waited patiently for the owner to show itself.
Of course, it was no one other than the captain himself, Fox. Falco wasn't sure what to expect out of the vulpine for today. Nonetheless, he wiped his brow clean, and approached the fox with any dignity he had left.
"There you are, Falco." greeted Fox, taking a glance at his watch. "Glad you actually came back on time, for once. How's the bar?"
"Yeah… It was alright, you know? Got a couple drinks, said hi to the girls." waffled the avian, who diddled his feather-fingers behind his back.
"Right, I hope you aren't too drunk. We've gotta… How come your feathers are wet?"
Falco stared wide eyed at the vulpine. "Uh, I got thirsty."
"...Umm… Right. Anyway, we just gotta do a patrol around Meteo, Sargasso and Katina under General Peppers orders in about a couple hours. Just some activity checks, reconnaissance, the usual. Better sober up, though." advised the captain, gesturing toward the kitchen area to grab some water. Maybe a towel, too. "I was thinking that you and I could check Sargasso, while Peppy 'n' Slip checked out Katina. That way, we'd get this mission done as soon as possible."
"S-Sargasso?" Falco blurted. Thankfully, Fox didn't seem to catch onto the desperation in his voice, evident by his ambivalent expression. "Why do we gotta do it? We ain't the police!"
Fox fiddled the inside of his ear with his pinky.
"T-Technically, we are. At least if General Pepper's calling the shots."
"Right…" mused the bird, unamused. "Well, I'll be ready in an hour."
Falco tried to walk past the slightly shorter fox, but he had repositioned himself to stand in the pilot's path.
"One second, Falco. I just wanna talk to you about som-"
"Can this wait?" interrupted the brash falcon, walking over to the side. "I… I just wanna sit down, man."
Fox, sadly scratched his head, but nodded. "No, no I get it. I suppose it could."
"Glad you understand, buddy. See ya."
Falco took no time at all in speed walking down the hallway toward his chambers. Fox was left alone to exhale, and talk to himself.
"Geez, Falco Lombardi - what am I gonna do with you?"
...
Falco clamped the door shut, and breathed a sigh of exasperation. He chucked his plushie back onto his desk. Next, he changed out of his damp piloting jacket, and wrapped a towel around his shoulders. The blue-feathered avian felt like simply breathing was a challenge. The events that occurred a few moments ago still rung in his head like a jet black 2-dimensional man waving a bell around.
"Then, we'd have to show you why having StarWolf as your enemy, isn't a good idea."
"So you prefer the air, eh birdie? Let's see how you like thisss…"
Be that as it may, the worst of them all, was what the panther had whispered into his ear.
"Remember, birdie. You owe me one."
Everytime Falco heard his voice in his head, shivers would climb up and down his back like a clingy kindergartener. It pained him to no end, and matters were made worse once Fox had briefed him about their later mission.
Sighing once more, Falco turned to look at his prized possession strewn on his desk. Of course, next to it was a comic book with an black quadruped canine sat next to a light-blue quadruped canine of similar size, with floppy ears. Although, that wasn't as of importance to the bird.
"Gosh, Dragon… Sometimes, I just hate all this. I wish I listened to Ma, and became an accountant."
Well, Falco, you've had worse times in your life, no?
Blinking, Falco laid back on his bed. "You know, I guess you're right. I was nearly brown bread on Venom…"
Exactly that. Just keep a positive attitude.
"Ugh… I can't believe I'm taking advice from my own conscious. It's sad. Imagine if Ma saw me now…"
Well um… Conscious… Sure. Just don't lose it, Falco. Keep your head on straight. Get your head in the game. Don't come into my room you egg. Get it into 5th.
"...What did you say?"
I SAID GET A GRIP!
Groaning aloud, the bird sat up, shook his head, and took his own advice. He walked over to his personal sink, washed his face - willingly, this time - before he slapped on a new green bomber jacket and called himself ready. Checking the time from the clock on his wall, Falco realised he had way more time than expected until the start of the mission. It wouldn't hurt to chill about beforehand, right? Well, that comic wasn't going to read itself.
Falco was on his own, in the common room, staring at his phone. A picture was displayed on the screen, that he had been staring at for a little more than 5 minutes now. It brought back so many memories, both good and bad, to the lonesome songbird.
"Hey Falco!"
At the sound of his captains's voice, Falco failed about erratically, trying to change the display on his phone. Although, much to the avian's frustration, it would only change to pictures of the same person. Before the blue-feathered falcon knew it, Fox - who was dressed in all but his signature pilot jacket - was already sat next to him on the couch, also looking at his pictures. Why didn't he just put his phone away?
"U-UH!"
"Well, lookie here! Is that your girlfriend?" cooed Fox, laying his eyes upon the slender pink figure of the cat that was on his phone display. "You never told me you had a bird of your own! Lemme have a look!"
The playful 18 year old outstretched his arms to get ahold of the device, but Falco pushed the fox away.
"O-Oy! Hand's off my bre- phone! She's not my girlfriend!"
Fox stopped his attack. "She's not? Then who is she?"
"She's just a girl that I used to know before I joined this squad. She was in my old gang."
"Ohh… right. Did ya like her?"
A smile came onto Falco's face. "Doesn't matter - we had an argument before I signed up for this team. Doubt she wants anything to do with me."
"Oh. Sorry to hear that, man."
"It's alright. T-These things happen, you know?"
Falco dipped his head toward his lap, sullen by the conversation. Noticing his melancholic behaviour, Fox shimmied a bit closer, before snaking an arm around the bird's shoulder, and pulling him slightly closer. Then, the vulpine brought his other arm over, and placed it on Falco's other shoulder, wrapping him in a warm embrace. The two stayed in this position for an extended amount of time, before Fox noticed that Falco was beginning to fall asleep in the hug. Fox warmly twinkled. Then, he pulled the sleeping falcon further, such that Falco laid peacefully on the vulpine's clothed torso. The young captain then positioned his right arm behind his head, while his free left hand went to carefully caressing the avian's head.
"T...Thanks… Ma…Goodnight…"
Fox's smile doubled in size. He hadn't any idea his feathery friend trilled like that in his sleep. However so, it gave the captain joy to hear it.
Soon enough, the leader began to feel the effects of fatigue sweep over him like a broom. Fox closed his eyes, and entered the world of the subconscious.
"FALCO! Stop reading your darn comics and get your butt ready! We're off in T minus 10 minutes!"
The bird that owned the same name annoyingly came to arise from his bed, removing his comic book from it's haphazard rest upon his beak.
"Mind your own business, old man!"
Falco wiped away the tiredness from his eye, and heeded to the words of Peppy. He walked out of his room, and out into the main hallway. Turning in the direction of the armoury and vehicles, Falco unfortunately bumped into a passerby Slippy - Someone who he always had time for conversation with. If it wasn't apparent, by the way, that was sarcasm.
"Hey, Falco! How're you feeling?"
Falco glanced down at the pipsqueak of a toad. As irritating as the amphibian was, he surely did know how to wear a nice smile.
"I'm the usual. You?"
"Weeeeell, just got a text from Amanda, she said she's doing well and that she loves me so much. She's great. Oh also! The other day, I was reading this story, and, and, and, it was sooo good! It was written by this dude called uhh… Innovativeguy39. You see, it's about these foreign species of animals living in a world called Grayh…"
Slapping his hand to his forehead, Falco berated himself for not knowing better than to ask Slippy how he was doing.
"...enjoys long walks out in the open. Y'know, j-j-just for the leisure factor."
"Uh-huh… that's swell, Slip. Hey, do you have any idea why General Pepper's making us do this? It's not like Andross is lurkin' in Sargasso working on some bioweapon." questioned Falco, while the two reached their fated vehicles in the dock. To no one's surprise, neither Fox or Peppy had made themselves present yet.
All the Arwings were lined up in the following order - Falco, Fox, Slippy, then Peppy. This was on request of the avian wanting to be as far away from the toad as possible.
"Umm… General Pepper? Fox didn't say anything about him giving us the orders when he briefed us." replied Slippy, making Falco place his hands on his hips.
"Slippy, Slippy, Slippy. Why else would we be assigned this mission? Of course, Pepper gave the orders!" Falco argued, pressing a button on one wing of his Arwing, before walking to the opposite to do the same. The cockpit whirred open, allowing him to climb and nestle inside.
"I guess… I just think it's weird." called Slippy from across the room, a little miffed that Falco's ship was all the way on the other side of the dock. Thankfully, there was a large echo when the gates were closed. "I was on the ship the entire time today, and didn't hear about any t-t-transmissions from the general until Fox told me!"
Falco raised an eyebrow in suspicion, but eventually just shrugged it off and sat back in his seat. "You honestly worry too much, Slip. As long as you worry 'bout your own hide, you'll be fine."
The toad had no time to reply as the two remaining members of the team entered the docking bag, and climbed up into their Arwings.
"Sorry we're a little late. Get comfortable, everyone." commanded Fox, strapping himself in.
Each member sealed the entrances in the cockpit shut, and switched on their engines.
"Is everyone's G-diffusers working properly? Oxygen refuelers? Lunchboxes?"
"Yep."
"I'm fine."
"W-W-Wait! I left my crackers in-"
"Alright ROB! Open the dock gates!"
Static ensued from the public announcement speakers, before ROB 64's voice came into hearing.
"Authorisation granted… Opening docking entrance… Good luck, StarFox… Have a safe trip… Analysing refrigerator contents... Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are available post-mission for your consumption."
Falco looked to his left, and notice his captain's ears immediately shoot up in shock, just like a rocket.
"Oh, aha, don't mind that, guys." nervously jabbered Slippy over the radio. "I just added a bit of text to the code."
"Umm… right." breathed Fox, calming down. "You guys know of the plan, right? Peppy and Slippy, you two are off to Katina. Falco, on me. Understood?"
A mix of mumbles and rogers of receiving jumped about between the network of transmitters shared amid the four. Falco inhaled a breath of anticipation for the mission ahead. His hands felt shaky and his legs pattered back and forth on the metal flooring in perturbation. He just wanted to get this day over with already.
"Alright, let's rock 'n' roll, StarFox!"
One by one, 4 Arwings of a kind flew out of the dock and out into the dark expanse of space, leaving behind a snake of dust and smoke each as their only trails.
I think that brings about an end to this chapter. Tell me what you think about this in the reviews below. Better yet, tell me what your favourite StarFox pairing is! Maybe your wish will come true ;3
-Luanastar