The next few days, the group focused on training with their staffs. Falco, Fara, and Lucy slowly built up their skill until Fox and Krystal were confident they were competent enough for the next step.
"Today, we will learn how to fire projectiles." Krystal told Falco, Fara, and Lucy, "First, watch carefully as I fire at that post."
Krystal held the staff firmly in her hands and aimed it at a post erected specifically for target practice. She carefully adjusted her aim and fired a single fireball that struck the center of the post.
"How are we supposed to fire fireballs from these sticks?" Lucy asked.
"It's all about feel." Krystal told the group, "You feel where your staff is aimed and you feel the energy move through your staff. Now, hold your staff like I did, aim at that post like I did, and focus on feeling the energy move from the back end of your staff to the front."
Lucy, Fara, and Falco held their staffs like Krystal demonstrated, aimed at the post, and tried to fire, but nothing came out.
"Before you can see or feel the energy, you must imagine it." Krystal told the group, "Imagine the energy moving from one end of the staff to the other. Imagine the energy leaving your staff in the form of a fireball. As the saying goes, you'll have to 'fake it until you make it'. Now, aim your staffs again and imagine the energy moving."
Krystal smiled as she sensed her students imagining the energy moving. For a moment, she saw a brief glow of energy from Falco's staff. A few minutes later, a fireball left Falco's staff and barely missed the post, hitting the wall behind it instead. Soon, Fara and Lucy had shot fireballs too.
"Before we leave Cerinia, we'll have you three craft your own staffs." Krystal announced, "With proper training, they will be your most versatile tool. Now, fire again at that post. Learn to sense where it's aimed at."
For the next hour, the group fired at the post. Slowly, they began to hit the post more consistantly. Soon, the priestess came and put an early end to their training session.
"The new crystals are ready for installation." she told the group, "Since you five have been deeper in the temple than anyone else in years, we request you help protect and guide the group."
"We will guide the others." Krystal told the priestess.
"We won't let those things get out." Falco assured the priestess. He had briefly considered refusing, but realized that would be too cowardly for someone with his reputation.
"The crystals are already at the temple." the priestess told the group, "It would be best to get there before sundown."
"Keep your training staffs." Krystal told the group, "You'll craft your own when we come back."
The group hurriedly made their way back to the temple. By the time they made it, the sun had already began to set. Inside, they were greeted by a little over a dozen warriors and a few villagers in charge of setting up the crystals.
"We'll get the first two set up in the chamber that housed the previous crystal." A warrior told the team. Fox activated her suit and the group followed the warriors and villagers deeper into the temple. Along the way, they felt a strong feeling of dread emanating from deep within the temple. By the time they reached the chamber that used to hold the crystal, they sensed the angry spirits from days prior.
"Ready your staffs." Fox told her team, "Save the projectiles for airborne threats you can sense clearly. We can't risk friendly fire or wasted shots."
The team entered the room, followed by the warriors. They all fired at the spirits in the air, hitting a few but doing relatively minor damage.
"Set up those crystals!" the warriors' leader commanded, "Warriors, protect the workers and crystals at all cost."
As the workers carried the crystals to their destination, the spirits began trying to attack them. Most were held back by the warriors, but a pair managed to reach the workers. The workers endured repeated strikes as they continued to carry the crystals. Eventually, a warrior managed to drive the spirits away.
The spirits regrouped and changed their tactics. They spread out and attacked everyone from every direction. For a moment, Fox swore a spirit was briefly visible on her visor.
"It appears one of the upgrades had an ability that just now decided to activate." the blue hawk told Fox. Fox began seeing the spirits as distortions in the minimal light. Fox spotted a spirit that was rushing in to attacked her and hit it with a few fireballs before it was close enough to swing at. She managed to give the spirit a few good strikes before it retreated. Fox then swung around and struck a spirit that tried to attack her from hehind. Eventually, the first crystal was erected and activated. The spirits fled back into the bowels of the temple as the workers activated the other crystal.
"We'll begin erecting the other crystals tomorrow." the lead warrior told the group as almost everyone left. A few warriors stayed behind to guard the crystals until they reached full power. As they left, the team got a good look at the crystals and saw the prisoners trapped inside.
The group stopped at the top of the stairs leading to ground level.
"The guest chamber is filled with equipment." the lead warrior told the team, "Follow me to your sleeping chambers." The group followed him up the next flight of stairs and down a few halls.
"The bird and bunny will sleep here." the warrior told the team. Falco and Lucy entered the room while Fox, Krystal, and Fara followed him down another hall until they reached a fairly isolated room.
"I understand you three may need more privacy than the other two." the warrior told them, "I've left Krystal some reading material she requested."
As the warrior left, the trio walked into the room and closed the door. The room was lit by a few glowing crystal in opened wooden cabinets. The single bed was a stone bed with a Cerinain mattress, sheets, and pillows. Stone walls extended up the side of the bed, making it look like an open sarcophagus. It was barely big enough to hold all three if they were practically spooning. There was also a stone table and wooden chair. On the table was a few books.
Fox walked over to the table and looked at the books. She opened one and found it as dirty as the books Krystal loved reading back on the Great Fox.
"I don't think any of us will complain too much." Krystal told the others, "Expecially with Fara's growing appreciation for the female body and Fox's recent upgrade."
Curious, Fara picked up a book and started reading. The story was about three female friends exploring a dark castle. She managed to get to the second chapter before it started to get dirty. Fara wanted to put the book down, but her morbid curiosity took over and she found it hard to stop. Krystal looked over Fara's shoulder, read a paragraph, and smiled.
"She picked a good one." Krystal told Fox, "Three female friends in a giant dark castle."
"I'm assuming it gets dirty fast." Fox told her, "Very dirty."
"Why don't we work on a new chapter?" Krystal suggested, "As soon as Fara's finished with the book, we close the lights and take advantage of our privacy."
"We should get some sleep." Fox countered, "Maybe some cuddling."
Krystal sighed, but remained hopeful. They'd have to spend at least one more night there.
Krystal sensed Fara's growing arousal from the story. If Fox wasn't in the mood, the fennec would be.
For the next few hours, Fara read the book while Krystal meditated. Fox went through her suit's options and began reorganizing them. Eventually, she came across an 'incomplete' option.
"It appears to be for your boots." the blue hawk explained, "An improved boost with potential combat applications. We just need your staff's boost ability to complete it."
Soon, it was time for sleep. Fara had just finished the book and climbed into bed with Fox while Krystal closed the lights. As soon as the room was pitch black, Krystal slowly made her way back to the bed and climbed in. She pushed Fara over, practically forcing Fox to spoon her and found herself face to face with the fennec.
"Krystal?" Fara asked.
"Just relax." Krystal told her. Fara could smell the pheremones, which made her and Fox more aroused.
"Just sleep." Krystal told Fara.
"I can't take it." Fara told her, "Let me sleep on the floor."
"Just sleep." Krystal told her, "We're all adults here. We can handle a little nudity."
Fara squirmed for a while, trying to fight off the urge.
"Can't sleep?" Krystal asked, "Maybe Fox or I can help?"
"It's probably the book or this cursed temple." Fara told her, "I can't take it anymore."
Fara gave Krystal a kiss. The simple peck quickly turned into making out and soon Krystal was sliding down to orally give Fara some much needed relief. All Fox could do was listen as Fara moaned. Soon, Krystal was finished and the trio fell asleep.
The next morning, the trio awoke.
"Fox, could you please activate your suit and open the lights?" Krystal asked. Fox climbed out of the bed and activated her suit. The suit's light's dim glow provided enough illumination to find the first light. After she opened that light, she went around and opened the others. She checked her bracelet and saw it was around 5:30 in the morning.
"It's only 5:30." Fox told the others as she stretched.
"Would you like some 'attention' too?" Krystal asked.
"I'm good." Fox told her, "We should probably get ready."
"We still have a few hours." Krystal pointed out, "I'm sure you could use some loving too."
"You have two vixens that want to give you some 'attention'." Fara told Fox, "Why don't you lie down with us and use that special power-up?"
"Why not use it?" the blue hawk asked Fox.
"Fine." Fox told the others as she climbed into bed with them. She then activated the power-up, which stimulated her womanhood underneath her chastity belt. Fara and Krystal listened as Fox let out a low moan. Eventually, Fox climaxed, which her suit cleaned up.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Krystal asked.
The trio relaxed for an hour before they got dressed and left to meet with the others. Eventually, they met up with Falco, Lucy, and the warriors and workers near the entrance. After a quick breakfast, it was time to head deeper into the temple.
The team lead the warriors and workers deeper into the temple. Fox and Krystal could sense the spirits lying in wait, plotting how to disrupt the villagers' efforts. Eventually, they made it to the chamber with the giant statue.
"This chamber will be a good place for the next few crystals." the lead warrior told the team. As the workers got to work installing the next crystal, the team and the warriors waited for the spirits to attack. Moments later, the first crystal was in place and there was no sign of the spirits.
Suddenly, a large statue rushed into the room. Fox and Krystal could barely sense the spirit controlling it, the statue's material making it difficult to sense the spirit. As the team and warriors jumped out of the way of the charging statue, more spirits flooded into the room.
"This is new." Falco told the team, "How is it controlling the statue? I thought they were solid stone."
The statue easily shrugged off multiple fireballs as it chased after Fox. As Fox picked up speed, her boots started giving her boosts, increasing her speed.
"How are we supposed to stop that thing?" Fara asked.
Fox thought for a moment and stopped. As soon as the statue was a second away from getting close enough to attack Fox, Fox leaped over the statue. The statue tried to slow down, but it still crashed into the wall. The statue turned around to locate Fox again, revealing heavy damage. The team and warriors could now sense the spirit inside the statue.
The team and a handful of warriors focused their attention on the new gaps in the spirit's stone armor, shooting fireballs at the exposed spirit with increasing accuracy. After a few moments, the spirit became too weak to control the statue and fled.
The workers activated the first crystal and began installing the next. The remaining spirits fled, allowing the workers to finish their work in peace. With no threats nearby, Fox examined the statue.
The spirits had apparently altered the statue to allow them to control it. There was a small aura remaining inside the statue. Fox touched the aura and her suit absorbed it like an upgrade.
"It appears the spirits created an upgrade to control the statue." the blue hawk told Fox, "Why don't we see if we can control it."
Fox touched the statue again and the stone gave way. As Fox mentally tried to control the statue, the stone quickly engulfed her. Fox found she now had complete control over the statue, but it slowed her down greatly. Fox willed the statue off of her, freeing her from the stone armor.
"We'll wall up the exit." the lead warrior told the team, "For now, return to your chambers while we finish up."
The team began walked back to their respective rooms. The following morning, the group walked to the large room by the temple's entrance.
"Your work is done here." the lead warrior told the team, "You are free to return to the village while we make sure the spirits don't try to break free again."
The team left the temple and headed back to the village. They made their way to the temple, where the priestess was waiting for them.
"It's time for you to upgrade your staffs." the priestess said as she led them into a special room, "We found this staff upgrade... thing in a temple nearly destroyed by the enemy. It appears to be a boost upgrade. Just step underneath and raise your staff above you."
Fox stepped underneath the contraption and raised her staff. Energy shot down to the ends of the staff until the upgrade was complete.
"It appears your boots were also upgraded." the blue hawk told Fox. Fox walked back to the others and waited as they got their staffs upgraded.
"Let's see." the blue hawk said as she examined the new upgrade, "The boost will allow you to jump even further, but now it consumes staff magic or energy or whatever you call it. It also allows you to produce a burst of energy when kicking foes and it enables a limited hover ability."
"You'll be leaving tomorrow, I presume?" the priestess asked the group.
"Fox and I will return in a few weeks." Krystal assured her.
"Don't worry, Falco." Fox told Falco teasingly, "What happens in this temple stays in this temple. Katt never has to know about the priestess."
"Like you or Krystal kept your pants on when Fara showed interest." Falco countered, "Don't act like I couldn't smell it on all three of you."
Fox was momentarily speechless.
"Answer me this, Fox." Falco continued, "After the honeymoon, is it going to stay oral or are you two going to have fun with her in more ways?"
Fox and Fara blushed while Fox tried to think of something to say.
"At least we don't have to worry about a crazed feline when we get back to the Lylat System." Fox finally countered, "The moment she finds out about our funtime with Fara, she'll want something similar with you and it might not be another female she picks."
"Just don't wake us up on the Great Fox." Falco warned Fox, "Gag yourselves if you have to."
"We'll keep it quiet." Fox assured Falco.
"Why don'r you try out your new boost power at the training area." the priestess suggested, "I'll explain how to use it."
"Might as well." Falco told her. The team followed the priestess to the training area.
"Now, watch carefully." the priestess instructed as she pulled out her staff, "Just stick it into the ground, hold on tightly, and send energy to the bottom."
The priestess put the end of her staff into the ground and held on tightly. A burst of energy erupted from the bottom of the staff, propelling it like a rocket. The priestess flew twenty feet of the air before descending back to the ground, residual energy in the staff slowing her fall.
"Now you try." she told the group before walking over to Fox.
"Listen to the hawk." she told Fox, "The power works differently with your suit."
Fox watched as the others effortlessly used their boost abilities. From the look of it, the ability may have improved their grip to prevent them from falling and injuring themselves.
"The ability is linked up to your mind." the blue hawk informed Fox, "Just will it and your boots will now take you higher."
Fox jumped and her boots lifted her forty feet into the air. As Fox fell and approached the ground, her boots fired again to soften the landing.
"Now let's try kicking with the boost ability." the blue hawk suggested. Fox kicked the air, producing a blast of energy from her boot.
"We need to get suits like that." Falco blurted out, "I don't care how it looks. I just want to kick fire too."
"I'll talk with the company." Fara told him, "We might be able to produce a few more after we get the data from Fox."
"No heels, though." Falco told her.
Fox wondered what other upgrades they were going to get. Would her emergency pistol be affected. Speaking of which, Fox's suit produced her emergency pistol.
"How long did you have that gun?" Falco asked, "Do you mean to tell me you could have shot those things?"
"It's an emergency paralyzer gun." Fox explained, "It's nonlethal, the effects don't last that long, and it has a slow rate of fire."
Fox fired her pistol at a target, hitting it with a paralyzer shot.
"I've found an option for the paralyzer gun." the blue hawk told Fox, "Fire it again."
Fox fired the pistol again. This time the shot stopped short of the target and fell down, still attached to the gun like a rope. Fox released the trigger and the rope-like shot disappeared.
"This shot appears to function like a grapple beam." the blue hawk informed Fox.
"Night is still hours away." Fox told her team, "Let's get some more training in."
"Everyone, line up and practice your swings." Krystal commanded. Fox and Krystal watched as Falco, Fara, and Lucy lined up facing the pair and began practicing their staff swings. Krystal was quite pleased. After a little over an hour, she had the team stop.
"Next, let's fire fireballs at the targets." she commanded as she and Fox lined up next to the other three. For the next hour, they practiced firing fireballs from their staffs.
"Now it's time to meditate." Fox told the team.
"You should meditate in the temple." the priestess suggested.
The five followed the priestess back to the temple. There, they all sat down and meditated. For the next few hours, the group meditated. Eventually, night fell and the meditation session ended.
"That's it for today." Fox told the team, "It's time for bed."
While Fox, Fara, and Krystal left for Krystal's house, Falco and Lucy undressed.
"How about one last special night before you leave?" the priestess suggested.
Falco sighed. This could be his last chance to sleep with someone relatively sane without having to worry about Katt's friends. Not that Katt would have opposed.
"Alright." Falco told the priestess.
Lucy watched Falco approach the priestess, debating what to do. On the one hand, her body had needs she had been neglecting. On the other hand, was it wrong? She couldn't judge the others, but she could judge herself. After some careful deliberation, she made her decision.
"Wait." Lucy told the priestess, "I'd like a 'special night' too."
The priestess smiled, but debated what to do. The bird male had priority because he volunteered first. Would he give oral? What about the bunny?
"I want to please you." Lucy said, "I want to save my womanhood for someone special."
"Sit down, bird male." the priestess told Falco. Falco immediately complied. The priestess got on her knees and got to work pleasing the bird. After about fifteen minutes, Falco climaxed. The priestess then sat down on the bed and spread her legs.
Lucy nervously approached. Her knees almost buckled as she made her way to the waiting priestess. Lucy got on her knees and got to work.
The priestess enjoyed the oral, though it was obvious Lucy had no experience. Eventually, Lucy found a good rhythm. The priestess moaned as she placed her hand on the back of Lucy's head and held the bunny firmly in place. After about a half hour, the priestess was satisfied.
"I never thought I'd go down on another woman before." Lucy told the others, "Though I'm still into guys. I'd still rather have a guy in me."
"How was it, though?" the priestess asked.
"Great." Lucy replied before asking Falco, "Do you know any single guys?"
"I think Panther is single." Falco replied.
"I think he'd be more into you." Lucy told him, "I'll find someone."
Meanwhile, the vixens removed their loincloths and footwear and Fox deactivated her suit.
"How soon do you think your company could produce boots for the rest of the team?" Krystal asked Fara.
"Fox's boots were in development for months." Fara explained, "But most of that time was spend on design and fixing problems. I'd say maybe a few weeks, but only if they were heeled. We haven't completed a design for lower-heeled boots yet."
"That's okay." Krystal assured her, "I love heels."
"I learned that a while ago." Fara told her.
"And I'm sure Falco will learn to love them too." Krystal added, "Though it won't change the minds of those that think he's actually female."
"He was always the team princess." Fox told the other two, "Might as well have him look the part."
The three vixens climbed into bed and quickly fell asleep.