I'll be seeing you Ringtail...
Whoops...Wrong Fan Fiction...For those of you who can't guess off that, I have been slightly...Obsessed with Sly Cooper lately. I loved the games as a kid and as a then budding writer, I immersed myself in the stories and the lore. When the next Sly Cooper game was announced I tripped. A lot. I was stunned and so excited, this excitement grew when I got a PS3 so that I could actually play the games. Thieves in Time, the next Sly Cooper game came out a few weeks ago, on a day I was supposed to update. My Bad, I played the game instead, or rather all the games since I was working my way through the Sly Collection.
But I have another reason! You see, I was promoted not to long ago at work, I'm one of the four managers of my store now, the lowest ranked one, so I usually don't have too much on my plate, but the past few weeks, not only was the senior manager on vacation, but another one of the managers got injured. Now it was just down to me and one other manager to run the store, which as you might guess, left me pretty damn busy. I didn't even get a chance to type this out until last week, then I sent it to Cpt. Fox for a beta, who, has been just as busy as I have these past few weeks. Being an adult sucks sometimes you know that? Anyway, I've decided something, even if I don't get a chance to update every Tuesday[for me] but I will always update on a Tuesday. Keep it regular ya know?
Right! Now that is out of the way, just a quick note for this chapter, after the last two, its really not as heavy on the drama as most would like, but I'm telling you know, its important to the story, this is the first of two chapters that will show you why Kursed acts the way she does in the story, Hopefully you'll all see what I mean about halfway through, Cpt Fox was actually confused at first, but he got it in the end, so hopefully its not to buried. Mind you, there are still some moments with Kursed and Fox, including something I've been wanting to do for a while, and a little bit more revealed about what happened while Fox was out of it at the end of the last chapter.
Enjoy!
Star Fox: The Dead Planet Chapter 6: The Past of a Cerinian
-Cerinia, The Past-
She glanced around as she leaned out of her doorway, checking first the left, then the right. Satisfied the coast was clear, the kit ran down the stone hallway heading for the balcony that she had been on earlier. She stopped with her ears twitching as they registered the soft padding of the guards feet. She glanced around the hallway she was in and spotted a tapestry hanging down to the floor, padding over to it, she lifted it up and hid behind it, hoping the guards wouldn't notice the bulge that she made.
She sighed quietly as they passed her by with out incident, peaking out from the tapestry and glancing around again to make sure that nobody else was coming she made her way through the large doorway at the end of the hallway and into the grand room beyond. She paused and stared at the arching ceiling high above her, banners that were decorated with symbols that had yet to hold meaning for her hanging from the ceiling. The giant pieces of blue cloth were also wrapped around the decorated columns that stretched up to hold the ceiling in place.
She ran silently through the grand room, glad that she had left her sandals behind next to her bed. She reached the steps that led up to the stone throne with its blankets and pillows, adding comfort and friendliness to the otherwise unforgiving rock. She placed a hand on the stone chair, slowing her run to a slow walk so that she could drag her paw across the throne as she passed it by. As her hand left the smooth stone behind, something caused her to turn around and look at it. She took a few steps backwards before she managed to pull her gaze from the it.
As she turned about she walked through the archway that led out to the balcony that overlooked the village below. She wrapped her paws around the columns that held up the balcony railing but she couldn't see properly from down here. Earlier today she had been on her fathers shoulders,she frowned as she looked up at the railing. Refusing to be denied though she leaped up and grabbed the edge and struggled to pull herself onto the top. She managed to get her head over and swung one of her legs up, glad that the railing was so thick that she could safely get herself up and stand on it.
As she stood up, she couldn't help the small gasp that came from within as she took in the sight below her. During the day, it had looked amazing with all the stone huts and grass roofs, spread out below her like some grand chessboard. She could see the people, her fellow Cerinians going about their business for the day. A few had pointed up and waved at her, she had waved back, full of joy to just be out and looking down. She had been filled with such awe that she wanted to see it at night, and she wasn't disappointed.
The full moon cast its ghostly glow over the land below, turning the stone walls of the huts a brilliant white and bringing the grass roofs into a sharper contrast. At the same time, the shadows that occupied the roads that people dominated during the day lent a magical feeling to the view that left her breathless and staring out, wondering if she could just float away. In the distance she could just make out the walls that protected the city from the jungle around it.
She blinked and sighed, not sure of how much time passed, she let out a startled squeak when two hands grabbed her around the waist and pulled her backwards off the railing. She flailed for a moment until she inhaled and relaxed as the scent of her father calmed her.
"What are you doing out here at this hour? You should be in bed,"
She looked up at her father, the king of her people, with a grin that quickly faded as she saw the frown on his face. She glanced down, afraid of what ever punishment she would get "I just wanted to see the city at night." She buried her head into his fur. "I'm sorry."
Her fathers chuckle shook her as he summoned it from his chest, his deep tone soothed her fear when he spoke up next. "My dear child, you should have said something. I would have gladly let you see this, it's my favorite view of our city."
She glanced up at him, grinning softly "You like it too?"
He nodded "Yes, I love it, I love looking out at the city as it sleeps, full of the mystery of the night." he glanced down at her. "Just like I love looking at you and your mother." he smiled as she giggled. He hugged her close to him and turned his gaze to the city below once again, he felt her move in his arms so that she could see too. "Can we do this every night daddy?"
He glanced down at her again, seeing the joy that lit her face and eyes as she stared out. He chuckled and hefted her up so that she could sit on his shoulders. "Of course. Although I think we should keep it a secret from your mom, I don't think she'll approve of a four year old being up so late."
The two of them stayed that way for a long while, just staring out before the king sighed and turned around, eliciting a small groan of disappointment from his daughter. He chuckled softly. "You need your sleep, you have studies tomorrow, but if you promise to go right to sleep, I'll bring you out tomorrow night as well."
"Okay daddy."
The king worked his way through the hallways to her sleeping chamber, carrying her in his arms. As he tucked her into bed he kissed her forehead, she giggled and pushed him away gently. As he watched her snuggle deeper into her bed he spoke up. "You are going to be something special, the gem of our people," he paused for a moment. "My little Krystal." he leaned down and kissed her one more time. "Now go to sleep."
Krystal smiled as she closed her eyes and her dad left her room, closing the door behind him.
-Two Years Later-
"Is it going to hurt?" Krystal asked as she looked up at her Dad.
Her dad leaned down and laid a paw gently on her shoulder. "It will hurt for a little bit Krystal. There is no way around that. But this is an important part of being a princess. I did this myself when I was six."
Krystal looked at the pool of water that she was kneeling in front of. She raised her gaze and looked around the temple that her dad had brought her to. He had said it was the life blood of their people, their link to Cerinia and everything around them. It wasn't as impressive as the throne room that she was used to, but the large circular room built around the pool in front of her still managed to convey an eerie feeling of belonging and respect.
She glanced back down at the pool, then up at her dad. "Will it last long?"
Her dad looked over at the pool. "The pain? It should fade quickly." he glanced at his daughter as he drew a small stone dagger from a sheath on his leg. "Are you ready?"
Krystal looked at the dagger with worry for a moment before she inhaled and nodded. "After you do it, I just stick my paws in the water?"
Her father nodded and Krystal held her paws out over the pool, she closed her eyes as her dad held the dagger out over them. She winced and cried out as she felt the sharp stone blade brush past her fur and cut right into her skin. It wasn't a deep cut, but it still hurt. She quickly plunged her hands into the warm water in front of her.
For a moment nothing happened, then the water glowed white for a moment and Krystal felt the pain fade. She opened her eyes and stared at the pool in front of her, transfixed by what she could see in the reflection. It was no longer just her and her father kneeling in front of the pool. In the reflection Krystal could see countless blue furred Cerinians kneeling around with the two of them. She gasped softly as she felt something inside her, that feeling of belonging was no longer eerie, it was right, and Krystal felt each and every one of those Cerinians in that moment, they were all connected.
She pulled her hands out of the pool and stared in wonder, the cuts that she knew should be there were gone. She looked around, wondering if she could see any of the people from the reflection. Her father chuckled softly as she stood up and stared. After a moment he spoke up. "It is complete. Your bond with Cerinia is whole and strong." he placed a paw on her shoulder and she met his eyes. "You are now bonded with the magic of this planet, of our home. You are the princess of Cerinia."
Krystal blinked then grinned. "Does this mean I get to stay up late by myself now?"
Her father laughed and stood up, holding out a paw for her to take. "We'll see young one."
As they left the temple Krystal asked another question. "Dad, I saw you fighting with a staff."
Her father glanced down at her. "Oh?" he frowned "When was this?"
Krystal used her free hand to point to her head. "Just now, in there, when I had that strange feeling with my paws in the pool."
Her father nodded "Ah, I see, did I scare you?"
Krystal thought about it for a moment. "No. I was...happy to see you like that. It looked like you were fighting to protect something."
Her father smiled softly. "I was fighting to protect you. You, your mother, and Cerinia. That's all I fight for."
Krystal was silent for a long while before she spoke up again. "Can I learn to fight like you? To protect Cerinia, and you, and mom?"
Her father glanced up into the sky for a moment before he turned his gaze to the curious eyes of his daughter. "I don't see why not. We can start next week, just the two of us. Sound like a plan?"
Krystal nodded energetically "Yes." she paused as she remembered her manners. "Thank you."
Her father laughed and swung her up into his arms. "Oh my little Krystal."
-3 Years Later-
Krystal rolled over in bed, trying to find a spot that wouldn't cause pain, she gave up after a moment and just grit her teeth against it. It had only been a few days since she had gotten her tattoos on her thighs and upper arms, and the white symbols still hurt. Krystal sighed and moved around on the bed for a few moments more before she decided that sleep was out of the question for now. She stood up and put on her white dress before heading for the throne room and the balcony behind it.
It wasn't long until she reached it, and it only took her a few moments of standing still, breathing in the cool night air. Her father had made good on his promise, he didn't get mad at her if she wandered the halls at night, as long as she didn't leave the palace. That, and he had started teaching her combat. He was impressed with her skill and what she picked up even when she had only been six. She was eight now, and her father had been teaching her the basics of staff fighting, which is what he used.
But last week he had stopped.
Up until now she thought it was because he had to prepare for the tattoo ceremony, but that hadn't been it. As she stood there, she realized she was about to get the chance to ask him as she felt a prodding in her mind and heard the soft sounds of his footsteps. He came up to stand behind her, placing a hand on the back of her neck and rubbing in gently.
"What troubles you so? I could feel it from across the throne room."
Krystal sighed as he rubbed her neck and at the comfort given by his deep voice. She spoke up a few moments later. "How come you stopped training me?"
Her father paused in his rubbing for a moment. "Ah, unfortunately I've been busy this past month, and the future doesn't seem very likely either."
Krystal turned to face him. "Why not?"
Her father sighed "Now that you have received your tattoos, you mother insists that you start acting like a princess, and that you take more schooling." he paused "I won't be able to train you anymore, but you can still learn the basics from your teachers."
Krystal sighed and glanced back out towards the city scape. "Okay." she said softly as she thought about her life of being trapped in the palace. She wanted to go out and explore the jungle around her, not only that, she knew that there were other planets and other people out there, a few had even tried to trade with Cerinia. She wanted to go out and explore space, she wanted adventure. Training with her dad had been the closest she could come to achieving that.
She perked up slightly as she realized that she didn't need her dad to do that. What was stopping her from leaving? The wall around the city? She knew of at least five ways to get out into the jungle that the Guards didn't know about and patrol or were easy to avoid what patrols there were. She turned to her father with a smile. "Okay." she repeated, plans already forming in her mind about how she would go about it. She would need a guard outfit first.
Her father frowned at her for a moment, surprised that she had given in so easily. After a moment though he decided not to look into the blessing too hard and nodded."Come on then, back to bed, your studies resume first thing in the morning."
Together the two of them walked through the throne room and into the hallways beyond.
Kursed opened her eyes and blinked as she took in the cold metal ceiling above her. For a moment she wondered why she was staring at that and not the carved rock that had made up her room in the palace.
Then she remembered.
She sighed and ran a paw over her face, closing her eyes and seeing the disjointed images from her memories still lingering there. She thought briefly about going back to bed but decided against it. Instead she rolled out from underneath the covers and walked over to the bathroom. She closed the door and started the shower, going over to stare into the mirror and staring at her reflection while the water warmed up.
As she looked into her reflection like it could answer all of her questions she ran a hand up and trailed it over the little red line that ran from under her left eye to stop just above her lip. For a moment she entertained the thought of revealing to Fox who she was. Would he still love her after all that she had done? Her life choice of a bounty hunter had pushed her into some pretty questionable areas. Things she normally wouldn't have done, she did it all with out batting an eye. She had changed, she knew that it couldn't work between them anymore. That it shouldn't be able to work between them anymore. Yet these thoughts still plagued her.
It hadn't helped when she had opened the canopy on his destroyed Arwing four days ago. She had felt her heart skip a beat when she saw the blood that was spread across his chest and dripped down onto the floor. She had panicked, calling out his name in worry, before she calmed down and located the wound in his shoulder. She had been worried that it had bled so much, but after she covered it up and got him up to the med bay, she had managed to return to herself fully and focused on sewing him up.
She would be lying to herself is she said that some part of her hadn't enjoyed it.
Not him being hurt, but the fact that she was allowed to just be near him, to just have her hands on him. The small part of her that still claimed Fox as hers, the part that she tried to keep buried, the one that she had pretended to forget about. That was when she had found the necklace, and the ring.
When she had been setting up her life as Kursed, she knew that she had needed to get rid of the ring. It had been one of the hardest things that she had done to transform into Kursed, the last remnant of her former life that linked her to Fox.
She knew now that she would never be able to really forget about Fox. She had tried to pass it off as other things, but even during the past eight years as Kursed she had thought about him. Never directly, but he was always there, floating somewhere in her mind. Now that she was aware of the bond that had formed it made sense, and since she had realized it and spent time on the Great Fox, it had only gotten stronger.
That scared her.
She had been able to feel his pain when he blacked out, she even been able to pick up on his thoughts when they were still out in space and his radio didn't work. If she could get all that from him, what if he could figure out who she really was? He already knew that she was hiding something, and if Fox ever found out the truth...
She thought back to that day in the med bay, she had almost told him that she was glad he had made it through. Even though that was just the start of what she had wanted to say, instead she had just left the room, afraid that if she had to spend time alone with him again she would break and tell him who she was, just to get it out there and deal with the consequences.
She was just glad that he had still been out of it for the kiss. The one that she had given him during their fight had been quick, fleeting, and a tease, a promise for something that she couldn't have anymore. When he had been unconscious and she had been ready to start stitching his wound, she let her barriers down and kissed him again, like she had when she was Krystal, it was one sided since he was still out cold, but something inside of her had soared and she had a feeling that she was righting a wrong that should never had happened.
Instead of staying that way, she had pulled away, put her barriers back up and focused on the string and needle.
Could it work out between them, with her as Kursed, could she...
Kursed shook her head and focused back on her reflection as steam built up in the small room. She forced her mind to focus on the mission at hand and forget about Fox.
She growled to herself "I'm not getting into that shower until I can focus on the here and now." as if saying it would make it true.
She stayed in front of the mirror until the steam claimed the mirror for itself.
When she emerged some time later, she knew that the rest of the crew would be up and about by now, preparing for the trip down to Cerinia. Kursed thought about staying in her room, but instead, she left it heading down the hallway and to the elevator. She pressed the button for the hanger and waited for the short trip down.
When the doors slid open she walked out into the hanger and headed for her ship. She went to the back and keyed in her entrance code, climbed up the ladder and moved to the cockpit, she stopped off in her small room though and grabbed her staff. She left her room and sat down in the cockpit with the staff across her lap and stared at the console in front of her for a moment. Eventually she activated it and patched the system into the Great Fox. She called up the images that the ROB had captured with the scanners when they had entered orbit during the night.
She stared at the image of her home world and found herself thinking about the past few weeks again. She had been forced to meet Fox again, and to accept that she still loved him. Now, she had to go down to her home planet, to her child hood home, and hope that nobody recognized the runaway princess of Cerinia.
"I wonder if my father is still alive. I have no idea what happened to Cerinia that caused it to vanish, just that it had to be his fault, why did I trust him?"
-Cerinia, The Past, Two Years Later -
Krystal leaned out over the railing in front of her, the view of the city at night still managing to captivate her. She turned her head as she felt the small nudge in her mind that her father used to let he know he was near. It was only a few moments before her dad walked through the archway that led to the throne room and out onto the balcony with her. It may have been seven years since she had first snuck out to see the sights of the city at night. But it still held her in its magical grasp whenever she did come out here, her and her father.
Her father was dressed in the cloth garments that showed that he was the leader of his people. The white cloth shirt and pants hung off his frame, swaying gently in the breeze. The pants were held to his waist with a gold belt and a small golden crown sat on his head. The bracers that he wore around his wrists and tail were also golden. He smiled at her, his eyes that same color as hers lighting up as he laid his gaze upon her.
He walked up and leaned over the balcony next to her, content to just spend time with her. Eventually though, he put a thought in her head "What are you thinking about tonight?" he asked as he glanced at her.
She smiled as she brushed a lock of hair from her face. She was just barely getting a grip on her telepathic abilities, struggling with basic concepts, but with her father it was never a struggle to communicate solely through their thoughts."Just about something one of my teachers said to me today."
His father glanced back out at the city below them. "Oh what was it?"
Krystal glanced at her father, losing her grin for the first time that night. "I asked my teacher if I would ever learn to fight like you. You know, the advanced fighting classes."
Her father stiffened slightly next to her, he was silent for a long moment before he turned back to face her. "What did he say?"
Krystal glanced down at the ground. "He told me that since I couldn't even wrap my mind around basic telepathic concepts, that I would never be able to master fighting."
Her father nodded "I see."
Krystal brought her gaze to his face. "He also told me that fighting was for others to do, never for the princess." As she thought the words she reached up and touched the necklace that hung from her neck, declaring to all who saw it that she was the princess of Cerinia. She glanced down at herself and the white dress that she wore, lashed across her waist, so similar to her mothers.
Her father was silent for a moment. "Krystal..."
Krystal looked away. "Stop, I know what you're going to say." she eventually turned her gaze back to him."Father, its not fair, I want to learn how to fight, you even trained me for two years, what's so wrong with me continuing that?"
Her dad was quiet again. "Krystal, you know that its not in a princess's duty to-"
Krystal straightened and slashed a hand through the air. "Father, Stop! It doesn't matter how many times I hear that. It won't change my mind."
The king straightened as well, his face turning stern as he glared at his daughter. "Krystal, I was the one who told your teacher that you weren't to fight." he paused for a moment, his face softening "I'm sorry."
Krystal blinked. "It was...you?" she glanced away from him. "But...why?"
Her father was silent for a moment. "It...it is difficult to explain. Just know that I did it because I love you."
Krystal turned her gaze to the view below them, going silent and in essence ignoring her father. After a while he leaned down next to her, but she just kept her gaze facing out towards the city below, her expression blank. She stayed silent still, after a while her father straightened and leaned over her, giving her a hug. "I love you Krystal." he sent to her before he kissed her on the top of the head and left her to her musings.
She turned her head to watch him go, her face still void of emotion. She eventually lost track of the time, all she knew was that for the first time in her life, she felt...betrayed. Her father had been the one who had first instructed her in fighting when she was younger, he was the last one she expected to stop her.
She wasn't sure why she did it, but at that moment she looked up into the sky and felt her eyes widen. Blazing across the dark blue night in a trail of orange was what looked like a falling star. It didn't take her long to realize that it wasn't a star, but something actually falling out of the sky. She traced its path and watched as it vanished beyond the tree line past the front wall. She waited a moment, all her senses alert..and she barely felt it, the faint vibration as whatever it was struck the ground.
She glanced towards the wall, thinking that surely one of the sentries had seen the trail and would raise an alert. But after a full minute with no activity Krystal turned to go and raise the alert herself. As she headed for her parents room, however she had another thought.
What if she could prove to her father that she could be a fighter. If she went and found out whatever this falling object was, maybe her father would trust her enough o let her learn how to fight with the rest of the guards.
She nodded to herself, the plan solid in her mind, she quickly turned around and headed for her room. Once there, she glanced around to make sure nobody was coming before she closed and barred the door. She quickly stripped out of the dress and ducked underneath her bed where she kept the outfit for the secret part of her life, fearful for the day that he discovered that his little princess wasn't everything she appeared to be.
She pulled on the set of palace guard clothing that she had nicked from the armory some time ago. After that she walked over to her wall where she located a loose panel, pulling it away from the stone that surrounded it and grabbed her bow and short sword. She lashed the belt around her waist and tucked her bow over her shoulder while slinging her quiver to the belt with the sword, letting it hang from left thigh and her sword from her right. The last thing she grabbed out of her hidden hole before she put the board back was a coil of rope with a metal hook on the end, she tucked this into a small clip on the back of the belt.
She walked over to the mirror to check her disguise, the blue pants fell down to her ankles, snug against her frame, while the white and gold shirt that identified her as a place guard hung a little loose to disguise her form, helping her look like a male. Her thick brown leather gloves covered her hands and the final part of the disguise was to pull the loose cowl over her head so that it shadowed her eyes, while still letting her see everything around her. She knew that if an actual guard saw her, they would be suspicious because of everything she carried, but she had been doing this for a few months and had learned how to avoid them. The only other people who saw her just dismissed her as part of the background.
She checked the mirror one last time before she went to her door and unblocked it, opening it silently and glancing out down the hallway. Satisfied the coast was clear, she left her room, walking steadily through the hallway until she reached one of the stair ways down. She quickly descended the stairs and walked down the hallway at the bottom, before she came to a balcony that overlooked the forest and hung out just past the wall that surrounded the town.
She glanced down at the wall below her, making sure that the patrols were far away. She could just make out the glow of their torches, a good distance away that she wouldn't be seen. She took the rope off her belt and attached the hook to the edge of the balcony. Making sure that it strong enough that it would support her weight, but light enough that she could pull it loose with a sharp tug.
She checked one more time to make sure the patrolling guards were still out on their patrols before she took a strong grip of the rope in her hands and leapt over the side of the railing, throwing one hand behind her back to serve as an anchor while using one in front to guide her down straight. She fell quickly, hearing the rope buzz as it slid through her gloves. She tightened her grip as she approached the ground and slowed her descent so that when she touched down it was just a soft jolt.
She glanced up at the balcony and gave a sharp tug on the rope, dislodging the hook and stepping out of its way as it thudded to the ground next to her. She grabbed it and quickly wrapped the rope up into its coil and attached it to her belt again. She took a moment to study the sky to and align herself with the direction the ship had fallen in and realized she was in luck as she could just follow the wall to the front and head straight out into the jungle.
Grinning to herself she loped off along the wall, eventually passing into the jungle beyond with out any of the guards seeing her. It took her about half an hour but eventually she came across the signs of an impact. In front of her a tree was bent over slightly and carried a bit of a scorch. Krystal took a deep breath and centered herself, pulling her bow off her shoulder and grabbing an arrow, placing it in the small groove on the side of the bow. She drew the arrow back slightly and carried the bow aimed at the ground, ready to let loose the arrow if she had to.
She moved further into the jungle, passing more signs of the destruction that the crash had caused, until she started finding clods of dirt that were thrown out of place. Eventually she passed beyond two trees and found the crater that the impact had made. Sitting in the bottom of the crater was a small shuttle, heavily damaged from its crash, and what looked like a battle. She slid down into the crater, her bow still at the ready, as she moved around the shuttle, spotting the hatch the served as its exit. She reached out and grabbed the latch, pulling hard to open the door. When it didn't budge, she put her arrow back in her quiver and slung her bow over her shoulder so that she could use both arms to pull. She was rewarded with the sound of grating metal as the door slid open slowly. She drew the small sword and moved into the tight confines of the shuttle.
It wasn't long before she found its occupant and Krystal paused to study him for a moment. He was a large ape, with shocking white hair and a small tufts of a side burn hanging from the side of his face, eventually reaching to form a small beard also white, under his chin. His hair stood up strongly against his brown fur and skin , but did nothing to hide the blood that covered his face, and to top it off he was wearing a pair of brown pants and a white t-shirt.
Krystal moved forward, sheathing her sword and pulling down her cowl as she did so. She stopped a small space away and leaned down, placing a hand on the apes chest, ready to say a prayer. But instead she gasped softly and took a few startled steps back as the ape in front of her took a deep breath of air, his eyes wide and rolling in their sockets.
Krystal stayed away for a moment until the eyes locked onto hers, then she stepped forward and looked for the wound. She found it quickly, a large gash across the top of his chest. She knew that if she left it, he would bleed to death, but she had no way to take proper care of the wound here. Thinking quickly she reached forward and ripped parts of his shirt up, wrapping them around his upper chest where the wound was.
The entire time, the ape followed her with his eyes, never speaking, just watching, although he did wince in pain a few times when she tightened the straps. A few minutes later she was satisfied with her work. She glanced behind her at the door way back to the jungle. She turned back to the ape and spoke up "I'm going to help you stand up, but I'm not strong enough to get out by myself. You'll need to help me. Do you understand?"
The ape stared for a moment before he nodded. Krystal nodded in return and pulled the cowl back over her head as she maneuvered herself to help the ape stand up. After a few minutes of struggling they managed to get their feet underneath them and Krystal led them out the shuttle and back towards her home in the distance.
It took longer than an hour, but eventually she got them to the front gate. She looked at the ape before she set him down on the ground. "I need to leave now, but I'll shout and get you attention."
The ape nodded weakly and Krystal frowned as she looked up at the wall, she gave a loud yell then retreated into the jungle. She watched as one of the guards walked over and saw the injured ape sitting on the ground in front of the gate, he quickly raised the alarm and Krystal smiled before she made off for the balcony. When she reached it she double checked to make sure the guards were all at the front before she took her rope and twirled it for a moment before throwing it up onto the ledge. Making sure it was secure this time, Krystal began the long climb up.
This was always the risky part, and she was glad that she had the ape to distract the guards. Eventually she managed to pull herself up onto the balcony. She pulled her hook loose and wrapped up the rope, attaching it to her belt and grinning at the success of her venture. She turned and walked back down the hallway, but as she walked around the corner to go up the stairs she froze and blanked her face, standing to the side with her arms straight just as the guards did when she passed by.
Her father walked by her as well, not really paying attention, most likely heading for the front wall to see what the alert was about. Half way down the hallway though he turned around and gave her a second look, a frown on his face, but with duty calling him to the front he couldn't stay to wonder about the heavily armed guard. He turned and continued down the hallway, with Krystal giving a sigh of relief.
The rest of her journey passed with out incident. She made it back to her room and stored her gear in the loose panel, stripped out of her guard uniform, and hid it under her bed. Then she finally laid down and closed her eyes, falling asleep almost instantly.
Her sleep was short lived however, as she was shaken awake by her mother less than an hour later. When Krystal finally managed to wake up enough to push herself up right in her bed her mother shook her head and made a clicking sound with her mouth. "You must stop staying up so late Krystal, I thought I would never get you awake. Quickly get dressed, the King has something important to show us."
Krystal blinked slowly as she took in her mother, who was already dressed in a fine gown of white and gold that ran down to just kiss the floor slightly when ever she moved. While the King was tall and stately with his deep voice, her mother was shorter with a higher tone, like tinkling glass. Whenever she spoke, people paid attention, and not because she commanded it like her Father, just because of her voice. Her long hair ran down in a braided pony tail that stopped just above her waist, and every few inches or so a thin silver bracer wrapped around the hair. Her tail was not as fluffy as her fathers, but it still stood out in places where the silver bracers wrapped it too. Her eyes were a startling amethyst purple hue that stood out among the blue fur of her face.
Krystal moaned as she fell back into the bed and pulled the covers up, only to squeak in surprise when her mother grabbed them jerked them away. It was then that Krystal remembered that she got her adventurous and sometimes stubborn streak from her mother. "Get dressed Krystal, we're needed in the throne room." Her mother walked over to the door before turning her dark purple eyes on her daughter once more. "I'll be back in a few minutes and you best be ready."
Krystal sighed as her mother left the room she rolled off the bed and went to her closet, pulling out her white dress and sliding it on over her head and cinching the cloth belt around her waist. She reached for the small stand where her necklace sat and clasped it behind her neck. She looked in the mirror and tried to rub the sleep from her eyes.
As she finished and stepped towards the door it swung open to reveal her mother, who smiled at her and gestured her out into the hallway. Krystal walked out and waited for her mother to close the door and lead the way to the throne room. As they walked Krystal realized that she was already as tall as the queen and smiled as she realized that soon her mother would have to look up to talk to her.
It wasn't long before they entered the throne room where her father was, staring out at the small bed that had been assembled. Around it the palace's doctors crowded around the form there and Krystal felt her heart sink, she knew who would be there. She had kept her adventures outside the wall a secret, but she remembered grimly that the ape had seen her face and if he spoke up about her rescuing him, she knew her freedom to explore would be over.
Her mother sat on her throne next to her father and Krystal went to stand by her mother, as was her place. They stood there for a few moments before the doctors looked at each other and nodded, backing away from the bed and bowing to the King and Queen. "He is stable my Lord, but if you wish him to survive, he should rest."
Krystal took one glance at the bed before locking eyes with the ape. He started to open his mouth but she shook her head slightly. He blinked and turned his gaze back to the King and Queen. Eventually though her father spoke up. "Who are you?"
The ape opened his mouth and coughed, his voice rough. "I'm Dr. Bowman. I was attacked by outlaws above your planet and crashed near by."
Her father nodded "Your injuries were quite serious, how did you manage to get to our walls."
The ape paused for a moment. "I think it was one of your guards that helped me. But my memories are...fragmented, I can't really tell you for certain."
Her father frowned before speaking up again. "Very well Dr. Bowman, what exactly is it that you do?"
The question and answer session lasted long into the morning, and Krystal was glad when it ended, as it allowed her to slip away to her quarters to sleep. When she woke late in the afternoon, she found out that Dr. Bowman had been moved into an empty room nearby as a guest of her father. She waited until night before she slipped out of her room and down the hallway into his.
When she entered she found the doctor wide awake and staring out the window. He hadn't appeared to notice her and she cleared her throat to get his attention. He jumped slightly and turned to face her, his eyes widening when he realized who it was.
Krystal started off "Thank you for not telling them about me."
Dr. Bowman nodded "I'm guessing that they do not approve of you sneaking out?"
Krystal scoffed and leaned against the wall. "If my parents had their way, I would be locked inside the palace forever."
Dr Bowman was quite for a moment. "I see, so why do you stay then?" he glanced out the window. "I saw other settlements from my ship, there must be other places you can go."
Krystal glanced out the window as well. "There are other towns, but they all answer to my father, they would let him know if I ended up there."
Dr. Bowman nodded again, "So then, why don't you leave Cerinia behind altogether, just get on board a ship and explore space, the Lylat system where I'm from isn't too far away."
Krystal sighed "We don't have ships here, my father wishes up to stay separate from others. So we have no ships to go to other planets with."
Dr. Bowman fell quiet for just a while. "I have a ship you know. I could offer you a chance to leave."
Krystal looked at him for the first time since she entered the room. "I saw your ship, it is twisted metal out in the jungle."
Dr. Bowman smiled "Ah my dear, not that ship, that was an escape shuttle. I have a much larger craft that I sent away when I was fleeing from the outlaws. It will return in a months time, and I can summon another shuttle to pick me up. Why don't you use that time to think about my offer. If you decide to, I will gladly let you take the shuttle where ever you wish to go." He paused "Although there is one thing I would need in return."
Krystal raised an eyebrow at the ape, still doubtful of this offer, but some part of her jumping at the bit to leave Cerinia. "What exactly is that?" she asked
Dr. Bowman smiled. "I was tracking a comet that passed this way a very very long time ago. The comet is important to my studies and would greatly benefit my people. I don't suppose you know of anything that could tell me if it landed here on Cerinia?"
Krystal was silent for a moment "There is a legend." she started off slowly. "A great magical rock fell from the sky long ago, it hit our planet and burrowed into our it's core. As it did so it granted every Cerinian a gift."
Dr. Bowman sat forward "What gift?" he asked sharply, eagerness in his tone.
Krystal frowned at him for a moment before she closed her eyes and focused just like she had been taught. "The gift of Telepathy." she sent to his mind.
Dr. Bowman's eyes widened as her voice sounded in his head. "Amazing." he whispered. "Do you know where this rock was supposed to have fallen?"
Krystal paused again, unsure if she should tell him. But her hope that his offer was genuine pressed through her caution and she continued. "It is said that when the rock landed it made the mountains that are behind this palace. There are also tales of great caves that run down into the center of our planet, where the rock awaits."
She looked at Dr. Bowman as he sat back in his bed again. "Thank you Princess, that was exactly what I needed to hear. If you decide to leave, come back to me in a month and I will honor my promise."
Krystal nodded "I will think about it, and please, if we are alone, call me Krystal."
Dr Bowman smiled and nodded in return, holding out a hand that she took. "Very well Krystal, why don't you call me Andross then."
Krystal smiled as she shook his hand "Alright Andross, sleep well, I'll come check on you tomorrow." with that Krystal left the room.
"Wow, cozy."
Kursed stood up in a rush and extended her staff even though she knew it would be more of a hindrance in the cramped confines of her ship. She stared at Fox in anger as he smiled softly as scaring her into reacting so fast.
"Who said you could come aboard?" she demanded softly, as much malice as she could coating her words.
Fox shrugged his shoulders, then winced and rubbed his injured shoulder gently. "I called up the ladder, but you didn't answer."
Kursed narrowed her eyes as she collapsed the staff. "So you just came in?! Nobody else is allowed on my ship unless they're a mark!"
Fox meanwhile had stopped listening, his attention had been drawn to the staff as it had collapsed in on itself. His heart thudded hollowly in his chest, the last time he had seen that staff...
"Where did you get that?" he asked softly, something about his voice carrying a dangerous tone. Something more threatening then Kursed's soft voice that she had greeted him with.
Kursed turned her gaze to the staff and thought quickly, trying to come up with an acceptable answer. She turned her gaze back to Fox. "Black market dealer." she said simply. "Why?"
Fox took a step forward. "Where..." he stopped as his throat closed on him, he swallowed heavily and tried again. "Where was this dealer?"
Kursed shrugged "I found him in the Sargasso region. Why do you care so much?"
Fox closed his eyes and clenched his fists staring at the ground. When he raised his gaze to hers again he spoke up. "I'll answer your question...if you let me hold the staff."
Kursed looked at the staff for a moment, then decided that no harm could come of it. She held it out, and when he placed his open paw below hers, she let it drop into his hand. He closed his digits around it and shut his eyes at the same time. He stayed that way for a moment, just breathing in and out softly. Kursed was about to ask him what he was doing when he extended the staff and pointed it at her. She raised her head in response to the staffs head being put under his chin and Fox opened his eyes, watching her.
Eventually he spoke. "This staff belonged to Krystal." he paused again. "Who was this black market dealer, did he say where or who he got it from?"
Kursed swallowed softly, feeling the the staff ride her adams apple. "No, and if you don't take the staff off of my neck, I'll make sure you don't wake up until we get back from Cerinia."
Fox closed his eyes and collapsed the staff. He backed away from Kursed and towards the small bulk head that separated her armory from the rest of her ship. He dropped the staff as he leaned up against the bulk head, holding a hand to his head as the staff rolled across the ground to stop next to Kursed's boot. She bent down and picked it up, her ears twitching as she heard Fox mummer something.
"What was that?" she asked.
Fox shook his head, his breathing fast. "I'm sorry, I..." he stopped again. "I used that staff for a while, and it created some sort of bond with me. That is, was, Krystal's staff, and I figured who ever murdered her took it. Its been my first real clue as to who might have done it." he brought his gaze to hers and she could see the hurt in his eyes, fresh again. "I'm sorry, I just...when I held it, it was like Krystal was standing next to me again. Like maybe I could redeem myself for driving her away by catching her killer." he sighed and slid down to the floor and braced his arms on his knees."
Kursed said nothing, she just turned back to the cockpit and placed the staff underneath her seat as she sat down. She forced herself to keep her breathing steady, eventually she spoke up. "I don't have any more information for you McCloud. The only thing I can tell you is that he was a wondering black market dealer."
After a while she heard Fox stand up and walk up behind her. He was silent for a moment. "Again, I'm sorry." he paused for another breath. "Look, I came to find you for two reasons. With my Arwing destroyed, I need to ask you if I can ride down to Cerinia with you, Katt's ship doesn't have room for two." he paused as if waiting for her to say no, when she didn't he continued. "I also need your advice on what type of gear we need for Cerinia."
Kursed stared at the scans on her screen, silent for so long that Fox eventually spoke up again.
"Kursed?"
She stood up suddenly and Fox backed away hurriedly. "Light clothing, we'll be hiking through about two miles of jungle. So make sure its light and allows you free movement as there isn't really a solid path to follow. Also make sure you have some sort of close quarters weapon on you, by the time you realize somethings attacking you and you draw a ranged weapon, it will already be to close to you."
Fox nodded as she walked past him and towards her room. "And the first thing?"
Kursed paused in the small doorway. "Be ready to leave in six hours."
Fox nodded "So that's a yes then?"
Kursed just glanced at him before giving a sharp nod and walking into her room. "Until then, get the hell off my ship." she shut the door as she said the last and Fox sighed softly, glad that she hadn't at least punched him for what he had done. He left the ship and was standing in the elevator before he sighed and let his thoughts over come him again.
When he saw her with that staff, shock had been a prime emotion, but there was something else, something that he couldn't even really admit it to himself. It had started with the dream, escalated upon confirming the Bond, and had only picked up in power since the kiss. Not the one she had used to distract him in the fight, the one he couldn't remember. ROB had thought he might be interested in the med bay security footage from when he had been unconscious, he had expected that it was Kursed stealing something from him, some small part of him hoped it was that. Instead he watched her lean over and with a face fully of worry and what looked like love, kiss him. It had lasted for quite a while and Fox was sad to find no memory of it.
Not for the first time he entertained the though of perhaps actually trying something with Kursed. If it could be possible. He shook his head and went to go and talk to Falco and Katt. Focusing on the mission ahead and trying to push Kursed from his thoughts.
Just over six hours later found Fox back on Kursed's ship as it lifted off from the deck and headed for the cold darkness of space. Falco's Arwing and Katt's ship launching afterwords and following Kursed's ship down told the surface.
"So, why did we have to leave at this particular time again?"
Kursed tapped the radio button. "Because Falco, the best landing zone should just be getting sunlight, by the time we land it'll give us the full day to work our way through the jungle and to the main village. Now, shut up and follow me down, any other questions can wait until we've landed."
Kursed shut off the radio and turned her attention back to flying, it wasn't long though before a beeping from her control panel had her activate her comm again. "Are you two seeing the same thing I am?"
It was Katt's voice that responded. "You mean the sudden draining of our shields like they weren't even there? Yea, we noticed. Your people got any technology like that?"
"No. If they do, they acquired it after I left."
Falco's voice spoke up next. "How long was that?"
Kursed paused for a moment, "Long time ago. For now, we still push on, we need to make planet fall before something else happens to the ships. I don't want to be in the gravity well if we suddenly lose power to the engines."
There was a pause before Katt spoke up again. "Fair point. Lead on."
Thankfully nothing else happened and Kursed set her ship down in a small clearing that served as the landing zone whenever a ship from another planet came to talk treaty with the King. Katt and Falco both landed next to her and exited their ships, Kursed shut down her ship and looked at Fox, jerking her head towards the exit. He nodded and left the ship. Kursed grabbed her staff from under her seat and stopped in her armory to grab her pistol before dropping down to the ground as well. She walked out from underneath her ship and took her first real look at her home planet since she had left.
After a moment, she turned to the three other pilots behind her. "Welcome to Cerinia."
-Cerinia, The Past-
As the door closed and Krystal walked away, Andross's smile slid off his face, replaced with a frown. "Savages." he muttered under his breath. "Still, if what she said is true, she might have helped me with my overall goal." he rubbed his chin with his hand. "If everything proceeds according to plan in Lylat, I shall soon be free to manipulate these people as I see fit, and if that includes sending off the princess to cause some chaos, well, that's just better." he grinned evilly as he thought about what his latest project was no doubt doing on Venom at this very moment.
Okay, there you have it, a quick peak into Krystal's memories and a hint as to why she acts the way she does in the flash backs. Obviously I took a little...freedom...with the Star Fox lore, hope you all don't mind, its kinda important to the story.
Anyway, sorry about the long wait for this chapter, I feel really bad about that, I'll start trying to work on the next chapter soonish. But, I might be taking a small break to finish some of my other stories and get them done, so I can focus on this one.
OH! Sly Cooper, I'm working on one of those too, its set after Thieves in Time though, so I won't be posting it for a while, just to give more people a chance to beat it and me not spoil stuff.
Right! Just a few things left, its time for the Guest reviews:
4RT: Sssshhhhhh... Dont tell anybody its a secret. In truth they wont matter to the main plot of this story. : P
Guest: Glad you stopped hiding! Welcome! I'm happy you're enjoying the story, and hopefully I'll keep your attention for the rest of it eh? P.S. Come up with a name to leave that way if another 'guest' comes along I wont get ya confused.
Dayton17: Thanks, and you know what? Me too! I have no idea what happens next, I just go with the flow. Here's hoping it will still be grand eh?
Also, a hearty thanks to Cpt. Fox for betaing what he could, He took time out of his busy ass schedule to help me, so again, thanks a ton for that.
So, I'm thinking of making a cover image for this story, you guys got any ideas? Let me know in a review or a PM.
Well, I think that's it, except for the fact that this story will start to earn its other M rating, [Violence] in the next few chapters, plus I get to really have some fun with the by play between Kursed and Fox. Like I said to Dayton, I have no idea what the details are, but I do have a vague idea and I know I'm going to enjoying typing it...what ever it is ha ha.
Peace,
- Emile