STAR PEACH

Chapter 3

Corneria…

In the office of General Peppy, Falco Lombardi, an ex-pilot sat with an annoyed look as he listened to the general speak of Fox to Toad over the phone. He really did not want to be there at all and in fact he could have simply refused to see the general altogether. But he did feel a bit guilty for reasons which he would not name, not yet anyway.

"I see," Peppy said into the phone while glancing sideways at Falco. The voice on the phone was angry and roaring at full pitch. Apparently Falco's story had proved untrue, Fox was no longer in touch with Peppy Command and team StarFox had disbanded two years ago. And now Falco was pulled into Peppy's office to sort the story out. Peppy hung up the phone a few minutes later and sat down at his desk. "Falco, what is going on? What is this story I am hearing from the Mushroom Kingdom? Fox is missing?"

"Sort of," said Falco while looking at the wall.

"Well, what's the real story? You ought to be ashamed of yourself for telling such a lie to those people."

"I shouldn't be ashamed of nothing." Falco snorted.

"And why not?" asked Peppy becoming annoyed at the sarcasm in his voice.

"Because I didn't do anything wrong."

"Nothing?" Peppy asked "Nothing indeed, you just lied to the Chancellor of the Mushroom Kingdom."

"He's not the Chancellor yet," Falco said while kicking at the ground.

"He's filling in as such and you should have known better than to go and tell them such a thing. That Toad was yelling at me like it was my entire fault that Fox has gone missing. Fox has not been in touch with me for over two years now, and then you come along and pull this."

"I needed to make up an excuse." Falco said.

"Well make up an excuse you did, you know what I am calling them back." He reached for the phone and then stopped. "On second thought, you will travel to the Mushroom Kingdom and tell them the real story. I think you should sort this matter out for yourself."

"I ain't going to no Mushroom Kingdom." Falco said indignantly.

"Oh yes you will, or I'll have you arrested."

"For what?!"

"For trying to cover up your crimes by using us as an excuse."

"You think I know where he is?" Falco questioned defiantly.

"Yes, I do." Peppy answered "And you will go and sort this mess out or else to the Cornerian Jail you will go."

Falco obviously had no choice so he was dismissed from the office of General Peppy and made to go home and get ready for the trip to the Mushroom Kingdom to tell the Princess the real story. He grumbled as he shoved some clothes in a bag and met Peppy at Peppy Command once more. Falco was to take the Great Fox to the Mushroom Kingdom and that was not going to be an easy task. The Cornerian's did not have a machine that could travel that far at their disposal so they would use the former StarFox Mothership. Peppy had gotten hold of Slippy and after a long discussion he obliged to accompany Falco so as to make sure the damage was fixed and also to make sure Falco did not take off . Falco and Peppy both stood at the Cornerian Airbase waiting for Slippy to arrive and once he did Falco could see that this was going to be one harrowing trip.

"Hey, Falco." said Slippy as he brought two suitcases out of the eco-friendly car over to the confused and annoyed bird. "It's nice to see you."

"Nice to see you too." Falco said after Peppy gave him a menacing glare.

"Well, good luck Slippy, Falco, and may you both return safely."

So with that the two boarded the Great Fox and took off to the Mushroom Kingdom.

The Mushroom Kingdom…more specifically Princess Peach's Castle…

Peach was sitting in the gardens talking to a Toad who was about to have his home repossessed. The poor guy had told her that he was trying everything he could to pay up but the economy seemed to be slumping. Peach closed the matter by telling the Toad that she would extend his deadline and notify the company herself. After which, the Toad ran off smiling and waving. Toad watched him rush by and proceeded to the Princess.

"That seemed to have gone well."

"It did." Peach said "He just needs a bit more time, that's all."

"Time is of the essence." Toad said while sitting down by her.

"Exactly" Peach said smiling.

"So, what are we going to do today Princess?"

"Well, everything's finished. I guess we'll just sit back and wait for the Star Spirits to tell us where Fox is."

"You really won't stop until you find him, will you?"

"No." Peach replied quietly.

At that moment another Toad came running out to the gardens to fetch Toad, himself. This Toad was named Toadman. He wore glasses and had blue spots on his cap instead of red ones.

"Toad, ol' buddy," said Toadman in a royal yet friendly manner.

"Yeah, Toadman?" Toad asked casually.

"We have a meeting today."

"Not again!" Toad groaned "Can't we reschedule it? The Princess needs rest."

"No," Toadman said pulling a paper from his vest pocket. "We must meet these people they are foreigners, not from here and there are rumors that they may start a war if we refuse."

Peach who had been listening spoke "Well, who are they then?" she asked rising from the bench.

"They come from a place called the Lylat System." Toadman replied.

"Maybe it's Fox!" Peach said and rushed into the castle to prepare to meet whoever it was.

"Now, you've done it." Toad groaned following Peach into the castle.

So Toad and Peach prepared for their meeting with whomever from the Lylat system. Toadman had forgotten to mention that it was Falco and Slippy and not Fox himself so Peach and Toad headed to the Mushroom Kingdom Airport to find out themselves. Toad knew it was not going to be Fox but he did not want to crush Peach's hopes so he kept quiet. So as they watched the Great Fox descend from the sky they both waited with an uneasy feeling. Inside the Great Fox Falco was asleep while Slippy amazingly piloted the huge aircraft onto the runway of the Mushroom Kingdom. As the ship landed Slippy accidently hit the ground a bit to hard and in the barracks sent Falco onto the floor.

"Darn it Slippy!" he yelled.

"Sorry." Slippy said apologetically.

"Well, are we there?" Falco asked a bit rudely.

"Yes," Slippy answered, "We are."

So the two of them began to alight from the ship onto the Toad Town Runway.

Peach and Toad watched as Slippy emerged from the usual Arwing exit and Toad motioned for Slippy to come forth.

"Hello!" said Slippy full of energy "I am Slippy Toad and you must be Princess Peach of the Mushroom Kingdom, am I right?"

"Yes," Peach said as he took her hand and kissed it. "You must be a friend of Fox's, tell me, is he with you?"

Slippy looked disappointed "Um… actually…" he trailed off and looked back at the ship where Falco was alighting.

"Holy Terror!" shouted Toad.

"Nice to see you too." grumbled Falco as he headed towards them.

"Oh." Peach said through impending tears.

"Long time no see, Peach." Falco replied.

"But-" Peach began "Where-How-What-Where is Fox?"

"Oh, that is a long, long story." Replied Slippy sticking a thumb at Falco "And he's here to tell you the truth."

"Why, oh great Star Spirits!" shouted Toad dropping to his knees "Why?"

"Whatever 'shroom." Falco snarled under his breath.

"Shroom!?" yelled Toad in a fury.

"I don't understand…" Peach said sadly "I thought you guys were Fox."

"Oh, no Princess," Slippy said as the all stood there uneasily. "I have no idea where Fox is. I was sent by the now Commander in Chief Peppy Hare to bring forth Falco. I think he knows where he is, I don't. I'm sorry."

"Falco…" Toad gritted through his teeth while shaking his fists.

"What?" Falco asked in a surly voice.

"I'm going to kill you!" yelled Toad jumping at Falco and grabbing him by the throat and collapsing onto the pavement. Peach jumped back from alarm and Slippy pried Toad off of Falco. "That's enough guys." Slippy said while Peach held Toad back.

"You-you!" Toad yelled.

"Toad, please calm down." Peach said.

"I-I-what? Huh, do you think I planned for this to happen?" Falco asked.

"You sure act like you did!" Toad yelled while the other Toads all watched silently.

"Toad, please," Peach said while looking at Falco. "You mean you lied?" Peach asked tearfully.

"Not exactly." Falco replied.

"Well, then what!?" shouted Toad. He glanced at the other Toads watching "Does this concern you?" he asked loudly "Mind your own business." To which the other Toads scattered.

"I was sent here to tell Peach the story not the annoying little 'shroom." Falco said while picking a lint ball off his shirt.

"So then, Fox is really gone?" Peach asked as her blue eyes filled up with hurt.

"No," Falco said "Not exactly."

"Well, then where is he?!?" yelled Toad.

"None of your business." Falco snorted.

"None of my-? Why I outta!" Toad tried to go after him once more to which Slippy held Falco back and Peach held Toad back. Peach then looked at Falco.

"Tell, me the truth." She said sternly.

"I will, but can we continue this conversation somewhere private? Everyone is staring and it's making me uneasy."

"Very well," Peach said, "Come, we'll continue this discussion at my castle."

So with Toad still Fuming they headed to Princess Peach's Castle to hear the real story.

Violet

Well, there it is the Third Chapter. Toad seems to have a deep disliking of Falco and Falco seems to return the feeling. Can anyone guess what the real story is behind Fox's Disappearance? You'll just have to wait and see.