Disclaimer: Star Fox series is created, and owned by Nintendo. And Dinosaur Planet is created and owned by Rareware Studios, and Nintendo. Please support the Official releases.
It was now morning at Warlock Mountain, which consisted of a stone mansion in the top of the mountain, and a large one at that, which also had a hanger inside that housed a shuttle of hers that she was gifted from a different planet entirely during her space drifting days before this journey, as Krystal, along with Kyte, and Zephyr, were now awake, and was now outside of the home of Warlock Mountain that the CloudRunner was now flying away from.
With Krystal still in her same garments, as she was on her way to ThornTail Hollow with Kyte, where she was going to be sent to find the Prince of the EarthWalkers. With Kyte by her side as they were both ready get their quest underway. (And hopefully, there'll be no conflict that'll ensue between the Queen, and Kyte.) All while she still had her staff on her back, along with another weapon.
Which looked like her own staff, only it was a silver one with green marks, and a green gem on it. Not only that, but when extended, it ends up becoming a spear. Which is her alternate weapon that she was going to give to her brother when they meet up. For now though, that weapon belongs to her too, until she either meets him, or finds his sword.
She also wore a pouch on her hip, which is where she can store her inventory.
All while they were planning on seeing Zephyr off, once they get to ThornTail Hollow, so that he can make his way back to CloudRunner Fortress, to find out what's going on there. And hopefully, he'd see that the Queen is alright too.
"Are you sure that you don't want to come with us on our journey?!" Kyte asked.
"Trust me, it's more important for me to find the Queen first before I can. For now, you must put your trust in Krystal, and know that she can keep you safe." He responded.
"You have my word, that I will keep her safe with me until we reunite her with her mother." Krystal said, crossing her hand over her chest in a vow making sort of motion while keeping her other hand on his back for balance.
Kyte took her word for it as she continued to cuddle to Krystal, ensuring that she won't be falling. Not that she cannot fly, but she feels that she cannot fly fast enough to keep up with Zephyr. That, and she's a bit nervous of heights like this one. "Be careful Zephyr, once you're on your way out of ThornTail Hollow!" She called.
"And likewise, to you, too!" He called back as he flew to the direction of where ThornTail Hollow should be.
All while Krystal kept her hold on Kyte as Zephyr continued to fly, as Kyte couldn't help but ask. "Is the Queen EarthWalker not going to mind that I'm there too?" Kyte asked nervously.
"She shouldn't." Krystal coolly responded. "Even she should know that there are much more pressing things to worry about, than seeing you in ThornTail Hollow, let alone in the Territory of the EarthWalkers. So, she should be putting her, and her people's dislike of your people, aside in this journey. And I hope the same could be said for her son, as well." She said assuredly.
Kyte again, took her word for it as they were on their way to the Hollow itself, as the Vixen, and CloudRunners was now not far from ThornTail Hollow. Where little did they know, their journey was going to go through a twist that was going to make things interesting from there.
Meanwhile… Earlier that same day
Fox woke back up after his nap, noticing that it was daytime now, and that the storm has finally died down. Much to his relief as he was now packing up his camp, and his supplies back into his inventory as he was now back to work in finding the Prince in Ice Mountain.
He also made sure that his blaster is also charged up. Sure, he has the sword that he found back in ThornTail Hollow, but he feels that the sword is to be used when his foes get too close to where they would force him to fight. He may use it well, but he feels that as long as he keeps enough of a distance from them, then he can put his blaster to use, without ever having to unsheathe his sword.
Once they get close though, he's ensuring that he's fast on the draw, to ensure that his sword is ready to protect him from their attacks.
But for now, he was keeping just his blaster at the ready as he was now walking out to the cave's exit, ready to find the prince.
Only when he got out, he had to run back in to get out of sight of an incoming ship that was over the area of Ice Mountain. As well as a few of the SharpClaws that was on the ground, waiting for the ship to drop its cargo to them.
Which, when Fox wondered what cargo, they were going to get, got dropped out of the ship via gravity lift, showing that they were dropping a little EarthWalker. Whom, Fox quickly guessed was the EarthWalker Prince. And he was being levitated to the SharpClaws that were on land, before the ship then took off once it was sure that the prince wasn't dropped from a lethal height.
After leaving, and after some smacking around, with one of the SharpClaws belting the EarthWalker across his flank to make him move after he tried to reluctantly do so, the prince was now being Shepard'd into the cave by the SharpClaws as they moved behind him, poking, and prodding at him to make him keep going. Which had Fox getting enraged at the sight, as he wanted to save the prince. But he knew that it wasn't a good idea if he'd be beaten too. So, he waited until they were in the cave before it closed.
Which was where Fox intended to go to, once he got the cave's door open to save the prince from those SharpClaws, in a two on one fight. Which was easier than fighting them both outside, then a regiment of them that could be nearby to hear the commotion. He just needed to look around for a way to open it first as he was now out of the cave.
The area he was in, was not large, as the Shopkeeper said, as he had a look at the whole area from the cave. So, he felt that his stay here could be short. He saw a small enclosure that was blocked off by a wall stack of boxes, that looked to be quite tough to withstand a sword, so that was currently out of the question, while there was another that was accessible on foot, and was closer to the cave that he just exited from. So, Fox headed to the latter, feeling that he can start there.
Only for him to run into a SharpClaw grunt, that looked different from the others, having more blue scales, and having black stripes down his back. Other than that though, Fox felt that he could be just the same SharpClaw that he fought back in ThornTail Hollow, fighting skill-wise.
Sure enough, when the SharpClaw tried to go after him with a headbutt, but Fox sidestepped it, before bringing the hilt of the sword down on its head. Stunning it, but not knocking it out, as it tried to blindly swing its mace around, in hopes of hitting him. Which it nearly did, as Fox almost got hit in his torso if he didn't jump back far enough. So, he followed up with a shot from his blaster to disarm the SharpClaw of the mace, before stabbing it in the cranium, ensuring that the blade hits the brain to kill it instantly.
With the area secure, he sheathed the sword, before continuing to the enclosure, where he saw that there was a little pedestal with a metallic barrel on it. (And a box nearby, that contained at least ten scarabs that he grabbed, when he broke it.) The barrel had an LED diode on the top of it. Which had Fox thinking that it could be one of those diodes that belongs to a security device; that makes the metallic barrel beep, signaling a countdown of a predetermined amount of time, before the barrel ends up exploding when the diode beeps at its fastest rate. This was meant to discourage theft of the barrels for fuel, but Fox quickly knew of what he could do with it.
He picked it up, signaling a beeping sound that had him running fast for the wall stack of boxes, lest he ends up suffering a dire consequence to come should he be slow to get rid of it. So, he ran for the boxes, making it there with seconds to spare, before throwing it at them, seeing it explode in a bright flash, that destroyed the boxes into shards, and splinters. It was the result that he was hoping for, and was delighted to see. He also saw a pair of SharpClaws inside, that was flinching at the boom that was made, as they were startled. And he was not planning on wasting the opportunity for an advantage.
So, he was now on top of them, as he greeted the first with a shot from his blaster to the unarmored legs to bring it down to one knee, before he finished it off with a vertical stab from his sword, to under the skull to stab into the brain, killing it in one fell swoop as it vanished. He then swung at the second one, who blocked his swing, but when he tried to counterattack, he swung too hard, thinking that he'd disarm Fox, only for him to parry the blow, before stunning the second one with his hilt, before shooting the blaster between the eyes, making it join its comrade in a heap before it vanished.
Now Fox was free to survey the area without trouble, only to see that there was a switch that looked like a lever, set into the side of the cliff. Fox wondered what to do with it since the lever seemed to have been broken off. But then he had an idea. He used the sword, and gently worked it into the line shaped hole where the lever would've gone. After working it around, he felt it get stuck in place, then he pushed his weight down on the hilt of the sword. Then with a click, it activated something, that caused him to exit the enclosure, to see that a panel above the door slid back.
Where it exposed another fire blast switch. Which Fox was familiar with, as he knew that it could be the one that would open the door to the cave. So he took careful aim with the sword, before shooting a sizzling energy bolt at it, making it turn green, and for the cave door to open up for him. Before he entered it with a delighted look on his face.
Which changed into determination, when he got in to quickly see the SharpClaws still tormenting their captured prey inside. The EarthWalker noticed his arrival, as he shouted out "Help me!" When he got into his view. Fox hated bullies, so he obliged the EarthWalker.
"Hey! How about you pick on someone your own size?!" He angrily said, bringing their attention to him.
Now they were staring him down, trying to intimidate him. But he already took care of a couple SharpClaws, so he was confident that those ones would be no trouble to take care of, to save the prince, as he kept his sword out, in a defensive stance, making sure that they won't hit him if they try to attack him. While one of them tilted its head in curiosity. "Who are you?" It said, inadvertently putting Fox's latest translation software to use.
"My name is Fox McCloud!" He said, trying not to mention his team too, if it'll endanger them. "And I'm going to take the prince back… home?! Wait!"
Fox suddenly saw the prince, as he bolted right out of the cave door, taking advantage of their momentary distraction. He tried to follow him, but he was too late to realize that he let his guard down, causing the SharpClaws to knock him to the floor while stunning him, before getting on, of all things Fox could've expected, their jet-hoverbikes to give chase to the prince too. Scrambling back on his feet, Fox looked around, quickly seeing that there was a few more of the bikes left, causing him to decide to get on one of them, before zooming off in hot pursuit.
He was now zooming on through the mountain path that lead downwards, and through a small cavern, making him slow down a little to ensure that he has himself lined up right. Once he was, he was now zooming fast through the cavern, ensuring that he would be catching up to the SharpClaws on bikes.
Once he did, he was now veering around the first one, while spraying a cloud of snow in its face, forcing it to slow down to wipe the snow off, before taking the opportunity to zoom ahead to get to the leading SharpClaw that was chasing the prince. Who for some reason, was far ahead to where he wasn't being seen by either him or the SharpClaw. Whom, dropped something behind him to discourage any close chasing, but Fox remembered his reflex as a pilot as he steered out of the way, before a hill came up that the SharpClaw was going around.
Seeing a potential shortcut, Fox gunned the engine on his bike to speed over the hill, putting him ahead of both of the SharpClaws.
Now ahead of him, was an alpine forest, so Fox reduced the throttle, and slowed down a little to give him more reaction time, just so he won't crash on accident as he weaved through the trees. He knew that at this speed, especially without a helmet, he would meet a gruesome end if he crashed. Yet for some reason, he was still calm. Like he felt that he is never going to die here, no matter how reckless he gets.
After rounding another spur of rock, he went through a snow drift that clouded his vision a little. He had to wipe the snow out of his vision, as he zoomed under a pair of pillars that fell together, showing an X shape. He would've wondered why they were making an X shape if he saw them, but it wasn't important. Wiping the snow off his vision, he saw that the path ahead of him came to an abrupt drop downwards. And by the time he realized it, he then knew that he had no chance to stop, or slow down fast enough. Which is what led to him inadvertently sailing over the edge.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Fox lost his grip on the handlebars of the jet-hoverbike, as it fell from under him, while time seemed to slow to a little crawl as he descended to the pool of water. Which had him closing his eyes as he braced himself for what could be freezing cold temperatures of the water. But when he hit the water with a splash, he learned that the water was quite warm, up to below scalding in degrees. Which had him relieved that he wasn't gonna be a frozen… Fox-cicle, by the time he gets out of the hot spring. After resurfacing, and catching his breath, he got out of the water of the spring.
Where he saw the EarthWalker Prince, who seemed to have also gotten out of the spring, shortly before he did, as he grinned at Fox. How he was able to outrun the jet-hoverbikes, and make it to the spring before he did, Fox will never know. (Even though he believes that the prince might've slid down the trail due to how slippery the snow could be.)
"You must be the Prince Tricky." Fox said.
"Indeed I am. And it's a good thing you landed in the hot spring, or you'd be frozen by now." He snidely said, showing Fox that his PDA's translation is still working, and didn't fry in the spring waters.
"Why you little…" Fox growled after hearing that.
Tricky backed away a little, while lowering his head in a defensive stance, at the tone Fox made. "Hey, I wouldn't if I were you, my dad's the King EarthWalker, and he'd bash you up badly!" He boasted.
As annoyed as Fox was with the prince, the mention of the King brought him back to his mission. Before he then knelt to the prince in a somber stance. "I don't think he'll be doing any bashing right now, he's been captured. That's why I was sent to find you."
Tricky was shocked at what he just heard from Fox. "My dad?! Captured?!"
Fox nodded somberly. "Indeed. Your mom sent me to find you, and save you."
"Is… is she okay?" Tricky said, showing that for all his annoying traits, he does love his parents. Which had Fox wondering what to tell him. Sure, his mom is safe, but she seemed like she was quite wounded during her time with the SharpClaws. And last time he checked, she was not in a good condition. So he felt, that some skirting around the issue was not a bad option.
"She'll be okay." He assured the EarthWalker prince. "We first need to get you to ThornTail Hollow, that's where she is. And quickly."
"Okay!" Tricky said, perking up again. "I know a way there, from here! Come on!" He said, before scampering down a snowy path leading away from the spring. Which had Fox sighing in resignation of what he was about to do, feeling that he was going to have one heck of a time in escorting him to ThornTail Hollow. Before he then followed Tricky, at a calm jogging pace.
Where along the way with Tricky, he was assaulted by some mysterious creatures that spat out some acid from the insides of the trees that was nearby. Fox didn't know what they were, as he only saw a pair of glowing yellowish-green eyes from the tree's hollow caves. But he bets that they were not friendly creatures. Not only that, but he was also certain that they were not good shots with their acid, since they missed him. Not only that, but they were not invincible, since he shot back at them with his blaster, and took them out, thus stopping them from shooting their acid out. Much to Tricky's amazement.
All while he was aware of his clothing being currently soggy from the spring's landing. The residual heat from the spring is fading, and if he doesn't dry off, he may catch hypothermia. So he kept on going, when a lambent orange glow caught his attention. Running ahead past Tricky, he was off of the path, and was now at a dead end where a lava pit was. Complete with a stretch of roughened brick rocks that offered handholds for climbing, with a ledge that was halfway between him, and the lava. Even though it had no visible way to get across it to the otherside where another ledge was, it was fortunate that he was there, as he let the heat from the lava warm him up.
"What did you say your name was, by the way?" Tricky asked.
"Fox. Fox McCloud." He answered.
"Well then, Fox. We need to keep on going. I'm certain mommy's hurt. And I'm hoping that she's alive when we're back, and I'm able to help her." Tricky said.
Fox couldn't stop himself from sighing. "Tricky, no haste will do us any good, if I freeze into a block of ice, on the way there. I just need a few minutes before I'm able to continue forward. Until then, you can look around for a way to get across this lava."
Tricky knew that Fox was right, so he nodded. "Okay. I'll find a bridge." He said, before running off to leave Fox to his devices.
Now he was near the lava for minutes, until his fur dried off. Before climbing back up to the edge, and looked around for Tricky. Which didn't take long, as he quickly found him as he was in the trail that curved away from the lava pit, while he was near some blue mushrooms, causing Fox to jog to him. Where he also saw that there was a gate nearby that was closed. "Sorry Fox, I didn't find a way across, but I found those." He said, gesturing to the mushrooms.
"Could those be, blue fungus?" Fox asked deadpan and confused.
"Not just ordinary blue fungus. They're Blue GrubTub Fungus! My favorite food!" He said excitedly. "It's too bad that they're hard to catch for me." He then said, as demonstrated with their bouncing.
Fox remembered the Red mushrooms back in ThornTail Hollow, at the sight of them. Which had him feeling that being on a planet like this one, moving mushrooms were not so unbelievable to him at this stage. He walked to them, dashing fast enough to grab them before they could run. Before going back to Tricky to feed him those things, much to his joy.
Fox didn't know why he was doing this, but he felt that there could be benefits to feeding the prince those GrubTubs. So, he fed Tricky those things, until there was none left. Then he was now headed for the gate.
Seeing through the gate, he saw that there was another switch that he could stab his sword into. If only he was able to get to it though. Then he saw Tricky near a patch of dirt. "There's something here. I got it!" He said, before digging into the dirt, using his front claws that dug out the dirt at surprisingly fast speeds until something in the dirt was exposed.
Which was a switch. And Fox quickly knew what it opens as he stood on it, opening the gate. But when he ran off it, the gate closed before he could pass it. Which was annoying, but he quickly knew what to do. "Can you stand on that pressure switch for a minute?"
Tricky nodded, and got onto the switch, reopening the gate upwards, as Fox ran under it to the switch, before using his sword to flip the switch, guessing that it could benefit him, and Tricky.
Which it did, as when he heard sounds coming from the lava pit, he ran to it, and saw that there was a pillar in the middle of the pit, and in between the lower edges, forming a bridge of jumping spots to the other side. Which he quickly took as he got down, and was already on the other end after jumping to there from the pillar, and was climbing up, when he quickly realized that he could leave Tricky behind. Considering that there could be no way to get him across. But as he was on the other end, and was looking back to see if there is, he suddenly noticed, and saw, that Tricky was now by his side for some reason.
"What the…? How did you do that?" He asked incredulously.
"Sorry, I promised mommy that I wouldn't tell." Tricky said.
Fox was irritated at the answer as he decided to continue on. But on the other hand, it meant that he isn't going to be carrying the EarthWalker around when he gets to any ladders, or uneven grounds. And he could chalk that secret ability of Tricky's, up to teleporting with magic, since there was some magic on this Planet. So, he didn't mind that ability, as he jogged onwards, (After crawling through a crawlspace that he had Tricky make through a small dirt wall that blocked their path.) keeping his sword at the ready, just in case he meets more SharpClaws.
It was a good thing he did, since he, and Tricky rounded a corner, and saw a pair of SharpClaws that nearly noticed them both, much to the latter's horror.
"Don't worry Tricky, I can ambush them, or we could sneak by them, and they won't know where- wait!" Fox then called out to Tricky.
Whom, was now running off past them, since when Tricky believed that they were going to be bearing down on them both, he ran off through the trail. Much to Fox's dismay, as he tried to stop him, but he saw that he had to defeat the pair first, when they blocked his path, before he could get to Tricky. So he fought them hard, trying to end the battle soon. Which he did, before he ran off down the trail to find where Tricky ran off to.
He was able to find where Tricky was, as he was skidding across the frozen pond in the next area, while being chased by at least three of the SharpClaws. Fortunately for Tricky, the SharpClaws were slipping, and sliding around, and even falling down for brief moments, prolonging their chase. Which, even more luckily for Tricky, was enough for Fox to come to his aid, and greet them with a flurry of blasts from his blaster, and some sword strikes, slaying one of them on the spot, and wounding the others, who tried to fight back against him. But despite the icy ground, the advantage was still his to exploit, as he dodged their maces, before slicing their heads off to finish the fight.
Once victory was his, he rounded back to Tricky. "Are you nuts, Tricky?!" He exclaimed seriously. "Leave them to me! You shouldn't run off like that, or you'd make it nearly impossible for me to protect you from those guys if you're too far!" He then said.
Tricky was ashamed, and abashed, since he knew Fox was right. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry." He apologized, then he looked back at him after perking up. "Say, can you whistle?"
Fox did so, making notes through his pursed lips, to demonstrate that he can. "Yep. Why?"
"I can run back to you if you do that. Just whistle, and I'll come back!" Tricky explained.
"Okay. That could work." Fox said. Before holstering his sword, and the blaster, then taking a look around at the area. Seeing that there was three more blue GrubTub Fungus on a small island in the middle of the frozen pond. There was also a block of ice-like stone, that was on top of a geyser that was blasting water upwards from under it, keeping it up in the air. And there was also a Wooly Mammoth, that was nearby. Which he figured out, was a SnowHorn. (Which he learned about from the scans of the Planet from Corneria.)
After stunning the GrubTubs with the fire blast, so that Tricky will scarf them down, Fox was now headed to the SnowHorn, and tried to ask him for directions. "I'm too hungry to talk to strangers." He said in response.
Fox was instantly annoyed, but understood why he was reluctant, since it'd be a waste of his energy to talk. "Okay big guy. What do you eat?"
The SnowHorn thought for a moment, before answering. "Alpine Roots are my favorite. But I cannot dig them out of the ground. If you can bring me one or two, I'll be obliged to you." He said.
Fox understood what to look for. "I'll see what I can find here." He said, before jogging around the area for any patches of dirt that could have those roots in it.
Fox ended up seeing one, which had a pair of leaves sticking out from the ground as well. Which was a telltale sign for both Fox, and Tricky, that it was the spot where the Alpine Root is, as the latter was now digging into the patch, at Fox's command. Soon, they both found the Alpine Root that was in the dirt. Which looked somewhat like a large, beetroot-shaped plant, that also somewhat looked like a fat carrot. Now they had to find another one that they could feed the SnowHorn.
Once the other one was excavated too, Fox was now in front of the SnowHorn, as he had one handed out at arm's length to the SnowHorn, who swiped the first root with his trunk, before gobbling it up. After some chewing, it swallowed, before it then belched thunderously, assaulting Fox's nose with the odor of the digested plant as he covered his nose, and shook his head. "Sorry lad." The SnowHorn apologized.
Fox accepted, before holding out the second one for the SnowHorn to take before backing off a bit. The SnowHorn at the second one, but chewed, and swallowed more carefully so as to not burp in Fox's face again. "Ah, much better. Tell you what lad, I can give you something that could be of use to you." He said, before reaching behind himself, where a small alcove was, before pulling out a burlap sack. Which Fox recognized as another Scarab Bag, only a bit bigger. "Here ya go, I bet old Shabunga has a few things in his store that you might need, but can't afford with your pockets, or shorter bag."
Fox was delighted at the sight of the bag, feeling that indeed, he could find useful items that he currently can't afford. So he took it.
"And another thing." The SnowHorn said, before getting onto the frozen lake, before rearing up, and slamming his front feet onto the ground, causing the geyser of water to end up turning off for unknown reasons, causing the block to land on the floor. "This should help you go to SnowHorn Wastes. You can go to ThornTail Hollow from there."
Fox thanked the SnowHorn, before pushing the block to the ledge that had to lead out of the area, he was in. Before he got onto the ledge, (After some exploring, where he found more Scarabs to fill his new bag with.) and was now going down the trail, which also lead down a large hilly path with Tricky by his side.
Where, going through the path, Fox came across a path of large icy stone platforms that was sorted in a row that he could jump over to the other end. Which he did alongside Tricky, as the latter showed Fox that despite his seemingly heavy weight that he could have, despite his size, he was pretty flexible himself, as he jumped the stones too. Much to Fox's pleasant surprise.
After that, and after Tricky opened a path for him via crawlspace in the snow that blocked his path, he ended up coming across a tree that had another acid spitting creature inside it. Fox shot at it into the hole, making sure it's not going to hurt him, or Tricky, as he finds a way across the river that got in the way. Only for the tree that the creature was in, to fall down, and make a bridge for him, after he shot the creature dead. Much to his surprise. But he didn't question it, as he continued onwards.
After going through a winding path down a trail, (But not before taking out a lone SharpClaw.) the duo walked down a descending path to a level area, till they were in a new area that Fox surveyed, seeing some more boulders, another pair of SnowHorns, but no SharpClaws that could get in the way. Which was relieving news for Tricky, as he, and Fox were jogging through the path around the SnowHorns that they were sure lead to ThornTail Hollow, when they both saw something that had them stop.
A massive SharpClaw guard was in front of the cave, as he was guarding it. Much to Fox's dismay, as he had to find some way to defeat the SharpClaw to proceed to ThornTail Hollow. When a SnowHorn noticed him. "Don't worry about the guard, sir." The SnowHorn said. "He may look fierce, but he's only in it for the money. Just give him some Scarabs, and he'll let you pass."
That relieved both Fox, and Tricky. "Why thanks. But how much is he going to take?"
"At least Twenty-five Scarabs. None of us could afford it, but none of us has any reason to go to ThornTail Hollow." The SnowHorn said.
"Thanks for the tip." Fox said with delight, as he saw that there was a few more Boulders for him to grab more Scarabs from, so he got to them, and lifted them for the Scarabs, putting him up to at least forty-five in total. Now he had more than enough to go to the guard.
Whom blocked the entrance with his bulk when Fox approached him. "You shall give me Twenty-Five Scarabs to pass." He said.
Fox didn't hesitate, as he gave the guard the Scarabs. Causing him to shuffle out of the way, leaving the cavern open for him. "Thanks. You can pass. Just don't tell the boss."
"Oh, don't you worry. I'm just as interested in keeping this secret as you are." Fox said before he, and Tricky moved past the guard, (Who didn't even bat an eye to Tricky's presence for some reason.) and into the path in the cavern that connected this to ThornTail Hollow, where Fox was sure that he would meet the Queen again, as well as become his base of operations for Sauria, as he uses it for a hub area.
And little did he know, it was also going to be where he was going to meet someone that would put the quest into an interesting twist.
"Be careful! And good luck!" Krystal said to Zephyr as he was now flying out of Thorntail Hollow to the direction of where the CloudRunner Fortress could be, as Kyte was now on her shoulder.
After they landed in ThornTail Hollow, Krystal was already looking around, seeing that the place looked peaceful. Just as she remembered it, on her previous visits to that place.
In fact, if she wasn't on this quest to save the Planet, she would've thought that this place was peaceful. With nary a danger in sight. (Other than some lone SharpClaws, but they were no threat when she took them down. And none of the ThornTails were bothered either, likely due to their low numbers.)
But she knew that she was on a quest. And she knew that she couldn't stop here. She needed to find the Queen, and her prince. So she continued to look around the Hollow, finding something that was very unusual, and out of place in the hollow.
Being an angular, knife edged aircraft that was sitting in the clearing, near the path that Krystal guessed led to Cape Claw, which had both Krystal, and Kyte looking at it in awe, and curiosity. It was unlike anything that either of them has seen before, as it was smaller than her shuttle that she used, and lived in during her drifting days before this. So she felt that it was a starfighter of sorts. She was thinking about entering it to see how it feels to be sitting in it, but she decided against it.
What it was doing there, she didn't know, but she was bracing herself for the owner of that ship.
"What is that?" Kyte asked.
"Beats me. But we should watch out for the owner of it, and hope that we don't anger him." Krystal said.
She decided to step away, and into the center of the Hollow, when both her staff, and the spear, was drawing her attention to the northwestern point in the corner of the Hollow. So, she jogged her way there, with Kyte not far behind as they were headed there, until she came to a cave in the northern wall of the cliff, with a little hole inside that she could fall into. After having Kyte wait outside, she entered it, went through the hallway, and ended up going into a room with a pedestal in the center, much to her surprise at finding something like this here.
Before she then held up her staff, and her spear, for the pedestal to zap. Bestowing a new power for her staff when the light show ended up finishing, before she saw that one of the glyphs near the middle of the shaft of her staff, was a redder color than before. And when she pressed it, a red ball of energy was fired out of her staff, and hit the wall of the chamber. And the same could be said for the spear too.
"I never knew that this power would be unsealed from both of these weapons. I didn't even think that there would be chambers like this, that could unseal the powers of Cerinian weapons, on this Planet." She said to herself, as she wondered if there was any connection between this Planet, and her old Homeworld. But she had no answers here, and she had no time to search for some, to connect the dots. So, she just ran out of the chamber, and back outside to meet Kyte again.
"What happened in there?" Kyte asked.
"I just gained new powers for these weapons. They may be beneficial for us." Krystal said with a smile. Still thankful for finding those powers for her staff, and spear, nonetheless.
After getting back to the area of ThornTail Hollow to look around, they saw an open temple set into the cliff. It seemed like a good place to begin, so she was headed there, when she suddenly picked up two presences with her telepathy, that was headed to the Hollow, and to her direction by proxy.
One was a dinosaur, who was brimming with energy, and enthusiasm. While the other, was disciplined, and focused, and belonged to another Fox, like herself. She briefly wondered if it was a Cerinian who survived the Planet like herself, but she quickly decided that it wasn't. He didn't have the senses of a telepath, otherwise he'd sense her too. And he identifies himself as a native to a Planet known as Papetoon, but he sees another planet, known as Corneria as his home. Which was a most settled Planet in his solar system.
"Wait! Randorn said that he sent the signal towards this Corneria. Could that signal have gotten through? And did they send this person here to save it?" She thought.
Then she heard a plaintive Dinosaur groan from the direction of the Temple. Then she heard the Dinosaur shouting. "That's my ma!" He said, before she sensed him sprinting towards the temple, then dashed past her after rounding the wall, with no indication that he notices her. Much to Kyte's surprise when both of them saw that it was the EarthWalker Prince that Krystal was looking for.
Which reminded her, as she was running forward a bit. "Is that the Prince Earthwal-"
"KRYSTAL! BEHIND US!" Kyte said, alerting her of the aforementioned Fox that was also running their way, likely following the prince himself, as she hopped off, and flew a safe distance, causing Krystal to turn fast towards her back, while drawing her Staff out of defensive reflex, as the Fox was also rounding the corner, before quickly drawing his blaster too when she saw her in her stance. Putting them both in a Stand-off.
Although Fox was keeping his blaster pointed at her, he was wide eyed in astonishment. The Vixen that stood before him was oh so beautiful. Quite gorgeous beyond words! The cobalt blue fur, and the clothing she wore, which was scantily, and abbreviated, lent her an exotic air. And the jewelry, and the gold bands on her tail, added to her sexiness. Even as they were about to fight, Fox couldn't help but feel that a romantic fog was in his head as he was hoping that he could have her for a lover. Maybe even a wife, someday.
He could even imagine themselves lowering their weapons, introducing themselves, and even coming closer to each other, the Vixen putting her arms on his shoulders, while he put his arms around her back, one of which, would have his hand on her lower back, as he also stares into her sea-green eyes as their faces moves closer until they almost touch. His hands on her lower back, while her hands are on his cheeks, as his muzzle crosses the final few inches to touch hers, with her not pulling away at the contact as she too would lean closer, pressing her lips against his in a romantic kiss, before they would then-
"SNAP OUT OF IT FOX!" He thought as he slapped himself, while keeping his blaster pointed at her. "She is totally not gonna do that when we've just met! Besides, she's obviously a fighter too, and she'd skewer you with that spear if you become lecherous towards her!" He continued to say, berating himself.
All while Krystal was telepathically reading him, trying to gain an understanding of what he is, so that she'd have an advantage against him when they fight. That is, if he was an enemy. And reading his mind, she initially rolled her eyes at what he was thinking about. She was thinking about writing him off as just her average love and lust sick scoundrel, albeit one that looked cute himself, when he got his mind out of the gutter, and refocused. Then she heard him berating himself for that lust, much to her surprise.
She didn't think that she'd meet somebody like him, who would also know how wrong lusting for someone like herself, would be. And that, had her suddenly respecting him for it.
Then she read his mind to learn his what his intentions are for this world, and what she found had her respecting him more, as she lowered her weapon, much to Fox's confusion.
Before Fox could ask her why she lowered her staff however, Krystal turned, and pointed her staff when she noticed that they were set upon by at least five SharpClaws that was trying to go after them both, and slay them. "Get them both! Then take the Prince, and Princess back to Scales!" One of them commanded.
Fox though, wasn't having any of it, as he fought back against them, as he shot one of them down, before drawing the sword to slice another's head off when it tried to attack back. Before doing battle with the rest of them with his blaster, and sword.
The third one tried to swing his mace, but Fox parried that blow, before disarming the SharpClaw, then stabbing him in the chest, hitting his heart. The fourth one then tried to attack him as he stabbed into the fourth one, but Fox's blaster fire kept him occupied with the sting of his shots until he quickly pulled his sword out to defend himself from the fifth one. Which, he disarmed before bringing the fight back to the fourth one, as it fought back against him.
All while Krystal looked on in awe, as she saw that he was not on the SharpClaw's side. (Not that she doubted that he couldn't be, concerning him, and the prince.) Not only that, but she suddenly noticed the sword that Fox was using against them.
"Is that…? It is!" She thought, shocked that Fox has Sabre's sword, that she was looking for, as he was slaying the SharpClaws. And she was surprised that he seems to have found it.
All while Kyte was looking at the fight, also in awe, yet also in relief, as she was hoping that the Vulpine that was fighting the SharpClaws, was a friendly one, and not an enemy to her, or Krystal.
Whom, joined in on the fight herself after getting over her awe, as she assisted Fox in the fight against them, showing that she too is capable of fighting as she hit one of them with her staff. Much to Fox's delight as they fought together against the remaining Sharpclaws.
It was a minute, until the fight ended in their victory, as he now sheathed his sword, and holstered his blaster.
"That was amazing. I didn't think you would fight well too." Krystal said.
"Well, I was… taught how to fight from my father." Fox said, still a bit distracted with her beauty.
"Ah. And I'm guessing you're not on their side?" Krystal asked.
Fox shook his head, telling her that he isn't. Causing her to sheathe her staff too. "Then if you're not, then I guess you might be here to save this Planet too. Are you not?"
"I was sent here to do that. So yeah." He casually said to her.
At that, she was she was confident that she may have found a companion for this journey, in him. Maybe even a friend. "I'm trying to save this Planet too. Maybe we could be a team. But first, why were you running after that EarthWalker?" She asked.
Before Fox could answer, Tricky was running out of the cave that his mother was in. "Fox, come quick! Mommy's not moving, and her breathing sounds funny!" He spoke before running back in.
Fox was alarmed, regardless of his lingering fantasies of her. "I'm coming Tricky! Hold on!" He responded, before turning back to the Blue Vixen that he almost fought. "The Queen EarthWalker's hurt, and I may need to help her."
"Let me come with you then." She spoke. "Maybe I can be of help."
He wondered what she could do, and if he would indeed form a team with her, before deciding that it would be a bad idea to refuse her help. Especially since she looked this good. "Okay. I accept your help… um, what's your name?"
"I'm Krystal. This is Kyte. Princess of the CloudRunners." She said, as Kyte perched back on her shoulder, knowing that Fox isn't an enemy.
"Hello there." Kyte said.
"And you're… Fox. Correct?" Krystal asked.
"Indeed I am. I'm Fox McCloud." He responded.
"Well then, Fox McCloud. Let's see if there's anything we can do for the Queen." She spoke.
'As you wish." He said, before they both were now entering the cave. Fox was surprised at this unexpected twist that his mission ended up having, where little to nothing was going his way that well, but he didn't object to her presence here. He would keep his mind on the job, but that task may prove a little harder than expected due to Krystal's presence. But first, he was focusing on the Queen EarthWalker.
So they entered the cavern and rounded the corner where they quickly found the EarthWalker Queen still laying on the floor with Tricky near her. Causing Fox to stop in shock, causing Krystal to stop too before looking at her from around Fox's side with shock too. The look on Tricky's face was not helping as he saw that the Queen EarthWalker's health might've deteriorated, last time he saw her before his trip to Ice Mountain. Fox walked forward before kneeling by the Queen. Noticing that her breaths were labored, and her eyes were shut like she's sleeping.
"What's wrong?" Krystal asked.
"Fatigue…? Maybe?" He spoke.
"Indeed. Mom, and I fled Walled City when my father told us to. Scales attacked the city with his forces, and he brought the RedEyes with him too. Dad didn't want to chance us with them, so we fled. I got caught on the way here, but Mommy might've managed to make it all the way here when they got her." He spoke.
Krystal laid a hand on her snout, before confirming Fox's, and Tricky's thoughts. "She is indeed fatigued. And she was hurt when the SharpClaws attacked her. So both the pain, and her strain, has pushed her past the point of exhaustion. We need to help her, since at this rate, she might not recover."
"Right. Is there anything we can do to help her?" Fox asked.
All while Tricky noticed Kyte on her shoulder. And even though he initially was nervous, and standoffish of her due to being a CloudRunner, he suddenly was in a trance of sorts. Sure, he was told not to be a friend to a CloudRunner by the other EarthWalkers, especially to the princess, or queen. But for some reason, he thought that the CloudRunner looked cute to his eyes. Adorable even. And for some reason, he was making her an exception.
The same could be said for Kyte. Whom kinda thought the same for Tricky. But she wasn't planning on letting him know that.
"Hello, Tricky? Is there anything we can do?" Fox asked him, shaking him out of his trance towards Kyte.
"We need to find some White GrubTubs." He spoke. "She gave me some of them when I didn't feel well."
"Okay. Where can we find them?" Fox asked.
"The old well could be where to go." He spoke. "They're fragile than the blue ones, at least in the sun. The well is probably the only place to find them."
"Okay. Let's go then." Krystal interjected.
"Very well. Stay here, and keep an eye on her, Tricky. And give us a shout if you need anything. We'll be right back with those GrubTubs." Fox said, following her out of the cavern.
"W-Way ahead of you, Fox! I don't want to leave her, after all! And I don't know how well I could do in the well." He admitted, staying with the Queen.
After leaving the Cavern, Fox was headed to the direction of the well. "I'm coming with you down there, by the way." Krystal said.
Fox was mixed about that. On one hand, she looked nice to look at, and she seemed friendly after their stand-off ended. But on the other hand, he didn't know how capable she was, even as a fighter with her staff, even though she fought good against those SharpClaws, but there could be stronger ones that she could have major trouble with. And because her beauty could distract him at a bad moment. Like during his fight when he may end up accidentally peeking on her when her loincloth rides up.
Which Krystal noticed in his mind. "If you're worried about me, then don't. I can take care of myself. And maybe I can watch your back too."
"Well… very well. Let's go." He said, accepting her company to the well.
While Krystal had Kyte staying near the temple structure where Tricky was staying inside, as a lookout. Which she accepted.
After that, Fox was headed to the well, where he saw some sort of creature that looked to be like a flying gargoyle, as it was near the well. It looked hostile, so he was prepared to shoot it as he tried to draw his sword. Only to realize that the sword was not in his sheathe, even though he remembers putting it in there after he beat the SharpClaw. Which had him feeling nervous. "Krystal, have you seen my sword!?"
"You mean, 'my' sword?" She said, causing him to turn to see that she was holding the item in question, as she was gently cradling it as it was back in its original sheathe, as she smiled. Almost like holding a child.
Which had him widening his eyes at the realization. "So… It was you. You're the one who's voice played when I first got the sword!"
Which also had her widening her eyes when she looked at him. "The message played for you? I didn't think that… you could also be… oh well, never mind what I thought. At least, I found it again." She spoke, feeling relieved that she has the sword again. And she intends not to lose it again, until she's able to hand it to Sabre.
"Not to sound whiney. But what about me?" Fox asked.
Which caused her to look at him with an appraising eye, as she also thought for a moment. "You're so cute, I admit. I suppose I'll keep you too." She said jokingly with a teasing grin.
"What?! Wait… what I mean… is…" He stuttered out, having not expected her flirtatious, and teasing reply. Before putting himself together after a moment of blushing. "I mean, what melee weapon can I use? There could be moments where these foes could get close to knock my blaster out of my hands, and they could be tough to where my fists won't do a thing." He spoke.
"Fair point." Krystal said, before deciding to pull out the spear that she also brought along. "Maybe this will help." She said, handing her spear to him.
Which he decided to take, feeling that it was a little weightier than the sword, especially at the blade. But it felt like it was just as natural a fit to his hand. So, he wasn't minding the switch in weapons to the spear. "And I'm guessing that you love that spear in your hands too much to let me use that too?"
"You mean my staff? And indeed I do, because it is 'my' staff. Made specifically 'for me'. Same can be said for this sword. Or being precise, my brother's sword, who I'm searching for, on this Planet. And I intend to give it to him, once we reunite." She spoke. "In case you're wondering why he doesn't have it, it's because it broke during one of his training sessions, causing me to send it to a blacksmith on this Planet. And it just got recently repaired to its tip top quality, and I was just on my way to find him when my journey to saving this Planet began."
"Oh. Okay." He said, feeling corrected for his mistake of confusing her staff for a spear.
"Sure, the spear you have, can utilize the same powers that my staff, and sword, can, but it's more for someone that is focused on physical combat. So, its powers aren't as strong. And another thing. I already unsealed the fire blast on your spear. So, there's no need to return to the chamber to unseal it again." Krystal said.
Fox thanked her for that, as his head spun at the knowledge that she had of the weapons like the sword, spear, and staff. They looked like outdated, and archaic weapons. The fire blast would make them contenders for the modern weapons like his blaster. Sure, he may have gotten some kendo lessons, which might've helped in why he was pretty good with the sword, but not with a staff, or the spear that he currently has, before his travels through the Lylat system.
Which meant that Krystal, and those weapons, came from beyond Lylat. But Fox felt that he can ask where they are from, later. Right now, he had to focus on the White GrubTubs.
As he scanned the well after taking out the gargoyle, Fox realized that if those mushrooms were in dark places, then he may need a light source to help him, and Krystal see in the dark.
"We need a flashlight, or a Lantern to get in that well. And I think I know where to find it." He said, before he decided to go to the store of Shabunga's, after lifting up the rocks, to grab the Scarabs. Now they were both going into the Store, with the intention of buying the Lantern from there.
At this point, Fox felt that his journey through this Planet, was going to get more interesting from here.
And done.
Just to let you guys know, like ninjafoxshadow, I intend on ramping up the romance between Krystal, and Fox, as the story progresses. Hopefully not to the point where I need to change my rating, but just enough to have them falling in love as time passes during their journey.
And now you guys know. Sabre accidentally broke his sword while training, which is why Krystal had it when she was on her way to the Krazoa Palace. Hopefully it clears up those questions.
And also, the near fight that Krystal, and Fox got into in ThornTail Hollow, was from the same fan game trailer that Esphiran made, that I mentioned at the end of the last chapter, where we see him and Krystal in their circling stances in one shot of the trailer. And I imagine that fight got interrupted in the same way, by the SharpClaws, in that game. So, I decided to put that element in this. I just thought that it'd be a nice way on how Fox, and Krystal first meets.
Finally, one more thing.
I hope that you enjoyed the chapter,
please give constructive criticism,
And do not forget to read and review,
and once again, I do not own Star Fox or Dinosaur Planet. They are created and owned by Nintendo, and Rareware Studios. Please support the Official releases.
Theodore the Poet signing off.