Here's a brief Q And A for this chapter of this fic.
crocodilesmile55: Okay man, I'll be sure to add them in later on in the story, particularly as the group gets to Cape Claw.
Finally Disclaimer: The following is a fan-based story. 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.
Fox and Krystal continued to ride on the SnowHorn as he was walking through the blizzard, while paying attention to the markers making the path towards the Mines, that he was transporting the pair of Vulpines towards. As his thanks to them for helping him out of there when he escaped from the SharpClaws.
Which he didn't mind going through, as the cold didn't bother him compared to both Fox and Krystal if they were to end up trudging through the blizzard together, without his help. Something that had both Vulpines happy that they chose this option. Even if Krystal felt bad that they have him walking in the blizzard again as she was huddled against Fox's back, as the cold wind was blowing through their hair and fur. With the wind blowing the hair on Fox's head like grass on a windy day. While blowing Krystal's hair in all directions.
Fox felt how cold it was, which he went through before, on other snowy Planets like Fichina. And remembering Krystal talking about living in warmer climates back on her Planet, he knew that the cold of this place was more emphasized for her compared to himself.
"I apologize that you're going through this again." Krystal said.
"Oh, it's no trouble at all." The SnowHorn replied. "You assisted me in finding my way out of this blizzard. So, it's fair that I help you folks in return. Plus, knowing that you both are heroes that would be saving this world, I know that helping you both, means that I'm helping this world as well. That's why you folks are headed to the Mines, is it not?" He asked, causing them to nod. "Then you're all looking for the SpellStone. Which is in these mines. Scales hid it there and has a fearsome creature guarding it. So, you're going to have to kill it in order to gain the SpellStone."
Both Vulpines, and Kyte had a feeling that it wasn't going to be easy to grab those SpellStones, so they were bracing themselves for whatever creature they are going to fight, by the time they find it.
All while Krystal kept herself huddled against him for warmth, as her teeth were softly chattering. Despite her insulating furry parka, she was feeling the cold, while Fox was quite tolerant of the cold himself. But he wasn't going to be waiting in a blizzard for long periods.
Which made it fortunate that they were coming to the tunnel. Where the wind slackened off considerably. Making it less cold as they were not coming across another Platform that the SnowHorn was now coming to. Before he stood near it for the Vulpines and Kyte to get off of him, and get onto it, as they were all relieved to be out of the cold weather.
Now they were looking around, particularly Fox as he was having a feeling that something was wrong. "Tricky?" He called out, only for no response. "TRICKY!" He called out again, only for no response. Much to his concern.
As well as Krystal's as she was looking around at their surroundings. "I can't s-sense him nearby." She spoke nervously. "He can't be…"
"I'm certain he'll turn up soon. As long as he kept near the path, then he shouldn't be lost." The SnowHorn said, assuredly.
But Krystal wasn't going to wait for him to show himself, as she was now closing her eyes, controlling her breathing, and calmed her mind as she was in a meditative half-trance. While in this state, her sensory range increased greatly. Not close to large enough to search an entire Planet, but thankfully she didn't have to try to do so, as she was able to find the trace she was looking for.
"Fox! I found Tricky's presence. He's deeper in the mines." She spoke out in surprise and concern. "I fear that he's been captured. But thankfully he's not in pain. So I know he's okay."
Fox admittedly was annoyed at the news as he facepalmed. Not even very long into their journey into the mines, as well as into their journey for gathering the SpellStones, and Tricky needed to be rescued. Just as he predicted what could happen. But he was thankful that his whereabouts were known, and that he was at the very least, relatively safe in a prison where he can't be harmed.
As was Kyte. Who was also very relieved at what Krystal said. She didn't want to see Tricky get hurt after all. And so soon after they met, and was hoping to get to know each other more as they journey with Fox and Krystal.
Krystal sensed Fox's annoyance, but in this case, he had a reason to be annoyed, since he knew this could happen. So, she understood where he was coming from. "Try not to blame him, Fox." She softly said. "He didn't mean to get caught. The SharpClaw just took an opportunity to take him while he's separated from us. But we'll ensure not to make that mistake again after we save him."
Fox understood. Knowing that Krystal is right. Tricky probably tried his best to either fight them off, or hide, but they were too much for him. Now they must save him. So Fox was determined to do so, as was Krystal as they were heading to the mines.
Then he saw another gate ahead of them. Which he knew what to do to take it down. "Hey, big guy. Can you…" He said, gesturing to the gate.
"Oh, definitely. Allow me." He said, before he was soon pounding his tusks into the gate. It took a few hits until it broke down, under his might. To give them a way to continue onwards. "Cheerio, and best of luck on your journeys within those mines." He said, retracing his steps on his path back to safety.
Krystal took the lead as they entered, keeping her senses ready for any ambushes that the SharpClaws could do to them.
Which was a good thing that she did, as they saw a pair of SharpClaws near another life force barrier that was between them, and an entrance to the DarkIce Mines. While they were around a campfire, and they were near a Red Grubtub. Knowing that they were fearsome in combat, both Fox and Krystal chose to fight the individual ones.
Fox took one out with the Demon Rifle, shooting him between the eyes when he turned around to see what was going to happen, but couldn't react soon enough, while Krystal dispatched the other one with some strikes from her staff, beginning with a little feint to his ribs, before swinging her staff down on his head before he could react, as the metal end struck him in the temple. All while using her telepathy to predict his moves as he swung his mace, which she evaded by ducking underneath, before parrying another swing from it. Before finishing him off with a strike from the middle of the staff, before striking the back of his neck. Leaving him in a curb-stomp battle in Krystal's favor.
Once the life force barrier was gone after their demise, they continued onwards, with Krystal looking around for anymore SharpClaws for them to clobber. While they all avoided the Red Grubtub
What they then saw instead though, was a hover bike vehicle, just like the one Fox has ridden on to chase after the SharpClaws that chased after Tricky back on Ice Mountain.
"I bet you my credits, or at least twenty scarabs that this bike's path leads to DarkIce Mines." Fox said, guessing where the path that the hover bike vehicle is on, goes. "And it seems, that we're gonna be take a ride on this thing." He said, getting on the hoverbike to check on its systems. Seeing that it was operational, and functional.
Krystal agreed with him, feeling that the path has to lead to the DarkIce Mines. Though she was a little worried about Fox on the hover bike. "Have you ridden on this thing before?" She asked.
"Oh yes. I have ridden on this, when I was on Ice Mountain, when I was saving Tricky from a few SharpClaws." Fox said casually. "So, I know my way around this thing." He spoke confidently.
Reading his mind, Krystal knew he was telling the truth about having rode on it, so she took his word for it. Though she did see him end up wrecking out the previous bike when he ended up zooming through the canyon back in Ice Mountain, only to fall into the Spring when he couldn't slow down soon enough. So, a part of her was dreading to see that happen, especially since she would be his passenger.
"Are you sure?" She asked dubiously.
Fox nodded. Ensuring that he is learning from his first ride, particularly the fall into the springs. "Trust me. I know what I'm doing. Just hold onto me, and we'll be fine. Okay?" He said.
Krystal was soon getting on, behind his back after some hesitating. Due to hoping that he won't crash this one out next. Before nodding to him that she's ready after wrapping her arms around his middle, under his chest. Ensuring that she is secured to him, though the feeling of her breasts on his back was making him blush. But he kept his focus.
And soon, Fox was pressing the acceleration pedal, as the bike was soon going off through the cave with Kyte following behind, able to keep up as the bike was zooming on through the cave.
Fox was going pretty fast on the bike as Krystal held onto him from behind, as they zoomed through the passageway in the cave. Making some slight winding through the path that Fox followed just so he won't be hitting or grazing the cave walls, as well as the arches that held up the walls and the ceiling, as he kept on moving fast that the walls were a blur. Just not too fast if he'll be unable to slow down, and brake once they reach the end of their path.
Soon, they were at the end of the cave they were in as Fox was drifting left, where they soon saw the end of the cave, but they both saw a wooden wall that was nailed together. Much to Krystal's horror. "FOX, WATCH OUT FOR THAT-"
But Fox knew he wasn't able to stop in time, so he kept going, in hopes that the wall would get knocked over, or be weak enough for them to burst through and out of the tunnel they were in without too much of a scratch. Fortunately, the former happened, as the bike knocked it down, before they hovered over it, as they got outside.
Which was much to Fox's relief that his risk was paying off here, as well as Krystal's, as that was scary to crash and explode against the wall for both of them. "A little warning next time, Fox?!" She telepathically spoke seriously, not appreciating the scare.
"Sure! I'll keep that in mind!" He called back, not wanting to tick her off as he kept zooming, as they were now in a valley. While noting that she was speaking in his mind. Which, after hearing of her telepathy, he wasn't surprised about. He just hoped that she won't scan his mind for any errant naughty thought that he could have towards her, in the future.
They were now in the valley. Which looked quite familiar to Krystal, like they were walking through this valley before. Sure enough, it was the valley they were in while finding the Alpine Roots for the Snowhorn, to give them a way in. And now they were zooming on through it.
It was an interesting coincidence that they were here, before they were soon continuing through the valley, hoping not to hit any snow boulders on the way through, or let them hit their bike as Fox kept zooming on through the whole narrow valley. Ensuring that should another boulder be coming, he would out-speed it and get to the other end of the valley.
Fortunately for them, so far none of the boulders were chasing them, much to Krystal's relief. But Fox kept going fast, just to ensure that a boulder won't crush them if there is one that chases them.
Fox kept the pedal pressed, as the walls of the valley passed by in a blur. And Krystal actually found herself enjoying the sensation of the speed that Fox was going in, despite the situation. Fox's eyes were squinted against the wind, so that they don't have any snow from the path getting in his eyes. Which was why Krystal was seeing the gap first. Which she saw, was the gap that the boulders fall into.
"Fox?!" She called out nervously.
"I know!" He said, telling her that he sees the gap. "Hold on!" He said, hunkering down for less wind resistance, before accelerating towards the gap. Then once they were close, he pulled up to make the nose of the hover bike go up. Giving them the position to keep on going once they make it to the other end of the gap, and entered the cave.
Once inside, Fox slowed down a little bit but kept moving fast through the cave path while Krystal was feeling exhilarated at the maneuver that Fox has done. Feeling thankful that he was being a good pilot with the bike. While the walls of the tunnel continued to move by them in a blur. Fox kept moving fast, but made sure not to keep going fast, as he slowed down so that he won't crash into the walls of the tunnel. While also knowing that since no one was racing them, he had no reason to keep going very fast.
The tunnel was very dim, with torch lights moving at a blurry speed past them to illuminate the cave, as he continued through the tunnel, turning through the winding tunnel that winded a bit, making him turn to avoid crashing. But it continued to go down, showing that he's headed deeper and downwards on the right path.
Then he was soon in a bigger section of the cave, before he was soon back in the narrow section of the cave, where they were hearing some new sounds. Sounds that sounded like machinery, and rolling boulders going along paths that guided them to who knows where. Giving them an idea that they were indeed going towards the Mines.
The air was also getting warmer for them, to the point that they felt the heat in their suits, where once they are off the ride, they are taking off their coats to prevent toasting in there.
Soon, the hover bike was leaving the tunnel, where they were seeing that they were in a cavern full of pillars, machinery and even fire. Which they barely seen as Fox looked at the scenery for a second alongside Krystal, before looking back to his path of travel where they saw that the path they were on took a hard left. Which he took, before looking ahead to see some fire spouts behind a railing. Which he saw, was dead ahead of them, as they were headed to the walkway's railing. And at a pretty fast speed at that.
Which had Krystal yelping in surprise and terror, as Fox looked on in shock, as he hoped that he won't be crashing.
So he was quick to press the brake throttle as he was soon trying to grind the bike to a halt. While Krystal was wincing at the thought of them crashing into the railing that could cause the bike to end up crashing. Which, seeing the railing coming closer and closer, seeing it at a slant like it could've been used as a ramp, it seemed like they were about to crash. Seeing it get closer, and closer to them.
Which had them both closing their eyes, wincing and bracing themselves for a crash due to running out of room on the path, causing them to crash into the railing. Which could force them to jump out.
But the crash didn't come. Which had them feeling some relief and curiosity as they opened their eyes, before they soon saw that the railing of the walkway they were now on, was inches away from the bike. Which was now stopped due to Fox's brake.
Much to their relief as both Vulpines got off the bike as Kyte roosted on one of the rails. Looking relieved as they were.
"Whew. Thank goodness you were good with your brakes. Otherwise, we could've sailed off to our doom." Krystal said.
"Thank goodness indeed." Fox said, as they were looking around. Feeling relieved that he didn't crash this one out next.
Krystal on the other hand, also felt relieved, while remembering reading his thoughts about his previous ride going a little awry. Which made her feel that if they weren't lucky this time, she would be the one driving the hover bikes around next. For now, they were both looking around beyond the walkway they were on.
But first, they were taking off their coats. Putting Fox back in his uniform, while Krystal was back in her abbreviated clothing. Again, much to Fox's hidden delight. Though he was blushing when he remembered Krystal's ability.
"You're hoping that you'll see me in this more often, Fox~?" She teasingly asked, indeed reading his mind. Making him blush.
Knowing her telepathy, he knew that it'd be a bad idea to deny it, when it is true. So, he briefly nodded, before quickly looking over the DarkIce Mines, seeing the conveyer belt that was just below them on the walkway, along with some flames being shot out on the same conveyer belt, before seeing that a way into the mines was through there. Which suited them just fine, before he was soon looking over the bike with her.
"It's a shame that we might not be able to keep this for the rest of our journey through the Mines, and even out of the Mines. This thing sure beats running around on the Planet for long distances." He said, changing the subject before she could tease him some more.
"I agree." She spoke, admittedly looking forward to driving it herself, if Fox decides to let her. "Maybe your ship could carry it, despite its sleek looks?"
"It could. If it had a magnet attachment to carry stuff with." He responded in dismay. Only for his face to light up, as he was soon digging into his inventory.
"Let's see, where is it again? I know I still have it." He thought, which she heard, due to her telepathy.
"What? What is it?" She asked, curious about what Fox was going to use.
Which was then shown to her as she was seeing a device that Fox pulled out of his own inventory. Which he then put on the hoverbike, causing it to stick to it like its a magnet.
Before she could ask what it is though, Fox was soon contacting his team on his Comms. "Slippy, do you read me?" He asked as a hologram of Slippy appeared.
"Yes Fox. What is it?" He asked curiously.
"You remember that FULTON device that we used before in the past? Well, I'm putting it to use right now, so I'm contacting the Great Fox to let you know." He spoke with delight. While Krystal stared on confused.
Slippy's eyes widened at what he said. "The FULTON?! Wow, it's been a while since we last used it." He said, both shocked and delighted. "What are you taking to the Great Fox?"
"A hover bike that I just put a tracking beacon on." He spoke, smiling. "This thing is fast, and it looks like it could carry three passengers. Plus, it could make a great sale in Corneria, after this mission. So can you take it?"
At that, Slippy was typing on the console, as the sounds of typing was passing through. "According to the radar, you're on one of the pieces of the Planet. I guess your objective is there?" He asked while continuing to type.
"Yep." He responded, as Slippy nodded in confirmation before continuing.
"Almost… got it!" Slippy said in delight.
Then suddenly, as if on cue, the device's light lit up near them on the bike, activating its beacon. Then much to her surprise, a rift suddenly appeared over the hover bike, before the bike then suddenly faded into a dozen pixels that got sucked into the rift along with the FULTON device that tracked it, before the rift then faded away.
"There. The bike is now in the Great Fox's inventory bay. Ready to be deployed back to you, once you drop a tracker." Slippy said.
"Thanks, Slippy." He spoke. "By the way, is Fay and Miyu back?"
"Negative." Slippy said. "But they're indeed on their way. So you can expect them to be back with the Great Fox later. Probably after you get back to the Planet itself."
"That's good to know. Fox out." He said as he ended the communications there. Before he was looking around some more, for any SharpClaws where they're going.
"What was that?!" Krystal asked, surprised at seeing the bike fading away.
"Oh? That's the FULTON device. It basically gets planted on anything, and once the coordinates gets punched in, it sends the desired item to the Great Fox, where we keep it in there until we can deploy it." He explained casually. "I didn't think we'd get to use it again after a while. But here we are."
Krystal was amazed at the technology and its prowess that the Great Fox had. She didn't think that Fox would have more surprises up his sleeve after seeing the Demon Rifle. But she was proven wrong. And she was feeling more thankful that Fox was her companion. As if he wasn't, then she probably could've been outmatched due to his tech advantage. And that fact made her nervous.
But she kept her mind in the now, which was having Fox for her ally. And that relieved her. "You're full of surprises." She admits.
"Thanks." He said delighted, taking it as a compliment. Before he was soon looking over the rail, scouting out the conveyer belt with the fire. "This looks like the way to the Mines." He said, while looking over the connecting area, for any SharpClaws. Which there are a few. "There's a few of them in the area. So let's get ready."
Krystal obliged as she drew her staff, while Fox was drawing his sword. But not before he pulled out his Demon Rifle to shoot down a few of the SharpClaws to weaken their numbers. Before deciding to store his rifle to save the other shots against the others later, particularly the stronger ones. Right now, the group in the mines should be manageable to fight hand to hand with Krystal.
Then, they jumped off the walkway into the conveyer belt, where they each were jogging on it to stay in place so that they don't end up getting caught on fire. Or Fox was, as Krystal was standing on it with her staff drawn.
Then just as Fox was calling out for her, asking what she was doing, she crouched, before holding her staff up as a shield appeared around her from the staff. Which blocked the fire from catching her, as she patiently crouched until she got past all of the fire sprays. Before she was soon off the belt, and was now on land as she fought against the SharpClaws that were still patrolling, with them wondering why a few of them fell.
Fox wasn't far behind as he was getting off the conveyer belt before he joined her in fighting the SharpClaws.
Where he shot against a few of them while swinging his sword against one of them, as Krystal swung her staff against the others, while using her fire blast to also keep the others at bay, before easily parrying another mace swing from one of them. Before swinging her staff to take one of them down.
Her telepathy was then put to use as she was reading the SharpClaw, but then she felt a presence under the ground that she then thought was familiar. And it was headed towards Fox as he fought with his sword.
"FOX! Jump towards your back!" She called out before parrying a blow from one of the SharpClaws before he could ambush her, due to her telepathy warning her.
Fox obeyed due to the alarm in her voice, as he shot at the SharpClaw with his blaster to hold him back. Which was fortunate, as another Snaplak popped up out of the ground, trying to claw or bite him. But he shot it between the eyes a few times to finish it off before fighting the other SharpClaws, parrying their mace swings with his sword before kicking one to stun him before slicing his neck to finish him off.
Kyte assisted with her fire breath, breathing a jet on the other few SharpClaws that had yet to fight Krystal or Fox, and even breathed a few on the fighting ones to distract and harm them to give Fox and Krystal an advantage, though she kept herself flying above them at a little distance where they can't reach her.
Once the fight was done after a minute, the group recuperated for a moment. "Thanks for the alert on the Snaplak. That's a dirty trick to have one waiting to ambush us as we fought them." Fox said.
"Well, the SharpClaws don't really fight with honor, though I wonder why they have some Snaplaks allied with them, considering that they think the Snaplaks are inferior." Krystal said, feeling that the Snaplaks couldn't have aligned with the SharpClaws.
Either way, they hoped that they won't meet that team up again as they were wandering around the Mine together, while Kyte was able to take some blue GrubTubs to restore her strength, as they were now on the move as they were searching for any clue on where they could go next.
"What was that, by the way? I saw you hold up your staff, and then suddenly, some sort of shield appeared and protected you from those fires." Fox said, remembering the shield power she used.
"All Cerinian weapons like my Staff, has an ability to project a nearly impenetrable shield over the wielder. Like I did, to save some time going through the conveyer belt." Krystal said. "Your sword and Spear can do the same."
"Huh. I'm just glad that you didn't turn into barbecue." Fox said, relieved.
"So am I." She said, also relieved as she smiled at Fox, while knowing what a barbecue is through reading his mind, as they both continued to look around.
First, they saw a ramp, which they decided to go up, as they were soon at the top, where they were soon at the point where a metallic wall-like door was, as they spied a crawl space inside it.
Which was a short crawl through, as they each crawled through it to the other side, where they saw a couple rock boulders rolling on a track. Thankfully, they rolled in a path on the track that they weren't in the way of, as the boulders missed them.
"They look like awful news. Let's hope that they don't crush us." Fox said, as he and Krystal prepared to run. "Could our shields stand up to those things?" He asked curiously.
She nodded with a smile. "Yes. So in case we can't get out of the way of one of them, then our shield should be able to block them and make them roll to the side." She said as they scanned over the track, much to Fox's delight.
Fortunately, there were a few open alcoves for them to squeeze into to protect them from the boulders. So they quickly dashed to them, while waiting for the boulders to pass before dashing to another one, before they saw another alcove that was unfortunately blocked by a jet of fire, but fortunately they saw a sun button. Which Krystal quickly blasted with the fire blast to push it, causing the jet of fire to end up fading away. Exposing a box behind it, which was metal, and had a hole on its side.
Knowing that it's an unlockable hole, Krystal soon put her staff in the hole, and then turned it to unlock the box. Which had a key that was in it.
They decided to take the key. Feeling that if they find Tricky, and he's in a cell, then the key can be used. "Let's hope that this could free him." Fox said. With Krystal in agreement.
They ended up seeing that the track ended right there with a little ramp that launched the rocks off. But looking like a dead end for them, they retreated back the way they came. Especially since Fox and Krystal was hearing a voice echoing. And it was starting to come from where they left.
"Could it be him?" Fox asked.
Krystal ended up concentrating again, using her telepathy to find the direction of the voice. Which fortunately, was in the direction that they were heading towards. "Yes. He must be over there." Krystal said, relieved that they were able to quickly find where Tricky is.
Before they got back in the first chamber after crawling through the crawl space in the metallic door. Before going down the ramp to the ground level.
Soon, they entered through a cave doorway that led deeper into the mines after finding it, where they jogged into the cave path, as they fought and killed another SharpClaw grunt that was in their way, trying to stop them, but couldn't due to their 2v1 advantage.
Soon they were in another large room after leaving the little cave path that they took down the SharpClaw, where they were seeing a few more pillars, each of which billowed out fire.
That was when Fox was hearing the voice much more clearly, and that had his ears perking up. "Shh! Do you hear that?" Fox asked Krystal. Who also quieted down.
Sure enough, a voice echoed in the cavern. A very familiar one at that. "HELLO! IS ANYBODY THERE?!"
Kyte scouted out the voice ahead upon Krystal's request, hoping to see that it's Tricky that was yelling as she flew over a series of circular platforms connected to pillars, that were over a smoldering lava pit, each pillar of which, billowed out jets of fire in circles. Before flying into a cave doorway that they could see behind the pillars. Then she was coming back after a moment of scouting inside, with her eyes looking bright. "It's him! He's indeed okay. But he's in a cell!" She spoke.
"Are there any SharpClaws near it?" Fox asked.
"Nope. So we should have a straight shot to him. We just n-need to get past those fire jets." Kyte responded, referring to the circular platforms.
"We'll be careful. Thanks for the warning." Krystal said, appraising Kyte for scouting out the danger, with Fox doing the same.
Soon, they were on the move as they each went on the path that were on the platforms, with both Vulpines running where the fires were billowing in circles, which in their case was to their left, so they were quick to run to the path that continued onwards as they were soon running on the path to another platform that also billowed out fire. Which they also ran around on, until they got to the path that led to the cliff that led to the doorway, leading into the chamber, where they saw a pair of locks with levers near them. One golden, one silver. The latter of which, matched the key they have. All while Kyte was following them inside.
They kept them in mind as they got to another doorway that led to a hallway, which they guessed led to the cell room. So after running, they soon saw another doorway, that led to the room with the cells. Where after running, they saw that in the last cell, Tricky was inside.
"Guys! It's you! Thank goodness!" Tricky said happily. "I'm so sorry that I got caught. I got lost in the blizzard when I ran ahead, then they found me and put me in here!"
"You're okay. Tricky." Krystal said assuredly. Telling her that they aren't upset that he ran ahead. "We found a key on the way here. Maybe this could unlock this cell?"
After being shown the key, Tricky smiled as he nodded. "That's the key that one of the guards used to lock me in!"
That was good to hear for both Fox and Krystal, as they were quickly going back to the room with the colored levers, while Kyte stayed in the cell room before using the silver key to unlock the lever which they pulled down.
After hearing some noises of a door opening. They returned to the cell room, where they saw a cute scene of Tricky and Kyte hugging each other, or specifically Kyte hugging him with her wings. While nuzzling each other out of relief that both of them are okay, and were not harmed by the kidnapping.
"Thank you, guys, for getting me out of that stinky cell." Tricky said, happy to be out. "By the way, you're not going to believe this, but as I was being put in my cell, I found where Garunda's daughter is held."
He said, before pointing to the neighboring cell that was next to his. Which showed that inside it, was a Snowhorn. Who was moving around but wasn't responding even if they were yelling for her. Which meant that they have to open her cell as well, considering that she is probably sleeping, and won't be waking up since she thinks they are SharpClaws.
So, they were quick to go back to the room with the levers, where Krystal was at the gold lever lock. "Could this key work for that one?" She asked, taking the silver key out of the lock that they put it into to free Tricky.
"I doubt it." Fox said. "If that key can go in that silver lock, then that must mean only the gold key can go in that lock to unlock her cell." He then said, knowing that the key couldn't unlock her cell.
It made sense to Krystal, even if she hoped that he could be proven wrong. But she knew the key they used couldn't work. "Tricky. Is there anything else that you learned about while you were locked up? And could it involve a gold key?"
Tricky brightened up again. "Actually, yes. While I was being escorted to my cell, I heard that there is a Key in an ice tunnel. Maybe it could be that gold key to her cell that they're referring to."
"Really? Can you show us?" Fox said, hopeful that Tricky was right.
Sure enough, after getting past the same pillars with jets of fire, which luckily for them had a shortcut for them to take to get back to the beginning area faster, though they still had a near miss along the way that had their fur raising up, then got back through the cave path to the first room in the Mines with the conveyer belt, the reunited group saw the icy cave mouth, seeing that the heat from the Mines isn't reaching the room where the cold air of DarkIce Mines' outside section was moving into the room that they were entering, before they were soon seeing a little wall of ice in the room. All Fox could gather, is that the SharpClaws tried to dig themselves a storage room, but the cave-in of snow ended up burying the SharpClaws underneath due to their lack of mining experience, and sealed off the other section of the room in ice, due to the collision of the icy cold air, and the humid warm air of the deeper section of the Mines. It could explain why the gold key should be in that room on the other end of the ice wall.
"Stand back guys, this could get hot." Tricky said, as he and Kyte were soon facing the wall. Then soon, they both blew a pillar of flames at the ice wall.
Which made short work of the ice wall, being able to blast a hole through it despite how thick the ice was, where they soon had a look at what was on the other side in the room. In that room on the other side, a gold key was there. But the hole wasn't big, but it was no problem as both Fox and Krystal were soon using their staff and spear like an ice pick on the hole, in order for it to be big enough for them to crawl through it. So that they can have Kyte and Tricky save their strength to use their flame for later.
After getting the key, after a brief cuddle together when Fox and Krystal inadvertently went through the crawl space at the same time without knowing, much to the former's embarrassment, they soon got the gold key, before returning back to the same room with the pillars and the jets of fire billowing out. Which they were not keen on going through again, as they reluctantly ran their way through the paths again, barley avoiding the fire that could've made a barbeque out of Fox or Krystal, until they made it back to the cliff path leading into the dungeon cell rooms. All while Tricky was too small, so he didn't worry as much about being burnt to a crisp by the same jets as he simply ducked lower when the jets were almost getting to him. And Kyte simply flew over the whole
"I hope this is the last time we'll be avoiding those things." Fox said in annoyance. Which Krystal couldn't help but agree with him on.
At least they made it back to the room with the gold and silver lever locks. Which they used the gold key on the former as they were soon hearing a door opening. And soon they jogged their way to the cell where the Snowhorn was at.
She didn't move at the sound of the door opening though, so Fox and Krystal were moving around her. "Hello there."
Upon hearing the voice, her eyes were widening after opening up when she saw that it wasn't the SharpClaws that were talking to her. "Who are you?"
"I'm Fox McCloud. This is Krystal, and this is Tricky the Prince of the EarthWalkers. And that's Kyte the Princess of the CloudRunners. We were sent here by the gatekeeper to find the SpellStone." Fox responded to her.
"My name is Belina Te; the Gatekeeper is my father." She said, looking hopeful according to her eyes as she spoke. "Has dad sent you here to find me too?"
"Fortunately, yes." Fox said, remembering what Garunda Te said. "He told us to find the SpellStone, but to look out for you as well. Regardless of him saying that you dishonored the wishes of the Gatekeepers, by telling Scales of the SpellStone, he still loves you."
As upset and angered as she was to hear that about the Gatekeepers, when it came to the SpellStone, she was relieved that her father still loves her, according to Fox. "Thank goodness. And thank you for telling me." She said gratefully to Fox. "I just wish that Dad would understand that I had to! If we fought back, Scales would've slaughtered all of us! If it wasn't for my father being a Gatekeeper, none of this would've happened!" She said angrily. But she didn't show any malice or even a shred of dislike towards either of them. While Krystal was feeling bad for Belina, considering what she was going through.
"And trust me, we understand your point!" Fox said assuredly. "It probably wasn't a winnable battle, so you had no choice. And I'm sure Garunda is understanding that too by now. But listen, we need to find a way to the SpellStone. Can you help us get to it?"
Belina thought about it, after calming down after what Fox said. "The SpellStone is at the bottom of the Mine. Scales put it there after taking it and enslaving us." She explained.
"Can you help lead us to that place?" Krystal asked.
After some thinking, Belina started to have a determined look in her eyes as she backed up towards the cell door entrance. "I can definitely do that. Stand aside, I think I know where that wall leads." She said, then she made a bellow, before she was soon rushing towards the rocky wall, after Krystal took Fox's hand to lead him aside, as the latter guessed that she was going to rebound off the wall with one hell of a headache. But with a hard charge, she broke through it with her head, breaking the wall completely, as the pieces of the surprisingly thin sheet of rock were falling around her as she charged ahead, and continued on through a tunnel behind the cell. After Belina had gone a fair way in, the ceiling collapsed down behind her, cutting her off from the two foxes and one Earthwalker that had freed her from her prison.
All while the group were hunkered down once the rocks collapsed, thankfully not on them in the cell, until the dust settled. Before Fox crept around the corner. "Bellina! Are you okay?!" He asked.
"I'm fine! But listen, you all must find a way to the bottom of the mine! I'll meet you there!" She spoke back before moving off, making footsteps that faded off into the distance.
"Well, that didn't go too badly." Fox said, referring to the cave-in that happened as he looked at the pile of rocks.
"How do you suppose we can get to the bottom though?" Krystal asked, also looking at the rock pile that Belina left behind.
"Beats me-" Fox tried to say.
"Hey guys! There's a way through here!" Tricky piped in, making them turn to see Tricky near the cracks on the soft looking snow wall, that looked like a crawlspace could be made in the dirt wall that was left behind after Belina's charge through the wall.
So, after Tricky dug the way through, Fox went first, then Krystal did through the crawl space, until they were in a cooler part of the mines with a cold waterfall. Thankfully though, it wasn't cold enough, so they didn't need to put their coats back on.
They were soon going up to the higher section of the room, where using the booster power in Krystal's staff, and Fox's spear, they were soon at the top where the current headed to the waterfall, where they saw a bunch of large stalactites hanging from the ceiling. And they looked like they could be used to make a bridge to the other side, by jumping to the other side through each of them.
"Let's knock them down, see if we can use them to get across that river." Fox said.
Seeing that the stalactites are the only way across, they both were shooting down the icicle stalactites to make a bridge of ice platforms that grew from the dropped icicles, much to their surprise. But they quickly got over them, to get to the other side of the river. Where after they got an ice block to drop down into the lower river, they used it to get to the cave, where they went through a passage that went downwards, where they were soon in a room where they saw a pressure button on the floor, and a wooden elevator that led up to the second floor above them that they could see through the floor grate.
At first, they thought that they would be forced to separate again by having either Fox or Krystal hold down the pressure plate. But they then saw that a rock was on the floor, giving them a quick idea of what they could do with it as they got down, before pushing the rock onto the pressure plate.
Then soon, the wood elevator descended downwards. Giving them a ride upwards. With Fox and Krystal in it together. "Tricky, can you push that rock off the pressure plate?" Fox asked.
Tricky obliged, as he was strong enough to push the rock off the plate, showing that he was stronger than he looks, for a small EarthWalker. Before both Fox and Krystal were soon going up with Kyte following them up to the second floor.
Where there was a SharpClaw on the second floor, who was also a grunt that caught them, and fought against them. But like the last SharpClaw, he was no match for either of them in a 2v1 fight.
After taking him down, Fox and Krystal saw that he dropped a key, which they took into their hands. Before they were now back onto the elevator that was going down when Tricky stood on the pressure plate on their command.
Then soon, they were opening the door with the key, where they had to go through a long passage way, where after they patiently waited for a boulder to pass, they ran to the room with a lava pit, where after that, they had to go through a dark cave path that forced them to use a firefly from their jar, to light their way through as they jogged through the dark cave path. Feeling thankful that they still have fireflies left in their jar to use.
It wasn't too long, until the tunnel path led to a jumping room, where they each shot a sun button with their fire blasts to give them a way over the pits by jumping their way onto the platforms that rose up for them to stand on, over the seemingly bottomless pit that was below them. Which they took to go to the next section of land that they would traverse until they got to the next room in the cave passage.
Where once in the next room, and after looking around to get a feel for what to do in the room, they climbed up a wall that was climbable till they got to the top section of the room, where they broke a couple boxes to get a key that they needed to unlock the door that they knew led them through the passage, leading them to a lava chamber that they saw, had a tunnel path that was on the other side of the large lava lake-like pool that was in the way.
At first, Fox looked around, hoping to see if he could make some stone platforms for them to jump across to the other side. But Krystal started to have an idea, as she saw some snowy boulders that rolled on the track above the lava pool.
Krystal shot the sun button to drop each of the snow boulders into the pool, to cool off the lava, giving them a floor to run on, to help them cross their way to the other side. Which Fox admits, was a clever idea.
And it worked, despite Fox wondering how a few large snow boulders could cool off the lava pool, since he felt that the heat from the pool should've caused the boulders to be melting from being close to it. But he didn't dare question it, since it worked.
He thanked Krystal for that idea. Before they continued on their way through the long passage through the DarkIce Mines.
They hoped that they're getting closer to where Belina could be going at this point as they were continuing to jog.
Until, Krystal stopped Fox as she raised a hand as a warning signal as they were going down a slanted ramp. "Wait! Up ahead… There are some Sharpclaws around the next bend; over three of them, I think. We'll have to take them out before we can get any farther."
Fox pulled out his sword, ready for battle. "Let's take them on then." He said, flourishing the sword a little. "Do you know where they are positioned?"
"Not for sure. But I know they are in one group." She spoke, as she drew her gold staff. "Ready when you are, Fox."
That was enough for Fox to look forward, getting a bead on the SharpClaws, before he was soon charging ahead with his sword with Krystal close behind. With him soon catching one off guard with a sword swing, disarming the SharpClaw of his Mace. Making it easy for him to fight although the SharpClaw fought back anyway, trying to slash him with his claws and teeth, which Fox kept avoiding before he soon jumped high up and kicked him in the face, before stabbing him between the neck and shoulder to end the fight after he fell onto his back. Then Fox was soon fighting the next, while Krystal was fighting the other one. Who had a sword of his own, being different from the other SharpClaws, but he couldn't match her since he isn't as good as Fox is with a sword.
He swung, but he missed as she dodged it, as she swung back, but as if luck was on his side, the SharpClaw was able to dodge the swing by jumping towards his back. He soon tried to get the next hit on her with a charge, before she could react to the surprise maneuver he made, but it was not enough as her telepathy warned her of his charge attack, causing her to roll aside before he could swing it, being more than nimble to avoid the attack that the grunt could make. After that, he swung again, but she parried the blow in a way to make him stab the sword into the ground by mistake, before countering with a devastating strike to his shoulder, then quickly making another strike with her staff across his face, breaking his teeth as he was soon sprawled out on the ground, dead from the strike that cracked his skull.
The third grunt though, as they fought the remaining ones, went after Tricky, trying to go after him to either kill him and demoralize the group, or take him hostage and force them to surrender. Unfortunately for him, instead of running, Tricky was instead staying his ground, before he and Kyte ended up breathing out a jet of flame against him as the latter still flew.
Which not only burnt him up enough to wound him, but also make him panic, likely since he didn't expect this kind of resistance from them, causing him to run away into the next room in the cave in a panic, which led to a conveyer belt walkway in another room, which had a railing that was low enough for him to trip over it, and fall to his doom. Much to Tricky and Kyte's amusement at seeing that. "Hmph! Trap me in a dirty, stinky cage, would you?" He snidely said to the Sharpclaw. Much to Kyte's amusement, as well as the other group after they were done with the SharpClaw.
After the combat was over with, the group kept on moving through the passage, after going through the aforementioned conveyer belt where there was a bunch of fire jets, which they both used their shields on their staff and spear to block. Before they got into another descending passage.
Once at the bottom, they heard some footsteps of a Snowhorn, which had them turning to see that Belina Te was there, meeting them. "Guys! You made it!"
"It was pretty long. But we're able to get here." Fox said.
"How nice to hear that." Belina said, before looking at them with some contrition in her eyes. "Sorry about how I reacted when I was told about my father. It was probably out of line."
"We forgive you." Krystal said. "It was probably the toughest decision you've made. But your people lives. And that's what matters."
"And once we're done here, your people will be soon free as well." Fox said with conviction in his eyes. Being keen on freeing the enslaved SnowHorns from the SharpClaws.
Which had Belina feeling happy to hear that after she shed some tears. "Thanks. Anyways, up ahead is where the Spellstone is. My father didn't say exactly where it was, but he knows that General Scales has hidden it here. And I'm certain that it's in this bottom of the DarkIce Mines, in that direction." She said, pointing to the doorway behind them with her trunk. "But there are two things you both must be prepared for."
"What is it?" Fox asked.
"I heard from some SharpClaws on my way to my cell, that a lava moat blocks the way to the doorway to the chamber where the SpellStone is. I think that you both could use an explosive to make a bridge that can help you straight to that door leading to the chamber. Which leads to the second part. If you get there after that, you have to face off against the creature known as Galadon." She explained.
"Galadon? Is that the name of that guy? Or are they a species?" Fox asked.
"I'm certain that it's the former. And I haven't seen what it looks like in person, but according to the SharpClaws, it's a huge, and dangerous creature. Not to mention ugly. So, you both must be prepared to face off against it, in order to gain the SpellStone." Belina then said. Which made Krystal feel a tad nervous alongside Tricky and Kyte. Any creature that is described as huge by a SnowHorn, has to be an enormous creature that is bound to be hard to beat.
But Fox was able to calm them down with his determination. "There is a saying that I heard back on my planet. The bigger they are, the harder they fall." He spoke. "Everyone has to have a weakness. We just need to find it. Either way, thank you for the warning." Fox said appraisingly to Belina. "And we'll be sure to tell your father that you're alive and well, if we meet him again."
That pleased Belina to know that, as she gave them her thanks before they were soon running into the cave room with the pillars, where they saw a few things. The first being that there was a rock door that was on the other side of a wide enough lava moat gap that looked impossible for any of them to leap past, other than Kyte. Then there was a couple Red GrubTubs that were around, much to their dismay. Then there were also pillars that held up what could be immeasurable tons of rock up above them. And then there was a ladder leading up to the higher section of the room.
Which they hoped, could contain something that could help make them a bridge past the lava moat leading to the chamber. Though Fox sees that up the ladder, was a spiral ramp, which had barrels that went down the ramp, that exploded. And that was leaving him quite annoyed and dismayed to know that going up there could be the only way to find where they can find a way to the chamber where the SpellStone should be.
Fox knew that it was probably going to be an annoying time to be him right now, as he was headed to the ladder, while Krystal was a bit amused to see him annoyed, but she understood how he felt.
So both Vulpines were scaling up the ladder together with Fox leading the way as they got up, while leaving Belina and Tricky on the ground since they had no way of going up too, while Kyte flew up with them before roosting on any safe places on the railings on the walkways above, then they both moved up the ramp that led them upwards while avoiding the rolling explosive barrels that rolled by them. Which honestly wasn't so hard, due to Fox scanning the direction of where they would roll downwards on the ramp, causing them to miss both of them. Soon, they were at the top, where they saw a bridge that led them to a cave where the boulders were rolling. As well as a ramp that led upwards.
"Not those things again." Both Fox and Krystal groaned at seeing the boulders, though they were amused at each other's reactions to them, since they agree with each other's sentiment.
As they were on top though, they took a look around the cavern where they were searching for what they could do, when Krystal spied a Stalactite on the ceiling. "I bet that we could blast that thing down to give us a bridge." She spoke after grabbing Fox's attention to it.
"Good idea. But what could we use? An explosive barrel?" He asked, noting one that was at the bottom of the spiral ramp that they just got up. "I don't think I can throw one far enough."
"Or, maybe a cannon is in the higher section?" She said, feeling that a cannon could do.
At that, Fox was asking Kyte to scout ahead to see if there was such on the walkways that they could walk on. Fortunately for them, Kyte quickly found a cannon, and led the Vulpines to where it is, as they both were soon running their way on the walkways around the pillars, where they were soon going up to the ladder where they climbed up it, and to the higher section above them, where they were soon seeing a walkway that led to a bridge, leading to the aforementioned cannon. Much to Fox and Krystal's joy.
Kyte certainly was doing great as their scouting partner at this point.
So, after they were soon on the move again, they were soon getting past the fire jets, over the path until they got to the ladder leading to the cannon. Where they met another Sharpclaw. Who was alone, and was slow to realize that a pair of Vulpines were soon joining him on that platform where the cannon is. By the time he did realize it, he was quick to be battle ready. But like the previous lone SharpClaws, he stood no chance against Fox and Krystal in a 2v1 fight.
After taking him down, Fox was quick to get onto the cannon, where he was soon blasting the Stalactite, but not before he was warning Tricky and Belina of the impending falling of the aforementioned Stalactite, making them run a safe distance away.
It took a few shots, but the stalactite was soon falling into the lava moat where the door was, giving them a way across to the chamber.
Soon the Vulpines made their way down the walkways and ramps to the bottom floor. Once they were there, they joined Belina and Tricky at the near end of the fallen stalagmite. Looking over their handiwork. Before looking at Belina. "So, are you gonna join us in facing off against that Galadon guy?" Fox asked.
She shook her head. "I'm sorry. But I don't think I have the skill to face off against that thing. But don't worry. I'll remain here for you all to come back once the SpellStone is gained. Then I'll help you guys to the surface of DarkIce Mines. There should be a shortcut back to the surface that we can find for you." She responded.
"Okay. We'll see you again, once we beat that guy." Fox said as they were soon walking over the bridge and into the alcove where a large door was, likely a door that led to Galadon's chamber, where they can find the SpellStone.
Once at the door, Fox turned to Krystal and the rest of the group. "Are you guys ready?" He asked.
Krystal nodded, determined. "I'm prepared for battle."
"I'm always ready!" Tricky said enthusiastically. Almost like he wasn't going to be scared by some massive beast like Galadon.
As was Kyte, who also was nodding as she roosted. "As am I!" She said, also determined.
"Okay. Let's do this." He said, as they were soon walking through the door, which opened for them, as it showed the chamber that they were entering.
The battle for their first SpellStone, and for DarkIce Mines, is about to begin.
And done.
NO THIS IS NOT AN APRIL FOOLS JOKE! This is the next chapter for this fic. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. And sorry that this took a while.
Anyways, Galadon is about to be fought. Or as he is known in the Star Fox Adventures game, Galdon. The first boss of the game, and also of Dinosaur Planet. And a large one at that. Which does make you wonder how Scales is able to tame Galdon into working for him despite him being smaller than Galdon. Either way, he's about to learn the hard way that even the large minions, are not invincible.
Also, yes, Fox has a FULTON device that I'm sure Metal Gear fans would recognize as the FULTON devices that you use in MGS5, to grab anything like tanks, cars, and helicopters among other vehicles and stuff, and take them back to your FOB. Easily the highlight of that game. And I feel that considering the Technology that Corneria has, it wouldn't be farfetched that Star Fox team could have a FULTON device themselves for them to take some stuff with. And that hover bike is no exception, as I imagine that Fox could have uses for it in the future if he didn't wreck it in the game. So, the FULTON was an interesting idea to add in.
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.