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Cloud Dancer
By: Pichu Star
Revision 1.0 (7/16/04): Just editing and reformatting. Nothing too extraordinary.
I wrote this little piece before StarFox Adventures even came out, so some facts aren’t quite on par with what’s actually in the game. Oh well. Enjoy this cute one-shot.
Disclaimer: I don’t own StarFox, but I own my original characters, places, and ideas. Please don’t steal.
Fox had come to a tough decision two months ago. A combination of his friend Falco Lombardi’s departure to go solo, the big slump in action going on in the galaxy, and a strange dream had prompted him to go on his own solo mission. He had decided to go to Dinosaur Planet and help out with the problem going on there. According to reports, the tyrannical General Scales was destroying the once peaceful and beautiful planet with his army of dinos. Fox was determined to help, for he knew that this General Scales was a lot like what Andross was to the rest of the Lylat System.
But, it had been tough to make that choice. He usually depended on his friends to help him through any problem that he faced. But now, Fox was going to face danger on his own. He had, though, arranged through General Pepper a small mission support team, made up of Peppy Hare and Slippy Toad, two of his teammates from StarFox. He wasn’t putting them in danger, but he had them on his side to help out.
Of course, that brought up the guilty part of his feelings. For you see, Fox had promised Kip Starnova, his best friend in the whole galaxy, that he would take her on his next mission so they could be partners. But for this one, Fox just wanted to go solo. Something about the strange dream he had had told him this was his destiny. Besides, he couldn’t live with himself if Kip got hurt or even killed because of him.
Fox twitched his nose to test the breeze, and froze at a familiar scent coming his way. Female kangaroo. Kip was coming his way.
The young red fox turned his head and saw his friend walking across the small field of grass to the hill where Fox lay. She stood over him with her hands on her hips, looking upset. “Fox, you know what I’m going to say,” she snapped.
Fox stood up, brushing grass off of his tail, and faced Kip. “Listen, Kip, I know you’re upset. But—”
“But what?” Kip cried. “You promised me you’d let me come on your next mission. Plus, this is the perfect sort of mission for me, it’s on land! I’m a ground tracker! It’d work out, wouldn’t it?”
Fox sighed. “I know, you’d be awesome on the mission. But I can’t let you come on this one.”
“And what’s the excuse, McCloud?” she retorted. “I bet you don’t have a good one.”
It was true. Fox couldn’t possibly put into words what he felt. All he knew was that he had to go to Dinosaur Planet alone. Something was calling his name, begging him and him alone to face the dangers there. “I…” Fox stammered, “…I… don’t know.”
Kip gave him a pained look. “You don’t know? Fox… do you not think I could do the mission?”
“No!” cried Fox. “It’s nothing like that. I… just don’t want you to get hurt.”
Wrong answer, and Fox knew it. Kip’s ears went back and her neck fur bristled, showing her anger at his remark. “Get hurt?! Fox, I have plenty of ground missions around here where I could get hurt. And what do you say? ‘See you after dinner, Kip, and watch your tail.’ That’s it! Even Peppy doesn’t get all jumpy when I go to look for smugglers in the forests. But when it comes to this… Fox, do you think I’m a baby or something? I can take care of myself!”
“Kip… no, that’s not what I meant…”
“Then what do you mean, Fox?” Kip asked. She was close to tears, Fox could sense it.
“Kip, I know a big mission means everything to you, and believe me, I’d love for you to go. But… there’s something that tells me that this is my mission. My destiny. Maybe another time.”
Kip’s ears drooped, and she began to cry. “Fox… you always leave me behind. I’ve tried to be patient, I really have. But it’s not working. Falco’s already left the team. How much time is it till you leave, Fox?”
Fox bit his lip, and put his arms around Kip, comforting her as she cried. “Kip, I promise you, I won’t leave the StarFox team. It’s my life. And as for you…” He gave her a smile as she looked up at him. “… I swear I’ll take you on my next mission, even if I have to blow up a planet to make a mission for us to go on.”
Kip sniffed and swallowed the lump in her throat. “…Well, all right… as long as you mean it…”
“Do I lie, Kip?” Fox asked, putting on an innocent look.
“Hmm… maybe…” Kip replied teasingly. Fox frowned at her indignantly and, with a playful growl, tackled the young kangaroo, sending them both tumbling down the hill. They landed in a pile at the bottom, giggling.
Kip shook out her fur and stood up, a smile on her face. She extended a paw to Fox and helped him stand up. “All right, McCloud, I’ll believe you.” she said.
Fox smoothed his head fur back with a paw. “Thanks for the trust.” Just then, his radio went off. Fox took it off his belt and turned it on. “Fox here.”
“Hey, Fox,” said Peppy on the radio. “The Great Fox is all set to go. Slippy’s all ready too.”
Fox nodded. “All right. I’ll be there soon.”
“Love you, Peppy, take care!” called Kip into the radio.
Peppy’s eyes brightened at the sight and sound of his adoptive daughter. “Love you too, Kip. Be sure to call.” With that, the transmission turned off.
Fox breathed deeply and put the radio back on his belt. “Well, I guess it’s time for me to go.”
Kip nodded sadly and hugged Fox again. “I’ll miss you, buddy. Watch your tail, all right?”
“I will.”
Kip took a deep breath, and—to Fox’s surprise—gave him a quick kiss on the muzzle. “We’ve been friends since we were seven, and we’ll stay friends seven more. Got it?”
Fox’s ears turned red, but he nodded. “Not seven more, though. Forever.”
“Forever. Gotcha.”
Fox reluctantly stepped away from his friend and began to walk to the StarFox base. Several yards away, though, he stopped and turned back to the kangaroo who had been more of a sister to him than anyone else in the universe, even more than perhaps his own younger sister, Remy. “Love you, Kip!” he called.
Kip stared at Fox in amazement, and then smiled warmly. “Love you too, Fox!” she called back to his retreating form.
She watched him until he got to the StarFox building, and when the door shut behind him, Kip turned around and began heading back home in the opposite direction. Though tears were in her eyes, a smile was on her face. Wherever Fox McCloud went, her heart went as well. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Except maybe if she were with him on the mission.
Fly upon the wind, McCloud
Follow your heart’s desire
But never forget the friends at home
That still think of you
May you dance upon the stars of hope
May you inhale the clouds of comfort
May you kiss the sky of destiny
May you take the path of love
People always say: “It’s better to lead then to follow.”
But me, I think they’re wrong
For following you, Fox McCloud
Was the greatest honor ever granted to me
Wherever your destiny takes you
May you always keep your friends close to your heart
Cloud Dancer…
Just know…
My love goes with you always…
The End
Kinda cute… and no, the fic wasn’t intended to be Fox/Kip. It’s not very apparent, but Falco/Kip is the pairing I am/was poking for in my StarFox fics. Ah well…
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it. Please review and tell me what you thought! Till next time…