It didn't take long for the pair to scour the entire well area for the White Grub Tub, though it eventually fell to Sunset to scan through the darkened areas for the majority of them. Despite the fireflies released from the lantern providing light in darkness, that light couldn't be directed the way Sunset could direct the light from her sunstones. The fireflies' light extended outward in all directions evenly and continuously, but Sunset could focus the sunstone light like a flashlight, or make it blaze like a flashbang, as well as only give a small amount of light if she wanted details but to avoid notice.
Once they'd managed to gather six - and saw there were no others growing as yet - the pair made their way back to the temple. "Your majesty," Sunset spoke up swiftly as they reached her. "It's Sunset. We've got White Grub Tub for you."
"Ah...Sunset..." the Queen murmured as she began to eat the proffered fungus. "Clever as always." Once she'd eaten the last, she slowly got to her feet, once more standing upright. "However, I see your father with your mother's staff. Has something happened?"
"We don't know," Fox admitted sadly. "In addition to trying to fix what's happened to the planet, we're hoping to find out what happened to Krystal."
The Queen blinked a few times. "It seems whoever programmed your translator forgot that we do not translate proper names," she observed idly. "At least, I assume so."
"I'll fix that!" Slippy called out through the comm link. "Just gimme a bit!"
"Is there anything you can tell us?" Fox asked hopefully. "About...anything?"
"This is all the work of General Scales," the Queen explained as she nuzzled Tricky, who had rushed to her side the moment she was upright. "He has risen to power among the Sharpclaws, and set his sights on conquering the entire world, with the intent of using the ancient power of the Krazoa to extend his reach further. It is for this reason he has removed the Spellstones from their proper places."
"But without the Spellstones, the world is tearing itself apart!" Sunset pointed out. "Because of how much magic is generated in the core of the planet. The Spellstones regulate it-"
"General Scales wishes to harvest the excess energy instead," the Queen interrupted. "It is his intention to use his technology to turn the core of the planet into a massive power generator for a magic armada with which to conquer the Lylat system. And if the Spellstones are not returned to their places to regulate the energy soon, he may just succeed."
"But the systems that restore damage to the planet can't be activated without the power of the Krazoa Spirits!" Sunset added intensely.
"You have learned our history and lore well," the Queen complimented Sunset. "That is indeed true. The Spellstones must be returned to their places, and the Krazoa Spirits gathered to the Krazoa Palace. When Krystal came here, she sought to deduce the locations of the Spellstones through raiding General Scales' flying flagship, and from there she intended to investigate the Palace in hopes of learning clues to the locations of the Spirits. However, she had the assistance of the Cloudrunners in doing so. Now, the Palace has moved beyond the reach of any dinosaur. Only magic or technology can reach it now."
"The Warpstone said he could send us there if we found a Krazoa Spirit," Fox pointed out. "That shouldn't be too hard-"
"Take warning!" the Queen spoke up intensely. "You must not allow Sunset to become a vessel for a Krazoa Spirit. Her magic is too potent, and the binding may become permanent...or the severing of the binding damage her when the Spirit is released." She then turned to Sunset. "And you must be wary of how freely you use your magic in this damaged environment. Until the Spellstones are returned, careless use of magic might cause the magical fields to react oddly to a powerful enough discharge...and carrying too many Spellstones may weaken you as they absorb your released power."
"So get the Spellstones to their Force Point Temples one at a time, Krazoa Spirits to the Palace one at a time, and Dad's gotta carry them all," Sunset concluded. "And don't break the planet even further. Got it."
"If a mechanism exists to progress forward, make use of the mechanism rather than trying to circumvent it," the Queen cautioned. "They have been put in place for a reason. And be wary of General Scales. He is far more powerful than he has ever been before, and we have deduced no explanation for this."
"And we need to have Tricky with us," Sunset concluded.
"Okay, I was with you both until that last part," Fox countered worriedly. "I mean, you and I can defend ourselves easily, but-"
"We'll just have to look out for him," Sunset insisted. "The Spellstones need to be activated once we put them into the Force Point Temples, and that requires 'a dinosaur of noble birth' to 'breathe life' into them. Otherwise, they're just rather unique hunks of rock."
"So we need him along," Fox allowed ruefully. "That's just great..."
"Our spies have indicated that Scales was last seen in the Darkice Mines," the Queen spoke up helpfully. "You will need the help of the Gatekeeper, Garunda Te."
"Neither that place, nor the name, seem familiar," Sunset pointed out in surprise.
"The Gatekeepers generally keep to themselves outside times of crisis," the Queen explained, "and only a Gatekeeper can release the seal on a location such as the mines so that others can enter. Presumably, General Scales found some way to force his cooperation. You will need to be most careful. He should be somewhere in the Snowhorn Wastes." She pulled out an oddly shaped key. "The Sharpclaws dropped this when they attacked me. Perhaps you will find it useful."
"Wasn't there a gate in the Wastes we could never get past?" Tricky asked Sunset excitedly. "That looked like it needed a key?"
"I always wondered about that," Sunset agreed as she grabbed the key.
"Good luck Fox, Sunset," the Queen spoke as they made their way out of the Temple.
"So where are we going?" Tricky called out as he followed.
"Your Mom just said-" Fox began.
"Are we there yet?" Sunset inquired excitedly.
"Sunset, you know this world better than I-"
"Where are we going?" Tricky demanded excitedly.
"Are we there yet?"
"...seriously?"
*videogame flashbacks*
Even in the face of danger, it's the same-old-same-old. Gotta love kids.
Sunset you little troll! You too Tricky!
Even with the warning to limit magic use I can still see Sunset burning the crap out of the general.
Kids will be annoying at every opportunity. Especially smart kids.
I hope you're actually okay, Tats. Your blog sounded pretty bad. I wanted to voice my support yesterday, but I was on my 3DS and it had some error that prevented my comment from posting.
8541108
Well of course Sunset is doing the Trolling, after all she learned that from Celestia no doubt.
But of course, what else would a mother teach their daughter?
Hey, Celestia no breaking the fourth wall that's Pinkie's shtick.
Yeah don't go stealing my shtick!
Oh great now Pinkie's here, what else could possible happen.
-In a alternate dimension Murphy started laughing his ass off-
OH MY GOSH.........Now you've done it Duskie!
8541141
Enough with the chuckles Murphy! Don't you have a limbless hero to spout tutorials at?
This is a great non-action chapter and it gives a concrete reason for not breaking the game ala sunset shenanigans.
Could just ground Sunset an hour every time they ask that. And since he can't ground Tricky any time he asks is still an extra hour for Sunset.
That'll quiet at least one of them up.
XD
Oh poor Fox. His sanity is going to be in shreds by the time they get there.
Anti-Sunset measures explained for keeping game-world mechanics, a bit more lore at this point than Fox anticipated, and more perfectly-timed trolling via Trickset. All's well for another dive into Dinosaur Planet!
8541190
That would work...but Fox won't do that.
Think about it. Sunset has already shown she has issues being separated from her family. She took Falco deciding he was going to leave Star Fox for a time really hard, and now her mother is missing and without her primary magic tool. More than anything, Sunset is likely terrified of what's happened to Krystal. Fox is, too.
Her being an annoying brat? That's her way of trying to deal with it by not dealing, by being a bit childish as they indulge in an adventure. Fox can tell this...and can deduce Tricky's the same way as far as his father being MIA. So he's not going to say anything, just put up with it.
Oh, a nice explanation and limitation for Sunset.
8541081
Oh no, does he actually do that in-game? I never played much of Adventures.
Reminded me of this little gem.
8541347
Yes.
Yes he does.
8541347
Yes. He does say that.
8541386
8541395
Welp, guess I'm not gonna play that game.
8541414
Yeah. Not really worth it.
Why couldn't the General just mine his own business? Now we're going to have trouble with various scaling difficulties.
And this chapter proves that kids will always be kids
Ah, the memory of family trips in the car. Most annoying thing was the Dad jokes: What are we having for lunch? Dad: grass and twigs!
8541636
Don't forget the classics like: Dad, I'm hungry! Dad: Hi hungry, I'm Dad.
8541636
8541763
At least you didn't have to deal with mom jokes
"I'm thirsty."
" I'm Friday. Come over Saturday and we'll have a Sunday."
8541947
8541081
It was NEVER as annoying as, "Hey,", "Listen!" and "Look out!"
Navi didn't hold the title of Nintendo Magazine Australia's Most Annoying NPC Ever for eight years in a row for no reason.
8541146
I played that game. Still waiting on Rayman 4.
8541947 The problem is my dad THINKS he has a sense of humor, my mom, brother, and me know better and Mom is to nice to do those kind of jokes.
8542219
Don't hold your breath, it was eaten by bunnies.
8542679
Darn Rabbids, always messing things up.
8546145
Mario seems to have tamed the little nuisances, at least for now.
Somehow, I get the feeling Marcus will show up MUCH sooner than the ending that featured him in Command.
So, I wonder ehen we'll see the first Bafomdad.
8546528
Yeah they are huge pests.
8752027
Just let the Pink Horde have at them. Nothing will be left but barren wasteland! That, or Deadpool's mothdaughter.
8541081
*shudders* Aye..
I really do wish the programmers had added a option to stop or at least cut down on Tricky's "Navi" chatter