//------------------------------// // Adventure: Planetfall // Story: My Own Wings // by Tatsurou //------------------------------// As expected, Sunset had not been happy to learn Krystal had gone off on her own to investigate the apparent shattering of Dinosaur Planet...both because it meant her Mom being gone, and because she had several friends on Dinosaur Planet, not the least of which was Prince Tricky. She wanted to go herself to investigate, but seemed to accept Fox's firm instruction to leave it to Krystal, as she plainly knew what she was doing. Still, she wasn't at all happy about it, and tended to pout in rooms on the Great Fox distant from the others. As a result, she wasn't on the bridge when the message came in from General Pepper. "Fox, we've received a distorted distress beacon from Dinosaur Planet, the only clear message we were able to get a request for aid." "We observed Dinosaur Planet has...shattered," Fox explained. "The energies of the planet have prevented the continent pieces from drifting too far, but said energies and the broken nature of the planet prevented any deeper scans to investigate the direct cause. That could also explain the distortion to the signal. Krystal claimed to recognize the phenomena, and went to investigate a couple days ago. We were about to go try and get in contact with her." "Well, the damage could be greater than that," General Pepper explained. "If the energies continue to expand, the explosive discharge could disrupt the entire Lylat System. You need to investigate immediately and find a way to repair the planet. All we know for sure-" "I'll contact the King and Queen Earthwalker once we get there," Fox interrupted. "I'll ask about the location of the Spellstones and where to take them to contain the energy flow, and how to align the Krazoa Spirits to restore the planet. I'll also investigate what sort of conflict could have resulted in the Spellstones and Spirits being displaced, though from what I was able to glean on our last visit, I assume it has something to do with the Sharpclaw Tribe." General Pepper stared at Fox, his jaw a little slack. "How do you have so much information on Dinosaur Planet?" he asked at last. "Our official records barely have more than the names of the important figures." "Sunset's close friends with Tricky, the Earthwalker Prince," Fox explained easily. "As well as several other important figures of other tribes, including the Queen Cloudrunner." "Then it looks like you're the perfect team for the job," General Pepper declared happily. "Your usual fee has already been approved, and will be transferred as soon as the situation is resolved and the planet is repaired." "Well as long as this is an official job, I guess I have to cut the window I promised Krystal a little short," Fox allowed. "I admit, I'm a bit worried about her, anyway. I expected her to get in contact sooner than this..." "Good luck, Team Star Fox. General Pepper out." As the signal cut, Fox turned to Rob. "Set course for Dinosaur Planet. I'll take an Ar-Wing down." "Understood," Rob confirmed as he set the course. Fox decided not to tell Sunset he was heading down to Dinosaur Planet. Part of that was worry about how her magic would interact with the damaged planet. Part of it was wanting to keep her out of direct combat, since he still felt protective of her as his kid. However, he was forced to admit partially that he was somewhat hoping to have an adventure just himself and Krystal once he found her. Flying the Ar-Wing through the debris field that surrounded the broken segments of the planet that hovered miles above, Fox carefully made his way down to the Thorntail Hollow approach vector. It proved somewhat difficult, as Fox had to gather enough energy from what was scattered about to safely breach the planet's mystic envelope in its disrupted state. Thankfully, landing on the planet itself where Throntail Hollow still was wasn't nearly as difficult as it could have been had he been trying to land on one of the floating segments. As he landed, however, he noticed something that was immediately upsetting. On his console was the alert, "Under-cockpit cargo hatch opening". That cargo hatch had been installed specifically at Sunset's request so that they could give Tricky a lift up to the Great Fox via the Ar-Wings when they wanted to play not on planet, and was perfectly set up to safely transit one organic being without taking damage from the G-forces. Hopping out, he saw exactly who had been using it this time. "Sunset..." he chided angrily as she clambered out of the hatch. "What?" she asked innocently as she stretched out, unwrinkling the veils of her focus outfit. "I was pouting somewhere quiet and isolated where I wasn't going to be tripped over. It's hardly my fault you didn't check the manifest before take off." Fox found his eye twitching. He knew there was no way that was entirely true. She was way too relaxed at finding herself on planet to not have intended it. Beyond that, he also found he was no longer comfortable with the design of the focus outfit, especially since at 11 Sunset was starting to fill it out a bit, as puberty had hit early. At the same time, he knew Sunset knew Dinosaur Planet far better than he did, and she could help out. Before he could speak, however, Sunset's eyes went wide. "Dad..." She pointed over his shoulder. "M...Mom's staff..." Turning, Fox saw what had distressed Sunset so much, and left him quite distressed as well. Krystal's staff was embedded in the ground some distance away, point up. Carefully, he went and pulled it from the ground. A telepathic message from Krystal was embedded in the staff, and flowed into Fox's mind as he held it. Danger...magic...scattered...Krazoa...Fox...help... "Krystal..." he whispered softly, holding the staff in his hands. "Dad?" Sunset asked worriedly. Fox thought quickly. If he was to save Krystal - and the planet - he needed every advantage he could bring, and if the distorted planetary fields weren't affecting Sunset, her magic would be a huge advantage, as would her planetary knowledge. As long as she stayed safe... "Stay close to me, don't get out of sight, and don't over exert yourself," he instructed firmly. "Think you can abide by that?" "If it means saving Mom, yes," Sunset responded firmly. "Then let's find the Queen Earthwalker," Fox stated firmly. "Scans showed she was somewhere here in Thorntail Hollow."