A/N: So, Pen…

Pen: *looks at the title* Oh, crap. Please tell me this won't be as long as the other one.

No, no, no. But we did notice that there is an event that's sort of skimmed through for Star Fox regarding Marcus and his ascension to the new Star Fox team.

Pen: *sighs* When should I expect—

Sword: *flies by in Arwing* Bogies on my tail.

Pen: And there it is. Fine. Marcus, Fox, Krystal, and all these others belong to Nintendo. The story, Sword, and I'm sad to say myself belong to the author. Please do not use without permission.

Thank you and please enjoy.

Chapter 1- Academy Half-Day

Marcus stretched and tried not to sprint from the classroom, knocking everyone out of the way in his joy to be free of the shackles of the droning professor and his large auditorium-sized classroom. All throughout the scientific lecture, his eyes had drifted to the airfields across the freshly cut lawn. Rows upon rows of the latest Arwings, primed, fueled, and gleaming in the bright sun, ready for an eager pilot to fly them into the air, begging him to hop in the seat and feel the rumble of the engines, the aircraft as giddy as he always was right until the thrusters kicked in and threw him back against the cushioned seat. Breaking through the clouds, the atmosphere, going faster than the speed of sound? There was nothing like it.

He stuffed his books into his knapsack, slung it over his shoulder, and descended the stairs. "I seriously think he started repeating himself," an orange toad said, joining him as they left the classroom. Like everyone else, he wore a blue academy dress shirt and slacks, and like Marcus, the silver chevrons on his shoulders indicated he was a second year. He pushed up the brim of his faded brown ten-gallon hat. "That or it's a sense of, um, what's it called?"

"Déjà vu?" Marcus offered.

"That, yeah," he said, yawning and rubbing the dull haze out of his round eyes. "The sensation that I've heard this nonsense before."

"Actually, it's very practical knowledge," another second-year said, walking beside them down the hall. The hare stood taller than Marcus by about a head. "Especially the chemical applications he talked about." She looked at both of them, waiting for some acknowledgement, but they shrugged. "Such as the bombs they employ for the Arwing squadrons?"

"Oh, so there was something interesting," the toad said. "I'll need to thank him for that. It's the only thing that woke me up and restarted my heart after I died from sheer boredom."

"Well, you don't have to worry about dying again, Tad," Marcus said. "It's a half-day, remember?"

"Of course I do," Tad said. "That's all that kept me going through today."

Outside, the sidewalk led to a central courtyard that split off to all the buildings, hangers, and other areas of campus. Painted across each building and emblazoned across the Arwing insignia of the courtyard was "Cornerian Academy", as if the students would forget where they were.

Dozens of the students were already congregating by the open bronze gate off to the east side, not even bothering to return to their dorms to drop off their belongings or change outfits. They were ready to be as far away from this place for as long as possible, stretching their legs and their pent-up energy. As the students waited for the city bus to arrive and take them to Corneria City proper, a few instructors were lecturing them on maintaining proper behavior in the city. Phrases like "You represent this great academy everywhere you go" and "If you dare besmirch this academy's fine name, you will run laps until this planet goes supernova, so help me!"

"Nothing like spoiling the mood before we go," Tad said.

"Maybe you should listen to it," the hare said. "Might curtail some of your debauchery."

"What are you talking about?"

Marcus rolled his eyes and nudged his friend. "Come on. Don't tell me you don't remember the waitress last time we went to the city. How you convinced her to slip you a few Fichina Funtimes? And what happened after?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he said, feigning ignorance. Then a sly smile curled up his lips. "Although, if such a rowdy time did resulted from said drinks—which I'm not saying it did—then I also don't remember the waitress having any complaints."

Marcus snorted, hiding his laugh from the hare. "Well, we certainly did, dragging your drink carcass back here, all so you could throw up on Marcus and me," she said.

"Haven't been able to wear that shirt since," Marcus said, remembering the old shirt his father had given him. "It still smells like barf."

"I said I'm sorry already," Tad said.

Marcus waved him off. "It's fine. Besides, you weren't the only one hitting on someone that night." He glanced at the hare.

"What?" she asked.

"The cab driver who brought us back?" he asked, reminding her. "You were all smiles and so talkative with him. Called him back at all?" Her red face told him all he needed to know.

"Still not as bad as Tad."

"Fine," Tad took a knee in front of the hare, pulled off his hat, and held it to his chest apologetically, "on my honor ma'am, I don't know what came over me last time. The stress of being cooped up in this place, I reckon. But I promise you, as sure as the sun does rise in the morning, I will control myself. For you, my dear Vivian," he took her hand and planted a playful smooch on her knuckles, "this I will do."

"Cute," she smirked and playfully curled the white lock dangling down her forehead around her finger. "Now why don't you mosey on up to town and fetch us some cornbread? Pa'll be home soon and Mary-Sue's got the stove already a-goin'."

They laughed, but what Tad said struck a chord within Marcus. He paused, as they walked ahead. A few moments passed before they noticed he was far behind them. "Marcus?" The vulpine raised his head. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said, catching up with them. Vivian's eyes bored into him, waiting for an answer. "Just, something that Tad said. He's right. We have been cooped up in this place. How many flight hours have we logged this year? Since we've been here?" He didn't give them a chance to answer. "I can count them on less than one hand."

"They have to prepare us," Vivian said. "Flight combat and experience isn't something you can just pick up and do."

"Unless it's in your blood." Tad wrapped an arm around Marcus' shoulders. It was true enough. The sons of the legendary Star Fox team members, flying had burned in Marcus' and Tad's veins since they were born. Marcus always loved being in the sky, flying free like his father used to do. And Tad had proved to be more adept and cool under pressure than Uncle Slippy. "And we got the experience."

Vivian scoffed. "Your dads letting you fly their ships while you sit in their laps doesn't count."

"Hey," Marcus said. "I have flown without my dad before coming here." He didn't mention that it was only when he secretly stole into his father's Arwing when he was ten and managed to scoot along the ground at a few inches before his father jumped in the cockpit and saved him from the stupid stunt. "Come on. You're honestly telling me you don't wish they would give us more flight hours?"

"Well," she tilted her head, her face scrunched up as if hating to admit he had a point, "yes, of course, but they will when we're ready. In the meantime, there are plenty of interesting subjects to take besides flight training."

"Right. Like the mechanic's garage. Why fly your Arwing when you can work on it and look at it? Pretty soon, we'll be like Uncle Peppy and his model planes." Tad shivered, then pushed open the door to their dorm. They dropped off their belongings and changed clothes.

Marcus checked himself in the mirror and bothered to run a comb through his white bang. It curled back into place like before and he sighed. Not really looking forward to this, he thought.

When they regrouped with Vivian, she hopped ahead. "Just got a call from my mom. They should be arriving any second."

"Great," Marcus said, grimacing a small smile. "Can't wait."

The Great Fox lumbered into the gleaming central spaceport of Corneria City. Once it docked and settled in with a heavy thump!, the ramp on the side extended to the ground. Fox stepped out of the ship, removing his shades and admiring R.O.B. 2.0's parking job. The alignment was a little off, but nothing that Slippy couldn't adjust in the robot's functioning.

Behind him, Krystal also exited. He took her hand, guiding her down the ramp as the rest of the crew descended as well. At the bottom, Fox looked around, tucking his shades into his flight jacket. Slippy and Amanda passed him and helped Peppy, as the old hare had traded his cane in long ago for a hover chair custom built by Slippy. His daughter Lucy strode beside him, confirming the meeting spot with their kids.

It always felt a little odd coming here these days, where they weren't immediately swarmed by grateful citizens for saving the city. They were treated as any other traveler, with the odd glance in their direction from others trying to place where they knew the Star Fox crew from.

He shook his head. Don't think about it too much or you'll turn into Falco.

"You okay?" Krystal asked.

The orange vulpine nodded and started forward. "Yeah, just reminiscing." He took a last glance at the Great Fox, noting the tips of the wings starting to fall off. It had not done well in storage. Should ask Slippy for help on that too.

The group meandered through the crowds and took one of the trams toward the main street of the city that stretched for miles in either direction.

"Where did they say to meet them?" Slippy asked when they stepped off.

"The Galactic Nova Restaurant," Lucy. "You know it?"

"I do," Krystal said. "It should be down the street here."

As they exited the tram station, a sudden rumble started under their feet, stopping all traffic in the area. Fox immediately held onto Krystal as the ground shook worse. His first thought was an earthquake. However, the shaking wasn't constant. It stopped for a few seconds at a time before starting up again.

"Earthquake?" Amanda asked, not noticing the distinction.

Fox, Slippy, and Peppy exchanged glances. They knew the sound of strafe runs far too well and ground targets being destroyed. Sure enough, moments later, a squadron of ships zoomed overhead, firing lasers into buildings beyond Fox's view. Screams and smoke followed another round of mini-quakes.

Helping Krystal stand, Fox ran to the front of the group with her and cut through an alley. "Come on. We have to find cover. This way."

Marcus sat in the back of the bus with Vivian and Tad beside him. He partly paid attention to their talks of where they should take their parents tonight as he admired the skyline across the water. The only spot to view the horizon in this city was on the Cornerian River Bridge and whether the sun set, rose, or was high in the sky, that horizon called to him, beckoning him with its gleaming waters, like a reflection of the wide universe, millions of sparkling stars and millions of adventures waiting to be had.

He was so caught up in his daydream, he almost didn't hear someone shout, "What's that?"

Dimly, he lifted his head to the other side with Vivian and Tad as ships flew overhead in a v-attack formation. As they left the bridge and entered the city, many speculated if it was some military training exercise.

However, Marcus noted the ships circling back around to make another run over the city, still in perfect formation. Something felt off. Another group of planes ripped through the skies, heightening his nerves.

Then the bus jerked to the left, throwing him into his friends and all three out of their seat. The vehicle lurched forward, took another sharp turn to the right, then crashed into something large, flinging all its passengers forward.

Everyone scrambled to their feet, kicking the doors open and pouring off the bus. Marcus, a little dizzy, stood and helped his friends up. "You two okay?"

"I will be when my noggin stops ringing," Tad said, rubbing his forehead. "What happened there?"

Vivian pointed forward and outside, the crumbled remains of a building blocking the road. Behind them, Marcus saw more destruction and collapsed rubble, cementing his fear of the planes earlier. The driver was on the radio, trying to raise any assistance as the other academy students milled around, taking in the near misses.

Above them, he heard the familiar sound of a plane engine. A warning in the pit of his stomach told him it wasn't the Cornerian military.

"We have to get off the bus," he said.

Vivian gave him a strange look. "What?"

"Off the bus, now!" He pushed them forward, not caring if he was rude. He scooted them off the bus and grabbed the bus driver as well. "Hurry!"

Once off the bus, they saw the ships heading straight for them. Unlike their Arwings, these black ships opened up into purple-tipped tentacles, like some monstrous starfish. In the center of its mass, a bright spot glowed and fired a series of rings that grew larger the closer they got to the ground.

"Run!" Marcus shouted to his classmates. He, Tad, and Vivian beat it to an office building. Several quick students caught onto the danger and fled for safety too. The rest were caught in the rings' blast.

When the rings touched the bus, it exploded, throwing the driver and others high and away in the explosion. More explosions followed, as other cars added to the cacophony and mayhem.

Vivian yelped, slapping her hand over his mouth, and Tad fell backwards. Marcus collapsed to his knees, unable to believe what he had just seen. Over a dozen people, just, gone. Like that. No warning or anything.

The ship closed its tentacles and left in search of more victims. A few minutes passed, all of them trying to process what happened. Once he could move and was sure the coast was clear, Marcus dashed out to the flaming wreck of the bus.

Nearby, charred bodies were strewn around and other images of death he wished he hadn't seen. His stomach churned and he leaned over, unable to catch his breath and gagging.

Vivian joined him, rubbing his back and scanning the area. Everybody was gone. Beyond their own little area of damage, the whole street was torn to shreds. Building after building had fallen and more bodies were further ahead, lost to the sudden attack, most trapped under rubble. A gruesome sight that neither of them could stand.

Tad shifted through the debris, clamping his hand over his nose and searching for any signs of life. He found none and took off his hat, holding it to his chest and granting those departed a solemn moment.

"Why?" Vivian finally asked. "Who's doing this?"

That allowed Marcus to focus and concentrate on something besides the death around them and the sickened feeling in the pit of his stomach. Who attacked them? Who declared war on them so abruptly? "We won't get any answers here," he said, wiping his mouth. "And it doesn't matter. This is a battle. Which means the Cornerian Army will need all the help it can get."

"So what's the plan?" Tad asked.

"Regroup. 'When you're scattered and the plan has gone up in smoke— and it will go up in smoke— regroup, re-evaluate, retaliate," he said, paraphrasing one of their drill instructors. "We just need to make it back across the bridge and to the academy. It's not too far. An hour's walk maybe. Faster if we run."

Neither Tad or Vivian had better options so they joined him, running across the street and back to the bridge. Once there, they flattened their backs against a drugstore and peered out onto the bridge. And Marcus' heart immediately sank.

The bridge itself was holding together barely. Chunks had been blown out of it here and there. And more of those star-fish ships patrolled the bridge, keeping watch for anybody making a break for it. Across the bridge, columns of smoke rose from the Academy and the surrounding area.

"Great," Marcus said, cursing those ships.

"Well," Vivian pulled back, "what now?"

A/N: Hm, this was quite interesting to write.

Pen: Yeah, yeah. Get on with it. We appreciate them reading, you'd like to know what they think, blah, blah, blah. If this is going to be another long one, I'm going to need more tea.

Sword: And coffee! Whoo!

Well, as he said, thank you all. We'll see you in the next chapter.