Author: FLIONESS Subject: Family Pride: pt. 1 Posted: DECEMBER 31, 1998 18:33 This is the beginning of Chapter 2 of "Tales of Pride". My site was giving me trouble, so I decided to type it here. Enjoy. ~lion smile~ SPECIAL THANKS to DNELTHEEXMAGE and FJMCCLOUD for their ideas. ~lion wink~ ~Flia~ --------------------------------------------- "TWINS!" Flia screamed, releasing her ear from the door. Everyone turned their heads and stared at her. Even Slippy managed to take his eyes off Chamille long enough to look at the bewildered young lion. Katt cleared her throat. "You certainly like to eavesdrop, don't you?" She asked. Flia grinned sheepishly, her face turning slightly pink. "Well, what can you expect?" She asked defensively. "My childhood buddy just had kids in there!" She stared at the door. "He's almost like my brother." She closed her eyes, thinking. "If only the whole family could be here...." Her eyes lit up, as she ran into the hallway, her friends staring after her. "Where's SHE goin?" Chamille asked, confusedly. --------------------------------------------- Flia walked into the cardiovascular unit, a beaming smile across her face. After asking help from a friendly nurse mouse, she headed to room 343. "Be very quiet," the nurse told her. "He may be asleep." Flia nodded her head in understanding and stepped into the room. Peppy Hare lay in bed, an IV attached to his hand. His eyelids slowly opened, revealing his wise brown eyes. "Who's there?" he asked sleepily. "Uncle Peppy," Flia answered, "It's me, Flioness." Peppy's eyes widened with surprise. "FLIA?" He asked. "Wha-- why--?" "Shhhh...." The lion hushed him. "I came to see ya... and to pick you up to go on a visit..." She winked at him, and stepped outside, talking to the nurse. "Wow, that girl has grown..." Peppy muttered to himself. It seemed like only yesterday that she and Fox had played together, and gone on little flights with him.... "They say you can come," Flia said, walking back in. The mouse nurse came in with a wheelchair smiling at him. --------------------------------------------- "Awwwwwwwwww.... they're so CUTE!" Chamille giggled, staring at the newborn fox pups. "Si," Perria agreed. "Oh Fox, little Jimmy looks just like you!" "Yeah," Katt giggled, "Oh, and Fara, little Fonaro has your ears!" Fonaro McCloud stared up at her, his ears perked up, to which the entire group chuckled. Even little James McCloud let out a laugh of joy. Suddenly, Flia's head popped in the door. "Hey guys," she said, "Look who's here!" The nurse rolled Peppy's wheelchair into the room. "PEPPY!" Everyone cried at once. --------------------------------------------- "Oh, Fox," Peppy said, holding little James in his arms, "You're a father... you're actually a father..." "Yeah," Fox said, smiling. "Your father would be proud of you, Fox." The young father smiled at him. "I'm the father of not one, but TWO baby boys... TWINS...." Suddenly his eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he collapsed to the floor. "FOX!" Peppy cried. --------------------------------------------- Author: FLIONESS Subject: Family Pride: pt. 2 Posted: JANUARY 01, 1999 15:33 Fox opened his eyes. He was surrounded by his friends. Fara stood with them, the two babies in her arms. "Fox, are you alright?" They all seemed to ask at once. "Yeah," Fox said, sitting up. "I'm OK. What happened?" "You passed out," Peppy replied, smiling. "I guess it was just the shock of having twins." "Guess so..." Fox muttered. He eyed the group, noticing that their party was missing someone. "Where's Flia?" he asked. "Who knows?" Chamille shrugged. --------------------------------------------- Flia wandered about the hospital. It was something she did often when she was bored, wander around aimlessly until she found something interesting. Growing weary, she stopped walking and leaned against the wall. She stared at the floor, taking in all that had happened since that most recent battle. Her thoughts were interrupted, however. She felt someone kiss her cheek. She looked up. There stood a silver lion, grinning at her. A black mane fell about his shoulders, his blue eyes sparkling. Flia stared at him, confusedly. "Wha--?" She stuttered. "Who--?" The young man chuckled. "You REALLY oughtta watch where you're standing, Miss," he said, glancing upward. Flia followed his glance to the ceiling, where there hung a sprig of mistletoe. She whacked her forehead. "Duh!" she said, laughing. "Guess I wasn't paying much attention." "Yeah," the man smiled. Then he straightened his stance. "Do you know where I can find Fox McCloud?" Flia stared at him inquisitively. "Y-yes," she said, "I can. I'm a close friend of his." "Really?" the man said, smiling. "Well, could you take me to him?" "Sure," Flia shrugged. "What's your name, anyway?" "Alton Kanor," the man replied. "Yours?" "Flioness deLeon," the lioness answered, "But my friends call me Flia." --------------------------------------------- Fox and Fara sat on the hospital bed, as their friends gathered around it, visiting with one another. Suddenly, Flia stepped into the room, followed by her new friend. "Fox," she said, "This is Alton Kanor. He wishes to speak with you." Fox turned to the silver lion. "What is it?" he asked. Alton approached him and handed him some papers. "I hate to interrupt you at this time," he said, "but I hear that a member of the StarFox team is going to retire." Fox's jaw clenched. "We have yet to make that decision, Mr. Kanor," he replied. Alton nodded. "I understand," he said, "but I would like to apply for the job, in case a retirement does occur. I want to be part of the StarFox team." Author: FLIONESS Subject: Family Pride pt. 2 Posted: JANUARY 19, 1999 16:21 --------------------------------------------- Flia stared at Alton, her view of him now changing. He was asking to replace her beloved Uncle Peppy.... But Peppy was a part of the team. In fact, out of all of them, he was the one who made the most difference. He had served on the StarFox team with James McCloud, when Fox was still just a pup. In fact, Peppy could remember the day James had named both the team and his ship after his young son. It wasn't right for Peppy to leave now...or was it? Peppy was getting older now, and perhaps wasn't in the right condition...? After all, that is what the doctor said... Flia shook her head confusedly. Unable to take anymore of this thinking, she ran out of the room. She kept running until she reached the outside and its fresh air. It was a solace after the poor air conditioning and that familiar hospital stench. There always comes a time when one has to let go. Flia knew that. But why NOW? Why at this time when she can finally fly side by side with her rolemodel? Her family had a great experience about letting go. Letting go of an entire world... --------------------------------------------- "I was only seven years old. I was the Prince of Leonias. I had everything: Money, Power, and, at my father's death, I would have the crown. But this was not to be. No. My fortunes were destroyed. Destroyed by a giant meteor. I was lucky I didn't lose my family. "Aboard our ship, the few survivors of this disaster wept over their losses, as we tried desperately to find a new home. "We arrived in the system known as Lylat. Coming to a planet called Corneria, we were hailed by a General Paprika. My father begged him to allow us into Corneria, to begin a new life among them. Paprika requested permission from President Khoran, whom my father spoke with afterwards. Khoran allowed us into Corneria, and I began a new life. "It was difficult no longer being known as Prince Leonardo deLeon, but I managed to let go. We all must let something go in our lives, Flia, yet we must remain strong." --------------------------------------------- The story of her father continuously echoed through her head. She had never forgotten it. Of course, she realized that if it hadn't been for that stupid meteor she would be a wealthy princess. However, if she had remained a princess, she wouldn't have ever learned to fly, plus her life's decisions would have been made for her. She would have probably been married to some prince by this time, and she would have lived a life of regality and solitude, as opposed to the fun, friend-filled life she lived today. Author: FLIONESS Subject: Family Pride: pt. 3 Posted: JANUARY 21, 1999 21:04 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~"DAD!" a young monkey cried. "DAD, WHERE ARE YOU?!" His father appeared in the shadows.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~"Come on, Andrew," he said. "We must leave this place. He took his son's hand as they both hurried out of the laboratory.~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~They ran. They ran and ran, trying to escape the doom about to befall them.~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"FASTER, ANDREW!" The man cried. "FASTER!!!"~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.......... ~~~~~"Where are you going, brother?" Andrew's father turned around and stared in horror into the eyes of Dr. Andross.~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~"Please," he pleaded, "let us go. PLEASE...."~~~~~~~~ Andross glared at his brother maliciously. ~~~~~"YOU, BROTHER," He said, "ARE A TRAITOR. YOU DON'T DESERVE TO LIVE." ~~~~~~He immediately pulled out a laser blaster.~~~~~~~ZAP!~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ..... "NOOOOOOOOO!" Andrew Oikonny sat up in bed. Sweat dripped from his brow, and he breathed heavily. "Dad," he whimpered, "Why me? Why now?" Tears now streaked down his cheek. The dream had ended, but the rest of the painful memory still ran through his head. ~~~~~~"DAD!" he cried, "NO!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He kneeled down beside his deceased father, crying heavily. ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~"Shhhhhh," Andross placed his hand on his nephew's shoulder. "I'm sorry for doing this to you." ~~~~~~~~~ "But he didn't love you." ~~~~~~ "But I DO love you." ~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I had planned a great future for you..." ~~~~~~ "....to become a great pilot...."~~~~~~~~ "....and to one day rule Lylat." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Your father wouldn't allow it." ~~~~~~~~~~~ "He didn't love you...." ~~~~~~~~~ "otherwise he would have let you become the future emperor..." ~~~~~~ "He didn't love you....~~~~ "didn't love you....." ~~~~~ "didn't love you..." "NO!" Andrew stood on his bed. "You never loved me! I shall rule Lylat, as Andross intended!" He wiped a solitary tear from his cheek. "Which YOU disagreed to!" "Andross, give me strength."