Chapter 1: The Muse Goes Silent

When most people think of a hero they think of an immovable figure head. Someone who is always there to save the day; currently though, Fox McCloud leader if the disband Star Fox team, was standing, completely drunk, on the roof of his apartment building. The wind whipped around him as he stood, the lights, glistening in his wets eyes. Clothed in his usual attire, P220 in one hand bottle in the other, he sighed and looked down at the pistol; the stainless custom barrel glinting in the city lights, oh how he missed her. Blue fur shining in the moonlight, the way she smiled when he stumbled over his words. He laughed bitterly and fingered the gun. He looked out again as he brought the gun to his temple and slowly pulled the hammer back. He pulled the trigger slowly but it was knocked away and his ear stung as the .45 round entered his ear and exited heading up to the sky. Fox whirled around and pointed the weapon at the intruder. There, standing before him, was Falco Lombardi. He sighed and pointed the weapon at the ground.

"The fuck you want Falco," he said in agitation. Falco raised his hands slightly.

"Easy," began the bird taking a step toward the vulpine. Fox pulled the hammer back, Falco stopped. "I just wanna help man. Don' do this to us Fox." Tears welled in Fox's eyes and he pushed the decock button on the .45, He shoved it down and turned away balling his fists. He looked up at the sky and shook his fist by his side. Shaking his head he sighed.

"You can't help me Falco," he turned back to the bird and stared forlornly at him. "I can't be helped."

"Bullshit," Falco replied pointedly. "You helped me and I thought I was unreachable." Fox shook he head again and smiled bitterly.

"You weren't heartbroken..." Falco flinched. So this is what it was about. He thought. "You were just a delinquent who was good at flying, still are. Don' let me drag you down." Fox stepped toward the rail the wind whipped around them, as he spread eagle, the gun dropping unceremoniously on the ground. "Keep going, never stop, never drop, and never die. Trust your instincts-" he toppled over the edge. Falco didn't lunge after him it wouldn't have helped anyway. He heard horns and the sound of brakes as the sickening crack-splat of Fox hitting the ground from fourteen stories. He shuffled down the stairs to the street to see the blood spatter of his friend on the ground. His face had a half lidded gaze and an open mouth smile that was knocked apart by impact. Sirens sounded and Falco turned to look at everyone around him. He glared as they oohed and awed at the sight. Paramedics pulled him away gently and others moved in to secure Fox to the stretcher.

The ride to the hospital was uneventful the paramedics questioned Falco and he recounted the events of the past hour or so. They stared at their dead hero in surprise and began to unhook all the equipment that was telling them that he was dead. Obviously they already knew that. It was too late to save the fox who had saved countless lives before. They arrived and they sat there when they busted through the doors of the ambulance to see the flat line. Many tears were shed that night and many moans were heard as they mourned for the loss of their hero.

*The Next Day*

Falco strode briskly down the corridor of the CDF (Cornerian Defense Force). His eyes were blood shot and his step wavered slightly as if impaired. He came to a door with a bronze name plate on the front and as he stopped he wobbled a little but reached for the door anyway. It came open with a click and he stepped inside. A hare sat on the other side of the room, looking worse for wear, and a dog whose haggard form was mutilated by age. He fell into a chair across from them and pulled a flask from his jacket pocket taking a swig and replacing the container back to its place. The other animals in the room stared at the bird for a second before turning to square with him. The hare spoke first.

"You it wasn't your fault Falco," he said voice soft and comforting. "This was her doing." Falco shook his head.

"No Peppy," he gazed into the hare's eyes. "She didn't do anything wrong... This was his doing, he jumped off, he is the reason Lylat is suffering this way." He took another long drink from the flask and shook his head. This was going to be a long life...

*Elsewhere*

A blue fox strode down a beaten hall. She swung her arms little as she traveled steaming as she passed other occupants of the space station. She came to a door and barged in, there, in the room was a black panther; she glared at him and snarled while saying.

"You goddamned piece of shit," He looked taken aback by her comment and opened his mouth to reply. "No, fuck no, you are not gonna try and sweet talk your way out of this one." He closed his mouth. "Three months, three fucking months and you've already slept around with goddamn fifteen women!?" He smirked.

"This," said the cat. "Is why Panther asked for an open relationship," He stood and walked over a mini-fridge. "That way Panther would not... Harm the heart of such a beautiful vixen." Krystal fumed.

"Is that all I am to you? A beautiful vixen, not your girlfriend not your significant other no just beautiful fucking vixen!" he cowered a little.

"Panther believes that you are angered by this?" He said dumbly.

"What the fuck do you thing... You know what? NO I will not stand for this, I am leaving." She turned on her heals and stormed from the room. Panther stuck his head out and called after her.

"You will always return to Panther!" She gave him the bird and went to her room.

…

Beep… beep… beep

"Get him stable, we're losing him!"

"He's bleeding into his lungs,"

Bee-,

"He's flat lined!"

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